With the production rate of Korean BL dramas increasing at a rapid pace, it is clear that many drama creators and producers have seen the vivid interest of global fans in the genre, an interest that has been reflected in the popularity and ratings of many dramas released in the genre since 2020 till today. The growth of the K-BL genre has been vivid as by 2022, there had been a record of 5 times more production than its kick-off year in 2020. And with the increasing rate at which more BL have been released so far this year, we can only see those numbers continuing to increase.
However, the growth of the genre is not just reliant on the fact that it is from Korea but on the interest of global viewers, who despite their applauding and appreciation of the increase in the production rate of this themed series, also call for the increase in its quality, with regards to storyline, chemistry, cinematography, and romantic scenes.
In line with this, Kpopmap hosted a global survey, asking fans of the Korean BL genre to share their opinions on the genre and the ways in which it can improve. The survey ran from the 17th to the 26th of April and recorded 1,649 responses from participants in over 84 countries. We already have the first part of the survey report, which shows the demographic and tastes about BLs of the global respondents. You can read the full article below.
In this 2nd part of the results article, we will be sharing a breakdown of the thoughts and ideas global fans shared on how they feel the genre can get better.
Please note that this survey report will also be shared with Webtoon and BL production company KENAZ Productions.
1. An overview of what fans would love to see improve in Korean BL dramas
Feedback from an audience helps an artist see beyond just his frame of mind and take in collective suggestions that would very well impact his style and decisions going forward. This also relates to K-Drama and K-BL producers and creators as well. With comments being shared regularly online by fans of this genre, it's safe to say that there are many that reveal the elements in which the genre can improve.
Based on the key mentions online, our options in this category were: "Acting / Chemistry", "Story", "Actor's visual", "Length", "Theme", and "Directing". With an option for multiple selections, 1,304 respondents choose "Length" as the element they would love to see improve the most in Korean BL dramas. 953 respondents choose "Story", 823 respondents choose "Acting / Chemistry", 521 respondents choose "Directing", 506 respondents choose "Theme", and 165 respondents choose "Actor's visual".
Other choices were inputted as well. Opinions like "Sound Engineering Quality", "NC scenes", "In-depth storylines", "Kiss scenes", "More representation of the LGBTQ+ communities", "Editing", etc.
The length of Korean BL has been one of the prevalent topics and concerns amongst global fans. In comparison to other Asian countries producing BL dramas, Korean BL dramas have the shortest duration per episode and per series. However, there could be a significant change in this aspect as recent dramas like "To My Star: Our Untold Stories", "Unintentional Love Story", and "The Eight Sense" all have episodes with an average duration of 40 minutes.
We also gave our respondents an opportunity to share in their own words, some of the things they would like to see improve in the genre. Here are some highlighted comments which broadly capture the majority of their thoughts and ideas.
Attractive characters are always a plus, but visuals are less important to me than good acting and storytelling, and longer episodes. Cater less to fan expectations and more toward making an unrushed well told story that breaks boundaries with good actors passionate about being in these roles and stories that aren't trying to limit themselves to a time frame. If you do prefer releasing short episode mini-dramas, then write stories that fit into those shorter plots rather than trying to do too much with not enough time to flesh it out. Don't depend on time jumps to finish a story.
You need more actors that actually have chemistry and are open to doing scenes that are common in straight/hetero dramas but when it’s an LGBTQ+ series they aren’t open to it. Example: kissing. Make K-BL dramas make the camera be a certain angle so the actors pretend they’re kissing but they’re not. If you hire an actor, make sure he is open and professional enough to do the scenes your drama demands. The audience can tell when the actors are not actually kissing or when they are kissing but they’re clearly not comfortable with it. I don’t even understand why those actors sign the contract to do LGBTQ+ series if they know they won’t commit to their literal job which is the bare minimum: giving a decent kiss. We’re watching a romance, so the bare minimum is a decent kiss where the actors at least open and move their mouths. Other countries (like Thailand for example) are considered better than Korea when it comes to BLs because of this, they actually do chemistry reads with the actors before they hire them, and they make them kiss to see if they’re actually comfortable with each other. You can’t hire actors for their looks or because they’re famous if they aren’t committed and are uncomfortable kissing another man. The audience sees it and feels it, doesn’t matter how good the directing is, it can’t turn a bad kiss into a good kiss, that’s the actor’s job. This is sad because sometimes the series is good, but then it gets to the kiss part and everyone sees they’re not comfortable and barely kiss and many people stop watching the drama for that reason, even though the story is good. So my advice would be: Before hiring actors, doesn’t matter if they’re handsome or famous, make them do chemistry tests with each other, make them hug and kiss each other and analyze if they’re comfortable, analyze if they’ll commit to interpreting a gay character.
Strength of plot - especially towards the end. Lots of shows have a fantastic premise but then don't know what to do with it. The ending of a show should not be a simple 'gratification', but should be relevant to the characters and plot from the beginning of the show. Writing - some already do it brilliantly ("Our Dating Sim", "The Eighth Sense", and "Where Your Eyes Linger" are good examples). Characters do not blindly state their feelings out loud and do not rely on half-heard conversations and misunderstandings. Things are not spelled out for the audience - you have to empathize with the character and try to understand their words/actions Physical compatibility & comfort - "Our Dating Sim"/ "A First Love Story" shows how much potential there is when actors show realistic intimacy between them. Neither show is long, but both convey far more credibility and emotion than some longer shows by virtue of believing in the characters. Massive passionate scenes are not always needed - smaller everyday interactions (ie. comfortable touching each other, relaxing into a touch) are far more powerful when it comes to conveying an emotion. Too often watching shows I find myself asking "Why are they dating? They clearly don't want to be near each other, they look uncomfortable". "Unintentional Love Story" was one of these - a strong premise slightly spoiled by the main couple's romance not being convincing. The 2nd couple's romance was actually more interesting because they were more comfortable around each other despite having much less time onscreen.
The length is the main complaint. They are too short for me to be invested. Sure, I understand why that is and I suppose it's hard to get the money to make such a thing happen. But the only way a piece can go mainstream is if the public connects with your characters. And right now it is not enough! Take the example of "Semantic Error", a very loved & popular K-BL. Did I enjoy it? Yes! But would I consider it a must-see piece for everyone? Would I recommend it to anyone outside of the K-BL community? No, because when it said "last episode" on the screen, I was like "WHAT?" - I had just started to enjoy the story and then BOOM, it ended. As I said before, also, I wish there was an improvement in the plot. Interesting characters and interesting backgrounds always elevate everything else. Most of the BLs are strictly about the couple's romantic scenes, with not much going on outside of that, or events that could disrupt their daily lives besides the common trope of "misunderstandings" (very tired of this one as well). I could summarize most of the existing series in 2 lines. A bit simplistic, don't you think? Like... I don't know, give me a "Little Women" plot but with BL, or "My Name" or "The Glory" but with a BL couple. And if I'm being a bit too greedy here, I can also say I'd bow down to something like "While You Were Sleeping" or "It's Okay to Not Be Okay". I really want to be excited about the couple but also root for their lives and daily obstacles!
