“Melodrama” has become a popular genre on the small screen, and it is especially romantic comedies that add a touch of “humor” while providing comfortable entertainment that elicit enthusiastic responses.
Whether it’s “Queen of Tears” or “Lovely Runner”, a whole series of popular melodramas have captivated domestic and international viewers, becoming the first choice of many actors.
The South Korean series “Queen of Tears”, which ended late last month, was highly praised and topped the ratings of all tvN K-dramas. Many viewers were attracted by the story of Hong Hae-in (played by Kim Ji-won), a third-generation chaebol heiress, and Baek Hyun-woo (played by Kim Soo-hyun), son of farmers of Yongdu-ri.
While Hong Hae-in’s terminal illness stirs up a sense of emotion, the comical escapades of the Queens Group family have contributed to its success.
It was then “Lovely Runner” which took up the torch, reaching a phenomenal level of popularity, particularly among viewers aged 20 to 49. In “Lovely Runner”, we discover the story of Ryu Seon-jae (played by Byeon Woo-seok), a famous idol who died under suspicious circumstances (played by Kim Hye-yoon), a great admirer who wants to save him.
It is by pure inadvertence that the latter is offered the possibility of returning to the past to save Seon-jae and herself. Young viewers were captivated by the strong storytelling, combined with the fantastical element of ‘time travel’. For six consecutive weeks, the K-drama ranked first in male and female audiences in 2049 on all channels.
In addition to numerous concert requests for Eclipse, the group Ryu Seon-jae belongs to in the K-drama, offline events such as “pop-up stores” and “group viewing” were also organized, demonstrating the great popularity of the series. Global streaming platform Rakuten Viki reports that tvN’s Monday-Tuesday Kdrama retained its number one position in 130 countries even six weeks after its premiere, capturing the hearts of international viewers.
Among the delicious Kdramas with rose water, we can also cite the KBS2 series “Dare to Love Me” broadcast from Monday to Tuesday and “Frankly Speaking” from JTBC, which are currently being broadcast. Likewise, tvN’s “Potato Research Center” and TV Chosun’s “DNA Lover” are other romantic comedies that will be released soon.
As for serious melodramas, such as the fantasy romance “The Atypical Family” and the adult melodrama “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon,” they also receive positive reviews from viewers.
If streaming platforms continue to offer South Korean genre series with heavy themes and strong messages, the small screen favors melodramas that are rooted in reality and offer light and immersive experiences.
TV platforms once aimed to convey serious messages through well-made genre K-dramas, but today they are adopting smart strategies that align with the characteristics of each platform. The firmly established popularity of “K-Romance” overseas is further boosting the popularity of melodramas.
Thus, works such as MBC’s “A Good Day to Be a Dog” with Cha Eun-woo and ENA’s “Moon in the Day” with Kim Young-dae have aroused keen interest overseas and won reviews. distribution contracts in several countries, despite low national audience figures.
It stands to reason that actors’ preferences are also moving in this direction and Byeon Woo-seok, who shined in “Lovely Runner”, is ready to meet his international fans during his first fan meeting tour in Asia after the end of the K-drama, thus propelling him to the rank of Hallyu star. For their part, Kang Tae-oh is ready to return with “Potato Research Center” and Lee Tae-hwan with “DNA Lover” following the end of their mandatory service, which reflects the growing interest from film agencies. actors for romantic comedies.
With the rise of Korean content in the global market, it has become crucial to capture the hearts of international fandoms, thereby elevating the status of romantic comedies.
And you ? What kind of K-drama do you prefer?