Nigerian film ‘My Sunshine’ charms with Korean language and K-drama tropes

Nigerian film ‘My Sunshine’ captivates audiences with its heavy use of Korean language and K-drama tropes.

In ‘My Sunshine’, a Nigerian film inspired by K-dramas, two schoolgirls with long dreadlocks chat animatedly on their way to school. But something stands out: phrases like “daebak” and “geunde” (Korean for “amazing” and “but”) are frequently heard in their conversation.

As the school day begins, teachers greet each other with a friendly “annyeonghaseyo” (hello in Korean), and the principal boldly declares, “Korean is the greatest language in the world.”

This is just a glimpse of what’s to come in the hour-and-15-minute-long film, where Korean language is omnipresent. While more complex dialogues are delivered in English, Korean and Yoruba (a language spoken in southwestern Africa) are seamlessly mixed throughout the film.

In school conversations, Korean expressions like “assah” (yay), “eotteokhae” (what should I do?), and “ppalli” (hurry up) are so frequently used that, by the latter part of the movie, they don’t even feel out of place. Even in a scene where the protagonist, Karis, talks to her mother, she refers to her as “eomma” (mom in Korean) instead of “Mom” or “Iya” (the Yoruba word for mother).

Korean writing also appears throughout the film. The school bulletin board has a notice titled “학교 발표” (school prom), and in one scene, a male student wears a T-shirt with the phrase “PROM 같이 갈래” (Will you go to the prom with me?), combining English and Korean as he asks the female lead out.

Beyond the language, ‘My Sunshine’ is packed with classic K-drama clichés. Karis, the female lead, comes from a poor family but is fortunate enough to receive a scholarship to attend Saint Paul Baptist High School, a prestigious school in Nigeria where she meets and falls in love with the wealthy and popular Gerald.

The film also features a “queen bee” clique that resents the protagonist, a love triangle with a kind-hearted boy who secretly admires her, and a storyline that echoes popular Korean dramas like ‘The Heirs’ and ‘Boys Over Flowers’.

As the emotional tension between the main characters builds, the soundtrack includes Korean songs with lyrics such as “Love is…” and a version of “You Are My Sunshine,” performed with endearing yet imperfect Korean pronunciation.

This isn’t just an amateur fan production. The film was directed by JJC Skillz, a renowned Nigerian rapper and producer, and written by Kemi Ikuseedun, a Nigerian actress and content creator who also plays the lead role.

Local media have hailed ‘My Sunshine’ as “the first Nigerian movie to incorporate Korean language” and praised it as an “innovative fusion of Nigerian cinema and Korean culture.” Fans of K-dramas, in particular, will find the film packed with elements that resonate.

It’s no wonder the video has gained massive popularity on YouTube. Released on October 6th, it amassed 606,000 views in just ninth days (as of October 14th).