Korean and Chinese Idol Dramas: The Mirror Image Differences and Common Features of Female Cultures Reflected Therein

Abstract

While constructing romantic fantasies of love and personal growth, Chinese and Korean idol dramas mirror gender consciousness and female cultural values under different societal contexts. This study employs feminist media theory and Stuart Hall’s encoding/decoding model to analyze the similarities and differences in the construction of female images in Chinese and Korean idol dramas against their distinct cultural backgrounds. It focuses on the social positioning of female characters, gender dynamics within romantic narratives, and the ways aesthetic standards shape and constrain female agency. By comparing the commonalities and divergences in the cultural expressions of women in Chinese and Korean idol dramas, this paper aims to reveal the potential and limitations of idol dramas in promoting progressive gender culture, offering new perspectives on women’s culture in the East Asian cultural context.