Engaging stories, good-looking actors, no vulgarity, and more: What makes K-romcoms so addictive?

It is said that once you watch your first K-romcom, there is no looking back. And the saying is 100% true. South Korean rom-coms have cracked the ideal formula that has audiences hooked. The sweet, vulgarless romances; beautiful settings; compact stories that gradually build up, revealing several layers, yet never drag on or leave you hanging; the emphasis on culture; and outfits that you wish you owned — there’s everything to make them binge-watch worthy. Oh, and let’s not forget the good-looking actors! 

What is interesting is that despite the fact that all K-dramas are extremely local stories, they resonate across the world. When it comes to India, what makes them relatable is that you find yourself drawing parallels between your own culture and Korean culture. That you can watch these shows with your parents or kids without worrying about some nudity or sex scenes popping up — which now seems to be a staple even in Indian web series — is another added bonus that makes viewing easy. 

OTTplay spoke to some hardcore K-drama and K-romcom fans, to explore just what it is about these series that makes them so addictive.

Engaging stories that are the perfect mix of romance, humour and drama
When she’s not typing furiously on her laptop to meet deadlines for the content that she creates, be sure that Bengaluru-based freelance writer Sandra Fernandes is sitting back comfortably on her plush sofa, facing her big-screen TV, with a bowl of snacks in her hand, watching a Korean series. She binge-watches them, yet never tires of them. So, what has her hooked? "What I really like about K-romcoms is that they’re a perfect mix of romance, humour and drama, where emotions run high. The situations in the series are relatable, even culture-wise. Shows like Crash Landing on You, Descendants of the Sun, Goblin, and It's Ok to Not Be Okay have great love stories as their central theme and have you rooting for the couple. It's like they're fighting against all odds, and you want them to win. You feel for the characters. Sometimes you don't get to see a happily-ever-after, but that’s okay. All of this makes for a feel-good binge watch," she says.

Indraneel Mukherjee, a techie who also lives in Bengaluru, agrees. He adds, "Korean shows have the right mix of romance, comedy and emotions. They are local stories, of course, but keep international audiences in mind. They focus on themes that appeal across cultures and stay away from controversial ones. What I also like is that they experiment with and explore several different storylines."

Renu Tolani, a Mumbai-based product manager, adds that what keeps one hooked on one K-romcom after another is that they don’t all have the same story. "It’s not all about 'boy meets girl,' they fall in love, etc. Yes, they are all love stories, but the nuances are different, and that's what makes you want to watch different series. For instance, Descendants of the Sun is about a soldier who falls in love with a doctor, while Crash Landing on You has a romance between a North Korean and a South Korean," she says. 

Marissa Pinto, marketing manager at Taaqademy, feels that the storylines themselves are super engaging, and she finds it fascinating how romance is showcased subtly. "The characters might be complex, but there is an element of relatability. I love how the emphasis is on the little things and that the focus is mostly on building the relationship. You know the stories of both parties involved: why they are the way they are, what they bring to the relationship, and how they have evolved because of their past experiences and those in the current relationship. If you have watched as many K-dramas as I have, then you know that they cover all age groups and all kinds of relationships beautifully," she says. 

Dreamy men, strong women, and zero vulgarity
K-dramas transport Ramya Kandala, a London-based digital marketer, to another world. Sick of watching American sitcoms, Ramya likes the clean and simple Korean love stories. "K-dramas transport you to another world. What I like about them is that the love stories are clean and simple, without any vulgarity. Honestly, I am tired of watching American sitcoms. The simple gesture of holding hands, one-sided crushes, and navigating school and college life is pure in South Korean shows. The men are good-looking, everyone is always well-dressed, and they all (men and women) wear great jewellery – what’s not to love?" she quips.

Speaking about good-looking men, Sandra admits to being drawn to the different series largely because of the leading men. And what she finds refreshing are the strong female characters. "Most of the shows I've watched have strong female leads and not typical damsels in distress, who are dependent on men. And nowhere have I come across the men being extra or macho — they don't force themselves on the women, stalk them, or act like jerks. Also, who doesn't love watching good-looking men woo strong women? Actors like Hyun Bin, Gong Yoo, Lee Min-ho, Park Seo-joon, Song Joong-ki, Kim Soo-hyun and Park Bo-gum are all among the reasons I watch Korean rom-coms," says Sandra.

For Renu, being able to watch the shows with her family is a big reason why she’s been able to watch so many of them back-to-back. She says, "No character overexposes, in terms of their dressing, or really curses. There may be a kiss or two, but no hardcore making out or sex scenes, so it’s comfortable to watch these shows with your family, which is now not possible with even Indian shows." 

Marissa loves getting so involved with the story that when the leading couple eventually does express their love via a kiss many episodes into the series, she feels actual butterflies in her stomach. "K-dramas are all about solid relationships. They might not have frequent lovemaking and fight scenes, yet they successfully take you along on a journey. So, when you see that first kiss in the 6th or 7th episode, you feel the butterflies in your tummy, even though you are not the one who got kissed! You get reeled into the fantasy and can’t help but binge watch," says Marissa.

Not too long, not too short — just the right length
Most K-dramas are one season long, consisting of around 15-20 episodes, with each episode lasting around an hour, making for easy watching. And because of their length, the stories don’t drag on, making them engaging. So, for Renu, these shows are a big relief from Indian soap operas that make you feel like you’re in a time warp. She says, "There’s a good start and end to all series, and they don’t overextend, like Ekta Kapoor serials, where one scene can go on for two weeks! K-dramas are short, sweet, and relatable, which makes them super addictive. Episodes are usually one hour long, so they can be watched over your lunch break." 

Food and culture
K-dramas are stories about Korean people, set in Korea, and tailored around Korean situations. And they have no qualms about it. For many people, drawing parallels between Korean and Indian cultures, or discovering more about Korea through the series is a thrill in itself. And the Korean food! The fried chicken, gimbap, tteokbokki, bulgogi, jajangmyeon, kimchi, the many side dishes and broths will have you Googling Korean restaurants in your city. If only we had easy access to soju! 

"I love how they show their local culture through their food and where the stories are based. For example, one gets to see life in a coastal town in Korea in Hometown Cha Cha Cha, or learn about North Korea in Crash Landing On You. They talk openly about their culture in the shows, and as an audience member, it’s nice to be exposed to a similar yet largely different culture," sums up Renu.