How Korea is Taking Over Hollywood

Faultline
14 Sept 202320:38

Summary

TLDRThe video script explores the meteoric rise of Korean dramas (K-dramas) and their impact on global pop culture, rivaling Hollywood's dominance. It delves into the history of the 'Korean Wave', from the aftermath of the Korean War to the present, highlighting key moments like 'Squid Game's' success and the influence of streaming platforms. The script discusses the cultural significance of K-dramas, their storytelling depth, and the challenges faced by the industry, including fair compensation and labor practices.

Takeaways

  • 🌐 The rise of Korean dramas (K-dramas) has rivaled Hollywood's dominance in pop culture, with Netflix investing heavily in Korean content following hits like 'Squid Game'.
  • 🎬 'Parasite' made history as the first foreign language film to win the Oscar for Best Picture, highlighting the global impact of Korean media.
  • 🎢 K-pop bands like BTS and Blackpink are part of the 'Korean Wave', influencing culture and behavior worldwide, similar to Hollywood's past influence.
  • πŸ“Ί The growth of K-dramas has been decades in the making, with roots in South Korea's post-Korean War industrialization and media censorship.
  • πŸ† The 1990s saw the 'Golden Era' of Korean broadcasting, with color TV and reduced censorship, leading to the rise of popular dramas that resonated with everyday life.
  • πŸ“ˆ The success of Hollywood blockbusters like 'Jurassic Park' inspired South Korea to invest in its entertainment industry as a significant economic driver.
  • πŸ’Έ The Asian financial crisis in 1997 prompted South Korea to rebrand and globalize its culture, leading to the modern era of K-dramas.
  • 🌍 Streaming platforms have been instrumental in the global spread of K-dramas, making them accessible to international audiences and fostering a binge-watching culture.
  • πŸ“Š The global lockdown during the pandemic acted as a catalyst for K-dramas' popularity, with increased viewership across Asia, the US, Canada, Portugal, and Spain.
  • πŸ† The success of K-dramas has led to recognition in Hollywood and competition for content between streaming platforms like Netflix, Apple TV, HBO Max, and Disney Plus.
  • πŸ”„ Despite the challenges of fair compensation and labor practices in the industry, K-dramas have proven their endurance and potential to offer a significant alternative to Western-dominated global pop culture.

Q & A

  • What is the significance of the influx of Korean TV shows on Netflix?

    -The influx of Korean TV shows on Netflix signifies the growing global popularity and influence of Korean media, which has started to rival Hollywood's dominance in shaping culture and providing a common ground for people worldwide to connect.

  • How much did Netflix invest in Korean content after the success of 'Squid Game'?

    -Netflix invested an additional $2.5 billion in Korean content after the success of 'Squid Game'.

  • What event marked the beginning of the 'Korean Wave' or 'Hallyu'?

    -The term 'Hallyu' or Korean Wave refers to the global popularity of South Korean culture and entertainment, which began to take shape in the late 20th century, but gained significant momentum with the success of shows like 'Winter Sonata' in the early 2000s.

  • What historical event impacted the development of Korean media and its censorship?

    -The Korean War had a significant impact on the development of Korean media and its censorship, as it left the country economically devastated and under strict government control, which included heavy censorship of media.

  • How did the South Korean government's policies in the 1960s influence the growth of the entertainment industry?

    -In the 1960s, the South Korean government, under General Park Chang-hee, focused on industrialization and promoting entrepreneurship, which paved the way for major brands. The government also established KBS TV station, initially as a propaganda tool, but later allowed private broadcast stations, leading to competition and investment in entertainment production.

  • What role did the Asian financial crisis of 1997 play in the South Korean government's approach to the entertainment industry?

    -The Asian financial crisis of 1997 severely impacted South Korea's economy, leading the government to seek an emergency loan from the IMF. This crisis prompted the government to view the entertainment industry as a means of nation rebranding and a potential driver for economic growth, leading to globalization efforts.

  • How did the success of 'Winter Sonata' contribute to the Korean Wave?

    -'Winter Sonata' was a massive hit in 2002 that launched Korean dramas to international fame, especially in Japan, and sparked the Korean Wave, drawing a cult following and significant revenue from merchandise.

  • What technological advancements and platforms have contributed to the global reach of Korean dramas?

