The Journal of Culture Contents ISSN:2287-2256(Print) 2671-7026(Online) 문화콘텐츠연구

The Korean TV dramas that have been exported to foreign markets and were met with huge responses, can be labelled as “Korean-wave Dramas.” Examined here in this article is the huge response of the Chinese public for such “Korean-wave dramas,” through a singular aspect which seems to have most appealed to the Chinese viewers, no other than the concept which we call ‘Familism.’ In China, most of the parents have their respective jobs, are obliged by the government to have only one child, and are living separately from the grandparents of their children. Added to this problem, agricultural regions are separated from the cities, and people have to travel long distances to meet their family members. Even the closest relatives, like brothers or sisters, find it very hard to meet each other. Then, the Korean dramas that are suddenly presented to them, usually depict large families, with traditional values still in tact. Obviously, such depiction instantly drew the public’s attention in China. In fact, the aspect of ‘familism’ is widely present in the cultural contents of modern Korea as well. They are displayed here and there, in various forms and shapes. The concept and value of ‘filial piety’ present inside the concept of familism, is not a mere remnant of Confucianism of the past. It is a universal value that can be attractive to all kinds of people, regardless of their nationalities. In Korea, many of the families are already dismantled, but the description of a traditional Korean family in the Korean-wave dramas are garnering positive responses. Such results can be attributed to the extraordinary community culture DNA of the Korean people.