Chennai: South Korean TV serials and films are getting popular in the Tamil Nadu. Teens are being hooked to soaps streamed from the far-flung Korean Peninsula. With the slashing of internet tariff, netizens download the serials with the help of cellphones and computers. And truly, they are going beyond Kollywood, Bollywood and Hollywood.
The names of South Korean actors Lee Min Ho, Song Joon Ki, Lee Joon, Ji Chang Work, Kim Woo Bin, Ji Sung, Lee Jong Suk, Kim Hyun Jung, Kang Ji, Hwan, Nam Joo Jyuk, Park Seo Joon, Bae Soo bin, Lee Seun Gi are becoming popular among a section of netizens. Korean female actors - Jung So Min, Song Hye Kyo, Park Shin Hye, Kim Ji Won, Yoon Sun Hye, Han Hyo Joo, Jun Ji Hyun, Han Ji Min and Kim Go Eun are also an admiration.
Soon after Tamil film ‘Checka Sivantha Vaanam’ by ace director Mani Ratnam hit the silver screen across the world in September, there has been talk on social media about a Korean film ‘New World’, which was released in 2013. Since then, the Korean soaps and films are becoming popular among them.
A Tamil television channel also telecast several Tamil-dubbed Korean dramas a few years ago.
After internet charges became cheap, youth have started downloading the serials that run up to 50 episodes. They have downloaded hundreds of such serials.
Famous among them are ‘Lie to me’, a romantic drama starring Yoon Eun-hye and Kang Ji-hwan, ‘Suspicious Partner’ starring Ji Chang-wook and Nam Ji-hyun, ‘Descendants of the sun’ - a love story between Captain Yoo Shi Jin, Korean Special Forces, and Doctor Kang Mo Yeon, surgeon at Haesung Hospital, ‘Coffee prince’ in which a bachelor pretends to be gay to keep his family from pushing him to get married, ‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim’ starring Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young, ‘Familiar Wife’, ‘Lawless Lawyer’, ‘2018 Legal Thriller’ television series starring Lee Joon-gi, Seo Ye-ji, Lee Hye-young and Choi Min-soo, ‘My father is Strange’, ‘Hey Ghost Let’s Fight’, ‘49 Days’, ‘Healer’, ‘City Hunter’, ‘My Love from Another Star’, ‘Dream High’ and ‘Legend of the Blue Sea’.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, JJA Neethu said, “One of my friends introduced me to Korean TV serials. Initially, I was hesitant, but gradually I liked it. I have downloaded several serials and films. After watching them, I share them with my friends. Four of my friends keep downloading the soaps and exchange them among us. We also circulate the serials to other friends, who also are beginning to like them. Though difficult to master the language, after watching the serials, we can easily identify the actors and understand the story.”
“Famous film stars act in these serials. An episode runs up to 45 to 60 minutes and are made like films,” added Neethu.
Some of the best known Korean serials are ‘Prison Playbook’, ‘Goblin’, ‘Pinocchio’, ‘Woman of Dignity’, ‘Strong Woman Do Bong Soon’, ‘The Heirs’, ‘My Love From The Star’ and ‘Descendants of the Sun’. These serials deal with all kinds of subjects like romance, comedy, thriller, music, crime and science fiction.
AP Edward of Adambakkam, said, “There are similarities in Korean and Tamil culture. Such cultural traits are reflected in Korean dramas and films. We can easily relate to these serials. When time permits, I watch live streaming of these serials.”
“I am familiar with actors like Ji Sung who is known for his roles in television dramas like ‘All In’, ‘Save the Last Dance for Me’, ‘New Heart’ and ‘Protect the Boss’. Park Seo-joon is known for his roles in television drama like ‘Kill Me’. Bae Soo-bin is known for his roles in ‘Brilliant Legacy’, ‘Temptation of an Angel’ and ‘49 Days’. Dong Yi and Lee Seung-gi are singers, actors, hosts and entertainers. So-Min Jung, is an actress known for her acting in ‘The Smile Has Left Your Eyes’ and ‘Bad Boy’,” added Edward.
