Open letter to K-dramas: A world that refuses to let me settle for less!

Here’s to a genre of storytelling that redefined love, effort, and self-worth for an entire generation of women!

Dear K-dramas,

I didn’t expect you to change the way I see love. I didn’t expect you to raise my standards. I came to you for mere entertainment, but you impacted me in ways I did not expect. As a hopeless romantic, your stories made me feel seen and comforted through dialogues. It was as if you were saying that an old soul like me has something to relate to in an era of situationships and hookups. Somewhere between the slow-burn glances, umbrella scenes, quiet confessions and the men who actually communicate their feelings, you reminded me of something important - love is not supposed to be confusing, careless or conditional. You also showed me women who are ambitious, layered and strong. Women who have careers, dreams, boundaries, and depth. Women who cry, fail, rise, rebuild and still choose themselves. Women who are loved, not despite their strength but because of it!

And then you gave them partners who don’t do the bare minimum.Through your versatile stories you gave us men who show up, who apologize when they’re wrong, respect boundaries and remember the small things. These men fight for love without any ulterior motives. You normalized effort, intentional effort. You reminded us that romance isn’t grand gestures alone, it’s in fact consistency, emotional availability and choosing someone every day. It’s standing beside a woman, not above her.

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In a world where we’re often told to lower our expectations, you showed me something different: You screamed the fact that I deserve more. I deserve a man who waits in the rain, who stays when things get hard and listens. The one who doesn’t make me question where I stand. You made me long for a love that does not make me ask. To the world, it might seem like I’m setting unrealistic expectations, but is it really unrealistic to want more than the bare minimum? 

You reminded the entire world that butterflies are beautiful but peace is better. Beyond romance, you also showed us how your partner should also be your ultimate best friend, how you’re supposed to grow together and also confront trauma instead of running from it. You made vulnerability powerful and gave us a safe space to reflect on our own! And maybe that’s why we keep coming back. Not just for the love stories but for the reminder that we are worthy of a love that feels safe, intentional and whole.

So as a woman in her late twenties, envisioning the next chapter of her life, thank you for raising the bar. Thank you for reminding me not to settle. Thank you for making me fall in love with the idea of love again and oftentimes, even making me feel like the main character!

With a full heart and impossibly high standards,

Sincerely,
A woman who now knows her worth!

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