Awesome Korean Drama Based on True Love Story: Dong Yi (2010)

HA! That stands for hooked again!! My new addiction is watching Korean historical drama TV series. There are way too many of them for me to keep up. They are so exciting and interesting, even though the basic plot in most of the series is pretty much the same.

What's the basic plot, you ask?

Eh! Some palace intrigue on the inside, rivalry among the nobles and scholars on the outside, honorable slaves, and commoners who prove time again that being poor and uneducated does not equal stupid! ... and of course, the love triangle.  No Korean drama is complete without the love triangle. △

For each series, the script writers take this plot, create different and intricate twists and turns, and develop characters that make the viewers immediately choose sides and start rooting for them! I like this lady or this man! But that person has got to go! When the ruthless evil characters finally go down, you're pumping your fist in the air and going Yeah! A flood of relief washes over you and then you have to remind yourself that it's just a TV show. :)

 

Image credit: Official poster found at viki.com

While seeking and finding more and more historical series to satisfy my K-drama addiction, found “Dong Yi” (2010). This television program is directed by Lee Byung Hoon, who also directed "Jewel in the Palace" (2003).

Reviews indicate that Hoon's 2003 series was extremely successful, so it went on my watch list. But because the 2010 series includes in its cast an admirable child actress, Kim Yoo Jung, who also starred in “Tamra the Island” (2009) and “The Moon Embracing the Sun” (2012) ~ her cute little face drew me in. The series is based on the life of a real historical person: Royal Noble Consort Suk of the Haeju Choi clan.

{Side Note – According to recent reports in South Korean entertainment news publications, Ms. Jung's latest project, “Moonlight Drawn By Clouds” aired its first episode during the 4th week of this month, August 2016. It is being well received.  Series at viki.com.}

Back on point. The child character played by little Ms. Jung, is a “commoner”, i.e. not born into a noble family, who grows up into a beautiful and intelligent, caring and compassionate young woman, played by Han Hyo Joo. The character's name is … what else? Dong Yi!

She went from the child who had everything taken away from her to the woman who had the world laid at her feet. According to all the fortune tellers, “her light” was going to shine brightly in the land of Joseon.

Nothing annoys me more than reviews with spoilers, so extra precaution is taken to constrain myself and not to reveal too much. Here are my impressions so far.

Good start! Series starts off with a very peaceful idyllic scene of a man fishing and enjoying a quiet leisure moment. The silence is immediately shattered when the man is brutally murdered. But before he breathes his last breath, guess who finds him? A young child named Dong Yi!

Good fortune? I'll say! This lady was born under the Lisa Bonet lucky star. She got two hot guys wrapped around her finger! If you know who Lisa Bonet is and you watch this show, then you'll understand my meaning. :)

60 episodes and I've only reached the halfway mark. What's the hook the writers used to keep you interested all the way to the very end? A butterfly! Don't know about everybody else, but I love butterflies!

Dong Yi ~ Official Trailer

* * Related or Similar Articles:

Did Dong Yi and King Sukjong really have a long romance?

The Best Korean Historical Drama

Do You Heart Butterflies? | Webnuggetz.com

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Watch Asian Dramas ~ Free Online Streaming

Streaming Services for Korean Dramas: Netflix versus Viki

In the USA, the most popular streaming sites for Korean dramas are Netflix and Viki. Maybe I shouldd say, the most popular streaming sites that I know of.  I have been a long-time Netflix subscriber and even though I give Netflix credit for introducing me to the wonderful world of Korean drama, I am a loyal Viki viewer. I became a loyal Viki viewer because Netflix didn't have enough TV series and movies to satisfy my appetite.  Especially not enough sageuk or historical period K-dramas.

These days, Netflix has added lots more K-dramas to their database; and their Netflix Original Series are very entertaining.  The Viki Original Series are equally entertaining.

• If you want to watch a Netflix Original Series, I highly recommend: Mr. Sunshine (2018); My Country: The New Age (2019); and The King's Affection (2021).  

• If you want to watch a Viki Original Series, I highly recommend:  Lovers of the Red Sky (2021); and The King Loves (2017).  Viki has lots more original series that I could suggest but I prefer to finish them and write reviews first, before telling others to dd to their watch list.

Rakuten Viki ~ The Heart of Asian Entertainment

𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐊𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐬?

Who knows what else I might find if I check different streaming sites. Thanks!!

My Sageuk Addiction – Medium

Under the Queen's Umbrella: Korean Drama TV Series on Netfilx Released in 2022

Under the Queen's Umbrella is a Korean historical period drama series, released in 2022, that is currently streaming on Netflix. 