    -Technological advancements such as the introduction of color TV in 1980, the rise of digital video, and improved CGI in the '90s, along with the launch of platforms like YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu, have made Korean dramas more accessible to an international audience and contributed to their global reach.

  • How has the length of Korean dramas influenced viewer engagement and emotional connection?

    -The length of Korean dramas, with episodes often being 90 minutes long, allows for more time for character development and storytelling, enabling viewers to emotionally connect with the characters and become more engaged in the narrative.

  • What challenges does the Korean entertainment industry face as it continues to grow and compete with Hollywood?

    -The Korean entertainment industry faces challenges such as fair compensation for creators, avoiding exploitative labor practices, and maintaining innovation to continue attracting domestic and international audiences as it grows and competes with Hollywood.

  • How has the global lockdown during the pandemic affected the viewership of Korean dramas?

    -The global lockdown during the pandemic acted as a catalyst for the growth in the popularity of Korean dramas, as more people turned to streaming platforms for entertainment, resulting in a significant increase in viewership across various regions.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 The Global Rise of Korean Dramas

This paragraph introduces the surge in popularity of Korean TV shows on platforms like Netflix, following the massive success of 'Squid Game' and the cultural impact of Korean media, often referred to as the Korean Wave or 'Hallyu'. It discusses the investment in Korean content and the historical context of South Korea's recovery post-Korean War, leading to the rise of its entertainment industry. The narrator's personal mission to understand the genre's global appeal by watching 10 Korean dramas over 10 weeks is also outlined.

05:00

πŸ“Ί The Evolution of Korean Broadcasting

The second paragraph delves into the history of Korean broadcasting, starting from the establishment of government-owned KBS TV station to the introduction of private broadcasters in the late '60s. It highlights the shift from political to everyday life content, the impact of color TV in the '80s, and the end of authoritarian rule leading to reduced media censorship. The paragraph also touches on the influence of Hollywood's success on South Korea's entertainment industry and the Asian financial crisis's role in prompting a cultural rebranding.

10:02

🌟 The Golden Era and International Impact

This section discusses the '90s as the Golden Era of Korean broadcasting, with the introduction of color TV and the expansion of genres to attract younger audiences. It details the export of Korean dramas to neighboring countries and the government's recognition of the entertainment industry's potential following the success of 'Jurassic Park'. The paragraph also covers the impact of the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the subsequent efforts to globalize Korean culture, leading to the modern era of Korean dramas.

15:06

πŸš€ Streaming Services and the Explosion of K-Dramas

The fourth paragraph examines the role of streaming services in popularizing Korean dramas worldwide. It mentions the launch of platforms like YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu, which increased the accessibility of foreign content. The paragraph highlights the success of specific dramas like 'Winter Sonata' and 'Jewel in the Palace', and how the global lockdown during the pandemic further boosted the popularity of K-dramas. It also discusses the social media impact and the record-breaking success of 'Squid Game'.

20:07

🌍 The Future of K-Dramas and Challenges Ahead

The final paragraph reflects on the journey of Korean dramas and their current status as a significant player in the global entertainment industry. It acknowledges the challenges faced, such as the exploitation of labor and unfair distribution of revenue, and compares the current situation to Hollywood's early days. The narrator expresses excitement for the potential of diverse filmmakers and the enduring impact of K-dramas, emphasizing their place in the global pop culture landscape.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘Korean TV shows

Korean TV shows refer to television programs produced in South Korea, encompassing a variety of genres such as romance and critically acclaimed dramas. The script discusses the surge in popularity of these shows on platforms like Netflix, indicating a cultural shift where Korean media is now a significant part of global pop culture.

πŸ’‘Squid Game

Squid Game is a South Korean survival drama that became a global phenomenon on Netflix. It represents the breakthrough success of Korean dramas on an international scale, with its critical acclaim and viewership numbers challenging traditional Hollywood dominance in the entertainment industry.

πŸ’‘Parasite

Parasite is a South Korean film that made history by winning the Oscar for Best Picture in 2019. It was the first foreign-language film to achieve this accolade, highlighting a milestone in the recognition of non-Hollywood cinema and contributing to the Korean Wave's impact on global culture.

