Whether you’re new to Asian drama or a seasoned veteran, you may have wondered what the main differences are between Korean and Chinese dramas.
Significant Notes:
When I say “Chinese dramas,” I’m referring to those produced in mainland China. The comparison to Taiwanese dramas will have to wait for another article. In terms of themes, genre, and production value, there are significant differences between mainland and Taiwanese dramas.
Taiwanese romantic comedy dramas were the first Asian dramas to gain popularity (between 2008 and 2012). They continued to appeal to the public after 2012, but Korean dramas surpassed them in popularity and remain unchallenged to this day.Chinese dramas have piqued the interest of foreign audiences for several years, but they have only recently become truly popular.
Some Features of the Chinese and Korean Dramas
The high production value of Korean dramas is well-known and praised. The drama industry has a successful strategy for attracting investors who are willing to fund and promote a project. Furthermore, the South Korean government is a strong supporter of the “Hallyu Wave.”South Korea aims to establish an international cultural influence by promoting Korean culture abroad through entertainment (particularly music, cinema, and drama), tourism, and pop culture in general, using “soft power.”
K-dramas cover a wide range of genres, including action, fantasy, historical, and science fiction, but when compared to other Asian dramas, they excel in the thriller, action, psychological, and, of course, romance genres.
Instead of adapting novels, K-dramas rely on professional and critically acclaimed writers, which is a strength for a drama in terms of narrative cohesion.
The stories are well-written and, for the most part, plot-free. Furthermore, the dialogue and action scenes are generally well-balanced.
The characters and their stories have a lot of realism to them. They are able to convey their emotions and thoughts to the point where the viewer cannot help but become completely immersed in the storey.
Female characters in modern k-dramas are very feminine, yet strong and independent. In the historical genre, however, the female characters have little direct impact on the story’s outcome, despite having a strong influence on the male character and his decisions.
In Korean dramas, social status is extremely important. This is frequently what determines the dynamics of the story’s relationships. Similarly, there is a reverent respect for seniority, whether it is related to work or age.
Most dramas follow a similar pattern when it comes to romance: love is more than a simple chemical reaction to stimuli; it is deeply rooted in the very essence of a human being. The better half is always the predestined one, and it frequently happens to be the same person as the first love.
C-dramas
C-dramas have been branching out in recent years, but the historical and fantasy genres are where they really shine. Modern-day c-dramas such as the crime drama “Love Me if You Dare” and the romance “My Sunshine” are excellent, but they cannot compete with the best k-dramas in the same genre.C-dramas, on the other hand, are unrivalled in the historical and fantasy genres! Dramas like “Ten Miles of Peach Blossom,” “Ashes of Love,” and “Princess Agents” reign supreme over everything else in this genre from Asia.
The fact that historical and fantasy dramas are less censored by the government is one of the reasons why c-dramas are more inclined to produce them.
Also, in ซีรี่ย์จีนพากย์ไทย, the cinematography is nothing short of breath-taking. The sets, costumes, and battle scenes are also well-thought-out, while the romantic scenes are simply stunning.