16 intense episodes. Viewers gave this series 4.9 out of 5 stars. I totally agree.  Kim Hye-Soo's performance as Queen Im Hwa-Ryeong is award-worthy. But giving credit where credit is due, quite frankly, all of the actors and actresses in this series gave exemplary performances. They played their roles as if they were real historical figures in the Joseon Era.

The worth of the flowers in the palace, i.e. the king's women, is judged by how many sons they bare the king. 

 Queen Im Hwa-Ryeong (played by Kim Hye-Soo) has been very fortunate. She bore five (5) sons for the king. Her oldest son is the crown prince, but he is suffering from a life-threatening illness. He could die any day! If he were to die, who would take his place? The crown prince already has a son of his own, so according to the line of succession, his son, her grandson, should be heir to the throne. Then as alternatives, one of his brothers, her four other sons who are grand princes, could be chosen. But her sons are perfectly content to never be king. She would have been content to allow them not to pursue the throne EXCEPT … the deposed queen (i.e. the queen before her) also had many sons.  When she realized the lives of her sons were in jeopardy, she immediately made up her mind that her sons would not suffer the same fate as Queen Yoon and her sons.

Queen Im Hwa-Ryeong now understands that THIS IS WAR!

Read full review at My Sageuk Addiction on Medium.com.

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Korean Movies With Hitchcock Titles: "Vertigo"

In a previous blog post, I shared entertainment trivia about "Spellbound", a Korean movie with the same name as a Hitchcock film. In this post, I will discuss "Vertigo".

♦ Vertigo (2019)

Main Characters:

• Seo-Young (played by Chun Woo-Hee)

• Lee Jin-Soo (played by Yoo Teo)

• Kwon-Woo (played by Jeong Jae-Kwang)

STORYLINE:

All the women at the office fantasize about Lee Jin-Soo, but none of them have ever gotten to first base with him. So they settle for talking about him during their lunch break. The conversation makes Seo-Young feel uncomfortable, so she excuses herself from the lunch group. They don't know why she reacted that way, but they dismiss it and continue talking. Her co-workers did not know that Seo-Young was having a secret affair with her manager, Lee Jin-So. She thought she could have a wonderful life with Lee Jin-So. Except … all of a sudden he ghosted her and she didn't understand why. As if a failed relationship wasn't bad enough, she went to the doctor because of certain physical ailments and learned that she suffered from Vertigo.

Lee Jin-So was fired because the company's CCTV video showed him having sex with one of the employees. But that employee was not Seo-Young, so she didn't get fired. Seo-Young was a little baffled but she didn't dare ask for more information about the manager's termination. Another manager approached her and told her that he had seen the video of her with Lee Jin-So but didn't tell anyone. Then he tried to secure sexual favors from her, in return for keeping it a secret. When she refused, he physically assaulted her.

Seo-Young did not know it but she had a secret admirer, Kwon-Woo, who worked as a contract window cleaner. It so happened that Kwon-Woo was cleaning windows and saw what was happening to her. He banged on the glass panes, making loud noises. When the manager realized that someone had witnessed his behavior he left immediately. Seo-Young was grateful for Kwon-Woo's help. But the incident left her distraught and depressed. She wanted to die! But Kwon-Woo really wanted her to live. Could he convince her that life was worth living?

• GENRE: Secret Romance, Workplace or Office Drama

• IMDb Rating: 6 out of 10 stars

• MyDrama List: 7.1 out of 10 stars

• Letterboxd: 3.2 out of 5 stars

♦♦ Vertigo (1958): (Psychological drama, Thriller and Suspense) James Stewart plays a retired San Francisco police detective John "Scottie" Ferguson. After a traumatic incident on the job, he developed acrophobia (a fear of heights). An old friend confides in him that his wife, Madeleine Elster played by Kim Novak, has begun to act strangely. He hires “Scottie” to follow his wife around, but the detective becomes obsessed with her. His covert investigation reveals a disturbing truth about her identity.

Korean Movies With Hitchcock Titles: "Spellbound"

Alfred Hitchcock earned his reputation as the master of psychological thriller and suspense. While searching for Korean dramas to watch, I stumbled upon 2 films that had the same title as a Hitchcock movie which made me curious. 

However, it seems the only similarity between the Hitchcock movies and the Korean movies is the title. Even so, these K-dramas were interesting to watch. There is a little bit of entertainment trivia about the Hitchcock movies, for contrast and comparison.

