Why Do Korean Movies Dominate the Industry?

From the early 1990s to the present, Korean movies and dramas have become the most successful products in the industry. They not only get huge box office numbers in cinemas but also make millions on streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. When the movie "Parasite" became the first non-English movie to win an Academy Award as the best movie, people who had never heard about Korean films paid attention to them. Still, it was only the tip of the iceberg. Dozens of movies and dramas still remain unknown to a larger audience. What's the secret behind the success of Korean movies? Why does every next project receive so many positive reviews and bring millions of dollars? Let's find out.

The Rise of Korean Culture

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Everything started with the rise of Korean culture. The government put effort into making it more accessible to a foreign audience, which immediately gave results. Korean music and dramas quickly became popular and drew the interest of younger generations. Finding a teenager who will watch a Korean movie on Netflix or listen to BTS on Spotify is pretty simple. Moreover, a student who places an order on an essay service will probably select a topic related to Korean culture for their assignment.

The Korean government invested a solid amount of money in cultural promotion, so millions of people around the globe saw what modern culture in this country stands for. At the same time, Koreans consumed the USA, UK, and European cultures. It's literally a cultural exchange.

The "Boom" in the 1990s

The success of Korean movies started in the 1990s when dozens of products were released for foreign audiences. Even the Asian economic crisis in 1997 didn't prevent the cultural boom. CJ Entertainment, Showbox, and Lotte Entertainment became the most influential companies in South Korea's movie industry. Most of the foreign fans even downloaded the pirated versions of movies. The Korean students who studied abroad translated them and made subtitles. Why was it so complicated? At the end of the 1990s, there were no streaming platforms and auto subtitles. People wanted to see the movie, and it was the only way to do it.

Korean actors who played significant roles in award-winning movies say that nobody believed in such success of the movie industry worldwide, especially in Hollywood. When there are dozens of world-class actors, someone gets a reward for the best leading or supporting role each year. Everything has changed, and Korean movies are seen and heard by millions of fans. Moreover, they get rewards in different categories, making their country rise from the cultural crisis.

Factors That Make the Difference

What exactly makes the difference? Why have Korean movies and dramas become so popular during the years? We outline the most critical factors.

Unique storytelling

 When you first watch a Korean movie, it looks like a simple story. Still, the authors hide multiple narratives dedicated to love, loss, fate, etc. The director uncovers up to ten storylines in a single story, showing numerous connections between the characters, their motives, issues, interests, etc. Later, when a story comes to an end and a puzzle is completed, you start to realize how thoughtful this work is.

Multiple genres

The movie industry in South Korea works in multiple genres, creating stories with different motives and perspectives. The whole film production is based on the statement "something for everybody". Regardless of the genre (comedy, action movie, drama, etc.), you will see different motives and problems.

The power of social media

In the modern era, everything that seems interesting to people immediately goes into social media. For example, there are dozens of edited Instagram Reels with scenes from Korean movies. If we open the comment section, every second commentary will be a question about the name of the movie. Why does this happen? Because people get interested and want to watch the full version or at least find out what the movie is about. Moreover, most Korean movies and dramas are now available on streaming platforms, which makes them accessible to a wider audience.

In 2022, Netflix spent over $500 million on South Korean content to expand this niche and make it even more famous. The fact that lots of papers that later appear in royalwriter review are related to Korean movies says a lot about the impact of their cultural products.

The Most Popular Films in the Modern History

Dozens of movies have been created since the big cultural "Boom" in the 1990s, and some of them made a special impact on the whole movie industry.

"Oldboy" (2003). This thriller, an adaptation of a Japanese manga, uncovers the story of a man who was held in a prison-like room for 15 years. When he finally gets released, he does what's in his power to find out who did this to him. Later, in 2013, there was a remake starring Josh Brolin.

"The Host" (2006). It's a movie that shares the story of a hero who was in Seul when a giant monster invaded the city. A character is trapped, and the family does whatever they can to save the girl from the creature.

"Veteran" (2015). This is a comedy and an action movie simultaneously. It features the story of a policeman trying to catch a rich boy. An officer fails because a rich boy uses his wealth to escape. Still, despite the fact that this is a comedy, this movie gives a good understanding of Korean culture.

"Parasite" (2019) is probably the most famous Korean movie in recent years. It's known as an Oscar-winning film and the most successful project with an enormous box office. The movie studio is currently working on a dramas with a similar plot.

Final Thoughts

Korean movies dominate the industry for several reasons. The practical actions taken by the government, the teamwork of talented directors, scriptwriters, actors, and producers, and, of course, the creativity. The way Korean directors build the story and their methods allow them to show the story from a completely different angle. Every time, we see a new story that uncovers current problems and shows how people go through these problems. That's why we see so many well-directed movies that get huge incomes and win rewards.