Kim Sam-soon Syndrome

Published on 2005/12/25 | Source

This summer was heated up by the "Kim Sam-soon syndrome,'' sparked by the popularity of the MBC television drama "My Lovely Sam-soon" - "My Name is Kim Sam-soon". Its main character Sam-soon, played by actress Kim Sun-a, was a 30-year-old single woman who had no university education, was slightly overweight and came from a fatherless family _ all regarded as negative traits in Korea. But she was always confident and outspoken, and for that, was touted by her fans as helping break down stereotypes about women. 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. It also gave rise to multiethnic actor-model Daniel Henney, who starred in the drama as a kindhearted Korean-American doctor.