As someone who isn’t Korean, I really enjoy watching K-dramas. They offer values that are often missing in Western productions these days—there's a sense of romance, nobility, and depth that feels refreshing compared to much of the current Hollywood fare. However, I couldn’t help but notice a few common clichés that could be addressed:
Top K-Drama Clichés That Need to End (One time is fine, but 100 times is overkill!):
Childhood friends = Eternal Lovers: Not every childhood pal needs to turn into a soulmate for life!
Love for Six Years (and Counting): Long-term pining is sweet... but in almost every drama? It’s becoming a marathon of unrequited feelings.
The Predictable Love Triangle: We all know who’s going to end up together. The third wheel is just there to fill the emotional drama quota.
Girl Falls (Literally) into the Hero’s Arms: Do these heroines have no balance? No romance is complete without a fall.
Hero Carries the Girl: Fainting or drunk, it’s always the guy carrying her. The girl never gets the chance!
Girl Gets Tipsy, Guy Stays Sober: Why is it always the girl getting plastered, while the guy keeps his cool?
"Look How Handsome He Is!": Yes, he's handsome. Must every single character point it out in every episode?
First Kiss Around Episode 8: We’ve been waiting for how long now? It's like there’s a secret K-drama rulebook!
Guy Who’s a Master Chef, Girl Who Can’t Cook: He’s cooking up a storm, and she’s barely managing instant noodles. But hey, career comes first!
Subtle Propaganda: The plot shifts just to avoid risks—no talk about kids, early marriage, or compromise. It’s all about career, independence, and staying patriotic. Of course, even a secretary rocks Chanel! Who wouldn’t want to look fabulous in every scene, regardless of their character's background?