Podd: K Drama Chat

11.4 - Podcast Review of Episode 4 of When Life Gives You Tangerines

4 april 2025 | 77 min

Comment on this episode by going to KDramaChat.com

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 4 of When Life Gives You Tangerines, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Park Bo-gum as Gwan-sik, Kim So-hyun as Ae-sun, and featuring a deeply emotional story about family, hardship, love, and resilience. We discuss:

The song featured during the recap: "Name" by Kwak Jin-eon, a tender ballad reflecting the enduring love between Ae-sun and Gwan-sik.
Joanna’s magical trip to Japan, including cherry blossoms, sushi, Enoshima Island, and meeting the amazing Akiko in Shinjuku Gyoen.
How the lyrics of "Name" perfectly capture the decades-long bond between Ae-sun and Gwan-sik.
The brutal reality of Ae-sun’s early married life, especially her abuse by her in-laws due to not producing a son.
The significance of 108 prostrations in Korean Buddhism and the intense societal pressure on wives to bear sons.
South Korea’s declining fertility rate, from 6 children per woman in the 1960s to close to the lowest in the world today.
The heartbreaking and symbolic moment when Ae-sun flips the table to prevent her daughter from becoming a haenyeo.
The shocking revelation that Gwan-sik is being physically abused by his boss — the man Ae-sun almost married!
Ae-sun’s fierce loyalty and love for Gwan-sik, including confronting his abuser in front of the entire village.
The evolving dynamic between Ae-sun and her daughter Geum Myeong in 1994, especially around class, shoes, and emotional validation.
Gwan-sik and Ae-sun’s intimate physical and emotional connection, even decades into their marriage.
The symbolism of sugar, kimjang, and daily packed lunches in expressing affection, social rules, and hardship.
The beautiful theme of quiet sacrifice — how both Ae-sun and Gwan-sik shield each other from their respective pains.
The significance of the episode’s title, “The Blazing Summer Sunshine,” as a metaphor for both oppressive hardship and the radiant love that sustained them.
A spotlight on Park Bo-gum: his acting and musical background, clean-cut reputation, and his return to dramas after military service.

Next week, we’ll recap and analyze Episode 5 of When Life Gives You Tangerines, and talk about the real-life couple that inspired this drama — or so the internet says!

References

11.3 - Podcast Review of Episode 3 of When Life Gives You Tangerines

28 mars 2025 | 69 min

Comment on this episode by going to KDramaChat.com

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 3 of When Life Gives You Tangerines, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring IU as Ae Sun and Park Bo Gum as Gwan Sik. We discuss:

The song featured during the recap: “Neoyeong Nayeong” by Ahn Eun Kyung and Eunyong Sim, a haunting blend of traditional and modern sound, sung in the Jeju dialect and about young love.
How the show is beautifully infused with Jeju-specific language, culture, and music.
Our heartfelt shoutouts to listeners, including Ellen’s birthday and Joanna’s meetup with Akiko in Tokyo.
The folk tale of the honest woodcutter and its metaphorical significance for Ae Sun’s comparison of Gwan Sik to a steel axe.
The heartbreak of Ae Sun pushing Gwan Sik away—not out of lack of love, but to set him free.
The injustice of Ae Sun’s expulsion from school while Gwan Sik only gets suspended, a commentary on gender and social status.
Gwan Sik melting down his doljanchi rings to make a ring for Ae Sun—rings full of cultural symbolism and maternal sentiment.
The chilling portrayal of Ae Sun’s potential suitor, a widower looking more for unpaid labor than a partner.
Gwan Sik’s dramatic decision to swim back to Ae Sun after hearing her cries at the harbor—an epic open water swim of love and determination.
Our leads’ emotional reunion, wedding, and the symbolism of Ae Sun’s wide-brimmed hat and new ring.
The support of the haenyeos and their reference to the Cowherd and Weaver Girl folktale, a beautiful metaphor for star-crossed love.
The reveal that Ae Sun was pregnant from their night in Busan, explaining the early birth of their daughter and the "conception dream" of Gwan sik’s grandmother.
The bittersweet final scene, where Ae Sun and Gwan Sik acknowledge that while they gave up dreams of poetry and athletic stardom, they have no regrets about choosing each other.
Our deep dive into IU's stellar career as a singer, actress, and philanthropist—highlighting why she’s beloved by so many around the world.

Next week, we’ll recap and analyze Episode 4 of When Life Gives You Tangerines and talk about the handsome and talented Park Bo Gum!

References

11.2 - Podcast Review of Episode 2 of When Life Gives You Tangerines

21 mars 2025 | 79 min

Comment on this episode by going to KDramaChat.com

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 2 of When Life Gives You Tangerines, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring IU (Lee Ji-eun) as Ae Sun and Park Bo-gum as Gwan-sik. We discuss:

The song featured during the recap: Ode to the Green Spring by Chu Da Hye, a hauntingly beautiful piece that blends traditional Korean folk styles with modern sensibility.
The background of Chu Da Hye and her mastery of Seodo Sori, a North Korean regional singing style known for its mournful and emotive qualities.
The incredibly moving moment when Gwan-sik silently puts Ae Sun’s shoes on her feet, a gesture of deep love, reminiscent of Cinderella and symbolic devotion.
Ae Sun’s bravado and vulnerability during their walk through Jeju, leading to their emotional first kiss amidst the canola fields.
Gwan-sik’s poetic confession and Ae Sun’s long-awaited admission that she’s been ready for love since she was 14.
The complex family dynamics that drive Ae Sun to run away: her stepfather’s betrayal, her uncle’s cold dismissal, and Gwan-sik’s grandmother’s harsh judgment.
Ae Sun’s strength in rejecting the guilt trip from her uncle, refusing to work in a factory or support a family that never cared for her.
The historical context of 1968 South Korea, including the May 16 coup and the Blue House Raid involving North Korean commando Kim Shin-jo.
The suspenseful scene on the boat to Busan when Ae Sun bluffs her way past a suspicious captain, boldly claiming she and Gwan-sik are married.
Their failed attempt to pawn stolen jewelry and the significance of the gold frog as a family heirloom and symbol of wealth.
The betrayal by the innkeepers who drug and rob them, leaving them penniless and desperate.
Ae Sun and Gwan-sik’s decision to sneak back into the inn and recover their belongings, only for their plan to go awry when Ae Sun insists on retrieving her precious flower hairpin.
The thrilling ending: Ae Sun is tackled, Gwan-sik prepares a flying kick, and the episode ends on a cliffhanger.
A flash forward to 1993 hints at Ae Sun’s future as a mother, but the father’s identity is deliberately obscured—leaving us wondering if it’s Gwan-sik.
The fantastic cinematography, especially the wide shots in the canola fields and the immersive market scene.
Insights into the mystery of the writer Lim Sang-choon and a deep dive into the many women behind K Drama screenwriting.

References

11.1 - Podcast Review of Episode 1 of When Life Gives You Tangerines

14 mars 2025 | 54 min

Comment on this episode by going to KDramaChat.com

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 1 of When Life Gives You Tangerines, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring IU as Oh Ae-sun, and Park Bo-gum as Yang Gwan-sik. We discuss:

The song featured during the recap: Midnight Walk by d.ear. The song feels nostalgic and represents Ae-sun’s longing for the past.
The deeper themes of family, love, and survival that make this show feel unique compared to other historical K Dramas.
The emotional opening with an elderly Ae-sun reflecting on the word "eomma" (mom) and how it carries deep significance throughout her life.
The realistic and historical setting of Jeju Island, which makes this drama feel different from the more fantastical K Dramas we have covered before.
The contrast between the English title, When Life Gives You Tangerines, and the Korean title Pokssak Sogatsuda, which means "You’ve worked hard" in Jeju dialect.
The introduction of young Ae-sun and Gwan-sik and how their childhood relationship sets the foundation for the story.
The significance of Ae-sun’s mother, Gwang Rye, and her fierce independence as a haenyeo, a female diver of Jeju Island.
The rich cultural history of haenyeos, their role in Jeju's matriarchal society, and the challenges they face today due to environmental changes and declining numbers.
The economic and social struggles of Ae-sun, who is orphaned at a young age and left to raise her younger siblings, with only Gwan-sik standing steadfastly by her side.
The role of gender and social hierarchy in the drama, as Ae-sun is denied opportunities simply because she is a girl.
The heartbreaking yet powerful portrayal of Ae-sun's mother, played by Yeom Hye-ran, and her impact on Ae-sun's resilience.
The dynamic between Ae-sun and Gwan-sik—his unwavering devotion and her initial indifference, which mirrors her mother’s tough love.
The visual storytelling of the marketplace scenes, where Gwan-sik quietly supports Ae-sun while she remains oblivious to his sacrifices.
The grandmother’s disapproval of Ae-sun, believing that daughters inherit their mothers’ fate, and how this reflects traditional Korean beliefs.
The poetic meaning of the episode title, Spring in a Heartbeat, which speaks to the fleeting nature of youth and the rapid passage of time.

Next week, we will recap and analyze Episode 2 of When Life Gives You Tangerines and explore the fascinating topic of Korean drama writers—are most K Drama writers women, and can we tell their gender just by their names?

References

10.13 - Special 1-Episode Review of When The Phone Rings

7 mars 2025 | 83 min

Comment on this episode by going to KDramaChat.com

Today, we’ll be discussing the special filler episode on When The Phone Rings, the over-the-top, twist-filled K Drama starring Yoo Yeon-seok as Baek Sa-eon, Jeon Yeo-been as Hong Hee-joo, and Kim Ji-seok as Ji Sang-woo. We discuss:

The songs we featured during the recap, including:
- Homme Fatale – the dramatic track playing when Baek Sa-eon struts into a room
- Say My Name performed by Yoo Yeon-seok in the finale
The absolutely bonkers premise: a high-profile political spokesperson secretly married to his childhood love, who he keeps hidden from the world, and whose existence triggers a web of blackmail, kidnapping, and revenge plots.
The layers of hidden identities — from Baek Sa-eon being a secret replacement for the original Baek Sa-eon, to Hong Hee-joo living her life pretending to be mute, all due to family politics and trauma.
The stunning reveal that Baek Sa-eon is not only adopted but actually the son of his own grandfather.
The selective mutism plotline — how Hong Hee-joo’s silence started as a survival tactic but became a powerful tool that gave her a successful career.
The role of Ji Sang-woo, the caring friend turned investigative psychiatrist, who didn’t realize what he was wading into by investigating the case of the missing boys from the orphanage.
The use of the mysterious phone as a plot device — how the sinister calls were the catalyst for uncovering the hidden marriage and Baek Sa-eon’s many secrets.
The moment Baek Sa-eon realized the “kidnapper” on the phone was actually his own wife, and how that discovery changed their entire dynamic.
The ridiculously high kidnapping count — Hong Hee-joo gets kidnapped not once, not twice, but FOUR times across 12 episodes. We discuss how this woman even manages to sleep at night.
The "Argan" subplot — how a fictional war-torn country becomes both Baek Sa-eon’s self-imposed exile and the backdrop for the show’s most ludicrous romantic reunion.
The utterly bizarre "sunset" motif that comes out of nowhere in the final episodes — how sunsets are suddenly a metaphor for their love despite never being mentioned before.
The final episode’s chaos: political scandals, revenge murders, family betrayals, a rescue mission in a war zone, and a surprise happy ending that left us asking — did we just watch a romance or a thriller?
The controversy around the mistranslated Middle Eastern conflict scene — how a clumsy translation sparked accusations of political bias, and why inserting geopolitics into a makjang drama felt so unnecessary.
What we’re watching now! Joanna and Sung Hee are watching Love Scout and loving it!

Next week, we will recap and analyze episode 1 of When Life Gives You Tangerines. Although four episodes are expected to drop, we will only watch and recap one episode at a time.

References

10.12 - Podcast Review of Episode 12 of See You In My 19th life

28 februari 2025 | 118 min

Comment on this episode by going to KDramaChat.com

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 12 of See You In My 19th Life, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Shin Hye-sun as Ban Ji-eum, Ahn Bo-hyun as Moon Seo-ha, Ha Yoon-kyung as Yoon Cho-won, Ahn Dong-goo as Ha Do-yoon, and Cha Chung Hwa as Kim Ae-gyeong. We discuss:

The songs featured during the recap:
- Star by Colde
- Starlight by Max Shin
- Europe by Kim Jin Ah
- Childhood by Kim Jin Ah
The satisfying, bittersweet ending where Ban Ji-eum chooses to forget her past lives, ultimately freeing herself from the curse she placed on herself in her first life.
The emotional weight of Ban Ji-eum’s decision — giving up her memories to protect her loved ones — and how it mirrors the choices we sometimes have to make in life to move forward.
How Moon Seo-ha steps up in this final episode, taking on the role of comforter and guide for Ban Ji-eum, showing his growth from passive and traumatized to a strong, supportive partner.
The beautiful inyeon between Ban Ji-eum, Moon Seo-ha, Yoon Cho-won, and Ha Do-yoon — how their fates have been intertwined across lifetimes, and how that deep connection ultimately brings them all together in the end.
The tender and heart-wrenching scene between Ban Ji-eum and Yoon Ju-won’s mother, where Ban Ji-eum hugs her, offering comfort while Ju-won’s spirit watches on — a moment that embodies the power of love across lifetimes.
The long-awaited romantic resolution between Yoon Cho-won and Ha Do-yoon — his slow realization that love is worth the risk, capped off with a swoony confession and kiss.
Kang Min-gi’s poignant arc — from mysterious guide to tormented soul — and how Ban Ji-eum’s forgiveness perhaps allows him to begin his own journey toward peace after 23 lives.
The surprising lightheartedness of the final scenes, with Moon Seo-ha, Yoon Cho-won, and Ha Do-yoon conspiring to bring Ban Ji-eum back into their lives, complete with a meet-cute at the braised kimchi restaurant.
The importance of braised kimchi, the dish that symbolizes home, love, and memory, and how food plays such a key role in grounding Ban Ji-eum even after she loses her memories.
The stunning cinematography throughout the episode, from the dramatic Dutch angles on the Mujinjeong bridge to the soft, glowing scenes of Ban Ji-eum’s memories fading away.
The reversal of roles in the final confession scene, with Moon Seo-ha as the pursuer, mirroring Ban Ji-eum’s relentless pursuit of him at the beginning — a beautiful bookend to their love story.
The deeply touching message at the heart of the show: that forgiveness — of others and of ourselves — is the only way to truly move forward, and that holding on to hate only chains us to the past.
The special 1 episode review of When The Phone Rings that we will do next week!
The announcement of K Drama Chat Season 11, where we will recap and analyze When Life Gives You Tangerines, the highly anticipated Netflix drama starring IU and Park Bo-gum, set on Jeju Island and spanning decades of history and romance.

References

10.11 - Podcast Review of Episode 11 of See You In My 19th Life

21 februari 2025 | 89 min

Comment on this episode by going to KDramaChat.com

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 11 of See You In My 19th Life, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Shin Hye-sun as Ban Ji-eum, Ahn Bo-hyun as Moon Seo-ha, Ha Yoon-kyung as Yoon Cho-won, Ahn Dong-goo as Ha Do-yoon, and Cha Chung Hwa as Kim Ae-gyeong. We discuss:

The songs featured during the recap: Shaman by HEO, What by Sol Han, and I’ll Embrace Your Past by Ahn Bo-hyun. Shaman is eerie and haunting, while What adds a frantic, comic energy. I’ll Embrace Your Past is especially meaningful as Seo-ha accepts Ji-eum’s past lives and vows to stay by her side.
How Ji-eum finally discovers the truth about her first life—it wasn’t Seo-ha’s past self, Master Han Ya, who killed her sister Seol, but Master Cheon Un, Kang Min Gi’s past self.
The heartbreaking revelation that Ji-eum herself placed the curse to remember her past lives, fueled by rage and grief after Seol’s death.
Kang Min Gi’s role as a guide for those trapped in the cycle of reincarnation. He helps others find peace, yet remains stuck himself, as he hasn’t encountered the person who triggered his own memories.
The historical context of untouchable classes—the Baekjeong in Korea, Burakumin in Japan, and Dalits in India
The cultural significance of shaman bells in Korean rituals, symbolizing the "opening of the gate of words" to invite spirits into the ritual space.
Ji-eum's emotional turmoil upon realizing that Seo-ha didn’t betray her in her 1st life. Instead, Master Han Ya tried to protect her, and Ji-eum’s misunderstanding led her to attack Seo-ha in this life.
The complicated dynamic between Kang Min Gi and Ji-eum. He wants her to become "normal" by fully remembering her first life, but his own cycle remains unbroken.
The unraveling of the cover-up around the car accident that killed Yoon Ju-won. Chairman Moon, Seo-ha’s father, hid the truth to protect Seo-ha and avoid scandal, while Director Lee, Seo-ha’s uncle, lived for 24 years under the weight of his guilt.
Ha Do Yoon’s emotional struggle over his feelings for Yoon Cho-won. Encouraged by both Ji-eum and Seo-ha, he’s urged to follow his heart despite the social barriers.
The touching parallel between Seo-ha’s note to Ji-eum—"In bad times, remember the happy moments. I’m by your side"—and Ji-eum’s earlier words under the cherry blossoms.
The geographic lesson of the week—Kottayam, India—a city known as the "city of letters" for its publishing industry.
Fun listener interactions: Tina’s blog comment listing Ji-eum’s known past lives, Akiko and Joanna planning a cherry blossom meet-up in Shinjuku Gyoen Park, and new listeners like Irma finding the podcast after Queen of Tears.
A special announcement: After the final episode, Joanna and Sung Hee will do a one-off episode discussing When The Phone Rings, joined by Ernabel Demillo. They’ll dive into the drama’s wild plot twists and controversial ending.
Tease for Season 11—a new show has almost been decided, but listeners still have time to sway the choice by commenting on the blog or Instagram.

Next week, we’ll recap and analyze Episode 12 of See You In My 19th Life and officially announce our pick for Season 11!

References

10.10 - Podcast Review of Episode 10 of See You In My 19th Life

14 februari 2025 | 72 min

Comment on this episode by going to KDramaChat.com

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 10 of See You In My 19th Life, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Shin Hye-sun as Ban Ji-eum, Ahn Bo-hyun as Moon Seo-ha, Ha Yoon-kyung as Yoon Cho-won, Ahn Dong-goo as Ha Do-yoon, and Cha Chung Hwa as Kim Ae-gyeong. We discuss:

The songs we featured during the recap:
- Forgotten by HEO
- Possessed by Jeong Nahyeon
- The evocative and moody nature of the instrumentals in this drama, enhancing the mystery and dramatic elements.
The significance of white buckwheat flowers in Goblin and how they symbolize love, as reminded by a listener.
Exciting news about a potential K Drama Chat meet-up in Tokyo on March 28, possibly coinciding with cherry blossom season!
The slow unraveling of Ban Ji-eum’s first life through fragmented flashbacks and the increasing mystery surrounding her past relationships.
Moon Seo-ha’s transformation from emotionally detached to a more animated and warm character.
The major revelations about Ban Ji-eum’s first life:
- She was known as Su and had a close bond with Seol, who resembles Yoon Cho-won.
- Moon Seo-ha’s past self, Master Han Ya, may have been her enemy.
- Kang Min-gi was also present in this first life and is now a key figure in unlocking its secrets.
The key role of shaman bells in Ban Ji-eum’s recovered memories and their connection to Kang Min-gi’s mission.
The long-awaited official confession scene between Ban Ji-eum and Moon Seo-ha, leading to them officially dating—though Seo-ha remains hilariously inexperienced in love.
The Korean title of the drama, In This Life, Please Take Care of Me, and its deeper cultural meaning compared to the English translation.
Hanna’s emotional farewell to Moon Seo-ha, leaving him a crocheted turtle as a final gift.
The downfall of CEO Jang, thanks to Hanna’s planted evidence and Moon Seo-ha’s swift action.
The complicated class dynamics at play between Ha Do-yoon and Yoon Cho-won, and how it influences their budding romance.
Kim Ae-gyeong’s declining health and the devastating realization that Ban Ji-eum’s presence may have caused it.
The climactic final scene where Ban Ji-eum, lost in her visions of the past, mistakes Moon Seo-ha for Master Han Ya and attacks him in a fit of rage.
The episode title, Everything Has a Beginning and an End, and its implications for the cycle of reincarnation and unresolved past lives.

Next week, we will recap and analyze Episode 11 of See You In My 19th Life. We’ll also discuss our choices for Season 11 and an exciting special episode between seasons!

References

Korea Tour of Filming Locations for See You In My 19th Life

10.9 - Podcast Revew of Episode 9 of See You In My 19th life

7 februari 2025 | 81 min

Comment on this episode by going to KDramaChat.com.

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 9 of See You In My 19th Life, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Shin Hye-sun as Ban Ji-eum, Ahn Bo-hyun as Moon Seo-ha, Ha Yoon-kyung as Yoon Cho-won, Ahn Dong-goo as Ha Do-yoon, and Cha Chung Hwa as Kim Ae-gyeong. We discuss:

The songs featured during the recap.
- Triangle by Bang Kyung Ho
- Vice Versa by Bang Kung Ho
Ban Ji-eum’s confession to Moon Seo-ha that she was Yoon Ju-won in her past life and his stunned reaction.
Moon Seo-ha’s discovery of the hidden key and the booklet Yoon Ju-won left behind for him.
The long-awaited reunion at the amusement park, where Ban Ji-eum waits all night for Moon Seo-ha to show up.
The emotional weight of Ban Ji-eum telling Moon Seo-ha to be happy, as both Yoon Ju-won and Ban Ji-eum.
The beautiful yet haunting imagery of Ban Ji-eum walking across the bridge, reliving her past lives.
The idea of immortality as both a gift and a burden, explored through Ban Ji-eum’s experiences.
Hanna’s farewell and her cryptic message about moving on from past lives.
The shocking revelation that Moon Seo-ha’s uncle ordered the truck accident but that Seo-ha was not the intended target.
The tension-filled confrontation between Moon Seo-ha and his uncle, leading to the uncle’s confession and arrest.
The fallout from the uncle’s confession and how it impacts MI Group.
The growing romance between Ha Do-yoon and Yoon Cho-won, complicated by social class differences and Ha Do-yoon’s personal struggles.
The parallel reveals of Moon Seo-ha uncovering the truth about his uncle and finally accepting that Ban Ji-eum is Yoon Ju-won.
The stunning cliffhanger where Ban Ji-eum relives a memory from her first life, revealing an ominous event on the bridge during a fireworks display.
Filming locations featured in this episode, including Mujinjeong Pavilion, where the bridge scene was filmed with traditional fireworks.

References

10.8 - Podcast Review of Episode 8 of See You In My 19th Life

31 januari 2025 | 69 min

Comment on this episode by going to KDramaChat.com.

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 8 of See You In My 19th Life, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Shin Hye-sun as Ban Ji-eum, Ahn Bo-hyun as Moon Seo-ha, Ha Yoon-kyung as Yoon Cho-won, Ahn Dong-goo as Ha Do-yoon, and Cha Chung Hwa as Kim Ae-gyeong. We discuss:

The songs we featured during the recap:
- Coldness by HEO
- Romantic by Hee Nam Do
- Blue by Bang Kyung Ho
The significance of the show’s opening sequence, including:
- The infinity symbol that transforms into a norigae, representing Ban Ji-eum’s endless reincarnation cycle that started 1,000 years ago, when she wore hanbok with norigae.
- The red string of fate, symbolizing the deep connection between Ban Ji-eum and Moon Seo-ha across lifetimes.
- Water as a recurring motif, symbolizing time, renewal, and the fluidity of life.
- The presence of symbols representing Ban Ji-eum’s various lives and her connections to Moon Seo-ha.
The episode’s major plot developments:
- Ban Ji-eum’s memory flashback showing Moon Seo-ha with a bloody sword in her first life.
- The abandoned building scene where Moon Seo-ha witnesses Mr. Bang’s body fall from above.
- The attack on Moon Seo-ha and his emotional breakdown upon learning his uncle ordered the accident that killed Yoon Ju-won.
- Ban Ji-eum’s confrontation with her father, who was responsible for the accident.
- The reveal that Kang Min-gi, Ban Ji-eum, and Moon Seo-ha were all connected in Ban Ji-eum’s first life.
- The chilling cassette tape proving Moon Seo-ha’s uncle orchestrated the accident.
- The episode’s emotional climax: Ban Ji-eum playing Remember on the piano and revealing to Moon Seo-ha that she was Yoon Ju-won.
- The continued tension between Ha Do-yoon and Yoon Cho-won, with Yoon Cho-won refusing to give up on him.
- CEO Jang’s mysterious influence and connection to Moon Seo-ha’s uncle, and her reaction to receiving gladiolus flowers from Hanna.
Thoughts on the episode title, Casting One’s Fate Unto the Dice, and how it reflects Ban Ji-eum’s risky decision to reveal her past life.
The shows we’re watching now.
Exciting rumors that Scarlet Heart RYEO is coming to Viki!

