Korean drama

Quick Facts: Who was Korean drama?

Subject:

Korean drama

Known for:

A genre of Korean-language TV shows achieving global fame as K-dramas.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

A Korean drama (Korean: 한국 드라마; RR: Hanguk deurama), also known as a K-drama and Koreanovela, is a Korean-language television show made in South Korea. These shows began to be produced around the early 1960s, but were mostly consumed domestically until the rise of the Korean Wave in the 1990s. They have since achieved significant international popularity, with millions of viewers across the world. Beginning around the 1970s, more and more households in South Korea owned televisions. Programs were often produced on low budgets and were mostly consumed domestically.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The industry significantly developed in the 1980s, after the spread of color television. Beginning in the early 1990s, several Korean dramas began achieving significant international popularity, primarily in China and Japan. In addition, South Korean popular music ("K-pop") and films began seeing similar successes, which gave rise to rapid international adoption of South Korean media in a phenomenon commonly called the Korean Wave. In the following decades, viewership spread throughout the globe. Rapid growth continued into the 2010s, with the rise in online streaming.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Around this period, the American video streaming company Netflix took an interest in the phenomenon, and began releasing Korean dramas on its platform, as well as creating and funding newer such works. This culminated in the release of the 2021 Squid Game, which was watched by more than 142 million households in its first four weeks. In 2022, Netflix reported that 60 percent of its 221 million subscribers had watched a Korean program in the last year. The success of Korean dramas has had a significant economic impact on South Korea. In 2022, US$561 million of Korean television content was sold abroad, which was a 30% increase from the previous year, surpassing those of South Korea's major export items such as secondary batteries and electric vehicles.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 2021: 2021 Milestone — This culminated in the release of the 2021 Squid Game, which was watched by more than 142 million households in its first four weeks.
2. 2022: 2022 Milestone — In 2022, Netflix reported that 60 percent of its 221 million subscribers had watched a Korean program in the last year.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Korean drama

True or False: “The initial international spread of Korean dramas was primarily driven by the rise of online streaming platforms like Netflix in the 2010s.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The early international success began in the 1990s, particularly in China and Japan, preceding the major global streaming boom.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Korean drama