My First Discovery of Korea and How My Understanding Has Changed
Hello everyone,
I can still remember the first time I discovered Korea It was not through books or history lessons but through K-drama a friend introduced me to a series called Boys Over Flowers At first, I just thought it would be like any other TV show, but from the very first episode i was hooked the characters the emotions, the way the story was told it felt so different from what I was used to watching.
From there, my curiosity grew i started noticing their fashion the way they expressed respect to elders the family ties and even the language I did not understand the words but I loved how soft and melodic it sounded that was my very first impression of Korea a place filled with beauty emotions, and unique culture later on, I discovered K-pop through BTS their music was everywhere on social media, and out of curiosity, I decided to listen at first, I thought how will I enjoy music in a language I don’t understand but surprisingly i did the beats the choreography the visuals, and even the little English lines made it enjoyable my impression of Korea expanded from just drama to music.
Food also came into the picture i started seeing pictures of Korean meals like kimchi and bibimbap I have not tasted most of them yet but the way they are presented and the culture around eating together fascinated me over time, my understanding of Korea has changed from just seeing it as the country that makes K-drama to appreciating it as a nation with deep traditions hardworking people and global influence before, I only focused on the entertainment side but now i have learned about their history, and their struggles and how they rebuilt themselves into one of the most developed countries in the world.
I also realized that Korean culture is not just about fun and glamour they value respect, discipline, and community their entertainment industry shows creativity but behind it is years of training, effort, and sacrifice that gave me a new kind of respect for them looking back my first impression of Korea was excitement and fascination because of dramas but now my understanding is deeper, Korea is a place where culture and modern life blend together it is not just about K-pop or K-drama it is about resilience, creativity, and unity.
I can honestly say that discovering Korea opened my eyes to a whole new world and it has inspired me in many ways.
