Things I have learned from watching Korean rom-coms and dramas

[learieonthewildmoor]

1. No matter how different cultures may be, the misogyny and sexism are EXACTLY the same! Same methods used, same shit! It’s like men have a hand-book.
2. Grandma is doomed
3. You are doomed if you’re mother in law doesn’t like you
4. Despite having the most intense skincare and make up regimen in the universe, Korean women only use a splash of serum and a dab of powder and lip stain. Their beautifully painted eyes are just like that. Naturally.
5. There are two teams of writers who swap over at episode 8 but don’t communicate at all and the series will completely change direction and mood.
6. Immediately after declaring their undying love and desire to stay at each other’s side forever, one of the lovers will break up with the other for an entirely spurious reason.
7. There will be a separation of at least a year where the lovers don’t communicate but everyone completely understands that and it isn’t a problem.
8. Korean actors are the best in the world at emoting and crying.
9. It’s the men who have a “take your shirt off” clause in their contract. I am ashamed to say I am in full support of it.
10. Lee Jun Ho > Park Seo Joon. I can only tell that after watching many many shows.

I have many more opinions but 10 is enough for now.

When life gives you tangerines 🍊

I cannot watch anything deliberately tragic. The fluffy rom coms have enough tragedy what with Grandma being doomed and the really sad breakup in episode 9.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo and Kang Tae Oh being disappointed.

5.1 They can and do kill off the main lead 🙈

I’m sure that’s the second male lead that gets killed, not the first male lead.
5.1 - second male lead is either unlucky in love or doomed. This is particularly sad when it’s Jun Il Woo or Kang Tae Oh.
11 - check how old everyone is, you’ll be relieved to find they are not actually 12 years old.

5.1 nope Moon Lovers Scarlet Heart 🤨 not a HEA (but I will admit with "Kill it" I should have had a clue🙈🤣)

[(Edit) i admit not neither qualify as romcom)

Are these on Netflix? Which is a good one to start with? Agree with the nothing tragic.

You can tell when Korean woman is being sarcastic, even without subtitles or understanding a word of Korean.

They're on the same level as a Father Jack "apology".

It really helps to be Irish Catholic in order to understand the subtext and recognise the repressed rage when everyone has only said “hello”.

Netflix for the dramas, Viki for the rom coms.

Moon lovers, scarlet heart: this one stands alone for unnecessary sadness and I have assiduously avoided it despite the presence of two of my favourite actors.

Watch “Tastefully Yours” on Netflix. We might need a seperate thread for recommendations, with Death Star warnings for tragedy.

12 Koreans are weak sauce when it comes to swearing.

Thanks @learieonthewildmoor Going to have a look at Tastefully Yours and see about getting Viki!

If you type Korean drama/rom com into Netflix search eleventy billion shows and movies will appear. Google the show with “review” and eleventy billion reviews from websites and reddit will appear. People painstakingly recap episodes.
13 People take dramas tremendously seriously.