Korean Drama is the New Twilight: Intro to CoCo
I know I may offend some kdrama fans who are not Twilight fans, but it's true. We all know that Twilight was a romantic drama phenomenon that took the women of the world by storm with it's inexplainable appeal. Perhaps it was the simpleness of the love story and the drama of first love that drew us in, but we couldn't stop reading and watching once we were hooked. With the number of international fans growing quickly, Korean dramas are on this same path towards global popularity.
I was first introduced to kdrama by Netflix (click here for a current list of kdramas on Netflix), who knows me so well as to recommend fantastic romantic comedies that I will love. I was hesitant to watch Lie To Me, but then thought to myself, "Self, you don't know anything about modern Korean culture at all. Give it a try and get cultured!" Since I rarely disregard good advice, especially when it comes from myself, I gave it a go. I have to admit that the first episode was difficult to get through with its over the top acting style, cliched plot, and let's not forget the subtitles, but just like Twilight, I had to see it out. Halfway through the second episode I knew I would watch this show until the very end. I proceeded to view all 16, one hour long, episodes in a matter of 3 days. It was shameful that I chose it over going out and meeting real men, but I didn't care! As a single, 27 year old woman with mostly married friends, I saw so much of myself in Gong Ah Jung and really sympathized with her plight. It didn't hurt that Hyun Ki Joon provided the perfect piece of Mr. Darcy-esque eye candy that I can't resist in romantic comedies. I loved this new genre for all it was, over the top plot twists and all!
When my first encounter with kdramas was over, I needed more. I didn't know where to turn to get more recommendations from people I could trust. We, the writers of this blog, are those people. Think of us as your new kdrama-advice giving best friends. This blog will cover everything from reviews of old and new dramas, to clues about the cultural references and phrases that are inherent to taking part of media from the other side of the world. We hope that along with us your love of kdramas will continue to blossom and bloom. So get out there and start watching. Fighting!
Read Coco's Posts
I was first introduced to kdrama by Netflix (click here for a current list of kdramas on Netflix), who knows me so well as to recommend fantastic romantic comedies that I will love. I was hesitant to watch Lie To Me, but then thought to myself, "Self, you don't know anything about modern Korean culture at all. Give it a try and get cultured!" Since I rarely disregard good advice, especially when it comes from myself, I gave it a go. I have to admit that the first episode was difficult to get through with its over the top acting style, cliched plot, and let's not forget the subtitles, but just like Twilight, I had to see it out. Halfway through the second episode I knew I would watch this show until the very end. I proceeded to view all 16, one hour long, episodes in a matter of 3 days. It was shameful that I chose it over going out and meeting real men, but I didn't care! As a single, 27 year old woman with mostly married friends, I saw so much of myself in Gong Ah Jung and really sympathized with her plight. It didn't hurt that Hyun Ki Joon provided the perfect piece of Mr. Darcy-esque eye candy that I can't resist in romantic comedies. I loved this new genre for all it was, over the top plot twists and all!
When my first encounter with kdramas was over, I needed more. I didn't know where to turn to get more recommendations from people I could trust. We, the writers of this blog, are those people. Think of us as your new kdrama-advice giving best friends. This blog will cover everything from reviews of old and new dramas, to clues about the cultural references and phrases that are inherent to taking part of media from the other side of the world. We hope that along with us your love of kdramas will continue to blossom and bloom. So get out there and start watching. Fighting!
Read Coco's Posts
Too Funny as I too got hooked on kdramas cause in-between Twilight and New Moon books, I had to keep myself busy so my mom gave me "Winter Sonata" to watch and that was it!
ReplyDeleteYeah I for sure had a hole that needed to be filled when Twilight was over! We just have to spread the love of kdramas!
Deletewooow!!!!! my encounter was a kind of accident..i live in india den also i luv kd..the first i watched was boys over flowers..it was damn amazing...and im glad you made dis site 4 us.. thank you so much 4 ur hardwork .. :)
ReplyDeleteWe're glad that you like our site! Keep having fun watching kdramas over in India :)
DeleteHaha! Great site.
ReplyDeleteI'm having trouble finding some of these titles on Netflix.
Can you guys list which ones you've found or exist on Netflix?
Their selections are sometimes hidden from search, for some reason.
Thanks so much.
Hope you got your holes filled. ;)
Ok, made this list of the kdramas on Netflix for you today. Enjoy!
Deletehttp://kdramafighting.blogspot.com/2013/04/list-of-best-korean-dramas-available-on.html
I've been into kdrama for a while now. Which led to Japanese and Taiwanese drama as well. Heck, I've even given Hong Hong movies a try! lol
ReplyDeleteIf you're looking for recommends, you're welcome to check out my blog at http://looneyexpress.blogspot.com. If you go to Asian Movie/Drama Database, you'll see a list of everything I've watched and reviewed.
WELCOME TO THE DARK SIDE! MUAHAHAHA! ^__^
Cool! Aren't they the best?
DeleteI loved this post i totally agree XD i got into anime and some korean movies because of my brother(s) but once I decided to give Boys Over Flowers a try ( i thought it was a movie at first) I was hooked!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Yeah, BOF is totally a gateway drug!
Deletehey......... i love your blog.......both you & vivi are doing good job... i am self confessed k drama & rom com fan.....m done with almost all the major dramas & share your views on many ..since not many k-dramas were left for me to watch i shifted to taiwanese dramas.. they are good too.. i started with fated to love you ...watched love now & currently hooked to love now..mail leads are super hot :P .. & they are not shying away to give you lot many options for best kissing scenes as well.
ReplyDeletewould like to know your views on taiwanese dramas :) ...
keep writing!!
Thanks so much! I'll definitely have to check those out. I'm excited to see how they compare.
DeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the kdrama la la land.
You want Rob-Kristen asian style effect, check out I need romance season 1 and 2.
Keep up the good work.
FaRa
I've heard those were good ones! So many dramas, so little time!
DeleteHello! I've just discovered the both of you this week and am thoroughly enjoying your blog. I'm also very new to the amazing and addictive world of K-Drama. I saw in one of the above posts that Boys Over Flowers was called a gateway drug, well it was exactly that for me. I am looking forward to more dramas and a place to share my secret love of K-Dramas!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Kdramas! Glad to have another person to share them with :)
DeleteWow! My first kdrama was on Netflix too!! It recommended 'My Fair Lady' and that was the end of the old me. Since then it's been one drama after another, planned marathons in between work and family. I got my best friend hooked (both of us being the 'single 26 year olds among mostly married friends'...similar to you, Coco). Now we both plan marathon weekends after which we go back to work speaking Korean and humming songs our coworkers have never heard off. It's awesome!! Glad to have found you guys! Fighting!
ReplyDeleteGlad you could join us! Isn't having a Kdrama best friend the best?
DeleteAs a single twenty-something living in farming-country-America where they've never even heard of BOF or Kpop, it's hard to find someone to relate to or fangirl with. The internet has become my only connection with people who understand- and I'm so glad I stumbled onto your blog. ^^ We blonde-Kdrama-ee's have to stick together. Fighting!
ReplyDeleteYay! So glad you're here. Fighting!
DeleteToo Funny!!
ReplyDeleteI totally got it Kdramas by accident on Netflix. I was searching for English musical My Fair Lady and got Yoon Eun Hye's My Fair Lady. I watched 1 ep and wasn't to crazy about it. It wasn't until I came home from work the next day and my mother told me about the crazy 6 eps she watched. I was sucked in the world of Kdrama and Kpop ever since lol
Yeah it's crazy how they just suck you in!
DeleteWell... What can i say... I´m a kdramaholic from the past few years!! I started with City hunter with lee min ho and that was it!! My kdrama provider is viki.com, they are amazing with there fast translations and comments. You
ReplyDeletedon´t feel lonely while watching. There u can find the most recent dramas and it could be killing waiting for the new episodes since most of the dramas are just incredibles... just check them and u will not regret it.
Isn't it funny how Lee Min Ho just does that to you?
DeleteI discovered your site yesterday and was up until 4am laughing my a$$ off. Your two are my new FAVORITE k-drama bloggers! I fell in love with K-drama about a year ago and have not gone back to American television since! Thanks for your hard work!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the fun little Kdrama community! And thanks for the compliment ^_^
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this site. I have been looking for a place to share my recent addiction/obsession. Years ago a friend recommended Kdrama to me. Back then I did watch Full House and loved it, but at the time only had access to it on my computer. I didn't like watching on a computer so I dropped the whole thing. I recently got Hulu Plus which I can watch on my big screen tv, and noticed they had a lot of K dramas, so I began to watch, and I have never found anything so fun and addictive. I'm retired so I have time to watch and have watched more than 30 of them over the past few months. Every time I think I'm getting thru all the ones I want to see, I try one that I didn't think I would like, and end up loving it as much as all the others. Only problem--I have no time for other tv or for reading books. LOL I find myself watching until 3 or 4 in the morning because I simply can't stop watching! I have so many favorite actors already it's pathetic! So much fun!
ReplyDeleteSAYA IBU WATI INGIN BERTERIMA KASIH BANYAK KEPADA KI WARA YANG SUDAH MEMBANTU ORANG TUA SAYA KARNA SELAMA INI ORANG TUA SAYA SEDANG TERLILIT HUTANG YANG BANYAK,,BERKAT BANTUAN KI WARA SEKARANG ORANG TUA SAYA SUDAH BISA MELUNASI SEMUA HUTANG2NYA DAN SAWAH YANG DULUNYA SEMPAT DIGADAIKAN SEKARANG SUDAH BISA DI TEBUS KEMBALI ITU SEMUA ATAS BANTUAN KI WARA YANG MEMBERIKAN ANGKA RITUALNYA KEPADA KAMI DAN TIDAK DISANGKA2 TERNYATA BERHASIL..BAGI ANDA YANG INGIN DIBANTU SAMA KI WARA SEPERTI KAMI SILAHKAN HBG 082322214888 ATAU BISA JUGA ANDA. KLIK BOCORAN TOGEL JITU DISINI
ReplyDeleteSAYA IBU WATI INGIN BERTERIMA KASIH BANYAK KEPADA KI WARA YANG SUDAH MEMBANTU ORANG TUA SAYA KARNA SELAMA INI ORANG TUA SAYA SEDANG TERLILIT HUTANG YANG BANYAK,,BERKAT BANTUAN KI WARA SEKARANG ORANG TUA SAYA SUDAH BISA MELUNASI SEMUA HUTANG2NYA DAN SAWAH YANG DULUNYA SEMPAT DIGADAIKAN SEKARANG SUDAH BISA DI TEBUS KEMBALI ITU SEMUA ATAS BANTUAN KI WARA YANG MEMBERIKAN ANGKA RITUALNYA KEPADA KAMI DAN TIDAK DISANGKA2 TERNYATA BERHASIL..BAGI ANDA YANG INGIN DIBANTU SAMA KI WARA SEPERTI KAMI SILAHKAN HBG 082322214888 ATAU BISA JUGA ANDA. KLIK BOCORAN TOGEL JITU DISINI
My first kdrama was "Dating agency Cyrano", second " Flower boy next door", third "master's sun". That trio got my heart for kdramas and I still watching them even now :)
ReplyDeleteRed