The battle of the sexes in Korean entertainment media: Husband vs. wife in TV drama

Abstract

This study analyzes marital verbal confrontations featured in four South Korean TV shows: (1) Kkolika kilmyen caphinta (‘You are bound to get caught’) (2) Komkwa yewu (‘The bear and the fox’) (3) Scandal and (4) Dolaon Miran-ssi (‘Ms Miran coming back’). These dramas, part of two popular “couples therapy” series based roughly on actual court cases, provide insights into common marital problems (e.g., extra marital affair and in-law issues) and present “realistic” argumentative discourses, albeit scripted, developing into a serious discussion about divorce. Following Lakoff and Tannen's (1984) and Dersley and Wootton's (2000) frameworks, this study examines strategies for advancing accusations and responding to accusations in domestic conflict. Korean couples in these shows use both vocal and non-vocal devices during conflict management. In advancing accusations, aggressive silence (a long pause with intense or violent visual signals), emotional response cries, vocatives, and self-blaming remarks are utilized. In responding to accusations, the TV characters make use of various strategies including passive silence (a long pause with acquiescent visual signals), vocatives, victim discourse, self-serving remarks, counterattacks, avoidance, and apologies.