References

10.7 - Podcast Review of Episode 7 of See You In My 19th Life

24 januari 2025 | 67 min

10.6 - Podcast Review of Episiode 6 of See You In My 19th Life

17 januari 2025 | 65 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 6 of See You In My 19th Life, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Shin Hye-sun as Ban Ji-eum, Ahn Bo-hyun as Moon Seo-ha, Ha Yoon-kyung as Yoon Cho-won, Ahn Dong-goo as Ha Do-yoon and Cha Chung Hwa as Kim Ae-gyeong. We discuss:

The songs we featured during the recap:
- Sad Memory by Fallin Dild
- Secret by YELO
How Yoon Cho won finally came to believe that Ban Ji eum was her sister Yoon Ju won in her past life.
The two secrets revealed in this episode: that the car accident was not an accident but murder, and Ha Do yoon’s father was the Moon driver and he was killed during the accident as well.
The mysterious Kang Min Gi and Hanna. Who are they? What is their mission? And why do they think that Ban Ji eum connecting with her past lives will be dangerous and cause harm?
When Kim Ae-gyeong and Kang Min gi go out, Ban Ji eum gets curious and finds the shaman bells in Kang Min gi’s room. Touching these bells brings back the visions from Ban Ji eum’s nightmares.
Goryeo celadon since Ban Ji eum gave Wonjo Capital a celadon vase to pay off her brother’s debt.
The horrible secret that the accident that killed Yoon Ju won was actually a murder attempt against Moon Seo ha is learned by Ban Ji eum, Ban Dong woo, and Moon Seo ha.
Moon Seo ha’s realization that the driver who died in the car accident was Ha Do yoon’s father. He never knew! When he confronts Ha Do yoon, they end up fighting.
We now know that even though Ha Do yoon likes Yoon Cho won, he won’t date her because they are not in the same social class and he doesn't want to be seen as taking advantage of her.
CEO Jang’s visit to the Chairman’s house to get him to forgive her son, Chan-hyuk.
The mysterious Mr. Im, who visits the Chairman.
When Ban Ji eum hugs Moon Seo ha and tells him they won’t have a sad ending and that she’ll stay by his side, the memory of a young Seo ha and Ju won in the pool turns red with blood.
A potential new K Drama element: Closing the distance in slow motion to hug
The background and career of Ahn Dong-goo, the actor who plays Ha Do yoon.

References

Goryeo Celadon | Essay | The Metropolitan Museum of Art | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History

10.5 - Podcast Review of Episode 5 of See You In My 19th Life

10 januari 2025 | 85 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 5 of See You In My 19th Life, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Shin Hye-sun as Ban Ji-eum, Ahn Bo-hyun as Moon Seo-ha, Ha Yoon-kyung as Yoon Cho-won, and Ahn Dong-goo as Ha Do-yoon. We discuss:

The songs we feature during the recap:
- Childhood Kim Jin ah
- I’ll Embrace Your Past by Ahn Bo hyun
Our top K Dramas from 2024.
It’s clear Moon Seo ha has not gotten over the trauma of Yoon Ju won’s death; this saddens and shocks Ban Ji eum and Yoon Cho won.
Moon Seo ha is developing feelings for Ban Ji eum but he’s not sure how to process them because he doesn’t believe he is allowed to feel love or happiness.
The beautiful dance scene at the beach!
Formal vs. informal speech in Korean.
Yoon Cho won’s shock and amazement at Ban Ji eum’s actions at the vacation home. How did Ban Ji eum know about the doll in the grandfather clock and height guide behind the bookcase?
When Moon Seo ha, Ban Ji eum goes after him; he rejects her first confession.
Ban Ji eum’s dream that includes red elements and shaman bells, as well as all the red elements in this episode. Red has many meanings in Korean culture. It can be protective and an omen of bad luck and death.
The mysterious man who took Kim Ae-gyeong to the hospital and is now working at her restaurant.
The mysterious woman Hanna, who seems to know that Ban Ji eum was Yoon Ju won in a past life.
How Moon Seo ha is now on the offensive against CEO Jang, who appears to have mismanaged some money at the hotel.
The reappearance of Ban Ji eum’s brother, who leads the loan sharks to Moon Seo ha.
The loan sharks take Moon Seo ha to a tunnel, but Seo ha manages to fend them off, plus he got help from Ha Do jin and Ban Ji eum.
Yoon Cho won’s call to Ban Ji eum to express her disappointment and sadness at what she thinks is Ban Ji eum’s ulterior motives.
Ban Ji eum’s fateful decision to reveal to Yoon Cho won that she was Yoon Ju won in her past life.
Three potential, new K Drama elements: the lighthouse, the sudden lane change while driving, and coughing into a drink.
What we thought of the title: Am I the Butterly, or is the Butterfly Me?
The life and background of Ha Yoon Kyung, the actress who plays Yoon Cho Won.

References

10.4 - Podcast Review of Episode 4 of See You In My 19th Life

3 januari 2025 | 74 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 4 of See You In My 19th Life, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Shin Hye-sun as Ban Ji-eum, Ahn Bo-hyun as Moon Seo-ha, Ha Yoon-kyung as Yoon Cho-won, and Ahn Dong-goo as Ha Do-yoon. We discuss:

Kendrick Lamar’s new song, Reincarnated, where he sings about his past lives!
The songs we feature during the recap:
- Sad Memory by Fallin’ Dild
- Star (organic version) by Colde
Our male listeners’ opinions of Moon Seo ha; hint: they don’t think much of him!
Our new K Drama elements: we like the name Bromance and The Person With Mixed Loyalties turns out to be in more shows than we originally thought!
Whether or not Yoon Ju won told her mom about her past lives.
Ban Ji eum seems to have conflicting goals: she wants Moon Seo ha to work out on his own that Ban Ji eum was Yoon Ju won BUT he also wants him to fall in love with her as Ban Ji eum so that he gets over Yoon Ju won.
The jesa tradition of honoring parents and ancestors.
When Moon Seo ha stays over at Ha Do yoon’s house, it’s clear that they are close friends and Moon Seo ha is able to open up about his feelings toward Ban Ji eum and Yoon Cho won.
The strong “fan” culture in South Korea.
How Ban Ji eum’s strategy is working because Moon Seo ha can’t stop thinking about her!
Ban Ji eum almost revealed to Yoon Cho won that they were sisters; instead, she upsets a tray and breaks a set of teacups.
The appearance of Ban Ji eum’s brother, who has clearly asked her for money before.
The drink maekju that we see so often in K Dramas.
Moon Seo ha’s suspicions that CEO Jang is up to no good and possibly manipulating the MI Grand Hotel’s finances.
We learn that Moon Seo ha knows that Ha Do yoon meets with the Chairman regularly AND that the Chairman knew Ha Do yoon’s father.
The mystery of the flowers in the lobby. Who is the woman who swapped them out, and who has swapped them back?
How Ban Ji eum and Yoon Cho won are destroyed when they realize the extent of Moon Seo ha’s trauma over the car accident and Yoon Ju won’s death.
The background and career of Ahn Bo hyun, the actor who plays Moon Seo ha.

References

10.3 - Podcast Review of Episode 3 of See You In My 19th Life

27 december 2024 | 78 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 3 of See You In My 19th Life, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Shin Hye-sun as Ban Ji-eum, Ahn Bo-hyun as Moon Seo-ha, Ha Yoon-kyung as Yoon Cho-won, and Ahn Dong-goo as Ha Do-yoon. We discuss:

The songs we featured during the recap:
- Piriri by Go Go King
- Down by Jo Yu ri
Ban Ji eum’s sad realization that the loved ones she left behind are still suffering over her death.
One person who is no longer sad is Kim Ae-gyeong, who was Ban Ji eum’s niece during her 17th life. Kim Ae-gyeong is no longer alone and she’s had 15 or 16 wonderful years with Ban Ji eum.
Jesa, the practice of honoring ancestors and parents, by offering food and drink at an altar with photos of the deceased.
The amazing scene under the stand of cherry trees, during which Ban Ji eum tries to comfort Moon Seo ha.
Moon Seo ha plays Remember on the piano, the song that Yoon Ju won says she composed during a past life, and that Moon Seo ha should learn to play when he’s missing someone.
Ban Ji eum’s confession to Moon Seo ha on his birthday. She didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to share her feelings AGAIN.
Ban Ji eum’s mysterious comment that perhaps she was reincarnated right away because she was murdered.
Ha Do yoon’s altercation with Lee Ji seok, the son of the Chairman of Daehwan Group. He insulted Ha Do yoon and stepped on his phone. Moon Seo ha defends Ha Do yoon.
Who is the mysterious woman who replaced the flowers in the lobby with gladiolus?
Moon Seo ha’s rejection of Yoon Cho won’s arrival for her interview to do the landscaping at the hotel.
Yoon Cho won’s confession that she loves Ha Do yoon over dinner with Ban Ji eum.
Ban Ji eum takes Yoon Cho won to her parent’s home after a tender taxi ride during which Ban Ji eum feels very sisterly toward Yoon Cho won.
The reason Ha Do yoon didn’t want to see Moon Seo ha is because he and his brother were preparing a jesa ceremony for their brother.
The reunion between Ban Ji eum and Yoon Ju won’s mother that happened in Ban Ji eum’s imagination.
When Moon Seo ha sees Ban Ji eum swaying and hugging herself, he approaches, sees she is crying, and says “noona” when Ban Ji eum calls him Seo ha ya.
A possible new K Drama element: a person with conflicting loyalties!
More information about the amazing Shin Hye sun, the actress who plays Ban Ji eum.

References

10.2 - Podcast Review of Episode 2 of See You In My 19th Life

20 december 2024 | 64 min

Comment on this episode on our website at KDramaChat.com!

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 2 of See You In My 19th Life, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Shin Hye-sun as Ban Ji-eum, Ahn Bo-hyun as Moon Seo-ha, Ha Yoon-kyung as Yoon Cho-won, and Ahn Dong-goo as Ha Do-yoon. We discuss:

The songs we heard during the recap:
- Horo by Go Go King
- Star by Colde
How we rewatch the first few episodes of a show to truly understand the show.
Comments from listeners on the blog.
The differences between transmigration, regression and reincarnation.
We wonder why Ban Ji-eum says her 18th life is her most memorable and why she remembers her memories from her previous lives
How Ban Ji-eum finds Moon Seo-ha in trouble, grabs his hand, tells him to run and then later asks him to marry her; she does this as a 9 year old and now as a 24-year old.
The 3 proposals in the show: 1 by Moon Seo-ha and 2 by Ban Ji-eum
We learn a lot about the relationships between the character through Lee Ji-seok, the son of the Daehwan Group Chairman.
Why Moon Seo-ha ultimately gave Ban Ji-eum a job at the hotel.
How Moon Seo-ha remembered Ban Ji-eum from his past and how he kept the handkerchief that she had used to tie up his bleeding hand.
How Ha Do-yoon seems to be a spy for Seo-ha’s father, the Chairman of MI Group.
The many encounters between the sisters in this episode and how Ban Ji-eum wonders what Yoon Cho-won’s feelings are toward Moon Seo-ha.
How the MI Grand Hotel CEO Jang Yeon-ok was having an affair with Seo-ha’s father when his mother was sick!
When Moon Se-ha lays the flowers at the grave of Yoon Jo-won, Ban Ji-eum, for the first time, realizes the pain of the people she has left behind during her many lives.
The many K Drama elements in this episode, including the many flowers we see and the wrist grabs.
Our 2 new elements: the gay teasing element, and the long wait for love.
The amazing Park So-yi, the young actress who plays a young Ban Ji-eum; we love her!

References

10.1 - Podcast Review of Episode 1 of See You In My 19th life

13 december 2024 | 74 min

9.2.6 - Podcast Review of Season 2, Episode 6 of Kingdom

6 december 2024 | 87 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 6, the finale, of Season 2 of Kingdom, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Ju Ji-hoon as Crown Prince Yi Chang, Bae Doona as Seo-bi, Ryu Seung-ryon as Cho Hak ju, Kim Sang-ho as Mou Young, Kim Sung-kyu as Yeong shin, and Kim Hye-jun as the Queen Consort. We discuss:

How we appreciated the listeners who sent in their recommendations for Season 10 by sending us voice recordings, and sending us emails or messages.
How the Crown Prince showed himself to be a different kind of leader when he refused to sacrifice the soldiers to save himself.
The plan to lure the zombies to the lake by the rear garden is a risky one because the timing has to be just right. In the end, the Crown Prince pounds on the ice with his hands and then uses the zombie giant to finally break the ice.
The miracle that allowed the Crown Prince and a few of his men to be saved when they fell in the water.
The amazing Seo-bi, who manages to escape the main hall with the baby prince by using fire and her wits.
When the Crown Prince and his men open up the palace gates, the Head Scholar says the baby prince must be found and killed so there won’t be chaos in the country.
When the Crown Prince finds Seo-bi and the baby, Seo-bi assures him that the baby won’t turn into a monster. The prince makes the important decision to save the baby, name him the legitimate heir, and erase himself from the history books. We discuss WHEN and WHY the Crown Prince decides to do this.
The amazing cinematography during the battle at the lake and when the Crown Prince walks away from the throne.
In the future, we see that the country is freed from zombies once Spring comes, and the young king is being prepared by his wise teachers and guides.
The Joseon Dynasty annals, which are so detailed, and from which so many historical K Dramas draw inspiration from.
The Crown Prince, now just Lee Chang, along with Seo-bi and a few soldiers, continue to look for the origins of the resurrection plant. They come across the plant in other parts of the country, and then find zombies! Who is behind the continuing spread of this plague?
The ending of the show shows the mysterious figure of a woman and a worm snaking across the young king’s face.
The K Drama elements we saw in this episode, including crying, and protecting someone at personal cost to yourself.
The addition of two elements to our list: a water scene and asking someone to speak casually to you.
Mapping Kingdom to the stages of the Hero’s Journey framework. Turns out the show is quite true to the framework!
Our final thoughts about this amazing K Drama!
The decision-making process that went into the show that we will recap and analyze in Season 10 of K Drama Chat! (You have to listen to find out the show!).

Listeners, we want to know what you think of our choice for Season 10! Please comment on the blog at KDramaChat.com!

References

9.2.5 - Podcast Review of Season 2, Episode 5 of Kingdom

29 november 2024 | 61 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 5 of Season 2 of Kingdom, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Ju Ji-hoon as Crown Prince Yi Chang, Bae Doona as Seo-bi, Ryu Seung-ryong as Cho Hak ju, Kim Sang-ho as Mou Young, Kim Sung-kyu as Yeong shin, and Kim Hye-jun as the Queen Consort. We discuss:

Joanna’s trip to Italy during the week of Thanksgiving and her Italian language journey.
Sung Hee's Korean language journey.
How the Crown Prince asks the soldiers from Mungyeong Saejae to remain loyal to him, even though their families are about to be executed.
How the military training commander appeared to have betrayed the Crown Prince by telling the palace that the Crown Prince was at the Scholarly Institute, but in reality, the military training commander had shared Lee Seung Hui’s medical journal with the Minister of War and lured the palace guards to the Scholarly Institute where the Crown Prince would NOT be.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince arrives at the palace, lets his presence be known, and locks all the gates of the palace, thereby shutting out the Queen’s guards.
How the Crown Prince, in his mourner’s outfit and peasant straw hat, looked so noble and kingly as he strode into the palace.
How Cho Beom Pal could not bring himself to order the execution of the soldiers’ families, but he is saved by the arrival of the Crown Prince, who orders the prisoners freed.
We speculate about whether or not the Crown Prince intends to take the throne.
How the tide turns in favor of the Prince, as more people switch over and swear their loyalty to him, including the Minister of War, the former commander of the Royal Commandery Division, and the court ministers.
How the Queen Consort does not seem bothered by the arrival of the Crown Prince. We speculate about her state of mind and think she’s about to burn the palace down because she knows she’s lost to the Crown Prince and she will either be banished or executed.
The Queen’s head court lady releases the zombies from the dungeon, thereby instigating a killing spree and the creation of a zombie horde in the palace.
The Crown Prince and his men put up a good fight, as do others in the palace, but they can’t fight against the zombie horde.
The episode ends with the Crown Prince and a few men on one side of a gate, with hundreds of zombies banging on the other side. Seo-bi, meanwhile, is locked in the main hall with the Queen, the baby Prince, and a few soldiers.
We list the shows that we are considering for Season 10 of K Drama Chat.
5 listeners shared their favorites via audio and we share them on the podcast!

References

9.2.4 - Podcast Review of Season 2, Episode 4 of Kingdom

22 november 2024 | 66 min

Comment on this week’s episode by visiting our blog at KDramaChat.com!

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 4 of Season 2 of Kingdom, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Ju Ji-hoon as Crown Prince Yi Chang, Bae Doona as Seo-bi, Ryu Seung-ryong as Cho Hak ju, Kim Sang-ho as Mou Young, Kim Sung-kyu as Yeong shin, and Kim Hye-jun as the Queen Consort. We discuss:

We learn the story behind the beef pancakes and how the Crown Prince asked for Mu Yeong’s loyalty to the very end in return for allowing Mu Yeong to steal from the royal meals.
How the amazing Seo bi saves Cho Hak ju by figuring out that the zombies are afraid of water.
The meaning of the tolling of bells in Korean culture.
The Crown Prince makes it to Naeseonjae and saves Mu Yeong’s wife. Later, Young shin guides Seo bi to the Scholarly Institute to care for Mu Yeong’s wife.
Cho Hak ju visits his daughter, the Queen Consort, and asks Seo bi to check the Queen’s pulse. Seo bi confirms that the Queen did not deliver the baby boy in her arms.
Cho Hak ju says the Queen must die for her treachery against the Haewon Cho clan and the nation, but the Queen has other plans because she poisoned her father and he dies!
We learn that the Queen and Cheo Bom Il conspired to fake the Queen’s pregnancy when she miscarried. They vowed to keep the fake pregnancy a secret from their father.
Turns out the Queen is the scariest person in the palace!
The Queen throws Seo bi into the palace dungeon and tells her to keep studying the zombies.
The Crown Prince visits his uncle on Ganghwa Island and asks Young shin why he continues to be loyal to him, the Crown Prince.
We have a new K Drama element: when a character asks another character to stay with them. In this episode, the Crown Prince asks Mu Yeong to stay with him until the end, and the Queen asks Cho Beom Pal to stay with her and her baby boy.
The different types of palace guards, their training, and how they were picked.
We’re looking for suggestions for Season 10 of K Drama Chat!

References

9.2.3 - Podcast Review of Season 2, Episode 3 of Kingdom

15 november 2024 | 73 min

Listeners, we apologize that Joanna’s audio is not as good as normal. She was traveling and had to record this episode on her phone.

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 3 of Season 2 of Kingdom, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Ju Ji-hoon as Crown Prince Yi Chang, Bae Doona as Seo-bi, Ryu Seung-ryong as Cho Hak ju, Kim Sang-ho as Mou Young, Kim Sung-kyu as Yeong shin, and Kim Hye-jun as the Queen Consort. We discuss:

The timeline of the queen’s evil plan to get a baby boy. We have differing opinions about when it all began!
We also disagree about when we think Mu Yeong started spying on the Crown Prince for Cho Beom Il.
What happened three years ago when Cho Hak ju asked Lord Ahn to take the patients in the Sumang Village leper colony, kill them, and turn them into zombies to fight the Japanese army.
Lord Ahn agreed to the plan but he has regretted it ever since.
How this show is an exploration of the lines that we cross and don’t dare cross to protect our families, communities, and nation.
Whether or not Young shin knew the truth about what happened to his brother in Sumang Village.
The Crown Prince’s impassioned speech to the soldiers at Mungyeong Saejae, whose loyalty he wants.
The Crown Prince’s commitment to save the people trapped in the citadel of Sangju by delivering food to them.
We now know that Mu Yeong is the traitor because he has taken Cho Hak ju and is rushing him to Hanyang.
Seo bi’s suspicion that something is very wrong with the Queen and her pregnancy because the Queen had Cho Beom Pal bring her sappanwood from Japan. Sappanwood is known to stop bleeding after a miscarriage.
The soldiers who take Cho Hak ju and kill Mu Yeong.
The Crown Prince’s grief over losing Mu Yeong. When Young shin asks the Crown Prince why he did nothing about Mu Yeong’s betrayal, the Crown Prince said he didn’t want to lose someone else.
By the end of this episode, the Crown Prince has lost the three most important men in his life: his father, Lord Ahn, and Mu Yeong AND beheaded two of these men.
How the head of the Royal Commandery Division is arrested and punished for daring to barge into the Royal Delivery area.
Mu Yeong’s motivations in betraying the Crown Prince.
Why Young shin continues to stay with the Crown Prince.
The filming locations for Kingdom.

References

9.2.2 - Podcast Review of Season 2, Episode 2 of Kingdom

8 november 2024 | 77 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 2 of Season 2 of Kingdom, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Ju Ji-hoon as Crown Prince Yi Chang, Bae Doona as Seo-bi, Ryu Seung-ryong as Cho Hak ju, Kim Sang-ho as Mou Young, Kim Sung-kyu as Yeong shin, and Kim Hye-jun as the Queen Consort. We discuss:

How this episode is full of betrayal: someone betrayed the Crown Prince, Cho Hak ju betrays Lord Ahn, and the Queen Consort betrays her father and the rest of the Haewon Cho clan
How Seo-bi violated our rule of never opening mysterious chests without knowing that what’s inside is a friendly person or a cute, furry animal.
How the Crown Prince must kill his zombie father, thereby honoring his father’s words to him from so long ago: Stay alive!
We learn more about what happened three years ago and we learn that Lord Ahn has deeply regretted his decision to create zombies ever since.
Cho Hak ju had Lord Ahn killed, something that the soldiers do with hesitation, given that Lord Ahn is a national war hero. So now, the Crown Prince’s mentor and guide has left him.
Lord Ahn makes himself a weapon against Cho Hak ju when he asks the Crown Prince to turn him into a zombie.
Back at Hanyang, the Minister of War orders the queen’s residence searched and the soldiers discover the bodies of seven mothers and babies. Curiously, the baby boy died of natural causes, while the baby girls were strangled to death.
The court officials debate the line of succession in light of the king’s death when the head eunuch announces that the Queen Consort has gone into labor.
The Queen, of course, is not in labor, but waiting for a baby boy to be born.
The ID tags that all men over the age of 18 carried around during the Joseon dynasty.
The desire for revenge by Young shin and Lord Ahn’s men, which leads them to try and take down Cho Hak ju when they are taken out of their jail cell to be transported to Hanyang.
We wonder where Mu Yeong is.
The crazy ending where the zombie Lord Ahn takes a chunk out of Cho Hak ju’s left cheek!
The K Drama elements in this episode, including the Crown Prince sinking to the ground with great emotion, and the queen’s amazing abs in episode 1 of season 2.
The enduring popularity of zombies, from around the world!
How Korean zombies are different from Western dramas in that they often focus on the relationships between the humans and the zombies.

References

Worn Identity, or information about the ID tags worn by people during the Joseon dynasty
King Cheoljong and his family, who were banished to Ganghwa Island
30 Zombie TV Shows Ranked by Tomatometer
The Last Of Us: A Closer Look at the Zombie Genre

9.2.1 - Podcast Review of Season 2, Episode 1 of Kingdom

1 november 2024 | 68 min

9.1.6 - Podcast Review of Season 1, Episode 6 of Kingdom

25 oktober 2024 | 55 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 6 of Season 1 of Kingdom, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Ju Ji-hoon as Crown Prince Yi Chang, Bae Doona as Seo-bi, Ryu Seung-ryon as Cho Hak ju, Kim Sang-ho as Mou Young, Kim Sung-kyu as Yeong shin, and Kim Hye-jun as the Queen Consort. We discuss:

How Season 2 of Kingdom dropped at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic - crazy!
The power struggle between Chief State Councilor Cho Hak ju and the Queen Consort.
How Lord Ahn put himself squarely in the Crown Prince’s camp when his archers shot the palace guards.
How the Crown Prince seems like a new person. He’s determined and confident when he strikes down the chief palace guard.
Who might be the traitor among the Crown Prince’s companions?
The thousands of people amassing at the southern gates of Sangju. The magistrate doesn’t want to let them in, but the Crown Prince decides that the magistrate is NOT the person to make that decision.
The Crown Prince’s plan to protect Sangju by taking advantage of the bodies of water surrounding Sangju.
The Queen’s evil plan to have a baby boy by taking pregnant, peasant women and waiting for one of them to have a boy. The queen is not pregnant after all!
Joanna’s theory that the queen might have had a miscarriage or gotten her period the day she asked her head court lady to burn her clothes because they had blood on them.
How the queen punished the court lady who gossiped about her clothing.
Why Cho Hak ju left Hanyang to go to Mungyeong Saejae, why he’s traveling with a zombie, and what his plans might be regarding the Crown Prince.
How Seo bi finds the resurrection plant in the Frozen Valley close to Sangju. But while in the cave, she and Cheo Beom Pal are trapped by zombies, who have come out during the day! Seo bi realizes that it's the temperature, not the day and night, that controls when the zombies come out.
How the Crown Prince and the men have an uneventful evening, but come morning, when they think they have a day’s respite, they realize that a zombie horde is coming!
The versatile Kim Sung-kyu, the actor who plays Young shin

Next week, we will start Season 2 of Kingdom!

