Age and Authority on Screen: The Meaning Behind “Oppa”, “Noona”, and “Ahjumma” in K-Dramas
- lewishooper1
- 2 minutes ago
- 4 min read
We take a deep dive into the beloved, often hilarious moments to understand the meaning and cultural significance of these three essential Korean titles, often splattered all over K-dramas! Plus, we give you some juicy titles you don't want to miss!
"Oppa", "Noona", & "Ahjumma": The Language of Love and Hierarchy in Korean Dramas
K-dramas highlight the romantic tension of the 'noona romance', which pairs older women with a younger man. The oppa-ahjumma dynamic is also culturally important in K-dramas because it challenges the rigid social norms that surround age and hierarchy. Let's check out the significance of these terms;
Oppa (오빠): This is a term that is often used by a female to address an older brother or a close older male friend/boyfriend. It implies affection and closeness, but usually refers to a man who is still considered young or not past middle age, which is a term that you will hear very often in your favorite K-dramas and in day-to-day life in Korea!
Ahjumma (아줌마): This is a term used for a middle-aged (often married) woman. While it can be used affectionately, it often carries a sense of formality in a very hierarchy-based society, and it's often used as a generational divide, or can even be mildly dismissive, invoking the cultural weight of aging and a particular social status.
Noona (누나): This is a term used by a male to address an older sister or a close older female friend, often used respectfully and affectionately. When a man calls his older partner 'noona' in a drama, it's respecting her position in the age hierarchy, and at times, it also heightens romantic tensions.
Ultimately, these terms serve as a powerful form of social commentary, reflecting and encouraging modern shifts toward valuing emotional connection over established seniority in relationships, which has been the baseline to some of the best K-dramas!
In this article, we are going to take a look at some of the many K-dramas that showcase the 'noona romance' in a spectacular way, and some of the best 'oppa and ahjumma' on-screen moments.
First up, we have Something in the Rain, which focuses on a single woman in her 30s, Yoon Jin-ah (Son Ye-jin), who is struggling with her career and dating life, and reconnects with her best friend's younger brother, Seo Joon-hee (Jung Hae-in), who has returned from working abroad.
As their relationship blossoms from a comfortable friendship into a passionate, secret romance, they face intense scrutiny and judgment from their families and society. The drama deeply explores the difficulties they face in maintaining their love amid toxic corporate culture and familial expectations. This drama, thanks to its deep storyline, hit home with many Korean viewers and became well known for highlighting social issues that are rarely discussed.
Wonderful World follows a storyline of trauma and emotional healing, and at its core, a big age gap.
Eun Soo-hyun (Kim Nam-joo) is a successful psychology professor whose life is shattered after the tragic loss of her son and her subsequent decision to seek revenge. She forms a deep, unconventional bond with Kwon Seon-yul (Cha Eun-woo), a mysterious young man who has also faced a devastating loss and a difficult life.
While not a conventional office romance, their relationship is a powerful exploration of two broken individuals finding emotional refuge and healing in each other, defying social expectations due to their age difference and circumstances. This Disney+ drama is a great example of the oppa-ahjummas storyline, you do not want to miss!
Starting as an office romance with a supernatural body-swap twist. Branding in Seongsu is a cold yet brilliant drama which you do not want to miss! This demonstrates some of the best culturally used titles in a subtle yet hilarious way!
Kang Na-eon (Kim Ji-eun) is an older marketing team leader, while So Eun-ho (Park Solomon) is a friendly, younger intern she often dismisses. Their typical hierarchical office dynamic is literally inverted when their bodies swap after an unexpected kiss.
The drama uses the swap and the significant age/title difference to force them to walk a mile in each other's shoes, leading to a romantic understanding that challenges their prior work-based, age-driven perceptions. The hierarchy is something which Koreans take very seriously in society, and as a result, it is often expected that a younger person show respect to their elders even if it is not deserved.
Following a wealthy daughter-in-law, Encounter follows the life of Cha Soo-hyun (Song Hye-kyo) and the younger, more free-spirited Kim Jin-hyuk (Park Bo-gum). During a life-changing business venture, including a trip to Cuba, their paths cross when Jin-hyuk is hired at the hotel where Soo-hyun is the CEO. Their budding romance is immediately challenged by the enormous social and class differences, media scrutiny, and the controlling demands of Soo-hyun's powerful ex-in-laws. The oppa-ahjumma role is clear from the outset! You do not want to miss this classic K-drama!
Ban Ji-yeon (Uhm Jung-hwa) is a highly passionate and successful 39-year-old investigative reporter nicknamed "The Witch" after being jilted by her fiancé years ago. It turns out that she had a tumultuous and funny encounter with Yoon Dong-ha (Park Seo-joon), a charming and carefree 25-year-old who runs an all-purpose errand service. Despite their age difference and her resistance to romance, their relationship quickly becomes complicated and passionate as they help each other heal from past emotional scars. Get a box of tissues at the ready, and get settled down to watch this amazing K-drama!
This K-drama focuses on Kang Dan-i (Lee Na-young), a highly qualified former copywriter who put her career on hold to raise a family. She struggles to find a job after her divorce and ends up lying to get a temporary position at a publishing house.
Cha Eun-ho (Lee Jong-suk) is the youngest and most successful editor, and it turns out that he has secretly loved her for years. As the storyline progresses, he finally builds up the courage to build a romantic future with her, even though there is an age gap and a history between them. This storyline resonated with a lot of Koreans and has since become one of the prime examples of the oppa-noona phrase.
Which drama is your favorite? Comment below and let the Dojeon team know!
BEFORE YOU GO! Check out our related article.