Korean Novela Invasion

May 13, 2009



It wasn't long time ago when our Philippine's primetime television shows were dominated by Mexican telenovelas. As I remember, Thalia, the Mexican actress, as Marimar, Rosalinda, Maria Mercedes, etc. enthralled the Filipino viewers by storm.

Nowadays, it's Korean's reign of drama offering new flavor to Filipino viewing taste. Obviously, based on how the viewers embrace the shows, Korean drama series indeed captured Filipino's attention that even Korean actresses and actors are truly love by avid fans. Of which, the two rival networks, ABS-CBN and GMA flooded the primetime shows of Korean soup operas. On top of that, the survey shows that Korean drama are more favored than our own Filipino telenovelas if being simultaneously shown.

I must admit I myself favor Korean drama, name it: Lovers in Paris, Princess Hours, Only You, Jewel in the Palace, Coffee Prince, Save the Last Dance for me and a lot more. I have been hooked following those Korean dramas. Mind you, I can stay awake late at night until morning watching its DVD copy.

So, what makes Korean drama a big hit to Filipinoes?

First and foremost Filipino viewers aren't difficult to please at all. As long as there is that key ingredient of entertainment, that's why every telenovelas such as Mexican Telenovelas, Asian Telenovelas and Korean Telenovelas undoubtedly capture Filipino viewers. And what makes the Korean Dramas extra hit is that it offers different approach to Filipino viewers. Entertaining of course. The stories of Korean Drama are light drama with twist of fun, the characters are a little bit comical and well, Filipino viewers are attracted to fresh, foreign, good looking faces. Moreover, Korean dramas run for a short length of time that each episodes are packed with climax twist and turn so viewers are engrossed because they don't want to miss every episodes of it.


Thus today's Filipino telenovelas adopt shorter period of airing time. Lengthy drama series which took years and heavy drama telenovelas are out of the picture already. Like Korean drama, short and light drama with touch of fun are more appealing to general viewers. Brought by this influence to Philippne television, two of the biggest media networks, GMA and ABS-CBN are franchising the rights to make a Filipino version of its drama from the concept and storyline of the original Korean drama. Last year, ABS-CBN started to show with My Girl Filipino version its Filipino adaptation of Korean Dramas. As expected, My Girl Filipino adapatation was top rated, maybe excitement of Filipino viewers out of Korean drama series is not yet wearing off. Just recently Only You is showing, to be followed by Lovers in Paris and maybe a lot more in line.
Likewise, GMA is showing also its own Filipino adaptation of All About Eve to be followed by its line-up of Korean drama Filipino version.

The viewers decide what to watch based on how it appeal to them so let's wait and see how this Korean Novelas invasion to Philippine televesion satiate our taste.