Whether they are comedies, thrillers or melodramas, kdramas aim to entertain. But at the same time, they often deal with some serious subjects.
A standard kdrama plot can feature a child who despite previous experiences learns to appreciate or forgive her parents, a chaebol who learn that privilege does not entitle him to act badly or a villain who learns the error of his ways and repents. Answering questions of what's right and wrong is part of what makes kdramas so very enjoyable.
And television has always had the power to show viewers a new perspective on a controversial topic.
Lately a few popular kdramas have dealt with some controversial topics in ways that were serious and yet not preachy. For example, by using ghost stories, "The Master's Sun" took on the topics of child abuse and cross-dressing. In one episode, the ghosts of abused and neglected children court a young abuse victim whose spirit may soon join them. Gong Hyo Jin with the help of So Ji Sub must rescue the boy and listen to the sad stories of the young ghosts. In another episode, a man who kept his cross dressing a secret from his family fears exposure after he dies and asks Gong Hyo Jin to keep his secret hidden. But in the end it's best that the family learns the secret so the son could better understand his father.
Both episodes highlighted the fact that some people's lives can seem untroubled but hide dark secrets. It's important to look beyond the glossy exterior.
"The Suspicious Housekeeper" may seem like a quirky drama about a strange housekeeper and the family she cares for but almost immediately, this drama headed into controversial territory.
In the first episodes it found clever ways to deal with the serious subject of suicide, both what causes people to consider it and how it affects those left behind. Because the housekeeper, played by Choi Ji Woo, does not try superficial ways to make the family feel better about their loss, she helps them truly deal with their feelings. The show has also covered the topic of cheating, both on your spouse and on school tests, and the discomforting reality that some parents do not love their children.
These are serious subjects to think about and "The Suspicious Housekeeper" presents them in ways that are engaging and not depressingly overwhelming.
Although the description of autism spectrum disorder may be simplified on "Good Doctor," the drama does deal with a difficult topic, namely how people perceive others with disabilities. The reactions prompted by the socially deficient behavior of Joo Won's character Park Si On are not unusual in the real world. If the drama causes anyone to think twice about making assumptions about people with disabilities, it will be a good thing.
Great storytelling does have the power to change the world for the better.