♦ Spellbound (2011)

(Also known by the title “Chilling Romance”)

Main Characters:

• Ma Jo-Goo (played by Lee Min-Ki)

• Kang Yeo-Ri (played by Son Ye-Jin)

STORYLINE:

Ma Jo-Goo is a talented street magician but his act is going nowhere. While performing for the audience, he noticed a mysterious woman in the crowd. When he finished his show he followed and caught up with her. Her dark and mysterious look had inspired him and he wanted her to be a part of his show. She agreed to work for him and his magic act became a success. It was called Jo-Goo Ma's Horror Illusion. After work, Jo-Goo likes to treat his workers to dinner and drinks, but Kang Yeo-Ri always refuses. She was loaded with excuses. But never told anyone her real reason. The truth was much more frightening.

Kang Yeo-Ri had a secret and that was why she lived alone, could never have a boyfriend, and pretended to be happy. One night her boss insisted she join them for dinner. She had one too many drinks and did something that embarrassed her boss. Strangely though, after that night at the company dinner, Ma Jo-Goo was drawn to her. As he got closer, he learned her secret and it terrified him. However, even though he was scared, he still wanted to be with her. Who says you can't be in love AND be scared to death to be with person you love?

• GENRE: Romantic, Comedy, Horror

• IMDb Rating: 6.8 out of 10 stars

• MyDrama List: 8 out of 10 stars

♦♦ Hitchcock's Spellbound (1945): (Psychological drama, Thriller, and Suspense) Ingrid Bergman plays Dr. Constance Petersen, a psychiatrist who wants to treat her new patient, John Ballantine, played by Gregory Peck. He is suffering from amnesia. When her mental health treatment indicates that he may know details about a murder, she gets help from a fellow psychiatrist. His memory loss is the result of a trauma and the doctors work together to unlock the memories buried in the patient's subconscious mind. The film combines elements of, exploring themes of identity, memory, and mental health, all while incorporating a complex plot twist and a dramatic climax.

Tomorrow With You ~ Can a Time Traveler Change the Future?

“Tomorrow With You” is a 2017 drama series, with 16 episodes, and can be categorized as Time Travel, Romance, Comedy (Rom-Com) and Fantasy or Supernatural.

• SUMMARY: Suppose you meet someone on one day and that chance meeting saved your life. Then on another day you see your lifeless body being a carried away and the lifeless body of the woman who saved your life is also being carried away. Since you have the ability to time travel, maybe you can go back and sever the relationship you have with her. That should be fix everything. Right? That might work IF ... the ability to travel through time also gives you the ability to change the future. But if it doesn't ...

Image credit

♦ Life is Shorter Than You Think

Yoo So-joon is a handsome, young and wealthy CEO. You could say he has it all. What more could he ask for? Love? Well, that's obvious. But what else? How about the ability to travel through time? That wasn't exactly something that Yoo So-joon had on his wish list. But one day while riding the subway train, he felt a terrible pain in his head. The next thing he knew he was in a different time period. As soon as he got off the train he met another time traveler. The time traveler told him he'll have to get used to going back and forth between past, present, and future. But the most important rule is to never be in the same time period with yourself. He can't be with his present self and his future self at the same time. That's bad!

OK! Important safety tip! But guess what happened? Yoo So-joon saw his dead body being carried away on a stretcher. There was also a woman who had died and her name was Song Ma-Rin. Yoo So-joon wondered if it was possible to change the outcome of this tragic event. He time traveled again and it turns out he and Song Ma-Rin were married. In another time period, he and Song Ma-Rin were both on the same train. They got into an argument with each other and got off the train. While they were still arguing, the train blew up! Yoo So-joon had intended to stay on the train that day. If he had, he would have died.

Somehow the timelines of their lives were intertwined. In one period, she saved his life. In another, they both died together.

Song Ma-Rin is unaware that Yoo So-joon has already seen her future. She is barely managing to live in the present because her past keeps getting in the way. Song Ma-Rin used to be a child star but when she grew up she did not pursue an acting career. The problem is reporters keep writing articles about how she has not accomplished anything since her fame as a child actress and this gets in the way of her moving forward. When she met Yoo So-Joon he gave her this advice: "Life is shorter than you think. You shouldn't be hung up on the past.” He could say that, since Yoo So-joon already knew her future.

Yoo So-joon decided to traveled back in time to see if he could break their connection. If he could somehow sever their relationship, they wouldn't be together, they wouldn't fall in love and get married, and they probably would not die in a terrible accident. But does having the ability to time-travel also give you the ability to change your future?

Main Characters:

• Song Ma-Rin (played by Shin Min-A**)

• Yoo So-Joon (played by Lee Je-Hoon, “Chief Inspector 1958”, “Taxi Driver 1 and 2”, “Move to Heaven”, “My Paparotti”, “Time to Hunt”)

** Shin Min-A is a Korean actress who popped up on my radar in “Arang and the Magistrate ”. She stars in several Korean dramas that are still on my watch list: “Diva”, “Chief of Staff 1 and 2”, “Oh My Venus” (award-winning), and “Hometown Cha Cha Cha”. Have you watched any of these?

