Female Korean-American Characters in TV Series

Asian-American Characters in TV series in the US are rarely showed. These days, some Asian-Americans have appeared as supporting characters in multiracial series or investigational series. Moreover, female characters are smaller in number than male characters. In some dramas, they have been shown as victims of sexual violence and family problems. In addition, among Asian nationality, especially eastern Asian nationality, Koreans or Korean Americans sometimes starred as another nationality such as Chinese and Japanese. I would like to introduce two TV shows which female Korean-American characters appeared.

Lost – Sun-Hwa Kwon (Yoon-Jin Kim)

Lost is a TV series that aired in ABC from 2004 to 2010 for 6 seasons. Lost was created as a multiracial drama, so many racial and ethnic groups appeared. Among them, Korean Actress Yoon-Jin Kim starred as Sun-Hwa Kwon, the daughter of a powerful Korean businessman and mobster. In her filmography, she has acted as a strong woman such as a spy and a warrior, but in Lost, she acted submissive to her husband. They were shown the subservient relationship even though they were a couple. Many researchers pointed out that the stereotypes of Asian women are represented as passive characters and submissive to thier spouses. Many people watch television shows in their routine livies, and they get used to familiar to the characters of television shows. Sometimes, the minority characters in television shows represent the racial stereotypes, and audience accetp the image of them as a reality. Of course, in late part of this show, she changed her attitude to her husband. However, I doubt the change influence to audience's perception about Korean women.

Grey's Anatomy – Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh)

Grey's Anatomy is a popular medical TV series that is still airing on ABC from 2005 and is in its 9th season. Sandra Oh is acting as Cristina Yang, a Korean-American doctor. She won a Golden Globe Award as this character. Her character represent one of stereotypes of Asian Americans, model minority. She is a doctor, and has a responsibility. Sometimes, she think her job and work more importantly than making a family. Even she is one of main character in this multiracial medical drama, her character also meet common misunderstanding. In one episode, her colleague asked her to translate Chinese when Chinese patients came to the hospital. She said she was Korean so she could not speak Chinese. This situation is a common misunderstanding in the United States. To Korean actors and actresses, introducing their nationality in the show is a basic step.

I love watching U.S. television shows than korean television shows because I can see various life-styles of multiracail groups. Various characters in shows represent their unique cultures and sometimes the way to live with other racial groups. I wish more many Korean characters appear in US television shows. It would be a exciting development for me and Korean American populations.