The Reality Behind the Fantasy of K-dramas: An Analysis of Indian Fans

Most South Korean dramas provide an outlet from everyday life into an illusive world of romance. This research aims to evaluate the impact that Korean dramas have on its viewers abroad and how K-dramas alter personal opinions on various topics like beauty, romantic partners, and relationships. For this project, I have chosen Indian fans to examine how fans tend to possess idealized perceptions about South Korea, Korean men, and romance in general, based on the fantasy that K-dramas present, which have both positive and negative influences on their personal lives. The reach of South Korean soft power among young Indians is currently underestimated, and through this research, I want to contribute by providing a more in-depth understanding of the phenomenon of Hallyu (Korean Wave) in India today. Through a survey of 142 Indian fans of K-dramas of varying ages, this project assesses the influence of K-dramas on their impressions about specific themes such as beauty standards, career ambitions of women, romantic preferences, family life, and sexist scenarios in K-dramas. This research intends to highlight the inevitable biased impression that international fans have of Korea, through a comparison of these recurring concepts in K-dramas with the actual situation in Korea today. By recognizing the fictitious nature of this form of media, the goal is to create awareness about the perpetuation of sexist ideals in K-dramas under the facade of the “perfect” partner and the “perfect” romance. / Keywords: media, popular culture, gender roles, sexism, international fans