A Beginner’s Guide to Korean Drama

Known as K-drama, Korean drama is a genre of television programming that originated in South Korea. A wide range of genres are covered in K-drama, from romance to comedy to thrillers.

If you’re new to the world of K-drama, then this guide is for you! In this article, we’ll give you a crash course on all things Korean drama. We’ll cover what K-drama is, where it came from, some of the most popular genres and tropes, and where you can go to watch K-drama online.

What Is K-Drama?

K-drama is a genre of television programming that originated in South Korea. These shows cater to different audiences, so their air times and formats are completely different. For example, for young adults or teenagers the air time is most likely at night (between 20h and 23h kst) and they will only be airing two episodes per week whereas the other will be aired every day and in the morning. K-dramas can be broadcasted on terrestrial TV channels like MBC, SBS, and KBS; cable TV channels like jTBC and tvN; or streaming platforms like Netflix and Rakuten Viki.

Depending on the target audience, K-dramas usually have 10–20 episodes that are one hour long each for the night dramas. They are typically released two times per week, with each new episode airing at night. The other normally has around 20–50 episodes of one hour as well and are aired everyday from Monday to Saturday.

Where Did K-Drama Come From?

The first Korean drama was broadcast in 1963, but the genre didn’t start to gain popularity until the late 1990s/early 2000s with shows like “Autumn in My Heart” (2000) and “Winter Sonata” (2002). These dramas were hugely popular not just in South Korea but also in other Asian countries like China, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. There was an explosion in Korean drama popularity in the 2010s with hits such as “Descendants of the Sun” (2016), “Goblin” (2016), Crash landing on you (2020), and the squid game.

why are kdrama popular ?

The Korean drama industry is one of the largest in the world. It has become an international phenomenon through the hallyu wave and a major source of economic growth. Korean Dramas are a form of entertainment that are quite popular in Asia. In fact, it is estimated that over 200 million people watch Korean dramas every year. The popularity of K-dramas is due to their appeal to viewers from all walks of life. They have universal themes that appeal to viewers from different backgrounds and ages.

The stories in these dramas are based on real-life events that happened around the world in various parts of the world. However, they are often exaggerated or dramatized for effect so that they can be more entertaining for viewers who enjoy watching them today as well as those who will watch them tomorrow.

What Are Some Popular K-Drama Genres?

There are many different genres of K-drama. Some of the most popular ones include:

Romance: Romance dramas are often about love triangles or forbidden love. There are also various other romantic tropes and it is usually combined with comedy. Popular examples include “Boys Over Flowers” (2009), “Heirs” (2013), and “Descendants of the Sun” (2016).

Comedy: These dramas typically focus on the funny misadventures of the characters as they navigate through life or love. This one is often combined with romance and may have some fantasy added or other genres which makes it more entertaining. Popular examples include “My ID Is Gangnam Beauty” (2018), “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?” (2018), and “Crash Landing On You” (2020).

Thriller/Mystery: If you’re a fan of suspenseful plots with plenty of twists and turns, then these dramas are for you. The audience loves this genre as there are a lot of plot twists and they can’t wait to find out what happens. Popular examples include “Signal” (2016), “Strangers from Hell” (2019), and “Itaewon Class” (2020).

Whether you’re a seasoned viewer or a complete newcomer, we hope this guide has been helpful in getting you started with Korean drama! There’s a whole world of great shows out there waiting to be discovered — so what are you waiting for? Start watching today!