For those of you who don’t know what “Kdrama” stands for, it’s literally just a Korean Drama. For those of you who knew that already, well good for you.
I wanted to take a look at classic tropes from another culture. I got the idea this past week as I was taking in my weekly dose of The Good Doctor (highly recommend). The Good Doctor is actually an American drama based off of a Korean Drama. I realized after seeing a few episodes of both versions that there’s honestly no major difference between the two stories. There are many general topics that every culture covers, but the themes and ways in which characters interact within those topics are where you find your true difference. It’s not in what’s being told so much as how it’s being told, and let me tell you, there are so many little differences. You’re probably already familiar with many classic American drama tropes such as Kiss Her in the Middle of Her Sentence, Running to Each Other from Afar, and the Tortured Hero but are you familiar with any of these? These are classic Kdrama tropes.
(You’re welcome in advanced because I know this is going to change your life forever.)
- The Wrist Grab
This is probably the most common Kdrama trope and I’m not sure if I’ve seen a Kdrama yet where this hasn’t happened. It usually happens as the female lead turns away in a fit of emotions. As she does this the male lead grabs her by the wrist and turns her back towards him. It’s usually done in slow motion and it almost always results in dramatic (and very well done) music, and a hug or a kiss (or both).
2. Second Male Lead
This Trope is where there are two male leads. The first is usually cold and uncaring while the second has probably always been there for the female lead. Because the second male lead is usually very caring but is in turn, not wanted by the female lead, this leads to Second Male Lead Syndrome. In some cases there are even second female leads.
This can be seen in Kdramas such as (from left to right) The Heirs, Cheese in the Trap, Who Are You School 2015, and Strong Woman Do Bong Soon.
3. Cars of Doom and Amnesia
If a lead is shown in slow motion walking across the street, something bad will happen. It’s even more definite when the lead is smiling, there’s happy music playing, and everything seems like it’s going to be okay finally. But, it’s not. It can’t be okay because this is a Kdrama. There needs to be DRAMA in a Kdrama. So, as many Kdrama lovers have learned to do, fear the slow motion walking across any street because this usually leads to getting hit by a car which can result in death of the lead, death of someone else, or near death and amnesia. That’s right, amnesia. This usually happens near the end of a drama. When the two leads are finally together, one of them forgets everything and has to go on a small journey to remember their lover.
4. Cough of Doom/Deadly Illness
Similar to Cars of Doom, Cough of Doom usually happens when all is seemingly right with this Kdrama world and its characters. Unfortunately a cough is never just a cough when it’s shown on screen. The character will more than likely cough of blood and it will result in a deadly illness. Unlike Cars of Doom, this usually happens to a secondary character.
Generally it’s the mother of the male lead who is the “evil mother.” She doesn’t want her son to be with just “anyone” and is against all women her son chooses for himself. She will often offer money to the female lead to leave her son. In some rare cases, when the evil mother is insulted, this can lead to the kimchi slap.
6. The Kimchi Slap
This last one isn’t much of a trope since it’s not overly common, but in a way it has become it’s own sort of trope. Kimchi is a type of Korean dish that is spicy pickled cabbage. The Kimchi Slap is exactly what it sounds like; a slap with kimchi often given by an evil (or just really angry) mother.
You may think all of these things seem bizarre or extra dramatic… you’re not wrong. They are. They are just that exactly. They’re bizarre, they’re emotion invoking, they’re plot twisting, and they’re extra dramatic and that’s exactly why people watch Korean dramas. You never know what to expect with these plots (except for, you know, all of these tropes), not to mention the acting, script, cinematography, music, and overall production of these dramas is just fantastic. The budgets for these shows are insane and the world is just eating them up. Most dramas last only about 20 episodes and then conclude for good, so it really isn’t too much of a time commitment. If you haven’t seen one, do it. Any of the Kdramas mentioned in this blog would be great to start with. If not for the cinematography and music, do it for the wrist grab, cars of doom, and the kimchi slap.
More common Kdrama moments:
