Talking about dramas and actors with employees who are K-Drama nerds (Part 2)
Just as SKY PerfecTV! has various specialized channels such as "sports," "music," and "movies," SKY PerfecTV! employees also have their own "nerdy" interests, favorite idols, or deep knowledge of specific genres. There are many employees who are passionate about some form of entertainment or content.
Here, we conducted a roundtable discussion by gathering employees who couldn't help but talk about their favorite content—employees who raised their hands after we sent a "Calling all [Genre] nerds!" email that seemed a bitsuspicious—and asked them to talk freely!
Following the previous installment, this time we bring you the "K-Drama Nerd Employees: Part 2."
▼ Click here for Part 1!
Last time, we asked them about how they got hooked, their favorite K-Drama romantic situations, favorite actors/actresses, and fashion or food they were influenced to copy.
In Part 2, we delve into the essence of the appeal of "Korean dramas," ask a little about Japanese dramas, and have them pick out some recommended dramas for a K-Drama beginner like me.
Please enjoy!
―You have all gathered here as K-Drama lovers, but I would also like to ask a little about Japanese dramas. Did you watch Japanese dramas before getting hooked on K-Dramas, or do you still watch them now?
Beer: I watch almost all of them (laughs).
Everyone: You're busy!
Beer: Recently, I've even started watching Taiwanese dramas; I just love dramas in general.
―You watch Taiwanese dramas too!? By the way, what is the appeal of Taiwanese dramas?
Beer: They are just beautiful, the visuals are great.
―I see, we should definitely hold a "Taiwanese Drama Nerd Employee Recruitment" session in the future to talk about that (laughs). By the way, were there any domestic dramas from the most recent 2022 summer season that you found interesting?
Beer: "The Competitors" and also, since I like detective dramas, I liked "Keiji 7-nin."
Mikan: If you watch both Korean dramas and Japanese dramas... that takes up a lot of time! When do you watch them?
Beer: Hmm. On my days off, I watch them without sleeping (laughs). Or, I watch them on the train while commuting.
Potato: Before I got hooked on K-Dramas, I watched a lot of domestic dramas too, but since I discovered K-Dramas, I only pick out the ones that look interesting to watch.
Mikan: I watch NHK's morning serial TV novels, and also I like Tomoya Nakamura (Everyone: (laughs)), so watching that is an obligation (laughs).
―He appeared in "Ishiko and Haneo" last season (2022 summer season).
I watch Japanese dramas often too, but are there any charms or strengths you feel K-Dramas have?
Oniku: Well, the scripts are interesting, and everyone is good at acting. Also, being able to enjoy many "OSTs" (Original Sound Tracks) in a single drama is something unique to K-Dramas.
―Are there many pieces of background music with vocals in a single drama?
Oniku: Yes, exactly! There are so many songs that they even release albums collecting the OSTs.
Also, I really think lately that there are quite a few cases where young screenwriters, who you'd think "this is their first drama," write such profound stories. Since actors also have a trained eye for works, the level of screenwriters rises too, so I think that's why the scripts and actors are generally of a high level.
―I wonder if there is a culture of nurturing young screenwriters.
Oniku: Viewers are also quite strict, and impressions are posted every time an episode is broadcast, and it seems they sometimes make improvements based on that, so it's like the viewers are nurturing them too.
―I haven't stepped into the world of K-Dramas until now, but I'm already attracted by the high quality and the fact that even if there are many episodes, you can watch them in the blink of an eye.
I definitely want to watch a K-Drama after this meeting ends, so what works do you recommend for a beginner?
Potato: If you like tsundere characters, then "Crash Landing on You" or "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" maybe.
Oniku: In "Guardian," the scene where they are driving through the forest, the car splits in two, and the Guardian and the Grim Reaper walk side-by-side from the other side is really good! (Everyone: I like that too!!)
Beer: It's a famous scene, isn't it.
Mikan: I watched "Guardian" after a junior colleague told me about it, and when we talked after I finished it, that junior colleague said, "Mikan-san, I don't know if you remember, but I love this scene..." and it was exactly that scene (laughs).
―It really is a famous scene that everyone recommends! I'll look forward to that scene appearing.
Mikan: I think it appears quite early on.
▼ "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God"
Oniku: Also... what kind of dramas do you like? (Checking from Oniku-san's own Instagram.)
―What! Do you keep a record of the dramas you've watched!?
