How to Tell if Your Life
has Become a Korean Drama
By Tynne De Leon
Korean drama is a dangerous pandemic—sadly, there is no known cure once you’re afflicted. Most call it the KDrama fever, which has spread throughout pop culture and invaded our prime tv spots.
And, let’s admit it, you love seeing alpha men in their stylish suits—from teenage flower boys to chaebols (aka rich, company men). These hunky Korean actors have you drooling over their romantic gestures and contradictory bad boy images. Cinderella plots and love triangles get you in a tizzy, you can’t help but crave more—always, more.
The KFfever now has control over every aspect of your being, to the point that your life has begun to imitate art. And are you complaining? Hell, naw!
8. The smallest things get you kilig
Because of the skinship in Korean dramas (Note to normal humans (NNH): Skinship is when characters engage in physical intimacy—say, holding hands), every single moment is a huge deal.You get excited with the slightest interaction between you and your intended, and you often fantasize that you’re your own OTP (NNH: One True Pairing, your favorite relationship in the drama). You scream your lungs out when they finally confess their love for you, and when you kiss? Bam—cue signature ballad with 360 degree motion camera—even if it is all just in your head.
7. You often try to pit two love interests against each other
And why shouldn’t you take on the lead role in the Korean drama that is your life? They always have two handsome men fighting over her. The fact that regardless of how unattractive she is, the lead girl always has suitors is strangely encouraging, and makes it easier for you to step into the role. Keri na kung pangit, maganda naman personality mo ‘di ba?
6. You call your SO “oppa” instead of “baby”
(NNH: Oppa – not-so-older man. Girls usually use this endearment for their beloved)
Your oppa is so swoon-worthy that the term “bae” aka “before anyone else” is a tragic understatement.
5. You’ve adopted the soundtrack of your favorite K-Ddrama as the one for your life
Your non-kdrama-fan friends are kind enough to think it endearing how you’ve memorized lyrics “you don’t even understand.” Sure, sometimes its annoying when you start speaking to them in Korean, but they’ve become so used to you bursting out into incomprehensible song at random points throughout the day that it’s par for the course of being friends with you.
4. You’ve become your favorite lead character
The kdrama fever has affected you full force. Thanks to your obsession, you’ve found your spirit animal in the form of your favorite lead character and have subconsciously adopted most of their habits and personality quirks as your own.
Fake it until you make it, right? The hunky leading man will follow in due course, because your life is officially your favorite kdrama and that’s always how it works out.
3. Your definition of a happy ending is finally being with your man
Much in the way you’ve invested a lot of emotions in your OTP, you won’t forgive the writers of your life if your relationship doesn’t end well. Like your OTP, you and your “oppa” are MFEO (Made For Each Other) and you’ll fight on online forums and IRL if anyone contests that.
2. You tend to forget things and events that aren’t pivotal plot points in your life
You were never really forgetful before you came down with a bad case of K-Drama fever, but now that you’re so far gone, you tend to forget small things that don’t push the plotlines of your life forward.
Your mom told you to wash the dishes? All you remember is your SO’s update on social media. You were supposed to do homework last night? Nope, you could have sworn all that happened last night was that your “oppa” called.
1. You’re prone to existential crises
What happens once the scene fades to black and you’re supposed to be in your happily ever after?
Why, start watching a new K-Drama to emulate, of course!
How obsessed are you with Korean dramas? Share away in the comments below!
