I have a confession about a long-standing obsession of mine. It’s not exactly a secret to those who know me very well but others might find it quite unusual or surprising. My confession: much of my free time is completely consumed by Korean Dramas (also known as K-Dramas) and pretty much everything Korean!
With the rise of Squid Game in 2021, I know many people worldwide have joined the K-Drama fan club but let me make it clear that this has been a passion of mine for at least 2 years. It all started when I was scrolling through Netflix one fateful day in January 2020and stumbled upon my first Korean Drama. Despite having to use subtitles, I could not help but get hooked on the stories, language, clothing, food, culture and people!
After binging “Boys Over Flowers”, I went down a rabbit hole of Korean shows and movies, each one just as dramatic, if not more, than the one before! I have thoroughly enjoyed, not only the theatrics but the opportunity to have a glimpse into South Korean history and lifestyle. I’ve even learned a bit of the language from my years of viewership and look forward to the day I am able to visit. It will be such a privilege to have an immersive experience and engage with the culture.
With the rest of the world waking up to the genius that is Korean film and television, it’s only right for me to share a list of my recommendations. We’ve all heard of Squid Game but here are some other critically-acclaimed (by your favorite lawyer), must see titles and the streaming services showing them:
- It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, Netflix
- The Royal Tailor, Amazon Prime Video
- Descendants of the Sun, Rakuten Viki
- My Name, Netflix
Whether or not you enjoy foreign film and television, and whether you love or hate voiceovers and subtitles, I can almost guarantee that you will be entertained by at least one of the four listed recommendations. Now, when you do fall in love with the stories, the characters, and the drama, and you start sharing with your friends and family, just remember to give credit to the one who introduced you!