The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
  • Multicultural Youth Award
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
  • Translation Award
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • all menu
  • search
  • facebookfacebook
  • twittertwitter
  • youtubeyoutube
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • all menu
  • search
  • facebookfacebook
  • twittertwitter
  • youtubeyoutube
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Photo News
  • Features
  • Presidential Inauguration
  • KoreaToday
  • Ramsar Changwon 2008
  • Branding Korea
  • Korea Development Model Conference
  • Icons & influencers
  • NIE Times
  • Global Korea
  • Global Etiquette
  • Korea IR
  • North Korea Today
  • China Today
  • Hi Seoul
  • Trend 2008
  • ASEAN+Korea Summit
  • Konglish
  • Focus FTA
  • blog
  • POPsong
  • KoreaToday_
  • Club Med
Sat, December 7, 2019 | 23:14
Korean drama gains popularity in Taiwan
Posted : 2011-08-21 16:03
Updated : 2011-08-21 16:03
Kang Hyun-kyung
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
By Kang Hyun-kyung

The increase in content of Korean dramas on Taiwan TV networks is proof of their gaining popularity.

According to the South Korean mission in Taipei, 120 Korean dramas in total have been televised in the country in the first half of this year, which is as many as Japanese dramas.

In light of viewer ratings, made-in-Korea soap operas are as high as Japanese dramas in Taiwan where Japanese cultural products are very popular.

Ming-Liang Liu, assistant representative of the Taipei Mission in Seoul, said the Confucian culture shaped the backbone of Korean dramas and among others, this is a key reason of their popularity in Taiwan.

“(As many people already know) Taiwanese people, and not to mention of Chinese, are heavily affected by the Confucian culture and still many cherish the traditional cultural code. They miss this element because many dramas aired in Taiwan don’t feature this any longer,” he said. “I clearly see that Korean dramas have that cultural code. I think this explains why Taiwanese people are so attached to Korean dramas.”

Among hundreds of dramas that have been aired, the “Jewel in the Palace,” “Full House” and “Temptation” are in the top 10 popular Korean dramas’ list in Taiwan.

Dramas played a leading role in the eruption of the Korean wave in Asia and some part of the Middle Eastern countries, including Iran. The trend is changing now as K-pop stars “stole the show.”

Industry experts said social media, including You-Tube, played a key role in “creating” the Korean wave boom in some European countries like France and Latin American countries such as Peru.

Apparently overshadowed by K-pop or Korean pop idols, the popularity of Korean dramas appeared to wane slowly in some regions.

But Korean dramas are still popular in Taiwan. Liu said the term hallyu was coined in his country in 1997 after the drama “Fireworks” appealed to the hearts of Taiwanese viewers.

Actress Lee Young-ae, a heroine of “Jewel in the Palace” that mesmerized the global viewers, played a lead role in Fireworks.

Hallyu in Chinese implies that Korean dramas are overwhelmingly competitive and thus people in the Taiwanese entertainment industry need to be wary of their influence in Taiwan.

The popularity of Korean dramas was associated with a rapid increase of Taiwanese tourists to Korea.

Hallyu prompted a popular debate in Taiwan and other countries whether there was a role that the Korean government financed the production of dramas.

Industry experts denied this. Producers and directors noted that the-survival-of-the fittest rule dominated the industry and heavy competition prodded them to make dramas that can appeal to viewers.
Emailhkang@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter








 
 
  • numberShould China replace US as S. Korea's key ally?
  • numberKorea gripped by season's coldest weather
  • numberYoung Filipino-Korean dance group to perform musical show
  • number'Unprecedented' fires turn skies orange in Australia
  • numberBoeing poor in repairing defective B737 jets
  • numberNorth Korea threatens to resume calling Trump 'dotard'
  • numberIndians hail 'quick justice' after cops shoot dead 4 suspects in gang-rape case
  • numberBeijing asks Seoul to 'deal properly' with THAAD
  • numberLawmakers move to ban Tada's 'taxi business'
  • numberKorea slips to become Japan's No. 4 export destination amid trade row: data
  • Actor Kang Ji-hwan gets suspended prison sentence in rape case Actor Kang Ji-hwan gets suspended prison sentence in rape case
  • BTS, 'Parasite' - victims of China's culture protectionism BTS, 'Parasite' - victims of China's culture protectionism
  • Singer Choi Jong-hoon appeals gang-rape conviction Singer Choi Jong-hoon appeals gang-rape conviction
  • BTS 'takes swipe at' chart rankings manipulation BTS 'takes swipe at' chart rankings manipulation
  • Red-hot 'Frozen 2' melts records in Korea Red-hot 'Frozen 2' melts records in Korea
DARKROOM
  • Global climate change: time is running out

    Global climate change: time is running out

  • CA cave fire burns more than 4,300 acres

    CA cave fire burns more than 4,300 acres

  • No money, no hope: South Korea's 'Dirt Spoons'

    No money, no hope: South Korea's 'Dirt Spoons'

  • Hong Kong democrats score historic victory

    Hong Kong democrats score historic victory

  • Halloween

    Halloween

  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Ombudsman
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright