Real time in Korea flood 17 Jul. 2025

Real time in Korea flood 17 Jul. 2025

From Passive to Intelligent: Bioengineered Organs Meet Electronics

 [As bioelectronics merge with tissue engineering, bioengineered organs are gaining the ability to sense, respond, and adapt in real time—ushering in a new era of smart regenerative systems.]

Bioengineered organs are no longer just structural substitutes. A new review published in Trends in Biotechnology introduces a groundbreaking concept: biohybrid-engineered tissue (BHET) platforms*1 —living constructs integrated with electronics that can monitor, modulate, and even autonomously control their own functions.

The review, authored by Dr. Uijung Yong (Future IT Innovation Laboratory, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)), Jihwan Kim (Department of Mechanical Engineering, POSTECH), and Prof. Jinah Jang (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Convergence IT Engineering, and School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, POSTECH), outlines how recent advances in biofabrication and biomedical electronics have pushed tissue engineering into new frontiers. Traditional bioengineered organs have been limited in their ability to replicate the complex and dynamic nature of human organs. BHET platforms aim to change that by turning passive constructs into intelligent systems.

The authors classify BHET platforms into three main types:

-    Tissue-sensor platforms*2  capture real-time physiological data, such as electrical activity or metabolite levels, offering continuous insights into tissue health and function.

-    Tissue-electromodulator platforms*3  actively control tissue behavior using targeted electrical stimulation, accelerating tissue maturation or modulating hormone release.

-    Tissue-communicator platforms*4  integrate both sensing and stimulation to enable closed-loop feedback, allowing tissues to adapt autonomously to environmental cues, much like living organs do.

These systems have already shown promise in diverse applications: brain organoids learning through neural feedback, cardiac tissues synchronizing contractions with external pacing, and engineered β cells releasing insulin in response to electrical signals. Such platforms blur the line between biology and machine, turning tissues into responsive and programmable devices.

The review also explores future directions, including AI-driven control systems, conductive hydrogel electrodes, and scalable 3D bioprinting techniques that can bring intelligent tissue platforms closer to clinical applications.

“By incorporating bioelectronics into tissue engineering, we can create more functional and intelligent bioengineered organs,” said Prof. Jinah Jang. “Combining this with AI-based analytics will allow bioengineered organs to autonomously monitor and regulate their functions with unprecedented precision.”

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean Government, the Bio & Medical Technology Development Program of the NRF funded by the Korean Government, and the Bio Industry Technology Development Program funded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.05.018

1. Biohybrid-Engineered Tissue (BHET) Platforms:

Platforms that integrate engineered tissues with biomedical electronics to enable continuous monitoring, modulation, and feedback control of tissue function, aiming to bridge gaps in conventional tissue engineering approaches.

2. Tissue-Sensor Platforms:

Category of BHET platforms designed to monitor physiological signals from engineered tissues, such as electrical activity, metabolic markers, or mechanical forces.

3. Tissue-Electromodulator Platforms:

Category of BHET platforms designed to apply controlled electrical stimulation to engineered tissues, enabling regulation of cellular behavior, promotion of tissue maturation, and enhancement of functional stability.

4. Tissue-Communicator Platforms:

Category of BHET platforms designed to integrate sensing and stimulation within a closed-loop feedback system, enabling autonomous adaptation of engineered tissues to physiological changes and maintenance of functional homeostasis. 

“Not Just Parasite”: Yonsei University Faculty Uncover Structural Roots Behind the Prevalence of Social Problem Films in Korea

 Published in the April 2025 issue of Poetics, a leading international journal

Provides an empirical analysis of the institutional distinctiveness of the Korean film industry

A research team at Yonsei University, Professors Dongyoub Shin, Bo Kyung Kim, and Hongseok Oh, has collaborated with Professor Sunhyuk Kim at Korea University Sejong Campus to examine the structural foundations that enabled the genre of social problem films (SPFs) to become a central feature of Korean cinema.

[Photo. (From Left) Professor Dongyoub Shin, Bo Kyung Kim, and Hongseok Oh of the School of Business]

The study highlights two key structural factors—film directors’ status and reputation—and shows how each differently influences the likelihood of selecting the SPF genre. The findings were published in the April 2025 issue of Poetics, a prestigious journal in the cultural and media studies field, which is known for publishing theoretical and empirical interdisciplinary research that spans sociology, business, psychology, communication, and the arts.

