Korea: more angst in five minutes than all of American networks in a year. But why?

[dangermousie]

I know I am spamming and I apologize.

But come on! It's the last post for the night, I promise.

Heh. Oh, Korea! Even their music videos are incredibly depressing. Here is a MV for the song 'Why' which is...a work of art, in some respects. I mean, it's only a bit over five munutes long but it manages to cram all the angst of MISA + Autumn Tale + other angsty kdramas, into such a short running time! It's like the pure distillation of the kdrama/kmovie aesthetic (if you've ever been curious to find out what that is and don't want to spend time watching 15 hours of something, this is a good choice).

We have gorgeous cinematography, love quadrangles, impossible love, and oh yeah...the summary of it is really 'everybody dies.' I swear. The last shot is o_O.

The MV is set during the Korean War (but was made in 2001). Interestingly it stars a whole bunch of really famous kdrama actors: Kong Sang Woo, Lee Yo Won (the OTP of Bad Love!), Gong Yoo, and Ryu Shi Won.

Snark and prettiness aside, this really made me think: why does Korean drama have such a fascination with the idea of noble suffering and romantic death? I find this running so incredibly strongly through Korean dramas, movies, and music videos. Much, much more strongly than even in that other bastion of sad endings and angst-in-fiction, Japan.

I wonder what it is that makes it so? Why such a fascination with love that is painful and ends in death? Or illness? Or family tragedy? Grace in suffering? I wonder if it's some sort of reflection of Korea's incredibly troubled 20th century history. (Just as I've read that the prevalence of 'destruction of Tokyo' motifs in Japanese fiction is a remnant of the psychic wound of the firebombing of Tokyo as well as the nuclear bombs). After all, American fiction is probably the most fixated on the happy endings and status quo out there, and USA had a relatively peaceful last century...No idea, just thinking 'out loud.'

Comments

[euterpeslullaby.livejournal.com]

Wow, what the hell?! I watched it three times and I still don't really know what was going on. Fascinating though, it always seems to me like the South Korean entertainment industry is so scared of even mentioning the North that stuff about the war is few and far between. It's good to see them at least acknowledging that it happened, even if that MV was seriously confusing. Their whole thing with death and other depressing story lines has always been alarming for me - I guess you're right, they have had one hell of a history, but why so much grief? I'd say it was because they lost half their country and so many of them lost family and friends, but they seem to repress that so much that it's hard to find evidence of any real grief about it or concern about their kin up in the North. I'd really like to know what the actual feeling in the South is about that kind of stuff, but everyone seems so wary about talking about it!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

From what I've understood of the MV, basically all the characters live in the same border town. Kwon Sang Woo is in love with Lee Yo Won who is a couple with Gong Yoo.

Then war breaks out and Gong Yoo is with the South and KSW is with the North. And due in part to that other guy friend being a spy for the North, that town gets occupied by North Koreans. So KSW comes back as a NK officer.

So they are doing the usual 'comrade trial' type stuff, where people get exposed as undesirables by their neighbors/community and then offed, and KSW's girlfriend, who is jealous, picks LYW as one of the undesirables, but KSW of course can't off her and tries to put a move on her instead. Gf sees it and later hangs herself.

Meanwhile, the course of war has been changing, SK troups get back the city (even if KSW blew up some strategic stuff) and shoot the friend for spying.

KSW, a subordinate and LYW (as a hostage?) are escaping and come across the South Korean unit led by Gong Yoo. And from then on, it's pretty clear...

I do love that symbolic last shot so, with the guns to each other's temples.

Pooor KSW, he is never destined to live happily ever after, not even in MVs :)

I'd really like to know what the actual feeling in the South is about that kind of stuff, but everyone seems so wary about talking about it!

I guess it's just one of those really suppressed/repressed topics. I mean, Seoul isn't even that far from the border!

Have you seen Shiri, btw? It's a really great movie, and deals with NK issue too.

[euterpeslullaby.livejournal.com]

Ohh, I see. That does make more sense, although I can't imagine what it must have been like to be so separated like that from the people in your own village, and then forced to try to kill each other... It's all so very tragic. And no, I haven't seen Shiri yet, but I'll definitely put it on my to-watch list, thanks!

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

Shiri and also JSA (Joint Security Area) are great movies and a must see. Esp. JSA is hauntingly beautiful and full of impact, even more than Shiri IMHO.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

OMG, your new icon makes me swoon. There is something wrong with me.

I haven't seen JSA, so thank you for the rec!

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

Just a reminder that JSA (like Shiri) has some very violent scenes in it but it is a very good movie to understand how both sides of the Koreans feel.

