I've watched dozens and dozens of Kdramas at this point. And even after all that time I am still amazed with the puritanical behavior found in most of these shows. Most recently in Legend of the Blue Sea we have the male lead, Lee Min-ho, falling for the female lead, Jun Ji-hyun. They are clearly interested in each other and he asks her to sleep in his bed... several times.
When she finally agrees -amazingly to this Gmama- they just sleep! I see this all the time in Kdramas and find it endearing but also incredibly unrealistic and frustrating at the same time.
I mean, honestly, 30 year olds who are dating and decide to sleep together - oftentimes fully dressed in button up pajamas - yet there is no steamy action? Am I the only person who finds this a bit unbelievable?
Of course I have to admit that there are plenty of things in Kdramas that are not realistic but I find the virginal sleeping together beyond my comprehension.
Pat here. Judy, I’m surprised you find this incomprehensible considering hand holding in Kdramas is found to be a brazen act! Culturally, this makes sense to me. Koreans are just more puritanical IN PUBLIC than we are. In fact, the only Kdrama I’ve seen to this point that has frontal nudity is Glory, and I read that the actor used a body double for that scene. Glory also had a somewhat raunchy sex scene that shocked me.
I kind of like the s-l-o-w build to the handholding and the inevitable kiss. In fact, I like it so much I’m going to do a post on favorite kiss. Start thinking of your favorite Kdrama kiss!
I was drawn to the Kdramas because they’re developing relationships slower.
There’s a lot more tension and imagination involved for the viewer.
I’m not a fan of the American movies that are too explicit sexually.
Ladies.... I agree with you. I find it adorable but definitely unrealistic. Maybe that's why we like Kdramas so much!
When I first started watching K-drama I was wondering what that was about. So I googled it and it seems really prohibited to show anything more than a kiss on national television. I must say I had to giggle the first time I watched a ‘sex scene’, fully clothed under a blanket. But … it says it all. And it’s way better than the (almost) porn that’s shown in US series. Not that I’m against porn but only if it’s ones own free choice to watch and not throwing it in my face when I want to relax and enjoy a serie. The ‘K-way’ kind of grows on you. The excitement building up to the first hand holding and -if…
The censorship laws for tv in Korea are pretty strict. Try the movies if you want some sexuality. Altho I agree that sex is portrayed very unrealistically, or ideally, I think for many people, myself included, it’s refreshing to not see the sex-heavy emphasis of western shows. Kdrama is more fairytale-ish, which is actually fine by me. So much of kdrama is unrealistic anyway it’s easy to maintain suspension of disbelief.
As for favorite kiss Pat, that’s easy. Junho under the restaurant sprinklers in King the Land and Cha Eun-woo French kissing (first time ever seeing tongue in a kdrama!) in the closet in Good Day to be a Dog.
(this is Deb aka joonchild btw, I forgot my login…