This week, Chinese government officials met to discuss a pressing issue: the popularity of the k-drama "You Who Came From The Stars."
K-dramas have long been popular throughout Asia, leading many to conclude that Korea is now the Hollywood of Asia. But because this particular drama has been so enthusiastically received, Chinese government officials discussed whether China could compete and create a Chinese drama that is as popular.
According to an article in the Washington Post, the drama has so far been viewed 2.5 billion times in China. Star Kim Soo Hyun is a sought after celebrity. Everything about the show is in demand including the beer and fried chicken meal that Jun Ji Hyun's character liked to eat. Beer and fried chicken have become a popular restaurant meal. Fans met for viewing parties and ate fried chicken.
The government discussion as to why China can't create a competing drama continued for an entire morning.
"It's more than just a Korean soap opera," said a member of China's political advisory body. "It hurts our cultural dignity."
The Washington Post article described the dramas as soap operas, which any k-drama fan might find irritating. It also described the drama's premise of a 400-year-old alien meeting a Hallyu star as being far-fetched. In its defense a follow-up article on Jezebel.com said the premise is not any more far-fetched than "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" or a show about aliens living in Roswell. And netizens responding to jezebel.com commented that it is more accurate to describe dramas as mini-series to those who have not seen them.
Whether they are called soap operas or mini-series, why are k-dramas winning the war for viewers' attention? Some testified that the problem was censorship. Television shows in China must go through a rigorous examination period that makes artists nervous.
But it may be more than that. This year an American production company tried to remake "Boys Over Flowers" and the results were not impressive. The only appeal for many was in comparing the two versions. The k-drama version won.
Much of the appeal of k-dramas may be what's uniquely charming about Korean culture, the way Koreans relate to each other in matters of love and war. The dramas appeal because they are not afraid to focus on emotional events such as falling in love or being mortified with embarrassment or suffering a great loss. Add to that gorgeous stars, such as Kim Soo Hyun and Jun Ji Hyun, great writing, quick turnaround and you have exciting entertainment. And Korea obviously values and supports its entertainment industry.
According to Wang Qishan head of China's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, k-dramas are winning the culture war. But he also says that Koreans owe their success to an infusion of Chinese culture. He is sure that the essence of the k-drama is just a distillation of traditional Chinese culture.
What do you think? Can China or any other country make a drama as good as "You Who Came From The Stars?" Let us know.