πŸ’‘BTS

BTS is a globally renowned South Korean boy band that represents the K-pop genre within the Korean Wave. Their meeting with Joe Biden, as mentioned in the script, signifies the cultural and political influence of K-pop and Korean media on a global scale.

πŸ’‘Hallyu

Hallyu, also known as the Korean Wave, is a term used to describe the global spread of South Korean culture and entertainment. It includes K-pop, Korean dramas, and other cultural exports that have gained international popularity, as discussed in the script in relation to the rise of Korean media.

πŸ’‘Streaming services

Streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Apple TV+ have played a pivotal role in the global dissemination of Korean dramas. The script highlights how these platforms have made Korean content more accessible to international audiences, contributing to the growth and sustainability of the Korean entertainment industry.

πŸ’‘Korean War

The Korean War is a historical event that had profound effects on South Korea's economy and society. The script uses it as a starting point to explain the origins of the country's cultural and entertainment industry, which has since evolved to become a global phenomenon.

πŸ’‘Censorship

Censorship in South Korea is mentioned in the script as a historical challenge faced by the entertainment industry. It refers to the government's control and suppression of media content, which has since been relaxed, allowing for the creative freedom that has contributed to the success of Korean dramas.

πŸ’‘Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park is used in the script as an example of Hollywood's success and its influence on South Korea's perception of the entertainment industry. The film's global impact prompted South Korea to recognize the potential of entertainment as a significant economic and cultural force.

πŸ’‘Asian financial crisis

The Asian financial crisis of 1997 is mentioned in the script as a turning point for South Korea's economy and its approach to cultural exports. The crisis led to a reevaluation of the country's economic strategy, with a focus on globalizing Korean culture as a means of recovery and growth.

πŸ’‘Intellectual property rights

Intellectual property rights are discussed in the context of the Netflix model in South Korea and its impact on creators. The script points out the challenges faced by content creators, such as the director of Squid Game, who may not benefit equitably from the revenue generated by their work due to contractual obligations.

Highlights

The recent surge in Korean TV shows on Netflix, with over 300 shows available, reflects the growing global popularity of Korean dramas.

Netflix's investment of an additional $2.5 billion in Korean dramas follows the success of 'Squid Game', indicating a strategic commitment to Korean content.

The historical success of 'Parasite' at the Oscars and the global fame of BTS exemplify the cultural impact of Korean media.

The 'Hallyu' or Korean Wave describes the global spread of South Korean culture, including K-pop, skincare, and food.

South Korea's post-Korean War economic recovery and media censorship shaped the early development of Korean dramas.

The introduction of color TV and the end of authoritarian rule in the 1980s marked the Golden Era of Korean broadcasting.

The export of Korean dramas to China in the 1990s represented the first unofficial case of the Korean Wave.

The Asian financial crisis in 1997 prompted South Korea to rebrand the nation through globalization of its culture.

The success of 'Winter Sonata' in 2002 significantly boosted the Korean Wave, especially in Japan.

The advent of streaming platforms like YouTube, Netflix, and Hulu made Korean dramas more accessible to international audiences.

The binge-watching culture facilitated by streaming services has contributed to the addictive nature of Korean dramas.

The global export value of K-content has surpassed that of major industries like home appliances and electric cars in South Korea.

The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst for the growth in popularity of Korean dramas, with increased viewership across various regions.

Streaming platforms are investing heavily in Korean content, with Netflix pledging $2.5 billion, and other platforms following suit.

The global success of 'Squid Game' highlights the potential for Korean dramas to compete with Hollywood on a global scale.

Korean dramas offer a significant alternative to Western-dominated global pop culture, with a unique storytelling approach.

The Korean entertainment industry's growth and global audience demonstrate its potential to challenge Hollywood, despite the challenges ahead.

Issues of fair compensation and labor practices within the Korean entertainment industry need to be addressed for sustainable growth.