References

9.1.5 - Podcast Review of Season 1, Episode 5 of Kingdom

18 oktober 2024 | 66 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 5 of Season 1 of Kingdom, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Ju Ji-hoon as Crown Prince Yi Chang, Bae Doona as Seo-bi, Ryu Seung-ryong as Cho Hak ju, Kim Sang-ho as Mou Young, Kim Sung-kyu as Yeong shin, and Kim Hye-jun as the Queen Consort. We discuss:

K Drama Chat is featured in this month’s episode of Asian American Life from CUNY-TV! Check us out at the 10:30 mark (see link below).
The Korean concept of Han, which is uniquely Korean and represents a emotion that is a form of resentment and hatred.
The geography of Joseon so that we can understand the context of this episode. The Crown Prince starts in Dongnae, which was in the southeast corner of Gyeongsang Province. He was traveling to Sangju, which was in the northwestern corner of Gyeongsang. Dongnae is located in what is now Busan.
How the Five Armies closed the gates of the mountain garrison of Mungyeong Saejae, aka Joryeong.
How the Crown Prince wanted to be different from those who abandoned the weak. He blames himself for the deaths of the villagers, but Seo bi and Mu Young see a brave and noble prince who is risking his life for ordinary people.
How Lord Ahn and his men show up at the pivotal moment when the Crown Prince and his crew are attacked by the village men AND the zombies.
We learn that Lord Ahn was the prince’s teacher when he was young. Lord Ahn taught him and supported him, but also told him that he had to fend for himself AND fight injustice. Lord Ahn means so much to the prince!
We learn more about Youngshin and his background. He is probably a member of the chakho, or the elite group that hunts tigers. He used to live in Sangju, but left during the Imjin War and even left his little brother behind.
The evil Cho Hak ju is conducting experiments on prisoners and a mysterious noble has taken in pregnant, peasant women and is giving them shelter and food! The group includes Mu Young’s wife!
The Queen Consort declares herself Regent, but we know that Cho Hak ju is now running the country.
Ryu Seung-ryong, the actor who plays Cho Hak ju.

References

Asian American Life episode featuring K Drama Chat at the 10:30 mark
8 Provinces of Korea during the Joseon dynasty on Wikipedia
8 Provinces of Korea, including where Sangju and Hanyang are located
Crash Landing On You to be remade with Netflix USA
Mungyeong Saejae - Wikipedia
There's a uniquely Korean word for rage and regret. So why had I never heard of it?
Han (cultural) - Wikipedia
Sexagenary cycle - Wikipedia

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9.1.4 - Podcast Review of Season 1, Episode 4 of Kingdom

11 oktober 2024 | 59 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 4 of Season 1 of Kingdom, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Ju Ji-hoon as Crown Prince Yi Chang, Bae Doona as Seo-bi, Ryu Seung-ryong as Cho Hak ju, Kim Sang-ho as Mou Young, Kim Sung-kyu as Yeong shin, and Kim Hye-jun as the Queen Consort. We discuss:

Recent comments from our listeners, including Shine, who has attended many K Drama star meet and greets in Manila. Shine says it’s common for fans to walk up on stage to say hello to stars at the end of these events.
The Hero’s Journey framework, which was researched and popularized by writer Joseph Campbell, who researched thousands of myths, stories and legends from around the world. He came up with what he called the monomyth or the Hero’s Journey, which he says is basically the template for so many of our myths and legends.
How exciting it is to map Kingdom to the Hero’s Journey.
- We think the Call to Adventure has happened
- The Crown Prince at first tried to refuse the call
- Mu Young is clearly his guide
- The Crown Prince is being tested; witness the people who died by the arrows of the palace guards
- But the Crown Prince is also gaining allies in Seo bi and Young shin
- The Crown Prince is also an orphan. We see a lot of orphans in hero’s journey movies and shows: Luke Skywalker, Harry Potter, Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, Peter Parker, Frodo Baggins
In this episode, it seems everyone is headed to Sangju.
How Cho Hak ju had the messenger who delivered his son’s head killed on the spot, which means he killed the messenger. We discuss the origins of the phrase, “don’t shoot the messenger.”
The beacon fires used to alert the country, or bongsu. In Lord of the Rings, there are beacon fires used to alert the Kingdom of Gondor in the event of an attack.
How Cho Hak ju shows the court officials that the king is a monster and proclaims him still alive and still king.
The Crown Prince’s continued evolution. In the previous episode, he was mostly looking out for himself. In this episode, the people are looking to him for what to do next.
The samo, or the hat that the court officials wear when they wear their court attire, or the dallyeong
Kim Sang-ho, the actor who plays Mu Young.

References

9.1.3 - Podcast Review of Season 1, Episode 3 of Kingdom

4 oktober 2024 | 74 min

Listeners, we need your help! If you are enjoying K Drama Chat, please encourage a friend to listen! And would you please give us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify? Thank you!

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 3 of Season 1 of Kingdom, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Ju Ji-hoon as Crown Prince Yi Chang, Bae Doona as Seo-bi, Ryu Seung-ryong as Cho Hak ju, Kim Sang-ho as Mou Young, Kim Sung-kyu as Yeong shin, and Kim Hye-jun as the Queen Consort. We discuss:

The Seo In Guk Meet and Greet in Washington, DC that Joanna attended! It was amazing!
The enduring appeal of zombies!
How the opening sequence of the show describes exactly how the king was revived using the resurrection plant, as described in Lee Seung Hui’s medical journal. Although this scene is quite horrific, it is beautifully filmed!
How Cho Hak Ju and the Queen Consort keep the king chained and how they feed him unwitting court ladies. Who are the real monsters in the palace?
The head scholar and Minister of War are suspicious about all the dead bodies in the palace. They want Lord Ahn Hyeon to ally with them, but Cho Hak Ju is confident that Lord Ahn will never oppose the Cho clan.
How Youngshin is doing everything he can to save people from the zombies and Seo bi comes to his defense when Cho Beom Pal and the head clerk accused him of crimes.
How we are seeing a different Crown Prince in this episode. HE tried to climb the barracks wall, and he took charge at the magistrate’s office when Cho Beom Pal and the head clerk came up with a ridiculous plan re: the zombie bodies.
We now know of a few ways to stop the zombies: burn them, cut off their heads, drown them.
Cho Beom Pal is clearly the comic relief in the show, especially in this episode when Seo bi diagnosed him as having gonorrhea.
The Crown Prince now knows what happened to the king, how he died, and was brought back to life by Lee Seung Hui using the resurrection plan. He is now mourning the death of his father.
How the king somehow foresaw that his son would be in danger. The king urged his son to stay alive!
The officials, nobles and soldiers use the one remaining ship to sail to Sangju, stranding all the villagers on the dock.
How Joseon was a tremendously classist society. Although society has flattened a great deal today, you can still see the emphasis on hierarchy in modern day language and culture.
We wonder what happened three years ago that clearly involved Cho Hak Ju, Lord Ahn Hyeon, and Lee Seung Hui.
The amazing and beautiful Bae Doona, the actress who plays Seo bi.

References

9.1.2 - Podcast Review of Season 1, Episode 2 of Kingdom

27 september 2024 | 61 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 2 of Season 1 of Kingdom, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Ju Ji-hoon as Crown Prince Yi Chang, Bae Doona as Seo-bi, Ryu Seung-ryon as Cho Hak ju, Kim Sang-ho as Mou Young, Kim Sung-kyu as Yeong shin, and Kim Hye-jun as the Queen Consort. We discuss:

We’re learning about how the zombie outbreak started in the first place, that it started in Hanyang when physician Lee Seung Hui brought the king back to life with the resurrection plant and then attacked Dan i. The prince now knows that his father has become one of the zombies.
How the Crown Prince makes some important decisions that almost seem out of character:
- Despite the horrible scene at Jihulyeon, the prince decides to go to the Frozen Valley to find Seo bi and learn more about what happened to his father.
- When Seo bi explains that the people aren’t dead, the prince tells Mu Yeong to go back to the magistrate’s office with Seo bi, while he will go back alone to Jihulyeon to find physician Lee Seung Hui’s medical journals.
We wonder why Seo bi and Young shin didn’t burn the bodies and we think it’s because Seo bi believed she could save the people, AND it was considered immoral to burn the bodies of the deceased.
The epic fight scene between the prince and Cho Beom il; Cho Beom il now knows that the prince knows what happened to the king.
The flashback that shows the king being pronounced dead by Lee Seung Hui, but Cho Hak ju and the Queen consort tell the physician he must do what he did three years ago.
The mysterious dead bodies being dropped in the lake, which we believe are victims of the king.
Young shin and Seo bi try to convince the magistrate that the dead people aren’t dead but nobody believes them, and they are both jailed.
In the last scene, the prince escapes the zombies, runs through the forest, runs toward the water’s edge and sees Dong Nae burning in the distance.
The amazing Ju Ji hoon, including his education, acting success, and how he wasn’t the first choice for the part of the Crown Prince!

References

9.1.1 - Podcast Review of Season 1, Episode 1 of Kingdom

20 september 2024 | 71 min

8.17 - Special Episode with Jean Rhim to Discuss our Favorites of Everything K Drama

13 september 2024 | 56 min

8.16 - Podcast Review of Episode 16 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

6 september 2024 | 129 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 16 of Crash Landing On You, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Hyun Bin as Ri Jyeong hyeok, Son Ye-jin as Yoon Se-ri, Seo Ji-hye as Seo Dan and Kim Jung-hyun as Gu Seung joon. Ernabel Demillo is back to help us analyze the final episode of CLOY. We discuss:

The songs we heard during the recap: Same Sky, Different World by Nam Hye Seung and Park Sang Hee, Like You by So Soo Bin and Kim Soo Hee, and Here I Am Again by Baek Yerin.
How Captain Ri kept vigil by Se-ri until he knew she was in stable condition.
How it would feel to be given a chance to stay in South Korea after growing up in North Korea.
How Se-ri’s stepmom gave Se-ri a gift when she told Se-ri about Captain Ri’s devotion; this convinces Se-ri to go see Captain Ri before he left.
The heartbreaking scene at the border when Captain Ri and Se-ri manage to steal a few moments and say goodbye.
How General Ri went to rescue his men and his wife kept her own virgil at home, with folded pieces of paper that probably contained poison.
The tragic relationship between Seo Dan and Gu Seung Jun. Seo Dan confesses that she likes Gu Seung Jun and then Gu Seung Jun dies.
How Seo Dan and Se-ri are united in their desire to take down Yoon Se-hyeong. Seo Dan helps Se-ri by getting Mr. Cheon to send records and recordings from China to Se-ri.
How Seo Dan and her mother seem at peace with Captain Ri’s actions, and the end of Captain Ri and Se-ri’s engagement.
The NIS chief with the big heart who allowed Captain Ri to visit Se-ri at the hospital and schedule text messages before he went back to North Korea.
How the text messages allow Se-ri to feel like she is spending the seasons with Captain Ri. Both of them try to honor the other by trying to live a good life.
How life goes back to normal after Captain Ri and his men go back to North Korea, but all of our characters are fundamentally changed.
How Se-ri convinces her brother, Yoon Se-jun, to create a foundation that supports students talented in music. These students are given support to study in Switzerland.
After many years of waiting, Se-ri paraglides, lands on a mountaintop, and meets Ri Jeong Hyeok, who has missed her every night and day.
Later, we learn that Captain Ri and Se-ri spend two happy weeks in Switzerland together each year.
The show that we will recap and analyze in Season 9 of K Drama Chat.

References

8.15 - Podcast Review of Episode 15 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

30 augusti 2024 | 75 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 15 of Crash Landing On You, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Hyun Bin as Ri Jyeong hyeok, Son Ye-jin as Yoon Se-ri, Seo Ji-hye as Seo Dan and Kim Jung-hyun as Gu Seung joon. We discuss:

The songs we featured during the recap: Wind of the Day by Nam Hye Seung and Park Sang Hee and Give You My Heart by IU.
The meaning of tsundere and how Captain Ri and Se-ri are tsundere who were transformed by the other.
The cruelty of Cho Cheol Gang’s words that made Captain Ri doubt his father’s love and intentions, took away his newfound happiness, and made him consider shooting himself.
How Captain Ri is arrested, at first refuses to eat, drink or talk, but then takes the blame for everything that has happened.
How Captain Ri’s men are likewise rounded up. They are worried they will be tortured, but instead, they are given clean clothes, medical exams, and as much food as they want.
Se-ri leaves her hospital bed to try and help Captain Ri’s men as they are being taken away, but the men think only of her and her health.
How heartbreaking it was when Captain Ri coldly rebuffed Se-ri and told her that the sight of her bothered him.
When Se-ri collapses and is taken to the ICU, Captain Ri is full of regret and allowed to visit her at the hospital.
We loved the loyalty and bravery of the village women who prevent Myeong Sun and her son from being taken away by Cho Cheol Gang’s men.
Gu Seung Jun is abducted by Mr. Cheon and his thugs, but Mr. Cheon allows Gu Seung Jun to escape back into the border village, where some orphans further assist him.
Gu Seung Jun confesses to Seo Dan that he has feelings for her and he will try to return and win her heart in the future. Is he setting her up for everlasting longing and pain?
Gu Seung Jun gives up his chance to leave the country to save Seo Dan and in the process, gets shot. He is at least happy that someone is crying over him.
While Se-ri lies unconscious in her hospital bed, she has a dream where she is transported back to the day she decided to go paragliding. Even knowing everything that happened to her, she makes the same decision to go paragliding, crash in North Korea, and meet Captain Ri.
Captain Ri, for his part, wishes he could go back in time and not meet Se-ri so that he could prevent her being so close to death.
The actors who play Captain Ri’s men: their backgrounds, acting careers, and shows.
How difficult it’s going to be to decide on the next show for Season 9 of K Drama Chat!

References

8.14 - Podcast Review of Episode 14 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

23 augusti 2024 | 75 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 14 of Crash Landing On You, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Hyun Bin as Ri Jyeong hyeok, Son Ye-jin as Yoon Se-ri, Seo Ji-hye as Seo Dan and Kim Jung-hyun as Gu Seung joon. We discuss:

The songs we featured during the recap: Like a Wild Flower and When That Day Comes by Nam Hye Seung and Park Sang Hee.
We learn from Captain Ri himself how, after his brother died, he decided he would never love again, laugh again, have fun again, play the piano again. But everything changed when Se-ri crash landed into his life.
How Captain Ri keeps vigil at the hospital, hiding in the shadows and standing guard at her door.
How South Korea got rid of its gun problem. Today, gun homicides are statistically negligible!
How Captain Ri and Se-ri realize that they each took a bullet for the other. They hug and Captain Ri confesses his love.
How Jung Man Bok bugged Se-ri’s room and his recording proves really important. The recording captures Se-ri’s stepmom apologizing to Se-ri for abandoning her on the beach, and Yoo Se-yeong and Go Sang Ah admitting their collusion with Cho Cheol Gang.
The kiss we’ve been waiting for between Captain Ri and Se-ri!
The physician Heo Jun, referenced by Captain Ri when he’s taking care of Ser-ri.
The growing feelings between Seo Dan and Gu Seung Jun and their epic kiss!
The men in suits who go after Gu Seung Jun corner him on the roof and we don’t know who shows up.
How the former Chairman strips Yoon Se-hyeong of the Chairmanship of the Queens Group and disowns him as his son.
How Captain Ri tracks down Manager Oh and confronts Cho Cheol Gang.
Captain Ri is followed by South Korea authorities and they shoot when Cho Cheol Gang turns around and take a shot at Captain Ri
The five love languages and Captain Ri’s gifts of the recording and food in the pantry to Se-ri.
The K Dramas we’re considering for Season 9 of K Drama Chat. Please keep the suggestions coming!

References

Korean TV’s Unlikely Star: Subway Sandwiches
How South Korea Got Rid of Its Gun Problem
Heo Jun, a royal physician, who worked to promote health for the people as well as the king
Dongui Bogam, he definitive medical text, an effort led by Heo Jun at King Seonjo’s request
Memory of the World Register

8.13 - Podcast Review of Episode 13 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

16 augusti 2024 | 71 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 13 of Crash Landing On You, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Hyun Bin as Ri Jyeong hyeok, Son Ye-jin as Yoon Se-ri, Seo Ji-hye as Seo Dan and Kim Jung-hyun as Gu Seung joon. We discuss:

The songs that we featured during the recap: Someday by Kim Jae Hwan and The Season of Us by Nam Hye Seung and Park Sang Hee.
How Se-ri knows that Captain Ri needs to go home; in fact, she’s worried about Captain Ri experiencing Bambi Syndrome.
How the ducklings realize that Se-ri is not a crier. She never cried during the many sad and terrible situations that happened to her while in North Korea, but she’s now crying over a surprise birthday party!
The adorable couple rings that Captain Ri bought for Se-ri and himself!
How “to bunk off” means to play hooky or take the day off. Captain Ri and Se-ri bunk off and go to the movies and visit a beautiful suspension bridge.
Captain Ri’s revelation to Se-ri that they had met on the Sigriswil bridge when she tried to kill herself.
How Gu Seung Jun and Seo Dan are getting closer. Gu Seung Jun has even confessed that he has a crush on her.
When Seo Dan realizes that Captain Ri went to Seoul to save Se-ri, she breaks down. Her engagement is broken and seven years of waiting have amounted to nothing.
The tough decision that Jung Man Bok faces when Cho Cheol Gang finds him and threatens his son.
Kim Ju Meok’s sweet, surprise lunch with the gorgeous Choi Ji-woo.
The former Chairman and his wife are furious with Yoon Se-hyeong and his wife, but the devious couple have one more trick up their sleeve. Se-ri is in real danger as she drives to her father’s house.
We are so glad that Jung Man Bok did not betray Captain Ri and instead collaborated with Captain Ri, Se-ri and the ducklings to protect Se-ri during her drive, and Captain Ri when he went to the warehouse.
The heartbreaking ending where Se-ri, in trying to protect Captain Ri, ends up getting shot by Cho Cheol Gang.
How we need to start thinking about the show to recap and analyze in Season 9 of K Drama Chat! Please send us suggestions on Instagram and the blog!

References

Filming locations for CLOY
- https://www.klook.com/en-MY/blog/crash-landing-on-you-locations/
- https://creatrip.com/en/blog/9668
Choi Ji Woo
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choi_Ji-woo

8.12 - Podcast Review of Episode 12 of Crash Landing On You

9 augusti 2024 | 79 min

Sung Hee is back from her trip to London! Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 12 of Crash Landing On You, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Hyun Bin as Ri Jyeong Hyeok, Son Ye-jin as Yoon Se-ri, Seo Ji-hye as Seo Dan and Kim Jung-hyun as Gu Seung joon. We discuss:

The songs we feature during the recap: Seo Dan and Same Sky, Different World by Nam Hye Seung and Park Sang Hee
A few shout outs to our listeners who have commented on the blog and given us reviews.
The emotional scene when Captain Ri finds Se-ri in the parking garage. Once again, he’s found her!
Captain Ri and Se-ri clearly love each other but they know they can’t be together. Captain Ri doesn’t try to stay and Se-ri doesn’t ask him to stay.
Geum Eun Dong’s and Captain Ri’s hilarious screen names in the online game they played!
Captain Ri was a shell of himself, not believing he could or should ever be happy, until he met Se-ri. Captain Ri did the same for Se-ri.
How Captain Ri’s men must be absolutely overwhelmed by the wealth of South Korea.
How Yoon Se-hyeong will stop at nothing to become Chairman. It’s an act that he cares about what happens to Se-ri if Cho Cheol Gang takes her!
Why Se-ri’s father wrote his relationship to Se-ri in Chinese or Hanja, when he went to get her from the military.
We get the heartbreaking, soul crushing flashback from Se-ri’s youth when her stepmom left her on the beach. This is why Se-ri has always felt alone and unwanted, and why her stepmom is haunted by her relationship with Se-ri.
Why is the former Chairman, Se-ri’s dad not getting blamed for his extramarital affair with Se-ri’s mom, for conning Gu Seung Jun’s father, and for his financial wrongdoings at Queens Group?
The start of a romance between Seo Dan and Gu Seung Jun. She must be fascinated and intrigued by Gu Seung Jun!
The amazing friendships between the village women.
When Captain Ri found Se-ri’s voice recorder and listened to her confession and his own voice, he realized that they had met in Switzerland. It seems that he and Se-ri are fated to meet and keep finding each other.

8.11a - Special Episode with Mars from the Moksori Podcast

2 augusti 2024 | 41 min

8.11 - Podcast Review of Episode 11 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

26 juli 2024 | 74 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 11 of Crash Landing On You, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Hyun Bin as Ri Jyeong hyeok, Son Ye-jin as Yoon Se-ri, Seo Ji-hye as Seo Dan and Kim Jung-hyun as Gu Seung joon. We discuss:

The songs we feature during the recap: Here I Am Again by Baek Yerin and Let Us Go by Crush.
In the first half of the show, Se-ri is trying hard to adapt to North Korea. In this episode, Captain Ri and the ducklings are trying to get used to South Korea.
Cho Cheol Gang is now in South Korea and she’s clearly after Se-ri.
Se-ri can’t believe her eyes when she finds Captain Ri on the sidewalk. The hug they give each other makes it clear that they are home in each other’s arms. Now, Se-ri knows that Cho Cheol Gang is after her.
If Captain Ri has one talent, it’s his ability to find Se-ri. Knowing just her neighborhood, he found her in Seoul!
Although Se-ri lies to Captain Ri and tells him that everything is fine with her family, she has to eat her words when Yoon Se-Hyeong and his wife enter her apartment and threaten her if she tries to get in the way of him becoming Chairman.
Se-ri takes Captain Ri shopping for some amazing clothes and a hot haircut. He was so handsome before; now he’s downright debonair!
The reference to the Korean folk tale of Heungbu and Nolbu.
How the ducklings have been dropped into Seoul and they are exploring fried chicken and a South Korea spa.
With Cho Cheol Gang convicted, Mr. Cheon says he and Gu Seung Jun are in danger. Mr. Cheo gets taken by some men, leaving Gu Seung Jun alone and without a place to stay.
Gu Seung Jun gets a phone call from Seo Dan, whom he picks up and who offers him use of her apartment in the border village.
How both Captain Ri and Seo Dan’s mothers ultimately care about their children and want them to be with someone they actually love.
Yoon Se-Jun and his wife tell Se-ri’s mother that Se-ri was in North Korea. Even worse, Yoon Se-Hyeong knew about Se-ri and didn’t do anything about it!
The village ladies risk a lot to see a shaman, who tells the women that they are all in trouble because their husbands are in trouble.
Captain Ri’s battle with the thugs and his epic cat and mouse game with Cho Cheol Gang to save Se-ri.
In the epilogue, we realize that Se-ri and Seo Dan had also met while in Switzerland.
Our favorite K Drama elements, especially Captain Ri protecting Se-ri at personal cost to himself, the Subway product placement (finally!), and a new element: clamping a hand on someone’s mouth.
The actresses who play the village ladies; we love them!

