India is a house to huge diversity and has always welcomes new cultures with open arms. In the recent past a new wave from east has hit India, the new K-Wave.
What is this K-Wave? Well, K-Wave originated from the sea of South Korea and after hitting the other Asian countries, it has now hit India. K-wave includes dramas and songs from Korea. The famous song “Oppa Gangnam Style” was a great hit all around the globe (I guess that was the first ever Korean song to be a massive hit). The famous K-Pop group BTS has gained recognition all around through its famous songs like DNA, Euphoria, blood-sweat-tears and many more and has paved way for other bands like EXO, Black-Pink to come to light. Also, because of these bands South Korea has suddenly come into people’s eyes. Vh1 channel has started a special K-Pop’d show which airs on Saturdays at 8:00 p.m which shows Korean songs sung by different artist.
Korean dramas come up with different concepts. Their dramas depict Korean way of living, food,culture and definitely the beautiful streets of Seoul. On carefully examining the language, you will find that the words change while addressing someone older or younger to you accordingly. For example when you say ‘Hello’ to your friend or someone younger to you, you will say ‘Annyeong’ on the other hand when you address someone older to you or a mass you say ‘Annyeong-hasseyo’.The word HELLO in Hangul (Korean language) changes depending on the person you address.
During the spring of 2017, a Korean drama- Descendants of the Sun (DOTS) was aired on Zindagi channel dubbed in Hindi. Zindagi channel was started to share dramas from the Middle East with the Indian masses and slowly it aired a Korean drama. This was the part of broader global phenomenon called Hallyu or Korean wave. The Korean wave was accepted by Indian masses with all the love. The content of these dramas was celebrated and loved throughout. DOTS showed a unique love story shared by a doctor and a special force officer and the challenges they face in their respective field. Other series like the Legend of the Blue Sea celebrates the love story between a mermaid and a human, Moonlover: Scarlet heart ryeo shows a time travel by a girl into the Goreyo period. These unique ideas when meet great execution, they easily catch the attention. These dramas are loved by the masses. Also, the fact that Koreans have cute looks, at times it is the protagonists that grab the attention and make the series a hit.
Though these dramas are not aired in India, they are available online on sites like VIKI, VIU- Asian and recently Netflix has added a few K-dramas in its list. Also a lot of fan pages on social networking sites like Instagram and Facebook update you about either the ongoing dramas, latest songs or the lives of these celebrities. In the Eastern parts of India like Mizoram and Manipur, Korean dramas, cookery shows, and songs are all aired dubbed in their respective languages.
The new K-wave has definitely given us the insights of the eastern culture and it is great to know that quite a few things match with Indian culture, like they have a word “achcha” in their language which has the same meaning.Their food seems savory when you watch them eat. It has happened a lot of time with me; Ram-yen is like a Maggi for the Koreans and is made in the same way. Whenever they eat a packet of Ram-yen I feel a strong desire to eat that too and immediately I rush to the kitchen make a packet of Maggi for myself and have it as if I am having Ram-yen. The way they eat sea food which is their staple food, you feel like having it (if you are a non-vegetarian ;)). Also, the way they plate or eat in bowls makes you feel hungry and ignites the craving within you to have food.
This K-wave has been successful in influencing people’s mind(not only to commence the hunger).Korean guys are usually portrayed as candy or flower boys, highly rich and girls are shown bit dumb with flawless skin and usually belong from low economic background (not all but most series have this synopsis). These facts often make people insecure about their relationships and raise the expectations from the other sex. For instance a girl might want his boyfriend to be rich and behave like the perfect guy while they behave like a dumb person, irrespective he loves her. For example Boys over flowers, The Heirs, Why Secretary Kim? etc. Koreans themselves have stated that these dramas are making a bad influence on their girlfriends.
It is okay to watch something new, but watch it till the limit where it does not influence your mind. Escape from reality is fine but don’t let your fictional world become your real world.
For further readings on K-wave hitting Indian Shores:
To watch K-drama online with Subtitles:
Tamanna Sharma 