I am a known kdrama addict.
And while I do tend to fangirl, quite hard at times for the married mother of two that I am, my interest in Korea is not limited to pretty idols and dramas.
This is not to say that an interest in dramas is shallow. They really give me something to look forward to and get lost in, like a good book or performance. There are few shows here I currently follow as well, some really great shows that have since ended that I adored, and there are countless movies I could name that I love- so on the record I will state this: I know there is good content available in the United States. I get that. I hear that. Some of my favorite movies and shows are from right here in the good ol' USA. It isn't some anti-American entertainment sentiment or the belief that I "get" something others do not. For me personally, I like that I can depend on korean dramas to reliably hook and pull me in to the story and connect with the characters. I love that they are like long movies with nice production quality and great actors. I like that the creators of a successful drama go on to make another instead of making a second season of the same thing for more money. It's this constant refreshing flow of content! I enjoy the whole experience and following the actors from project to project.
This very large hobby of mine started with a desire to understand more about the culture from where my mother came from and understand why she made some of the choices she made without having to ask her directly. Why couldn't I just ask?
There was so much I wanted to know but could never ask when I was young out of fear that it would hurt my mom by bringing up the past.
My mom met my dad in South Korea when he was in the army. She left the country against the wishes of her family, married him, had three children, and never once returned to her home country. When I said "against the wishes of her family" I mean SUPER against their wishes. It was not okay with them that she was dating an American, let alone trying to run away and marry him. She was well educated, from a good family, and I am sure they saw a much different future for her that did not involve an American soldier. I can recall some phone calls from time to time, but she hasn't been in regular contact with anyone since leaving.
She wanted to raise us in the most American way possible, never taught us the language, never told us stories, and only mentioned her family in limited detail. The things she did share with us during my childhood were the food, the pressure to perform well academically (nope, didn't get a pass there) and the sense that she kept an intentional distance between her life and family here and the place she once called home. Once I had my first child, I started to get a bit more brave about poking and prodding her about her history. I found it so tragic that she should try to erase this part of herself. Was she sorry towards her parents? Did she regret coming here? Was she home sick? Whatever the reason, I really wanted to see her embrace that side of herself. I think all she really needed were ears to listen to her.
She had forgotten how to speak korean well, but it came back to her very quickly. She now has a drama addiction (she is a parasite to my Viki account lol), thinks Ji Chang Wook is a hottie, and listens to music in her language. She even wants to go back and visit. Will she see her family? I don't know. It doesn't matter to me if they accept her or me or what happened back then. All that matters to me is her own self acceptance and offering my help where it is needed.
