More than just entertainment: Jeanie Y. Chang on K-dramas and mental health

What is a K-drama?

The world's love of Korean dramas - commonly known as K-dramas - has grown stronger in recent years. The rise of social media and the widespread accessibility of online streaming platforms has made it easier than ever for people to explore new worlds, further fuelling the K-drama wave.

With the 2020 film Parasite winning four Oscars and the 2021 Netflix series Squid Game becoming the platform's most-watched show in its release month, Korean entertainment has reshaped the global entertainment landscape, earning widespread international acclaim.

Jeanie Y. Chang, a licensed marriage and family therapist explains that a K-drama is a Korean-language television show typically spoken in Korean. They usually consist of one series with around 9-12 episodes, although some can have up to 20. Thanks to streaming services, K-dramas are now widely available with subtitles, making them accessible to audiences all over the world.

K-drama is celebrated for its unique blend of compelling characters, engaging storylines, and diverse topics.

Can K-dramas help our mental health?

Not only do K-dramas explore thought-provoking themes, but they also create strong emotions in viewers, who often find themselves deeply invested in the story and characters.

According to Chang, the true power of K-dramas lies in their ability to create realistic personalities. Viewers often feel a deep connection to the characters and their personal journeys, more so than the plot itself.

"I watch K-dramas for my own self-care, and so I naturally brought it into my work," says Chang. "I wanted to find a unique way to talk about things like trauma, healing, resilience, stress and family conflict. K-dramas portray a lot of these stories that we really resonate with."

Chang emphasises that K-dramas' focus on character development offers viewers a unique opportunity for a relatable and often cathartic experience in addressing universal themes that resonate with our own mental health experiences.

"When you see someone expressing real emotion, you feel validated because that's how you feel too," she says. "For example, grief is a big thing in K-dramas. Not just the loss of a person, but the loss of jobs and relationships - that's all grief.

"When we're watching a story that's showing someone else's trauma - but trauma you still relate to - we're able to process it in a way that's separate from ourselves."

K-dramas can be a powerful tool in helping us feel validated in our emotions and experiences - why we're feeling what we're feeling and knowing that it's real and legitimate.

"Mental health is universal no matter what country you're from," explains Chang. "K-dramas are not therapy, but they are therapeutic. They can offer valuable insights into what mental health looks like in everyday life."

To hear more from Jeanie Y. Chang on the therapeutic potential of K-dramas, her thoughts on female empowerment, the importance of belonging, and the challenges of workplace mental health and burnout, listen to our full interview.