Better/more slapstick romcoms with a heavier focus on genuine comedy. Comedic K-BLs are never as funny as other countries, especially Thai or Japanese, but standard KDramas are some of the funniest shows in the world. Even despicable villains in KDramas get a good laugh out of me if the writing is good because the joke or situation often goes beyond the plot to just be hilarious in and of itself or is a brilliant callback to something that is plot-related. However, jokes and comedic situations in KBLs seem to just lean into BL tropes without being uniquely creative. Also, more intimate scenes would be nice. Too often the first consensual kiss or open acknowledgment of their relationship is the climax to a KBL, but other countries, not always but often enough, have that moment be just a turning point in a much longer story. It’s too conservative for the queer community. Some series in other countries even start off with the couple getting together in the first episode, whether that be just a kiss to full-blown sex, and go from there. We want to know what happens afterward, how the relationship actually works (or fails) once the couple is official, without having to pray we get a second season to explore that (such as "To My Star 2: Our Untold Stories" which I obviously love but is an exception since BLs rarely get 2 seasons). And just a general increase in runtime would help eliminate all the plot holes, loose threads, and one-dimensional characters plaguing K-BLs.
LONGER. EPISODES. - More detailed plots (without having plot holes) that MAKE SENSE; if adapting a manhwa/book, don't just copy-paste it - ADAPT it so it makes sense (good example: "The New Employee" was very well made, while "The Director Who Buys Me Dinner" did not adopt it much to make it more fitting for the show format) - BETTER ACTING - MORE. ACTUAL. INTIMACY. No more dead fish kisses. ACTUAL kisses. Or if not kissing, then CUDDLES, hugs, hand holding, lovely moments. It is just insane how in KBLs, two people that are supposed to be insanely attracted to one another and in a relationship, barely touch each other and act more like friends/brothers instead of boyfriends. Make it make sense. Good kiss scenes I have seen so far and want to see more: "Roommates of Poongduck 304", "Kissable Lips", "Our Dating Sim" (LOVED the intimacy here), "To My Star", "The Eight Sense", "Cherry Blossoms After Winter", "Semantic Error". Good Thai BLs as an example for this: "Ghost Host, Ghost House" (LOVED how natural the relationship felt here), "Tharntype" (both seasons, minus the sexual harassment and every other toxic aspect of the drama), "The Eclipse" (the sexual tension was insane here), "My School President" (very innocent but the RELATIONSHIP was so HEALTHY AND THERE WAS SO MUCH NON-SEXUAL INTIMACY HERE! which I would love to see more in KBLs), "Moonlight Chicken".
There's a lot to improve in K-BLs, starting with the fact that most of the stories are superficial and way too stereotypical; the K-BL scene focuses on maintaining the "beauty and quality" of Korean television but does not complement it with the depth of story, solid characters or raw emotion; the BL scene in Korea is a taboo topic, we know, but if the story is treated properly, in a mature way, there's a higher chance that the population may relate to it and admire the story and message beyond the gender. Also, I would like to see more experimentation cinematographically speaking in the K-BL scene, because believe me, most of the shots and scenes they show us we have seen before in K-Dramas, so it would be nice that the K-BL scene would take a different turn while portraying the stories, maybe in a more natural or raw way. Personally, when talking about topics related to the LGBTQ community in Asian entertainment, I prefer raw and natural sensations through directing and editing, to "everything being pretty." Talking about editing, PLEASE don't overuse your color correction filters! And lastly, audio editing, considering that K-BLs usually have low budgets I understand, but at least let's try to improve the voice-over you sometimes have to do for the audio quality to be better, it just seems so fake it pulls me off from the story.
Generally, I think K-BLs are improving. I appreciate that series are becoming more story and dialog-driven. Too often, the series depends too heavily on impressive cinematographic moments and long lingering glances to convey meaning. I would like to see more of the story communicated through the characters' dialog. In addition, there seems too often to be a troubling dichotomy in the K-BL series. On one hand, they portray a wonderful budding relationship between two men who share an obvious attraction to one another, and on the other hand, the characters are portrayed as being almost repulsed by the prospect of touching. I'm not suggesting nudity or graphic displays of affection are required but it's tedious to have one character lean in for a kiss and have the other turn their head. Any physical contact looks uncomfortable and sterile as opposed to being portrayed as fulfilling a basic human need and desire. The thesis is that "Love is Love". Censorship shouldn't occur just because love exists between two men. Any intimate moments that can occur between straight couples should exist between same-sex couples.
K-BLs are visually amazing and the acting is usually good, but chemistry often leaves a lot to be desired. When casting actors, I think it's very important to make sure they are comfortable with each other and comfortable with intimacy. I don't think explicit scenes are necessary, but when you can see in someone's body language that they really don't want to kiss, or even hug their partner, it becomes uncomfortable to watch. This, to me, is the most important thing that needs fixing, followed by the length and writing. Some dramas try to tell complex stories, which cannot be told in the short format that they have. So I think it's important to plan and be aware of the budget and adjust the story accordingly. Also, it is obvious that some K-BLs were filmed as movies and cut up into episodes, which leaves some episodes as filler, with no stand-alone story. I think series should be written in episodic format from the start and that movies should be watched as movies because the way they are written is not the same.
The first obviously is length. I don't want to wait one week just to watch 2 eps of 12-14 minutes. That's why I usually wait and watch it later when it's finished. Second is the depth of the story and maybe the dialog and plot should be better. The third is more domestic cute scenes. Usually, we get one kiss and thats it. This is why I liked "Semantic Error" (enemies to lovers+a lot of good scenes (like head pats, a few kisses, and that last scene was SO cute) and " Our Dating Sim" (the actors had the best chemistry and a lot of cute scenes (the one where they are lying on the floor in the living room is so cute). And if you're going to do BL, do a good job. I don't need making-out scenes or something like that but if you're going to have just one kiss do it right. Individual Circumstances for example was awful. And lastly, this isn't something I would want to improve but something I would like to see in K-BLs. I really want to see K-BLs where protagonists are older like maybe 30-35-year-olds.
More depth and realism to stories; less comedy/silliness; actors with good chemistry who look comfortable with each other onscreen; better range of genres and story types (especially creative stories like fantasy/adventure); better sex scenes and physical intimacy (not necessarily more explicit, although that would be nice, too - but more physical interaction/affection that looks/feels genuine and natural); characters getting together earlier in the story and having to learn how to communicate and be a couple/team; recognition of other kinds of relationships (like friends and family) being as important as a romantic relationship; better representation and diversity (eg, people who aren't beautiful/physically perfect; people with disabilities, or who have physical or mental health issues, etc); more exploration of LGBT characters who aren't just gay (eg, Bisexual, Transgender, Non-binary, Asexual, etc).