Transcripts

play00:02

you may have recently opened Netflix and

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noticed an influx of Korean TV shows on

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your home

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screen like romantic Korean TV programs

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critically acclaimed Korean TV programs

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in kramas for beginners Netflix has over

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300 of these shows and after the success

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of squid game it invested another $2.5

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billion in kramas and it's not just

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Netflix this is the moment that parasite

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made history as the first foreign

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language film to win the Oscar of the

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best picture in 2019 leaving behind some

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of the biggest names in

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Hollywood and then this is the moment

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that BTS the biggest K-pop band in the

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world met Joe Biden look at they make

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you feel at

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home you guys are good at this H the

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popularity of Korean media has grown to

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a point where it has started to shape

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culture influence behavior and give

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people a common ground to connect over

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all across the world something that

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until recently only Hollywood had the

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power to do but now the pop culture

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dominance of Hollywood is open for

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competition and how do I know all this

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because I'm just a person on the

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internet and it's impossible to miss

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despite not seeing any of these shows

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but what I don't quite understand is how

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the rise of Korean dramas has managed to

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rival Hollywood in such a short space of

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time and with more and more people

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binging these shows and my Tik Tok feed

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just being full of memes that I don't

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quite understand I kind of feel left

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out so the plan is to watch 10K dramas

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over the next 10 weeks I've got some

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options Andy yes not more K dramas but

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you have a video to be do yeah but I'm

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just I'm just finishing this episode and

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then I'll get back to it I promise 10

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shows to keep me going over the next 10

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weeks to understand how this genre

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traveled from South Korea to all across

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the world and to see if this success is

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just a phase or can kramas really

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compete with Hollywood in the long

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run

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well it may seem like oh not good hit

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the microphone sorry well it may seem

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like kramas were an overnight success

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they' have been in the making for

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decades in fact there's a word for it h

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h h h Halu or Korean wave is the name

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given to Global popularity of South

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Korean culture and entertainment

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everything from K-pop bands like BTS and

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black pink to Korean Skin Care in food

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is part of this weight and to fun

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understand the story behind howu and how

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kramas came to be we have to go all the

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way back to the Korean

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War communist troops have invaded

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Southern Korea and Swift from 1950 to

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1953 crushing the economy killing more

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than 2 million people and leaving the

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country completely destroyed while North

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Korea was able to recover within the

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first few years after the war things

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improved for South Korea only in 1961

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when the Army led by General Park Chang

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he seized power and like the previous

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leader of the country Jang HEI put all

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his forces into industrialization and

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promoting entrepreneurship Paving the

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way for some of the biggest brands today

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like Hyundai LG and Samson but his

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regime was also Infamous for heavy

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censorship of all forms of media

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targeting artists and banning American

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Music calling it decadent fore an

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influence on December 31st 1961

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government-owned KBS TV station was

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established and was mainly used as a

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propaganda tool to gain support for

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Parks dictatorship and consolidate

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national identity but the things started

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to change when private broadcast

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stations were finally allowed to operate

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by the government by the late' 60s two

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of these stations TBC TV and NBC TV were

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established and the government had began

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opening up advertising Revenue

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opportunities for these networks the

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following years were marked by Fierce

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competition amongst these free networks

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which meant that more effort and money

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was being put into producing and

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promoting entertainment the subject of

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the broadcast also started to shift from

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political agendas to about everyday

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lives of people by this point more shows

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were being released with better quality

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and these dramas became a popular form

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of entertainment in South Korean

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households shows like aie and Euro

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explored people's lives during Japanese

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colonial rule and the Korean War Susa

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ban Jang which ran for almost two

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decades talked about the different

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social problems that people were facing

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at the time people started getting used

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to the idea of watching television to

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find stories and characters that

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reflected their lives and those that

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they could connect with okay slight

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issue not a great start uh those shows

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I've been able to find Clips online that

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I've watched but I can't find the full

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show I've looked everywhere even illegal

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places but they're so old that I just

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can't find them

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online so I'm going to go Rogue and just

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add in some shows as we go but let's

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move on to the 80s because this is

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considered the Golden Era of Korean

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broadcasting on December 1st 1980 color

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TV was introduced in South Korea and the

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next government elected in 1987 ended

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the authoritarian rule of the previous

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leaders and it immediately shifted its

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focus to modernizing the society and

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reducing media censorship within 5 years

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National TV networks were reaching

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99.3% of South Korean homes which was

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more than the reach of any other form of

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media at the time in addition to the

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usual history imperior dramas newer

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genres like romance were added into the

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mix to attract a younger generation with

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improved technology of the '90s these

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dramas were becoming well produced were