References

8.10 - Podcast Review of Episode 10 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

19 juli 2024 | 65 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 10 of Crash Landing On You, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Hyun Bin as Ri Jyeong hyeok, Son Ye-jin as Yoon Se-ri, Seo Ji-hye as Seo Dan and Kim Jung-hyun as Gu Seung joon. We discuss:

The songs we feature in the recap: Se-ri’s Choice by Nam Hye Seung and Park Sang Hee and The Hill of Yearning by April 2nd.
How Se-ri and Captain Ri have had 5 partings and 5 reunions.
In the end, it was easy enough to get Se-ri home since Captain Ri and his men were back at the DMZ.
Why Captain Ri asked Gu Seung Jun for help and why Gu Seung Jun decided to help Captain Ri get Se-ri back to Seoul.
The Grief Bowl and how the cracked and empty bowl outside the rundown house in the DMZ is a metaphor for how Captain Ri is feeling.
How Se-ri gets back to Seoul and takes back her company, but she is clearly a changed person.
The amnesia game that Se-ri is playing with her family, but Yoon Se-hyeong is not fooled since he and his wife knew that Se-ri was in North Korea.
How Captain Ri gets his brother’s watch from Jung Man Bok, who is guilt-ridden over his part in the killing of his only friend, the man who saved his son.
The trial that got Cho Cheol Gang convinced of multiple crimes, but he is rescued by two Kamaz trucks and is now threatening Se-ri back in Seoul.
How Gu Seung Jun and Seo Dan met at the Pyongyang Hotel and Gu Seung Jun explains how he helped send Se-ri home.
How Se-ri finds Captain Ri on the sidewalk outside her house. He had been looking for her!
How Captain Ri’s men and Jung Man Bok are kidnapped by General Ri and given the mission to find Captain Ri in Seoul and bring him back.
Kim Soo Hyun’s amazing cameo as a North Korea spy posing as a Chinese food delivery man. This is a role he played in Secretly Greatly.
The background and roles of the handsome and talented Ha Seok Jin, who plays Ri Mu Hyeok, Captain Ri’s brother.

References

Vanav facial massager, used by Se Ri when she got to her own apartment
The Grief Bowl
Bowing in Korea
- https://koreanpractice.com/bow-in-korean/
- https://daebak.co/blogs/magazine/south-korean-etiquette-bowing

8.9 - Podcast Review of Episode 9 of Crash Landing On You

12 juli 2024 | 93 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 9 of Crash Landing On You, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Hyun Bin as Ri Jyeong Hyeok, Son Ye-jin as Yoon Se-ri, Seo Ji-hye as Seo Dan and Kim Jung-hyun as Gu Seung joon. The amazing Ernabel Demillo is back to help us recap and analyze this episode! We discuss:

The songs we feature during the recap: My Companion by Nam Hye Seung and Park Sang Hee and All Of My Days by Kim Sejeong.
Captain Ri didn’t believe Se-ri when she said she was going home. He was determined to find her!
When Captain Ri punched Cho Cheol Gang, it wasn’t very smart, but he was done and he was out of hope. He felt like once again, he had failed to protect someone he loved.
The language Se-ri uses when she speaks with Captain Ri’s father. She is very respectful and it’s hard to explain the levels of honorifics in Korean.
How Captain Ri’s parents are shocked to find out who Se-ri is, and that she and Captain Ri love each other.
How Captain Ri’s men spread the rumor about who Captain Ri’s father is, and this leads the Senior Colonel to release him from the detention center.
How Captain Ri works out that his father, General Ri, is probably the one who had Se-ri taken.
How Captain Ri and Se-ri discover that they encountered each other in Switzerland and Jeong Hyeok’s Song For My Brother gave Se-ri hope and he ultimately saved her life. This revelation scene was exquisitely filmed and edited.
How Cho Cheol Gang convinced the Military Director to have the Ri residence searched because he thinks Se-ri is hiding there. The search ultimately turns up nothing because Captain Ri and his men did an emergency switch at the DMZ.
Se-ri’s mom and sisters-in-law visit Se-ri’s apartment. Se-ri’s mom is full of worry and regret, while the sisters-in-law covet Se-ri’s things and her business, Se-ri’s Choice.
How our second leads, Gu Seung Jun and Seo Dan, encounter each other at the Pyongyang Hotel bar. They get really drunk and discover each other for the first time.
Captain Ri takes Se-ri to a point in the DMZ where she can easily cross over into South Korea. When Se-ri crosses over, Captain Ri decides to cross over and give Se-ri a big kiss!
In the epilogue, we see Se-ri organizing Captain Ri’s books so that the top lines say ‘I Love You, Ri Jeong Hyeok.”
The show we’re watching now, including Lovely Runner, Itaewon Class, and Red Sleeve.
Ernabel’s show, Asian American Life. In a recent segment, she shares that ube is the top flavor trends of 2024. She also interviewed Jeanie Chang, author of “How K-Dramas Can Transform Your Life: Powerful Lessons on Belongingness, Healing, and Mental Health.”

References

8.8 - Podcast Review of Episode 8 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

5 juli 2024 | 69 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 8 of Crash Landing On You, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Hyun Bin as Ri Jyeong hyeok, Son Ye-jin as Yoon Se-ri, Seo Ji-hye as Seo Dan and Kim Jung-hyun as Gu Seung joon. We discuss:

The song we featured during the recap: Season of Us by Nam Hye Seung and Park Sang Hee and Time of Jeong Hyeok for Se-ri by Nam Hye Seung and Park Sang Hee.
This is the pivotal episode 8 and it ended on such a cliffhanger!
How Captain Ri feels compelled to save Se-ri and help her get home. He made a promise to get her home AND this is his penance for failing to protect his brother, Ri Mu Hyeok.
He wants to save Se-ri, not so they can be happy together, but so SHE can be safe and happy back in Seoul.
Gu Seung jun and Seo Dan are making the same argument: Se-ri should stay away from Captain Ri to keep him safe.
Gu Seung jun asks Se-ri to marry him so he can keep her safe and bring her back to South Korea. Even if Se-ri would consider this a fake marriage, he would like to make it more than that.
But nothing can keep Captain Ri from Se-ri. He goes alone, unarmed and injured to save her.
How their eyes spoke volumes when they said goodby on Gu Seung jun’s balcony.
Se-ri makes another fateful choice when she takes the car and goes after Captain Ri.
Our new element 48 is talk of first loves.
Captain Ri is out to get Captain Ri, especially now that Gu Seung jun has let Se-ri escape. He wants to get Se-ri convicted as a South Korean spy and take down Captain Ri and his father.
Se-ri pawned Gu Seung jun’s engagement ring and gave everything in the pawn shop to the village ladies. She took the designer men’s watch she had spotted earlier; she intended to give it to Captain Ri as a Christmas present.
We have a double cliffhanger at the end of the episode.
The first was when Se-ri taken at gunpoint. She was asked to make a phone call to Captain Ri to say she was leaving North Korea. She says I love you, a gun goes off, and then the line goes dead.
The second was when Hong Chang sik, Se-ri’s assistant, and Park Su chan, the insurance agent, try to convince Se-ri’s father that she is still alive.
The K Drama elements we see in this episode, including the confession, talk of a first love, lots of crying, lots of wrist grabs, and protecting someone you love at personal cost to yourself.
The filming locations for Crash Landing On You, which includes Jeju Island, multiple locations in Switzerland, a department store in Incheon, and Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia.
The shows we’re watching now: Lovely Runner for Sung Hee and Itaewon Class for Joanna.

References

8.7 - Podcast Review of Episode 7 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

28 juni 2024 | 68 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 7 of Crash Landing On You, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Hyun Bin as Ri Jyeong hyeok, Son Ye-jin as Yoon Se-ri, Seo Ji-hye as Seo Dan and Kim Jung-hyun as Gu Seung joon. We discuss:

The song we feature during the recap: the regular and orchestral versions of Song For My Brother by Nam Hye Seung and Park Sang Hee.
What a joint lock is, in reference to Joanna talking about joint locks in episode 8.6.
Se-ri’s decision to drive to Sariwon Hospital instead of the hospital instead of the airport, and her decision to stay and donate blood to Captain Ri, instead of flying out of the country with the national track team.
Why Se-ri made these choices and what Captain Ri now means to her.
How Captain Ri, at first furious with Se-ri, softens, kisses Se-ri outside, and even confesses his feelings about Se-ri to Seo Dan.
North Korea’s health care system, which the government says is free, but in reality, is in sad shape, and not free. Patients often have to bribe doctors to receive care.
How Se-ri now needs another way out of North Korea, so she calls Gu Seung jun, who realizes that Se-ri is in danger, and comes to get her at the hospital. She goes willingly, not realizing where he’s taking her.
Gu Seung jun and Seo Dan’s meeting and Gu Seung jun’s dating and marriage advice to Seo Dan.
Cho Cheol Gang’s efforts to arrest Captain Ri, which are thwarted by the arrival of Captain Ri’s parents.
The arrival of Seo Dan and her mother. Seo Dan doesn’t accept Captain Ri’s feelings about Se-ri and tells him that he will forget Se-ri since she’s leaving anyway.
Se-ri’s father’s announcement during the shareholder meeting that Yoon Se-ri is dead and Yoon Se-hyeung is now Chairman.
Hong Chang sik and Park Su chan’s realization that the recording of Se-ri’s mayday call went nowhere because Yoon Se-hyeung wanted to be Chairman.
The back story behind the beautiful Song For My Brother, which Ri Jeong Hyeok played on the pier in Switzerland, just at the moment when Se-ri was on a boat nearby. The song gave her hope and a fresh willingness to live; she’s looked high and low for this song ever since.
Se-ri has just realized that she’s been kidnapped. Gu Seung jun tells her that she doesn’t need Captain Ri anyway and contacting him would only endanger him. Similarly, Seo Dan says going after Se-ri would only endanger him.
The beautiful Seo Ji-hye, the actress who plays Seo Dan.

8.6 - Podcast Review of Episode 6 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

21 juni 2024 | 64 min

8.5 - Podcast Review of Episode 5 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

14 juni 2024 | 70 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 5 of Crash Landing On You, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Hyun Bin as Ri Jyeong hyeok, Son Ye-jin as Yoon Se-ri, Seo Ji-hye as Seo Dan and Kim Jung-hyun as Gu Seung joon. We discuss:

The songs we featured in the recap: Sunset by Davichi and My Companion by Nam Hye sung and Park Sang Hee.
Captain Ri’s big confession to Se-ri that he has a fiancée, which of course leads her to deny that she is at all interested in him.
The lack of love between Seo Dan and Captain Ri; we wonder if she loves him.
How the village women rally around Se-ri when they think she’s been dumped by Captain Ri.
Chimaek (fried chicken and beer) vs. dried pollack and beer.
The story of Gyeonu and Jiknyeo, which is a story from Korean mythology.
Captain Ri driving Seo Dan back to her house and then visiting his parents.
How Captain Ri again went out on a limb to protect Se-ri when he asked his father to help him get Se-ri out of the country; the plan is to get her out through a track team going to Europe.
How asking if someone has eaten is a common way of greeting people in Korea; it’s a sign of caring to ask and then offer food.
How Captain Ri always seems to be confident about his future and maybe it’s because he doesn’t think about his future and doesn’t believe he can ever be happy again.
The really expensive Chopard watch that Se-ri pawns and the watch she sees at the pawnbroker’s shop.
How Se-ri needs to change her appearance for her upcoming trip to Pyongyang. She chooses the “Goodbye” hairstyle, of all things!
How Captain Ri has made a HUGE enemy out of Cho Cheol Gang when he rescued his men and opened up an investigation into the Kamaz truck accidents.
The recurring goodbyes and partings in this show.
The terrible situation that Jung Man Bok finds himself in. He contributed to the murder of Ri Mu Hyeok, who saved him from a beating. He is listening in on Ri Jeong Hyeok, who came to his rescue when his wallet was stolen. And he is listening in on Yoon Se-ri, who elevated his wife’s position in the village and saved his son from the school bullies.
The magical scene outside the train between Se-ri and Captain Ri when she fell asleep and Captain Ri covered her with his overcoat and let her lean on his shoulder.
How Gu Seung Jun went on one date with Se-ri but she rightly intuited that he was after her money. And now he finds her in a hotel in Pyongyang! He has just found a way to bargain with Se-ri’s younger brother!
The amazing Son Ye-jin, the actress who plays Yoon Se-ri: her background, movies, shows, and accomplishments.
The shows we are watching now.

References

8.4 - Podcast Review of Episode 4 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

7 juni 2024 | 72 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 4 of Crash Landing On You, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Hyun Bin as Ri Jyeong hyeok, Son Ye-jin as Yoon Se-ri, Seo Ji-hye as Seo Dan and Kim Jung-hyun as Gu Seung joon. We discuss:

The songs we feature during the recap:
- Flower by Yoon Mirae
- Spring in my hometown by Nam Hye Sung and Park Sang Hee
How desperate Se-ri must have felt when she missed the boat that would have taken her out of North Korea.
How Se-ri’s desperation leads her to sneak out of Captain Ri’s house to try and paraglide back to South Korea, but Captain Ri saves her and they both manage to escape the State Security officials. Lots of plot holes here!
The finger heart that Se-ri gave Captain Ri. We think she was showing deep and sweet appreciation, but Kim Ju Meok thinks she’s in love with Captain Ri.
Is there anything Captain Ri can’t do? He hand roasts coffee beans for Se-ri’s drip coffee and he makes her bean sprout soup for her hangover.
How during Ma Yong Ae’s birthday party, Se-ri was there to promote Captain Ri, but she still managed to show a true kindness to Myeong Sun by modifying the dress that Myeong Sun made.
How Se-ri is being very clever by calling Ma Yong Ae “unnie.” Unnie implies respect for an older sister, woman or friend, and it also implies a closeness.
How South Korean goods are very likely illegal in North Korea and how hard it must be to keep KPop, Korean Dramas and K Beauty out of North Korea!
How Captain Ri and Se-ri are showing true kindness to Jung Man bok and his wife. We think the show is setting up a big conflict because Jung Man bok is tasked with listening in on Captain Ri and Se-ri.
How we learn that Se-ri is the illegitimate daughter of the Chairman, and there is a sad flashback of Se-ri alone on a beach, counting.
Even though the Chairman has named Se-ri’s younger brother as the new Chairman, the Chairman’s wife, Se-ri’s stepmom, says it’s too early to name a successor because Se-ri might still come back.
The amazing epilogue where we see how Ri Jyeong Hyeok saved Se-ri from jumping off the Sigriswil bridge. He saved her life!
We introduce Malcolm Reilly, an attorney in Portland, Oregon and K Drama Chat listener.
- We talk about what life must really be like in North Korea.
- Malcolm’s K Drama journey.
- What Malcolm is watching now!

References

8.3 - Podcast Review of Episode 3 of Crashing Landing On You (CLOY)

31 maj 2024 | 49 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 3 of Crash Landing On You, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Hyun Bin as Ri Jyeong hyeok, Son Ye-jin as Yoon Se-ri, Seo Ji-hye as Seo Dan and Kim Jung-hyun as Gu Seung joon. We discuss:

The songs we feature during the recap:
- Yong ae and villagers by Nam Hye Seung and Park Sang Hee
- Photo of my Mind by Song Ga in
How Captain Ri is lying through his teeth about Se-ri and this is so unlike him! He’s actually doing so many things that are out of character!
How Captain Ri and Se-ri are looking at each other in a new light because of certain incidents, including the beggar boy to whom Se-ri gave food, and Se-ri’s gifts to Captain Ri and his men.
Stairway to Heaven, the K Dramas that Kim Ju Meok was watching.
How memories that are lost, that come back, or that are revealed over time are more common than we thought and are a new K Drama element!
How Captain Ri became a K Drama cliche when he kisses Yoon Se-ri in the boat hold, to maybe throw off the Coast Guard about to barge in on them.
How Captain Ri is often so aloof and confident when he’s in trouble. Could this be because of his father? Does this family relationship make him feel untouchable?
Se-ri needs Plan C to get out of North Korea and now we have Seo Dan, who’s come back from Russia and claims to be Captain Ri’s fiancee.
Gu Seung Jun is now in North Korea but it’s possible that despite his money, he may not be safe, because Lt. Commander Cho Cheol Gang threatens to turn him over to his enemies if he’s not respectful.
We get introduced to Jeong Man bok, the wiretapper who helped Cho Cheol Gang murder Ri Mu Hyeok. Now Cho Cheol Gang realizes that Captain Ri Jeong Hyeok is Ri Mu Hyeok’s brother and he wants to take down the entire family.
The Korean idea of “noonchi,” which roughly translates to social skills, and literally means eye measure. From an early age, Koreans are taught to be aware of social status and to read every situation very carefully.

References

Comment on Reddit about Photo of my Mind and connection to the Korean folk song Arirang
The song Arirang
The K drama Stairway to Heaven (2003) on Wikipedia
Kimjang: communal kimchi making sessions

8.2 - Podcast Review of Episode 2 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

24 maj 2024 | 58 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 2 of Crash Landing On You, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Hyun Bin as Ri Jyeong hyeok, Son Ye-jin as Yoon Se-ri, Seo Ji-hye as Seo Dan and Kim Jung-hyun as Gu Seung joon. We discuss:

The song we feature during the recap: But It’s Destiny by 10cm and how 10cm got its name.
Our gratitude to our listeners who commented on the blog, and gave us a review on Apple podcasts. Thank you!
The Korean tradition of doljanchi where babies are asked to pick an object from a table in front of them; the object they pick will influence their future.
How Se-ri is is someone who has learned to trust and obey her instincts, but when she turned left instead of right at the fork, after leaving Captain Ri, she made the wrong decision. Or did she?
How Captain Ri now thinks that Se-ri is a South Korean spy who managed to evade the land mines and electric fence; how did she do that?
How Se-ri uses all of her skills as a woman and business person to get Captain Ri and his men to help her.
The story of Heung Bu and Nol Bu that Se-ri tells Captain Ri.
How Captain Ri is so upstanding and always ready to deal with wrongdoing appropriately.
How Captain Ri goes to Pyongyang to investigate the death of the grave robbers, but is instead investigated until he is saved by General Go Myeong Seok, who knows him and his father.
How Pyongyang is the most modern city in North Korea. Much of the rest of the country is without electricity most of the time, meat is hard come by, and life is really hard.
How Gu Seung joon is about to become Co Cheol Gang’s newest customer.
We learn a shocking fact when we see Se-ri in the flashback, asking a staff person at a Swiss Institute for euthanasia; she was denied and recommended instead to go see the Swiss mountains.
Our favorite K Drama elements, including: the food that Captain Ri makes for Se-ri, a connection from the past (and it’s only episode 2), the many product placements, and the K Drama reference.
The amazing and hunky Hyun bin. We talk about his education, early career, fame, and military service.

References

8.1 - Podcast Review of Episode 1 of Crash Landing on You (CLOY)

17 maj 2024 | 51 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 1 of Crash Landing On You, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Hyun Bin as Ri Jyeong hyeok, Son Ye-jin as Yoon Se-ri, Seo Ji-hye as Seo Dan and Kim Jung-hyun as Gu Seung joon. We discuss:

The song we feature during the recap: Give You My Heart by IU.
The title of this K Drama in Korean is 사랑의 불시착, which translate to Love’s Emergency Landing, or Love’s Crash Landing.
How this show was inspired by a real event involving South Korean actress Jung Yang, whose leisure boat drifted into the maritime boundary between North and South Korea and had to be rescued.
Some familiar elements that we saw in Queen of Tears.
We introduce our characters:
- Captain Ri Jyeong hyeok
- Yoon Se-ri
- Captain Ri’s men, including Sergeant Pyo Chi Su, Soldier Kim Ju Meok, and Private Geum Eun Dong
- Se-ri’s father, the Chairman of the Queens Group, and her mother
- Se-ri’s competitive brothers and their conniving wives
- Gu Seung joon
Why there is a North Korea and a South Korea.
A bit about the origins of the Korean War.
Sung Hee’s visit to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) in 2011, with her father.
How the Chairman has just been released from prison and he names Se-ri as his successor, causing anger and angst among her brothers.
Se-ri goes paragliding to test out a new line of extreme sportswear, and she gets caught in a freak tornado.
How Se-ri ends up in North Korea, gets caught by Captain Ri, runs away, and ends up in a North Korean village.
How Se-ri is almost caught by commanding officer Cho Cheol Gang but Captain Ri grabs her and tucks her away inside his gate in the nick of time.
Why Captain Ri would save Se-ri from Cho Cheol Gang.
The grave robbers who turn out to be hired by Cho Cheol Gang, and who orders the grave robbers killed after they disclose the locations of the artifacts.
How we are up to 45 K Drama elements!
What we’re watching right now, besides Crash Landing On You, of course.

References

7.9 - Final Podcast Review of Queen of Tears

10 maj 2024 | 114 min

Today, we’ll be doing our final review of Queen of Tears, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Kim Ji-won as Hong Hae-in, Kim Soo-hyun as Baek Hyun-woo, Park Sung-hoon as Yoon Eun-Seong, Kwak Dong-Yeon as Hong Soo-cheol, and Lee Joo-bin as Cheon Da-Hye. Ernabel Demillo is back to help us analyze this amazing show! We recap the entire show and then we discuss:

The song we featured during the recap: Way Home, sung by Kim Soo Hyun.
How we rewatched the first few episodes and realized a few things, e.g.,
- When Hae-in was an intern, Hyun-woo would roll up his sleeves whenever he helped her out at the copier; this is probably when she realized he had sexy forearms.
- In episode 1, after going out drinking with Kim Yang-ki, Hyun-woo walks home, while pulling leaves of a branch
The character arcs of each of our characters:
- Soo-cheol
- Cheon Da-hye
- Hae-in’s parents
- Hyun-woo’s parents
- Hyun-woo’s sister and brother
- Grace
- David Yoon or Yoon Eun-seung
- Moh Sul hee
- Hae-in
- Hyun-woo
How the death of Su-won caused Hae-in’s family to unravel, and Hae-in’s miscarriage caused her marriage to unravel.
How Hae-in’s mom and David Yoon’s mom both neglected their children, but believed they had time to repair the relationship. In Moh Sul hee’s case, she never got the chance because David Yoon died.
How Hae-in had the most dramatic story arc and it’s ultimately Hyun-woo who was the catalyst for her transformation.
Hae-in’s feelings toward Hyun-woo change over the course of 16 episodes and there are key moments in the show when her feelings changed.
When we think Hyun-woo started to fall in love with his wife again.
How the show did a great job of showing the same scene from two different perspectives to show how misunderstandings happen.
Our favorite K Drama elements.
Our favorite lines from the last two episodes.
The show that we will recap and analyze in Season 8 of K Drama Chat. Want to find out? You gotta listen to the episode!

References

Way Home by Kim Soo Hyun - this will make you sob!
Jang Yoon-ju (Hyun-woo’s sister) on Instagram
Women of LG family take on legal battle over inheritance

7.8 - Podcast Review of Episodes 15 and 16 of Queen of Tears

3 maj 2024 | 135 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episodes 15 and 16 of Queen of Tears, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Kim Ji-won as Hong Hae-in, Kim Soo-hyun as Baek Hyun-woo, Park Sung-hoon as Yoon Eun-Seong, Kwak Dong-Yeon as Hong Soo-cheol, and Lee Joo-bin as Cheon Da-Hye.

Ernabel Demillo is back to help us analyze episodes 15 and 16! We discuss:

The songs we feature during the recap:
- More Than Enough by Kim Tae Rae
- Heart Flutter by dori
How crazy it was that David Yoon got to claim that he was Hae-in’s fiancé by donating a lot of money to the medical center.
How Hae-in’s notebook was found by David Yoon, tossed into a fire, salvaged, and eventually made it back to Hae-in so she could read her own words about herself and Hyun-woo.
How we despised Grace but she did manage to redeem herself by encouraging Moh Sul hee to track down Hae-in, returning the pink MP3 player, and making sure that the notebook made it to Hae-in.
How David Yoon’s lies were so evil but because they had elements of truth, they became believable.
But despite David Yoon’s lies, Hae-in is uncomfortable around him. Her body “remembers” David Yoon and Hyun-woo.
How Hae-in decides to learn more about Hyun-woo because she is uneasy around David Yoon, Hyun-woo is clearly an important piece to her life’s puzzle, and her heart races when she sees him.
Kim Soo-hyun’s acting throughout this show, but especially when Hae-in goes in for surgery, when he’s arrested, and when he sees her afterward.
How our hearts just couldn’t take it when Hyun-woo is hit by the car and then later shot in the back.
We learn more about David Yoon’s dark childhood and the secrets he kept about his mom.
The beautiful ending where we see Hyun-woo and Hae-in get married, have a daughter, grow old, and eventually, Hae-in comes to get Hyun-woo and bring him to heaven.
Comments from our listeners about Queen of Tears, as well as their recommendations for shows to analyze in Season 8 of K Drama Chat.