In my opinion, some of the K-BLs have weak pacing and plotting abilities, unlike K-Dramas. Some plots are unattractive to watch another episode, too simple, and can imagine what will be next just by watching from the beginning so they can't attract people to rewatch again. Also, the cinematography is too weak, especially the video quality. Sometimes I feel like actors don't fit with their roles. But in 2023 I think most of the series are improving such as "The Eighth Sense", "A Shoulder To Cry On", "Our Dating Sim", and lastly "Unintentional Love Story". After watching those series, I can say rewatch value is 8.5 out of 10 and their acting and chemistry come together in perfect synchronicity. I believe K-BLs will make people addicted in the future by watching the current series. You can tell by every fan requesting to continue the next season.
One of the worst stuff in K-BLs (beyond the short length) is how the conflict is solved so easily or characters just need to take a break to come back and find out more about their feelings. K-BLs need to understand a big part of the audience isn't only into good stories, but scenes we can remember after a long time. I think if characters can talk more about their personal problems and face their feelings together, it can turn the stories better. I'm kind of tired of knowing the characters just will pretend they forget all the bad moments and will keep together because they need to do it in the last episode. The relationship between the characters and his own thoughts really needs to improve in K-BLs. Viewers need to have doubt about the destiny of the story, if it's visible, we lose our interest easily.
Quality work. Expand on side couples, good friends, and supporters. Don't just leave us hanging. If it's BL give us BL work: love scenes, lust, chemistry, quality kissing, chemistry, quality cohesive and nurtured stories. More time to enjoy the series. 16 episodes of 40 minutes to an hour+ like is done for the "normal" shows. Quality work: attention to detail, a continuation of what's already been said & done (whether from the original story or what was already put on the screen within the said story.) Give us great work as you've done with Goblin, "A Korean Odyssey", "Her Private Life", "What's Wrong With Secretary Kim?", "Kingdom", and the likes so that we can praise and recommend your work to those that are not familiar with it.
I think the main issue is the acting - the actors are oftentimes stiff and when say a romantic moment happens to give off the aura of I DID NOT GET PAID ENOUGH FOR THIS. If you accept a role in a ROMANCE one should accept they will kiss a member of the same sex. Please have the actors attend intimacy workshops so that they are comfortable in those scenes, that we as viewers believe they are in love - instead of commenting on how many people can be placed in between the actors while they hug or kiss. As currently K-BL is known for 'dead fish kissing'. Even tho the storylines are original and interesting - this takes away A LOT from this type of a show.
To not base the entire plot on a petty misunderstanding that can be cleared by a minute conversation. Mature acceptance of LGBTQ, having the actual actors be comfortable with each other with no forced chemistry. (I think that if they're good friends or just comfortable with each other the acting and chemistry come naturally). The length of each episode. You produce one of the best K-BLs it's best to make it longer so everything isn't rushed /with more cute or romantic moments and not quickly adding new drama in the last 2 episodes. Also focusing on the side characters, we would like their stories as well. Thank you for listening to this rant 😀
I think the script/writing should improve, as well as the length and cinematography/directing! Make it a story worth watching not only for BL fans but also for those outside of the BL world. In the case of adapting a Manhwa, I feel like it takes more than just taking it 100% from the art and to the camera. Changes are necessary for the story to work in a tv show format. "Semantic Error" did a good job of this I think. The changes they made from the manhwa didn't impact the adaptation negatively at all, and the stuff they added only enriched the show more. Also, accurate castings, please!
▪ Episode length: 30-40mins max. ▪ Acting/Chemistry: I think K-Actors need to work on improving their intimacy on camera. Please have actors do workshops before shooting. I've seen many K-Bls in which the actors look awkward around each other, even at the end of the drama when the characters are supposed to be a couple. When it comes to physical intimacy (hugs, hand-holding, smooches, kisses) many actors look stiff and it doesn't look natural. Please work on that. ▪ Plot: Many K-BLs have superficial plots and characters. Please add depth to the story. Don't fall into clichés.
Fuller more complex stories. Don't be afraid to write stories based less on gender stereotypes and more on just telling a damn good love story. I'm a writer (pen name R.K. Ryals) and as a writer, I tend to look for and need good stories with actors and directors who are passionate about making it happen. A full 16-episode K-Drama with characters who just so happen to be gay would go a long way toward being inclusive. But if you feel compelled to continue keeping stories short, make sure your plots fit into those time constraints.
Complex characters should be developed in BL stories to make them more interesting. Kisses and affection scenes should be portrayed more realistically and believably. The acceptance and normalization of gay couples in their inner circle should be promoted. The real issues that gay people face should be addressed in media and entertainment. Korean culture should be highlighted more in BL stories, with less Westernized themes. Healthy relationships and communication should be emphasized in BL stories.
The portrayal of LGBTQIA+ individuals as MULTI-FACETED persons whose sexuality is only a mere aspect of their persona and not its sole defining feature (this tends to get overlooked by fluff in most BLs and is a topic sensitive not only to Korea but the rest of the developing world, especially in other conservative/religious countries like the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, etc).
The process of coming out of the closet. It's important that what media people are consuming covers heavy topics and themes along with lighter themes. Especially, when even in the 21st century there are a lot of LGBTQ issues that I yet to be resolved. I also understand that this cannot be done in a day, but we can make it better over time.
The kiss scenes as it is at times laughable. There is no passion behind it and you can tell that the actors are disconnected from each other. Also, there is not much embracement of the characters they play. This means that the audience cannot relate or connect with the characters as it is all just superficial.
The stories are usually not well written as we don't get much of the background of the story and all of a sudden we see them already in love. Neither is the chemistry between the actors that great in most situations as it feels more forced. Kiss scenes look more like some middle school written thing.
Long-term relationships, because it's not easy to maintain a relationship; how the gay world searches for a lot of sex only, because society represses them; family acceptance and social reality, because it's still really difficult to get out of the closet and to be accepted when you are really effeminate.
The quality of production/direction/editing as a whole. A lot of the time a K-BL will have good materials (solid acting, chemistry sometimes even budget) but the cinematography/direction makes it feel cheap. Bad set design and misuse of sound (e.g cringe sound effects play into it a lot too)
I've seen some experimental BLs with interesting shots, but because I suffer from motion sickness, sometimes camera work that moves too much makes me lose immersion in scenes. So even tho if creative shots are being used, the more steady is the camera, the better I can enjoy the scene.
I would like to see LGBTQ representations more openly, and also, stories having many scenarios. Sometimes it is a bit boring watching the story having one or two scenarios like their houses and their workplaces and that's it. That could improve a little.
I'd wish for actors to look more natural if possible. Often the leads wear so much makeup (or filters are used) that their skin looks too perfect, without blemishes or irregularities. Using a glow that makes everything looks soft only makes it worse.
I'd like to see more realistic storylines and less comedic/unrealistic elements. BLs like "Blueming", "The Eighth Sense", and "Where Your Eyes Linger" are easy to relate to and feel connected to because they're stories that feel like real-life situations.
Skinship - not just the kisses but there isn't enough physical affection and intimacy between some characters to convey that they're in love and attracted to each other. Casual touches, forehead kisses, etc would go a long way too.
Merging genres I think combining certain genres and having to get the right balance of the two genres could be interesting. Fantasy fiction mixed with action fiction or Supernatural horror and romance would be interesting.
