On June 22, 2020, the name of a famous Korean actor, Lee Min-Ho, took over Nigeria’s Twitter and became one of the top trends that day. Many soon realized the day was the actor’s birthday, and his legion of Nigerian fans had trooped out to celebrate him. This incident caused a stir on the famous social media platform and marked one of the few moments that Nigerians expressed their love for K-dramas.
A year and some months later, the world was also shaken by the milestones made by one of the most popular Netflix shows ever, Squid Game. The renowned K-drama garnered over 2.1 billion hours of watching by Netflix subscribers worldwide. With 65 billion hours viewed in its first 28 days, the show went on to earn the crown as the most-watched show Netflix has ever released. Entertainment exports have seen a considerable impact from this surge in interest, as K-drama exports have increased by more than 72% in recent years, especially in countries like Nigeria.
In 2022, Alchemy of Souls, a Korean drama, stayed for more than 6 months on the top 10 charts on Netflix Nigeria, while other Korean series also dominated the top 5 rankings. Since then, there’s hardly a week on Netflix Naija that Korean dramas don’t rear their heads in the 10 most watched shows, which ultimately begs the question, “What is it about K-dramas that Nigerians enjoy?” To answer this question, we interviewed three Nigerians who are big fans of Korean shows, and here’s what they had to say:
“I love how niched K-dramas can be and how much detail they pay to ensure they get things accurately.” — Emmanuel
I’ve been watching K-dramas for 12 years now. My journey began during the break between my WAEC exams and admission into the university. I went to OAU to prepare for my Post-UTME and saw some guys watching a movie, which I later discovered was City Hunter. It had just come out during that time, so I went ahead to buy the disc, which was my initiation. However, the following four series I watched solidified my experience with and loyalty to K-dramas. These series are A Man Called God, Iljimae, Iron King, and Swallow through the Sun.
Most of the K-dramas I watch today are on Netflix. I love modern business genres such as Itaewon Class, The Startup, and King The Land, to mention a few. I love that they address day-to-day interactions and workplace intricacies. I also love how niche K-dramas can be and how much detail they pay to ensure they get things accurately.
I never had any misconceptions about K-dramas before watching them. I am often shocked when people express their desire to date.
“I hold Korean dramas and movies in high esteem because they gave me comfort when I was in a bad place, and I discovered a lot of wonderful stories while seeing them.” — Molayo
I’ve been watching Korean dramas for about a decade now. The first Korean dramas I saw were Boys Before Flowers, Coffee Prince, and Personal Taste. These were the first set of K-dramas that brought Korean rom-coms to the limelight.
I was about 14 years old when I started watching these shows. CDs were still trendy in Nigeria. Most times, word got around about trending movies and shows in school. I bought the CDs and saw them at home on the DVD player. I got hooked and bought more after that. The first two Korean dramas I saw were Boys Before Flowers and Coffee Prince. While the former is more popular, I liked it more because it has depth and an unconventional story.
I have preferred watching K-dramas on Netflix in recent years because it’s more accessible. I’ve seen a lot of good Korean Netflix originals. The other streaming platform I use is Prime Video, which has very few K-dramas.
I used to love rom-coms, but that was before I discovered Korean thrillers. Most Korean rom-coms are light-hearted and suitable for viewers of all ages. Their thrillers, however, hardly have these limitations, so the stories are better told. The best Korean movies and series are thrillers with action, mystery, and horror elements.
Most ignorant people perceive Korean dramas as cheesy and seen by a particular demographic of girls: crazy, delusional fan girls. There’s nothing wrong with being cheesy; those who don’t like it are free to look the other way.
Molayo
I don’t mean to sound political, but this is the world’s usual way of shitting on stuff many women enjoy. This was the misconception I was fed about Korean dramas before I got into them. But I got into it anyway because I didn’t have a problem with being a crazy, delusional fan girl. I own my weaknesses with my chest.
I’ve seen men get in their feelings while watching football matches, sulk for weeks when their team loses, and be crazy fanboys to players. Nobody seems to have a problem with that.
I think people should be allowed to enjoy things without feeling guilty or dumb for liking them. I hold Korean dramas and movies in high esteem because they comforted me when I was in the wrong place, and I discovered a lot of wonderful stories while seeing them. As long as your hobbies aren’t hurting anyone, it shouldn’t be a problem.
“Romantic K-dramas are sappy, and I like to cry. I enjoy action because I need the adrenaline.” — Fati
I started watching K-Dramas around 2009. My cousins are big fans of K-Dramas, and their influence drew me into that world.
Netflix is my preferred platform for watching K-dramas. I really enjoy the romance, action, sci-fi, and crime genres. However, I lean more toward romance. Korean dramas always have great plots. Romantic K-dramas are sappy, and I like to cry. I enjoy action because I need the adrenaline.
I never had any myths or misconceptions about K-dramas before watching them. I started watching them at a young age when they fascinated everyone.
K-dramas have undoubtedly garnered new audiences with platforms like Netflix and Prime Video. The recent successes of these shows have made more people warm up to them, making them considerable entertainment choices.
However, to Nigerians who are K-dramas fans, we can see that these shows are so much more than just foreign entertainment. Many see these shows as a reflection of their wild imaginations, a vision of what a better future could be, and even more, a confident representation of their desires.
Whether it’s a show steeped in sappy romance or one that leaves your heart skipping at the thrilling action scenes, the je ne sais quoi essence of K-dramas explains why they continue to be fan favourites. These shows brim with soothing comfort, astounding quality, and a fresh breath of originality. Many film lovers keep returning to them because they know that beneath the surface, there is always something positive waiting for them.
This piece, “The Prominence Of K-dramas: Why These TV Shows Have Become Fan Favorites For Nigerians,” was originally published in Modaculture’s Sept-Oct 2023 issue. Go HERE to view it.
