You can¡¯t discuss a K-drama without talking about the soundtrack. The songs featured in a TV series not only boost the emotion in important scenes but also have staying power of their own. The songs serve as a bridge, introducing the drama to people who would not otherwise know about it. ¡°Descendants of the Sun¡± and ¡°Guardian: The Lonely and Great God¡± are sterling examples of dramas with soundtracks that have overperformed on music charts both in Korea and other countries.

However, the soundtracks discussed here play a somewhat different role compared to previous ones. Rather, these songs help reinforce the illusion that the characters in the drama are real people.

One example is the soundtrack released ¡°Mido and Falasol,¡± a fictional band from the TV series ¡°Hospital Playlist.¡± The band and its performances play a very significant role in the series. The band showed that the characters were not only graduates of the same medical school, but were also great friends. Viewers were fascinated to learn that the songs performed by the band on the show could also be found on music websites, attributed to a real band of the same name. Listening to those songs not only reminded viewers of the bonds of friendship between the characters, but also gave the impression that they are real people.

Another example is the soundtrack released by Eclipse, the band of the main character in the drama ¡°Lovely Runner.¡± Notably, ¡°Sudden Shower¡± and other songs released by Eclipse in the drama were also posted to actual websites. The soundtrack became so popular that some fans have even called for Eclipse to hold a live concert.

These soundtracks are especially notable when we recall that the artists who help produce drama soundtracks have nothing to do with the actual story. One would assume that future Korean dramas will keep using soundtracks to spin the illusion that characters and groups in the fictional world exist in real life.

Another factor that aids engagement with Korean dramas is filming locations. When multiple scenes of a drama are shot at a specific location, viewers come to feel that the characters in the story actually live there.

One drama that uses filming sites to augment the immersion factor is ¡°Twenty-Five Twenty-One,¡± which was hugely popular when it aired in 2022. After learning that some of the key locations in the lead couple¡¯s love story were scattered around the city of Jeonju, masses of tourists traveled to the filming spots so they could see with their own eyes places frequented by the characters. These location tours grew so popular that the city of Jeonju created a special travel package that takes people to all the filming locations. Many people who visited those spots reported feeling as if the characters in the drama were actually living somewhere in Jeonju.

Another good example is ¡°Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha,¡± which is about a woman who moves from the big city to a coastal town. A number of coastal spots―a marketplace, back alleys and a lighthouse―play an important role in the drama. And all those spots, as it happens, are actually located in the port of Pohang. The fish market and cozy old café give a glimpse of the lives of actual Pohang residents. An increasing number of visitors feel those true-to-life scenes transported them to the world of this seaside town. Perhaps that¡¯s why a poster in front of the marketplace points the way to main filming locations from ¡°Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.¡± The market¡¯s name was even changed to include a reference to the market¡¯s fictional name in the show.

When Korean dramas use actual locations as their settings, local governments often transform these filming sites into tourist attractions. This, in turn, enhances viewers¡¯ immersion in the show.

But uploading drama soundtracks to music websites and choosing actual cities as filming locations aren¡¯t the only way Korean dramas make inroads into the real world. A third way is through drama-related merchandise for die-hard fans, which notably includes albums of photos from production and dolls based on drama characters. But drama merchandise has recently been undergoing an evolution. The latest merchandise perfectly replicates items from the drama to bring the characters to life in a way photo albums and dolls could never do.

One piece of merchandise sold to promote ¡°Vincenzo,¡± a popular drama from a few years back, was a Zippo lighter. The lighter is a prized possession of the eponymous main character, who flicks the lighter as a sort of talisman at moments of great import. Considering how often the lighter appears in the show, viewers came to perceive it as symbol of Vincenzo, and the Zippo lighter was produced in recognition of that perception.

Merchandise from the drama ¡°My Dearest¡± offers a classic example of how tie-in products can promote viewers¡¯ absorption in a TV series. In this love story set in the Joseon Dynasty, the key objects that confirm the lovebirds¡¯ relationship were made as merchandise. The ring in the show that represents the couple¡¯s love inspired a wearable ring, and the silver knife that signifies the two characters¡¯ destiny was the basis for a decorative knife that serves as a letter opener.

Upon their release, both of these products became hot commodities. One advantage is that they not only replicated cherished possessions of the main characters, but also had practical value of their own. Whenever users use the items, they are reminded of the drama that inspired them. Another reason these products appeal to such a wide customer base is that they aren¡¯t noticeably recognizable as being show merchandise except to ardent fans of the show.

These are just two of many fascinating items of merchandise that have been produced of late. So if you¡¯re curious about what merchandise has been made for your current drama obsession, why not run an online search to see what¡¯s available? Acquire a tie-in item for yourself, and you¡¯ll soon see what it¡¯s like for a Korean drama to become an intimate part of your everyday life.