References

7.7 - Podcast Review of Episodes 13 and 14 of Queen of Tears

26 april 2024 | 78 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episodes 13 and 14 of Queen of Tears, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring starring Kim Ji-won as Hong Hae-in, Kim Soo-hyun as Baek Hyun-woo, Park Sung-hoon as Yoon Eun-Seong, Kwak Dong-Yeon as Hong Soo-cheol, and Lee Joo-bin as Cheon Da-Hye. We discuss:

The songs we feature during the recap:
- Promise by Choi Yu Ree
- Last Chance by So Soo bin
How our predictions about the secret fund didn’t pan out. The most obvious thing actually happened: David Yoon and Moh Sul hee found the money and are using it to buy Queens Group stock illegally.
How we feel about Hyun-woo, Hae-in’s dad, and Hyun-woo’s dad keeping a secret from Hae-in about the possible side effects of the operation that could save her life.
Hyun-woo’s burden throughout the show. He’s been taking care of Hae-in and her family, and battling David Yoon. All the attention is on Hae-in, but his burden is great.
How there’s so much crying in these two episodes – by everyone!
The amazingly sweet segments between Hyun-woo and Hae-in, including during their trip to Gurang-ri, scenes from their honeymoon in Germany, and how the couple is always touching while in Hyun woo’s apartment.
How Hae-in decides against the surgery because without her memories, she won’t be herself. We don’t blame her!
How it was ultimately Hyun-woo who changes her mind about the surgery. When she saw how miserable he was when he thought she had died in the car crash, she decides that she must live.
We finally learn the origins of David Yoon’s obsession with the Hong family and how he fell in love with Hae-in.
We wonder why both sides are still talking to Grace, who is double crossing everyone.
How we’re crushed that Hyun-woo has been arrested and he wasn’t by Hae-in’s side when she woke up from her surgery.
The other couples in the show: Soo-cheol and Da-hye + Beom-ja and Yeongseong
Korean funeral customs.
The importance of kimchi and kimchi making.
The K Drama elements in these episodes, including all the crying, the food, the realization by Hyun woo that he had met Hae-in in the past, gazing at someone sleeping.
The amazing screenwriter Park Ji-eun!

References

7.6 - Podcast Review of Episodes 11 and 12 of Queen of Tears

19 april 2024 | 126 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 11 and 12 of Queen of Tears, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Kim Ji-won as Hong Hae-in, Kim Soo-hyun as Baek Hyun-woo, Park Sung-hoon as Yoon Eun-Seong, Kwak Dong-Yeon as Hong Soo-cheol, and Lee Joo-bin as Cheon Da-Hye. We discuss:

The songs we feature during the recap:
- Can’t get over you by Paul Kim
- From bottom of my heart by Kim Na Young
Some recent comments from listeners and mistakes from last week’s episode.
Hae-in’s mother’s regret now that she knows her daughter is sick and she reflects on how she’s been so awful to her daughter all these years.
How and why Hae-in continues to reject Hyun-woo, who knows she loves him and is desperate to show Hae-in that he will stay by her side.
Hyun-woo and Hae-in appear to be working together to take down David Yoon but they’re still keeping secrets from each other.
How Hyun-woo’s small apartment fills Hyun-woo and Hae-in with regret. Could their marriage have been different if they had lived in a small apartment and had to be together at the end of each day?
Kim Soo-hyun’s amazing acting, especially when he was playing David Yoon in the car. He had David Yoon’s stare, mannerisms and tone of voice.
How Hae-in’s dad and brother are going through a transformation.
Cheon Da-hye is back and Soo-cheol takes her back, against his mother’s wishes.
How David Yoon is unraveling. He’s lying to Hae-in, he basically kidnapped her, and he ordered that Hyun-woo be killed!
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree because we learn that Moh Sul-hee had David Yoon’s adoptive parents killed, and she burned the orphanage where David Yoon was abused.
The chairman’s ultimate sacrifice when he realized Moh Sul-hee’s treachery and killed himself to end her power of attorney over his assets.
The hunt is on to find the 900B won that both sides believe is somewhere in the Hong residence. It looks like Hyun-woo leads the Hongs to find the secret panic room, but what is inside?
We welcome Naa Evans, aka as KDrama Bingo, to the show! We talk about the K Drama elements in these two episodes and she talks about her K Drama tropes and her bingo cards!

Find us on Instagram @KDramaChat to see pictures of Naa, Sung Hee and Joanna, and the bingo cards that Naa sells online at https://linktr.ee/kdramabingo!

References

7.5 - Podcast Review of Episodes 9 and 10 of Queen of Tears

12 april 2024 | 111 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episodes 9 and 10 of Queen of Tears, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Kim Ji-won as Hong Hae-in, Kim Soo-hyun as Baek Hyun-woo, Park Sung-hoon as Yoon Eun-Seong, Kwak Dong-Yeon as Hong Soo-cheol, and Lee Joo-bin as Cheon Da-Hye. We are joined by Ernabel Demillo, a frequent guest on K Drama Chat and Department Chair of the Communication and Media Culture Department at Saint Peter's University and host of the Emmy-award winning "Asian American Life" show on CUNY-TV. We discuss:

The song we feature during the recap: Fallin’ by Isaac Hong.
Queen of Tears is now the second most popular K Drama of all time on tvN, after Crash Landing on You; both shows are written by Park Ji-eun.
tvN has announced two extra episodes at the end of Queen of Tears; what will the episodes be about?
Kim Soo-hyun has been nominated for Best Actor in the Baeksang Awards; we feel that Kim Ji-won, Han So-hee, Park Seo-joon, and Kim Tae-ri were snubbed.
The Hong family is in a terrible situation. They’ve been locked out of their house, they don’t have cars, their credit cards have been canceled, they’ve lost control of their company, and they’re lost their jobs.
Both dads are having an identity crisis: they have lost their jobs and purpose.
Hyun-woo and Hae-in are driving us crazy because they won’t communicate with each other!
We think their lack of communication stems from the time Hae-in emptied the nursery and Hyun-woo left the marital bedroom. When this happened, they stopped talking to each other and then their pride wouldn’t let them ask the other back into the bedroom.
Hyun-woo and Hae-in kept missing opportunities to patch up their relationship, including when Hae-in overheard Hyun-woo talking about wanting to be by her side, when Hyun-woo came home all beat up, and when Hae-in realized the pink MP3 player was hers.
There are many in Korea who think the story of Hae-in and Hyun-woo is based on the true story of the granddaughter of the Samsung chaebol who married an ordinary staffer.

In 1999, Samsung heiress Lee Boo Jin married Lim Woo Jae.

Hyun-woo does a great job of convincing David Yoon that he doesn’t know where Hae-in is, even though he did pick them up in a van.
The reference to Prince Sado, who was the father of the prince Yi San in Red Sleeve, and who later became King Jeongjo.
Instead, Hyun-woo is investigating the land broker, the owner of the data restoration company, the failed investment fund, and the location of the Chairman.
Hyun-woo convinced the deceived farmers to sue the land broker, which meant the land broker couldn’t leave the country for his honeymoon. Later, the land broker and his thugs try to beat up Hyun-woo, who manages to defend himself ably because he was a champion boxer in his youth.
Our crazy predictions for this show.
Moh Sul-hee and David Yoon are now at odds with each other because David Yoon didn’t want the Hong family banished. David Yoon wants to be with Hae-in.
We speculate about why David Yoon is so obsessed with Hae-in.
Until the very end, Hyun-woo is in the dark about Hae-in’s feelings towards him. He thinks she hates him because he abandoned and deceived her.
It looks like Beom-ja will have a romance with the village marriage counselor, who looks like Leslie Cheung. Leslie Cheung is a debonair Hong Kong singer and actor. This prediction came from Laurel, one of our listeners!
The theme of regret in this show. Hyun-woo, Hae-in and Beom-ja all express regrets over their actions.
Hae-in is so brave when she reveals during the press conference that David Yoon threatened her. In this instance, Hyun-woo finally learns that Hae-in still cares for him.
The amazing acting with their eyes by Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won.
The K Drama elements we see in this episode, including: all the crying, all the food, all the drinking, the Trip and Catch, the Bulgari Serpenti necklace that Moh Sul-hee wore, and the Subway scene!
Ernabel’s recent trip to South Korea.

References

7.4 - Podcast Review of Episodes 7 and 8 of Queen of Tears

5 april 2024 | 82 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episodes 7 and 8 of Queen of Tears, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Kim Ji-won as Hong Hae-in, Kim Soo-hyun as Baek Hyun-woo, Park Sung-hoon as Yoon Eun-Seong, Kwak Dong-Yeon as Hong Soo-cheol, Lee Joo-bin as Cheon Da-Hye. We discuss:

The song we feature during the recap: Love You With All My Heart by Crush.
Soo Cheol calls Hyun-Woo “maehyeong” 매형, which means older sister’s husband.
How Hae-in loses her will to live when Hyun-woo admits that he wanted a divorce.
How Hyun-woo decides to make Hae-in hate him so that she has a reason to live.
How Hyun-woo wants to stay by Hae-in’s side even if it means being the subject of her rage, humiliation and hatred; he has powerful reasons for wanting to be by her side.
Both Hae-in and Hyun-woo are left wondering if everything the other person said and promised was a lie.
Through the flashback of the marriage proposal, we can piece together how our couple got engaged, broke up, got back together, and finally married.
How we held our breaths when Hyun-woo discovers that Hae-in has lost her memory of Germany and Hyun-woo wanting a divorce, which means Hae-in has to relive this trauma TWICE.
The crazy divorce settlement scene with Song Joong-ki as Vincenzo Cassano.
How Hae-in realizes that Hyun-woo was suffering during their marriage; she learns this when she overhears Hyun-woo at Grandma’s Home Cooking restaurant.
The Chairman wants Hyun-woo fired by Hae-in defends him from the Security Team.
How Hyun-woo followed David Yoon when he was following Hae-in. We see a very different Hyun-woo in that scene. We think we will see a very different Hyun-woo from now on.
How David Yoon pressured Soo-cheol to sign the resort deal with David Yoon, and then the deal went south, giving Pione Investment the chance to swoop in and pretend to save the deal.
But when the investors pull out and the Chairman’s embezzlement investigation comes out, David Yoon ends up with control over Queens Group.
Meanwhile, Hae-in turns down the Hercyna deal and rejects David Yoon’s offer (again) to replace Hyun-woo.
We feel sorry for Soo-cheol, whose wife double-crossed him, left him, and took their son to New York.
Hyun-woo and Aunt Beom-ja have definitive proof, through a DNA test, that David Yoon is Moh Sul-hee’s son!
Moh Sul-hee and David Yoon have been playing the long game. Moh Sul-hee endeared herself to the Chairman, whom she tricked into giving her power of attorney, and then poisoned.
How the Hong family has been kicked out of their own company and have fled to Yongdu-ri.
The hilarious scenes involving Hyun-woo, Hae-in and their secretaries.
More Crash Landing On You references and tie-ins!
The Koreans’ seeming obsession with the Myers Briggs Personality Types.
The K Drama elements in this show, including all the crying, the epic umbrella scene involving Hyun-woo and Hae-in, more connections from the past between Hae-in and David Yoon, all the product placements, and Hyun-woo saving Hae-in from an oncoming truck.
Our new, #39 product placement - cameos!
Our predictions for the end of the show!
We learn more about the amazing Park Sung-hoon!

References

7.3 - Podcast Review of Episode 5 and 6

29 mars 2024 | 84 min

Today, we’ll be discussing episodes 5 and 6 of Queen of Tears, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Kim Ji-won as Hong Hae-in, Kim Soo-hyun as Baek Hyun-woo, Park Sung-hoon as Yoon Eun-Seong, Kwak Dong-Yeon as Hong Soo-cheol, Lee Joo-bin as Cheon Da-Hye. We recap the episodes and then we discuss:

How some Korean families have a pattern where the children share one syllable of their name. An example would be: Baek Hyun-woo and Baek Hyun-tae. This helps us keep the characters straight and know who is related to whom.
How Hyun-woo is increasingly ambivalent about his wife. Despite his anger and hate toward his wife, he can’t help it, he begins to fall in love with her all over again.
What is probably the root of the couple’s problems: Hyun-woo came home one day to find staff clearing out the nursery. When he got a cold response from Hae-in, he ordered his things moved to the bedroom and the couple started to sleep separately.
Hyun-woo and Hae-in keep missing opportunities to patch up their marriage.
Hyun-woo’s sister says Hyun-woo likes soft women, women who need to be taken care of. Is this why he was attracted to Hae-in in the first place and why he’s falling for her again?
Hyun-woo’s confession about his tears when he found Hae-in Germany was his last ditch attempt to figure out his feelings toward his wife and to see if they could patch things up in their marriage.
Hae-in doesn’t understand why he’s pulling away. She keeps saying, “I never said that.”
Hae-in’s tough armor is starting to crack. She is being nice to others and noticing happy, loving families around her.
Hyun-woo keeps abandoning Hae-in and Hae-in, for her part, has been abandoned by her husband and family.
The crazy plot by David Yoon, Grace, Cheo Da-hye and the former employee. We think David Yoon has a ponzi scheme that he’s running, that he doesn’t really have a fund that is returning 90% to investors.
The evil things that David Yoon is doing to the Hong family, especially Hyu-woo, including installing hidden cameras, searching Hyun-woo’s room, planting the microwave receiver in Hyun-woo’s room, and getting Hyun-woo’s safe opened.
We learn that David Yoon and Cheon Da-hye grew up in the same orphanage and even met the Hong family when the Chairman gave a speech at the orphanage. So when did David Yoon and Cheon Da-hye start plotting against the Hong family?
We learn that Moh Sul-hee had a different identity thirty years ago, that she was in prison at some point and gave birth to a baby boy while in jail. Could this boy be David Yoon?
Hong Beom-ja is turning into a really likable character because she’s the one who seems to care about other family members, including Hae-in.
We learn how Hae-in’s brother, Soo-won, died in a boating accident, while saving Hae-in. Hae-in’s mother never forgave Hae-in for the death of her son.
Hyun-woo and Hae-in’s sweet time in Germany is coming to an end because once Hae-in turns on her phone, she sees the photo of the divorce agreement sent by her mom.
The numerous K Drama elements in these episodes, including lots of crying, crying while kissing, the umbrella scene, Hyun-woo’s confession about his tears, the product placements for Mercedes-Benz and other products, Hyun-woo tending to cuts on Hae-in’s hand and knee.
All the references to Crash Landing On You in this show, which makes sense the shows share the same writers.
Kim Ji-won’s background and acting career! We love her!
The shows we’re watching now: Doctor Slump and Captivating the King.

References

7.2 - Podcast Review of Episodes 3 and 4 of Queen of Tears

22 mars 2024 | 78 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episodes 3 and 4 of Queen of Tears, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring starring Kim Ji-won as Hong Hae-in, Kim Soo-hyun as Baek Hyun-woo, Park Sung-hoon as Yoon Eun-Seong, Kwak Dong-Yeon as Hong Soo-cheol, Lee Joo-bin as Cheon Da-Hye. We discuss:

The three versions of the song Tell Me It’s Not a Dream by 10cm.
Why the show is called Queen of Tears.
How our leads seem not to care about each other much BUT they defend the other to anyone who criticizes them and Hyun-woo definitely doesn’t like seeing Hae-in with David Yoon.
How we learn that Hyun-woo was a sharpshooter in the military.
How the Netflix website says that Hae-in has never stopped loving her husband and she can’t understand why he’s pulling away. We see lots of things to back this up: she seems happy that Hyun-woo is jealous of David Yoon, she defends him against her family, and she wants to cuddle with him.
David Yoon turns out to be quite the snake. We think he’s out to gain control of the Queens Group. He’s plotting with two associates; the three of them have bought shares; they’ve convinced Queens Group directors to purchase shares in a fund and use their Queens Group shares as collateral; they plan to have the Queens Group Chairman investigated for embezzlement. David Yoon may also be setting up Hae-in to fail.
Hyun-woo seems to be the only person who is suspicious of David Yoon. Even if he says he doesn’t love Hae-in, he won’t lose her to David Yoon.
Joanna thinks there is some nefarious connection between David Yoon and Moh Sul-hee, the Chairman’s mistress and she explains why.
Hae-in’s seems to be looking at Hyun-woo differently since the reception with the Hercyna Chairman. She is definitely hot and bothered when she sees Hyun-woo in just a towel after his shower.
Hae-in and Hyun-woo have a sweet scene in bed and we see a sweet flashback from when Hae-in visited Yongdu-ri.
We also learn about a tragedy in their marriage: that they were expecting a baby on October 31. The baby clearly never came and now Hyun-woo sleeps in a separate bedroom, the former nursery.
Hae-in’s crazy family, including the estranged son, the crazy aunt, the mother who doesn’t seem to love her, the inept brother, the caring by ineffectual dad.
Hyun-woo’s crazy family, including the siblings who go to Seoul to try to convince Hae-in not to divorce Hyun-woo but end up creating a lot of trouble for Hyun-woo.
How Hyun-woo’s sister messaged Hae-in to come to Yongdu-ri to support her father-in-law; as a result, Hae-in came with gifts, food, drink, and even a chef!
Hae-in finds her old MP3 player and we see that she and Hyun-woo had crossed paths briefly in high school; that’s when she had dropped her MP3 player, and Hyun-woo had kept it all these years.
Hae-in had another cloud cytoma incident that causes her to wander around Yongdu-ri, get lost and not remember what happened.
When Hyun-woo finally finds her, he is really mad until he realizes she’s really sick.

References

7.1 - Podcast Review of Episodes 1 and 2 of Queen of Tears

15 mars 2024 | 68 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episodes 1 and 2 of Queen of Tears, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Kim Ji-won as Hong Hae-in, Kim Soo-hyun as Baek Hyun-woo, Park Sung-hoon as Yoon Eun-Seong, Kwak Dong-Yeon as Hong Soo-cheol, Lee Joo-bin as Cheon Da-Hye. We discuss:

The song we featured during the recap, The Reason of my Smiles by BSS.
We introduce the characters of this show and stumble over their Korean names.
How there appear to be five main leads, which seems to be common in K Dramas.
The show is set in the modern day, in Seoul and the village of Yongdu-ri.
The central premise of the show, which is that Baek Hyun-woo and Hong Hae-in are locked in a loveless marriage. Hyun-woo wants a divorce but nobody is on his side on this matter. Then Hae-in announces that she has a rare brain tumor and she has three months to live. Hyun-woo sees a way out of this marriage and maybe a chance to inherit some wealth, if he can convince his wife of his love.
Whether the couple was actually in love at the time of their marriage, and their motivations for marrying.
How Hae-in was initially suspicious of Hyun-woo, but between his actions, his Internet searches and his shooting of the wild boar, she is looking at him differently.
How cloud cytoma doesn’t appear to be a real disease.
The origins, structure and power of the chaebol conglomerates in South Korea.
How this show is a real study on marriage because there are so many different perspectives on marriage, many of them not very positive.
How village life is so often romanticized in these K Dramas.
Arranged marriages and whether the practice still exists today.
How the royal tradition of having sons-in-law prepare the food during jesa appears to be made up by the Hong family in this show.
Kim Soo-hyun’s amazing acting and comedic timing in this show.
How these first two elements showcase so many K Drama elements, most notably crying, drinking, food, flowers, protesting someone you love at personal cost to yourself, a funeral, and a confession.
How Sung Hee had so many favorite lines but Joanna made her pick just two.
The many questions we are looking forward to exploring, like: What is the chairman’s girlfriend’s real motivations? What happened to Hae-in’s brother? What happened between Hae-in and David Yoon?

We are recapping and analyzing Queen of Tears in real time. Each episode will drop on a Friday and cover the two episodes from the previous weekend, hopefully giving our listeners the insights they need before going into the weekend, when the next two episodes drop.

References

6.10 - Review of Episode 10 of Gyeongseong Creature

14 mars 2024 | 65 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 10, the finale of Gyeongseong Creature, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Park Seo-joon as Jang Tae-sang, Han So-hee as Yoon Chae-ok, Wi Ha-jun as Kwon Jun-taek, Kim Soo-hyun as Lady Maeda, Ji Woo as Myeong-ja, Jo Han-chul as Yoon Joong-won, and Kim Hae-sook as Nawol daek. We discuss:

The song we feature during the recap: Forever, instrumental version, by SUHO
How Yoon Chae-ok is nowhere to be found until Beom-oh says he knows where she is. Mrs. Nawol and Mr. Gu are dubious but Jang Tae-sang believes him.
We have a disagreement over who Jang Tae-sang intended to use the tickets to Shanghai. Did he intend for Yoon Chae-ok and her father to use them? Or did he hope he and Yoon Chae-ok would be able to go to Shanghai?
The sadness, loss and betrayal Yoon Chae-ok must have felt when she learned that her father had gone to her mother and blown up the hospital.
How Sachimoto helps Jang Tae-sang and Yoon Chae-ok escape the hospital. He is the only Japanese character who apologizes for the atrocities being committed at the hospital.
How Yoon Chae-ok tried to break things off with Jang Tae-sang because she didn’t want to be a burden to him and she just can’t see a future where she can be happy. She’s been on a suicide mission for most of this show. He, however, can’t live without her, so he will devote himself to keeping her safe.
Lady Maeda’s confrontation with Jang Tae-sang and Yoon Chae-ok and her orders to her men to kill our leads. There is also a language shift here, with the conversation starting in Korean and shifting to Japanese.
We learn that Lady Maeda lost a friend because of Seishin. Does this explain why she’s in Joseon and why she had Seishin taken prisoner so many years ago?
How the creature escapes the fire at the hospital, tracks Yoon Chae-ok, slices through the Japanese thugs, and ends up accidentally killing her own daughter!
How Yoon Chae-ok told her mother that it’s time to stop, and confessed that Jang Tae-sang is the man she loves.
How Jang Tae-sang is wracked with sobs and anguish when Yoon Chae-ok dies. He finally has someone he is willing to risk everything for and she has just died!
How Col. Kato delivered Myeong-ja’s baby, probably by performing a C-section that killed Myeong-ja. We also see that the najin is in the baby!
How Jang Tae-sang and the rebels blow up the funeral hall where the Ishikawa memorial service is being held. Lady Maeda is badly burned as a result and Col. Kato asks her if she will return to Japan or stay in Joseon.
How Jang Tae-sang and Kwon Jun-taek finally have their drink, but Jang Tae-sang still refuses to join the independent fighters.
How we see Jang Tae-sang sitting and waiting on the steps of the House of Golden Treasure.
How the war ended in August and Jang Tae-sang says “we finally recovered those that were taken from us” presumably referring to Koreans who had been taken prisoner by the Japanese.
The K Drama elements we see in this episode, including lots of crying, lots of flowers in the funeral wreaths, and how Yoon Chae-ok and Yoon Joong-won sacrificed themselves for their loved ones.
The cryptic and ambiguous ending where we see that Yoon Chae-ok is alive again after investing the najin from her mother, and we see a man named Ho-jae who looks remarkably like Jang Tae-sang.
What we ultimately thought of this show.
How we’re excited to dive into Queen of Tears starring Kim Ji-won and Kim Soo-hyun, in Season 7 of K Drama Chat.

6.9 - Review of Episode 9 of Gyeongseong Creature

8 mars 2024 | 57 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 9 of Gyeongseong Creature, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Park Seo-joon as Jang Tae-sang, Han So-hee as Yoon Chae-ok, Wi Ha-jun as Kwon Jun-taek, Kim Soo-hyun as Lady Maeda, Ji Woo as Myeong-ja, Jo Han-chul as Yoon Joong-won, and Kim Hae-sook as Nawol daek. We discuss:

How Jang Tae-sang and Yoon Chae-ok are reunited and they manage to sneak a few moments of joy together.
How Yoon Chae-ok doesn’t want to be forgotten and she makes Jang Tae-sang promise that they will always remember each other.
The amazing kiss between Jang Tae-sang and Yoon Chae-ok!
Jang Tae-sang’s plan to blow up Ongseong Hospital.
How the Japanese control the news; the killings by Myeong-ja aren’t reported until Ishikawa is dead and then he is reported as having died honorably while going after the Joseon serial killer.
How Yoon Chae-ok was on a suicide mission when she killed Dr. Ichiro. She can’t see a future, while Jang Tae-sang is motivated by a better future.
After so many years of looking for her mom, now that she’s found her, Yoon Chae-ok can’t imagine a future life, and she certainly can’t imagine a life filled with happiness.
How Lady Maeda didn’t seem too upset when she heard about her husband’s condition; in fact, she asked Dr. Ichiro to put an end to his misery.
Yoon Joong-won has gone back into the hospital to end his wife’s misery; he lets himself be imprisoned, but then manages to get away from his captors and is now loose in the hospital.
Nobody can find Yoon Chae-ok but we learn that she is at Lady Maeda’s house.
Jang Tae-sang has figured out that Lady Maeda has Yoon Chae-ok, and he challenges her, saying he’ll never stop looking for Yoon Chae-ok.
When Lady Maeda tells Jang Tae-sang about his staff’s betrayals, he counters that his people would not have had to betray their loved ones if it weren’t for the crimes of the Japanese.
Jang Tae-sang confesses to Mrs. Nawol that he knew about her betrayal a short time after his mother died, but she doesn’t need forgiveness because it wasn’t her fault.
Yoon Chae-ok is taken to Ongseong Hospital and the creature breaks through the grate.
The K Drama elements in this episode, including lots of crying, more information about the connection between Lady Maeda and Seishin from the past, the amazing kiss, and the funeral for Commissioner Ishikawa.
A bit of information about Japanese funerals and the expected behavior of guests.
The show we will recap and analyze in Season 7 of K Drama Chat!

