A recent comment by pop culture critic Kim Heon Sik has sparked a heated debate online. Kim discussed the changing trends in Korean dramas during his presentation on “The Current Status and Future Prospects of the Drama Market” at CJ ENM Culture TALK #7 on June 26th.
He highlighted the popularity of retro and time travel genres and pointed out a shift in character dynamics. According to him, “age-gap romances” are currently dominating the drama scene. In these stories, it used to be that older female characters were depicted as the romantic ones. However, now it is the younger male characters who are portrayed as more romantic and idealized.
Kim’s most controversial remark came when he addressed the generational change among actresses. He observed that in the past, leading roles were typically given to actresses celebrated for their stunning looks, such as Kim Tae Hee, Han Ga In, Lee Young Ae, and Kim Hee Seon. Nowadays, however, actresses like Park So Dam, Ahn Eun Jin and Kim Hye Yoon, who have a more relatable and ordinary appearance, are more frequently seen in lead roles.
“Viewers tend to connect better with characters they can relate to. Extremely beautiful actresses can sometimes create a sense of distance for some viewers. Because of this, there’s a trend towards casting actresses with more average looks, making it easier for the audience to see themselves in the characters.”
This comment sparked a heated debate online.
Some netizens sided with Kim, arguing: “He has a point, doesn’t he? I don’t think the comment was rude at all,” “If you’re offended, it’s like you’re admitting your favorite actress isn’t that pretty,” “He’s a critic; his job is to analyze and comment,” and “Lots of people say they connect more with characters who look like them.”
However, others expressed disapproval: “Critics should focus on the dramas themselves, not the actresses’ looks,” “There’s a difference between thinking something and saying it publicly. What’s the point of commenting on their appearance?” “It’s inappropriate for him to talk about actresses’ looks and then judge them on it,” and “A critic shouldn’t be judging faces…”
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