1. 12 years, but only on recent years got addicted
2. 2
3. Yes, KBS subs mostly
4. No. KBS subs has different romanization and sometimes not really accurate.
5. Yes, I think Viki or fansubs usually better
6. Yes, I get more background info
7. Yes, it's usually when I watch drama with friends on soompi.
8. It's more exciting but contains spoilers.
9. Reading recaps/review help me to fill the gap when I watch the drama alone.
10. Pop cultural references
11. google it or go to discussion boards

Hi there! This is really interesting, I really wish I could write paper on the drama subbing community. It's a very fascinating subject

1. About 4 1/2 years.
2. Took Korean for about two years but I'm gonna say: 2
3. Yes, of course. Dramafever was at its beginning stages at the time but it was actually thanks to DF (and viki) that I was able to find the more older dramas. It was amazing to have such a large collection of subbed dramas at one's fingertips.
4. It really varies, sometimes they're okay and sometimes I wonder if I could have done a better job myself. And the more you learn the language, the more you start to recognize bad subs (translating is difficult but sometimes it seems as if they don't even try).
5. I do not think that fansubs are that much better. But, again, it definitely varies. Sites like viki sometimes seem more concerned with putting out subs as fast as possible than with the quality of the subs they release. WITHS2 used to have really quality subs but they closed down unfortunately.
6. I do not read headnotes because most of the time they explain things I am already familiar with.
7. I do not read live recaps.
8. N/A
9. Sometimes I will. They make certain scenes clearer/easier to understand. Dramabeans puts really excellent recaps and I enjoy reading their opinions.
10. E. I think Korean puns are rather difficult to understand honestly.
11. If something gets "lost in translation" in a drama, I will usually just ignore it if it doesn't seem to add anything to the story/plot. Or I'll google it.

Sorry ^^;; came out longer than I thought.

1. 3

2. 0.1

3. YES, without subs I probably wouldn't watch kdrama

4. For the most part yes.

5. YES! Viki has awesome volunteer subbers.

6. no?

7. no
8. no

9. Yes. I read recaps because of the insight and also to pick up on stuff I missed plot-wise.

10.
A. Culturally-specific situations
D. Historical references

11. go to Dramabeans :) or other awesome blogs recapping the drama I was watching

1. anime, about 20 years. foreign dramas about 15 years, and asian dramas about 12 years...
2. no. but I do understand some phrases and sentences...
3. yes
4. yes
5. yes
6. no
7. before yes, now not so much
9. yes, I think recaps explains some of the entity in the dramas that I did not understand
10. A
11. depends, if its a minor thing I just read between the lines, or more like scenes.
if it's for something culturally-specific I mostly just read recaps cause sometime it is explained by recappers.
if it's for dramas that I totally am into, I ask a friend

1. 5 years
2. No - rating would be 0
3. Yes
4. No, there are some things that get lost in translation, which is why I read recaps.
5. Some do and others do not. It depends on how zealous the fans subbing it are. Some fans will even translate the lyrics in the background and includes definitions of idioms and phrases. Whereas, other times some subbers leave out blocks of translations or paraphrases some parts.
6. Yes, sometimes it explains an event or cultural aspect that I would not fully understand.
7. Yes
8. It gives me a basic and quick understanding of a show I really can't wait to watch
9. Yes, it helps me make sure I have a full understanding of the show and I get others thoughts on it
10. C. Pop cultural references
11. Look at a recap or the comments of others down below

1. Only watch kdrama, it's been less than a year (started this Feb)
2. Maybe 0.1, I've learned a few common Korean words/phrases by ear since they're said so often
3. Yes
4. Mostly yes, though they seem to leave out/mistranslate difficult-to-translate words like "hyung" or "unni"
5. Yes.
6. Yes - if they're there, they provide info that may be important to understand what's going on
7 and 8. No (not sure what they are...)
8 and 9. Yes. Might help me with sorting out an intricate plot, or how family members are related, or what is the cultural meaning of a scene...
10. A, C, D
11. Check a recap (+ comments on a recap), google it

Hope this helps :)

Struggling to get participants for my research too so I feel you. Here are my answers:

1. I used to watch a lot 10 years ago and then I quit, and now I'm back for about 2 years.
2. No, but by watching a lot I start to understand a little bit. So I'd pick 1/5.
3. Yes. dramafever.
4. Better than the fansubs.
5. To certain extent, yes.
6. No. I thought they were all commercials?
7. No.
8. No then.
9. Yes. I love dramabeans!
10. D. Historical references. I find the culturally-specific things one of the most interesting things in watching Korean dramas.
11. I usually pick it up on recaps.

Good luck!

1. Watched Kdramas for 11 years

2. Korean = 5

3. Yes

4. Somewhat. It's often a gamble.

5. Yes, most of the time.

6. Yes. Despite my fluency in understanding Korean, I have a hard time with understanding sagueks due to the use of Hanja and archaic Korean terms. That is where the notes come in handy.

7. No, I don't like spoilers.
8. ----

9. Yes. It's interesting to see a good reviewer recap it and see opinions. It can also help clarify some things I may have been confused about.
10. E. Other
In sagueks: Hanja, archaic Korean terms, proverbial sayings; In modern dramas: legal terms, political terms, medical terms, economic terms

11. I ask my mom.

1. 3 years
2. 0.25 (I can understand basic words used often, like "oppa" etc.) :)
3. Yes
4. Yes, although not being a native speaker I probably don't know what is not accurate or translated well so I don't know what I am missing.
5. Yes, most of them but not all of them.
6. Yes, if they are translated. I always want to know as much information as possible if it is available.
7. No
8. N/A
9. Yes, absolutely. The recaps and reviews help me to understand scenes and motivations, etc. that might have been puzzling to me, and often include cultural references and explanations for things that I would have totally overlooked. I also like reading the comments of others because I can learn a lot from them as well. Because I am the only one among my family and friends who watches dramas, I find that the online drama sites provide a sense of community and shared interests that I find enjoyable. And people are funny! Sometimes the comments about an episode or show are more enjoyable than the show itself.
10. Historical references, although I'm gaining more knowledge about this the longer I watch!
11. Google, and also look for recaps or discussion boards.