If you love watching K-Dramas on Netflix, or any non-English properties for that matter, then subscribers have a great tip for getting the best translations.
As Netflix evolves, it quickly realizes that some of the most popular TV series and new movies are coming from non-English speaking territories. With new additions like Godzilla Minus One and The Accident, there are plenty of great options for those looking to expand their horizons.
But few genres are as popular on the streaming service as K-dramas. Squid Game, Love Next Door, and Queen of Tears have all made waves, and the audience for Korean content is growing by the day.
So some newcomers are wondering what is the best way to watch these popular shows. Posting on Reddit, one user request:”For subtitles, which is better: English or English CC? I realized that in some “K-Dramas”, the translations are really different depending on whether the subtitles are in “English” or “English CC”.
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From the responses, there seems to be a clear answer: CC. Obviously, this is the best way to watch K-dramas if you are looking for an accurate translation.
“I would recommend CC subtitles – while they can be comical with phrases like ‘big sigh’, dubbed subtitles lose a lot of momentum with speech,” one reply said.
Another agreed and added: “I personally prefer CC because it usually gives a better idea of what is actually being said. For example, if a character makes a pun or cultural reference, CC might do a better job of conveying that.”
“CC, definitely,” wrote a third. “As I understand it, “English CC” is an English translation of spoken Korean, while “English” is based on the dubbed version. I was watching The Whirlwind the other day and noticed some glaring translation errors in the English subtitles (I speak and understand Korean) but they weren’t present in the CC.”
So what’s the difference between subtitles and CC (closed captions)? It all comes down to what they think they’re doing. Subtitles translate what’s being said, assuming the viewer can also hear the audio.
Closed captioning, on the other hand, assumes that the audience cannot hear the audio, which is why it often includes descriptions of sound effects and other non-dialogue noises.
In theory, subtitles should provide a more accurate translation of what’s happening, but according to the Netflix subscribers above, that’s not the case when it comes to K-dramas. Go figure, but at least there’s now some good advice for those who want to start exploring the genre.
To learn more, check out which series is perfect to watch after Lovely Runner. You can also find out how Miss Night and Day broke a record and check out the 5 K-dramas to watch after Hierarchy.
