Their plot revolves around modern Korean society and therefore must reflect its values (kimchi, women desperate to get married) and anxieties (the best plastic surgeon, women desperate to get married).
The standard Korean fare goes like this: we have the male lead who must be from an upper class family. He will have impeccable hair created by two on-set hair stylists using two cans of hairspray and half a tub of Brycreem. He will initially resent the female lead and is engaged to/pursued by the second female lead who must also be from an upper class background. It's important that he graduated from the likes of Princeton and manages his father's company but is always at risk of being cut off if he disobeys his father and doesn't marry the rich second female lead.
The female lead: she will be of humble but honest background. She will be purer than glacier ice and more resilient than the peasants of North Korea. She hasn't had much opportunities until episode 1 when she bumps into the male lead and physically knocks him down and episode 8 when she is offered some managerial post in the rich kid's company because her kindness towards senior citizens and stray animals and her experience in preparing vats of kimchi in a cost-effective manner are distinguishing virtues for a corporate environment in Korea.
The second female lead: she will be from a upper class background because no one wants to watch television about poor people. She is well-educated but the one thing she fails to learn from her expensive education is that there many eligible young men on the planet who are very happy to help her exceed her seemingly limitless credit card limit and who can give her the time of her life instead of having to incessantly whine after the male lead who's prettier than her. She will become competitive towards the female lead and will vocalise her dissatisfaction by squealing in high-pitch tones and stomping her feet like a spoilt brat. She will not end up with the male lead despite her best laid plans. There is a 50% chance she will find love with another supporting male lead whom no one cares about. If she doesn't get married she will die.
The male lead's family: this comprises his industrial father, his stuck-up mother and an annoying or idiotic sister. His father is tough on him because he secretly resents his son for enjoying the fruits of his own labour, and for being younger and hotter than he will ever be. His mother dislikes the female lead because she was from a similar humble background but now she has made it and there is really only room for one kimchi queen in the household. His sister's either annoying or a retard.
The female lead's family: her parents are good people although sometimes one parent will have died or is a gambling addict. They will be against her relationship with the male lead because they deem themselves unworthy (way to instill confidence in your Asian child) and they think he's only after her looks (he's not. He's too engrossed in himself and anyway she looks like 36,000,000 other Korean actresses because they all graduated from the same plastic surgery clinic).
The extended family members: they are the unfortunate characters who failed to get plastic surgery and can only provide unrealistic comic relief.
The plot development: at this point I don't care anymore.
Sincerely,
Your Patron Saint for Good TV
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