Watching Korean Dramas for the First Time in 20 Years: The Perfect Form of Escapism with Maximum Entertainment Value to Help Me Forget Daily Troubles - Korean Drama Diary Vol. 1

Right now, my tired heart is being healed by Korean dramas.

It took me 20 years to reach this point.

The first Korean drama I ever watched was "Winter Sonata."

It aired in Japan in 2003, sparking a Korean Wave boom.

The charm of the cast, the storytelling, the excitement, the suspense, and the emotional impact.
"Winter Sonata" was packed with entertainment elements that could be called the prototype of today's Korean dramas (including, of course, the classic amnesia trope!), and I enjoyed it immensely.

However, it seemed that many housewives in the world were far more deeply immersed in the Korean drama swamp than I was.

Korean tours visiting drama filming locations and the lead actor Bae Yong-joon, affectionately known as "Yon-sama," gained popularity, and when he first visited Japan in 2004, about 3,500 fans rushed to the airport. This was a level of fanaticism that far exceeded the recent K-POP fandom.

I seem to recall that Yon-sama, also known as Bae Yong-joon, Lee Byung-hun, Jang Dong-gun, and Won Bin were called the "Four Heavenly Kings of the Korean Wave."

Also, "Winter Sonata," "Autumn in My Heart," "Summer Scent," and "Spring Waltz" were called the "Four Seasons Series," and the popularity of Korean dramas like "Jewel in the Palace" continued.

However, I was attending the Japan Institute of the Moving Image at the time, and after watching "Winter Sonata," I was more drawn to Korean films than Korean dramas.

I was captivated by many powerful and heart-stirring Korean films, such as "Memories of Murder," "Oldboy," "Lady Vengeance," and "Parasite," among others.

After that, a second Korean Wave boom occurred, shifting from Korean dramas to K-POP.

BoA in 2001, TVXQ in 2005, BIGBANG in 2009, and KARA and Girls' Generation in 2010 debuted in Japan one after another, broke through, and even appeared on the NHK New Year's Eve "Kohaku Uta Gassen." Although I was drawn to the "dazzling beauty of Girls' Generation," I was deeply immersed in films at the time and working in the film industry, so I didn't get that hooked.

And a lot of time has passed since then.

Looking back, surprisingly, I hadn't watched a Korean drama for nearly 20 years since Winter Sonata. The length, sometimes over 20 episodes, was a factor that kept me away. Also, there were many melodramas, which I felt were long-winded, so I focused on watching films where I could spend a dense two hours in a shorter amount of time.

During that time, my mother and wife were watching Korean dramas one after another right beside me. While thinking, "How do they never get tired of it?", I would listen to them talk about the charm of the handsome actors while they were excited together.

By the way, my mother, who is turning 85 this year, seems to have a new favorite, Cha Eun-woo.

A long time passed after that, and in late August 2021, I encountered the K-POP audition program "Girls Planet 999," which got me hooked on K-POP, and in November of the same year, I started the series "K-POP Called Youth."

Around this time, the global Korean Wave since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic is said to be the fourth wave; BTS took the world by storm in music, "Parasite" became the first Asian film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, and with more "time at home," streaming viewership surged, with "Crash Landing on You," "Itaewon Class," and "Squid Game," which were distributed on Netflix, gaining particular popularity.

At that time, the drama that my eldest son and second son both watched one after another and said was interesting was...

"Squid Game."

"Winter Sonata" (first one) -> (18-year gap) -> "Squid Game" (second one), a transition with absolutely no connection.

But in the end, I am just a fickle fan who jumped on the first Korean Wave boom to watch "Winter Sonata" and jumped on the fourth Korean Wave boom to watch "Squid Game."

On the other hand, the spark of popularity for Korean dramas has not gone out in these nearly 20 years, and I think many women, like my mother and my wife, have continued to watch them. They have become a part of their daily lives.

After that, I watched "Itaewon Class" (the 3rd one), which was popular at the time. For some reason, I wasn't drawn to "Crash Landing on You" back then, so I didn't watch it. "Itaewon Class" was an energetic drama, and it was a powerful show that made me feel energized every time I watched it.

I was so influenced by this drama that I wrote an essay like this... lol

Reading that embarrassing essay title above again, I was so influenced that it makes me cringe! lol

And the 4th Korean drama I watched was recommended by a female colleague,
a drama called "My Mister" (the 4th one). IU, whom I am a huge fan of, was in it. It was a wonderful drama. It was a work that warmed my heart, and the lead actor, Lee Sun-kyun, was especially brilliant. That's why when he passed away last year, I was truly devastated and incredibly sad.

However, after watching three Korean dramas at the end of 2021, I drifted away from them for a while again. My K-pop fever was accelerating, and I couldn't spend time on anything else.

But, two years have passed, and now, for the first time, I am starting to watch them continuously.

The drama I watched last November, "Daily Dose of Sunshine" (the 5th one), was a truly relatable, realistic, sad, and funny human drama.

Since then, I have been watching a new Korean drama every week on my commute to and from work.

"The Glory" (the 6th one),
The intense development and impact were amazing! I even felt a sense of exhilaration at the chain of revenge that unfolded one after another!

"Extraordinary Attorney Woo" (the 7th one),
It was very interesting and informative, and I was encouraged by seeing Woo Young-woo doing her best!

And now, I am finally

watching "Crash Landing on You" (the 8th one)! (Almost at the climax)
It makes me laugh, it makes me cry, it's the best entertainment! (I'm late to realize this, lol)

The two leads are also the best! I'm so glad they actually got married in real life!
The supporting cast is also way too funny!

I truly felt that this was a work that deserved to be a hit.
After finishing it, I wrote a review article! I'm completely suffering from "Crash Landing on You" withdrawal! lol

Thus, after a gap of about 20 years, having watched only 8 shows, I am now being healed by Korean dramas every day.

Recently, with my son's health and entrance exams, my parents' nursing care, and the conflict between work and my dreams, my worries are endless. I sometimes have stomach pain, and there are times when my mood drops sharply.

At such times, I discovered that when I watch a Korean drama, I become curious about what happens next, which makes me forget my daily troubles and anxieties.

This is truly the perfect escapism device with maximum entertainment value!

I have only now learned that it can be a source of healing for my heart in life 🤔 (Too late! Way too late!)

So, following my movie reviews and K-pop, which I call my youth, I will start a Korean Drama Diary series!

Even so, I am a beginner among beginners.

To all the veterans who have continued to enjoy Korean dramas while I spent my time away, please do tell me your recommended dramas! ☆彡

I am looking for dramas that will become a new source of enjoyment and nourishment for my heart.

I'm glad I found a new hobby!

It's cold again today, but fighting!