Popular TV Drama Helps Free Women From Stereotypes

Popular TV Drama Helps Free Women From Stereotypes
	By Park Chung-a Staff Reporter This summer has been heated up by the ``Kim Sam-soon syndrome'' sparked by this year's popular TV drama ``My Lovely Samsoon.'' The show surpassed 50 percent of the total viewer ratings in its final week, a feat achieved by only five other drama series since 2000. The main characters' lines have dominated online bulletin boards. Inquiries about pastry chef courses have doubled, and bread sales have risen. The heroine, Sam-soon, was a pasty chef. In bookstores, the original novel of the same title and the German children's novel, ``Momo,'' shown in the drama, have become bestsellers. The drama has also been a hot topic for politicians. Kim Moo-sung, secretary general of the largest opposition Grand National Party (GNP), said last week that he was a fan of the drama. ``Our GNP will strive to play the role of `Sam-soon' in political circles, sharing the pain of and offering hope to common people,'' he said in a meeting with GNP members last Thursday. At the center of the drama's success is the actress Kim Sun-a, who had been pursuing a career in romantic comedy movies before starring in the hit show. To play the main character, Kim gained 7 kilograms. ``After the fourth episode of the drama, people around me started to call me `Sam-soon' instead of using my real name. Seeing people becoming so involved in the drama, I got a little bit scared at the beginning,'' she said at a press conference commemorating the end of the drama at Seoul Plaza Hotel in Central Seoul on Friday. Unlike many other romantic comedy dramas that end up with marriage, the drama showed a realistic ending. Although Sam-soon and Jin-hon get back together and re-begin their mature romance, Sam-soon remains single and overweight with an uncertain future. ``It wouldn't be Sam-soon if she loses weight and becomes slender to look good to her boyfriend. Keeping herself, facing reality courageously and loving herself as she is, are what make Sam-soon such an attractive character,'' Kim said. She pointed to Sam-soon's outspokenness as a major reason for the character's popularity with women viewers. She said that although Sam-soon is 30 years old with no university education, single, overweight and has no father, whatever the situation is, she is always confident and outspoken. ``There was a scene in which Sam-soon had a meeting with a consultant in a matchmakers agency to look for a partner. As the consultant gave her negative prospects of finding a partner with her age and jobless status, she said, `Yes, I am jobless. But am I jobless because I wanted to be? Bring me all those people who killed Korea's economy!' '' Kim also pointed out that the heroine Sam-soon says things that ordinary people think but do not say. When in the matchmakers agency Sam-soon says ``With such beer-bellies and faces full of wrinkles, how dare they (men) only look for young girls? They should be ashamed of themselves.'' Now that the drama is over, Kim's priority is to have a good rest. ``Many people are wondering how fast I will lose weight. But at the moment, the most important thing for me is to regain my health before going on a diet. I am so exhausted physically now,'' she said. ``I can't believe that the drama ended. The most important message that Sam-soon gave me is to `love myself.' I am so glad that an ordinary woman like Sam-soon gave hope and encouragement to many people. While acting, I could see myself becoming Sam-soon.'' MBC's weekly documentary program ``MBC Special'' also recorded its highest viewer rating this year by giving an in-depth report on the ``Kim Sam-soon Syndrome'' on Sunday's program. According to the documentary, the Kim Sam-soon syndrome contributes to Korean women's opposition to an appearance-oriented society and helps free them from stereotypes about woman.

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