Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Let's Learn about Korea on Tuesday-Lesson #12

South Korean music and tv shows have become popular all over Asia and beyond, this is known as the Korean Wave.

K-Drama Korean Dramas follow one of two genres. The first is similar to a soap opera with lots of romance and plot twists. The second is similar to a historical mini-series with elaborate costumes and an emphasis on martial arts. Each series runs from 20-100 episodes per drama. I have recently rented All About Eve from Netflix. It's typical to a soap with heavy drama and long stares, but it's great fun! I'm quickly getting hooked on the story...that Young-Mi is up to no good! It's also interesting to see everyday life in South Korea and pick up on some culture norms.

K-Pop K-Pop is a mix of dance, techno, rap and rock that emulates boy and girl bands from America. The huge popularity of Seo-Taiji and Boys in the early 1990's was a turning point for K-pop to start gaining international appeal.

The you-tube video below combines both elements of the Korean Wave. It is the K-Pop song "True Love" by FinKL, which is the opening to the K-Drama All About Eve.

I must admit I've got a weakness for cheesy, catchy, international pop songs...so this is right up my alley!

2 comments:

Christine @ 12,450miles said...

I'm right there with you on the k-pop! Love that stuff!

I'm also really into the dramas right now... I'm working through "Coffee Prince" and "Boys Before Flowers" right now. (via downloads)

We should compare notes, I'm always looking for new series and songs.

Rach@In His Hands said...

What a smart idea to rent it - a great way to learn more about the culture!