K Drama Chat

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 17 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 different hats worn by the nobles and court officials during the Joseon Dynasty.

We discuss:

• The songs featured in the recap: Like a Star by Jang Han-byul and Rebellion by Kim Deuk-su
• How we got whiplash from this episode because it started out funny, then turned sweet, then turned sad, then turned dangerous.
• Jang Bong-hwan’s identity crisis over being pregnant. While the king and the court celebrate, the queen is really upset.
• How the king tries hard to understand the queen, even taking her on a horseback ride to visit the royal villa.
• How the queen is now “all in” with the king, even though it may not be a wide decision.
• The king and queen’s hilarious and scandalous PDA (public display of affection) to counter rumors that they were faking their nights together.
• Jo Hwa-jin’s decision to break with the Jo family and do what she can to support the king’s dreams, including asking the king to depose her as concubine.
• The conflict between the king and Prince Yeongpyeong, who still doesn’t believe that the queen is on their side.
• When the Grand Dowager Queen asked Kim Byeong-in to bring her the queen’s head, he took a no-win situation and turned it into a masterful stroke by threatening the king over the codes in the workbook, convincing the king to leave the palace and put down the Donghak Rebellion, restoring the Grand Dowager Queen’s regency, and saving the queen.
• The king leaves the palace without saying goodbye to the queen, who is left confused and sad.
• The king’s guards turn on him and then he battles against Kim Byeong-in.

References

• All About Korean Traditional Hats
• How to make Korean rice wine or yihwaju

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

• All In song by Victor Ma
• Donghak Peasant Rebellion from Wikipedia

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

• Keep Going by DINDIN, with English lyrics
• Destined With You on IMDB
• A Time Called You on IMDB

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

• Joseon Dynasty Wikipedia page
• Cheoljong of Joseon Wikipedia page

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 13 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 poison and assassination by poison during the Joseon dynasty.

We discuss:

• The songs we featured during the recap: Conspiracy by Kim Deuk-su and Other World by Howl.
• How this episode is so dark when compared with previous episodes.
• How the attack against the king is turning family members against each other.
• The shocking revelation that the king planned the explosion himself.
• How the queen has such ambivalent feelings toward the king, but she is threatened by Kim Jwa-geun, so she decides to live and betray the king.
• The loyalty and steadfastness of the king’s men who were arrested and tortured.
• How the Dowager Queen plants the ledger in the queen’s chambers; the ledger and the notes from the king are found by the Grand Dowager Queen.
• How the queen is now in real danger from the Grand Dowager Queen and Kim Jwa-geun.
• How Kim Jwa-geun seems to be everywhere and sees everything happening in the palace.
• The queen cooks in this episode but she’s cooking as a form of meditation; this cooking scene is not funny for a change.
• Of all the K Drama elements, we almost missed the back hug by Kim Byeong-in against the queen.
• A potential, new K Drama element: looking for, and discovering, your love across a street, bridge or crowded area.
• Why this episode is titled No Tomorrow
• Poison and death by poison during the Joseon Dynasty.

References

• Arsenic: The Poison of Kings

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

• The Great Recipe by sEODo with lyrics
• Beef Seolleongtang recipe
• Lighthouse Tofu restaurant in Annandale, VA

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

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 10 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: Palace and Secrets of the Well, both by Howl
• How everyone in this episode seems to end up at the well
• How the tiny queen rescued the king from the well by carrying him on her back
• The king’s unsuccessful attempt to retrieve the ledger, but now we realize that Jo Hwa-jin has it!
• Jo Hwa-jin tries to give the ledger to the king, but the Dowager Queen thwarts her by delaying her message to the king
• We have another great cooking scene where the queen cooks a simple but amazing meal for the Grand Dowager Queen
• How this episode cleverly brought the concept of K Beauty to the show through the face mask that the queen made for the Grand Dowager Queen
• Even though it was Kim Jwa-geun who had Oh-wol tortured and possibly killed, it’s now the Jo family that is exploiting the situation by faking Oh-wol’s death 
• Kim Byeong-in suspicions of the king, his conversation with the queen, and his secret meeting with the Grand Dowager Queen
• The lighthearted elements of the show, specifically, the royal chef and Court Lady Choi screaming into the woods over their frustration with the queen, and the queen’s cooking scene
• Our thoughts about why this episode is called Living a Nightmare
• Some background information on the Andong Kim family, including the Grand Dowager Queen and Kim Jwa-geun, who were real people

References

• Howl background and songs
• Life expectancy of Joseon kings and queens
• Andong Kim clan page in Wikipedia

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

• Topic by Bill Stax
• I Want You by Drunken Tiger
• Topline by Stray Kids, feature Tiger JK

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 8 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 song we feature during the recap: Here I Am by Jo Hyun-Ah. It seems both the king and the queen are looking to the other to see them as they really are.
• How the queen’s memories are back and this is really messing with Jang Bong-hwan’s mind.
• How we learn more about the connection between the king, the queen and Jo Hwa-jin from when they were kids.
• The queen accuses Jo Hwa-jin of being the fake Kim So-yong. What does this mean?
• The king now clearly knows that Kim Byeong-in has inappropriate feelings for the queen.
• Kim Byeong-in has basically declared war against the king, in his quest to protect the queen.
• The king is showing more of his true self to Kim Byeong-in when he protects the queen against what he thought was an attacker.
• The Dowager Queen is playing dangerous politics when she gives Jo Hwa-jin a jade phoenix hairpin.
• The ending of the episode when the king fights with the scarred eunuch. The queen, in trying to protect the king, hits him with a ceramic pot. When Kim Byeon-in rushes in, he sees the king and queen kissing, because “there will be no No Touch tonight.”
• Neolttwigi, of the Korean jumping game that girls played to jump on a seesaw and see outside their family compounds.
• The amazing filming locations for Mr. Queen

References

• Korean Board Jumping Game
• Mr. Queen Filming Locations
• Emergency Escape No. 1
• Phoenix Throne