Line #13 SoYouWantTo/WriteAKoreanDrama


1	!'''Main Idea'''
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3	Before you can write a KoreanDrama, you have to understand what makes it a Korean Drama (besides being Korean, but that doesn't count.) Korean Dramas are usually aimed at the female audience, and focus mainly on themes such as romance and family. Expect to use the Asian value of filial piety and respect for seniors which is prevalent in Korean culture. A lot.
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5	!'''Necessary Tropes'''
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7	The protagonist is almost always female when it comes to Korean dramas. The heroine is usually a PluckyGirl, GenkiGirl or [[ThePollyanna Pollyanna]] who will possess tons of [[TheDeterminator determination]] for her to survive the plot. Take note that the audience needs to ''sympathize'' with her, so the character should not be overly annoying or clingy, that role is reserved for the resident [[RichBitch bimbo]] or [[ClingyJealousGirl love rival.]] Make sure the Heroine WillNotBeAVictim when life throws her pitfalls, or make her an ActionGirl, give her some spunk, [[CuteClumsyGirl clumsiness,]] (for comic relief) or [[LittleMissSnarker snark.]] Do ''not'' make her a DamselInDistress. Even though some dramas have gotten away with it, and dramas always have some DamselInDistress moments, it shows that the heroine is unable to take charge of her life and is always dependent on the males. In the female-empowered 21st century, she will lose interest fast. Remember, the prime target of these dramas are females.
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9	Korean dramas always have two or more [[LoveInterest love interests.]] The Main LoveInterest will usually be a JerkWithAHeartOfGold LonelyRichKid, because AllGirlsWantBadBoys. Why is he that way? Maybe he's plain [[SpoiledBrat spoilt]] with adoring parents and swooning "friends" and needs an ordinary girl to stand up to him, maybe he has been starved of love because he has a DarkAndTroubledPast with ParentalAbandonment, or he's just trying to maintain that facade of a jerk in front of his perfect and unreasonably demanding parents. A main part of the romance is discovering the HiddenHeartOfGold part of the Jerk, now that he is able to see the brighter side of life and the good in people [[LoveRedeems thanks to his new heroine girlfriend.]]
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11	The other love interest is usually the NiceGuy and/or DoggedNiceGuy with a BigBrotherInstinct to the heroine. He's the guy who will lend her a shoulder to cry on, give her a helping hand in life or tell her the right thing to do when problems arise. The heroine might think that they are JustFriends, or that they have a LikeBrotherAndSister relationship, not knowing that he wants to be more than that with her. Unfortunately, his efforts are usually unrequited, because NiceGuysFinishLast, but he will be selfless enough to recognize that the heroine really loves someone else, and will [[IJustWantMyBelovedToBeHappy give her up.]]
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13	Other potential Love Interests are usually a [[TheCasanova playboy,]] a [[PrinceCharming dream guy]] who turns out to be [[BeneathTheMask not so perfect after all]]. Sometimes these tropes are instead infused with the two main love interests.
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15	Here is something ''very'' important about eligible love interests, no matter what personality or moral standing, they must all consist of 1000% MrFanservice.
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17	The BigBad of the series is usually female, it could be the scheming stepmother or vicious mother-in-law waiting to seize [[AmbitionIsEvil power]] or money or both, it could be love rival watching out in case the heroine gets her man, because LoveMakesYouEvil, and she will attempt to [[TheVamp seduce the main love interest]] or [[MurderTHeHypotenuse get rid of any love rivals.]] If the two girls are related in any way, such as step-siblings, expect them to possibly be BettyAndVeronica types. Sometimes there are two antagonists, both the scheming ambitious middle-aged woman who is using her daughter the love rival to capture the heart of the male love interest so that when he inherits the multi-million dollar empire his family has built, all the money will go to them. Subversions and other versions exist, but the BigBad is usually motivated by ambition or money or love, and they do not need to be necessarily female.
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19	Please remember that these tropes describe a ''conventional'' Korean drama as a typical RomanticComedy. Not all Korean dramas abide rigidly to these rules, although you can always find shades of these in them.
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21	!'''Scene Staging'''
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23	Bad things always happen on the banks of the Han River. You want a couple to break up, someone to get assaulted, tell your lover you have an incurable disease, etc., etc., it must be done there. Preferably at night by a beautifully-illuminated bridge.
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25	In order to prove you are in Seoul, at least one major scene must be in and/or around [[EiffelTowerEffect Namsan Tower]].
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27	A hospital stay will always involve having an IV attached to the patient (so they can PullTheIV), and a humidifier by the patient's head.

Context SoYouWantTo / WriteAKoreanDrama