I want to see more intimate scenes between the characters, healthy relationships, there character development, diversification of LGBTQIA +, and more realistic couples.
Judging by the replies from respondents, it is clear that there is still a lot of improvement that needs to be done in the genre to suit the taste of global fans.
2. Length: How long is too short?!
In many segments of our survey, "Length" has been one of the most mentioned keywords by respondents. In fact, it was mentioned over 1,741 times. This figure shows that the length of the BL drama is paramount to the global success of the genre. With multiple fans calling for the same duration as non-BL dramas, it is clear that while there is a vested interest in the genre, fans need quality over quantity. The length of the drama allows for a full-fledged story to be told properly, with the infusion of various arcs, sub-plots, and characters, all of which make the central plot whole and the entire series, more enjoyable.
With a proposed average duration of 40mins per episode, we asked our respondents what length they would like a BL drama to have. Over 782 respondents choose "16 episodes", over 591 respondents choose "10 episodes", over 134 respondents choose "20 Episodes", 81 respondents choose "over 20 episodes", and 48 respondents choose "8 episodes".
Some fans also preferred a shorter duration as well, noting they wanted less than 8 episodes in a drama series. From the data generated, it is clear that fans require the same standard, especially when it comes to duration, given to non-BL dramas.
3. Improving the storytelling quality; adding more depth to the stories
Kpopmap
While BL generally projects a fantastical and cute romantic storyline that fans find enjoyable, there has also been a call for a more realistic approach in the telling of these stories. The inclusion of real-life experiences and prevalent topics revolving around the community doesn't just help in creating a sense of inclusion but also educates the global audience on the different perspectives and scenarios in which people and their stories dwell.
Series like "To My Star: Our Untold Story", "Blueming", and "The Eight Sense" have been greatly applauded by global fans in this aspect as while they served us a good amount of scenes with heart-fluttering moments, they also sought to showcase other elements, which made us understand the characters and made their actions more conceivable. Adding an extra layer of appeal to the story and series.
In this section, we asked our respondents to input the element(s) they feel will add more depth to the storyline in Korean BL dramas.
1. Keywords - "Trauma", "Mental Health", and "Struggles"
The Eight Sense
The subjects of "Trauma", "Mental Health", and "Struggles", were some of the most mentioned by respondents in this category. Over 268 respondents shared their opinions on this topic, sighting the need to explore and project this element which is often seen as prevalent in the LGBTQ+ community. Here are some of the comments:
I think the characters’ pasts and how they affected them as people and their relationships/how they deal with it in the present add a lot of depth to the story. It doesn’t have to be something ‘traumatic’ (awful) per se, for example in "To My Star 2: Our Untold Stories" we see Jiwoo’s POV on why he did what he did, sort of an explanation, and it wasn’t something very terrible. Just reasonable character building that makes sense and how it sometimes determines their actions/inactions/thoughts, and how it makes them feel. But yeah it could also be because of a past trauma of sorts.. obviously while being mindful and careful with the topic at hand. Additionally, I’d like to see the topic of queerness brought out more (like in "Unintentional Love Story", "Light On Me", "The New Employee", "Our Dating Sim", etc.) because seeing people like ourselves being represented in media is so important, like yes it’s fun to watch a light rom-com once in a while but being respectfully and truthfully represented is so lovely! As I said, some series have done this already and it’s very nice to see :). As a suggestion to carry this out, I’d say that the producers/directors/writers or whoever is in charge of the story consult actual real-life queer people to ask about their experiences and if they’d like to add/remove something in order to have a truthful and respectful depiction of queer people.
If handled properly, including serious topics like dealing with past trauma or mental illness, internal and external homophobia or different problems that naturally occur in all our lives would be amazing. Here I would like to say, "The Eight Sense" really does a good job at portraying these (until now), when characters deal with trauma -let them get help, counseling, etc, because in most cases meeting a person and falling in love with them does not "cure you" from your problems, only YOU can do it.
I like it when they bring up some past trauma (makes me feel like I'm watching a K-Drama indeed) and also when the characters have this fear of the unknown since they're discovering their sexuality. All of this would definitely add depth to the story, but then we need more episodes (at least 10) and we need them to be longer too.
Past trauma and how that might affect the characters’ acceptance of love; parents and how they react after discovering their child’s sexuality; how friends react to discovering their friend’s sexuality.
Get to know the characters more by showing bits of their childhood, them getting over past trauma (how they grow) and then being ready to be in a relationship. I also think that maybe even talking about problems they could encounter as an LGBTQ+ couple would be very powerful.
LGBT+ struggles in Korean society
Realistic portrayal of LGBTQ+ relationships and their struggles in society
Less on romance but more on social acceptance and struggles of being LGBTQ+
LGBTQ+ struggles, we need to talk about it more so people would know our struggles and educate them about them.
Acceptance, adding real LGBTQ+ struggles, longer time spent in a relationship (so struggles besides the relationship itself)
Addressing problems with homophobia, and mental health, and having conversations among couples about their feelings.
Stories dealing with mental health (subjects such as autism, anxiety, OCD, etc. need to be explored more). Horror would also allow us to explore more taboo subjects in a raw way that could add a lot of depth.
Trauma resolution (or at least taking the first steps towards it prior to engaging in romantic relations), a realistic discussion of LGBTQIA+ acceptance, the importance of mental health, and a realistic perspective for HIV and HIV awareness overall! Of course, if they could be tackled in one KBL drama, it’d be heart-wrenching to watch but I think it would also be essential in the unraveling of what it means (in the real world) to be part of the LGBTQIA with all the prejudice and challenges that come with it.
2. Keywords - "Coming out", "Acceptance", and "Family"
W-Story
An important topic in the LGBTQ+ community today, stories around coming out, acceptance, and family are seen as one of the most realistic inclusions in a story as it speaks to or portrays an experience shared by the majority in the community. Sadly, there are quite a few Korean BL dramas that have projected this topic, a result which has led to the call for more stories by global fans. In the survey, over 290 respondents shared this as the element they want to see in Korean BL dramas the most. Here are some of the comments on this.
Acceptance! I‘d personally like to see how real queer people fall in love and have a healthy and happy relationship, of course, we go through our own hardships and face them because we are a minority and we have to deal with the fear of either being outed, being forced to come out. Past trauma, Coming out (if possible), and acceptance of their sexuality/gender identity
Coming out while being believable to South Korea's views/thoughts on LGBTQ relationships, and the struggles the characters go through accepting themselves while being in that environment.
Adding the topic of acceptance of society and even families between same-sex relationships because this is what our reality is.
Acceptance of Korean parents when they learn that their son is gay. I don’t think there was ever a K-BL that deal with this topic, be it parents’ acceptance or self-acceptance. like I hardly see any struggle when a male lead realizes that he likes a guy. Shouldn’t there be an inner conflict before they can accept that they’re gay?
The topic of acceptance and the journey of the characters which allowed them to understand their sexuality, and be more inclusive as well (bisexual, pansexual, etc.)
Self-acceptance & discovery, discussion of past relationships, fleshed-out friend groups, healthy non-toxic exes, and more direct discussion of LGBT/queer themes.
