K-drama ideas

[Kim Yunmi]

So... yeah, I know writers hang out on soompi who are from Korea.

What I'm looking for is a drama where disability is represented AND the disability isn't cured by the end.

You see, recently in Korea people got super upset at mobility disabled people blocking the subway: https://www.thenation.com/article/world/korea-disability-protest/

 

I suppose if you ask the organization in the article, you could get some voices to help you research.

 

But no one took their PoV. And what are Korean dramas super good at? Making people understand a minority position. And if you don't believe me Oh, we got some K-drama history and Korean literature to cover. LGBTQIA rights, for example, portrayed on TV has had good reception.

BTW, bonus points for if you have someone fall in love with the disability person who already understands the disability or is disabled in a different way themselves.

Some ideas of love interests:
- high functioning autistic people (that don't have some magical gift because of their autism). Most of the autism in K-dramaland is severe, but there is also high functioning autism.

- limited mobility people who aren't in wheelchairs. Things like, needs a cane to walk. Or occasional wheelchair users.

- Epilepsy

 

I'd like the tone not to be too preachy and for the main storyline not to focus solely on the disability, but to create empathy with the audience, so they know why those people were protesting in the first place. Show both the capabilities of disabled individuals and also the truth of the disability.

Cop show is fine, but don't brutalize disabled people in the process. Slightly prefer slice-of-life myself, but straight up romance would also work.

Not trauma or inspiration porn.
Trauma porn is where media stories depicting the inhumane and often exploitative treatment of minority group.
And Inspiration porn is is the portrayal of people with disabilities as being inspirational to able-bodied people on the basis of their life circumstances.

My other wish is that K-dramas and C-dramas stop fat shaming so much. And I'll say why.

I have relatives who half starve themselves trying to stay skinny at times, they manage their meals at every turn, they exercise regularly. And my skinny butt is lazy as anything. I don't exercise much, I had more trouble than those individuals riding a bike up a hill. I pretty much get to eat whatever I want, and I still stay in the same weight range. They really struggle, get ridiculed and then there are reports that the people on ads advertising the "larger sized" clothes are skinny people in fat suits and fat make up, making a lot of those people feel deflated.

 

There's a ton of myths around being fat. Like they don't exercise enough. They don't watch what they eat. They eat at every turn. And not say, they have diabetes/another medical condition, they have depression, they were molested as a child and this is their protection, or simply they don't have the genetics to make it easy and they are healthier than my skinny butt. Often fatness is the butt of jokes, even when the writers don't write it into scripts--the director thinks it's funny to shake the camera as the actor moves. Also, assigned personality traits along the way: rude, course, lazy, overindulgent, hedonistic, or overly compliant/friendly. But body shaming shouldn't be a thing.

But let's get real, too, in historical times like Joseon, some fat was desirable because it led to healthier babies and the rich were fatter and thus more desirable. What was that hanbok for anyway? Cover the pregnancy and allow for chubbier women.

[Kim Yunmi]

BTW, High Functioning Autism shouldn't make Autistic people a burden or a genius. 'cause that also sucks. Can't we get high functioning Autism that is between those extremes and looks at the better rep? Like it's hard for *them* because they don't know how to cope, but doesn't necessarily mean they need a huge carer? Like hard to make eye contact, and people *might* assume they need a carer or are a genius?

Just saying.. high functioning autism doesn't mean the person has a huge IQ. Ask some autistic people.

Maybe I should ask Japan since they do gradients better, but I really want to give Korea a fair chance to do something between "It's OK to be Not OK." and "Good Doctor." You can do gradients, too Korea, 'cause I believe in my own country to challenge rep better.

Korea did Awl and did Greatest Marriage... and all those JTBC dramas, I think Korea can pull this off too.

[Kim Yunmi]

Adding one:

Two dramas recently pulled the punch and I'm sad.

Love in Contract

 

And May it Please the court both pulled their punches.

BUT I'd love a drama where the audience and the romantic lead fall for the ML character. Like wholly and truly, but they are highly problematic and a murderer, such that the internet splits and is in super denial, yet intrigued enough on the hows and whys that they STAY and watch it anyway. I think it would be hard to pull off, but don't writers like a challenge?

Defeat the "He's so hot so he can't be a murderer" fan thought thoroughly. Get them so hard they can't help but watch to the bitter end this murderer and the Romantic lead's feelings get entangled. Sociopath the audience.

[Kim Yunmi]

IDEA 1: Re-examine the Best Friend role.
What's worse than being the villaness or protagonist in a show? Being the Best friend that is required to agree with everything the protagonist does.

 

- The best friend gets minimum agency
- They have to agree with everything that their friend says even if the friend is making rotten decisions such as chasing a cold-hearted abusive guy that bullies them and there is a sweet Second Lead right there.
- They have to be an expert at relationships

Even though they are their best friend, they have to listen to "I have a friend" stories.

Chinese shows

- They are often stuck with overly lazy, overly destructive bumbling types for love interests, that they must put up with who are, if not a goofy character, straight up abusive that the MFL "rescues" (white the MFL's reltionship is marginally better I think it might be fun to have an actual relationship expert with real relationship advice go up against a plot where she has to give bad relationship advice such as "Get back with him." "But you like him."

