Korean Connection: Understanding Korean Dramas

Coming from a Western background, it can somethings be confusing to witness Korean customs when watching Korean Dramas. Because we are not familiar with Korean culture, certain actions and uses of language can distract non-Koreans from the dramas' storylines. Learning about Korean culture can make watching Korean Dramas even more enjoyable.

NAMES

Koreans write their family name (surname) first, followed by their given name. No comma is used to separate the surname from the given name.

Most Korean surnames consist of just one syllable, but a few contain two syllables. The top ten Korean surnames are: Kim, Lee, Park, Choi, Jung, Kang, Jo, Yoon, Jang, and Im.

Korean given names usually consist of two syllables, which may be hyphenated when romanized.

Korean women retain their maiden surname after they get married. They do not use their husband's surname and children usually use the surname of their father.

ETIQUETTE

In Korean culture, respect must be shown to elders. Younger people do not address older people by their given names. For example, a girl addresses her older brother as "oppa" and older sister as "onni," but may address her younger brother or sister by their given names. A boy addresses his older brother as "hyong" and his older sister as "nuna."

An example of this cultural rule can be seen in the Korean drama “Mothers and Sisters”. In one episode the fourth born child in the family was scolded by his mother for calling his older sister by her given name.

Mothers and Sisters

The next time you watch a subtitled drama listen for when a younger sibling calls an older sibling. The subtitles will show the given name of the older sibling but you will hear “oppa", "onni", "hyong" or "nuna” being said instead.

Girls sometimes call their boyfriends "oppa”. This can be seen in the drama Boys over Flowers where the character Jan Di calls the members of F4 “oppa”.

Boys Over Flowers

Showing disrespect for elders on TV is considered bad for Korean society. In August 2005, KBS was punished by the Korean Broadcasting Commission for airing a scene in a drama in which a daughter-in-law slapped her mother-in-law in the face.

Direct eye-to-eye contact when talking is considered rude and impolite. An example of this can be seen in the drama “Pretty Lady”. When the character Joon-hwi talked with his father in episode 2, he avoided looking his father in the eye even when he disagreed with what his father was saying.