If you enjoy Korean dramas, you’ve likely noticed how they address academic stress and parental pressure. Dramas like “SKY Castle” reveal the struggles students face in meeting high parental expectations. Although these shows often focus on South Korea’s competitive society, many families globally deal with similar issues of parental pressure, expectations, and academic stress.
Driven by societal expectations and hopes for their children’s futures, parents often push for academic excellence from a young age. Sometimes, they project their unfulfilled dreams onto their children, expecting them to achieve what they could not. This intense pressure can harm children’s mental health, causing anxiety, depression, and, in severe cases, self-harm or suicide.
This article explores how fiction can offer a unique and relevant perspective on academic stress and parental pressure. Discover how Korean dramas help you understand the balance between parental pressure, academic success, and mental health.
Research among Asian Americans found that K-dramas are a great way to teach people about mental health. These shows can help spread awareness about mental health problems to people worldwide, no matter their culture.
Because K-dramas are so engaging, they make it easier for viewers to understand complex health topics. They can be a big help in tackling different health issues and making significant changes for many people.
When exploring themes of academic stress and mental health in the dramas, viewers gain a valuable understanding of real-life academic stress and parental pressure. While some aspects may be exaggerated for dramatic effect, they still offer valuable perspectives on students’ and parents’ challenges navigating the education system.
Among the many dramas focusing on academic stress, two portray strong academic stress and parental pressure.
If you’re a fan of Korean dramas, “SKY Castle” might ring a bell. This drama captured international audiences’ attention in 2018 and was a massive hit in Korea, boasting an average nationwide rating of nearly 24%. Its title, derived from the acronym of three prestigious universities in Korea — Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University — sheds light on how it portrays the Korean education system.
This drama offers a glimpse into the lives of four accomplished women residing in the prestigious SKY Castle neighborhood, where achievements in medicine and law define success. Within this affluent community, families relentlessly push their children to excel academically, aiming for admission to the renowned “SKY” universities. However, this relentless pursuit often comes at the expense of the children’s well-being, highlighting the intense pressure they face.
The story follows these families as they do whatever it takes to ensure their children succeed academically. They hire tutors, play with grades, and sometimes even do things that aren’t entirely fair. Parents, teachers, and friends are pressured to do well in school.
One standout mom in SKY Castle is Han Seo Jin. She wants her daughter, Kang Ye Seo, to be the top student and will stop at nothing to get her into Seoul National University Medical School. Her determination shows how far parents will go to ensure their children do well in the competitive world of SKY Castle, often overlooking the impact on their children’s mental and emotional health.
Similar to “SKY Castle,” which delves into themes of academic stress and parental pressure, “The Green Mothers Club” focuses on the challenges elementary school mothers face. This drama follows the lives of five mothers as they strive for their children’s educational success.
Unlike “SKY Castle,” where the characters are depicted as high-class families, not every family in this drama is wealthy. Nevertheless, the show highlights the struggles of families to fit in a neighborhood abundant with private educational institutions, which they believe can contribute to their children’s academic achievements. The added financial burden of private schools often places additional stress on both parents and children, affecting their overall well-being.
Set against South Korea’s demanding education system, the show explores the pressures of parental expectations and academic stress. One character, Lee Eun Pyo, initially takes a hands-off approach to her son’s academics despite her impressive educational background. However, she becomes intensely focused on his education upon discovering his potential as a genius child.
Another character, Byeon Chun Hui, is a mother of two who dedicates all her time to the children’s education. Despite being admired as a high-class mom, she secretly struggles to meet society’s expectations without support from her husband. Her relentless focus on academic success leaves little room for her self-care and affects her children’s well-being.
This storyline highlights parents’ immense pressure to prioritize their children’s academic success, often at the expense of their well-being. As the series progresses, the competitive dynamics among the mothers intensify, reflecting broader societal pressures that contribute to parental anxieties and stress.
Read more: Beyond the Classroom: A Journey Into the Mind-Transforming Power of Learning
Viewers can apply insights from Korean dramas like “SKY Castle” and “The Green Mothers Club” to tackle academic stress by learning to set realistic expectations, improving communication between parents and children, and prioritizing self-care for parents and students.
Both dramas depict parents’ immense pressure on their children to meet high expectations. In “SKY Castle,” Han Seo Jin prioritizes her daughter’s academic success over their relationship and her daughter’s mental well-being, neglecting balance. Similarly, Lee Eun Pyo becomes consumed with pushing her son to excel after he is identified as a genius child, leading to unrealistic parental expectations.
Studies involving high school students have shown that the pressure to meet or exceed these expectations can result in academic anxiety and depression, as children feel the weight of parental pressure and the fear of academic failure.
Setting realistic expectations allows children to develop uniquely without compromising their well-being or lowering standards. This highlights the importance of parents recognizing their children’s strengths and limitations and fostering a supportive environment where children can thrive.
Open communication between parents and children is essential for maintaining a healthy relationship and addressing academic stress. In both dramas, characters face challenges when communication breaks down or parents prioritize academic success over their children’s feelings.
Real-life student challenges depicted in Korean dramas include the pressure to excel academically and the stress that accompanies fluctuations in academic performance.
For example, in the portrayal of Han Seo Jin and her daughter, Kang Ye Seo, you witness the family’s celebrations when the child excels academically. Conversely, if Kang Ye Seo’s grades decline, it becomes a source of stress for her. She may feel disheartened despite her efforts, especially if she perceives herself as falling short compared to her peers.
Therefore, effective parent-child communication serves as a channel for children to alleviate anxiety and stress, offering an opportunity to seek support and advice from their parents. This, in turn, boosts their confidence in navigating future challenges in school experiences and confronting academic hurdles, such as preparing for exams and tackling difficult assignments.
Both dramas depict the toll academic pressure takes on parents and children. From sleepless nights to constant anxiety, characters in these dramas experience the harmful effects of neglecting self-care.
You might find a mother like Byeon Chun Hui from “The Green Mothers Club.” To ensure her children excel academically, she dedicates all her time to activities related to their education. From ferrying them to school, waiting for them until late in the evening after hagwon, and preparing them for competitions, these routines consume her daily life. However, amid these responsibilities, she unwittingly neglects her self-care.
As children often mirror their parents’ behaviors, her children also experience similar struggles. Unlike their peers, their lives revolve solely around academics, leaving them with little time for leisure activities and socializing with others.
Studies have indicated that self-care practices, such as ensuring adequate sleep, seeking social support, and engaging in mindfulness techniques (e.g., reappraisal and mindful acceptance), are linked to decreased levels of academic stress in students. Integrating these self-care methods into daily routines can mitigate the pressures and difficulties associated with educational requirements, fostering a more harmonious and manageable academic journey.
Read more: Dr. Stuart Sidle: Stress Management — Managing Change During Difficult Times | Work in Progress #35
Korean dramas show what it’s like to deal with academic and parental pressure. They both mirror the reality of intense academic competition and the relentless drive for success, shedding light on the challenges students and parents face in navigating the demanding education system.
However, these dramas go beyond mere reflection. They provide a platform for initiating conversations and deepening understanding about academic stress and parental pressure. Through engaging narratives, they encourage viewers to reflect on societal norms and values, sparking meaningful discussions about balancing academic achievement and mental wellness.
Take a moment to reflect on the academic pressures you may have experienced or witnessed in your own life or community. Consider the toll these pressures can take on students’ mental health and overall well-being.
If you would like to see more resources on academic stress, check out the Parenting Science Labs. The lab uses the research of the Institute for Life Management Science to produce courses, certifications, podcasts, videos, and other tools. Visit the Parenting Science Labs today.
Photo by Freepik
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