Old Ties, Modern Dreams

K-culture in Tamil Nadu is a very serious pursuit for many

- Shahina K K

K-CULTURE in Tamil Nadu isn’t just a fleeting trend; it’s a serious pursuit for many, who have built careers around Korean language and culture. What makes Tamil Nadu even more unique is its ancient, often overlooked, connection to Korea.

For 34-year-old Dr Pavithra Tamizharashu, a single woman and diabetologist from Chennai, K-pop and K-dramas aren’t just entertainment—they’ve redefined her life and reshaped her family’s worldview. Her 62-year-old mother, who has also embraced K-dramas with gusto, now fully supports Pavithra’s love for Korean culture—even to the point of encouraging an international match for her unmarried daughter. “Recently, Amma told me she wouldn’t mind if I married a Korean guy. In fact, she advised me to marry and settle in Korea,” Pavithra says with a smile, recalling the surprising transformation in her mother. Once an ordinary homemaker from rural Tamil Nadu, her mother has fully immersed herself in the world of Korean culture, embracing it with unexpected passion.

Pavithra was introduced to K-dramas ten years ago during her final year of MBBS. “It was such a hard time; we had to work as resident doctors, posted for duty day and night. The short intervals we got weren’t enough to chill out with friends. Watching a series or a movie was the only escape to the world outside,” recalls Pavithra.

She initially enjoyed Japanese anime but soon shifted her focus to Korean dramas. Boys Over Flowers was her first favourite series and she recalls the name without hesitation.

“Most girls my age, especially those pursuing professional courses like medicine, were fascinated by K-dramas. It wasn’t just entertainment but also a huge stress relief—the emotions, the relationships, the way men treated women—everything felt so different in K-dramas,” she explains.