SPFs are a film genre that addresses real-world issues such as social inequality, institutional failure, and power structures, offering a critical lens on society. While SPFs have long existed within the global film industry, they have rarely enjoyed widespread popular support due to their critical nature. In Korea, however, SPFs have flourished beyond the realm of art films and have been actively produced across the commercial film industry.

A prominent example is Bong Joon-ho's Parasite, which skillfully blends elements of black comedy and thriller while sharply portraying structural problems such as class conflict and economic disparity, drawing global acclaim and empathy. In Korean cinema, SPFs have similarly established themselves as a major genre that places social issues at the center of storytelling across various forms such as drama, comedy, and thriller, achieving both artistic merit and mass appeal.

The authors argues that directors’ choices of SPFs are influenced not merely by personal taste or creative preference, but by two distinct structural factors: their status and artistic reputation.

A director’s status represents a relatively stable position in the industry, shaped by long-standing role expectations and norms, whereas artistic reputation is more dynamic, shaped by the cumulative and shifting evaluations of critics and audiences over time. Building on this distinction, the authors hypothesized that high-status directors are more likely to choose SPFs in line with role expectations, while high-reputation directors are more likely to do so as a strategic response to ongoing evaluation pressures.

To test these hypotheses, the authors conducted in-depth interviews with film industry insiders and carried out a quantitative analysis of 1,849 Korean commercial films produced between 1994 and 2017. Their empirical results confirmed that directors’ status and artistic reputation influenced SPF selection through different mechanisms.

Professor Dongyoub Shin, the first author, stated, “This study makes an interdisciplinary theoretical contribution by integrating research on status and reputation, institutional theory, and genre theory in the arts to generate original hypotheses. It also provides an theoretical account of the institutional characteristics of the Korean film industry, where socially critical, commercial auteurism has become highly salient.”

Meanwhile, Yonsei University recently received a 10 billion KRW (approximately USD 7.5 million) development fund from Chairman Yoon Jae Lee of G&G School and founder of Zinus Inc., to strengthen its research and education capacities in the cultural and artistic fields. This study aligns with this vision and is expected to offer theoretical and empirical insights that may help generalize findings to other global cultural industries.

A Young Yonsei Mathematician Solves the “Moving Sofa Problem” — Meet Jineon Baek

Solving a 60-Year-Old Math Mystery with a Single Unifying Formula

When picturing a person who solves a legendary math problem, one might imagine an elderly professor with a head full of gray hair. But Jineon Baek, the mathematician who recently cracked the infamous “moving sofa problem,” doesn’t quite fit the stereotype. Freshly minted with a Ph.D., Baek arrived at the interview in a black jacket, radiating the calm focus and quiet energy more typical of a university student than of a celebrated mathematician. His humble demeanor stood in contrast to the feat he had just accomplished—solving a puzzle that had confounded mathematicians for more than six decades.

 

The “moving sofa problem” poses a deceptively simple question: What is the largest shape of a sofa that can be maneuvered around a right-angled hallway corner? While it may sound like a quirky geometry riddle, it is actually an immensely complex optimization problem involving infinite-dimensional variables and elusive geometric calculations. The problem has long frustrated mathematicians due to its blend of geometric intuition and analytical intractability.

Baek’s breakthrough has made ripples through the global math community, catapulting him into the spotlight as a rising figure in the field. We sat down with him to hear how he approached the challenge, and what it took to bring this decades-old conundrum to a close.

Q: Can you introduce yourself to our readers?

I’m currently a postdoctoral researcher at Yonsei University under Professor Junkyung Lee. I completed my Ph.D. at the University of Michigan and my undergraduate studies at POSTECH in South Korea.

Q: How did you first come across the sofa problem?

During my mandatory military service, which I fulfilled as an alternative research program, I stumbled upon a Korean math blog during some downtime. It featured a variety of intriguing puzzles, and one of them happened to be the moving sofa problem. The blog has since been taken down, but at the time, it was a treasure trove of curious mathematical problems—and that’s where I first encountered this one.

Q: Did you begin with the intent of solving a famous open problem?

