South Korean TV dramas create a lifestyle frenzy
- By Li Xinran
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, March 10, 2014
The final episode of the South Korean TV drama “My Love from the Star” was aired in China on the last day of February, showcasing the luxurious lifestyle that has earned it a frenzied following among young Chinese fans. They want more of the same.
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Lead actor and actress of the South Korean TV drama "My Love from the Star" |
The show is an absurd tale of an alien with superpowers whose spaceship crashed 400 years ago. He has become a distinguished university professor and has fallen in love with a mortal woman, a famous actress.
After lead actress Jun Ji-hyun (who played Cheon Song-yi) stated in the show, “How can I celebrate the year’s first snowfall without fried chicken and beer?” There was a rush by young Chinese to Korean communities to share the ambience praised by their idol.
And the chicken-and-beer junk food pairing has achieved an almost sanctified status among viewers.
In Shanghai, I used to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee in the afternoon on small narrow Hongquan Road in the Korean community, which is not far away from my apartment. Today that area in Minhang District is filled with hundreds of young people, including many couples, who wait in line before Korean restaurants on both sides of the street. They want fried chicken and beer.
One day I joined the line and attempted to order two packs as takeaway but was told that the waiting list for takeaway was two and a half hours. Similar scenes are reported on Korean streets in Beijing and some other big cities.
It is no longer just about lifestyle and attractive South Korean screen idols — this craze for all things Korean has become an economic phenomenon.
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