Cheers, tears as Korean drama ends

Still photo from "My Love from the Star".[Photo/icpress]

If the popularity of the drama was unprecedented, its plot followed a well-worn dramatic path.

Starry-eyed for roast chicken and beer

Crazy for South Korean stars

In the last episode, the heroine Cheon Song-yi was shown to hav e cried each day for the three years since the alien, Professor Do Min-joon, left her. Then, at a film festival in which the actress was being honored, Do Min-joon suddenly turns up.

The long-parted lovers smooch passionately on the iconic red carpet in front of an adoring audience.

Response on the Internet, not to mention offices, café and living rooms across China, indicates that the last scene inflamed fans’ expectations that the two characters would have a happy life ever after.

The legacy of the Korean program’s influence in China may not be so lucky. The latest wave of popular South Korean TV dramas, of which ““My Love from the Star” is on the forefront, has sparked fierce criticism and scrutiny.

Some critics have attributed the craze to the widening wealth gap in both China and South Korea. As the China Daily wrote, “To have a better life, many young ordinary girls dream of marrying rich, handsome men, and that is what South Korean TV dramas depict, so the secret of Korean drama’s success lies in their willing to tailor the story to meet the market’s demands.”

Furthermore, Many netizens regard South Korean TV dramas as illogical and over-emotional. The stereotyped plot like traffic accidents, cancer and other incurable diseases are deemed boring and lack of innovation.

The critique goes both ways. A recent survey conducted by Seoul University claimed that Chinese people who love South Korean dramas are mostly those with low education and income levels.

In response to the research, Lee MinHo, a famous Korean star, told reporters, “I don’t think the preference in TV series has anything to do with education and income. My fans are of high quality”.

At least one fan of the show is satisfied, and unfazed by the rampant rumors of another season of the show.

“I don't think another season is necessary,” said this comment on Weibo, “For a perfect love story that transcends time and space, the ending is good.”