[pempem]

IMO the reason it does well in the diaspora is that it does play to an older cultural sensibility.

- Romance is slower, often less focused on sex than say an HBO show

- Class divisions are stark, and visible much like they are in India, Thailand, Japan and other countries.

- Gendered roles are very marked and clear, with women falling into tropes that Hollywood still espouses but also attempts to disrupt (ingenue, career minded, ice queens, sassy side kick)

- Fable/Parable approaches to morality. There's often an overarching focus on 'the lesson' and usually a secondary lesson that is collectivist and family-focused in nature.

The questions I'm left with are: - will the independent s. korean scene also get exported

- how will s. korean celebrity culture change as it interacts more with a wider audience? currently it is regularly locked down by those who hold the money in ways that make Britney Spears' unfortunate experiences look like a walk in the park