Korean Drama is one of those genres that you should really consider watching if you have the time. This is because it offers a different take on storytelling aside from the usual fare you get from the English-speaking programs.Like almost all genres, there are certain concepts in Korean-made stories that are often repeated a thousand times.
This is not because they are bad or boring (provided they are properly executed) but they are usedto market to the tastes of the Korean audience. What are the top 5 tropes in Korean Shows? Here they are.
A. The Protagonist
To start things off, most Korean protagonists are female because Korean-style drama is marketed towards female audiences. The only exceptions to this rule are a few historical dramas, where it is always a general or a prince, and crime dramas where the protagonist is a male lawyer, cop or gangster.
In addition, female protagonists tend to go a certain direction regarding their background. If they are in a light-hearted romantic comedy, they are bubbly and well-meaningklutzes who take on odd jobs. If the series requires for a stronger lead, the woman will always have a usually male job like a lawyer or a doctor and will assume a strong-willed demeanor.
B. The Jerk With the Heart of Gold
In the opposite side of the storytelling coin will be a male character that is a spoiled, rebellious brat or a cold-hearted, by-the-booksman of the system. Either way, they serve as the perfect foil to the heroine, always downplaying their roles in the story or even posing a considerable hindrance in their dreams in the first arcs.
What is most common in this secondary protagonist, however, is that their good intentions are eventually revealed deep beneath their angst-ridden and stoic demeanor. The purpose of this character is always the same: they will serve as the opposite to the character whose eventual change (or redemption) will be integral in advancing the plot.
C. The Nice Guy
These characters are always the sidekicks of the main characters, acting as their emotional support for the rest of story. If the main character is male, the nice guy is always, well, a nice girl. If the main character is a girl, the nice guy is always a street-smart, big brother type of guardian.
What is common with these characters is that they would usually have feeling of unrequited love towards the protagonist. Their feelings may be revealed in the later parts of the story, or completely given up in order to make amends with the main characters and their love interest.
D. The “Bad Guy”
This character is always the direct hindrance to every effort made by the characters. In crime and historical dramas, they are always a corrupt politician or gang boss who may or may not have relations with one of the main characters (plot twist). At most times,they will always assume a calm and confident demeanor, ever so certain that their plans will work.
In romantic comedies, they take on a less sinister and more annoying role: the disapproving mother or in-law. These characters are always quick to ridicule, berate and scheme against one of the characters, which will always produce humorous results.
E. The Plot Twist
Finally, no Korean Drama is complete without some form of twist that will hinder the relationship between the two characters. At most times, they are always plot devices that will take the story into a very different direction.
Common plot twists include revealing that two characters are related, the reappearance of old characters and the most common twist in melodramatic Korean love stories: leukemia.
These are but a few of the many common storytelling concepts found in Korean-made shows and movies. If you are up to the challenge, you can spot more of them by watching Korean shows and movies here: http://ow.ly/qeiXZ
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