K Drama Chat

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 4 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 featured in this episode: Go by DOKYEOM and Sinin in the Rain by Shin Min Yong.
• How we love Kim Tae-ri’s acting in this episode.
• How Coach Yang’s training regimen, while tough, almost sadistic, is paying off for Na Hee-do.
• How the relationship between Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin is changing and we start to see a hint of something developing between them.
• How Baek Yi-jin is really struggling because he can’t land a job.
• The hilarious but awkward scene in Seung-wan’s house when the five young people catch all the loaches and Seung-wan’s mom makes them all soup.
• Ko Yu-rim’s fury at Na Hee-do because she thinks Na Hee-do has been putting pine drinks in her locker. We also learn about her close relationship with her dad and her insecurities about whether or not she’ll ever win a gold medal again.
• How we get a hint of what happens in the future during a conversation between Na Hee-do and her mother in the present day. Her mother mentions that she saw Baek Yi-jin last month, letting us know that Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin are not together today. We also get a sense that Na Hee-do’s relationship with Ko Yu-rim will change.
• Our favorite lines from this episode.
• The Korean snack shops that feature so prominently in Korean shows. 

References

• Loach soup https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chueo-tang
• Korean Snack Bars https://thekrazemag.com/latest-updates/2019/7/28/-korean-snack-bars?format=amp
• Eating and drinking in South Korea https://www.roughguides.com/south-korea/eating-drinking/

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 3 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 from our recap: Existence by Wonstein and Warrior by Daniel Ri.
• How Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin’s relationship is getting closer and deeper.
• How this was a tough episode for Baek Yi-jin. He has lunch with his brother, who is getting bullied by classmates. He nearly misses seeing his dad. He gets caught between Na Hee-do and Ko Yu-rim. He is embarrassed when Ji Seung-wan recognizes him and remarks that she thought he was rich.
• The work of Brené Brown on shame, which she calls a master emotion. Shame is the fear that we're not good enough, that we’re not worthy, which is exactly what Baek Yi-jin is feeling and why he promises to never be happy again.
• The contrast between Baek Yi-jin’s stoic and sad countenance, and Na Hee-do’s confidence and unfailingly cheerful personality.
• The big news that Na Hee-do will get to compete for a spot on the national team.
• How Na Hee-do is furious with Ko Yu-rim, so furious that she tosses her Ko Yu-rim scrapbook into the trash and takes down the clippings from her bulletin board.
• The crazy revelation that Injeolmi is Ko Yu-rim!
• The K Drama elements that we see in this episode:
  • Wrist grab
  • (Almost) piggyback ride
  • Product placements
  • Food
• Our favorite lines from this episode
• The comic book Full House and the popularity of movie and book rental shops in S. Korea during the 80s and 90s

References

• Full House on Amazon
• Roger Elbert site  https://www.rogerebert.com/features/we-lost-it-at-our-video-stores-the-writers-remember-rental-havens
• Glossary of French fencing terms

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 2 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: Very, Slowly by BIBI and Shining Man by Shin Min Yong
• The many encounters between Hee-do and Yi-jin in this episode
• The contrast between cheerful and emotional Hee-do and the stoic, sad and burdened Yi-jin
• How we learn more about Yi-jin’s life: how his family split up, his short stint in the military, his little brother, and how he’s been threatened by his dad’s creditors
• How Hee-do has achieved her dream of transferring to Yu-rim’s school and now, Yu-rim is cold and hostile towards her
• The encounter between Hee-do and Yu-rim from five years earlier, when Hee-do beat Yu-rim during a junior fencing competition
• How we get introduced to the other characters, including Ko Yu-rim, Moon Ji-woong and Ji Seung-wan
• The gold campaign and how it turns out that Hee-do’s mom did not turn in her wedding rings
• The K element we saw in this episode is triangles, potentially lots of them!
• Two other K Drama elements that we need to add to our list: 24) when two people turn out to have a connection from their past; and 25) the obligatory abs scene when a man’s amazing abs are displayed
• Our favorite lines from the show
• The song 25, 21 by Jaurim, which was played at the end of this episode, and how it maybe gives us a clue about how this show is going to end