I’ve always had the desire to solve at least one difficult problem in my life. Back in school, I dreamed of making the national math Olympiad team, though I never quite made it. But I did spend long periods grappling with hard problems, and that helped build the endurance I needed for this. Over the years, I attempted dozens of unsolved problems—mostly without success. But the sofa problem somehow felt “doable,” and I trusted that feeling.

Q: It seems so simple on the surface. Why is it so difficult?

There are several structural reasons. First, to describe a sofa shape precisely, you need infinitely many variables. Every curve, every corner requires its own definition—so you end up with an infinite-dimensional optimization problem. Second, unlike other problems where you can write down a neat formula, this one doesn’t allow for that. Each shape would need its own custom equation, and it wasn’t clear which shapes or which formulas were even appropriate.

Q: What was your approach?

Traditionally, people tried to tackle each possible sofa shape individually. I took a different approach—I tried to create one overarching formula that could apply to all shapes. Instead of calculating the exact area of the sofa, I defined a formula that gives an upper bound—a value slightly larger than the actual area—but which equals the true area when applied to the optimal shape. That way, I could turn the problem into a single coherent optimization challenge, rather than dealing with countless separate cases.

Q: Were there moments when you hit a wall?

Absolutely. I had a strong sense that the problem was solvable, but the first three years yielded no concrete progress. I didn’t even know how to start. I simply had to keep going on faith. Only after three years did I find a framework that seemed promising. Even then, executing that plan was grueling. The final proof ran nearly 400 pages. There were days when I could barely write a single page. It felt like walking through a tunnel with no end in sight.

Q: Seven years on one problem is hard to imagine. How did you stay motivated?

I had to learn to be comfortable with uncertainty. In high school, I would sometimes wrestle with Olympiad problems for weeks or even months. Those early experiences taught me how to endure long periods of mental fog. If I had an unproductive day, I’d simply say, “Well, not today,” and keep going. I also developed a sort of intuitive faith—an internal compass that told me the solution might be waiting around the corner.

Q: What drew you to mathematics in the first place?

As a child, I remember getting a stack of textbooks at the start of the school year. This was before I had access to a computer, so out of boredom, I started reading them all. Math just grabbed me more than any other subject. It wasn’t some grand epiphany—just a natural pull that’s stayed with me ever since.

Q: Did you ever look at sofas differently during this process?

The “sofa” in the problem isn’t really a sofa in the everyday sense, so I don’t feel sentimental when I see one. But friends do like to joke, “Bet you can’t look at that without thinking about your problem!”

Q: Did you ever physically push a sofa through a hallway to test things out?

I didn’t, personally. But I know that Professor Ben Romik at UC Davis 3D-printed models of sofa shapes and conducted some real-life tests. I think it’d be fun to make a model someday and display it in my office.

Q: Did you have a classic “Eureka!” moment?

Yes—ironically, in the shower. I had designed a formula to estimate sofa area from above, but in order to optimize it, I needed it to have a mathematical property called convexity. One day, while showering in my small basement apartment in the U.S., the key idea just flashed into my head. I rushed out to write it down before the thought slipped away.

Q: What is the broader mathematical significance of solving the sofa problem?

It sits at the intersection of two fields: motion planning, which deals with how robots or self-driving cars navigate around obstacles, and volume optimization, which is about maximizing area or volume under constraints. Both are well-studied individually, but combining them—especially under such a simple premise—was a rarity. I think this work provides a useful case study for tackling other hybrid problems and contributes meaningfully to theoretical math.

Q: What are you working on now?

I’m currently looking at how to pack four-dimensional spheres as densely as possible. This has been solved in 3D with computer assistance, but 4D remains open. I’m also interested in whether machine learning can assist with solving hard math problems. And I still enjoy tackling pure theoretical questions, like the so-called “happy ending problem,” which has a sort of elegant beauty to it.

Q: Any words for young people interested in math?

Honestly, I think it’s worth seriously considering not doing math. The world is vast and full of fascinating fields. Explore broadly, and only pursue math if, after all that, you find yourself thinking, “I can’t not do this.” If that happens, go for it with everything you’ve got.

