Korean vs American dramas: Do Koreans produce dramas of poorer quality?

Article: Jung Ryeo Won "Even if our dramas were 50 minutes long, we could produce content that would rival American dramas" (Interview)

Source: Newsen via Nate

In the interview, the actress encourages for positive change in the working environments for dramas and says that 72 minutes is much too long for broadcast. "We only need 50 minutes to produce content that would blow American dramas away."

1. [+261, -10] How can you expect change when actors who can't act are receiving the pay of actors who can act?

2. [+1228, -8] Korean dramas could be on the level of American dramas if we just cut out the idols

3. [+177, -2] I'm a fan of American dramas, but I admit Korean dramas are fun to watch as well. The problem is that they're only fun in the beginning. They get boring as the episodes drag on and every problem is solved through love. All of the plots are pretty much the same: a rich man saves a poor girl. American dramas like Office, Community, and Modern Family teach you that you can find fun and laughter in the little things and share stories about everyday life. There are other dramas that also focus on flashy careers and those are a fresh focus away from everyday life.

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"In American medical dramas, the doctor cures the patient.
In American investigative dramas, the investigator solves a crime.
In Korean medical dramas, the doctor falls in love and goes on dates.
In Korean investigative dramas, the investigator falls in love and goes on dates."

"I think Korean dramas should be produced entirely before it goes on air like American dramas instead of filming as they go. Dramas like Sign, Ghost, and The Chaser are the ones that can really contend in the international market. We need more of those."

"There are American dramas over an hour and 30 minutes long. It's not an issue of time."

"In that same environment that she is putting down, a drama like The Chaser was able to be made. It's possible if producers and cast put their mind to it."

"It's so weird how Korean dramas have a stricter production set than American dramas and yet they still produce content of lower quality. Why can't we make things like American dramas. The lead character doesn't always have to be good. They can be bad sometimes too."

"If they want change in the production environment, they need to start by cutting their pays. Japan is notorious for overpriced actors but the pay our lead actors receive doubles that of Japanese actors because of the Hallyu bubble. And yet the staff don't even receive half of what Japanese staff are paid."

"The characters Korean dramas produce are all limited to the same story. American dramas will feature the stories of several different characters and interlink them to tell a thematic point but Korean dramas seem like a documentary about someone's life. There's no theme and nothing to gain from it."

"Once you see dramas like The Walking Dead, Office, Game of Thrones, Criminal Minds, etc, you'll never watch Korean dramas again."

"American dramas have several different writers and directors on set. This isn't just an issue of time."

"Korea doesn't know how to make a drama without a love line."

"But you gotta admit that Korean viewers are obsessed with love lines. When you read drama message boards, they're all filled with people asking for such and such love line pairings, etc. I almost think writers are pressured into putting in love lines as fillers."

"American dramas are so long, though. They go on for a million seasons. I'll try to watch one and give up halfway because they go off into a million different tangents until you're just lost and move on to something else."

"Korea could improve their dramas just by getting rid of the scripts being released the day of filming. What do they expect actors to do when they're forced to memorize lines the morning they go in to film?"

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