Understanding K-Drama: Christmas Is For Couples

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Ha Ji Won
Hyun Bin
Jung Il Woo
Lee Chung Ah

There are quite a few Christmas scenes in k-dramas but viewers may wonder why the focus tends to be on couples rather than on families. It's not just because the scenes take place in romantic comedies.

There's the romantic scene with Jung il Woo and Lee Chung Ah lying under the tree in "Flower Boy Ramen Shop." In "Secret Garden" Ha Ji Won and Hyun Bin danced under the sparkling lights at a holiday event. In "Future's Choice" Jung Yong Hwa's character changes his flight so he can spend Christmas Eve with Yoon Eun Hye.

And there are several Christmas scenes in "Mary Stayed Out All Night. There's the scene where Moon Geun Young's friends want her to make up with Jang Geun Suk so they can be together on Christmas Eve. Also there's the scene where she feels sorry for Kim Jae Wook because he is having a lonely Christmas. But it's not because he should be spending the day with his family.

While Koreans share many ways of celebrating the day with other countries, it's not universally considered a day for family get-togethers. Yes, there are decorations and gifts and church services. But the big difference is that the day is primarily considered a couple's day, whereas New Year's Day is often reserved for visiting family.

Christmas is a day for couples to dress up, visit friends, shop, eat out and enjoy elaborately decorated Christmas cake. Couples might visit an ice skating rink or go to the movies. Popular destinations for couples include Myeondong, Dongdaemun, Gangnam, and the Namsan Tower. It's a good day to bring a lock that symbolizes your love and add it to the collection of locks at the top of the tower.  

Or a couple may just walk around and look at all the seasonal light displays. There are Christmas concerts too.

Popular gifts often have a "couple" theme. You might give your loved one a couple bracelet or buy couple outfits.

Christmas is such a couples-oriented holiday that the approaching end of the year can make single men and women worry about spending the day alone. There are even blind date gatherings on Christmas Eve so that singles will have a date for the special day.

But Christmas is only one of several holidays dedicated to couples. There are holidays such as Valentine's Day, White Day and Pepero Day. And while you're waiting for those holidays, there are plenty of romantic k-drama holiday scenes to watch.

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