Rather than chasing quick answers, Jineon Baek carved his own path through years of uncertainty. What guided him was a quiet confidence, a relentless focus on the problem, and an unwavering belief that persistence could reveal the solution, even in the murkiest of unknowns. In solving the moving sofa problem, Baek displayed not just intellectual rigor, but a calm, unshakable resolve. That same steady determination now fuels his journey into the next great mathematical frontiers. Unbound by convention and driven by purpose, Baek’s steadfast approach invites anticipation: what new possibilities might he unlock in the vast, unfolding universe of mathematics?

Professor Park Sung-chul's Team at Korea University Wins Early Career Investigator Award from the U.S.’ AcademyHealth for its Study on Health Insurance Coverage Expansion

The study analyzed the trend in low-value care resulting from expanded coverage for brain MRIs

On June 9, graduate student Bae Gi-ryeon, who is enrolled in the integrated master’s and Ph.D. program in the Division of Health Policy and Management at Korea University (President Kim Dong-one), received the Early Career Investigator Award at the 2025 AcademyHealth conference.

‘AcademyHealth is a globally recognized organization in the field of health policy and health services research, hosting an annual conference that brings together researchers from across the U.S. to share their work. The Early Career Investigator Award, presented by the Quality & Value Interest Group, recognizes early-career researchers who have made significant contributions to improving healthcare quality and value.

△ △ (From left) Professor Park Sung-chul (Korea University), Integrated Master’s and Ph.D. Program student Bae Gi-ryeon (Korea University), Professor Kim Dae-ho (University of Chicago)

Professor Park’s team earned the award for their study analyzing the impact of a 2018 policy that expanded Korea’s national health insurance coverage for brain MRIs. Their research provided empirical evidence of how the policy influenced the use of low-value care.

*Use of low-value care: medical services with limited clinical benefit or minimal value to patients

According to the study, after the coverage expansion, the use of low-value MRIs for patients with simple headaches increased 3.6%p, leading to an estimated KRW 86.4 billion increase in healthcare spending. This rise was particularly pronounced in general hospitals and larger institutions with greater service capacity.

The study was recognized for systematically identifying unintended side effects of the policy and for highlighting variations in hospital responses, thereby broadening the scope of future healthcare policy research.

Award recipient Bae Gi-ryeon remarked, “While coverage expansion policies play a crucial role in reducing patients’ financial burden and improving access to care, ensuring the system’s sustainability requires policy designs that consider clinical value—not just access.” He added, “I hope to continue contributing to society through evidence-based health policy research.”

Professor Park stated, “This award not only marks a major academic achievement for our Korea University research team, but also demonstrates the international competitiveness of Korea’s health policy research. By empirically showing that major health insurance policies like coverage expansion can have unintended consequences, our study has both academic significance and offers meaningful insights for future policymaking.”

RAIBO Runs over Walls with Feline Agility... Ready for Effortless Search over Mountaineous and Rough Terrains​

KAIST's quadrupedal robot, RAIBO, can now move at high speed across discontinuous and complex terrains such as stairs, gaps, walls, and debris. It has demonstrated its ability to run on vertical walls, leap over 1.3-meter-wide gaps, sprint at approximately 14.4 km/h over stepping stones, and move quickly and nimbly on terrain combining 30° slopes, stairs, and stepping stones. RAIBO is expected to be deployed soon for practical missions such as disaster site exploration and mountain searches.

Professor Jemin Hwangbo's research team in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at our university announced on June 3rd that they have developed a quadrupedal robot navigation framework capable of high-speed locomotion at 14.4 km/h (4m/s) even on discontinuous and complex terrains such as walls, stairs, and stepping stones.

< Photo 1. Research Team Photo (Professor Jemin Hwangbo, second from right in the front row) >

The research team developed a quadrupedal navigation system that enables the robot to reach its target destination quickly and safely in complex and discontinuous terrain.

To achieve this, they approached the problem by breaking it down into two stages: first, developing a planner for planning foothold positions, and second, developing a tracker to accurately follow the planned foothold positions.

First, the planner module quickly searches for physically feasible foothold positions using a sampling-based optimization method with neural network-based heuristics and verifies the optimal path through simulation rollouts.

While existing methods considered various factors such as contact timing and robot posture in addition to foothold positions, this research significantly reduced computational complexity by setting only foothold positions as the search space. Furthermore, inspired by the walking method of cats, the introduction of a structure where the hind feet step on the same spots as the front feet further significantly reduced computational complexity.

