The Korean Gaze: K-Dramas and Re-Orientalist Representations
The Korean Gaze: K-Dramas and Re-Orientalist Representations

Summary/Abstract: This article examines shifting modes of “looking” in contemporary Asian media by extending the theoretical discourse on the gaze beyond its Western-centered origins. As Korean dramas shape and perform popular imaginaries across Asia, they offer alternative narratives that contest Western hegemony while simultaneously introducing new hierarchies. Their polished aesthetics, storytelling, and staging of South Korea as an ideal contribute to their appeal; however, these same representational strategies may also reproduce unequal perceptions of other Asian cultures. Drawing from the concept of re-orientalism, this article interrogates whether a “Korean gaze” emerges, one that positions South Korea as the center of Asian modernity while framing neighboring nations as otherwise. As K-dramas also expose contrasting portrayals of South Korean and other Asian cultures and settings, this article offers insights about inter-Asian representation, cultural imperialism, and the construction of regional identities.

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