 

- In Japanese shows, the character isn't allowed to change. They just nod, say yes, and blindly tell them words such as, "But you like him" and give measures of, "How do you know you like him?" But there are always thin expertise in those shows about relationships.

 

- Korean shows the best friend doesn't have a life outside of their best friend unless they are a love interest. No character arc. Forgettable a lot of the time. And often a "sex expert" compared to the female lead. Flip it.

If the Best friend isn't supportive, they are left to "take the guy from the Main female Lead" and thus become the "betrayer Best friend." If the Best friend gives good advice, they are destined to be forgotten. If they give bad advice, then the audience is meant to mock them and hate them.

 

Given the trend of Isekai, can the Best friend character who is FORCED to be supportive through the protag's often terrible and more terrible decisions to bossy love interest/fluffy-brain woman be turned around? Can that character say no to the chain of bad decisions and bail the protag and themselves out of the worst fate imaginable? Can you subvert the tropes around the Best Friend character? Is the Best Friend destined to be forgotten after the show is over with no life of their own?

 

And please pass the basic feminism tests: Mako Mori (has a goal other than romance), Bechdel (2 named women talk about something other than men) and Sexy Lamp (The character has agency and isn't there to be sexy). Be a good way to highlight feminism and question the genre.

IDEA 2: Secretly Masochist Emperor (Short drama series)

Chinese drama scenario: The emperor is a strict man by day, even a little sadistic to his courtiers, but when he meets a woman in the streets and gets hit hard/knocked to the ground, he finds that he has a masochistic side and *likes* it. This woman ends up being his wife, and seems docile, even subserviant by day, but by night becomes a dominatrix for the Emperor's own pleasure.

 

Real masochists often have to make a lot of decisions by day, so find it relaxing to be a masochist at night... so it's not far off. Both parties would have to consent, but the catch is being found out he has this kink as the Emperor would be awkward, no? Especially if he's pushed with concubines, etc who think he likes demure women.

 

I should note that sadomasichism is not all sexually explicit. It can be simple as someone makes orders and the other obeys. It can be bondage. It doesn't have to include hitting, etc, so one could get around some of the restrictions.

Probably would have to be a short series. I should note that usually with Sadomasichism, they figure out what the other likes slowly, plan it out slowly, try it out slowly, and then figure out a "big fantasy session". (which can be played out in the drama.) The Emperor's name (Maybe Kingdom too) probably should be fictional to get around censors... but it might be fun to play with.

 

Thematically can play with what is consent and power? with touches of feminism.

[Jason in Canada]

My first Soompi post! I'm so glad it's a decent place compared to a certain toxic kpop site out there.

 

Has anyone tried asking Chat GPT? It will give you an infinite amount of kdrama ideas. Try it out on firefox. It doesn't seem to work on Chrome. It's an amazing tool.

 

Here's what I asked Chatgpt: Could you give me a kdrama plot?

 

Answer:

Certainly! Here's a kdrama plot for you:

Title: "Whispers of Serendipity"

Synopsis: In the bustling city of Seoul, two individuals with contrasting lives find their destinies intertwined by a series of serendipitous events. Ha Ji-won, a talented but struggling artist, faces the harsh realities of life as she works multiple part-time jobs to make ends meet. On the other hand, Kim Min-joon, a wealthy and successful businessman, leads a seemingly perfect life but feels trapped in a world dictated by societal expectations.

Their paths cross one rainy evening when Ji-won accidentally stumbles into a high-end art gallery to escape the downpour. While seeking refuge, she finds herself captivated by Min-joon's private art collection. In a moment of impulsiveness, she leaves a small sketch behind, which catches Min-joon's attention.

Intrigued by the artist's talent, Min-joon embarks on a quest to find the mysterious sketch artist. His search leads him to Ji-won, who is shocked to discover her art has piqued the interest of a renowned businessman. Reluctantly, Ji-won agrees to collaborate with Min-joon on an upcoming art exhibition, hoping it will provide her with the exposure she desperately needs.

As they spend more time together, Ji-won's free-spirited nature and genuine passion for art begin to melt Min-joon's rigid exterior. He starts to question the choices he has made in life and the true meaning of happiness. Simultaneously, Ji-won finds herself drawn to Min-joon's world of opulence, but struggles to navigate the complex social dynamics that come with it.

Their journey is not without obstacles. Jealousy, misunderstandings, and societal pressures threaten to tear them apart. Ji-won's best friend, Park Soo-ji, harbors unrequited feelings for Min-joon and becomes a source of conflict. Additionally, Min-joon's disapproving family and his obligation to marry within his social circle create further complications.

As they strive to overcome these challenges, Ji-won and Min-joon learn to trust each other and follow their hearts, defying societal expectations. Along the way, they discover that love and true happiness can be found when they embrace the unexpected and listen to the whispers of serendipity.

"Whispers of Serendipity" is a heartwarming and inspiring kdrama that explores the power of art, the complexities of love, and the transformative nature of following one's dreams.

 

It will give you an infinite amount of different plots. Keep in mind, the ideas are not perfect. But if you tweak them you could make amazing plots. I feel bad for writers who will get alot less work.

Edited June 10 by Jason in Canada

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