Second, the tracker module is trained to accurately step on planned positions, and tracking training is conducted through a generative model that competes in environments of appropriate difficulty.

The tracker is trained through reinforcement learning to accurately step on planned plots, and during this process, a generative model called the 'map generator' provides the target distribution.

This generative model is trained simultaneously and adversarially with the tracker to allow the tracker to progressively adapt to more challenging difficulties. Subsequently, a sampling-based planner was designed to generate feasible foothold plans that can reflect the characteristics and performance of the trained tracker.

This hierarchical structure showed superior performance in both planning speed and stability compared to existing techniques, and experiments proved its high-speed locomotion capabilities across various obstacles and discontinuous terrains, as well as its general applicability to unseen terrains.

Professor Jemin Hwangbo stated, "We approached the problem of high-speed navigation in discontinuous terrain, which previously required a significantly large amount of computation, from the simple perspective of how to select the footprint positions. Inspired by the placements of cat's paw, allowing the hind feet to step where the front feet stepped drastically reduced computation. We expect this to significantly expand the range of discontinuous terrain that walking robots can overcome and enable them to traverse it at high speeds, contributing to the robot's ability to perform practical missions such as disaster site exploration and mountain searches."

This research achievement was published in the May 2025 issue of the international journal Science Robotics.

Paper Title: High-speed control and navigation for quadrupedal robots on complex and discrete terrain, (https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.ads6192)

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/EZbM594T3c4?si=kfxLF2XnVUvYVIyk

https://youtu.be/EZbM594T3c4?si=kfxLF2XnVUvYVIyk

SNU Expands Global Research Support to Attract Top Talent

Amid increasing challenges in global research mobility—including recent U.S. restrictions on international student enrollment—Seoul National University (SNU, President Ryu Hong Lim) is expanding a broad range of programs to promote international research collaboration and attract world-class research talent. These initiatives not only support academic continuity but also strengthen SNU’s role as a leading hub for global research engagement.

Since 2024, SNU has significantly broadened its global research and talent recruitment initiatives. A flagship example led by the SNU Office of Research Affairs is the SNU OPEN WORLD (SOW) Program, a two-way support program that promotes both outbound mobility for SNU faculty and inbound visits by distinguished international scholars, with a primary focus on international co-authorship.

Looking ahead, SNU plans to introduce additional programs including the Strategic Hub for International Research Collaboration in late 2025, a new initiative designed to support the formation and networking of international research teams—particularly among doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers. In 2026, the Frontier Fellow and Postdoctoral Researcher Development Program will expand existing postdoctoral support to include larger-scale international collaborative research.

Key Programs and Initiatives

■ Early-career Researchers Support & Emerging Talent Recruitment

○Ascending SNU Future Leader Fellowship recruits exceptional early-career researchers within two years of earning their PhDs (or soon to graduate) and supports their research activities.

○BK21 Global Post-Doc Program provides research funding to international postdoctoral researchers affiliated with BK21 project groups at SNU.

○SNU Strategic Studies Fellowship Project identifies promising researchers from global institutions in key strategic fields, supporting their policy-oriented research and outreach activities.

○Frontier Fellow and Postdoctoral Researcher Development Program (launching 2026) is an expanded and comprehensive framework that supports postdoctoral researchers by integrating talent development with international research collaboration.

■ International Collaborative Research Support

○Global SNU Research Partnership Platform supports the establishment of international joint research centers within SNU’s research institutes, fostering long-term international collaboration.

○BK21 Graduate Student International Collaborative Research Support (expanding in late 2025) enables graduate students—including those outside current BK21 project groups—to engage in international collaborative research.

○Strategic Hub for International Research Collaboration (launching late 2025) will facilitate the formation and networking of international research teams led by doctoral students and postdocs.

■ Short-Term Exchange and Visiting Scholar Programs

○SNU OPEN WORLD (SOW) Program is a two-way support program that funds outbound international collaborative research activities by SNU faculty and inbound visits by distinguished international scholars, with the primary goal of international co-authored publications.

○BK21 Global Visiting Fellow Program supports inviting globally recognized scholars for short-term joint research with BK21 project groups at SNU.

