K-Drama Analysis Is Now A UP Diliman Elective Class

K-Drama analysis is offered as an elective at UP Diliman

Most Pinoy K-drama fans have probably never thought that their fandom could help them succeed in school. But at the University of the Philippines Diliman, lucky students can now take an elective class on analyzing Korean dramas starting in the 1st semester of academic year 2020-2021.

CLOY, Chicago Typewriter, and Misaeng will be analyzed in class

Image credit: Netflix

True blue stans of Korean dramas from all colleges of the state university can now turn their obsession into an uno in the elective “Special Topics: Analysis of K-drama Series”.

This class will give them the chance to analyze the dramas Crash Landing on You, Chicago Typewriter, and Misaeng as formal school topics.

Misaeng (left), Chicago Typewriter (right)
Image credit: IMDb, IMDb

Probably the most famous drama at the moment, Crash Landing on You is a 2019 drama that follows a South Korean heiress (played by Son Ye-jin) who finds herself crash landing into the woods of North Korea, meeting a stoic army officer (played by Hyun Bin) along the way.

As for Chicago Typewriter, the 2017 drama centers on resistance fighters who lived during the 1930s Japanese Occupation of Korea, and stars Yoo Ah-In, Im Soo-jung, and Go Kyung-pyo. Young adults who are now beginning their careers would probably relate to Misaeng, a 2014 drama about young workers in their twenties.

UP Diliman’s K-drama analysis elective class format

The class will be done virtually through video conferencing apps and a Netflix subscription is required. It’s scheduled to be conducted through three lectures on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Currently, around 300 students have already signed up for each session that only has 25 slots. With such high demand, maybe the university should look into offering it as a permanent class in future semesters!

Image credit: University of the Philippines Diliman

Turning K-drama fandom into an academic activity

Filipinos are indeed one of the biggest fans of Korean dramas, so it’s no wonder that a local university is now offering an elective course that focuses on truly understanding the wider social contexts of these popular dramas beyond their pure entertainment value.

Sooner or later, we won’t be surprised if K-dramas will become a subject of electives in other universities in the Philippines too.

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Cover image adapted from: Netflix, up.edu.ph