(Top) Choi Jae-sung and Valen Hsu. (Bottom) Park Chae-rim and Gao Ziqi.

The popularity of South Korean TV series has seen numerous young Chinese women declare themselves as fans of South Korean men. “I like male South Korean stars because they are handsome, romantic, gentle and have personality,” says Jiang Nan, 28. “If I could choose, I would like to marry a South Korean man.” Jiang works in Beijing but has visited South Korea twice, falling in love with the country and its language.

According to AJU Business Daily, more than 150,000 foreigners immigrated to South Korea for marriage at the end of 2013, with 85.4% of those moving being women. Chinese made up the greatest number at 41.4%, followed by Vietnamese at 26.4%, Japanese and Filipinos.

“China and South Korea share many traditional values such as filial piety and social norms. Couples have less cultural conflicts than those who get married with Westerners,” says Fan Xiaoqing, a South Korean movie expert from School of Television and Film Art, Communication University of China. She lived in South Korea for five years.

“I’m confident about Tang and Kim’s relationship. Kim is a bit like Ang Lee. He is learned and refined, gentle and careful,” says Fan, who has met Kim. Fan says Tang is smart, independent, and knows her own mind, while Kim is like a sponge and can be her strong support. They share a lot in common and can work towards their goals together.

According to Fan, South Koreans like to go with the crowd. If most people think something or someone is good, they will think so as well, ranging from beliefs to cosmetics and trends. “Kim’s fans accept Tang because Kim likes her and they like Kim,” she says.

Fan thinks most South Korean men are family-oriented – most men pay their salaries directly to the bank cards of their wives. Zheng Kaiyue, 29, who married a South Korean, couldn’t agree more.

“South Korean men think they should be the breadwinner and wives should take care of the money. Stay-at-home wives shoulder half the responsibility of family and work, so half of their salary is equal to be earned by their wives,” says Zheng, a full-time wife who lives in the US.

“I think South Korean men have a character of fortitude, perhaps because they have to serve in the army (mandatory) for two years. They have a strong sense of honour, with great cohesion and discipline. They have carried forward Confucianism very much, for example, to respect the elders.”

Zheng says that many South Korean men are “chauvinistic”, but the younger generations are more enlightened. Although most men “do not do housework after marriage”, there are some exceptions. She says her husband sometimes helps her around the house.

“I’m very happy for Tang’s marriage. Because of the news, the public will get to know more about South Korea and its people rather than the stereotypes,” she says. “For example, many South Koreans that I met have a good impression of China. In South Korea, especially in Seoul, more and more students are learning Chinese.” – China Daily/Asia News Network