Culture Spotlight: 10 K-Drama Tropes That Are Actually Real

Some of the most iconic trademarks of a classic K-Drama are swoon-worthy characters, gorgeous landscapes, and extraordinary plots that provide an escape from reality. If you've been a fan of K-Dramas for any amount of time now, you must have wondered how accurate the portrayal of Korean society and culture is in these dramas. Do all South Korean men give their significant others piggyback rides? Does wearing an all-black outfit with a black cap immediately make one a person of interest? Let's find out!

Here are 10 K-Drama tropes that actually exist in Korean society!

 

Backbreaking Student Life

An aspect of Korean culture that is amply represented in K-Dramas is the unbelievable pressure on students to achieve good grades and ultimately enter a prestigious university. K-Dramas like "SKY Castle", "Green Mothers' Club", "Uncle", and more recently, "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" have explored the great lengths to which parents would go to make sure their child has all the specs (specifications) necessary to "succeed" in life, regardless of the consequences. After-school academies that operate till late hours, study libraries, and private tutors are commonplace, and students often leave their home early in the morning and don't get back until midnight. Entrance examinations are presented as dire situations, and poor results are frowned upon. Medicine and law are preferred fields, and sending children abroad to study is also more typical than you'd think.

 

Company Dinners

Any K-Drama with a character that is an office worker will show them going to a company dinner ("hoeshik") and either complaining about it before, during, and after or taking up the role of the life of the party. Usually, it involves drinking until late at night and is considered a way of getting closer with colleagues and networking. It is a staple of Korean work culture and can be enjoyable or toxic. A report by Reuters, written by Choi SooHyang, explores how office goers have been dreading the return of company dinners since social distancing regulations have been relaxed. Either way, the portrayal of office dinners in K-Dramas is quite realistic.

 

You Are What You Wear

Appearance is of the essence in South Korea, and we're not just talking about K-Dramas. Dressing up to the nines is expected, and there are codes for various occasions too, which means judgement is rampant if you go against them. The perfect example of this is that someone wearing a suit but looking out of place instantly gives off the impression to a Korean person that they might be a gangster. Similarly, the aforementioned all-black fit seems to suggest that you're up to no good, just like we see in K-Dramas, where the criminal is almost always wearing the signature black mask and black cap. Similarly, couples wearing matching outfits is very common too, both in K-Dramas and in real life.

 

Adoption

Remember when Vincenzo (Song JoongKi) revealed that he was adopted by an Italian couple as a child and raised by the Mafia later on in "Vincenzo"? Well, as unrealistic as that might seem, overseas adoption was extremely common and accessible in South Korea until recently, when the government had to intervene and put stricter restrictions in place. Adoption is often used as a trope or a plot device in K-Dramas, but the real issues behind adoption in South Korea are much more serious than they appear. You can read more about them here.

 

School Violence

School violence is a common theme in K-Dramas, especially as a trope that justifies or explains a character's current behavior. It is depicted in a brutal and ruthless way that is not only repulsive but also pitiful. The sad truth is that it is also the reality. In recent years, a number of celebrities such as actors and idols have been exposed for being bullies in their past and, as a result, have had to leave their careers behind. However, it hasn't really improved the situation for children who are facing school violence even today, whether that be from their peers, teachers, or otherwise.

 

DTR

DTR or Defining The Relationship, in the context of this article, refers to Koreans addressing others via some sort of relationship signifier such as "Oppa", "Unnie", "Noona", "Ahjussi", "Ahjumma", "Sonsaengnim", and so on and so forth. It is quite rare for Koreans to call each other by their names, and as such, DTR and, consequently, the honorific system become a key aspect of social relationships in Korean culture. You might have noticed that in K-Dramas, male leads make a big deal out of being called "Oppa" or being promoted to "Oppa" from something like 부회장님 (Vice Chairman), like in "What's Wrong With Secretary Kim" or female leads swooning over being called "noona". The importance that is given to these titles in real life is accurately shown in K-Dramas.

 

Workplace Violence

Unfortunately, schools aren't the only institutions where violence goes unchecked. If working overtime wasn't enough, workplace violence is also a huge concern in South Korea, something that was highlighted in episodes 5 to 8 of "Taxi Driver" through the "U-Data" case. What is worth noting here is that this story was inspired by real events, which speaks volumes of all that you need to know about gapjil, workplace violence, abuse, and harassment in South Korea. According to a report by CNN, nearly 30% of Korean office workers have experienced some form of workplace harassment in the past year. Of course, this data isn't a generalization, but it goes to show how the reality isn't far from the way it is portrayed in K-Dramas.

 

Beauty Standards/Plastic Surgery

Seoul, South Korea, is the plastic surgery capital of the world. Naturally, the beauty standards of this nation are sky-high. As a matter of fact, plastic surgery is a very common "gift" in South Korea, and parents even urge their children to get surgery so they can fit in better and are "accepted" in society. Similarly, makeup and skincare are just as important and, as such, are thriving industries in South Korea. The international popularity of K-Beauty only stands as testimony to this fact. K-Dramas like "My ID Is Gangnam Beauty", "True Beauty", and more touch upon South Korea's obsession with good looks and conventional standards of beauty, but they tread lightly nonetheless.

 

Convenience Stores

Seoul is a city that never sleeps. Convenience stores are open 24x7, and you might even find restaurants, internet cafes (PC Bang), study cafes, bars, karaoke rooms (noraebang), and more open until very late at night, if not overnight. So, when you see your favorite K-Drama character stepping out to grab some snacks at midnight, don't be shocked! It's actually very realistic. Students who study until late in hagwons often have dinner at convenience stores too. These convenience stores are a core part of the community, and thankfully, for their presence and various services, life becomes just a tad bit easier.

 

Cults

Finally, we could not just conclude without mentioning the plethora of cults, sects, and shamans in South Korea. The iconic scene in "Tomorrow" where SF9's RoWoon and Lee SooHyuk are lured into a scam by a cult member is, in fact, quite believable. With how popular shamanism, tarot reading, and fortune telling are in South Korea, "Café Minamdang" isn't entirely outlandish either. Similarly, while "Hellbound" is the worst-case scenario of cults, it is not a concept that is alien to Koreans.

Do you know about any more K-Drama tropes that are actually realistic? Tell us in the comments section down below!