There are K-Drama fans across the globe who share the same passion. But on online platforms, it is hard to know about each other’ stories and tastes. When it is so interesting to know more about how others are living their drama passion. So, at Kpopmap, we started the Kpopmap Fan Interview Project to get to know more about K-Drama fans from different countries. Just like the Kpopmap Fan Interview for actors, the Kpopmap Fan Interview for K-Dramas aims to open the opportunity for fans to talk about K-Dramas, recommend their favorite shows, and share their insights and their love for K-Dramas with our readers. One fan from South Africa is the first one to answer our questions about their favorite K-Dramas and actors! Check out how they became a K-Drama fan, the reasons why, the dramas they recommend, and many more insights. Can you introduce yourself? Where are you from? Hi!! My name is Kay. I’m a K-Drama lover from Pretoria, one of the capitals of South Africa. What is the 1st K-Drama you’ve watched, and when? How did you happen to come across it? The first K-Drama I remember watching is “Weightlifting Fairy Kim BokJoo” in 2016. I was a film student at the time and we studied a lot of foreign cinema. After watching Korean movies, I became curious about the dramas too and I chose it randomly based on the cute cover. It was all downhill from there haha. I found myself bingeing every drama I could get my hands on from there on.
Are you mostly watching K-Dramas or not? If you are watching series from other countries, let us know. I mostly watch K-Dramas these days because no other series really tickle my fancy in the same way. I used to watch some American series like “The Fixer” and “Grey’s Anatomy” but now it’s mostly K-Dramas. What genre of K-Dramas are you mostly watching? It might sound a bit weird but I actually watch K-Dramas of all genres. I don’t discriminate when it comes to my K-Drama genres hehe XD It mostly depends on what my mood is at the time. I like dramas ranging from romantic comedies/dramas like “Twenty-Five Twenty-One” to thrillers/legal dramas like “Lawless Lawyer”, etc. I also really enjoy makjang dramas like “Penthouse: War In Life” and “The Second Husband”, for example.
Would you say you are a K-Drama addict? How many do you watch a week? Do you prefer ongoing dramas or binge-watching? Mmmm I definitely used to be. Before when I used to binge-watch dramas I would literally start one right after I finished one. These days I like watching dramas as they get broadcast each week. So, I’d say I’m less addicted because I’ve learned how to wait for the next week XD Depending on how good the ongoing drama season is, I will watch other dramas in the meantime or maybe variety shows/Western movies/YouTube while I wait. For Kpopmap readers who are not familiar with Korean dramas/movies yet, please tell us what makes Korean actors and Korean dramas/movies attractive to you. I think there’s a charm in how Korean dramas combine traditional Korean culture with the modern Korean landscape. In a way, it’s like you’re learning about a very interesting culture while you watch. Particularly if you’re like me and feel like you’re different in a lot of ways, you can find some points that match your personality better in K-Dramas. I also think the production value and acting in Korean dramas and films are top-tier compared to some of the local South African or Western content that I’ve personally seen. Do you feel there has been more interest in K-Dramas in your surroundings? Or were people surrounding you already interested? People around me used to think that I was the weird one for liking K-Dramas but ever since dramas like “Squid Game” became popular things have changed a bit. All of a sudden people ask me questions about Korean culture and for series recommendations because they know that I’ve been watching K-Dramas for so long.
Have you ever made a new friend because of K-Dramas? Hmmm not really because of K-Dramas but definitely because of K-Pop haha. Although one thing is that I’ve become closer to my friends because of it. I’ve converted my friends and some of my family into K-Drama fans so now we have something new to bond over. What makes you watch a drama? The cast, director, writer, summary, poster, etc. Another potentially weird thing… I don’t like knowing too much about the drama before I watch it XD I feel like it spoils the experience when you know too much. So usually I just look at the cast and the general feel of the poster. If it’s a movie then sometimes I’ll choose based on the director. Can you give us your top 3 K-Dramas and why you love them? This is TOUGH hehe. This is in no particular order but I would say “Goblin”, “Twenty-Five Twenty-One”, and I think “Yumi’s Cells”. I have a lot more dramas that I really like. In fact, I think that I don’t really have favorites but I would recommend these to anyone who is just getting into K-Dramas. Who are some of your favorite K-Drama actors/actresses and why? Once again, I don’t have favorites per say but there are actors/actresses that always pique my interest if they’re in the cast. I really like Kim YoungDae, GOT7’s JinYoung, and Gong Yoo. For the ladies, Kim GoEun, Kim TaeRi, and Han SoHee are some of my favorites! Do you have an all-time favorite scene? Can you describe it or share a video? Okay this is very recent but this is a scene that really made me feel something. The scene in “Twenty-Five Twenty-One” when Ko YuRim (WJSN’s Bona) and Na HeeDo (Kim TaeRi) fence against each other for the last time and then cry while hugging each other afterward… I teared up watching that and I’ve never sympathized with K-Drama characters like that before. I know everyone was focused on the love story but it really stood out to me.
Do you feel there are any misunderstandings, things that are not well known, or any prejudices about your K-Drama? Like I said before, I really like makjang K-Dramas as well. A lot of people think that they are cringey and over-the-top; which I understand but I wish they would give credit where it is due. Just because many dramatic things happen in the storyline doesn’t mean it is a trash show. There is so much thrill in watching a story where you have no idea what the next plot twist will be. I wish people would just see them in a better light? There’s a reason why they are so popular in Korea, too. Do you have predictions about the future of K-Dramas? Do you think K-Dramas can be mainstream all over the world? Hmm, I think that would be tricky honestly. I think that they will gain broader appeal later but not to the extent where they become mainstream. Only the dramas that try hard to match global markets will become mainstream in my opinion. For example, I know a lot of people who watched “Squid Game” but dubbed it in English because they weren’t willing to read the subtitles. So, I think that will be an obstacle before they become mainstream. However, I think the charm in K-Dramas definitely comes from the ‘K’. There’s a reason Korean dramas are appealing even if you’re from a different culture. So, I hope they don’t change them too much for those reasons. Thank you for answering our questions, Kay. Note: Kpopmap Fan Interview includes some of the interviewed fan’s favorite pictures and videos, and that includes old pictures. If you are interested in joining Kpopmap Fan Interview Project, please get in touch with us at [email protected] with the topic line “Kpopmap Fan Interview - Drama”. Everyone is welcome to participate.
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