Dramabeans

Last updated
Dramabeans
Type of site
Recap and discussion site for Korean dramas and films
Available in English
URL dramabeans.com
CommercialYes
Launched2007 (2007)
Current statusActive

Dramabeans is an English-language website that features in-depth reviews and analyses of Korean dramas, and also serves as a fan forum for those programs featured. Dramabeans has helped over 140M worldwide fans learn about Korean dramas.

Contents

Dramabeans is a prominent online platform and community dedicated to the comprehensive coverage and discussion of Asian television dramas, particularly Korean dramas (K-dramas). Founded in 2007 by bloggers Javabeans and Girlfriday, Dramabeans has evolved into a highly regarded resource for fans of Asian entertainment, offering a wealth of information, reviews, and commentary on a wide range of dramas.

The platform gained popularity for its in-depth and insightful episode recaps, which provide detailed summaries along with the writers' analyses and opinions. Dramabeans has played a significant role in fostering a global community of drama enthusiasts by facilitating discussions through its website and forums, allowing fans to share their thoughts and insights on the latest dramas.

Dramabeans has become a go-to destination for fans seeking to stay informed about the latest dramas, discover hidden gems, and engage in lively discussions with like-minded individuals. The platform covers a diverse array of genres, including romance, historical, fantasy, and more, reflecting the broad appeal of Asian dramas to an international audience.

Dramabeans' commitment to promoting cultural exchange and understanding is evident in its efforts to bridge language and cultural gaps, making Asian dramas accessible to a global audience. As of the last available information, Dramabeans continues to be a trusted source for drama-related content, contributing to the vibrant and interconnected world of international television entertainment.

History

Dramabeans began as a blog by Korean American "Sarah", [1] better known by her online pen name of "javabeans" in 2007 as a site to recap and debate Korean dramas. As the popularity of the blog increased, she registered the domain name. In 2010, Dramabeans reader "Jen", better known as "girlfriday", became a second regular reviewer-contributor to the site, [2] and the two were able to make the site their full-time job. Jen and Sarah have both left their roles at Dramabeans as the costs of running the site outgrew the online advertising revenue. The site is now funded and run by a Korean-American James Sun who has solely supported the financial maintenance and growth of the site since 2015.

Methodology and impact

The core of the site is an archive of recaps of each episode of selected dramas, with comments serving as a forum on the episode reviewed. Most new miniseries from the big three (KBS, MBC and SBS) will receive a recap of the first episode, [3] with those which the recappers find most interested in having every episode in its 16 to 24-episode run being reviewed, longer dramas are not covered. Both javabeans and girlfriday are professional writers and deconstruct each episode as both writers and as ethnic Koreans with an understanding of the Korean entertainment industry, Korean story telling tropes, and mores and customs. The popularity of Dramabeans has paralleled the growing popularity of Korean dramas as part of the Korean Wave in the West, serving as a primer to Korean mores, culture and attitudes to Western audiences. [2]

The site also features articles regarding casting and preproduction of upcoming dramas, and behind-the-scenes news of airing dramas.

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryAwarding bodyResultRef.
2014DARI AwardsSpecial Award Korea Creative Content Agency, Korea Cultural Center-Los Angeles Won [4]

Publications

YearTitleAuthorsPublisherISBN
2013Why Do Dramas Do That?javabeans, girlfridayDimension Four LLC ISBN   978-0-9860598-0-3

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References

  1. Hong, Tae (29 August 2014). "Dramabeans: Guardians of the K-drama Galaxy". The Korea Times . Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  2. 1 2 Woo, Michelle (24 November 2014). "Dramabeans Duo Spills the Beans on K-Dramas". KoreAm . KoreAm . Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  3. Bong, Betty (10 January 2013). "The Gurus of Korean Drama: Interview with Javabeans and Girlfriday of Dramabeans". Asia Pacific Arts. University of Southern California . Retrieved 6 May 2015.
  4. "DramaFever CEO chosen as Person of the Year by DARI Awards". The Korea Times. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2015.