■ Research Settlement Support for New Faculty

○New Faculty Startup Fund provides seed funding for newly appointed full-time, endowed, and HK faculty for up to two years (with a possible one-year extension), supporting a stable and productive research start.

Global Engagement Rooted in Legacy and Vision

These programs offer tangible opportunities for doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty—particularly those in the U.S.—to engage in collaborative research at SNU or in partnership with SNU researchers. To broaden access further, SNU is actively integrating external funding sources, such as the Ministry of Science and ICT’s Brain Pool Program, to attract high-potential researchers considering relocation from outside the U.S.

At the 70th Anniversary Workshop of the Minnesota Project, held on June 21, 2025, at the University of Minnesota, President Ryu reaffirmed SNU’s commitment to advancing global research cooperation:

“Despite a difficult global research climate, it is crucial for SNU to carry forward the spirit of the Minnesota Project—a foundation for Korea’s academic and national development. We will actively expand international research collaboration and attract global talent in that same spirit.”

The Minnesota Project (1954–1962), officially the Seoul National University Cooperative Project, was a landmark U.S.-funded higher education initiative led by the University of Minnesota. It played a pivotal role in SNU’s post-war recovery through faculty training, international exchange, infrastructure development, and academic resource support.

Vice President Shashank Priya of the University of Minnesota also affirmed new directions for institutional cooperation:

“The University of Minnesota recently launched the ASIA Initiative, a new internationalization strategy focused on Asia. We are proud to include SNU as one of our first partner institutions under this program.”

Toward a Premier Global Research Hub

SNU remains firmly committed to providing sustained, practical support to ensure that international researchers can continue their work in collaboration with the university. These efforts will not only enhance global research continuity but also reinforce SNU’s position as a premier destination for top-tier global talent and cross-border academic partnerships.

Travel the world through children's books

An exhibition featuring a wide collection of children's books from all around the world opened its doors in downtown Seoul last week. 

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of its establishment, the Korea Foundation (KF) launched the exhibition "Encounter the World Through Children's Books," featuring 400 children's books in 28 languages from 44 countries. The exhibit will run from April 27 through to June 8 at the KF Gallery.

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the Korea Foundation opens 'Encounter the World Through Children's Books,' an exhibition featuring 400 children's books in 28 languages from 44 countries. Books such as 'I Want My Hat Back' from Canada (left), 'Star and Poppy Seeds' from Ukraine (center) and 'A Week Full of Saturdays ' from Germany will be available to young readers.

At the show, visitors can explore books in two sections: "Explore the World with Children's Books" and "The Little Prince in a Variety of Languages." 

The first section takes readers on a journey around the world as they discover different books and their countries of origin. Here, readers can find books from diverse cultures, ranging from "The War that Changed Rondo" from Ukraine, "Tap, Tap, Tap" from Iran, "I Want My Hat Back" from Canada and the Moomin series from Finland. 

The second section introduces children to the familiar story of "The Little Prince" in 14 different languages. By engaging with the text through various educational activities, children can learn to appreciate the differences and similarities that exist between the various translations and the world's cultures. 

The exhibit 'Encounter the World Through Children's Books' also features a special book-reading program where ambassadors to Korea from 26 countries will read books in their own language to groups of children. The Swedish tale 'Pippi Longstocking' (left), the Ukrainian story 'The War that Changed Rondo' (center) and the Spanish version of 'The Little Prince' are some of the books that may be read at the event.

During the exhibition, there will also be a special book-reading program whereby ambassadors to Korea from 26 different countries will read books in their own language to groups of young children. The stories will be translated into Korean with added dramatization. The program is intended for children between six and 12, with 30 children allowed in per reading. Parents will need to sign up for the program via the link provided at the Korea Foundation website, provided below. Reservations for larger groups can be made by calling 02-2151-6520.

The KF Gallery will also be hosting the "World Through Magic" program on May 5, Children's Day. Other events throughout the rest of the month include film screenings of cartoons from around the world, as well as face painting and the taking of Polaroid pictures, among other things. 

