Do romantic kdramas create unrealistic expectations of relationships? In a word, yes.
How often in life, do real couples overcome the kind of problems-amnesia, scheming mothers-in-law and royal coups-faced in a kdrama? In reality, family members can make it too difficult to have a relationship. Rich people rarely marry poor people. Angst-inducing love triangles are rare. But the unrealistic part may be just why viewers love them.
Kdrama romances provide a hopeful fantasy in a cynical world. And there's nothing wrong with that as long as you realize they are fiction.
The romance found in kdramas is nothing new. It's the same formula found in fairy tales, Jane Austen novels or popular books such as the Twilight saga. It's natural to want to be the object of someone's devotion or to hope that a poor ordinary girl could win the love of an impossibly perfect wealthy man, possibly two. Think "Boys Over Flowers," "You're Beautiful," or "Protect The Boss." While it's overly optimistic to think that characters from differing backgrounds could grow close and overcome the problems that separate them, it is entertaining. And there's something oddly hopeful about such dramas in an increasingly cynical world.
Here are a few things that are positive about kdrama romances. Relationships do take time to develop, which is good. The couple often has to tackle problems before committing to each other, as opposed to the way it usually happens in real life. Male characters seem more emotional than men do in real life, which is probably something women would like to see happen. In that way, it helps women relate to the ways men feel but probably don't feel free to express.
However, there are some kdrama conventions to watch out for. In real life, emotionally aloof men, such as Jeon Ji Ho in "Personal Taste," probably remain emotionally unavailable. If a man is immature like Prince Lee Shin in "Princess Hours," he may never grow up. If he falls in love thinking you're a guy, as happened in "Coffee Prince" or "You're Beautiful," it may be a sign of future problems in your relationship. And it's not a good idea to follow someone around for years if he is cruel to you, as Oh Ha Ni did in "Playful Kiss." And finally people rarely wait for their beloved for more than a decade. The devoted lovers in "Missing You" and "Love Rain" were wildly romantic but not realistic.
That said, once a kdrama romance is over, you don't have to break up with it. You can just go on to the next one.
