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What I Learned About Writing from Watching Korean Dramas

(Yes, really.)

I was introduced to Korean dramas a few years ago.

At first, it was casual. An episode here, a series there.
But in the last year? Let’s just say it’s become more than a hobby.
It’s a full-on binge-watch-the-entire-series-in-a-day-and-then-rewatch-it kind of involvement.

And somewhere in between staying up past midnight, reading English subtitles with laser focus, and mentally bookmarking my favorite moments, I started noticing something deeper.

K-dramas weren’t just entertaining me.
They were quietly teaching me something about writing.

Storytelling. Dialogue. Character development. Emotional pacing.
All of it.

So yes, I started taking notes, literally.
Not just of my favorite scenes and dialogues but of the craft behind them.
And here’s what I’ve learned from watching Korean dramas: lessons I now carry into my own writing.

1. Emotion is everything.

K-dramas don’t just tell stories, they feel them.
They build emotion slowly, intentionally, and unapologetically.