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getting increasingly popular in the

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country and were able to scale up even

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faster which helped them to get more

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popular and start traveling to

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neighboring countries in Asia this show

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what is love told the story of a

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authoritarian patriarchy was the first

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Korean drama to ever be exported to

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China in 1997 and that's kind of

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considered the first unofficial case of

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H I just spent most of the night

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watching a show called jealousy from

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1992 on some like really dodgy website

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not like that like streaming online

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video websites the place can find it

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it's

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totally this was a show along with the

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last match where people were so obsessed

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with these characters that when these

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shows were on the amount of cars on the

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road would dramatically decrease and it

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was a night well spent I got like 90

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sitcom Vibes and the government was

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taking note of the rising popularity of

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these homegrown Productions when

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something overseas caught their

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attention

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welcome to Jurassic Park Jurassic Park

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was released in '93 and became the

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biggest movie in the world at the time

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the South Korean government was so

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impressed by its success that it

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released a report in 1994 comparing how

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the revenue generated by the movie was

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as much as the foreign sales of 1.5

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million Hyandai cars which was one of

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the biggest exports of the country back

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then and remember this was the time when

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Hollywood was entering a new era of

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innovation with digital video improved

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CGI and huge marketing campaigns that

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turn these movies into the Blockbusters

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we know today the industry was taking

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big leaps which were getting rewarded

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and South Korea were like we need that

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we need to be doing what they're doing

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up until Jurassic Park both the

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government and the people in the country

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believed that only big Industries like

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automobiles chemicals and Technology

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could drive South Korea forth forward

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but the success of Jurassic Park changed

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that perception immediately and proved

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that entertainment was an industry worth

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investing but then the Asian financial

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crash hit South Korea in

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1997 the economy took such a severe hit

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that the Korean government was forced to

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ask the IMF for an emergency loan of $57

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billion this crisis also put a dent in

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South Korea's credibility as a place to

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do business and his leaders understood

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that the country needed a nation

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rebranding exercise the president at his

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inaugural address in 98 spoke about the

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government's plan to overcome the

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situation by globalizing the Korean

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culture and hence began the 2000s which

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marked the start of Korean dramas as we

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know them today so the first massive hit

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came in 2002 in a show called winter

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Sonata but this was a show that really

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launched kdramas and like spurred on the

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whole hu movement the Korean wave

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especially in Japan where it drew 20% of

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prime time viewers but the show earned

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such a cult following that it had made

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$3.5 million in merchandise alone that

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much money on merchandise was unheard of

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at the time and in the following year

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jewel in the palace truly globalized

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kramas expanding its reach from Asia to

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the West as well as the Middle East in

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Africa and just to zoom out for a bit

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this is the time when YouTube was

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launched in 2005 Netflix started it

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streaming in 2007 and Hulu was launched

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in the US in 2008 both the industry and

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the viewers were getting used to the

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idea of consuming entertainment online

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and foreign entertainment like that

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coming out of Korea became more

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accessible to an international audience

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on June 21st 2011 one of South Korea's

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biggest networks NBC released a special

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YouTube only edition of a popular romcom

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naughty kiss this episode along with the

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cast interviews and a behind the- scenes

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documentary Drew more than 20 million

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viewers with fans posting subtitles in

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English Chinese Japanese and

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[Music]

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Spanish after discovering that Netflix

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has like 300K dramas that's where I've

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been watching a lot of shows I just

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finished the glory okay this was

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potentially the best show but it just

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made me feel sick the entire time and

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crash landing on you but they're long

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these shows are so long me the amount of

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hours that I spent watching these shows

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is kind of ridiculous each episode it's

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not like 40 to 60 Minutes no that's not

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right they're 90 minutes each episode is

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90 minutes long it's kind of wild where

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is my phone I kept track of one of these

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shows okay yeah so crash Ling on new 16

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episodes which is also kind of long for

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like a streaming Series this day but

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it's not outrageous each episode is 90

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minutes long that's a total of 23.1

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hours of content and did I like it it

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was

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fine and that's the great thing about

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kramas is that they tend to be one

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season long so if you didn't enjoy

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something you can just move on to

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something else because that story is

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complete you don't need to suffer

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through another 10

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seasons what is my job I just spent 24

