In this episode, we talk about how K-dramas became a highly profitable export long before the entry of streaming platforms in the mid 2010s. This is a story of a nation's economic crisis, the creation of a unique opportunity, and a two decade long struggle for air wave supremacy in East Asia. Leave us your thoughts in a voice note here: LINKS MENTIONED:CedarBough Saeji's twitter thread on why South Korean academics rarely contribute to international journals.Korean Dramas Adopt Pre-Produced Format to Mixed Results (article)The Reason SBS Missed Out on "Descendants of the Sun" and "Signal" (article)Romantic blockbusters: the co-commissioning of Korean network-developed K-dramas as ‘Netflix originals’ (Journal piece)TIMESTAMP:04:41 - How Kdramas came into existence11:18 - How dramas used to be made21:54 - Start of the digital age and low budget webseries27:40 - Dramas begin to get expensive31:32 - Watershed: Descendants of the Sun34:40 - China bans Korean entertainment over THAAD36:51 - Economics of terrestrial vs cable channels47:12 - Netflix knocks (cliffhanger)LEAVE US A REVIEW:Apple podcasts | Spotify | Audible!MORE EPISODES YOU'LL LIKE:Episode 170: A Long Yak on Doctor Slump, Marry My Husband, and Like Flowers In SandNEWSLETTER:Join our email list for the monthly newsletter with podcast announcements and special episodes!PATRONS:SPECIAL THANK YOU to our beloved patrons for another year of helping us light the lanterns to sail our ship! Join it here! ❤︎ You can MAJORLY support us by leaving a review on your podcast app, or sharing the episode with friends! ❤︎SOCIAL:Follow us on Twitter @dramasoverflow and Instagram @dramasoverflowers_.Email us at dramasoverflowers@gmail.com.CREDITS:This episode was produced and edited by Paroma...