Not your typical K-Drama soap opera
People might think that "Crash Landing on You" is just another typical K-Drama romantic soap opera created for Netflix. Well think again. What's so typical about a South Korean paraglider crash landing on the North Korean border or so typical about being rescued by a North Korean military officer? This series explores the differences in North and South Korean cultures. It combines two characters who are so different that they would be an unlikely couple, but who fall in love anyway.
The following is an official trailer of Crash Landing on You from Youtube:
What's all the hype about "Crash Landing On You"?
Romantic Comedy is one of the most popular types of show. "Crash Landing on You" is a romantic comedy, but it's much more than that. It also has drama to it, and mixes both of them with facts about real life in North Korea based on North Korean defectors. According to The Mainichi the facts they get from interviews with defectors draw people to the show. "One of the highlights is that the series portrays the lifestyles of North Korean people--from their diet to shopping at markets--based on real-life information including interviews with North Koreans who defected to South Korea". Since there is so little information available about North Korea and everything is so secretive there, people love the opportunity to get a peek at the real lifestyles there.
Worldwide binge watching craze even during lock down
Binge watching is easy to do when everything is on lock down, but people around the world still love to watch this series even without a lock down. "Crash Landing on You" is very popular in Japan. Japanese audiences are attracted to this "off-the-wall" series. "...Crash Landing on You, a tale of love, friendship and beauty products that spans the divide between South and North Korea. It's addictively off-the-wall, heartbreaking and hilarious-and since the show is only available in Korean audio with English subtitles, it demands your full attention." By adding all these things together the writers created a series that people love.
During the coronavirus lock down people were binge watching the show to escape reality. According to The Guardian viewers made the best of a bad situation by watching the show. "Who have you been spending your lock down with? I've been spending mine with spectacularly good-looking Koreans in spectacularly unlikely romantic scenarios". According to The Washington Post in Seoul the series was described as a great way to get away from the things going on in the world "How's this for for a romcom plot to escape the realities of the coronavirus pandemic? So many people found a way to cope with the pandemic by binge watching the show.
Even though lock down from the 2020 pandemic has been a negative thing, one positive thing to come from it is the huge success of the K-Drama industry. According to Korean Investors Studio Dragon Revenue jumped from 468.7 billion in 2019 to 539.1 billion in 2020. The demand for entertainment that didn't need a person to leave their house during the pandemic helped skyrocket the success of this industry.
North Korea wishes series would crash and burn
North Korea sees "Crash Landing on You" as an immoral and insulting portrayal of their country. The Korean Herald reports that Pyongyang's state media says the series involved false and impure information. "Pyongyang's propaganda media outlets lashed out at South Korea's latest hit TV drama dealing with North Korea....calling them an "unacceptable and atrocious provocation". Due to the controversial plot of the series, it is not readily available in North Korea. "Crash Landing on You" and many shows similar to it are still popular there, but people have to work harder to watch them. According to BBC News K-Dramas have many fans in North Korea even though these shows are seen negatively by the government. "It is well known that North Koreans, especially the young ones, are fans of K-drama too-and as Crash Landing on You accurately depicts, a lot of South Korean films and dramas are smuggled into North Korea".
K-Drama popular in many parts of the world
K-Dramas have helped with the continued success of Netflix and people in many parts of the world have become obsessed with watching them. According to The Diplomat " As of 2019, 30% of Netflix subscribers are from Middle East, Africa and Europe". Korean series have a different style of entertainment to them which may be why they are so popular. "At the moment, Korean series are being promoted as "feel good" series that can distract viewers from the pandemic. Korean series are known for their unique takes on love, representation of romance in non sexual contexts and having women leads". This type of entertainment gives viewers a chance to watch shows that are not just like all the rest of the shows out there.