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hours watching a show called

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Goblin okay so it's now Autumn in London

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so I've changed my attire a bit but on

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the on the way in I realized that I feel

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like I'm dressed like gong Yu's

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character from

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Goblin is my brain subliminally being

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like that guy looks cool I like what

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he's wearing let's do that so that's

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where I am in my life right now and

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something else that I want to say about

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kramas is um I was talking about the

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length sometimes complaining about them

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being long but it actually allows the

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audience way more time to emotionally

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connect with these characters there was

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way more time for character development

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cuz you have 90 minutes per episode but

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the thing I keep thinking about is what

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would this success of KD ders have

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looked like if we didn't have streaming

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services or maybe the problem is that us

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networks would never have green liid a

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Korean drama because they would just be

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like well it's in Korean like our

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audience isn't going to watch that

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whereas platforms like Netflix just want

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as much content as possible so I want to

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find out what streaming services were

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able to do differently that the

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Hollywood Studios in TV networks could

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never have done so I need to speak to a

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uh a K drama expert there's this

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addiction and an obsession and because

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it's bingeable because it was on Netflix

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the binge factor I think is so key to

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what becomes an obsession you're

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essentially watching 16 movies because

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they're so long but because you can roll

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right into the next episode and because

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they're structured so that there's a

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cliffhanger at the end you just keep

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rolling you can't stop it's just this

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Obsession that just can't be denied

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president de jong's 1998 mission of

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globalizing the Korean culture has

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successfully been achieved today with

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the total export value of K content in

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2021 coming to almost 122.5 billion

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which exceeded the value of big

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Industries in Korea Like Home Appliances

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electric cars and display pack the

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minister of culture Sports and tourism

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parkboy June said content has emerged is

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a rising St of Korean export while squid

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game is the most successful Show on

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Netflix the popularity of kers has only

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increased since then topping the Netflix

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charts for several weeks with shows like

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extraordinary attorney who all of us are

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dead business proposal and alchemies of

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souls in fact the global lockdown during

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the pandemic became a huge Catalyst in

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the growth of K drama's popularity with

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theaters shut down and people stuck at

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home a lot of these viewers turned to

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streaming platforms to watch films and

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TV that were released before the

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pandemic the viewership of krama has

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increased by more than four times across

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Asia in 2020 and by 2.5 times in the US

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Canada Portugal and Spain as in June

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2023 Netflix estimates that 60% of its

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more than 230 million subscribers have

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watched Korean titles especially for

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Western Watchers descenders of the sun

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seems to be the big Gateway back in the

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day we get like boole vhs's to watch

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that they this like Hub of people that

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they would find on the internet and they

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would get these videos or they would

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find tour sits and those are like the

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ones that are dedicated and then the

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pandemic hit and crash landing on you

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happened and it just

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imploded like it was crazy the amount of

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people that were loving crash L on you

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were obsessed with it were talking about

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it but then squid game happened and then

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it just went Global squid game squid

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game squid game squid game squid game

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has taken the World by storm I recreated

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every single set from squid game in real

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life stars of the biggest television

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show in the world squid game

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welcome also the social implications of

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these shows is insane I dived into

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kdrama Tik Tok that was something but

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there's these wild fan groups all over

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social media dedicated to K-pop kdramas

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and it's not just Korea people from all

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over the world are partaking and sharing

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their favorite shows and memes on Tik

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Tok I mean the krama hashtag on Tik Tok

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has over 280 billion views it's wild so

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I wasn't surprised Rising when in early

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2023 Netflix announced that it would put

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in $2.5 billion in Korean content which

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would include TV series films as well as

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non-fiction shows Apple TV HBO Max and

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Disney Plus have followed suit by

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producing and acquiring new content to

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add to their libraries of Korean dramas

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thanks to the success of streaming

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platforms kdramas have become a

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household name across the globe and that

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also paved the way for its recognition

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amongst some of the biggest honors in

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Hollywood while the success has been

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great for the South Korean entertainment

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industry in its Global audience I think

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the journey has just begun for kras to

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truly compete with Hollywood in its

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scale in Revenue kramas will need to

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continue innovating themselves and reach

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more domestic and international

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audiences the box office revenue in the

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US stood at 7.5 billion in 2022 while