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

Coming from a country that spend 40 years separated as well, I can so feel for the sentiment of grief, sacrifice and Angst the South Koreans have. During the 70's and 80's we had similar *dark* movements here in West Germany. Most German movies were bleak and dark, they had very strong undertones of grief and also self-sacrifice in it. The separation of the two halves of Germany as well as the terror of leftist in the 70's and 80's made the German ANGST a big thing (no wonder the US use the German word for fear as it is a big part of the German psyche since the 19th century).

As for the actual separartion, judging from the kdramas they pretty much ignore it, just like we did. Of course there is mention of the *other Korea* (Other Germany) in the news, but in every day life - for the generations that came after the war (korean war in the 1950's/Germany after WW2 - if you are not directly related to the issue, it is pretty much non-existant. You learn at school that Korea (Germany) was separated after the war and you get used to it. It is just a fact of life. But overall there is this underlying grief, a sense of sadness, that runs through every thread of life and I guess the Koreans experience that as well. I guess it is pretty much universal and leaves a subconscious scar on a nation's psyche.

I love the vid, just add Kang Dong-won and Lee Jun-ki ot the mix and you have my four favourite Korean men in it :) That last scene of Gong Yuu and Kwan Song Won is incredible and sad ... and sexy (slashy undertones here I come).

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thank you for that comment, especially as coming from a perspective of someone from a country with a similar history. It's interesting, because growing up in the USSR, I notice the trend for moroseness and unhappy endings in Russian literature as well, and Russia obviously also had an unhappy history, for quite a long time. So I do suppose it becomes embedded in the national psyche and comes out in fiction.

As for the actual separartion, judging from the kdramas they pretty much ignore it, just like we did

The one drama I know that deals with it (and that I plan to see when the subbing is done) is Seoul 1945. It apparently did very well, too, which is interesting.

That vid is totally amazing (you don't want to know how many times I've watched it) and that last shot is incredible (I was going to use 'to die for' but...:D) and I am glad I am not the only one who thought it was sexy.

I really need to see KSW in a proper drama ASAP.

Lee Jun-ki btw has been in some awesome MVs. Here: http://dangermousie.livejournal.com/701231.html#cutid3

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

the trend for moroseness and unhappy endings in Russian literature
But isn't that a typical trademark of Russian literature since the early 19th century? Gogol, Tolstoi, Pushkin ... they all have that eternally sad sentiment in their books. And music! OMG, Russian music can move me to tears.

Perhaps you can say that the Koreans and the Japanese are the Russians and Germans of South East Asia respectively. ;-)

I am glad I am not the only one who thought it was sexy.
No, you are not alone. And know what? I wish I was a slasher because that one scene between them? OMG! Even though I don't like slash usually (only well written without the typical cliches) I think I will repost that vid in my LJ as I have some non-dorama watching friends on my flist who are slash writers and might come up with a nice story surounding that one scene. ;)

I really need to see KSW in a proper drama ASAP.
May I suggest We are Dating Now - It's funny, sad and awesome all around. He plays a player who falls for the not so perfect and beautiful best friend of his older sister (played by Chae Rim who was Dal Ja in Dal Ja's Spring). He has some really funny scenes and for once there is not too much Angst and he can show off his funny side. Besides his OTP is awesome. Oh and it has So Ji Sup in it too, he plays Chae Rim's OTP.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

True. Actually even earlier Russian lit isn't very cheerful. But then I guess Russian history as a rule hasn't been so happy so it makes sense.

We're dating now sounds awesome. Any idea where I can find it?

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

jdramas has it uploaded here - there are 16 eps altogether.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[shinystory.livejournal.com]

I don't know how you find these things, but this is amazing. I love the last shot.

May I then rec? This is SG Wannabe, the song is "Arirang."
Part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd3yizwdAas)
Part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiwb-o-89z8)
Part 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hmlbqf9kmq)

It stars Ock Joo-hyun, Lee Bum-soo of Surgeon Bong Dal Hee and Lee Seon-gyun of Coffee Prince.

I agree with your reason on why they are filled with all these angst-filled themes. And maybe because all the men are still required for military service, so it's a shared/brotherhood psyche sort of thing. They are separated from family and girlfriends and all. Perhaps war movies and the angst are a sort of catharsis.

But one thing, though, that I really am fascinated with in Korean production of music videos, like the one you posted: how it's a movie in itself. It's practically a short.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I found this linked on the d-addicts Bad Love thread and jumped all over it.

And the last shot...yeah. Look at scottishlass's icon upthread. Mmm....

Thanks for the link! I can't wait to watch it. I am discovering Korean MVs and while I am not normally into that sort of thing, they are like these amazing mini-movies and a different art-form in themselves.

And maybe because all the men are still required for military service, so it's a shared/brotherhood psyche sort of thing. They are separated from family and girlfriends and all. Perhaps war movies and the angst are a sort of catharsis

That is so interesting and probably very true.