Acceptance and coming out. Showing more openly queer characters.
Acceptance of family and society
Adding the topic of family acceptance.
Family background, family reaction to the character's sexuality
3. Keyword - "Character Development"
W-Story
While the length of the drama may be a key factor that makes the story feel more whole, the character development is also at that same level. Character development exposes viewers to the ideals and personality of a character, understanding their actions and perhaps also finding a sense of connection and familiarity in them as well. Here are some of the thoughts of fans on this element.
More plot lines. Character development. The main characters need to have more back story. It can be past trauma, hatred, anything actually. And the director needs to know where they heading with the story. Only making two guys like each other is not a story.
Character development and drama should be lengthy enough to cover the story without plot holes, and mature characters.
Complex characters. A natural development of the couple’s relationship. The topic of acceptance. Character realization. Character development/growth.
I'm not too picky as long as there is meaningful character development and character depth, even if the main leads are comedic or happy-go-lucky.
Character development and dynamic relationships between actors other than the two main leads (e.g. friendships, parents, mentors, teachers, bosses, etc.)
I would love for them to stay more on the story and character development and less on the couple. The series ends up getting too much into kissing and touching without first developing the characters individually.
As a writer myself, one thing I do wish for is the writing of the characters and their background stories to feel natural. And by this I mean: when you write a character, he needs to be much more than just being gay. Give me more in-depth family stories. Who are they? Where this character comes from? What does he do and why? Who are his friends, and how did he meet these people? Also, every time I watch a BL, I immediately know one of them is going to be an artist. Why? It's kind of a stereotype that runs in these stories, so I wish the writers could give us more diversity in other areas. Write a couple that has their own stories and lives and interests, and they happen to be gay as well and fall in love. Because, in my opinion, if you want to elevate your BL series to the next level, "being gay" CAN'T the plot. The plot has to have quality and should be able to stand on its own no matter if the couple is BL. You need to have a good plot or else your public will be the casual BL enjoyer and it will not grow outside of this small fandom.
4. Keywords - "Kisses" and "Intimacy"
Its New Story
For many BL fans, the intimate moments between the lovers are what vividly portray their level of affection and attraction for each other. In the past, many fans have shared comments on how these moments in Korean BL dramas are somewhat lacking, which dampens their interest and appreciation for the story. Here are some of the comments on these elements.
Having more intimate scenes, like casual hugs and kisses like most couples do in real life. Sometimes it looks forced when it is not done that way.
Show how the character processes his feelings, maybe using inner dialogues. Acts of affection in the form of hugs, caressing, looking into each other's eyes, kisses, etc.
More stories of them in the relationship. We mostly get stories of how they meet and how their story progresses and it ends with a dead fish kiss. It would be nice to have the meeting/back story, and the build and we get to experience the love and relationship with them and their everyday life in the relationship before it ends. Better kisses for sure, Better Love stories, Longer and In depth plots. and PASSION!
Conflict resolution (smooth & not abrupt). Intimate and passionate love scene ( even not kissing), with subtle body language, no cringy comedic act, no draggy problems, and unwanted characters/lines.
While intimacy may be seen as a kiss or NC scene, it is also in the subtle actions of the couples as well. Fans want to believe in every conceivable way that these characters are affectionate or in love with each other. And waiting till the end of the series for a subpar moment often fails to live up to their expectations.
4. What type of romance would fans want to see in the future?
Kpopmap
The romance of a story, specifically in this genre, serves as an interesting factor for many viewers. While in its overview every romance is seen as appealing, there are also some fans who prefer a particular romance type to others. In this category, fans inputted their favorite types of romances they want to see the most in BL dramas, some of which have already been done in many BLs and others which haven't yet. Here are some of the key types mentioned.
1. Keywords - "Healing", "Supportive", and "Comforting" Romance
TVING
In many non-BL dramas, "Healing" or "Comforting" romance is a plot often used by producers much to the appreciation of global fans. Portraying the healing power of love, this form of romance in various ways, project the lovers as a source of comfort, safety, strength, and reassurance to each other. Here are some of the comments shared by respondents on this type of romance and its applications in dramas.
Supportive romance: where each one of them has earned, through actions and words, the trust of the other and knows they will support them, because they know and value each other. Discovery romance: where they are struggling to understand their own emotions because the feeling of love towards another man had always been portrayed as incorrect, but is it really incorrect if it makes me feel so happy? Comedy romance: there's NOT ENOUGH good comedy romance in K-BLs, where the characters' personalities complement each other so well in a clever and funny way. They are adorable together but they have their sensible side as well. Healing romance, yes: but not one where one of them becomes the "cure" of the other, but one where the other actually tries to learn and understand the other's problem first, and then find a way together to heal in a patient process. ("Blueming" did such a good job with this one, by the way).
A healing romance, where the characters understand and respect each other and what they’ve gone through and decide to be there for each other in support no matter what. Also where they take care of each other in every way possible ("Unintentional Love Story" did this amazingly), in small or big ways, just Love in all of its letters. And they can be silly too!! Doesn’t have to be one or the other, they can have banter and playfully argue and be cute and love each other very deeply at the same time.
This is very much personal taste but I love the type of romance where the characters can visibly grow, this is why I love a good enemies to lovers or "not caring about each other" and then something happens and now they care. I do prefer healing romances but that goes for everything. Life is already too complicated and I personally don't waste my time on toxic couples on screen or very tragic endings. That being said, I enjoy Romantic suspense, Fantasy romance, Gothic romance, Rom-com (well done and not cheesy), and so on.
Supportive romances, green flags, ones built on friendship and the development of their family.
2. Keywords - "Cute", "Soft", "Fluffy", and "Rom-com" romance
KOKTV
While many enjoy the depth and layers portrayed in the romance story of a drama, some viewers simply prefer the lighthearted romantic stories as well. Predominantly filled with fun, adorable, and silly moments, this kind of romance is a feel-good type and is very easy to watch as well. In simple sentences, here are some of the comments shared by respondents.
A cute romance where one is in love and thinks the other doesn't have feelings for him while he does.
We've seen mature characters in most Korean BLs so a cute-cute couple just vibing through the day as a couple would be great.
Healing romance, cute and fluffy, no love triangle/ woman that tries to get with one of the main love interests or sad/emotional.
Comedic Romance - I feel that Korean BLs have been dramatic and heart-wrenching, but some lighter, funny, cute ones would be a good addition to the great current themes they work on.
A cute romantic story, just gays falling in love
A cute happy romance, to give strength to gay people around the world.
3. Keywords - "Mature" and "Adult" Romance
TVING
In the global BL sphere, "Mature" and "Adult" romances are steadily gaining more popularity amongst fans. While the genre is mainly dominated by stories revolving around youths or teen with the cute and fluffy kind of romance, the mature and adult romance types are also deemed as "even more interesting" as it often projects hints of realism in the relationship dynamics between two adults. Here are some of the comments from respondents on this type of romance.