Oniku: Yes, it's for my own impressions, so I honestly write down if I didn't get into something (laughs). When the COVID-19 pandemic started, I was incredibly bored at first, and when I thought about what to do, I decided to create an archive of the dramas I'd watched.
―It's organized so beautifully, how many works are listed?
Oniku: It's over 200 works (laughs).
Everyone: Wow! Amazing!
Potato: I also record the works I've watched in my smartphone's memo app (laughs).
―I'd love for you to recommend some works from your records! As for the dramas I like... I'd love works where I can enjoy "conversational drama." (← Yuji Sakamoto nerd)
Oniku: In that case, you might like "Be Melodramatic." They are particular about every single line, and it feels like a "super conversational drama." It's interesting because it's a realistic story about love and work at exactly 30 years old, but you can also cry your eyes out, the music is good, so I recommend it!
―I will definitely like that. I'll watch it!
Potato: Also, historical dramas are a must.
―My personal impression of historical dramas is that they are profound... authentic, but also a bit demanding to watch or have a high barrier to entry.
Potato: Korean historical dramas are actually quite pop. I also initially thought that historical dramas would be exhausting to watch, but Korean historical dramas are not like that at all; they have romantic elements and are fun to watch.
―Is that so! It seems like you could also enjoy the cultural history aspects like the costumes and buildings, and if they are pop, I'd love to watch them even more!
Oniku: Also, you absolutely have to watch 'D.P. - Deserter Pursuit'!
Beer: Wasn't this scary!?
Oniku: A little scary, but it's the one that's made me tremble the most recently...!
Everyone: Wow!
Mikan: Is the genre suspense?
Oniku: It's not just suspense; it's a story about someone who joins the military for their service and becomes responsible for catching deserters. There's a narrative depth to 'why they became a deserter,' and it depicts bullying within the military.
There is a big annual awards ceremony in Korea called the 'Baeksang Arts Awards,' and this drama was recognized as an excellent work in the TV category, beating out 'Squid Game.' (*58th Baeksang Arts Awards)
Everyone: Whoa!
―It's a drama, but in terms of content, it's almost like a documentary, and it seems interesting because it touches on the realistic parts of what's happening in the military. Since it's only 6 episodes, it seems easy for beginners to get into.
Oniku: Yeah, yeah.
Mikan: Oniku-san, are you okay with scary (gory) dramas?
Oniku: I wasn't good with them at all originally, but I got used to them while watching (laughs).
Potato: They aren't suitable for lunchtime, are they (laughs).
Everyone: I know, right (laughs).
―Also, recently in Japanese dramas, mystery-solving dramas like 'Your Turn to Kill,' 'Guilty Flag,' and 'My Family' have become popular. Do you have any recommended Korean dramas that are 'mystery-solving'?
Potato: That would be 'SKY Castle'...
Oniku: Also, it's a bit scary, but 'Beyond Evil' is recommended. It won Best Drama at the 'Baeksang Arts Awards' the year before 'D.P.,' and the story was incredibly well-crafted!
Beer: Wasn't 'When the Camellia Blooms' also a mystery-solving one?
Oniku: I really love 'When the Camellia Blooms,' I really love it!
Everyone: Laughter
Oniku: The script, the acting, everything was just too good!
Beer: I couldn't figure out the culprit at all until the very end.
Mikan: Is it a mystery genre?
Oniku: It has mystery, romance, and family love, all balanced perfectly. For me, 'When the Camellia Blooms' and 'It's Okay, That's Love' are the top two of my life!
―'It's Okay, That's Love' features a protagonist who is a psychiatrist, right?
Oniku: Yes, exactly. He's a psychiatrist, but he also has his own trauma. And the other person is a writer who can only sleep in a bathtub due to memories of childhood abuse... it's a love story between those two. The direction and music are stylish, so I recommend it.
―Thank you for all your recommendations!
I intended to ask for the sake of K-drama beginners reading this article, but it ended up just being a session where I had works that fit my own tastes recommended to me (laughs).
The conversation is endless, but I hope that even those who have never watched a K-drama before will use this article as an 'entrance to the K-drama swamp' and check out the dramas that interest them. I'll watch them too! (laughs)
We are also waiting for your comments on your recommended K-dramas and actors, 'K-drama geek tropes,' and requests for us to cover other types of 'geeks'!
▼ Click here for the latest K-drama broadcast information and columns!
Click here for other roundtable discussion articles!