XO, Kitty: What Constitutes as a K-Drama?

With the new year approaching, many people are looking for a new k-drama to watch! As it turns out, XO, Kitty is releasing a second season, and fans are excited. XO, Kitty is a TV show that follows Katherine Song Covey, or Kitty, through her junior year in the Korean boarding school, KISS. She claims to have wanted to go to KISS to feel more connected, but the real reason is evident; she wanted to be with Dae Heon Kim, her long distance boyfriend. However, when she arrives in South Korea from the United States, she struggles quite a bit due to the language barrier, but eventually makes her way to the school. The entire show revolves around Kitty and her relationships and how she settles in South Korea. Though it takes place in South Korea, should it be considered a K-drama?

The Collider defines K-dramas as usually centered around either a love story or the main character’s friendship with another. They also state they usually have many moments in which it seems time has stopped for the characters. These are generally of a romantic nature but can also be used to emphasize an important emotional moment within the show. K-dramas also usually have a Korean cast and display many cultural aspects of South Korea. 

Although XO, Kitty is centered around a love story, has time-stopping moments, and a Korean cast, it lacks the cultural aspect. In a way, the characters speaking Korean would be considered a cultural aspect, but other than that, XO, Kitty does not show much of the culture of South Korea.

Since the show is set in a school that blends both native and international students, XO, Kitty highlights a mix of cultures, with less emphasis on Korean culture and more focus on others. It is quite Westernized because in most K-dramas, the protagonists do not speak up for themselves. Western culture shows the protagonist to be more independent and assertive. An example of this character is Elle Woods from Legally Blonde. Elle Woods and Kitty are both very independent and have a very strong moral compass. In the U.S., society is very individualistic, but in Korean dramas, communities are portrayed as collective. As a protagonist, Kitty showcases the Western values of being assertive and independent. These personality traits make this show have more values and characteristics of American cinema.

XO, Kitty cannot be completely considered a pure K-Drama since it has many characteristics of American cinema. It is an example of a mix between a K-drama and an American drama. If you are looking for a TV show that has this mix, then XO, Kitty is the show for you.