I don't know about other kdrama lovers but for me, I've always wished I could see a whole drama without having to read through subtitles. Mind you, I totally enjoy watching them with the subtitles, I love subtitles in movies generally. But with kdrama, I always want to connect to every scene so I find it hard to multitask when I see it.
For the simple fact that I can watch my favourite kdrama and listen to kpop and ost songs without trying to find out what they mean from subtitles or translators, I'll rush the opportunity to learn Hangul if I'm ever offered one. I've always wished to learn the language but I guess I'm still comfortable with just subtitles so I haven't yet.
I was on a Tiktok page yesterday and I came across a very relatable video of how a kdrama sounds when you're watching with subtitles and when you're not, it was so hilarious and also reminded me why I don't want to do anything else until I'm done with whatever kdrama I'm seeing or I'll pause it to continue after I'm done and free.
Surprisingly, I can guess almost 50% accuracy what they say on the kdrama I see but it's always better with the subtitles. I guess it's my years of seeing kdrama, I've gotten used to many of their words and pronunciation but I've never understood their alphabets so it will be a big boost if I learn the Hangul (Korean alphabet).
I see my country people online who have actually learned and are mastering the Hangul, using it to make video clips, chatting with real Korean friends and even being ambassadors at places they are needed with the skill, it's all admirable to me but I'm yet to find the motivation and right sources to learn it but I know I will, even if little.
Maybe there will be more reasons for learning Hangul when I finally get a hang of it but for now, it's simply to have a better experience with the Korean series that I spend most of my movie time with. Another reason I think now would be a kind of self confidence because I know how differently people will see me if I know Hangul.
I imagine myself watching Korean series with korean subtitles and I still understand everything just as it is displayed, I think the experience will be a lot better. Because I've always believed the actual words spoken in Korean is different and more clear than what's being subtitled to the non Koreans. If only I can understand the real words.
I know I'll have to be the one to give myself the opportunity to learn and understand Hangul, I don't have to wait for one. Maybe I'll research for good sources to learn with but until then, I still enjoy watching my kdrama with subtitles and never a fan of dubbed versions. I hear Hangul is not difficult to learn but until I start, I think it is lol.
Images are from Imdb.