Between fantasy and realism : gender, identification and desire among Korean viewers of second-wave Korean dramas

Abstract

English-language studies of Korean drama (Korean tv serials) have tended to focus on the transnational consumption of drama in the context of the ‘Korean Wave’ (Hallyu). Analysing the classification and reception of Korean drama and its interaction with Korean audiences, this paper argues that there has been a significant shift both in the dramas produced and in the audience expectations and interactions with these texts. Building on twenty-one in-depth interviews and ethnographic data, the authors analyse the gendered structures of identification with the characters of dramas. Korean dramas are increasingly held to a standard of realism wherein audiences expect them to represent ‘reality’ rather than a fantastical escape from it. The authors argue, therefore, that dramas are also fulfilling a social function in being able to represent and generate dialogue over social problems in contemporary Korean society.