References

Attending a funeral in Japan

6.8 - Review of Episode 8 of Gyeongseong Creature

1 mars 2024 | 59 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 8 of Gyeongseong Creature, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Park Seo-joon as Jang Tae-sang, Han So-hee as Yoon Chae-ok, Wi Ha-hun as Kwon Jun-taek, Kim Soo-hyun as Lady Maeda, Ji Woo as Myeong-ja, Jo Han-chul as Yoon Joon-won, and Kim Hae-sook as Nawol daek. We discuss:

How Jang Tae-sang was able to escape from Ongseong Hospital by getting the better of the Japanese soldier and holding up Lady Maeda to let him leave with her out of the hospital.
Lady Maeda’s motivations for nursing Jang Tae-sang back to health.
Lady Maeda calling Seishin, the creature, sensei or teacher.
Commissioner Ishikawa confronting his wife about what is happening at Ongseong Hospital and what she did to Akiko.
How we’re learning that Lady Maeda is the silent power behind what happens in Gyeongseong.
How Jang Tae-sang negotiated with Ishikawa for the release of the Bonjeong merchants.
How Mr. Gu was tortured and now we understand Mrs. Nawol’s warning about betraying your loved ones with faced with torture.
How Jang Tae-sang and Yoon Chae-ok are reunited and their hug said so much.
How Jang Tae-sang and Yoon Chae-ok are able to steal a moment of happiness together while buying dumplings but it doesn’t last long.
How Myeong-ja has been on a killing spree through Gyeongseong and now Ishikawa knows she’s the murderer responsible for killing people and eating their brains.
How Yoon Joong-won, Yoon Chae-ok’s father, now knows what happened to his wife.
The K Drama elements in this episode, including: crying, lots of triangles involving Lady Maeda, Jang Tae-sang’s confession to Yoon Chae-ok, umbrella scene, and JTS pulling YCO out of the way of a speeding car when they’re chasing Myeong-ja.
What we think of the title of the episode: Awakening, between Justification and Excuse.
What happened to Unit 731 after the war.
The shows we’re watching now and the shows we’re considering for Season 7 of K Drama Chat!

References

6.7 - Review of Episode 7 of Gyeongsong Creature

23 februari 2024 | 48 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 7 of Gyeongseong Creature, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Park Seo-joon as Jang Tae-sang, Han So-hee as Yoon Chae-ok, Wi Ha-jun as Kwon Jun-taek, Kim Soo-hyun as Lady Maeda, Ji Woo as Myeong-ja, Jo Han-chul as Yoon Joon-won, and Kim Hae-sook as Nawol daek. We also talk about Wi Ha-jun, the actor who plays Kwon Jun-taek. We discuss:

The song we feature during the recap: Forever (instrumental version) by SUHO.
The growing feelings between Jang Tae-sang and Yoon Chae-ok, although it’s not exactly the time or space to express their feelings.
The conflict between our leads when Jang Tae-sang asks Yoon Chae-ok to go down to the truck with the other women and she refuses.
The ultimate sacrifice of the Joseon soldier who helped our leads fight off the Japanese soldiers.
How Jang Tae-sang made a big sacrifice when he decided to not escape from the hospital and instead create a diversion so everyone else can escape. Is he being a martyr or does he have a plan to escape?
The elaborate plan that Jang Tae-sang sketched out to Mrs. Nawol to help all of the prisoners escape.
How the prisoners escape via the waiting rickshaws and Mr. Gu ends up getting beaten and arrested.
How Mrs. Nawol seems to be everywhere, including when Kwon Jun-taek was returned to his father through the expensive vase from the House of Golden Treasure.
Mrs. Nawol’s assertion that Master Jang has a hand in everything that happens in Bonjeong.
How Jang Tae-sang met his deadline of finding Myeong-ja before the cherry blossoms fall.
How Lady Maeda, through Dr. Ichiro, was responsible for Myeong-ja and Yoon Chae-ok’s mother getting picked up and imprisoned.
How Lady Maeda had a huge role in the building and funding of the hospital.
How Col. Kato is wracked with curiosity because *someone* drank the water with the najin in his office.
The K Drama elements in this episode, especially the connection from the past between some of our characters, Jang Tae-sang helping the prisoners escape at personal cost to himself.
What we think of the title: Chase, between Us and Them.
Wi Ha-jun, the amazing and talented actors who plays Kwon Jun-taek. He’s been in many prominent shows, including Squid Game, Bad and Crazy, and Little Women.

References

Wi Ha-jun on Wikipedia

6.6 - Review of Episode 6 of Gyeongseong Creature

18 februari 2024 | 53 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 6 of Gyeongseong Creature, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Park Seo-joon as Jang Tae-sang, Han So-hee as Yoon Chae-ok, Wi Ha-hun as Kwon Jun-taek, Kim Soo-hyun as Lady Maeda, Ji Woo as Myeong-ja, Jo Han-chul as Yoon Joon-won, and Kim Hae-sook as Nawol daek. We discuss:

The song we featured during the recap: Time by Baek-a.
Our upcoming, fun-filled weekend with Ernabel in New York; follow along with our adventures on Instagram @kdramachat.
What we think of Jang Tae-sang thinking that he was busy staying alive and only caring about himself and his business until he met Yoon Chae-ok.
Jang Tae-sang’s origin story, including how his mother saved him and told him to stay alive, and how he came to meet Mrs. Nawol when she was thrown out of the local jail.
Jang Tae-sang is clearly influenced by his mother: his mother made him promise he would do everything he could to stay alive, and perhaps his reluctance to join the Patriotic Society was because his mom was killed because of her involvement in the independence movement.
We know now what Mrs. Nawol meant when she told Mr. Gu to betray her and everyone else if he ever finds himself tortured.
Jang Tae-sang’s argument with the rebel leader in Ongseong Hospital, who unlocked everyone’s cell and didn’t for Jang Tae-sang.
Hannah Arendt’s The Banality of Evil and Eichmann in Jerusalem. Eichmann was a normal, law-abiding person who followed the rules, and obeyed the law when he was told to round up Jews and have them killed.
How Jang Tae-sang tells Kwon Jun-taek that he will turn a blind eye if Kwon Jun-taek gets in trouble at the hospital, but in the end, Jang Tae-sang devises a plan to get everyone out of the hospital, including Kwon Jun-taek and the other prisoners.
We wonder why Commissioner Ishikawa is so motivated to save a nobody like Myeong-ja.
Yoon Chae-ok holding Col. Kato at gunpoint, and how he outmaneuvers her and ultimately has her chained in the cell with the creature.
How the creature recognizes Yoon Chae-ok when Yoon Chae-ok screams “mother” at her. The creature also saved Yoon Chae-ok when nitrogen gas was released and the soldiers started shooting at both of them.
Col. Kato’s order to find Yoo Chae-ok and kill her!
The plan to save Jang Tae-sak, Yoon Chae-ok, Myeong-ja and the rest of the prisoners that involves Mr. Gu driving a truck into Ongseong Hospital, Mr. Gu getting a guard drunk, and the merchants of Bukchon planning a big celebration.
The K Drama elements we see in this episode, including crying, the sneaky back hug when Jang Tae-sang saved Yoon Chae-ok from the creature, how the creature saved Yoon Chae-ok at personal cost to herself.
What we thought of the title of this episode: Chaos, between Monster and Human.
The background and experience of the amazing actress Kim Hae-sook, the actress who plays Mrs. Nawol.

References

6.5 - Review of Episode 5 of Gyeongseong Creature

9 februari 2024 | 62 min

6.4 - Review of Episode 4 of Gyeongseong Creature

2 februari 2024 | 56 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 4 of Gyeongseong Creature, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Park Seo-joon as Jang Tae-sang, Han So-hee as Yoon Chae-ok, Wi Ha-jun as Kwon Jun-taek, Kim Soo-hyun as Lady Maeda, Ji Woo as Myeong-ja, Jo Han-chul as Yoon Joon-won, and Kim Hae-sook as Nawol daek. We discuss:

The song that we feature during the recap: Time, electric version, by LEAFY.
We thank listeners who recently commented on the website.
We now know what Jang Tae-sang was really doing when he was goofing around Gyeongseong: playing mahjong, riding a rickshaw aimlessly, ordering a new suit at the tailor shop.
Why Sachimoto risked his neck and help Jang Tae-sang; we think it’s related to Yoon Chae-ok’s mom.
What we think of Kwon Jun-taek: where he came from, his relationship with Jang Tae-sang, and why he entered the hospital (to look for two comrades who were recently picked up by the Japanese Army).
Why Jang Tae-sang didn’t reveal who Sachimoto was when Yoon Chae-ok first met Sachimoto
The heartbreaking scene where Yoon Chae-ok talks to Sachimoto about his drawing of her mother. Sachimoto admits that he drew Yoon Chae-ok’s mother but he says he doesn’t know where she is or what happened to her.
How Sachimoto is the only person who has the full picture: where Yoon Chae-ok’s mom is and what happened to her.
Jang Tae-sang’s flashback of a boy in the snow.
How Jang Tae-sang changed his mind and helped the children escape the hospital.
Why Yoon Chae-ok continued to insist on looking for Myeong-ja.
The growing feelings between Jang Tae-sang and Yoon Chae-ok.
How Dr. Ichiro is trying to train the monster.
How the monster broke out of her prison and managed to take the elevator upstairs, killing scores of soldiers in the process.
We now know why Lady Maeda wanted Myeong-ja kidnapped: she wanted the baby!
The cliffhanger of an ending where Jang Tae-sang is face to face with the creature.
The K Drama elements in this episode, especially the brewing triangle between Col. Kato. Dr. Ichiro and Lady Maeda.
What we thought of the title of the episode: Imprinting, Between Causality and Fate.
We talk about the amazing and varied career or Jo Han-chul who plays Yoon Joon-won
Japanese honorifics, specifically the word “san” and “sensei.”

References

6.3 - Review of Episode 3 of Gyeongseong Creature

26 januari 2024 | 53 min

6.2 - Review of Episode 2 of Gyeongseong Creature

19 januari 2024 | 59 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 2 of Gyeongseong Creature, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Park Seo-joon as Jang Tae-sang, Han So-hee as Yoon Chae-ok, Wi Ha-hun as Kwon Jun-taek, Kim Soo-hyun as Lady Maeda, Ji Woo as Myeong-ja, Jo Han-chul as Yoon Joon-won, and Kim Hae-sook as Nawol daek. We discuss:

How we are grateful to our listeners! We have listeners all over the world and our audience is growing!
The song we feature in the recap: Forever by SUHO.
How the Japanese and Korean characters in this show speak both Japanese and Korean and it can be very confusing.
How knowing what language our characters are speaking gives you a sense of who has the upper hand in the conversation.
The sleuths, who are really good, because they figured out where Myeong-ja is and how she got there (she was sent there by Lade Maeda).
How Mr. Gu wonders if Myeong-ja is another of the many women and girls who have disappeared in Gyeongseong, a reference to the Japanese Army practice of kidnapping women and girls during WWII and turning them into sex slaves, or what they called “comfort women.”
How we now know that Lady Maeda had a powerful motive for getting rid of Myeong-ja AND she has some relationship with Dr. Ichiro.
The few lighthearted moments of the show, especially when Jang Tae-sang is dumbstruck when he sees Yoon Chae-ok all dressed up in the light blue suit and pillbox hat.
The secret hand signal that the Korean independence army members use to signal each other.
The significance of Manchuria because it shares a border with what is now North Korea.
The origin story of Sachimoto, including the fact that he drew Yoon Chae-ok’s mom!
How we know that the creature is Yoon Chae-ok’s mom through her swollen left eye and wooden flower pendant.
Our thoughts on why Jang Tae-sang decides to go back into Ongseong Hospital.
The K Drama elements we see in this episode, especially the triangle between Lady Maeda, Commissioner Ishikawa and Myeong-ja, and the umbrella scene with Lady Maeda.
The meaning behind the title: Mother, between longing and anguish.
How the intro scene at the beginning of each episode is NOT the origin story of Yoon Chae-ok’s mom. We made a mistake. The intro is the origin story of the first girl to swallow a najin, turn into a creature, and get captured by the Japanese.
The amazing and handsome Park Seo-joon, including how his last name is pronounced Pahk, not Pak and not Park.
How episode 3 has some gory scenes with the creature AND some scenes of cruelty by soldiers against prisoners and other soldiers.

References

6.1 - Episode 1 of Gyeongseong Creature

12 januari 2024 | 47 min

Welcome to Season 6 of K Drama Chat! In this season, we will recap and analyze Gyeongseong Creature!

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 1 of Gyeongseong Creature, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Park Seo-joon as Jang Tae-sang, Han So-hee as Yoon Chae-ok, Wi Ha-jun as Kwon Jun-taek, Kim Soo-hyun as Lady Maeda, Ji Woo as Myeong-ja, Jo Han-chul as Yoon Joon-won, and Kim Hae-sook as Nawol daek. Gyeongseong Creature was written by Kang Eun-kyung, directed by Chung Dong-yoon and Roh Young-sub. The first seven episodes were released on Netflix on December 22, 2023. The last 3 episodes dropped on January 5, 2024. We discuss:

The song we feature during the recap, Time by Baek A.
How the setting of this show is personal to both of us because our parents were kids in Asia who lived under the Japanese occupation during WWII.
The Japanese Army retreating from Harbin, China. Turns out Unit 731 of the Japanese Army, which was based in Harbin and was later discovered to have been doing human experimentation and biological weapons manufacturing. This is absolutely horrifying!
After the war, the US basically hid the atrocities and pardoned the researchers in exchange for their data because the US was doing its own biological weapons research.
How Korea had been under Japanese rule officially since the annexation of Korean in 1910.
The characters who are introduced in this episode, specifically:
- Jang Tae-sang, the self-made man and owner of the House of Golden Treasure, a successful pawn shop in Bukchong, a fancy neighborhood in Gyeongseong (what we now know as Seoul).
- The three staff members of the House of Golden Treasure: Manager Gu, Mrs. Nawol, and Beom-o.
- Police Commissioner Ishikawa, husband of Lady Maeda, who is the daughter of General Maeda.
- Hospital Dr. Ichiro and Colonel Kato, who look like they run the hospital and are in charge of the human experimentation.
- Sleuths Yoon Joon-won and Yoon Chae-ok, who are known to never give up when looking for missing persons.
- Painter Sachimoto, the man that the two sleuths are looking, because he has some kind of connection to a missing mom.
- Kwon Jun-taek, a nationalist who is also the son of a successful businessman.
The central plot line of this episode, which is that Commissioner Ishikawa wants Jang Tae-sang to find his mistress Myeong-ja, who disappeared a week before.
The human experimentation that appears to result in the creation of a scary creature that threatens painter Sachimoto at the end of the episode.

References

5.21 - Special Review of Mr. Queen with Ernabel Demillo

5 januari 2024 | 77 min

5.20 - Episode 20 of Mr. Queen

30 december 2023 | 66 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 20 of Mr. Queen, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Shin Hye-sun as Kim So-yong, Kim Jung-hyun as King Cheoljong, Seol In-ah as Jo Hwa-jin, Na In-woo as Kim Byeong-in, and Choi Jin-hyuk as Jang Bong-hwan. We also reveal the show that we will recap and analyze in Season 6 of K Drama Chat.

We discuss:

Our thoughts on this final episode of Mr. Queen: it was thrilling, satisfying and touching.
How the king and queen managed to enter the palace, get all dressed up, and fight off guards.
How the king and queen looked so regal and badass as they walked into the palace courtyard.
How the scarred eunuch shoots both the queen and the king and it looks like it’s the end for them, until we learn that their bulletproof vests protected them.
How this real danger situation for the queen sends Jang Bong Hwan back to Seoul, this time for good.
How the king fights off Kim Jwa-geun and then retakes his throne.
How Shin Hye-sun does an amazing job of becoming Kim So-yong the minute Jang Bong-hwan leaves her body; her acting was amazing!
How the queen and baby almost die but recover overnight, and that’s when the king (and us!) start sobbing.
How the king metes out punishment to the Kim and Jo family ministers by not killing them, but confiscating their assets and letting them lead lives of humiliation.
How the Grand Dowager Queen and Dowager Queen are banished to the West Palace and will never be allowed to leave again.
We discuss: Who did the king ultimately fall in love with?
And now that Jang Bong-hwan is gone, what is Kim So-yong left with? Does she have Jang Bong-hwan’s memories? What about his cooking skills?
How the combination of Jang Bong-hwan and Kim So-yong is who the king ultimately fell in love with.
The amazing K Drama elements in this episode, including all the crying, the OST, the resolved triangles, the Google product placement.
The show that we will recap and analyze in Season 6 of K Drama Chat! (You have to listen to find out!)

Next week, we will have Ernabel Demillo back on to do a full show review of Mr. Queen and discuss identity and belonging through Ernie’s show Asian-American Life.

5.19 - Episode 19 of Mr. Queen

24 december 2023 | 62 min

Listeners, we apologize for some of the issues with Joanna’s audio. We didn’t have time to record because of the holidays! Thanks for your grace!

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 19 of Mr. Queen, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Shin Hye-sun as Kim So-yong, Kim Jung-hyun as King Cheoljong, Seol In-ah as Jo Hwa-jin, Na In-woo as Kim Byeong-in, and Choi Jin-hyuk as Jang Bong-hwan. We also talk about the shows we’re watching now and a couple more shows we’re considering for Season 6 of Drama Chat.

We discuss:

The songs we feature during the recap:
- Like a Star by One Star
- Toy Soldier by Kim Deuk-su
How the king and queen both found themselves at the cliff, threatened by Kim Byeong-in.
How emotional we both felt when the queen was found by the king and when the queen dissolved into tears of sadness and guilt.
How Kim Byeong-in turned on the queen but ultimately saved the queen when he thought that his beloved Kim So-yong was somewhere still inside the queen’s body.
How the queen has had four attempts on her life: by the king, Prince Yeongpyeong, the scarred eunuch, and Kim Jwa-geun.
The amazing reunion between the queen, the king, Court Lady Choi and Heong Yon.
How the king is surprised and amazed by his queen, who left the palace to find him.
How it was Dam-hyang who saved the king because she recognized him and told her father who she was. So Dam-hyang saved the queen, the king and queen saved Dam-hyang, and Dam-hyang saved the king.
How the royal chef and the queen come up with a plan for the king and queen to sneak back into the palace through the gate that will allow food to enter the palace, and the “special” food cart reserved for the kitchen eunuch.
How the queen tells the king that history tells them that the king will lose, BUT she is “all in” for him; this makes the king reply that he will try his best, even if he loses.
How Jo Hwa-jin, having been told by the queen that the king is alive, is putting up signs saying the king is alive and accusing the Andong Kim family of corruption.
How Prince Yeongpyeong and Captain Hong are jailed so they can’t help the king. To keep his friend Kim Hwan safe, Captain Hong breaks ties with him.
The title of the episode: The one who came back from hell. This clearly refers to the king, who managed to escape Kim Byeong-in and is now on the cusp of retaking the palace. It could also apply to the queen, who was left wandering the forest on her own and was found by the king himself.
At the end of the episode, the king and queen are in a food cart. We see Kim Jwa-gun order a food cart searched. Will the king and queen’s plan be foiled?
The shows we’re watching now and the additional shows we’re considering for Season 6 of K Drama Chat.

5.18 - Episode 18 of Mr. Queen

15 december 2023 | 51 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 18 of Mr. Queen, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Shin Hye-sun as Kim So-yong, Kim Jyung-hun as King Cheoljong, Seol In-ah as Jo Hwa-jin, Na In-woo as Kim Byeong-in, and Choi Jin-hyuk as Jang Bong-hwan.

We discuss:

The songs we feature during the recap: Here I Am by Jo Hyun-ah and Conspiracy by Kim Deuk-su.
How the episode starts and ends at the cliff and both the king and queen are pursued by Kim Byeong-in.
How the king has an epic fight with Kim Byeong-in, then he evades being killed or captured by jumping off the cliff!
The king is found by an herb gatherer, who we suspect is one of the Donghak rebels.
The queen is upset and confused by the king’s departure; she sees the king everywhere in the palace through her memories.
The queen embroiders CJ on a silk scarf; this wouldn’t make any sense to anyone in the palace since CJ is in English and the name Cheoljong wasn’t given to the king until after his death.
How the queen figures out that the dead body that is supposedly the king is NOT the king. Now the queen knows that the king is alive!
How Prince Yeongpyeong goes to see the queen, threatens her, and ends up imprisoned by Kim Byeong-in.
How the queen, Court Lady Choi and Hong Yeon leave the palace to search for the king.
Kim Byeong-in traps Kim and Jo family elders into signing a document that admits to their joint intentions to dethrone the king and enthrone a new one. This document is meant to force the two families to continue working together.
The queen and her companions are discovered by Kim Byeong-in and his men. Court Lady Choi and Hong Yeon sacrifice themselves to try and save the queen.
At the end of the episode, Kim Byeong-in traps the queen at the cliff and demands to show who she is and what she’s done with Kim So-yong.
More hats from the Joseon dynasty.
The ceremony called "a spirit on the roof," which is when the dead king’s eunuch climbs up on the roof of the palace and shouts three times while waving the king’s robe, "High majesty, please come back!"

References

5.17 - Episode 17 of Mr. Queen

8 december 2023 | 62 min

5.16 - Episode 16 of Mr. Queen

1 december 2023 | 63 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 16 of Mr. Queen, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Shin Hye-sun as Kim So-yong, Kim Jyung-hun as King Cheoljong, Seol In-ah as Jo Hwa-jin, Na In-woo as Kim Byeong-in, and Choi Jin-hyuk as Jang Bong-hwan. We also talk about the Donghak Rebels. We discuss:

The songs we feature in this episode: Palace by Howl and Bong Hwan-a by Norajo.
Why we think the queen hasn’t admitted to the king that she is the girl who saved him from the well eight years ago.
How the queen has decided to go “all in” with the king, even though Jang Bong-hwan knows the course of history and he knows that King Cheoljong was a terrible king, who died without an heir and without a legacy.
How the queen has allied herself with the king in a big way: she is teaching him about the future and she teaches him about military tactics from the future.
How Jo Hwa-jin’s confession was pivotal to this episode: she admits to the king that the children’s workbook belongs to Kim So-yong, and she found the ledger and gave it to the Dowager Queen.
Jo Hwa-jin’s confession means a permanent rupture with the king and a closer relationship between the king and the queen.
More information about the book The Mourning Bride by William Congreve.
How maybe Prince Yeongpyeong has also betrayed the king by not telling him about the ledger and Jo Hwa-jin.
The queen is back in the kitchen, thank goodness. She learns how to make Yihwaju wine.
How Kim Byeong-in hasn’t given up on the queen, even though she tells him he’s just not the one.
The K Drama elements in this episode, including Kim Byeong-in’s drinking, the queen and her ramen, the butterfly on the sliding doors at the end, and Jo Hwa-jin’s confession.
How the queen is taking a chance when she says she’s “all in” with the king.
How Jang Bong-hwan finds himself in an impossible situation when it’s announced that the queen is pregnant.
A little information about the Donghak rebels

References

5.15 - Episode 15 of Mr. Queen

24 november 2023 | 55 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 15 of Mr. Queen, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Shin Hye-sun as Kim So-yong, Kim Jyung-hun as King Cheoljong, Seol In-ah as Jo Hwa-jin, Na In-woo as Kim Byeong-in, and Choi Jin-hyuk as Jang Bong-hwan. We discuss:

The songs we featured during the recap: Toy Soldier by Kim Deuk-su and Keep Going by DINDIN.
How this was a laugh out loud episode; the queen is showing everyone who’s boss!
How Dam-hyang is safe and the king planned it all! As a result, the queen is looking at him differently, even if she thinks he’s an idiot who will get killed for his idealistic values.
How it was the king’s turn to send a secret message, this time through his crossed fingers, that Dam-hyang is alive. The king and queen are starting to understand each other better!
How the king and queen form an alliance. The queen has decided to go all in with the king, even if Jang Bong-hwan knows the king is on the losing side of history.
How the queen has decided to become the biggest bitch in the palace. She goes after the Grand Dowager Queen, the Dowager Queen and Jo Hwa-jin.
The king is ruling the country with great confidence, although the court assembly does appoint Kim Byeong-in as the new Minister of War; Kim Byeon-in makes a deal with both families.
Jo Hwa-jin’s secrets are out because Prince Yeonpyeong saw her give the ledger to the Dowager Queen, and the queen’s father knows she gave the ledger to the Dowager Queen.
The lighthearted moments in this episode, including when Captain Hong asks the king to ask the Dowager Queen to join their team since she found the ledger.
The K Drama elements in this episode, including the scene when the queen walks in on the king while he is getting dressed and we catch a glimpse of the king’s impressive abs.
How we think there are two additional K Drama elements to add to our list: a butterfly and a confession.
The shows we’re watching now, including Destined With You and A Time Called You.
The shows we’re looking forward to watching, including Vigilante and Welcome to Samdarli.