Romance with good communication, healing, a slice of life, mature relationships (working characters in their late 20s and above)
A more mature romance where characters consider every consequence of their actions and also not letting go of their loved ones.
I would like to see a romance that involves people older than what is normal in the BL industry, more mature people, with more life stories.
I would love something similar to "The Director Who Buys Me Dinner" (something like "be a couple or something will happen"), but I'd love to see more mature couples(over 30 years old??). Some cliches, domesticity, bed-sharing kinda thing, accidental marriage, or fake dating.
Not particular about this but I would love to see more mature characters/stories. We usually get stories with characters in their teens, 20s, or early 30s but it would be nice to see a romance between older characters (or between an older/younger one).
Some other notable keywords include - "Action Romance", "Mafia Romance", "Supernatural / Fantasy Romance", "Enemies to Lovers", "Happy Endings", "Military Romance", "Obsessive Romance", etc.
While romance in general is always a welcomed feature in a genre, having themed romance makes the series more interesting and entertaining to its audience.
5. Advice, Inputs, and Opinions!
Heavenly
In this segment, we asked our respondents to share some of the things they would love to see Korean production companies do in the genre. As more and more companies are staking their claim in the genre and seeing its possibilities, fans of the genre are vital stakeholders who continue to contribute to its success. Hence, there is a vivid need to understand their feedback and put it into action. From opinions on "Length" to "Availability of dramas on global streaming platforms like YouTube", "Non-homophobic staff", "English subtitles", "Behind-the-scenes contents", "Better promotions and marketing", "Better castings", etc, the respondents shared in detail, their opinions as well as their gratitude to K-BL production companies.
Here are some of the comments shared by respondents.
Please add English subtitles for behind the scene content or any content in general.
Be visual. Be less afraid to be daring with your choices. Cast actors with good natural skills who aren't afraid of being in a gay romance. Tell good stories. Don't cater to a certain dynamic or stereotype. I like fun bickering and light romances but I also crave deeply nuanced stories full of hurt, love, need, and emotion. If you produce short episodes and dramas, focus your plot more to fit into the time frame. But also release stories that don't cater to a time limit as well. Offer as many 16 to 20-episode dramas as you do eight fifteen-minute episodes. You'll have an audience for all of them. Just tell good stories with strong acting and things will fall into place. And be real about intimacy. If you don't want kisses or love scenes in your dramas, don't put them into it, but also don't put them in and then give viewers awkward kisses or love scenes. Connection matters. Two people who love each other are going to kiss and touch and want and need. So, if you put a kiss or love scene in, be artistic and deal with it. Cast actors who are okay playing gay characters. The only thing different about a gay love story is that your characters are the same sex. Think of your stories like a typical heterosexual K-Drama, only your leads are two males/two females/etc. Gay love stories are no different than any others. You don't just have a straight viewership looking for cutesy cute boys looking at each other. You also have a queer viewership who wants a good queer K-Drama. We watch BL/GL because we want to see ourselves represented but we want the K-Drama experience in them. The only difference is that your main leads happen to be same-sex. Produce a story that touches the heart, makes people think and feel, hurt and cry, laugh and love. Produce them as if they were K-Dramas being aired on big networks or Netflix. You don't have to have a big budget to tell good stories. Your effort, even on a lower budget scale, with shine through as long as you give that effort. Hire writers who want to tell these stories. Hire directors who are passionate about telling these stories. Offer low-angst romantic comedies but also offer emotional, high-angst ones. And nuanced stories. You have viewers who love Semantic Error and Our Dating Sim and viewers who crave more "To My Star 2: Our Untold Stories", and The Eighth Sense". I'd be up for K-Drama stories like "Beyond Evil", "Goblin", and "Coffee Prince" type plots where he actually falls in love with a guy he hires, or any K-Drama revenge plot, melodrama, comedy, etc. but with leads who happen to be gay. Go for it. Be daring. Have fun. Be passionate. Write and act your hearts out. Don't box yourself in.
I know Korea is a mostly homogeneous country, and really what I’m about to say is a criticism of the Asian entertainment industry in general, but just a bit of diversity would be nice. I’m not saying you have to find a Black, South Asian, or any non-East Asian person to lead (though admittedly that would instantly grab your headlines and the story writes itself, despite the inevitable backlash). But we all know not every Korean has fair skin, a thin nose, sharp cheekbones, and six-pack abs. When people without these features do pop up in K-Drama, they are never the romantic interest, they’re either a good friend if they’re lucky, a villain (most likely option), or just a side character thrown in for comic relief. Queer culture has always been at the forefront of making sure there is a representation of disenfranchised and overlooked people and proving that all of our stories are worth being told and all of us are worthy of love. [...] America’s entertainment industry has been embracing this idea a lot more in the past decade or so because internet culture has connected us all and made it obvious that not only do most people want to see themselves in the characters they are rooting for, but wanna learn about cultures other than their own and see how much we have in common. It’s not necessary, but admittedly much easier to empathize when there’s some obvious similarity between you and that character you are supposed to be rooting for. So would naturally expand your audience if you expand the type of people that are represented through your leads. And diversity can mean a lot of things; maybe have a lead with a whole lot of tattoos and piercings, or one with tan skin and curly hair, or one who is overweight, or one who is blind or deaf, or yeah even one who is mixed or of a completely different ethnicity. As I said none of these are necessary but if you want to be trailblazers in the entertainment industry and help rid Korea of its infamous reputation of toxic beauty standards, maybe even help to make a tiny bit of positive change in global culture, then recognize and embrace that you are already outliers from the standard K-Drama industry, take the risks that the more mainstream heteronormative companies can’t, and give roles to those Koreans the rest of the world never get to see as the heroes of your stories.
Please consider casting more carefully; if the actors aren't comfortable with M2M affection, it really shows. Whilst other countries have more interesting and varied storylines and actors appear comfortable with each other, Korea has a better quality (more natural) acting style, but when it comes to BL, there appears to be a breakdown in interaction. Directors can see this but somehow this discomfort remains and it shows on screen. Script quality is sometimes lacking, too, with clunky dialogue at times (though this may be a translation issue). Although there have been some interesting narratives in the last year (reincarnation, time travel, publishing scandals), some BLs lack freshness and excitement. Despite here having one or two novel/manhwa adaptations, somehow the dramas didn't live up to expectations, and not because NC scenes were missing. "Semantic Error" was an excellent adaptation of a novel, so it can be done. Overall, editing and production values are generally higher in Korea and Japan for BL than in any other country, and Korea leads the way in acting, but what is being produced oftentimes feels a bit bland because of acting, direction, and - dare I say it? - a lack of passion for the projects. Camerawork, editing, and continuation remain issues in K-BL productions, too. It is sad that the current K-BL attracting a lot of fans and attention is an independent production, "The Eight Sense", and prior to that was "Choco Milk Shake" which again was an independent, low-budget production. It would be good to see all production companies put as much passion into their BL as they do hetero, it doesn't necessarily mean more money, just enthusiasm, as much enthusiasm as the fans have for the genre.
