It wasnt until 2015 that Chang fully embraced her Korean cultureagain with the help of a K-drama.
She found that watching Korean shows was cathartic, validating, and just made her feel good.
Below, read Changs story as told to SELFs associate health director Melissa Matthews.
Watching Korean dramas can be one way to process emotions, according to a licensed therapist.
I was born in Seoul, South Korea, but moved to the U.S. as a baby.
Growing up I really didnt like being Korean because I felt like I didnt belong.
As a kid I didnt want to stand out.
I just felt very othered.
I often questioned where I belonged.
I also felt like my parents didnt quite understand U.S. culture.
Why cant we just have spaghetti?
I used to detest the smell of kimchi, a traditional Korean side dish thats quite popular nowadays.
All of this made me feel ashamed for so long.
That year, a K-drama calledJealousywas a huge hit.
But that show made it look cool to be Korean.
Over the years I continued to watch K-dramas on and off.
I had just finished my masters degree and was starting my career as a licensed therapist.
Seeing the talented Korean women in these shows made me think, Wow, Koreans can be beautiful.
Thats when I truly started embracing my culture.
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I soon became enthralled by the effect K-dramas had on my mental health.
K-dramas tackle those topics in a way that Im actually floored by.
In just 15 minutes of watching one, I can go from crying to laughing to being completely frustrated.
And the tears always feel so therapeutic.
I could see my experiences reflected in K-dramas and I finally felt seen, heard, and validated.
And what Ive learned from watching has significantly impacted my life.
Many K-Dramas are family-focused, which has helped me have better conversations with my loved ones.
Im more patient whennavigating difficult conversationswith my parents.
I am also better able to empathize with my kids.
Now a big part of my work revolves around helping people reconcile conflicting feelings about their cultural identities.
They too feel validated from watching stories that feel familiar to their own.
