Korean Drama Advocates Awareness of HIV in Korea
The new Korean drama is winning over viewers and making cultural waves in Korea:
A new TV soap opera is gaining popularity in South Korea with the tear-jerking tale of an eight-year-old girl infected by the virus that causes AIDS – a disease that still invites more ostracism than sympathy here.
The MBC network show "Thank You" has been winning top ratings in its time slot with the story of a young HIV carrier – a rare topic for South Korean dramas that typically focus on forbidden love or secret love affairs.
Here are some stats on HIV in Korea:
South Korea has a relatively low number of people living with HIV – 3,891 as of March, according to government statistics. But experts say the actual number could be at least three or four times higher – some 13,000 by a U.N. estimate – with many reluctant to take HIV tests due to the social stigma of the disease.
The number of new infections is on the rise, reaching a record 751 last year – more than double the figure recorded in 2001 when 327 new cases were found.
I would say the rise in HIV numbers has probably more to do with increased awareness of the virus and more people getting treated for it compared to in the past than because of any new epidemic. Hopefuly this drama can continue the increase awareness of HIV and help those stigamatized by it.
There was an article in one of the English dailies (I forget which one) about HIV/AIDS phobia, young, 20-somethings repeatedly getting tested, then not believing the "Negative" results. It stated that some of these individuals have been tested some 60 times in the course of one year. It did not state whether these same individuals changed their sexual habits, however. I though that was a glaring omissionn…………..