From the Emmy Award-winning Squid Game to streaming sensations like The Glory and Crash Landing on You, Korean television has emerged onto the global pop culture scene as compelling television—but what exactly makes these shows so irresistibly bingeable? And what can we learn about our societies and ourselves from watching them?

From stand-up comedian and media studies PhD Grace Jung comes a rollicking deep dive into the cultural significance of Korean television. K-Drama School analyzes everything from common tropes like amnesia and slapping to conspicuous product placements of Subway sandwiches and coffee; to representations of disability, race and gender; to what Korea’s war-torn history says about South Korea’s media output and the stories being told on screen.

With chapters organized by “lessons,” each one inquiring into a different theme of Korean television, K-Drama School offers a groundbreaking exploration into this singular form of entertainment, from an author who writes with humor and heart about shows that spur tears and laughter, keeping us glued to the TV while making fans of us all.

Shows discussed include: Squid Game, SKY Castle, Crash Course in Romance, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, My Mister, Something in the Rain, One Spring Night, DP, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, Autumn in My Heart, Winter Sonata, Our Blues, and more.

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Grace Jung is an internationally touring stand-up comedian, writer, scholar, filmmaker, and actor who is in season 4 of The Joe Schmo Show on TBS. Grace is also a former Fulbright scholar with a PhD in Cinema and Media Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her academic articles are published in numerous peer-reviewed journals. She is the author of Deli Ideology published by Thought Catalog Books and a recipient of the Academy of American Poets Prize at Pace University. Grace lives in Los Angeles where she hosts her podcast K-Drama School. Follow her on Instagram @gracejungcomedy and @kdramaschool.

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(Itaewon) Class is In Session: RP’s Favorite Lessons from K-Drama School

A few of Running Press’ favorite lessons from Grace Jung’s K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television.

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(Itaewon) Class is In Session: RP’s Favorite Lessons from K-Drama School

Grace Jung

About the Author

Grace Jung is an internationally touring stand-up comedian, writer, scholar, filmmaker, and actor who is in season 4 of The Joe Schmo Show on TBS. Grace is also a former Fulbright scholar with a PhD in Cinema and Media Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her academic articles are published in numerous peer-reviewed journals. She is the author of Deli Ideology published by Thought Catalog Books and a recipient of the Academy of American Poets Prize at Pace University. Grace lives in Los Angeles where she hosts her podcast K-Drama School. Follow her on Instagram @gracejungcomedy and @kdramaschool.

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(Itaewon) Class is In Session: RP’s Favorite Lessons from K-Drama School

Grace Jung

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