References

5.14 - Episode 14 of Mr. Queen

17 november 2023 | 58 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 14 of Mr. Queen, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Shin Hye-sun as Kim So-yong, Kim Jyung-hun as King Cheoljong, Seol In-ah as Jo Hwa-jin, Na In-woo as Kim Byeong-in, and Choi Jin-hyuk as Jang Bong-hwan.

We discuss:

The songs we feature during the recap: To My One and Only You by Xiumin and Lost Memory by Howl.
How the queen is so confused about her feelings toward the king and the night they spent together.
How the king is confused because the queen saved the banquet and then said she would betray the king.
The king and queen realized their notes were a result of a misdelivery. The king confesses to the queen that he likes her, but she says she can’t forgive him, and the old Kim So-yong is dead.
How the Grand Dowager Queen and Kim Jwa-geun decide to kill the queen through arsenic frozen into ice cubes and served during a brunch with the Grand Dowager Queen.
How the young court lady saves the queen by throwing a rock at her drink, but in the process, gets herself imprisoned.
How Kim Jwa-geun tells the other Kim family ministers that he has the ledger, or proof of their family’s corruption; as long as he is safe, he will keep the other ministers safe.
The most important K Drama element in this episode is the king talking to the queen while she’s sleeping. She wakes, confesses to the king (mistakenly) and that’s what leads to their night together.
How the young court lady is sentenced to death by drinking poison. The queen is furious with the king, until she realizes that the king has crossed fingers behind his back, a sign that what he is saying is a lie.
Why the title of the episode is “The woman who must die in order to live.”
A little background about the Joseon Dynasty, which was the period of continuous rule by a line of kings of the Yi family, that started in 1392 and ended in 1910, when Emperor Gojong, whom we met in Mr Sunshine, was forced to abdicate with the Japanese occupation.

References

5.13 - Episode 13 of Mr. Queen

10 november 2023 | 65 min

5.12 - Episode 12 of Mr. Queen

3 november 2023 | 56 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 12 of Mr. Queen, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Shin Hye-sun as Kim So-yong, Kim Jyung-hun as King Cheoljong, Seol In-ah as Jo Hwa-jin, Na In-woo as Kim Byeong-in, and Choi Jin-hyuk as Jang Bong-hwan.

We discuss:

The songs we feature during the recap: Toy Soldier by Kim Deuk-so and The Great Recipe by sEODo.
How this episode started with danger, then both the king and queen are safe, then it gets funny, then the king is beaten by Kim Jwa-geun, then it ends on a cliffhanger, and what a cliffhanger it was!
How Jang Bong-hwan saved the banquet with his inventive cooking and his experience that cooking and food are political in a place like the palace.
During the banquet, for the first time ever, the king and queen are on the same page, working together to save the banquet.
How the king beautifully interprets the queen’s messages about each dish in the meal.
Court Lady Choi’s words that there are things that are constant in the palace: the secret feud between women, the war of governmental powers, and assassination by poison
The amazing meal the queen made during the banquet, how clever it all was, and how meaningful every element was.
How Kim Jwa-geun beats the king down by exposing the 7 king’s guards who had false papers and ordering them beheaded, taking jurisdiction over the men away from Prince Yeonpyeong and the king.
Why the episode is called Dancing Upon a Knife: because the king and queen are caught in a dangerous and delicate place and they have to act very carefully.
The K Drama elements in this episode, including a piggyback ride that we almost missed (the royal chef gives Court Lady Choi a piggyback ride when she gets ill from the poisoned water).
The crazy cliffhanger of an ending and the many questions left unanswered, like: Who was behind the bombing? How badly is the king hurt? What about the ledger that the Jo family was supposed to reveal during the banquet?
Our favorite Korean dishes now that the season is changing and it’s turning colder. Sung Hee likes Seolleongtang while Joanna loves sundubu jjigae.
The shows we’re watching now: Sung Hee is obsessed with A Time Called You while Joanna has just started watching Destined With You.

References

5.11 - Episode 11 of Mr. Queen

27 oktober 2023 | 86 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 11 of Mr. Queen, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Shin Hye-sun as Kim So-yong, Kim Jyung-hun as King Cheoljong, Seol In-ah as Jo Hwa-jin, Na In-woo as Kim Byeong-in, and Choi Jin-hyuk as Jang Bong-hwan. Ernabel Demillo guests on this episode!

We discuss:

The songs we feature during the recap: Like the first snow by Kim Jung-hyun and Rebellion by Kim Deuk-su.
We finally know what is in the ledger, but we wonder why the queen’s father recorded all of his corrupt transactions.
How Jo Hwa-jin gives the ledger to the Dowager Queen.
The problem with revenge is that you never know who you will actually take down.
How the queen is struggling with Jang Bong-hwan’s spirit and Kim So-yong’s memories.
How the note exchanges between the king and queen are hilarious and we know this is not going to end well.
How everyone has something planned for the Suritnal festival: Kim Jwa-geun is going to reveal the king’s incompetence, Jo Hwa-jin plans to take down the queen with a real arrow, Prince Yeonpyeong and Captain Hong will show off their men’s real skills, the scarred eunuch will derail food shipments for the festival, and the Dowager Queen will tell the Grand Dowager Queen that the queen has been deceiving her because she’s been serving the king all along.
The hunting tournament between the queen and concubines. The queen wins because she makes a deal with one of the eunuchs.
The amazing martial arts demonstrations during the Suritnal festival, especially the battle with fans between the king and Kim Byeong-in.
At the end of the episode, Jo Hwa-hin has an arrow pointed at the queen and she lets the arrow fly. The king and Kim Byeong-in leap in to the air in battle.
The episode is called The Unforgiven because there are so many people who can’t or won’t forgive someone else.
We share a little bit of history about the Pungyang Jo family.

References

Tessenjutsu: Why Metal Fans Are So Strong Video
Pungyang Jo clan in Wikipedia
Kim Jung Hyun singing Like the First Snow
CUNY-TV on YouTube; look for the Asian-American Life Playlist
October 2023 episode of Asian American Life: Asian Americans Lifting NY

5.10 - Episode 10 of Mr. Queen

20 oktober 2023 | 59 min

5.9 - Episode 9 of Mr. Queen

13 oktober 2023 | 53 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 9 of Mr. Queen, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Shin Hye-sun as Kim So-yong, Kim Jyung-hun as King Cheoljong, Seol In-ah as Jo Hwa-jin, Na In-woo as Kim Byeong-in, and Choi Jin-hyuk as Jang Bong-hwan.

We discuss:

The songs we featured during the recap: Onestar by Im Han-byul and The Secret of the Well by Howl
How the king is looking at the queen differently because the queen defended the king when they were eating at the restaurant outside the palace, and because the queen has not reported the incident when the king tried to kill the queen.
How the queen is looking at the king with pity because his family was brutally murdered, and because the king is such a badass when he goes up against the thugs in the alley.
How Kim So-yong and Jang Bong-hwan are at war in the queen’s body. We think Kim So-yong was more dominant when the king was kissing her and the queen kissed him back. But later, Jang Bong-hwan realizes what happened and he’s trying to bash Kim So-yong out of the queen’s body.
The important flashback of the king, queen and Jo Hwa-jim when they were children. Now we know why the young Cheoljong I(his name as a child was Won-beom) was at the bottom of the well, how Kim So-yong climbed into the well to die and be with her mom again, how Kim So-yong saved Won-beom, and how Won-beom mistakes Jo Hwa-ji for Kim So-yong because it’s Jo Hwa-ji at the mouth of the well when he climbed out.
How the song Here I Am applies to so many characters in the show. There are many characters yearning to be recognized, to be understood, to be loved.
Now we understand the significance of the children’s book that Kim So-yong was holding when she went down into the well.
The ongoing intrigue in the palace, including the Dowager Queen plotting to take down the queen, and the double agent court lady digging up Oh-wol’s norigae or hanbok ornament.
The K Drama elements in this episode, including clothing, food, alcohol, triangles, some connection from the past, quirky best friend, and protecting someone you love at expense to yourself.
Why we think this episode is called Light and Darkness.
Some background on Korean rap, which originated in the late 80s and early 90s.

References

5.8 - Episode 8 of Mr. Queen

6 oktober 2023 | 73 min

5.7 - Episode 7 of Mr. Queen

29 september 2023 | 57 min

5.6 - Episode 6 of Mr. Queen

22 september 2023 | 59 min

5.5 - Episode 5 of Mr. Queen

15 september 2023 | 66 min

5.4 - Episode 4 of Mr. Queen

8 september 2023 | 73 min

5.3 - Episode 3 of Mr. Queen

1 september 2023 | 58 min

5.2 - Episode 2 of Mr. Queen

25 augusti 2023 | 51 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 2 of Mr. Queen, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Shin Hye-sun as Kim So-yong, Kim Jyung-hun as King Cheojong, Seol In-ah as Jo Hwa-jin, Na In-woo as Kim Byeong-in, and Choi Jin-hyuk as Jang Bong-hwan.

We discuss:

The song we feature from the OST, Like a Star is by Hanbyul Jang, an Australian-born singer and songwriter.
We wonder if modern day Koreans would know about the reign of King Cheoljong, including the Andong Kim and the Pungyang Jo families.
How nothing happened during the King and Queen’s night; the King even fabricated “the Red” on the bedding with pig’s blood.
How the King and Jo Hwa-jin appear to be in love, and Queen So-yong finds out, through flashbacks, that she loved the King, but the King did not love her.
How Jang Bong-hwan is fascinated by the court politics and the history unfolding before her.
The Queen’s hilarious antics, including how Kim So-yong acts and moves like a man, how he hates the queen’s clothing and headgear, her awkward exit from the palanquin, how he sits with his legs spread while at court, how she flirts with concubine Jo Hwa-jin, and how he hikes up his dress when running around the palace.
What a gisaeng house is, and how gisaeng are official government entertainers who were trained in fine arts, poetry and prose.
How King Cheoljong acts the fool in front of the court, and how his facial expressions change depending on who he’s with and the persona he wishes to project.
The roles of concubine, Grand Dowager Queen, and Grand Royal Dowager Queen.
The K Drama elements we see in this episode: beautiful actors, beautiful court clothing, food, new triangles forming between the characters, flowers, talking to someone while they’re sleeping, and quirky best friend.
Our favorite lines from this episode.
The cliffhanger at the end of the episode. Will the King attack the Queen? What did the Queen overhear and did she understand it all?

References

5.1 - Episode 1 of Mr. Queen

18 augusti 2023 | 69 min

5.0 - Special Episode with Carolyn and Dayna Where We Discuss the Korean Movie "Be With You"

4 augusti 2023 | 47 min

4.16 - Episode 16 of 25, 21

28 juli 2023 | 125 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 16 of 25, 21, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Kim Tae-ri as Na Hee-do and Nam Joo-hyuk as Baek Yi-jin. Ernabel Demillo is back as our special guest! She was a reporter and news anchor in New York, AND a reporter in New York during 9/11. This is a long episode, so we hope you stick with us and enjoy this long discussion. We promise some laugh-out-loud moments! We discuss:

The beautiful songs we hear in this episode: Starlight by O Dong Jun and New Beginnings by Jin Myoung Yong
Baek Yi-jin’s applying for, and accepting, the correspondent job in New York. What was his motivation for going to New York and staying?
Ernabel’s experience during 9/11. She was trapped in Italy at first. When she got back to New York, it was chaos and Ernabel and her co-workers worked really long days.
The crushingly sad scenes between Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin: outside Na Hee-do’s house after the luggage mix-up, at the cell phone store, at the tunnel, and then at the bus stop.
How Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin had numerous opportunities to get back together, but they just could not bridge the gap between them; they just could not understand each other.
How the creators of K Dramas often give us clues to the show’s ending early in the show. For example, in Episode 2, we learn that Baek Yi-jin is not able to share his sadness and despair; Na Hee-do tells Baek Yi-jin that when they’re together, they should always be happy; Baek Yi-jin tells his father’s creditors that he would never be happy again.
How Ko Yu-rim and Moon Ji-woong stay strong, despite Ko Yu-rim living in Russia. We cheer when Moon Ji-woong proposes to Ko Yu-rim.
Ernie’s perspective on being a reporter and news anchor. How reporters are super heroes because they are often running toward danger.
When Baek Yi-jin asks, “Did I screw this up?” we say YES!
The amazing friendship between Na Hee-do and Ko Yu-rim, how being each other’s rival was the proudest moment of their careers.
How Baek Yi-jin is selected by Shin Jae-kyung to be the news anchor for UBS because he represented youth and innovation.
How Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin contributed to each other’s success. Despite their sad breakup, they each are now living pretty good lives.
How Na Hee-do’s diary has been so central in Na Hee-do’s life and how, in the end, it reconnected Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin, and Na Hee-do and Min-chae.
We speculate about what Na Hee-do would have done after receiving the diary after all these years. Would she call Baek Yi-jin, or do nothing?
How Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin, through the diary, got to say what they really meant to say to each other at the tunnel that day.
The show that we will recap and analyze in Season 5 of K Drama Chat.

References

4.15 - Episode 15 of 25, 21

21 juli 2023 | 72 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 15 of 25, 21, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Kim Tae-ri as Na Hee-do and Nam Joo-hyuk as Baek Yi-jin. We discuss:

The songs we feature in this episode: Dreaming Day by Kim Ji Young and Propose by Lim Ha Young.
How Ko Yu-rim asked Baek Yi-jin to break the story of her move to Russia, and she wants him to say that she is doing it just for money.
How Baek Yi-jin always hides his pain, something that makes Na Hee-do really unhappy; this echoes episode 2, when Ko Yu-rim complains that Baek Yi-jin hid his family’s financial troubles.
How Baek Yi-jin ultimately couldn’t manage the distance between himself and his friends, and himself and the victims’ families in New York. He is getting lost in his reporting and suffering as a result.
How Na Hee-do’s mom lets Baek Yi-jin move to the newsroom after Baek Yi-jin admits to having lost all objectivity when it comes to Na Hee-do.
How Na Hee-do is the one who always seems to know how to comfort Baek Yi-jin, but later in the episode, when he moves to New York, he grows more distant and she can no longer comfort him.
The amazing match in Madrid between Ko Yu-rim and Na Hee-do that showed how evenly matched they are. Na Hee-do wins the match but she tops Ko Yu-rim by just a little bit.
How Ko Yu-rim and Moon Ji-woong’s relationship is so different from that of Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin. Ko Yu-rim and Moon Ji-woong are making it work; he has three part-time jobs; he even visits her in Russia!
How Na Hee-do is shocked and saddened when she learned from her mom that Baek Yi-jin applied for a position in New York.
How we’re furious with Baek Yi-jin for the way he is treating Na Hee-do, how he’s distanced himself from her, and how he didn’t even tell her himself that he had applied to the position in New York.
The K Drama elements in this episode, including clothing, food, alcohol, flowers and product placement.
We also talk about a new K Drama element: talking to someone while they sleep.
How Ernabel Demillo will be back on the show next week!

References

4.14 - Episode 14 of 25, 21

14 juli 2023 | 60 min

4.13 - Episode 13 of 25, 21

7 juli 2023 | 51 min

4.12 - Episode 12 of 25, 21

1 juli 2023 | 58 min

4.11 - Episode 11 of 25, 21

23 juni 2023 | 51 min

4.10 - Episode 10 of 25, 21

16 juni 2023 | 51 min

4.9 - Episode 9 of 25, 21

10 juni 2023 | 78 min

4.8 - Episode 8 of 25, 21

3 juni 2023 | 58 min

4.7 - Episode 7 of 25, 21

26 maj 2023 | 54 min

4.6 - Episode 6 of 25, 21

20 maj 2023 | 58 min

4.5 - Episode 5 of 25, 21

12 maj 2023 | 59 min

4.4 - Episode 4 of 25, 21

5 maj 2023 | 55 min

4.3 - Episode 3 of 25, 21

29 april 2023 | 54 min

4.2 - Episode 2 of 25, 21

22 april 2023 | 45 min

4.1 - Episode 1 of 25, 21

14 april 2023 | 51 min

3.17 - A conversation with Jeanie Rhim about K Drama Elements and Korean Phrases

7 april 2023 | 47 min

3.16 - A Conversation with Professor Ernabel Demillo

1 april 2023 | 49 min

3.15 - Episode 24 of Mr. Sunshine

25 mars 2023 | 66 min

3.14 - Episode 23 of Mr. Sunshine

17 mars 2023 | 60 min

3.13 - Episode 21 and 22 of Mr. Sunshine

11 mars 2023 | 79 min

3.12 - Episodes 19 and 20 of Mr. Sunshine

3 mars 2023 | 62 min

3.11 - Episodes 17 and 18 of Mr. Sunshine

24 februari 2023 | 70 min

3.10 - Episodes 15 and 16 of Mr. Sunshine

17 februari 2023 | 67 min

3.9 - Episodes 13 and 14 of Mr. Sunshine

10 februari 2023 | 72 min

3.8 - Episode 12 of Mr. Sunshine

3 februari 2023 | 57 min

3.7 - Episode 11 of Mr. Sunshine

27 januari 2023 | 50 min

Episode 3.6 - Episodes 9 and 10 of Mr. Sunshine

20 januari 2023 | 75 min

3.5 - Episodes 7 and 8 of Mr. Sunshine

13 januari 2023 | 70 min

3.4 - Episodes 5 and 6 of Mr. Sunshine

6 januari 2023 | 56 min

3.3 - Episodes 3 and 4 of Mr. Sunshine

23 december 2022 | 36 min

3.2 - Episodes 1 and 2 of Mr. Sunshine

16 december 2022 | 44 min

3.1 - Joanna, Sung Hee and Jeanie Share Their Top 3 K Dramas

9 december 2022 | 34 min

3.0 - Introducing Season 3 of K Drama Chat

2 december 2022 | 20 min

2.16 - Episode 16 of It's Okay To Not Be Okay

23 november 2022 | 54 min

In this episode, we recap and analyze Episode 16, the final episode of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, the hit K Drama on Netflix. In this episode, the story is Find the Real, Real Faces by Meun Young. Sang Tae convinces Meun Young to publish her final book, which is about three friends (an emotionless princess, a boxed man, and a masked man) whose faces were stolen by an evil shadow witch. After a long journey and meeting many characters, the friends realize that what the shadow witch had stolen from them was not their real, real faces but their courage to find happiness.

This episode was ultimately about Gang Tae, Sang Tae and Meun Young finding the courage to be happy. Gang Tae learned to be vulnerable, to ask for help, to love and be loved, and to believe that he wasn’t born to take care of Sang Tae because Moon Gang Tae belongs to Moon Gang Tae. Meun Young was able to shed the narrative that she is an empty can, unable to care about others’ feelings. Meun Young came to care about the brothers, rejoin the community, love, be loved, and write again. Sang Tae was able to overcome his trauma, paint over the murderous butterfly and paint his own butterflies, and leave Gang Tae to pursue a career as an illustrator.

This episode also revisited the stories of some of the patients at the hospital, including A-reum and Jung-tae, who are finally together; the assemblyman’s song, Kwon Ki-do, who is studying for the national civil service exam; Pil won, who has a new pair of shoes and the courage to leave the hospital for good; and Eun-ja, who has accepted her daughter’s death and has opened up her own restaurant.

Even the second and third couples look like they’re going to make it. The publisher is opening up his new office in Seongjin City to be closer to Ju-ri, and Jae-soo appears to be getting closer to the art director.

At the end of the episode, Joanna, Jen and Sung Hee reveal the show they are going to recap and analyze in Season 3 of K Drama Chat – Mr. Sunshine! We wanted to do a historical show and decided Mr. Sunshine had a lot to discuss, including Korea during the Japanese occupation, how Japan and the US fought over Korea, the rebellion against the Japanese, the role of women during that period of time, gender identity, and Korean language.

We will have a few in between episodes before we start talking about Mr. Sunshine, so keep listening and start watching Mr. Sunshine!

2.15 - Episode 15 of It's Okay To Not Be Okay

13 november 2022 | 44 min

2.14 - Episode 14 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay

6 november 2022 | 48 min

2.13 - Episode 13 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay

29 oktober 2022 | 56 min

2.12 - Episode 12 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay

20 oktober 2022 | 38 min

2.11 - Episode 11 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay

13 oktober 2022 | 41 min

2.10 - Episode 10 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay

3 oktober 2022 | 40 min

In this episode, we recap and analyze Episode 10 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, the hit K Drama on Netflix. In this episode, the children’s story is The Girl Who Cried Wolf, based on The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Meun Young says the boy was lonely up on the mountain, which is why he kept crying wolf. When the wolf did come, nobody believed him. Meun Young believes that if even one person had believed him, he would not have died.

The episode opens with Sang Tae announcing to the hospital that Gang Tae wanted him dead and that he pushed him (Sang Tae) into the river. He is eventually given sedatives and put into an isolation room. A devastated Gang Tae pushes Meun Young away, telling her that he has woken from a dream and he should have focused instead on his brother. Sang Tae eventually goes home with Ju-ri’s mom. Whe Gang Tae comes home, he apologizes for lying to Sang Tae, for saying that he wanted him dead, for wishing his brother was normal. Sang Tae comes out of his wardrobe and comforts a sobbing Gang Tae.

Meanwhile, Meun Young threatens Gang Tae, who has rejected him. She goes to Ju-ri’s house, asks Ju-ri’s mom for seaweed soup because it’s her birthday, and then gives the doll Mang Tae back to Sang Tae.

The episode also featured:

Ju-ri and Meun Young drinking together, and Ju-ri slapping Meun Young in a drunken state
The publisher and Jae-soo fighting over who is to blame for the debacle between Sang Tang, Gang Tae and Meun Young.
Meun Young’s dad tried to choke Park Ok-ran, whom he heard singing “Oh my darling Clementine” and reading The Murder of the Witch of the West

At the end of the episode, Park Ok-ran hits a caregiver on the head with a rock and then escapes from the hospital. Gang Tae figures out that she is headed to the cursed castle, so he races to Meun Young. Meun Young answers a knock on the door and finds Park Ok-ran standing on her front step, wishing her a happy birthday.

References:

2.9 - Episode 9 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay

27 september 2022 | 53 min

2.8 - Episode 8 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay

17 september 2022 | 48 min

2.7 - Episode 7 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay

10 september 2022 | 57 min

2.6 - Episode 6 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay

3 september 2022 | 42 min

2.5 - Episode 5 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay

23 augusti 2022 | 40 min

2.4 - Episode 4 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay

13 augusti 2022 | 50 min

Jen is on vacation, so Sung Hee is filling in. In this episode, we recap and analyze episode 4 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, the hit K Drama on Netflix. The children’s story from this episode is Zombie Kid, the boy who couldn’t feel emotion and was only interested in eating. The assemblyman’s son causes havoc at his father’s political rally; he is chastised by his mom and his father tells the hospital director that his son will forever stay in psychiatric hospitals. Meun Young upsets Gang Tae with her talk of parents abandoning useless children, and children pushing away demented parents. But when her father tries to choke her, Gang Tae has a change of heart and goes to look for Meun Young in the rain. We have an important flashback of Meun Young as a young girl, her mom brushing her hair, and her mother lying face down in a pool of blood.

