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S.Korean soap opera sparks boom in China
By Raymond Zhou (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-09-30 06:22

Secret formula

Why are so many people glued to a glacially paced Korean show about a person who lived hundreds of years ago?

The formula is not a secret and opinions do not diverge. Both experts and viewers agree, "Dae Jang Geum" grabs, tickles and warms us because it seems exotic. Yet it has such a familiar ring to it that makes viewers comfortable.

The Chinese culture and the Korean culture overlap in many ways. So Chinese audiences can easily identify with the characters and their behaviours, said Jiao Yan, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. "We see a purer form of Confucianism and are refreshed by it because we feel a sense of belonging."

Wang Li, a Beijing publisher who is on the South Korean bandwagon and has the Chinese rights to several South Korean best-sellers, concurs: "The Confucius tradition reflected in these Korean dramas and books are like dj vu to us because we cannot find it in our own writers and artists.

Besides, a whole family of several generations can enjoy a show together as it is devoid of sex and violence."

Melodrama is a staple to soap opera fans everywhere and this show is no exception. Jang Geum goes through some tough times, such as palace politics, misunderstandings and persecution, but she endures.

On top of everything, in the show, the preparation of Korean food is shown as meticulously presented as in a cooking programme. It is so instructive that it has become something like a Martha Stewart episode on how to eat well and eat healthy.
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