Due to COVID restrictions increasing again, I have not been able to travel around much lately. So since I have no travel journeys to share, I wanted to instead talk about a little interest of mine: Korean Entertainment!
If you’re like me and many others, K-dramas and K-pop were your introductions to Korean culture. This interest is what pushes many people to teach abroad in Korea. Many of my fellow EPIK teachers I met at orientation loved and had years of familiarity with Korean entertainment. However, there were also quite a few teachers who had never watched a single K-drama or ever listened to K-pop outside of BTS. I noticed many fellow EPIK teachers saying, “I wish I had watched more Korean media before coming here but now I don’t know where to start!”
With that being said, I decided to make a list of 9 pieces of Korean Media that I would recommend new expats or anyone interested in learning more about Korea try out. This is just my suggestion and is not meant to be complete coverage of Korean culture. As I said, experiencing Korean entertainment is just a sneak-peek into Korean culture and this list is not meant to suggest you will be an expert by the end.
I also wanted this list to have suggestions that veer from the highly popular suggestions. I completely recommend Parasite, Train to Busan, and of course, Squid Game but decided not to include them on this list for the sake of variety. Without further ado, let’s get into it!
Books
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
“Pachinko follows one Korean family through the generations, beginning in early 1900s Korea with Sunja, the prized daughter of a poor yet proud family, whose unplanned pregnancy threatens to shame them all. Deserted by her lover, Sunja is saved when a young tubercular minister offers to marry and bring her to Japan.” Source: Min Jin Lee
Including Pachinko was a no-brainer. There have been few books in my life that made me sit in silence after finishing and this novel did. Throughout the novel and by the end, I felt so connected to our heroine Sungja and the family she built over the decades. This connection was further solidified as the reader sees her go through one hardship to the next. The characters all felt so real to me and their pain made my heart hurt. Although this book is fiction, it is about the real experiences of Korean people during the Japanese occupation period.
My knowledge of the complex relations between Asian countries is minimal. After reading this book, I felt more able to begin to understand the long-standing tension between Japan and Korea and how it still affects the two countries today. Additionally, since this book practically spans an entire century, you get to learn much about Korean history in general. This book is not a light read so bring tissues but the knowledge gained from reading is worth it.
Extra recommendations:
Human Acts and The Vegetarian by Han Kang: Although I have yet to read either of Han Kang’s most famous works, I have only heard good things about both. The Vegetarian touches on gender roles in Korean society and Human Acts is about the Gwangju Uprising which will also be covered in this list.
Movies
A Taxi Driver (2007)
A Taxi Driver is a film that takes place during the Gwangju Uprising that occurred from May 18, 1980, to May 27, 1980, up to 2,000 people were killed. Kim Man Seob is a single father and a taxi driver in Seoul who jumps on an opportunity to drive a foreigner from Gwangju to Seoul for a hefty sum of cash. Unbeknownst to him, this foreigner is Jürgen “Peter” Hinzpeter, a journalist who aims to cover the increasing civil unrest in the southern city.
I don’t want to give too much more away since I think this movie just needs to be experienced not explained. I had learned of the Gwangju Uprising a few months before I found out I would be living in Gwangju. At the time, I was amazed and shocked to learn of such a tragic event that happened in only recent history. If you don’t know, the Gwangju Uprising was organized by college students at Chonnam University. They were fighting against the martial law put in place by disgraced President Chun Doo Hwan. This event is what led to the creation of democracy in Korea.
Pivotal and still deeply moving today, the Gwangju Uprising is highly important to learn about when looking at modern Korean history. I cannot recommend this film enough, especially as someone who lives in the very city where this took place.
Extra recommendations:
I Can Speak (2009): A movie focusing on “comfort women” during the Japanese occupation. A great movie that deals with a heavy topic but keeps things lighthearted.
The Odd Family: Zombie on Sale (2019): A super fun comedy film set around a family in the countryside dealing with a zombie outbreak. Nothing about this movie is historical but you can see fun family dynamics. One of my favorites.
Minari (2020): This is actually an American film but centers around a family who recently moved to America. Beautifully shot, this feels more like a documentary than a fictional story since the characters feel so real. The acting performances from the whole cast, especially Han Yeri, are what pull the film together.
Dramas
This will be where most of my recommendations are since K-dramas is what got me into Korean culture in the first place. Bear with me, I have seen over 150 K-dramas at this point so narrowing it down is quite the task for me. Also, all dramas mentioned can be watched on Netflix!
My Country: The New Age
Set during the end of the Goryeo period to the early Joseon period. Two friends aim their swords against one another due to differences in opinion about “my country.”
If you are going to start getting into K-dramas, the different types are important to understand. Most are modern-day but historical dramas, called “sageuks”, are very popular. There are a plethora of sageuks to choose from but this one is my favorite. What makes this drama so great is the blending of fiction with history. One of the main characters, Lee Bang Won, is a real historical figure and highly important to Korean history. On his side and the opposing side are childhood best friends Hwi and Seonho.
The journey of these two friends throughout war and political turmoil is gripping. I watched this show when it was airing and waiting for episodes each week was excruciating. If you are into shows such as Game of Thrones or Outlander, this might be up your alley. Overall, this action historical will leave you on the edge of your seat and also give you a glimpse of ancient Korean history.
