Media Experts Say K-Dramas' 'Wholesome Sexiness' Appeals to Global Audience

Sean Richard Dulake, who plays the male lead role Joon Park in the online drama series "Dramaworld" said that Korean dramas' appeal comes from their so-called "wholesome sexiness".

In a media convention hosted by the Culture Ministry and Korea Creative Content Agency entitled Broadcast Worldwide 2016 (BCWW) in Seoul, Dulake, who was also the director of "Finding Hollywood," a documentary on the Korean Wave phenomenon, said, "I had always wondered why Korean content was connecting to outsiders." He then differentiated Western dramas to Korean dramas and why he thinks such genre attracts many followers overseas. "A lot of content they find in (their) local market is very gritty, with a lot of antihero stuff. Characters are having sex in the first episodes. What K-drama offers to fans is this wholesome way to fall in love and it brings a different kind of joy to their lives."

Korea Herald writes that "Dramaworld" is available for streaming on Viki and Netflix, and it parodies K-dramas' cliches and fans who are so into their pure characters and overly sweet plotlines.

Foreign studios are also interested in taking Korean dramas abroad and some even participate in their production. Craig Hunegs, the President of Business and Strategy at Warner Bros. Television Group, the TV branch of Warner Bros. Entertainment, said that the production company is taking "big steps" to boost its present in South Korea and make Korean dramas available online. Kim Jee Woon's movie, "The Age of Shadows," which was chosen as a competitor for the Academy Awards on Tuesday, was produced by Warner Bros.

Hunegs also said that Warner Bros. has "dramatically increased" DramaFever's programming budget after its acquisition in February. The site currently has an exclusive license to dramas such as "Jealousy Incarnate" and "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo." Both dramas presently air on local Korean television networks.

He also announced that Warner Bros. will be producing two original series for the next three years with Studio Dragon. Studio Dragon is a production subsidiary developed by Korean media contents company CJ E&M.

"We are in active and advanced discussions with other studios as well. Working together, we can bring the very best of South Korea to the global audience," Hunegs concluded.

BCWW 2016 will run until today, September 2, at the Coex Convention and Exhibition Center.