References:

• Sad KDrama Instrumentals on Spotify
• Shin Min Yong on Spotify
• YouTube video with theory about the Jaurim song inspiring the show
• 25, 21 by Jaurim

Today, we’ll be kicking off Season 4 of K Drama Chat by discussing Episode 1 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 song Starlight by Taeil
• The main actors of the show:
  • Kim Tae-ri
  • Nam Joo Hyuk
  • Kim Ji-yeon, better known by her stage name Bona
• How age is calculated in Korea vs. internationally, which is why there’s confusion over how old the actors in this show are
• The origins of the 1990s Asian financial crisis and how it affected South and East Asia
• The impact of an IMF bailout and austerity measures on countries
• The South Korea gold campaign
• The surprising dominance of South Korea in the world of fencing
• Polite language between Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin
• The large number of K Drama elements we see in this episode:
  • Beautiful actors
  • Crying
  • Flowers
  • Food
  • Alcohol
  • Wrist grabs
  • Clothing and fashion
  • Umbrella scene
• The challenging mother-daughter relationship between Hee-do and her mom
• Our favorite line
• How much we loved this K Drama from the very first episode

References:

• 25, 21 cast
• Last Sequence by WJSN (featuring Bona)
•  

We’re in between seasons 3 and 4! Today, Joanna and Sung Hee has a conversation with Jeanie Rhim, Sung Hee’s sister. Jeanie specializes in newborn photography and is another K Drama lover. We discuss:

• The K Drama shows we’re watching now.
• Our list of K Drama elements (we’re up to 23!) and examples of these elements in our favorite K Dramas.
• How to say hello in Korean.
• How the subtitles in K Dramas don’t always match what’s actually being said, especially when it comes to characters’ names and titles.
• Some common Korean words and phrases to watch out for.

Here’s our list of K Drama elements to watch out for:

1. Beautiful actors
2. Crying, by both women and men
3. Gorgeous OSTs (original sound tracks)
4. Food; there's lot of eating in K Dramas
5. Alcohol; drinking by both men and women
6. Beautiful fashion
7. The trip and catch
8. Piggyback rides
9. The back hug
10. Product placements
11. Holding hands
12. The wrist grab
13. Flowers
14. Love triangles
15. Umbrella scene
16. Quirky best friend
17. Deep lean
18. Arm rest
19. Talking to someone sleeping
20. Older character trying to keep the main characters apart, or older characters
21. Second male lead
22. Second couples
23. Beach scene or fireworks

Next week, we’ll recap and analyze episode 1 of 25, 21 so get ready!

We’re in between seasons 3 and 4! Today, Joanna has a conversation with Professor Ernabel Demillo, 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 talk about:

• The many different genres of K Dramas.
• The K Dramas we’re watching now: Tomorrow, Business Proposal, The Glory.
• What Ernabel thought about Mr. Sunshine, including the cinematography, the characters, the music, Korea history, and culture.
• The process that Sung Hee and Joanna use to create our episodes.
• The K Drama elements that we find in most K Dramas, e.g., umbrella scene, piggyback ride, back hug, deep lean.
• How Asian American Life is still the only monthly magazine show on broadcast TV devoted to the Asian American diaspora.
• How Asian American Life explores social issues through the Asian American lens, but also celebrates Asian-American achievements and milestones.
• The themes that “Asian American Life” covers: identity, Asian-American “firsts,” food, entertainment.
• How Asian American Life covers the rise in hate and crimes against Asian-Americans in the US.
• The Hallyu wave.
• Netflix’ investment in K Dramas.
• 25, 21, the K Drama that K Drama Chat will recap and analyze in Season 4.

Next week, Sung Hee, Joanna and Jeanie (Sung Hee’s sister) will talk about K Drama elements, Korean language, and why subtitles on K Dramas often don’t quite match what’s being said.

References:

• Asian American Life on CUNY-TV
• Asian American Life on YouTube
• Asian American Life on Instagram
• Ernabel on Instagram
• Professor Ernabel Demillo on the St. Peter’s University website

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 24 of Mr. Sunshine, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Lee Byung-hun as Eugene Choi, Kim Tae-ri as Go Ae-shin, Yoo Yeon-Seok as Goo Dong-mae, Kim Min-jung as Hina Kudo, and Byun Yo-han as Kim Hee-sung. We discuss:

• How we love this final episode of Mr. Sunshine and will miss these characters, whom we’ve come to love and admire!
• The lovely and amazing music in this K Drama.
• How the ending is heartbreaking but the show’s creators told us all along that we would have a sad ending.
• Ae-shin and Eugene have figured out a way to be together, even though they are not really together.
• Eugene’s final sacrifice is so tragic. He is the man Joseon needed, but didn’t deserve.
• Eugene’s life mission, as well as Dong-mae’s, was to help Ae-shin live.
• Hui-seung found meaning in his life, thanks to the people of Joseon.
• Was Ae-shin’s life path influenced by Dong-mae calling her a spoiled, noble fool so early in her life?
• Ae-shin is a noble who was respected and revered by many in Hanseong; this is why they protected her when Ms. Hamman was killed and Ae-shin was crying over her body.
• Dong-mae died as Dong-mae, not Sho Ishida. 
• The journalist Frederick Arthur McKenzie was a real British journalist who reported on the treatment of Koreans by the Japanese.
• The amazing cinematography in the show, facilitated by its huge production budget.
• Our favorite lines and the K Drama elements.
• The meaning of the elements in the Korean flag.
• A bit of Korean history under the Japanese, including what happened to the Righteous Army.
• Our decision to recap and analyze 25, 21 during Season 4 of K Drama Chat!

References

• Korea under Japanese rule
• Recap of Episode 24 on ReadySteadyCut
• Did the US betray Korean in 1905?
• Matchlock guns
• Article about Frederick McKenzie
• The ancient art of dying fingernails with balsam dye
• The Righteous Army in Korea

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 23 of Mr. Sunshine, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Lee Byung-hun as Eugene Choi, Kim Tae-ri as Go Ae-shin, Yoo Yeon-Seok as Goo Dong-mae, Kim Min-jung as Hina Kudo, and Byun Yo-han as Kim Hee-sung. We discuss:

• The beautiful songs during our recap, especially Glory by Nam Hye Seung and Park Sang Hee, the duo responsible for so many instrumental songs on K Drama OSTs
• How we’ve lost so many people in this show: Gunner Jang, Hina Kudo, Ms. Haman, Mr. Haengryan, Hong Pa, Go Sa-hong
• How Eugene has finally found a way to be with Ae-shin
• How Eugene saves Ae-shin from the rubble of the hotel and ends up treating her wounds; he’s saved her again!
• Why Hina Kudo made the decision to blow up the Glory Hotel
• How Dong-mae is back, he takes over control of the Musin Society, but he knows he has just a few days until more samurai arrive to kill him
• Hina Kudo’s sad confession to Dong-mae that she loved him and waited for him
• How Dong-me and Eugene are working together to protect Ae-shin
• How the Musin Society is based on the Black Dragon Society, which was a prominent paramilitary, ultranationalist group in Japan
• Hui-seung’s underground newspaper and how he’s committed himself to documenting the Japanese atrocities
• How the world has abandoned Joseon; the US ignored the Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce and Navigation, also known as the Shufeldt Treaty, the Korea signed with the US
• The K Drama elements we see in this episode: piggyback ride, food, alcohol, crying
• The shows we’re considering for Season 4 of K Drama Chat