[shinystory.livejournal.com]

they are like these amazing mini-movies and a different art-form in themselves

Oh yes, exactly. I really appreciate that (as opposed to the too-many gyrating bodies of MTV.)

It's a thing with many Oriental MVs, I think. The first time I really got into these shorts was when I was in my teens, when I caught one on Hong Kong TV: It had this guy who went blind and his girl, and how they couldn't get their relationship back.

The angst! The angst! I'm still loving that last scene. That is quite an icon from scottishlass

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I know, they are so beautiful! And have storylines, I still can't believe how much they can pack into such a short format!

[fivil.livejournal.com]

I love Korean MV's. They're often like mini-movies, and it's amazing how quickly they hook us to a 6-minute storyline. I swear there have been two or three MV's that moved me to tears almost, and then I sat back like WTF, that was 5-7 minutes, why am I nearly crying?

Of course, I love the happier endings better. Like the MV here: http://fivil.livejournal.com/437792.html

I wish I had a deeper knowledge in Korean culture to answer and ponder the question of why so many sad endings. Similarly, I read about Indian dance/theater traditions and how an *ideal* theater performance goes through "9 emotions", the final emotion being serenity or peacefulness - a feeling that all is right in the world. I think partly this may be why Bollywood movies bring us the extremes of melodramaticness but return with a happy ending. Sometimes the balance isn't perfect and people are just left going "WTF???" but sometimes the happy endings work despite earlier melodrama. Like in Sholay, --SPOILERS FOR RANDOM READERS WHO HAVEN'T SEEN IT ---- one OTP doesn't get each other, which is all kind of hurty but one does, hence the semi-happy finale in the train.

Maybe Koreans, having experienced tough times in even recent history, do not mind the lack of a happy ending in their melodrama and in fact rejoice in it. Maybe the young-pretty-people-dying-of-terminal-illness weirdly symbolizes the soldiers dying on the battle field. Pure speculation of course.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

That MV was incredibly adorable. EEEE!

The comparison with the Indian aesthetic is fascinating, and you are right. In a way, I think Bolly movies are almost an antithesis. (Except for something odd, like Karam, which made me think of a Korean movie).

Maybe Koreans, having experienced tough times in even recent history, do not mind the lack of a happy ending in their melodrama and in fact rejoice in it. Maybe the young-pretty-people-dying-of-terminal-illness weirdly symbolizes the soldiers dying on the battle field. Pure speculation of course.

That is something I have been thinking as well. Hmmm....

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Personally, I'm curious about China's "arm loss means strength and heroism and nobility" and Japan's "loss of any body part(usually arm or eye) means love" fixations.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

That is true. I wonder what is with the maiming.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

It is to the point where I just declare that any sort of maiming to save/help/whatever another means they're canon. Seriously.

[kitkat-cat.livejournal.com]

I don't think that i've ever watched any tv drama, as a child in the far east, that didn't have forbidden love and such as its central theme...the happy idol dramas being churned out of taiwan is quite a recent phenomena, even the outsiders, would have been considered tame 20 years ago...

in the past, it was all Qiong Yao and seriously, she is the grandmother of all angstorific dramas out there...she can make grown men tremble and blub like babies, i have seen them! And all of her books (almost all of them have been adapted), deal with love that is not meant to be and all that. people die, go mad, get horse whipped, fall in love with the brother-in-law/cousin/teacher who protects her from an abusive husband/father/er, no-one in particular, marry dead fiances because they can't get over them, keep watch for the husband by a cliff which already boasts 3 rocks that local legend has as women who've previously waited so long for the non-returning husband that they've turned to stone, etc, etc, etc, you get my drift!

In conversations with friends, there is definitely the view that lost love which does not work out, especially because of factors outside your control, is somehow, more real, and more valuable... of course, we all want and hope that love works out, but love that doesnt has a special place... i think watching it and reading about it gives us an opportunity of expressing, by proxy, what we can't ourselves...it reminds us that we aren't the only ones, and reminds us of that relationship that we desperately wanted to succeed, both good and bad memories... and it reminds us of what we want out of a relationship and how we view it...

i'm rambling...

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

This is totally fascinating.

It would be cool to find the older dramas, though I don't think they will have subs :(

It makes me think of 19th century French novels, where good love=doom and eventual death.

[allbloomedout.livejournal.com]

Oh how i love Korean mvs that make me cry in 5 mins. O_O The cast is impressive! Oh Gong Yoo..it's so sad we won't get to see him in 2 years. *sniff* I need to do Coffee Prince marathon one of these days.

why does Korean drama have such a fascination with the idea of noble suffering and romantic death? I've wondered about this before as well. I think Korea's trouble history may be it as well.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I am so gald I haven't seen any other of GY's dramas except for Coffee Prince. Gives me time to catch up.

I wonder what they do with all those celebrities in the military.