Abstract
After a decade of conservative politics, President Moon Jae In ran for president on the platform of engaging with North Korea through soft power. This time period gave rise to one of the most popular Korean dramas of all time; “Crash Landing on You”. The popularity of this drama can show a warming towards the idea of seeing North Koreans as ‘just like us’. This study analyzes the significance of the image of North Korea in “Crash Landing on You” then puts it in conversation with earlier dramas to discuss the evolution of the image of North Korea. It will then address the significance of using dramas as a medium of analysis as a family-friendly form of entertainment by examining images of North Korea through films. In looking at how North Korean characters are portrayed, the study will discuss the strategy of bringing North Korean characters into a more positive light in South Korean public consciousness. Finally, this paper looks at South Korean popular culture’s attempts to display unification of the Korean peninsula. Through data collected around public opinion, the author examines how and why unification themed media has historically been unpopular in popular culture while dramas and films that display cooperation across the border seem to gain more interest. Through this study, the author hopes to further understand how policial images are displayed in popular culture and the impact that political events can affect the ways certain messages are received.
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
Popular culture, Kdrama, North Korea, Korean Peninsula, Unification, Inter-Korean Relations
