The fine line between a friendship and a relationship between men and women is no stranger to South Korean pop culture, as the use of the complex feelings for friends of the opposite sex in music and TV material dates all the way back to the 1990s. (Image: KBS)
SEOUL, Jul. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — The complex nature of platonic friendships between men and women are proving to make good television, as an increasing number of South Korean TV networks are airing shows that are based on this concept.
The fine line between a friendship and a relationship between men and women is no stranger to South Korean pop culture, as the use of the complex feelings for friends of the opposite sex in music and TV material dates all the way back to the 1990s.
However, the ‘friendship or relationship’ storyline seems to have made a comeback recently as the high ratings for shows that center around tricky in-betweens like KBS’s recent hit series Fight For My Way vouch for its popularity.
Unlike the 90s, however, most of the shows in recent months depict friendships between male and female characters in a more liberal and open-minded manner, instead of looking at platonic friendships between members of the opposite sex as a black and white issue.
The three pilot episodes of SBS’s new entertainment show “I’m sorry, I don’t love you” that recently aired fall under this category, as the show invites male and female celebrities who have long been friends to a resort to spend time together without developing any feelings.
Lee Ji-won, the producer behind the show, said, “In the past, it had to be either a relationship or a friendship, but recently more people think there is somewhere in between.
“People are getting married later, and as life has become more difficult, people seem to want to widen their friend options. As the topic is relatable, the trend is expected to continue.”
Cable channel Mnet is set to jump on the bandwagon with a new dating show scheduled to air next month called ‘My Friend’s Relationship’, a show with a focus on contemplating different types of relationships between men and women.
The complex nature of platonic friendships between men and women are proving to make good television, as an increasing number of South Korean TV networks are airing shows that are based on this concept. (Image: SBS)
The show will send four male and four female cast members on a holiday to spend four nights together and discuss their feelings candidly.
“We hope to capture psychological changes and subtleties between friends as they go on to find love or remain as friends. It will give (viewers) a glimpse into young people’s view on relationships and their trendy way to search for love,” Yun Shin-hye, who produced the show, said.
Hyunsu Yim (hyunsu@koreabizwire.com)
