• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.41
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• pp.303-336
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to examine the uses and gratifications of the U. S. TV dramas favored by the Korean college students. The uses and gratifications of the U. S. TV dramas are also compared with the Korean TV dramas. In addition, this study analyzes how the motives and satisfactions of students on the U. S. dramas influence on watching patterns of the Korean TV dramas. The results of the factor analysis show that student's motives on watching the U. S. TV dramas are composed of four factors, such as 'Entertainment/Relaxation', 'Getting Information', 'Environment/Companionship', and 'Sexual curiosity'. In contrast, the motives of watching Korean TV dramas are composed of six factors, which are added 'Korean Drama Characteristics' and 'Habitual Time-Spending' to four factors of the U. S. dramas. After dividing the student groups with the heavy and the light watchers, this research shows that three out of five for the U. S. dramas are significantly different, whereas two out of six factors for the Korean counterparts. Finally, the uses and gratifications of the U. S. dramas favored by the Korean college students influence little on the watching patterns of the Korean TV dramas.