References

• Black Dragon Society
• Joseon-US Treaty

Today, we’ll be discussing Episodes 21 and 22 of Mr. Sunshine, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Lee Byung-hun as Eugene Choi, Kim Tae-ri as Go Ae-shin, Yoo Yeon-Seok as Goo Dong-mae, Kim Min-jung as Hina Kudo, and Byun Yo-han as Kim Hee-sung. We discuss:

• The beautiful song “And I” by Nu’Est W.
• The agonizing scene where Ae-shin asks Eugene to take her with him to America, but what she really wants is to go to Japan.
• The equally heartbreaking scenes when Eugene gives Ae-shin a ring and when Ae-shin asks Eugene for a matching ring.
• How Ae-shin loves Eugene but she loves Joseon more; how can she possibly go to America when all the people she loves are in danger and Joseon needs people to fight for it?
• Whether or not Eugene would have gotten on that boat to America.
• How we have finally met all of the men in the photo from Tokyo because Song Yeong saves Ae-shin, receives the bank certificate, and organizes the plan to save Lee Jeong-moon from the Musin Society.
• How Kyle Moore once again does what he can do save Eugene.
• How Hina Kudo organizes the plan to save Ae-shin; it’s amazing that she can just call the King.
• How the geisha who was forced to escape Joseon is now key to freeing Lee Jeong-moon.
• How Eugene holds up his promise to Go Sa-hong by killing Col. Takashi Mori. Once again, it’s Eugene, the American soldier, who does the killing.
• How Dong-mae is like a kitty cat with nine lives. He is slashed by the head of the Musin Society, and falls into the ocean, but somehow, he survives, ends up in an opium den in Manchuria, and returns to Hanseong.
• A brief history lesson of the Korean Empire
• The crazy end of episode 22 when Eugene and Dong-mae are back in Hanseong, at the time when Hina Kudo and Ae-shin decide to blow up the Glory Hotel.
• The five royal palaces of the Joseon kings.

References:

• Five Eulsa Traitors
• Gojong of Korea
• Explore 5 Beautiful Palaces in Korea

Today, we’ll be discussing Episodes 19 and 20 of Mr. Sunshine, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Lee Byung-hun as Eugene Choi, Kim Tae-ri as Go Ae-shin, Yoo Yeon-Seok as Goo Dong-mae, Kim Min-jung as Kudo Hina, and Byun Yo-han as Kim Hee-sung. We discuss:

• The beautiful song Paramour by Kim Sejeong, who is a prominent singer and actress; she is the lead in Business Proposal!
• How Ae-shin has lost her grandfather, her family and her home, so now she is going to devote herself to the Righteous Army.
• Ae-shin loves Eugene but she is more devoted to Joseon, so she is going to use Eugene, Dong-mae and Hui-seung in the service of Joseon.
• Dong-mae’s loyalties are shifting; he wants to protect Ae-shin at any cost. The Musin Society is starting to get suspicious of him.
• Major Moore tells Eugene that the picnic is over and sends Eugene back to the US.
• Ae-shin finally gets her revenge against Lee Wan-ik, a death that Hina Kudo covers up by killing Dr. Matsuyama and forging a suicide note.
• Hina Kudo is a secret agent for Joseon and Lee Jeung-moon is her leader, who has been kidnapped and taken to Japan.
• Col. Mori is bent on killing the Righteous Army members, including and especially Ae-shin. He killed Hong Pa, Gunner Jang’s wife, so now Gunner Jang wants to kill him.
• The King is in a tough spot. He is in a weak position but he wants to protect his people and country.
• The Joseon kings, including the kings who we’ve seen in some of the saeguks, including
  • King Gojong in Mr Sunshine
  • King Jeongjo, the prince in Red Sleeve cuff
  • King Cheoljong in Mr Queen, the King immediately before King Gojong
  • King Wang So in Scarlet Heart RYEO
• Our favorite lines and the K Drama elements in these episodes

References:

• Guide to the Joseon Kings
• Paramour by Kim Sejeong on YouTube