One question I get asked sometimes is, “Why do you like Korean dramas so much when you don't even understand Korean, how did you enjoy it?”
To be honest, I understand why people ask that. If I don't understand the language, then why am I so interested in watching people speak it for hours? I can't remember the last time I spent hours watching the movie I understand their language.
Well, I don't think enjoying a movie or drama depends entirely on understanding the language. Sometimes, it is about the story, the emotions, the characters, and how the whole thing makes you feel.
When I first started watching Korean dramas, I obviously couldn't understand what they were saying. I depended on subtitles. At first, I thought I might get tired of reading subtitles all the time, but somehow I got used to it. After a while, I wasn't even thinking about the subtitles anymore. I was just enjoying the story.
And honestly, Korean dramas know how to make you feel things. One minute you are laughing at something silly, and the next minute you are sitting there wondering why you are about to cry over a fictional character.
I think that is one of the things I enjoy the most. The characters don't just feel like characters to me after some time. I start getting attached to them, I want the good person to succeed, I get angry when someone treats my favourite character badly, I start hoping two people will finally confess their feelings to each other. And when the drama ends, I sometimes feel like I actually miss the people I was watching.
Another thing I like is the way Korean dramas introduce me to parts of Korean culture. I get to see their food, family relationships, celebrations, workplaces, schools, cities, fashion and even some of their everyday lifestyle. Of course, I know that dramas don't show everything exactly the way real life is, but it's still interesting to see a different culture through entertainment.
And surprisingly, watching Korean dramas has also helped me learn a few Korean words. I can't suddenly claim that I'm fluent in Korean, but after watching so many dramas, some words and expressions have become familiar to me. Sometimes I even know what a character is about to say before the subtitle appears.
I also have to mention the music. There are times when a drama ends and I end up searching for the song that was playing in the background. Some of those songs just stay in your head. Then whenever you hear the song again, you remember a particular scene from the drama.
So, no, I don't understand Korean language. But I don't think that should stop me from enjoying Korean dramas.
People enjoy songs in languages they don't speak. People watch movies with subtitles. People enjoy food from countries they have never visited. We don't always need to understand everything perfectly before we can appreciate it.
For me, a good story can cross a language barrier. If a drama can make me laugh, keep me curious, make me emotional, or leave me thinking about it after I've finished watching, then I think it's done its job.
So that is basically why I love Korean dramas. It is not really about the language. It's about how the stories make me feel. And honestly, after watching enough of them, maybe I will understand Korean someday. 😂
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