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The evolution of the Korean Secondary Female. Well, in a way, yes. But, then again, no. No one will dispute the fact that the average Korean drama is fairly formulaic and at times cliched. While there are different kinds of dramas: period, crime, family drama, romantic comedy, revenge, drama, etc - they all (usually) have certain things in common. There is (usually)a poor girl/boy or a woman/man whose working her/his way up, a rich man/woman whose a bit spoiled and who has a tragic past, rich and mean parents, lovable grandmothers or grandfathers, secrets, OTPs, a secondary couple made up of best friends/co-workers/family members - they help lighten the mood, wackiness, etc.
But, most importantly, in Korean dramas you have four leads: The Main/Lead Female, the Main/Lead Male, the Secondary Male, and the often times bitchy Secondary Female. The Secondary Female, is, often times, played by the less well-known actress. She's (usually) got a rather mean-girls look about her, yet the Main/Lead Male (and sometimes Secondary Male) see her as a saint. She's usually rich, cunning, bitchy, jealous, and all around possessive. In short - she's a crazy person in designer clothes.She clings, she whines, she remembers promises made in childhood. And, she makes the Main/Lead Female's life Hell. All in the name of "keeping her man" - who man not have even been hers to begin with. But, whatever - she's the crazy Secondary. Even in dramas that are focused on things other than romance - she's there, as long as romance is an element. And isn't it always in Korean dramas?
( Classic examples of Secondary Females include )
For a long time, I thought: Except for a few expectations, this is the way its meant to be. Secondary Girls have their place. Then - something (slowly) started to happen. Secondary Girls were slowly being given more complex personalities and backgrounds. They were slowly being given their own storylines - and sometimes even their own OTPs. They were, for lack of a better phrase, becoming real girls!
A new and improved Secondary Girl began to show up in more and more dramas. Some dramas (All About Eve is a classic example) even began to make both female stars the 'lead' at different times of the story. Both women had issues, and neither were complete saints. When the Secondary Girl did "evil" things, we knew why - and at the end she was redeemed and a better person for her suffering.
The idea of having the Secondary Female be more complicated continued on. Maybe you hated her, maybe you had sympathetic feelings toward her - either way the Secondary Girl was a complete character. Examples of this are dramas like Legend, Cinderella's Unni, All About Eve, Dream High - you knew why the Secondary Girl did the horrible things she did; you understood her a bit better. And, for some episodes ans/or story arcs - she seemed to be the Heroine.
There's also another type of new Secondary Girl: the girl/woman who gets her own storylines and OTP. She doesn't even want the Hero/Main/Lead Male! She may even be related to him! Examples of this: Someday, Giant, Secret Garden, Gloria, Family Honor, I Am Happy, Goodbye Solo, Happy Together, to name a few. Now, granted most of these are weekend dramas and most were considered 'family' - but, it's a start.
That brings me to this: Secondary Females in Korean dramas are slowly evolving from shallow, bitchy, one-dimensional evil woman to complex, interesting, women. You may still dislike them, but at least they have personalities. In all genres (expect the romantic comedy) Secondary Females are becoming their own characters - with their own storylines, desires, love interests, and most importantly - lives. To me, that's a step in the right direction.
But, most importantly, in Korean dramas you have four leads: The Main/Lead Female, the Main/Lead Male, the Secondary Male, and the often times bitchy Secondary Female. The Secondary Female, is, often times, played by the less well-known actress. She's (usually) got a rather mean-girls look about her, yet the Main/Lead Male (and sometimes Secondary Male) see her as a saint. She's usually rich, cunning, bitchy, jealous, and all around possessive. In short - she's a crazy person in designer clothes.She clings, she whines, she remembers promises made in childhood. And, she makes the Main/Lead Female's life Hell. All in the name of "keeping her man" - who man not have even been hers to begin with. But, whatever - she's the crazy Secondary. Even in dramas that are focused on things other than romance - she's there, as long as romance is an element. And isn't it always in Korean dramas?
( Classic examples of Secondary Females include )
For a long time, I thought: Except for a few expectations, this is the way its meant to be. Secondary Girls have their place. Then - something (slowly) started to happen. Secondary Girls were slowly being given more complex personalities and backgrounds. They were slowly being given their own storylines - and sometimes even their own OTPs. They were, for lack of a better phrase, becoming real girls!
A new and improved Secondary Girl began to show up in more and more dramas. Some dramas (All About Eve is a classic example) even began to make both female stars the 'lead' at different times of the story. Both women had issues, and neither were complete saints. When the Secondary Girl did "evil" things, we knew why - and at the end she was redeemed and a better person for her suffering.
The idea of having the Secondary Female be more complicated continued on. Maybe you hated her, maybe you had sympathetic feelings toward her - either way the Secondary Girl was a complete character. Examples of this are dramas like Legend, Cinderella's Unni, All About Eve, Dream High - you knew why the Secondary Girl did the horrible things she did; you understood her a bit better. And, for some episodes ans/or story arcs - she seemed to be the Heroine.
There's also another type of new Secondary Girl: the girl/woman who gets her own storylines and OTP. She doesn't even want the Hero/Main/Lead Male! She may even be related to him! Examples of this: Someday, Giant, Secret Garden, Gloria, Family Honor, I Am Happy, Goodbye Solo, Happy Together, to name a few. Now, granted most of these are weekend dramas and most were considered 'family' - but, it's a start.
That brings me to this: Secondary Females in Korean dramas are slowly evolving from shallow, bitchy, one-dimensional evil woman to complex, interesting, women. You may still dislike them, but at least they have personalities. In all genres (expect the romantic comedy) Secondary Females are becoming their own characters - with their own storylines, desires, love interests, and most importantly - lives. To me, that's a step in the right direction.