We do a recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:

The song Hallelujah by Kim Feel
The Zombie Kid story and how we think this story is about a boy who ultimately was looking for warmth and love from his mom
How Gang Tae is going through a transformation; he’s showing more emotion
How Gang Tae and Meun Young are both childlike and childish in this episode
Gang Tae’s flashbacks of his mom prioritizing Sang Tae when the boys were younger
How Sang Tae is infatuated with Meun Young and he has another episode when Gang Tae yells at him
How this episode is about each character’s need to be seen
Our thoughts re: why Meun Young’s dad said “die” and “why are you still alive?” when he saw Meun Young
How we need to know more about Meun Young’s mother, the circumstances of her death, and her relationship with her daughter
Two characters who we think will become really important: Nurse Park and Ju-ri’s mom
The K Drama elements we see in this episode, namely:
- Flowers
- Food
- Wrist grabs
- Umbrellas
- Lots of crying, especially by Gang Tae
How in Korean slang, telling someone “do you want to come over to my place for ramen” means “do you want to spend the night together.?”
Our favorite Meun Young outfits
Our favorites lines from the episode
The amazing cinematography in this episode
The wonderful animations in this show

References:

2.3 - Episode 3 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay

6 augusti 2022 | 38 min

2.2 - Episode 2 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay

30 juli 2022 | 55 min

In this episode, we recap and analyze episode 2 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, the hit K Drama on Netflix from 2020. Sang Tae attends a book signing by Meun Young and gets in trouble when he touches a kid wearing a dinosaur costume. Gang Tae comes to his rescue and Meun Young intervenes, causing a huge scene when she gets mad at the child’s parents. While waiting for Sang Tae to calm down, Meun Young asks Gang Tae to be her safety pin. She ends up pushing a book critic, further jeopardizing her career. We also find out that Gang Tae and Sang Tae’s mother was murdered and Sang Tae says it was the butterfly that killer her. Jae-soo and Gang Tae realize it’s time to move again, before the butterflies appear. Sung Hee comes back as our guest!

We do a recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We talk about our first impressions of the show and what we loved about the first episode. We discuss:

The song Breathe by Sam Kim, a Korean-American singer, songwriter, producer and guitarist.
What we thought of this episode.
The children’s story in this episode, namely the Girl with the Red Shoes by Hans Christian Anderson.
Obsession and what things in the show cannot be separated.
How we see the world through San Tae’s eyes as he is walking toward the book signing.
How Gang Tae, Sang Tae and Mun Yeoung are all distorted in their emotional reactions to the world around them.
What we think the butterflies mean.
What we know about the Moon brothers’ mom being murdered.
How we learn more about Meun Young, specifically about her parents.
How Meun Young seems to get herself in trouble when Gang Tae is around.
How Meun Young debated whether or not to help Gang Tae when they were little kids, and at the book signing.
The triangles forming between the characters.
The K Drama elements we see in this episode, and there are a lot of them.
Our favorite Meun Young outfit.
Our favorite lines from the episode.
Kim Soo Hyun, his career, his military service, and how he decided on It’s Okay to Not Be Okay as his comeback show.
How the South Korean parliament is considering a law that would allow internationally recognized K Pop stars to complete their military service in just three weeks.

References:

2.1 - Episode 1 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay

24 juli 2022 | 41 min

1.19 - Conversation with Professor Ernabel Demillo

16 juli 2022 | 62 min

1.18 - Conversation with Friends About K Dramas

9 juli 2022 | 66 min

1.17 - Episode 16 of Hotel Del Luna

2 juli 2022 | 59 min

In this episode, we recap and analyze Episode 16, the finale, of Hotel Del Luna. In this episode, all of the staff resolve their grudges and move on to the afterlife. Bartender Kim overcomes his shame over being labeled a lewd scholar when Man Wol and Koo Chan Sung convince the author to write a novel about a fictional, but honorable, Kim Si-ik. Guest manager Seo hee learns that the daughter of the eldest grandson in her husband’s family will carry the mother’s name, thus ending the family line. Hyun joong’s sister dies and is reunited with her beloved brother.

Man Wol and Koo Chan Sung realize that they met nearly 1,300 years ago, when Man Wol became an orphan and Koo Chan Sung and his dad found her and adopted her into their family. Man Wol is able to muster her courage to go into the tunnel to the afterlife, but only after Mago grants their wish of seeing winter together. We see Man Wol, Chan Sung, Bartender Kim, Seo hee and Hyun joong reunite in what might have been a dream or the future. The final scene shows Mago introducing the new owner of the hotel to her sisters; Kim Soo Hyun makes an unforgettable cameo as the owner of Hotel Blue Moon.

We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:

Another song from the OST - Happy Ending, written and performed by IU herself!
Bartender Kim’s story and how he might have been the Shakespeare of Joseon.
How Man Wol showed her love for Bartender Kim in her actions, but not when he was leaving for the afterlife.
What cranes represent in Korean culture and how Joanna is obsessed with them.
The scholar Brene Brown and her work on shame.
Hyeon mi’s death and her reunion with Hyun joong.
How forlorn Yuna became at the thought of Hyun joong leaving and the hotel .disappeared, but how she overcame her grief to give Hyun joong a proper sendoff and flowers from Mago.
How Seo hee overcame her grudge when she learned that her husband’s family line would come to an end.
How Seo hee came to the rescue of the pregnant woman and her baby in a way that nobody came to her rescue 200 years ago.
The benefits of curses.
The dream that let Man Wol and Chan Sung know they had met in the past.
Man Wol and Chan Sung’s goodbye at the tunnel to the afterlife.
How Man Wol walked alone into the tunnel, without assistance from the grip reaper or a limousine.
What we think will happen to Yuna and Chan Sung in the future.
The ending scene with the entire cast; is it a dream or the future?
How we learn that there are 12 Magos.
The ending scene where the new owner of Hotel Blue Moon is revealed.

References:

1.16 - Episode 15 of Hotel Del Luna

17 juni 2022 | 52 min

1.15 - Episode 14 of Hotel Del Luna

4 juni 2022 | 43 min

In this episode, we recap and analyze episode 14 of Hotel Del Luna. Man Wol is convinced that Koo Chan Sung is a reincarnated Chyung Myung. She knows she can’t kill Koo Chan Sung, so she gives the moon ornament to Ji-won to make him stronger, knowing Ji-won will try to kill Koo Chan Sung. Koo Chan Sung battles and tricks Ji-won and is saved by the hotel staff and the grim reaper. As a result, Koo Chan Sung saves Man Wol from being turned to ashes. Chyung Myung finally appears to Man Wol in human form, but instead of bringing him to hell and then vanishing, Man Wol is finally empty and will allow Chyung Myung to go to the afterlife. As a final punishment, Man Wol must accompany Chyung Myung to the bridge to the afterlife. At the end of the episode, Man Wol and Chyung Myung are on the bridge. Man stops, turns around and walks back to Koo Chan Sung.

We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:

This week’s featured song from the Hotel Del Luna OST -Can You Hear Me by Ben.
How Man Wol is convinced that Koo Chan Sung is a reincarnated Chyung Myung because of things he’s done and said, including holding her head a certain way when Koo Chan Sung exited the tunnel.
How Man Wol betrayed Koo Chan Sung by giving Ji-won the moon ornament so that he would become stronger and be able to kill Koo Chan Sung.
How Koo Chan Sung battled and vanquished Ji-won by tricking him about the full moon; he was saved by the bartender, bellman, guest manager and grim reaper.
How Koon Chan Sung saved Man Wol from being turned to ashes by Mago.
How Joanna is Team Koo Chan Sung and Jen is Team Chyung Myung.
What it meant when Mago told Man Wol to empty herself
The meaning of 666 (the room where Seo-hee brought Ji-won) to Catholics; it’s from the book of Revelation.
Hyung Jun’s story and how he is waiting for his sister to die. He finally tells Yuna that he will be leaving the hotel soon.
How heartbreaking it was to see Koo Chan Sung sobbing at the bus stop after a month of waiting for Man Wol to come back.
The K Drama elements in this episode:
- Crying (mostly by Koo Chan Sung)
- Alcohol
- Flowers
- Triangles
- Wrist grabs
Our favorite Man Wol outfits.
Our favorite lines from the episode.
The many ways to say Thank You in Korean, including how to say it formally and casually.

References:

1.14 - Episode 13 of Hotel Del Luna

28 maj 2022 | 46 min

In this episode, we recap and analyze episode 13 of Hotel Del Luna. We learn the story of guest manager Seo-hee. 200 years ago, her husband’s family let her baby daughter die, in order to make room for a son to be born. At her death, Seo hee curses the family. When the eldest grandson of the family dies a bachelor and without children, Seo hee is happy. Her happiness is short lived when she finds out the grandson had a pregnant girlfriend. When the girlfriend and her baby are close to death, Seon hee cannot bring herself to let them die, even at the expense of her grudge. The ghost of serial killer Ji won is back and this time, he’s after Chan Sung’s friends: Sanchez, Lee Mi-ra and Yeon-soo. We also finally learn the story of the fateful night when Chyung Myung and Man Wol battle. Chyung Myung stabs himself with Man Wol’s sword and says that he will keep her in his heart and watch her from afar. At the end of the episode, Chan Sung runs into the tunnel to the afterlife (while looking for a lost boy), and is guided by the firefly who has been hanging out in the moon tree for 1,300 years!

We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:

This week’s featured song from the Hotel Del Luna OST - Remember Me by Gummy.
How K Drama Chat has gone up in rank on Feedspot’s list of Top K Drama Podcasts!
We learn more about what happened between Man Wol and Chyung Myung on the wedding night of Chyung Myung and Song Hwa.
How Chyung Myung killed himself with Man Wo’s sword and pledged to watch her from afar.
How Chyung Myung is the firefly that has been hanging out in the moon tree for 1,300 years!
Mago #5 or wealth Mago who brings luck and fortune to people and businesses.
How we learn about Seo-hee and her backstory from 200 years ago. How her husband’s family left her baby girl to die and in her death, Seo hee cursed her husband’s death.
How Seo hee couldn’t let the pregnant girlfriend of the eldest grandson, and her baby, die.
The themes of remembering and forgetting in this episode.
The East Asian obsession with having sons, which we think is stupid.
The K Drama elements in this show:
- The Tansan product placement
- Beef short rib soup
- Alcohol, in this case champagne and the Tears drink of Mr. Kim
Our favorite Man Wol outfits.
Our favorite lines from the episode.
Tiki Taka in K Dramas, or the rapid fire dialogue between the actors
The K Dramas we're watching now. Joanna is watching The Crowned Clown, while Jen has been busy and not watching much.
A discussion of the K Drama that we should recap and analyze next season!

References:

1.13 - Episode 12 of Hotel Del Luna

20 maj 2022 | 44 min

1.11 - Episode 11 of Hotel Del Luna

13 maj 2022 | 47 min

In this episode, we recap and analyze episode 11 of Hotel Del Luna. We see the relationship between Man Wol and Chan Sung deepen, take a romantic turn, and become even playful. We revisit the story of the serial killer; Yuna is on Ji-won’s trail. We meet Hwang Moon-Suk, who was the human manager at Hotel Del Luna 30 years ago; she wants to ask Man Wol a favor for her son, who was conceived in Room 404 of Hotel Del Luna. We have the tragic story between Sanchez and Veronica. Veronica dies in a tragic car accident. Thankfully, she is able to say good-bye to Sanchez through the lunar eclipse and Hotel Del Luna. At the end of the episode, Mago visits Man Wol to tell her that her time to leave is coming near and the flowers of the tree will fail when she starts to be afraid.

We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:

This week’s featured song from the Hotel Del Luna OST - Only You by Yang Da-il, singer-songwriter and producer,
How the relationship between Man Wol and Chan Sung is changing.
How individuals by default speak formally to each other in South Korea. It’s the protocol to ask to speak informally before actually doing so.
The story with the serial killer and how Yuna is on his tail.
How Mago #4 tells Man Wol that the flowers on the tree will fall once she becomes afraid. Man Wol ends up realizing she is afraid because Chan Sung is in danger.
The story of the human manager, Hwang Moon-Suk. She wants Man Wol to allow her daughter and son-in-law to spend the night at Hotel Del Luna and hopefully conceive a child there.
The tragic story of Sanchez and Veronica.
How Hotel Del Luna has three couples that are not destined to work out: Man Wol and Chan Sung; Hyung Jung and Yuna; Sanchez and Veronica.
The sad and moving story of the father and son who were killed by the truck driver and how the father used his one dream call to contact the truck driver and ask for forgiveness.
How we learn a little more about the guest manager, Seo-hee, and how she is waiting for her husband’s family line to die.
The K Drama elements in this episode: flowers, alcohol, product placement, and second couples.
Naengmyeon and rice cake noodle soup.
Our favorite lines from the episode.
Our favorite Man Wol outfits.
How to say thank you in Korean formally and informally.
What we’re watching now: 39 and Revolutionary Love

References:

Timeless Glamor Inside IU’s Hauntingly Beautiful Fashion From “Hotel Del Luna”
A discerning eater’s guide to naengmyeon: A cold noodle dish for those deep into Korean food

1.10 - Episode 10 of Hotel Del Luna

7 maj 2022 | 51 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 10 of Hotel Del Luna. The main storyline is about the hotel Chairman and the bartender trying to set up Koo Chan Sung with the Chairman’s granddaughter. While the granddaughter is interested, Koo Chan Sung says that his heart is already taken. And even though Man Wol tells him to leave the hotel, Koo Chan Sung decides to stay by her side. In the end, Man Wol allows Koo Chan Sung to take care of her and guide her to the afterlife., causing the Moon Tree to burst with flowers. The hotel moves back to the city, and Koo Chan Sung is reinstated as the manager. There are three important side stories: Yeon-wu has come back as a reincarnated Yeong-su. Yeong-su meets Lee Mi-ra and they start to date. Koo Chan Sung meets his mother, who is a ghost trapped in a library. And we see the serial killer set up a man for his many murders.

We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:

This week’s featured song from the Hotel Del Luna OST - So Long by Paul Kim, a South Korean singer and songwriter.
The firefly and the green, shadowy character from last week’s episode.
Whether or not we would make the choice to eat the medicine that would allow us to stop seeing ghosts.
The love triangle between Man Wol, Koo Chan Sung and the Chairman’s granddaughter.
Joanna’s grandmother’s visit to her in a dream when she was little.
The cameo by Sulli, the famous singer/actress and IU’s best friend; she committed suicie in 2019 after filming the cameo.
How Man Wol accepts that Chan Sung is there to take care of her, and that she will bloom beautifully and then die, like the Moon Tree.
The side story with Koo Chan Sung’s mom and how we both felt shortchanged by this story, we wanted to know more about his mom and the relationship to develop between them more.
The side story with the serial killer, and how he knows Sanchez and Koo Chan Sung.
Our favorite Man Wol outfits.
How food comes up a lot in this episode, especially how Koo Chan Sung used food to save Sanchez’s life.
Our favorite lines from the episode.
Why we think K Dramas make us so emotional, from the music, to the beautiful dialogues, pacing, and character development.

References:

Sulli made a cameo in Episode 10. She played the granddaughter of the Chairman. Sulli is a singer, actor and model. She is a friend of IU. She was found dead in October 2019.
Goo Hara committed suicide
The last phone booth in America
Secrets of K Drama and K Pop Success
Why do people get so emotional when watching K Dramas?
Experts explain why K Dramas are so addictive
In memory of the living; discussion about Koo Chan Sung’s mom

1.09 - Episode 9 of Hotel Del Luna

29 april 2022 | 39 min

1.08 - Episode 8 of Hotel Del Luna

22 april 2022 | 46 min

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 8 of Hotel Del Luna. This pivotal episode is devoted to the relationship between Man Wol and Lee Mi-ra. We learn through flashbacks that Lee Mi-ra is Princess Song Hwa from Man Wol’s past. Princess Song Hwa is the person who ordered all of Man Wol’s gang members killed. In retaliation, Man Wol kills Princess Song Hwa on her wedding night. In modern times, Lee Mi-ra is Koo Chan Sung’s ex-girlfriend from the US. Man Wol invites Lee Mi-ra to the carnival at Hotel Del Luna and tries to ruin Lee Mi-ra’s life through an evil grudge, which Koo Chan Sung blocks. There is also a side story about an old woman who has recently died and an imaginary ghost created by a lonely woman in a loveless marriage.

We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:

Another beautiful song from the Hotel Del Luna OST. This time it’s “Can You See My Heart” by Heize.
What we loved about this episode.
How Man Wol forced Mago #1 to appear by stopping an old lady from going to the afterlife.
Man Wol’s grudges against Chyung Mung and Princess Song Hwa, who is Lee Mi-ra in modern times.
The show’s themes of grudges, regret and forgiveness.
How we are finally starting to realize the depth of Man Wol’s grudges and regrets.
The Power of Regret, the new book by Dan Pink, which explores our most common regrets and what we can learn from them.
Our favorite lines from the episode. Joanna’s favorite is from Mago: For a flower to blossom, she needs to feel the wind and face the rain, too. Jen’s favorite line is from Koo Chan Sung to Man Wol: I don’t care if this is your prison or your fence. I will stay here with you.
How Hotel Del Luna is both a prison and a fence for Man Wol. It both locks her in and keeps her safe.
Why Koo Chan Sung took the evil grudge intended for Lee Mi-ra.
How Man Wol decided to move the hotel and not tell Koo Chan Sung.
The side story with Gyeong-a, the made up ghost.
Our favorite Man Wol outfits.
How episode 8 connects with, and brings clarity to, episode 1.
Korean terms of endearment and the use of “a” at the end of a name to make a name a term of endearment.
How Filipinos absolutely love nicknames.

References

1.07 - Episode 7 of Hotel Del Luna

15 april 2022 | 32 min

1.06 - Episode 6 of Hotel Del Luna

8 april 2022 | 49 min

We apologize for the echo issues in this episode. Jen was on vacation and not in her normal setup. In fact, she was in a gym in the Outer Banks because the beach house her family was renting was too noisy! So sorry! We will do better next week!

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 6 of Hotel Del Luna. In this episode, the relationship between Man Wol and Chan Sung is further developing. Man Wol tells Chan Sung that her time to leave is coming but that Chan Sung should not be sad. When Chan Sung’s ex-girlfriend shows up, Man Wol abandons her plans to go eat webfoot octopus with Chan Sung and sits at the hotel beach by herself. We have two side stories. The first is about an actor who died while playing a king. He arrives at Hotel Del Luna, thinking he is still a king and it’s up to the staff to help fulfill his wishes. The second is about the ghost from Room 13 who is now killing men. Finally, we see three flashbacks from Man Wol’s life.

We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:

Sung Hee, our guest on this show. Sung Hee went to college with Joanna and they studied in Paris during their junior year.
The growing friendship between Yuna and Hyeon-jung. We also learn more about Hyeon-jung’s life and little sister.
What hangover soup and webfoot octopus are.
The baby that brought the restaurant luck and Joanna’s son, who brought their favorite Japanese restaurant luck.
The K Drama elements in this episode: the back hug, food, alcohol, the wrist grab, flowers.
The side story with the actor who believed he was a Joseon king.
The side story with the ghost from Room 13 and how she’s now on a killing spree. Her victims get tricked into clicking a video of what they think will be a beautiful woman in her bedroom, but instead, they get murdered.
The Korean obsession with perfect skin.
Man Wol’s outfits and which ones we like best.
The actor Yeo Jin-goo: his background, his acting, and why we love him.
Jen and Sung Hee’s weddings (they are Korean-American).
The Korean terms for “your majesty” or “sire.”

References:

A Poem Called You by Taeyeon (with lyrics)
Buena Mano from the Philippines
Rising cost of living and inflation in South Korea
Yeo Jin-goo Wikipedia page

1.05 - Episode 5 of Hotel Del Luna

1 april 2022 | 39 min

1.04 - Episode 4 of Hotel Del Luna

25 mars 2022 | 38 min

1.03 - Episode 3 of Hotel Del Luna

18 mars 2022 | 24 min

1.02- Episode 2 of Hotel Del Luna

11 mars 2022 | 28 min

1.01- Episode 1 of Hotel Del Luna

4 mars 2022 | 27 min

Pilot: 14 Elements of Every K Drama

25 februari 2022 | 30 min

K Drama Chat

K Drama Chat is a weekly series where we take one Korean (K) Drama each season and and recap and analyze each episode.

Om podden

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11.4 - Podcast Review of Episode 4 of When Life Gives You Tangerines

11.3 - Podcast Review of Episode 3 of When Life Gives You Tangerines

11.2 - Podcast Review of Episode 2 of When Life Gives You Tangerines

11.1 - Podcast Review of Episode 1 of When Life Gives You Tangerines

10.13 - Special 1-Episode Review of When The Phone Rings

10.12 - Podcast Review of Episode 12 of See You In My 19th life

10.11 - Podcast Review of Episode 11 of See You In My 19th Life

10.10 - Podcast Review of Episode 10 of See You In My 19th Life

10.9 - Podcast Revew of Episode 9 of See You In My 19th life

10.8 - Podcast Review of Episode 8 of See You In My 19th Life

10.7 - Podcast Review of Episode 7 of See You In My 19th Life

10.6 - Podcast Review of Episiode 6 of See You In My 19th Life

10.5 - Podcast Review of Episode 5 of See You In My 19th Life

10.4 - Podcast Review of Episode 4 of See You In My 19th Life

10.3 - Podcast Review of Episode 3 of See You In My 19th Life

10.2 - Podcast Review of Episode 2 of See You In My 19th Life

10.1 - Podcast Review of Episode 1 of See You In My 19th life

9.2.6 - Podcast Review of Season 2, Episode 6 of Kingdom

9.2.5 - Podcast Review of Season 2, Episode 5 of Kingdom

9.2.4 - Podcast Review of Season 2, Episode 4 of Kingdom

9.2.3 - Podcast Review of Season 2, Episode 3 of Kingdom

9.2.2 - Podcast Review of Season 2, Episode 2 of Kingdom

9.2.1 - Podcast Review of Season 2, Episode 1 of Kingdom

9.1.6 - Podcast Review of Season 1, Episode 6 of Kingdom

9.1.5 - Podcast Review of Season 1, Episode 5 of Kingdom

9.1.4 - Podcast Review of Season 1, Episode 4 of Kingdom

9.1.3 - Podcast Review of Season 1, Episode 3 of Kingdom

9.1.2 - Podcast Review of Season 1, Episode 2 of Kingdom

9.1.1 - Podcast Review of Season 1, Episode 1 of Kingdom

8.17 - Special Episode with Jean Rhim to Discuss our Favorites of Everything K Drama

8.16 - Podcast Review of Episode 16 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

8.15 - Podcast Review of Episode 15 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

8.14 - Podcast Review of Episode 14 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

8.13 - Podcast Review of Episode 13 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

8.12 - Podcast Review of Episode 12 of Crash Landing On You

8.11a - Special Episode with Mars from the Moksori Podcast

8.11 - Podcast Review of Episode 11 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

8.10 - Podcast Review of Episode 10 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

8.9 - Podcast Review of Episode 9 of Crash Landing On You

8.8 - Podcast Review of Episode 8 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

8.7 - Podcast Review of Episode 7 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

8.6 - Podcast Review of Episode 6 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

8.5 - Podcast Review of Episode 5 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

8.4 - Podcast Review of Episode 4 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

8.3 - Podcast Review of Episode 3 of Crashing Landing On You (CLOY)

8.2 - Podcast Review of Episode 2 of Crash Landing On You (CLOY)

8.1 - Podcast Review of Episode 1 of Crash Landing on You (CLOY)

7.9 - Final Podcast Review of Queen of Tears

7.8 - Podcast Review of Episodes 15 and 16 of Queen of Tears

7.7 - Podcast Review of Episodes 13 and 14 of Queen of Tears

7.6 - Podcast Review of Episodes 11 and 12 of Queen of Tears

7.5 - Podcast Review of Episodes 9 and 10 of Queen of Tears

7.4 - Podcast Review of Episodes 7 and 8 of Queen of Tears

7.3 - Podcast Review of Episode 5 and 6

7.2 - Podcast Review of Episodes 3 and 4 of Queen of Tears

7.1 - Podcast Review of Episodes 1 and 2 of Queen of Tears

6.10 - Review of Episode 10 of Gyeongseong Creature

6.9 - Review of Episode 9 of Gyeongseong Creature

6.8 - Review of Episode 8 of Gyeongseong Creature

6.7 - Review of Episode 7 of Gyeongsong Creature

6.6 - Review of Episode 6 of Gyeongseong Creature

6.5 - Review of Episode 5 of Gyeongseong Creature

6.4 - Review of Episode 4 of Gyeongseong Creature

6.3 - Review of Episode 3 of Gyeongseong Creature

6.2 - Review of Episode 2 of Gyeongseong Creature

6.1 - Episode 1 of Gyeongseong Creature

5.21 - Special Review of Mr. Queen with Ernabel Demillo

5.20 - Episode 20 of Mr. Queen

5.19 - Episode 19 of Mr. Queen

5.18 - Episode 18 of Mr. Queen

5.17 - Episode 17 of Mr. Queen

5.16 - Episode 16 of Mr. Queen

5.15 - Episode 15 of Mr. Queen

5.14 - Episode 14 of Mr. Queen

5.13 - Episode 13 of Mr. Queen

5.12 - Episode 12 of Mr. Queen