Getting to Know Korean Drama Through Korean Culture

Tuesdays, August 12 + 19th
6pm-7pm ET on Zoom

Register online HERE

What makes Korean dramas so powerful — and so relatable, even across cultures?

Join Dr. Lee and Ms. Kim for two engaging sessions as we explore how Korean history, culture, and especially family values are at the heart of K-drama storytelling.

Part 1: Korean History & Cultural Roots Behind K-Dramas

What You’ll Learn:

• How key cultural values like collectivism, familism, jeong (정), and nunchi (눈치) shape interpersonal dynamics in Korean life and K-dramas

• Why these values continue to influence modern Korean society — especially within families, workplaces, and schools

• Watch three carefully selected K-drama clips that vividly portray these concepts in action

• Live panel discussion: Dr. Lee and Ms. Kim will unpack how these traditions are preserved, adapted, or challenged in contemporary Korea

Speaker Highlights:

• Dr. Lee will explain how Korea’s rapid historical transitions (colonization, war, economic boom) have embedded certain emotional codes into storytelling — especially the idea of family as both a comfort and a source of conflict.

• Ms. Kim will bring a real-world perspective on how these cultural values are taught, lived, and sometimes misunderstood — based on her experience in both education and the civil service.

Part 2: Why the World Loves K-Dramas

Topics We’ll Cover:

• Why family-centered stories in K-dramas emotionally resonate with viewers worldwide — and how they differ from Western portrayals

• How K-dramas challenge traditional norms like gender roles, class hierarchy, and generational tensions — while still honoring cultural identity

• How Korean dramas blend traditional values with modern and Western influences to create storytelling that feels both local and universal

• An open group discussion on how global audiences interpret K-dramas, and what that tells us about cross-cultural empathy

Teachers:

Dr. Isabel S. Lee – Assistant Professor at Salem State University School of Social Work. A former community social worker in the Korean American community turned social work scholar, Dr. Lee focuses on global social work education and practice.

Ms. Eunjeong Kim – Former Korean language teacher in Korea with Korean national educator certification. Now serving as an IRS officer, Ms. Kim brings deep, real-world insight into how cultural norms shape Korean society, from both educational and bureaucratic perspectives.

Register online HERE