S1E14: Drink scenes in Korean dramas raise a ruckus: Letter From The Bureau

Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times' foreign editor Bhagyashree Garekar chats with ST’s correspondents in the Asia-Pacific, the US and Europe. They talk about life as it goes on, amid the screaming headlines and bubbling crises. In this episode, she chats with ST's South Korea correspondent Chang May Choon.  Drinks after work are part of daily Korean life but their growing presence in drama serials and variety shows, especially the less regulated streaming platforms, has been raising concern. Highlights (click/tap above): 01:45 Why does soju make star appearances in Korean dramas? 04:13 Alcohol-related crimes are rising 7:05 Do drinking scenes romanticise alcohol, prompt the viewer to drink? 08:37 Tolerance is dropping for use of drunkenness as defence in crime 12:53 South Korea’s new President Yoon has plans to curb drink-related crime Read Chang May Choon's article here: https://str.sg/waED Produced by: Bhagyashree Garekar ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Teo Tong Kai & Penelope Lee Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Letter From The Bureau Podcast every first Friday of the month on our Asian Insider Podcast channel here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/wQsB  Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Websites:  https://www.moneyfm893.sg/ http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Read Bhagyashree Garekar’s articles: https://str.sg/whNo Read Chang May Choon's articles: https://str.sg/waEz Read ST's Letters From The Bureau: https://str.sg/3xRd Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m SG Extra: https://str.sg/wukR #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.