Power and love. Usually, the president's position comes with a great deal of power. So, the drama often shows how this power affects the relationship. For example, they might face opposition from political rivals or the public because of their relationship.
Class differences. Even if the president is in love with an ordinary person, there will be a big class gap. This can lead to misunderstandings, insecurities, and challenges in the relationship. The drama might explore how they overcome these differences, such as the ordinary person learning to adapt to the high - society life around the president or the president trying to downplay the class divide.
One common theme is the struggle against social norms. In Korean society, which has certain traditional values, a secret love often goes against what is considered proper. For example, relationships between people of different social classes or statuses are sometimes frowned upon, so when characters fall in love secretly, they are fighting these norms.
Duty and love conflict is a common theme. In many of these dramas, the soldiers have to balance their military duties, which often involve danger and long - absences, with their love for the partner. For example, in 'Descendants of the Sun', the captain has to leave his love to go on dangerous missions.
One common theme is sacrifice. Often, one of the characters in the triangle will sacrifice their own feelings for the sake of the other two. For example, in some dramas, a character might step back from a relationship they desire because they think it will make the other two happy.
Unrequited love is a common theme. For example, in many dramas, one character may love another deeply, but due to various reasons like social status differences or family opposition, the love is not reciprocated. Another theme is separation. It could be because of death, like in some dramas where one of the lovers dies, leaving the other in great pain.
One common theme is family loyalty. In many Korean dramas, family members will go to great lengths to protect and support each other, no matter what. Another theme is the generation gap. There are often conflicts between the older and younger generations due to different values and ways of life. For example, in 'Reply 1988', the parents have traditional values while the kids are more influenced by modern trends.
One common theme is cultural exchange. In these love stories, the characters often introduce their own cultures to each other. For example, a Chinese character might share the beauty of Chinese cuisine like dumplings and Peking duck with a Korean partner, while the Korean character could introduce kimchi and bibimbap. Another theme is family. Sometimes, family expectations and traditions play a role in the relationship. For example, the Chinese family may have different views on the relationship compared to the Korean family, which creates some drama and conflict in the story.
Friendship is a big theme. Usually, the childhood love starts as a friendship. They are friends first and then slowly realize they have deeper feelings. This can be seen in many Korean dramas. Also, the theme of first love is prominent. Childhood love is often the first experience of love for the characters, and it's depicted as something very special and memorable. It has a kind of purity that is different from later relationships. Moreover, the passage of time is a theme. As the years go by, the characters may change, but their childhood love can still be there, buried deep inside, waiting to be rekindled.
One common theme is innocence. In Korean school love stories, the love is often pure and untainted by worldly concerns. For example, in 'A Werewolf Boy', the love between the girl and the boy is very simple and innocent. Another theme is the power of first love. It's often depicted as something very strong and unforgettable. In 'The Classic', the first love of the characters stays with them throughout their lives. Also, the theme of friendship often goes hand - in - hand with love. In many stories, the characters start as friends in school and then develop romantic feelings for each other.
Love against all odds is also a prevalent theme. Korean gay love stories usually show the characters facing various obstacles such as social prejudice, family expectations, yet still fighting for their love. This makes the stories both heart - wrenching and inspiring.
One common theme is the forbidden love. Since vampires are often seen as different and dangerous in these stories, their love for a human is usually something that society or their own kind might not accept. For example, in many Korean vampire love stories, the couple has to face opposition from other vampires or from human communities who fear vampires.