Live filming or the act of taping an episode alarmingly close to its airtime, is a practice that sets Korean drama apart from its counterpart markets in Hollywood and other parts of Asia, including China. While live taping sometimes yields haphazard results, particularly when scenes are not tightly edited, it allows for real-life feedback from viewers and critics.
A prime example of why live taping needs to continue was demonstrated with the penultimate or second-to-last episode of tvN's "Twenty Again." Viewers who remained with the series through its compelling tale of a 38-year-old woman who returns to college, after receiving a false diagnosis of inoperable cancer, were stunned at the absence of romantic scenes between the protagonists.
Audiences took to social media and forums like DC, immediately after the episode, to criticize the screenwriter for failing to deliver what many have considered to be one of the strongest love lines of 2015.
While the final scenes were followed by a preview, the footage was released the following morning. In this segment, the beloved housewife No Ra (Choi Ji Woo), finally confesses her love to Hyun Seok (Lee Sang Yoon), who appears to brush her off.
The feedback from viewers grew to an almost hilarious point until their nerves were calmed by photo documentation from Korean fans who witnessed the live filming of additional scenes.
As demonstrated by 2012 comedy, "The King of Dramas," screenwriting for Korean television is no easy feat. Portals like Naver, who is increasingly moving towards providing English and Japanese-language coverage, are convenient methods for viewers to seek out articles dedicated to their favorite series. However, these portals also provide an avenue for netizens to vent their frustration, in real-time.
With Korean entertainment setting its sights on Hollywood, productions have considered abandoning the practice of live taping. The highly-anticipated series, "Descendants of the Sun," could be ground-breaking, as one of the first major dramas to film its footage, in entirety, prior to airing.
While "Descendants of the Sun" benefits from the star-power of Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo, the challenge will be left to its lauded team of screenwriters to create a drama that can withstand the tide of audience feedback.
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Adrienne Stanley is a contributing editor at KDramaStars. She is also a contributing music writer at KpopStarz, MTV Iggy and other publications. When she is not listening to "Rhythm Ta," she can be found on Twitter. (@retrogirladdy).