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the South Korean box office generated

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close to 500 million I know that this

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isn't a fair comparison since Hollywood

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is a much older industry it does give us

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an idea of what hey dramas up against I

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thinked they come back to the couch

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because um I've spent most of the past

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10 weeks sat on couches watching kramas

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but what I wanted to say was I like a

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lot of the western world have been very

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influenced and inspired by Hollywood so

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I'm sure I'm not the only one who saw

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Star Wars and was totally Blown Away by

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it as a kid and the effects of those

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films have had a profound effect on me

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and maybe I can't trace that like

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directly to what I do today but without

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getting into like why Star Wars was such

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a masterpiece or like why I think it's

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so great blah blah blah it was

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objectively an innovation of the time it

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was a huge leap forward in technology

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and film making George Lucas did so much

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with ilm all that stuff has influenced

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my job and what I do so much what I'm

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trying to say is that I'm really excited

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for the Next Generation the next Quenton

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Tarantino he or she may not come from

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Hollywood they maybe a Korean filmmaker

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or a Nigerian filmmaker an Indian

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filmmaker whatever because that is what

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streaming services in the internet has

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opened up and I think that's really

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exciting so if the question is whether

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kramas are the biggest competition of

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Hollywood today I'd say the answer is

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yes but they're still a long way away

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from winning and from the hours that

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I've spent consuming and watching K

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dramas it's not a fad it's definitely

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not a fad it's not just a thing that's

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going to be G on in a year it's it's

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here to stay they are one of the very

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few TV and film industries that have

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fought their way out of domestic

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troubles like censorship and recession

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proving their endurance to last through

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tough times on top of it they've managed

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to find a truly Global audience with

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their viewership panning across

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continent and their biggest Mark of

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influence is how they've offered a

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significant alternative to Global pop

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culture that was earlier dominated by

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the West this trajectory is actually

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quite similar to Hollywood's in the

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early days when it made a mark with with

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original hard-hitting Productions and

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found an audience even in countries

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where the culture and Society was very

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different from the West this is the

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reason why these stories are finding

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their place right next to Hollywood

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titles at International Film festivals

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and leading us production houses are

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partnering with Korean Studios to

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co-produce kramas together and reach an

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even bigger audience but as the industry

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continues to grow it also runs the risk

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of falling into the same traps that

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Hollywood is currently struggling with

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and the biggest of them is fair

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composition

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and IP ranks squid game gained the

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number one ranking on Netflix in 94

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countries and generated over $891

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million which is around 42 times its

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budget of 21.4 million but writer and

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director hangdong yog didn't get any

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shares of this Revenue simply because he

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was made to give up all intellectual

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property rights to the show in his

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contract in addition to this the Netflix

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model in South Korea has also been

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Infamous for exploitive labor practices

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with crew members having to work

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overtime with barely any breaks in

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between and they're not even compensated

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adequately according to this report the

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situation turns so grave that in 2016 a

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27-year-old drama producer committed and

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leaving behind a no protesting these

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working

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[Music]

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conditions we're

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done okay after hours and hours and

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hours and hours I I'm actually not sick

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of them it was very refreshing watching

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stories that were new and from a

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different cultural perspective crash

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landing on you was maybe not my favorite

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show but I was really wrapped up in the

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fact that it was about this dude from

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North Korea and this lady from South

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career and like the journey they go on

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and the how they fall in love but being

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depicted about that divide from a South

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career point of view as opposed to

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through the lenss of the West and with

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Hollywood I feel like there's no movies

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that I really want to go see in the

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cinema they're all sequels or prequels

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but there's nothing new and exciting so

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watching all these shows in following K

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drama's Journey so far has made one

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thing clear like I've definitely got

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more bags under my eyes these days but

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also the Korean entertainment industry

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has evolved its craft over the years and

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has today found this Global audience but

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even though Netflix and the other

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streaming platforms were critical in

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putting Korean dramas out there and I

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actually think that the tables have

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turned and it seems like right now that

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the streaming services need kdramas way

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more than the dramas need the streaming

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services

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Related Tags
Korean DramasGlobal ImpactPop CultureStreaming ServicesHollywood RivalCultural ShiftMedia InfluenceEntertainment IndustryInternational AudienceContent Evolution