Move to Heaven
Geu Roo is a young autistic man. He works for his father’s business “Move To Heaven.” Their job is to arrange items left by deceased people. One day, Geu Roo’s father dies. Geu Roo is left alone, but his uncle Sang Koo suddenly appears in front of him. Sang Koo is a freshly released convict. He was a martial artist who fought in underground matches. As Geu Roo’s guardian, Sang Koo is required to work for Move to Heaven.
Grab your tissues first and foremost. This drama is an emotional and heartwarming journey. I am not the type to cry at shows but this show had me ugly sobbing. With its short length, you could binge this in a day which is what I would recommend.
This show touches on a variety of societal issues in Korea while giving hope to move forward. Some topics touched on in this show are bullying, stalking, LGBTQ+, special needs/disabilities, poverty. Man, does this show tug at the heartstrings in the best way.
Extracurricular
Extracurricular is centered around four high school students who start committing crimes to earn money and the unpredictable dangers they face as a result.
Our main character, Ji Soo, is a model student who has had a rough life in poverty. He is playing in a dangerous world of crime to get the money he needs to find the success he wants. This drama will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time. It is action-packed with characters that toe the lines of what is right and wrong.
This drama can help you learn about some dark aspects of Korea such as prostitution, bullying, and class differences. It can be tough to watch but it does mimic real-life events (Nth room scandal). While it can be hard to learn about these parts of Korean culture, it is nevertheless important. Especially if you are coming to Korea as a teacher. The pressure many students face can have tragic consequences and as a teacher, it is good to be aware of what your students might be facing.
Just Between Lovers (Rain or Shine)
15-year-olds Lee Gang Doo and Ha Moon Soo had their lives permanently altered after surviving a building collapse that took the lives of 48 people. As adults, they both face the hardships of adulthood along with the emotional pain of their past. They are brought together to work on a construction project at the accident site. Through each other, they begin to heal and learn what living means.
If you have ever had to hear me yap away about k-dramas in real life, there is a 99.9% chance I have talked about Just Between Lovers. This is my favorite k-drama to date and I have rewatched it an alarming amount of times by now. It is a beautiful romance about people healing from trauma, what more could you ask for? If there is one genre that dominates k-dramas, it is absolutely romance. You might not think romance is your cup of tea but I recommend just trying out one romance k-drama anyway. The typical one-season, 16 episode format might be perfect for you!
As for Korean culture, the building collapse in this drama is based on the real-life Sampoong Department Store collapse in 1995. But besides that historical aspect, this drama is a good look at a normal life in Korea. You can learn more about small aspects such as drinking culture, saunas, terms such as “hyung” and “oppa”. I could rave on and on about this drama but I will leave it at that!
Secret Forest (Stranger)
A spunky detective and a prosecutor devoid of emotions due to his brain surgery as a child team up to take down corruption within the prosecutor’s office. Before I started this drama, I had only heard raving reviews. So, I was nervous to be disappointed since legal dramas aren’t my go-to choice but I was not disappointed in the slightest.
This drama takes a simple event that throughout the series, turns to be more complex as relationships and lies are tangled in. You will find yourself second-guessing any characters. The leads also have great non-romantic chemistry that made me root for them till the last second.
Corruption finds its way into any legal system around the world. It was interesting to learn more about the inner workings of the prosecution system in Korea while also acknowledging no country’s system is free of error. If you liked shows like Broadchurch or Fargo, this would be a great show for you!
TV Show
Road to Kingdom and Kingdom: Legendary War
Ok, this might be cheating since these are technically two separate shows but one is the sequel so I’m making it count.
Road to Kingdom and Kingdom are k-pop competition shows where 6 k-pop groups create elaborate performances each week to make it to the top. Road to Kingdom has 6 lesser-known Kpop groups who wish to make a name for themselves with outstanding performances. The winner of Road to Kingdom earned a spot on Kingdom: Legendary War. Kingdom: Legendary War put 6 very well-known groups up against each other for some friendly competition.
If you are coming to Korea with absolutely no knowledge of Kpop, I highly recommend watching both. Through this show, viewers get an inside look at the insane amount of effort that goes into these idols’ performances. From the outside, many people might think Kpop is all glitz and glam with perfect-looking people lip-syncing, but hopefully many will change their minds after seeing the blood, sweat, and tears idols put into their art.
These shows will give you a good understanding of modern Kpop but also the history of Kpop as well since many of the performances each week are covers of iconic Kpop songs. You will also be introduced to the wondrous Korean editing style which is highly entertaining and very different from American reality shows.
2 Days & 1 Night
I think this is a pretty self-explanatory title. The premise of the reality show 2 Days & 1 Night is cast members exploring various places in Korea for, you guessed it, two days and one night. The show’s motto is “Real Wild Road Variety.”
I have only seen a few episodes of this show so I can’t say I’m a super fan. I am not personally very into travel shows. However, I know a lot of people who really enjoy them so I would be remiss not to recommend this show. By watching this show you can get a real-life look at the beautiful sights all around Korea. You also learn a lot about Korean cuisine so maybe don’t watch on an empty stomach.
Along with learning about various places in Korea, you can witness the Korean sense of humor. Like any other country, Korea has a distinct comedy style. It might be different from America, but I find myself laughing at these shows quite a bit. If you’re into reality and travel, I would definitely recommend checking this show out!
I hope this list could inspire some people to dive into the world of Korean entertainment. There are so many gems I didn’t put on here but I think this is all a great starting point for newcomers. And if you’re still hesitant, I will leave it to Director Bong Joon Ho to give some advice.
Carly in Korea 