What are the common themes in Korean Joseon fantasy stories?

One well - known Korean Joseon fantasy story is 'Arang and the Magistrate'. It tells the story of a magistrate who tries to solve the mystery behind a female ghost named Arang. It combines elements of mystery, the supernatural, and the historical Joseon era.

Well, secrecy is a common factor. Since there were strict social norms in the Joseon dynasty, many love affairs had to be carried out secretly. For example, if a courtier fell in love with someone not of his approved social circle, they would have to keep it under wraps. Additionally, the concept of duty played a role. People had duties to their families and the state, and love often had to be balanced with these duties. And of course, cultural traditions like arranged marriages were common, which often clashed with the idea of romantic love.

Love and loss are common. Just like in many stories where lovers are separated by circumstances such as war, family objections or death. For example, a story where a man loses his love in a tragic accident and spends the rest of his life in mourning.

Family unity is a common theme. Just like in Western Christmas stories, in Korean ones too, families come together during Christmas. They might celebrate in a unique Korean way, like making kimchi together as part of the Christmas meal.

One common theme is revenge. Often, a wronged spirit comes back to seek revenge on those who have wronged them in life. For example, a person who was unjustly killed might haunt their murderer or those who were involved in their death.

One common theme is revenge. Often, the ghosts in Korean stories are those who have been wronged in life and return to seek vengeance on those who have wronged them. For example, a woman who was mistreated by her in - laws might come back as a ghost to haunt them. Another theme is unrequited love. Ghosts may also be those who died with unfulfilled love, and they wander the earth still longing for their beloved.

One common theme is loyalty, like the loyalty of the Jindo dog in stories. Another is the connection between animals and nature. Animals in Korean stories often represent different aspects of nature.

Another theme might be family. Family approval or disapproval played a huge role in relationships. So, family values and expectations are likely to be a significant theme in a Joseon Love Story. It could be that the families' desires for their children's marriages were based on economic or political reasons, rather than love.

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.