K-Drama: A Silent Obsession of Nigerians

If you've never watched Boys Before Flowers, Playful Kiss, Jumong, then it is safe to say you can never be affected by peer pressure!

I remember when I was a kid, I would save the #50 my dad would give me for pocket money to buy films, created in a compact disc version; the funniest thing about that was, they were mostly Korean movies, and whenever I saw a particular actor that caught my eyes, I would make my findings about who he was, know everything about him for when next I see his appearance on another. 

In fact, it can get so bad that he will be my wallpaper or I would create a special folder in my gallery just for him. Chai!

There's this chemistry I feel when watching.

It's unexplainable and even now, these dramas have developed way beyond the usual, they still make me happy that I can't do without them.

The entertainment industry has its influence on the human body, other than for pleasure, especially in the hearts of Nigerians.

There's a picture hanging at the back of our minds, something we are looking for that we are unaware of the attachment it has grown in and through us. 

In the same way, famous industry names have been tagged such as Nollywood, Bollywood, Hollywood, etc., we've got Korean films and what they represent.

According to Wikipedia, A Korean drama, more popularly known as Koreanovela or K-drama, is a type of television series in the Korean language made in South Korea. 

Their first broadcasting of dramas was in radio format under Japanese rule with 30% of the language in Korean, and the rest, in Japanese, as time went by, they had the first televised program called HLKZ-TV which didn't last longer, due to a fire outbreak. 

The first national television channel was the Korean Broadcasting System(KBS) with their first film made in 15 minutes. 

It saw a change from the 1990s to date, a rapid growth that got the spotlight from an international market, Netflix which had begun seeking productions from South Korea, hence diverse viewers across all nations.

Not only their films, their songs…it's everywhere. 

You get to see live performances, and tune in to jam with the vibe; their massive penetration into the sector is a groundbreaking achievement, and like I said earlier, a variety of audiences have shown and grown interest, especially my country people, Nigerians.

Who would have told us we were used to seeing similar scenes, faces, backgrounds, and costumes, gracing our screens in a Nollywood movie?

It's obvious before you get to the ending part of the movie, it has been concluded and as predicted, it ends the same way. 

Is the same as the way juju is practiced and used? In the same way, a king dies and his son is meant to inherit the throne, but the village people are up against it.

Or the title of the movie is unaligned with its content? 

The controversy about a particular information that is being frowned upon by the audience because it was miscommunicated…not only that, the use of hype.

An exaggerated action to promote and publicize extravagantly, to build suspense, and often the movie is being watched, more than expected or less.

What shall we say to these things? If not embrace what we've got and hope for a greater change which I believe is gradually starting and has come to stay… Just to mention a few I watched recently, Black Book, She Must Be Obeyed, Enoch, Gangs of Lagos, etc. are amazing bangers.

Now, where do K-dramas come into this?

I will tell you. 

Oya place your hand on your chest, rub it up and down. Relax!

I consulted some folks on their opinions about the attention K-dramas get, why it has attracted many countries, most especially Nigeria, and trust me, you won't believe what I heard, what they said (oh my goodness, you are going to nod your head tire because evidence dey).

These ladies I interviewed are those who are not only lovers of Korean movies, but obsessed with Asians entirely, and the number one reason why they can't do without watching a Korean movie Netflix would release at the moment is because of the aesthetics.

I understand aesthetics is the study of beauty, but in this concept, it's based on the newness of stuff they've never seen before.

Yes, Asians are the most beautiful set of the human race, especially South Koreans, they've got this unique beauty inside out that makes them cute in their physique and personality.

From their oriental faces, and smiles, they are indeed beautiful, men and women alike…the men, oh gosh! Fadalurd!

One of the ladies confessed she watches Korean movies because of the men…she wouldn't download a movie if the men who played some roles in the movie were not beautiful. 

Two to three years ago, there was a trend about actor Lee Min Ho, a renowned personality in South Korea who was asked to leave Nigerian girls alone because his presence in movies captivated their hearts as some men complained of his picture being used as a wallpaper and profile picture in ladies' phones.

It was confirmed in a Tweet when some set of ladies expressed their heartfelt feelings about him being their crush and that he should come and marry them.

In essence, Nigerians love new things. 

We love seeing and having something new.

The latest fashion and fads, that is, new phones and pouches been used in Korean movies, new and fresh actors, complex and intellectually challenging woven plots and themes different from the others, making it quite difficult to predict, the new scenery used, the camera background that makes it appealing and a must watch is enough to make heads turn to behold.

It's not mainly for Nigerians to be educated about what they do, but for fun and pleasure, tourism purposes, the Korean language, and their manner of speaking are found exciting.

Remember, I spoke on themes, a subject matter of a piece of art, but in Korean movies, the theme of love and romance is performed in fantasy, a perfect love that could make you feel loved right where you are, and that's what I call escapism, for the female counterpart to be precise because to be candid, in reality, we know love is beyond raising an umbrella on my head when raining is falling or pulling my hand from behind as we run, especially when hard boy meets a girl that breaks his bounds, and he does something to make her heart grow fonder and hate him at the same time and would suddenly play a fast one, places a gentle kiss at the middle of the conversations when she unleashes her frustrations…you can imagine, yeah.

Vivid imagination in Nigerian ways… dey play?

It's an experience on its own that is explored directly and indirectly which suits the tastes of their audience members, although a hard truth is established, and we can face the fact as we journey through life.

Conclusively, K-dramas are spectacular, no one can't afford to watch and like honey attracts bees, it aims to get minds involved in their lifestyle because it's fanciful. Those bullying scenes, actions, supernatural, etc. are to expose non-indigenes to the reality in their culture, to learn, relearn, and unlearn.

Permit me to recommend some amazing K-dramas that will leave you thirsty for more, and are: The Glory, Vincenzo, Tale of Nokdu, Alchemy of Souls, A Business Proposal, One, the Woman, Extraordinary You, Crash Course in Romance, Terius Behind Me, etc.

If you watch them and you don't enjoy it, come and grab me by the shirt.

What are you waiting for?

Grab your popcorn and go for a Netflix ride.

Enjoy.