The end of an era for the K-drama wave has arrived in one country that has been a huge consumer of Hallyu products for well over a decade- Japanese broadcaster NHK has announced that it won’t be airing anymore Korean dramas after the network finishes airing Empress Ki. NHK is Japan’s biggest and oldest network and has been airing K-dramas since 2003 when it bought the rights to Winter Sonata which singlehandedly launched the Hallyu drama wave in Japan. A thirteen year run for K-dramas with Japanese audiences may seem either long or shorter than expected, but is worth noting that things have changed irrevocably and to keep up with the tides K-drama will need to continue to evolve and grow.
NHK not airing anymore K-dramas on network television doesn’t mean there is no appetite for the product, it just means K-dramas no longer have enough broad and mainstream appeal and those who seek to watch it will have to do so online. It’s mainly the older audience that still watch network television anyway, and NHK explained that the viewership for Korean dramas have been decreasing steadily in the last few years and reached a point where it no longer is a financially sound investment to broadcast current and future K-dramas. The complaint from the older viewing audience is that the romance and addicting quality of the dramas which launched the Hallyu wave such as Winter Sonata is no longer there.
It sounds like the declining ratings for Korean dramas isn’t just a phenomenon for the domestic viewing audience, and the same type of disappointment and complains are being voiced about the current trends and quality of K-dramas being produced. I think the most alarming for production companies is that current K-dramas don’t have that buzz and excitement factor that used to be there, and most dramas aren’t sticky enough once it airs to build upon the audience. The exceptions to the trend are there but few and far between, and the direction headed is the wrong way.
Perhaps Korean drama producers won’t be alarmed at the nail in the coffin with Hallyu drama exports to Japan and instead double down on China as the growing consumption audience, but that’s like trying to sell the same flawed product to a second customer without fixing any of the problems pointed out by the first customer. NHK claims that it got audience feedback and the general feeling is that K-dramas no longer have the heady mood that lured the Japanese viewers in the first place, plus none of the current drama actors and actresses appeal to the Japanese viewers the way like original Hallyu stars Bae Yong Joon, Lee Young Ae, Won Bin, and Lee Byung Hun.
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What a pity. I wish the stakeholders in K-Drama will review their way. They want to sell everything to China, but Korean taste is different with Chinese. And maybe the rest of the world has more different taste with China. I don't know why Hallyu seem to be give up with their dream to conquer the world, and try to conquer China instead.
And that is a very short sighted approach, imo. China is already working on creating their own "Hallyu" wave, and after the partnerships with the South Korean companies, they will most likely move on from them as well. Already China has started producing dramas that have captured international audiences, and have improved significantly in their non-historical drama genres. You can see the improved quality and product, and Korean dramas no longer have the sole claim to better produced dramas.
Similarly, other Asian dramas have also stepped up their game, with dramas now being subbed not just from Japan, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, China, but now Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, etc. The South Korean entertainment system has been resting on their laurels, and the rest of Asia as caught up/is catching up to them. I predict the next wave that will start to flounder will be Kpop. Lack of innovation at all levels of the industry from: how they recruit new talent, maintain talent, grow talent, cast, film, produce, direct, schedule, etc. needs to be upgraded to the 20th century, not even the 21st.
Hong Kong ( China) had dramas subbed in other languages since the 70's 80's especially vietnam, and surrounding countries. So China isn't copying the "Hallyu" wave of Korea. While I like Korean Entertainment, let's not say China is copying Korea, since Chinese movies had been showing in the United States since I can remember " Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon"; a lot of Gong Li's movie were shown and got actual oscar nominations.
This is so write. I fell in love with Thai dramas because, despite their tropes, when they're good, they are really good. I also stumbled on some Filipino dramas and those are really good too. Taiwan puts out at least 2 dramas a year that I completely fall in love with. Kdramas are going to have a lot of competition for international audiences as time progresses and other Asian production companies step their games up.
That's sad to hear but it could be because many no longer watch tv through television but through websites. I personally don't think the quality of korean dramas has gone down but it has definitely changed and it's a struggle to meet the higher expectations of current viewers. Focusing on china is a logical next step, but perhaps korean production companies can capitalize on online streaming websites (replete with viewers acting as translators like viki) since korean dramas are still very popular online.
Well we could telling when cjw final ly stopped milking her winter sonata days and started tô make kdrmas again.
Such interesting news. I think definitely Kdramas have changed over the years. I can see how older actors were more appealing to the older Japanese audience. Nowadays there are so many K idols acting, it's true they don't appeal to the older generation and the younger generation watches online. Looking back at older K dramas, the actors were older, nowadays Hallyu actresses have to partner up with idols or much younger actors... I was thinking the other day too, where are older K actors now? It's true they are not doing K dramas. Won Bin? Bae Yong Joon, not on screen...but, the actresses are still there. Why are male cast K actors getting younger? Is it really a demand or just K ent pushing their idols...but I agree, the quality has shifted.
Won Bin is a bit of an exception but in general older K actors have much better things to do than star in sappy romances and paper thin mysteries. Older K actresses would do the same except there isn't as much demand for them in the movie industry from what I've seen.
Even some of my local TV stations whose usually aired K-dramas had already stopped it since 2-3 years ago !!!
The quality of Korean dramas have declined tremendously because of their filming and airing at the same time. That method of producing dramas sucks because they lack the time to write a creative script, lack the budget to do certain impressive scenes or fighting sequences so they settle for less appealing scenes or props, and everything is just so rushed. They look cheap now compared to China dramas.
Woah. So the biggest takeaway from this being; the fad is over, or at least has been for a while.
And that the current generation of Lee Jong-seoks, Kim Woo-bins, Joo Wons and Lee Min-hos ain't doing much for them.
I actually agree!
Although Kim Soo-hyun and Song Joong-ki still have the ability to reel me in, the rest I just can't get behind.
The scripts are also getting lamer and seeing how even quality scriptwriters like Song Ji-na and Noh Hee-kyung have degenerated and succumbed to the cashmoney, it really has been a downward spiral.
Wow, I thought it showed an error sign as I posted that damning comment, hence thinking it hadn't been published. Was meant to leave a more optimistic conclusion lol.
I think the production quality is amazing, and there is still quality product, it's the writing and acting that is faltering. However there are always rare exceptions and I hope to place some hope in those exceptions to save us from drowning in mediocrity.
I can rest assure you that Lee Min Ho dosen't apply to this case and on the contrary his going strong in Japna atm. Japanese Minoz is healthy and strong and has been that thru out the years.
As far as I remember faith broke a monumental record just this last year beating American Movies, TV-shows and even Local Japanese contents that even the Japanese awarded faith with award.
Source:
https://koalasplayground.com/2014/11/16/blast-from-the-past-faith-wins-best-korean-drama-in-japan-for-2014/
One thing I find distracting while watching k dramas is many male actors have too much makeup on them. For example, bright pink lipstick.
oooops i thought i was the only one distracted by that, their faces shiny from too much bb or cc cream.
I used to enjoyed kdramas, but lately they all seems the same. so dramatics and unrealistic. Korean celebrity has too much plastic surgery on their face.
omg that picture up there, those dramas were the ones that got me into watching korean dramas. i can't help but to agree that korean dramas are not as nice as before. I feel that they are lacking in originality... and somehow the dramas do not appeal to me :(
Aww...we're the same.
All those dramas are ones that got me into KDrama hype. But I admit, nowadays, I will only follow like 2 or 3 the most.
And yes, they're not as good as the old ones. Need to work more on the originality. Also, later dramas are not so appealing. Some of them starting good...and down spiral from there. So sad.