As a fan who is a part of the community concerned by this drama genre, I think production companies also should invest in marketing the drama in any way possible. Releasing making or behind videos, photo essays, and a few pieces of merchandise that is relevant or significant to the drama series could be great ways. But also, they must also take note that these dramas they do must also be simple enough to give focus on the issues that the people of the LGBTQ+ community face in the context of the drama. It must not make the community look strange, as the people in it are just simple humans. It must be wholesome as much as possible (but also not too scared to try, esp. in kiss scenes) because the BL industry is already filled with dramas that fetishize the relationships between two people of the same sex (where relationships between two males aren't just sex, it is also about dealing with other issues). Some dramas already have proved that intimacy can also be expressed without too much skinship and a good hug or kiss scene can already do well. Also, production companies must also consider working with the actors multiple times, because there are these pairs that actually have great chemistry and it is such a waste that they only had either a supporting role or the drama they acted in has a very short runtime. Lastly, fan culture is rising in the K-BL industry, so it is very much appreciated if the companies are willing to listen and consider suggestions, release fandom names, and make ways for the actors and fans to interact with each other, through events like live commentaries, cafe or photo strip events and fan meetings! p.s. Thanks for giving us this opportunity to share our insights!
Please make sure that your shows are available with English subtitles to a large variety of countries. Sometimes international fans cannot watch shows due to unavailability in our country and not due to lack of interest. And if you can, please see if you can improve what I mentioned in the improvement section (I will quote it under this paragraph), since it is what has bothered me with the approximately 40 K-BLs I have watched so far, and it is where you fall behind compared to Thailand and Taiwan. “You can mainly improve the proper care and development of a story. So that you reach your potential. And realistic signs of affection depend on age, meaning adults shouldn’t kiss like 15-year-olds, there should be a depth of maturity and skill on display because I don’t buy the 30-something virgin kiss from someone who’s had, several girlfriends or boyfriends. It does not have to show s*x scenes but it should show passion in the kissing, the eye contact and the small subtle touches adult couples do.” Before ending this survey, I would like to say thank you for making heartwarming and sweet stories, I very much enjoy watching K-BLs and look forward to seeing the genre progress over the next few years.
Please run pre-filming workshops to allow actors to get comfortable with each other before filming starts. This can improve actor chemistry and rapport significantly, not to mention actor comfort. As part of the workshops, please teach actors to kiss! It's a skill that can be developed, and some actors may not have had much of a chance to do so. Some directors could also benefit from being taught what good kissing and physical intimacy look like. It's also important to remember that physical intimacy isn't a substitute for emotional intimacy. Physical intimacy has to build on top of emotional intimacy, to be fulfilling. Sex scenes may get people's attention, but emotional intimacy between leads is what really gets people invested in their relationship, and makes a series really popular. Characters allowing themselves to be vulnerable with each other is the foundation of emotional intimacy. People really have to trust each other to be willing to open up like that. Characters earning each other's trust so that can happen makes for incredible drama. And sex scenes that build on top of emotional intimacy are always the hottest.
I love K-BL, it's my favorite country to watch. I think KBL would do well to be inspired by some Japanese BL (such as "Old Fashion Cupcake") and treat their shows more like regular shows with BL elements than specifically BL shows - the plot, writing, and directing have to be solid before anything else, otherwise it will not work. A beautiful house built on sand will quickly collapse. Also, I'd love to see a martial/fantasy/gangster/cop show with genuine action - Yim SiWan's "The Merciless" would have made an incredible BL. "Long Time No See" was fantastic for its portrayal of two men where neither were lovely golden boys but criminals aspiring to be better. I'd also kill for a Sageuk (that wasn't depressing). We sort of had one with "Paint with Love", but there is serious potential there. Especially with China's attitude to LGBT right now, Korea essentially has a monopoly on good historical dramas that can be BL, it would be amazing to see the opportunity taken.
I think K-BLs have so much promise and we've got quite a few gems in the past 3 years! However, most shows still suffer from having a fully developed story or characters due to the very short run times of the shows. Additionally, some shows still cast actors with no chemistry or had characters with completely illogical actions which is frustrating. K-BLs though have very strong points already, especially in cinematography, acting skills, chemistry, sound and post-production, and editing. If the stories can continue to develop via longer episodes (or keeping things more simple for a shorter series), and combine that with more realistic chemistry (No fish kisses), then I think K-BLs have all the right ingredients to truly cement their place in the market by appealing to Korean and International Fans. Thank you for all the work so far, especially given this is such a new industry (really since 2020), and there's so much to look forward to!
First of all, thank you for producing K-BL because it really gives me the peace I want every time I want to relieve myself from the stress of school and in our house. Just want to ask something. Why not put or upload your content on YouTube? Like every episode you can upload it on youtube rather than uploading it on some other platform. I'm not really a fan of Thai-BL but I just notice most of their BL drama is uploaded on YouTube and it is very accessible to most of the viewers. I mean it also avoids illegally watching it on another platform that isn't affiliated with the production team because viewers can easily find it on YouTube rather than watching it on third-party sites, which some of the viewers do, especially in that region where the show isn't available. I hope I will see a lot of K-BL Drama, on YouTube soon, which is uploaded on a YouTube channel that is managed by the production company of that certain K-BL.
We really appreciate the effort you are making into producing BL stories even though the topic is a sensitive one in Korea. I encourage you to go beyond the stereotypical and be the ones that generate a change in the narrative of BL stories just as Thailand slowly did. LGBTQ characters can be mature, can have solid backgrounds, and can have internalized conflicts and traumas, but please, let's try to portray healthy relationships and coping mechanisms for the community. I'm not saying every story has to be super deep, of course, we can also enjoy a fun and cute story, but let's just make sure we have a proper story and don't overdo the negative and toxic clichés that only add angst and lessen the value of the story. Thank you again for doing this and taking into consideration fans' opinions, hopefully, we will see great K-BL stories in the near future, fighting!
I would be really pleased to see more real experiences of queer people. Like, our struggles and confrontations, and how it's still possible to fall in love, even when society puts you in a dark and scary place. That being said, I would love to see everyday characters who can channel the essence of what it means to be an LGBTQ person, but in a lighthearted way! Because we're all simply trying to be happy after all. 🙂 Also, there's one thing that always bugs me about K-BLs, which is how the conclusion of the series events normally means the end of the series. Like, literally the last scene on the last episode. And that sucks because everyone also wants to see the characters all lovey-dovey to each other after solving their problems and we usually don't get that. ;-;
Please don't just cast handsome actors, cast some good ones with good acting, please. Of course, chemistry is important as well!!! No more cliche scenes. Give us good and real kisses!! We can tell if the actors are uncomfortable kissing the same sex. And it's frustrating and unbearable to watch. Give us more!! Good acting, chemistry, an hour length of an episode, cinematography, well-written storyline, great plot, character depth, and development. no rush ending but give us some slow-burn romance with a little angst and a happy ending. anyway, thank you for your hard work in making the BL series. You guys make me happy!!! And I hope you don't have homophobic staff. Love is gender-free!! I hope y'all can always eat delicious foods and have a good sleep. Stay healthy and safe!!
