1920s and greatly influenced Korean melodrama. Plots commonly revolving around heterosexual love, class differences, social change, and triumphing protagonists were central in both Japanese and Korean melodramas. 1950s: Hollywood films entered the Korean Film industry when the U.S. occupied Korea after World War II. There was a Korean Cinema boom and melodramas became very popular. During this time melodramas focused either on modernization or the issue of "free love" 1960s: Melodramas reached the peak of their popularity and focused on social issues such as highlighting economic struggles and class differences that divided society. Student uprisings were frequent and more grassroots protests for political and economic justice were prevalent which influenced the narration of Korean melodramas. 1970s: Melodramas reached its low point for the film industry. Melodramas focused on the mood of the society in general, revolving around women who served alcohol or worked as prostitutes 1980s: After a relaxation of censorship, melodramas depicted contemporary issues such as Korea's rapid development and the effects this had on the poor. 1990s: Melodramas tended to focus on romantic comedies and action pictures. Also a new concept of melodrama began to form. In 1998, Christmas in August redefined Korean melodrama. Central features in Korean melodrama According to "Melodrama Revised," by Linda Williams, melodramas typically portrays five aspects. Melodrama begins, and wants to end, in a space of innocence Melodrama focuses on victim-heroes and the recognition of their virtue Melodrama appears modern by borrowing from realism, but realism serves the melodramatic passion and action Melodrama involves a dialectic of passion and action – a give and take of “too late” and “in the nick of time” Melodrama presents characters who embody primary psychic roles organized in Manichaean conflicts between good and evil References Contemporary Korean Cinema The Korea Society South Korean Golden Age, Melodrama Genrebending in Contemporary Korean Cinema External links Linda Williams Korean Film Korean Society Tiger Cinema Film genres Cinema of Korea