[Kim Seong-kon] Korea depicted in recent American TV shows

Due to the unprecedented popularity of K-pop, K-film and K-dramas, Korea is in the global spotlight these days. As a result, recent American television shows are reflecting this trend by frequently casting actors of Korean origin or showing the streets of Seoul to attract viewers’ attention.

“The Blacklist,” an American thriller TV series that aired from 2013 to 2023, is a good example. In the show, after the female protagonist Elizabeth Keen, an FBI profiler, was killed, a Korean American actor, Laura Sohn, was cast as her replacement. In the same show, a US senator is dining in a restaurant. When someone approaches him to ask for something annoying, the senator says, “Don’t disturb me. I’m enjoying Korean bulgogi.”

In the American show “The Recruit,” which aired its first season in 2022, the protagonist Owen Hendricks, a CIA lawyer, visits Seoul for a covert operation. He is overjoyed, exclaiming, “A country of K-pop and Korean barbecue!” Moreover, Owen has fond memories of Korea because he spent his childhood there while his father served in the country. While flying to Seoul, however, his partner Janus Ferber warns Owen that they should be careful because Korea and the US do not fully trust each other. He says, “Korea is an ally. We work closely with them to make sure we can keep North Korea and China in line. But we still spy on each other like maniacs.”

Indeed, they soon find out that Korean agents are hostile to their American counterparts. When they arrive in Seoul, the National Intelligence Service immediately interrogates them and even tries to arrest them. We hope that this situation is simply a dramatic device in the story, rather than the actual atmosphere hovering over Seoul and Washington. Nevertheless, we should be alert to such a possibility and do our best to keep our precious alliance intact. In fact, Korea and the US are mutually reliable and reciprocally helpful blood allies. Instead of being suspicious or hostile, the two countries should trust each other and cherish their special friendship.

Later in “The Recruit,” an NIS agent named Jang Kyun Kim asks Owen to help him rescue his wife, who was abducted by the yakuza in Vladivostok, Russia. Owen agrees. Overcoming numerous obstacles, they succeed in rescuing her. It is noteworthy that this happy ending is the outcome of mutual trust and understanding between a Korean agent and an American agent. Despite some initial friction and distrust between the two, this incident metaphorically shows the path that Korea and the US should take together.

In the 2023 American miniseries “Kaleidoscope,” Hannah Vernon is the daughter of the protagonist, Leo. When Hannah was young, her mother passed away and her father was imprisoned. As a result, Hannah was adopted by a Korean family, and her name was changed to Hannah Kim. Hannah and her adoptive sister Liz Kim, played by Soojeong Son, enjoy a close sisterly bond throughout the show.

“Beef” is a critically acclaimed 2023 American TV series that explores the cultural pressures faced by Korean Americans and Asian Americans. The show plays an important role in introducing Americans to Korean culture and psychology, as well as the difficulties Korean immigrants encounter in America.

“XO, Kitty” is a Netflix series created by Jenny Han. The protagonist, Kitty Song Covey, is an American teenager of Korean heritage. South Korea is not only her late mother’s homeland but also where her long-distance boyfriend, Dae, lives. Seeking to connect with her roots and reunite with Dae, Kitty decides to attend the Korean Independent School of Seoul (KISS), her mother’s alma mater.

Therefore, Kitty’s journey to Korea symbolizes her quest for cultural identity, self-discovery and her maternal legacy, alongside her first romance. Navigating the streets of Seoul, she experiences Korean customs and the local social atmosphere firsthand. At KISS, Kitty learns how to interact with peers from different cultural backgrounds. She also learns to build a good rapport with her teachers. Through her adventures in Korea, Kitty matures and grows.

Since “XO” stands for “hugs and kisses,” her journey represents a heartwarming embrace of her cultural roots. Kitty opens her eyes to the importance of cultural diversity and realizes the value of her trip to Korea as an adolescent. In that sense, “XO, Kitty” is a coming-of-age drama about the protagonist’s initiation into adulthood. “XO, Kitty” is especially popular among American teenagers.

Korea seems to be enjoying its heyday right now. It is encouraging and delightful to encounter Korea so frequently in American shows these days. While introducing Korea’s charms and uniqueness to the world, they sometimes touch upon subtle problems or misunderstandings that exist between the two countries, as exhibited in “The Recruit.” Watching American television shows these days, we are greatly elated, and at the same time, we learn valuable lessons that make us realize who we are and what we should do to be responsible members of the international community.

Kim Seong-kon is a professor emeritus of English at Seoul National University and a visiting scholar at Dartmouth College. The views expressed here are the writer’s own. — Ed