Please pay attention and listen to the international fans, (especially South East Asia fans) because the market is big globally and we help promote and hype the show on social media through tweets and edits every day. IF WE ASK FOR SEASON 2, GIVE US SEASON 2. Make sure it's available in legal OTT for international fans and provide ENG SUBS in every promo video e.g. trailer, behind-the-scenes, announcements in media social. Share as many pics and videos as possible e.g. bts, bloopers, deleted scenes, commentary video WITH ENGSUB (HIRE SOME TRANSLATORS PLEASE) If there'll be fan meetings or merch events, please include the global fans too. DO NOT GATEKEEP THE CONTENTS AND MERCHS FROM INTERNATIONAL FANS. Thank you very much.
I like this form and the idea of getting feedback. Essentially everything I have said before to improve the series stands here. Skinship needs work and so does runtime, but I will say the sound department is not bad (it sounds like shotgun mics are used in a lot of K-BLs as opposed to something like a lav mic). I’ll express that my other favorite K-BLs aside from light on me (as I’d listed earlier) are: "To My Star", "To My Star 2: Our Untold Stories", "Semantic Error", "Mr. Heart", "Blueming", "Choco Milk Shake", "Our Dating Sim", and "Long Time No See". Several of these come from the director Hwang DaSeul, which is not a coincidence. Two of them are from strong berry as well, and I really like their short films, they shouldn’t go unnoticed.
Provide English subs for every content or social media post they put out. Even if they can't provide it immediately we are willing to wait! Do live commentary and let the actors talk about what goes behind the scenes for each episode/memorable scene. Do check out fans' comments or suggestions. Don't strike copyrights for posting SUBBED videos (when they can't provide subs for us some fans actually did it out of their goodwill) or TRANSLATED articles/pics. Big accounts are actually helping them to promote and reach out to more audiences!?! Release every possible behind-the-scenes or cut scene. Make ordering, payment, and shipping friendly and accessible to worldwide if they release merchandise.
We came a long way with Korean BLs, we now got more options than I ever dreamed of and I really appreciate that, so first I wanna say thank you. It's really cool that you guys are asking our opinions! If I may ask for one thing that would be, please, enough bad kisses. Those 10 different takes with them just pressing their lips together is really, really bad. Sometimes the story is good, the chemistry is good but the kisses are bad and that makes a story bad. We definitely don't need a story full of +18 things, but 1 kiss for the whole series is kinda boring too. In conclusion, we only need kisses if it's going to be a good one. Hugs, pecks, and other things are a better option.
Stop hiring actors/idols who cannot act in a BL series. I rather not have handsome faces rather than have shallow acting and plot, and the actors who are awkward with each other as if acting in BL is a shame!! Good plot, good acting, good chemistry, that's the most important. 2023 K-BL is really thriving with lots of good series, if only the episode and run time could be like any normal drama that would be awesome. Short run time often makes the story rushed, it will ruin the flow, and end up with a bad final episode. If the series was adapted from Manhwa/webtoon, it's IMPORTANT to make the run time longer to cover the plot and not rush it.
1) Continue to use webtoons as a resource, but also consider original works as well. Even story adaptations from other Asian countries are okay too. 2) Please explore more dark themes, by all means, keep the sweet/happy stories going, but provide some balance. South Korea does very well with other dramas with dark subject matter. 3) Crossover actors for series from other countries like Thailand are a plus, keep that up if possible. 4) Can include stories with people with disabilities. Sign by Ker is a good starter. 5) For settings, Seoul is always nice, but other big/small cities could get some shine, which also could help tourism ;).
Be bolder and try new things, genres, etc. That's where success is. Even if you fail people will remember and give it a chance again for trying something new. Also, a large portion of the fanbase are women and queer people. Creating strong 3D characters that resonate with these two should be enough. Finally, also no need to write a female character and replace it with a feminine man. Feminine men can be written with many characters. [...]
Why don't you seek another type of story? Like, actually be creative with what you have, do more than just cute scenes and pretty faces, and go into horror, action, adventure, and fiction! By the way, I love almost all the BL series y'all have been putting out, but please do not choose actors JUST because they're handsome and have some followers, there are some series that I really need to wait some time to continue because the acting of the actors are so poorly done that make me feel cringe and bothered.
With how popular Korean BL dramas are internationally, simply having English subtitles on YouTube videos makes a huge difference, and having the drama on a platform that international viewers can access is what can make a drama extremely successful. Fans on social media like Twitter and TikTok are the biggest promoters of BL dramas but they are often fighting copyright issues with the companies, which negatively affects the drama instead of helping it when a clip goes viral.
I believe K-BLs can surpass Japanese, Thai, etc. other Asian productions once given more attention, funding, and distribution (resources). Casting in terms of visual and acting chemistry is also very important. For example, it can make even a simple campus story ("Semantic Error") so appealing and popular just because of the amazing casting/chemistry and character dynamics + attention to detail. Rooting for all of the K-BL production companies!
What I've noticed in the past 2 years, K-BL Production lacking in promotions of their shows. See how Watcha Korea promotes "Semantic Error" with their every week live commentary. And I noticed it only relies on noise promotion, especially from international fans yet production's copyright takedowns occur. Will the production company do the same as Thailand setting guidelines for noise promotion on social media?
Please release a lot more behind-the-scenes and interviews with the cast because even if I like a certain drama I can't find more content with the actors in it. K-BLs are already very short (something which needs to be taken into consideration) and the lack of extra content makes me get over the dramas and the actors very quickly, which doesn't really benefit the actors who have acted in the series.
Why do you choose to produce a BL? Is it just for the economic potential of it? or is it because you want to actually pay respect and represent a community, so often looked down upon and badly or poorly represented in South Korea? I think it would mean A LOT if you could hire or cast LGBTQIA+ people (if they feel comfortable to be out) to improve the appeal of BL and LGBTQIA+ stories/series.
I've been longing to see more mature-themed BLs in general for a while now. I particularly enjoyed watching Thai series like "Manner of Death" or "KinnPorsche" because they managed to keep the romance interesting while also introducing elements of storytelling outside of the typical romance shenanigans. A mixture of two genres in that regard would make the stories even more interesting.
We're really appreciative of all the queer content that is being made in South Korea and in other countries as well. Korean dramas have a sort of expectation attached to them. And we are really happy to see so many amazing BLs coming out. We will always support good content and would also love to see more diverse and unique stories/characters in K-BLs. Thank you!
I understand it’s been challenging to produce BLs with longer run-time, but I sincerely hope one day we can achieve that! And even though Korea is relatively new to the Boy's Love world, many amazing projects have already come out of it. I wish we, as fans, creators, and production companies, can continue to make K-BLs successful and well-perceived. Please give us a lot of great stories in the future as well!
There are a lot of thoughts and opinions shared by respondents in this segment and while we were not able to capture every single comment shared by respondents in this article, we believe these vividly share the ideas and opinions of the majority of respondents, who all hope to see visible improvement in the genre.
We would like to once again thank global fans who participated in this survey. If you have more thoughts and opinions to share, please do so in the comments section.