More information about the exhibition and other related programs can be found at the link below.
http://en.kf.or.kr/?menuno=3827&type=view&evnt_no=2109&pageIndex=1&searchevnt=

Characteristics of Korean soap operas, from an overseas viewer's perspective

By Lyudmila Mikheesku 

I guess I naturally developed the new hobby of enjoying Korean soap operas ever since I began to learn the Korean language. I wasn't initially interested in Korean TV dramas, but I gradually watched Korean shows as I learned the language. I thought sensibly that, “Korean TV will be a good aid to studying the Korean language, as it will have dialogue that's easy for foreigners to understand.” The more I watched Korean soap operas, the more I fell in love with them. However, as I watched many shows, I found some strange sides to them. Today, I would like to talk about such features. 


Soap operas from the U.S. and Europe aren't aired until they're fully completed, like films. So the structure and flow of the story are logical and compelling. As it takes a long time to produce dramas, the producers, writers and actors can better prepare, which contributes to creativity and completion through to the final episodes. A few years ago, the quality and technical level of soap operas from the U.S. and Europe improved. Both viewers and film critics say the stories in soap operas has gotten more interesting with excellent performance from the actors and actresses. “Game of Thrones,” “House of Cards” and “Sherlock” are some such examples. Compared to these shows, Korean soap operas are in such a different environment. As two episodes are broadcast every week, writers have to write the screenplays for two episodes each week, and the staff and crews have to work under time pressure. They sometimes have to change the story in order to increase ratings. However, what creativity can you expect from them, as soap operas are produced in such hurried, stressed conditions? As a result, Korean dramas often have low-quality scenes and features, and some actors and actresses show inconsistent behavior. To increase the number of broadcasts, they frequently use flashback, which makes the story boring. 

Furthermore, I'm not sure whether the writers have enough time, but they frequently use clichés or stale techniques. Russian fans of the "Korean Wave," or Hallyu, have even made a list of humorous features or clichés they can often find in Korean soap operas online. Some of them are like, “If the leading actress opens her eyes wide when the couple kisses for the first time, it must be a Korean drama,” and “In Korean soap operas, you can more than once find the same scene where the leading actor and actress are close by somehow in public but they don't see or recognize each other.” 

In my view, the strangest thing that I continue to notice about Korean soap operas is when the characters put on a Band-Aid. They always put on a Band-Aid even if they only have a very tiny scratch. This always later becomes a romantic memory that the lead actors and actresses cherish and keep for a long time. In “Oh! My Venus,” the lead actor and actress even used the same Band-Aid for more than a year, reminding each other of the same romantic memory! (Flashback, flashback!) Don’t you find it strange? Why do Koreans consider such an unhygienic thing romantic? Is it because one of the main investors in the soap opera is the billionaire of a Band-Aid company? 

The other thing I can't get used to is the scenes of actors and actresses crying, which can be found all the time. In Korean dramas, women cry, men cry; not only children, but grownups cry, too. They cry when they're sad. They cry when they're happy. They certainly cry when they meet or separate. They shed tears when they're touched. This is really weird for Russians. Russians are also emotional people, but we don't cry that often. In Russia, shedding tears is considered shameful or weak, and in particular not manly at all. 

Another difference is in regard to men, as the sophisticated or even girly appearance of the actors is often found on Korean TV. In Russia, masculinity is highlighted in movies and in reality. When I watched the Korean drama “A Gentleman’s Dignity,” I took screenshots of the four male actors who are all handsome and nicely dressed. I put the pictures on my blog and explained that Korean men aged 40 look as young as these pictures. Many Russians who read my blog, however, wrote comments that, “They are not men.” 

If I begin to talk about the weird characteristics of Korean soap operas from a non-Korean's poitn of view, I can't stop myself. I find the habit of talking loudly to themselves very strange. I don’t think it's fun to see embarrassing toilet scenes which are often seen in many episodes. Commercials inside the soap operas are annoying and irritating. The final episode of many soap operas often sucks. 

Despite their many weaknesses, however, why do I love Korean dramas and why do I keep watching them? Why do I wait for the next episode of “Neighborhood Lawyer Jo Deul-ho” when my Russian friends are waiting for the next season of “Game of Thrones”? For me, the over-the-top romantic Korea soap operas are like pure and beautiful fairy tales for the modern world. Nonetheless, I will talk about the strengths of Korean soap operas in my next column. 

Lyudmila Mikheesku is a photo editor at the Russian media company Nezavisimaya Gazeta. 
Translated by Yoon Sojung, Korea.net Staff Writer