I believe that Korean situation stories hold much relevance for people seeking enlightenment. When I watch them, I laugh, I cry, I learn. Here is the "Tao of Kdrama" I laid out to reflect on what I'd learned. It's a listicle.
1. “I'm sorry”+bow
Life means always having to say you’re sorry, Erich Segal notwithstanding. Everybody in Kdrama says it all the time.
2. No excuses.
This is shocking to me, as crafting a “good” excuse is second nature. Traffic, the paper-eating dog, Covid (the master excuse) – whatever, there’s ALWAYS a reason. Nope, they don’t offer a reason, just an apology. See #1.
3. Gossip is necessary.
Happily, since you can't offer the excuse yourself, the friends tell all and it straightens out many a difficult moment. Consider this from Crash Landing on You: Yoon Se-ri has missed her flight because she had to save Captain Ri’s life. He wakes up and yells at her that she wasn’t on the flight, for which he has risked his life. She says, “I'm sorry” and flees the room. The nurse and doctor come in. The nurse says, “You and your girlfriend are perfect for each other – thank goodness she has your blood type, you might have died.” Captain Ri gets out of the sick bed, goes to find Yoon Se-ri and gives her a kiss.
4. There is suffering.
Everybody has substantial trauma – a lost parent or sibling, being raised in an orphanage, abuse at work.
5. There is a path away from suffering.
Bond with your people, don’t be greedy, live up to your name.
6. Shop.
“Do all rich guys think they’re in Pretty Woman?” Eun Ha-won asks in Cinderella and the Four Knights. Yes, is the answer.
7. Laugh.
8. Listen.
The magic’s in the music, and often the key to the story.
9. Be true to your Self.
Goo Hae-ryung, in Rookie Historian, refuses to be a princess just because she loves a prince. She wants to be a historian. There’s no path forward except one’s own path.
10. Chop vegetables.
Everybody can cook and so can we!
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