• Where to Watch: The Roku Channel and Tubi TV

Viewership and Ratings:

• IMDb Rating: 7.4 out of 10 stars

• My Drama List: 8 out of 10 stars

• Dramabeans: 8.3 out of 10 stars

• Letterboxd: 3.6 out of 5 stars

• Google users public rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars

My personal rating is the same as My Drama List.

This Kdrama series had mixed reviews. Some did not give high marks for the acting or the script. Others said it was underrated and thought the chemistry between the couple was great.

I am always interested in how a scriptwriter will spin a time travel fantasy / love story. In “Tomorrow With You”:

• The female lead had a difficult time trying to get away from her past, so that she could live productively in the present.

• The male lead was trying to get away from his grim future that had her in it.

He felt should she could easily fix her problem if she just wasn't hung up on her past. Whereas the best way to fix his problem was to get her out of his life, because she is the problem!

I had to see how this was going to work out.

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Tomorrow With You | Korean Drama Review (“A beautiful, languidly romantic time traveling story,...”)

Twelve (12) of the Best Time Travel K Dramas And Where To Watch Them | TODAY

Lee Je Hoon: An Actor Review | Drama Homebody

Tomorrow With You ~ Can a Time Traveler Change the Future? https://t.co/qMhn9txwm3 #kdramas #Koreandrama #allthingshallyu #entertainment #popcornworthy #fantasy

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) August 10, 2024

WATCH TRAILER:

Ani-Hongo. “TOMORROW, with YOU (2017) - TRAILER.” YouTube Video. YouTube, March 28, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=824cd8uXz8Y.

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Angel's Last Mission: Love (2019); An Award-Winning Korean Drama

"Angel’s Last Mission: Love"

Kim Dan is an angel who knows the rules of the heavenly realm. He must never touch a human. If he does, he'll disappear, as in “cease to exist”. He doesn't want that. He wants to go to heaven. But even though he knew the rules, the female was badly injured and pleading for someone to save her. Lee Seul-hwa was blind but she could hear that someone was there at the accident and they were close enough to help her. She used to be a prima ballerina, but while performing on stage one night there was a terrible accident which resulted in her losing her eyesight. People are afraid to be around her because she is an angry, bitter, cold-hearted former ballet dancer who takes out her frustration on everyone else, as if it's their fault. What is even worse is that the Fantasia Ballet Company that her parents built for her to inherit has almost been stolen from her by greedy relatives.

Image credit

So many times Lee Seul-hwa had wanted to die. But now that she might actually die, she's begging to live. Her pitiful pleas were too much for Kim Dan and he yielded to temptation. He broke the rules and touched a human to save her life. When Lee Seul-hwa woke up in the hospital she could see! Meanwhile Kim Dan was getting ready to receive his punishment. But wait! He didn't disappear! Why does he still exist? It's true, he does exist, but no longer as an angel. Now he is a human who is being given a chance to re-earn his wings. This will be his last mission. If he fails he can forget about a heavenly reward. What's the mission? LOVE. He must find true love for Lee Seul-hwa. Even though she is no longer blind, she is still disgruntled, angry and a terrifying person to be in the same room with.

Lee Seul-hwa has so many emotional scars. She is afraid to love because all of the people she loved have died. Loving someone is too painful so she avoids becoming vulnerable. Kim Dan starts trying to play matchmaker, but starts to develop genuine feelings for her and unintentionally creates a love triangle. This wasn't supposed to happen. Aren't angels only supposed to love God? Will he be punished for loving Lee Seul-hwa?

Genre: Romance and Fantasy or Supernatural

IMDb Rating: 7.7 out of 10 stars

My Drama List: 8.4 out of 10 stars

Viki viewers rated this series 9.5 out of 10 stars

AWARDS: This delightful Korean drama won several awards at the 2019 KBS Drama Awards ceremony. Shin Hae-Sun won Top Excellence Award, Actress. Kim Myung-Soo won Best New Actor and K-Drama Hallyu Star. Together they won Best Couple Award.

Main Characters:

• Lee Yeon-Seo (played by Shin Hae-Sun, “Welcome to Samdal-ri”, “See You in My 19th Life”, “Mr. Queen”, “Don't Buy the Seller”)

• Kim Dan (played by Kim Myung-Soo, “Dare to Love Me”, “Numbers”, “Royal Secret Agent”)

LINKS OF INTEREST:

4 Heart-Fluttering Fantasy K-Dramas To Enjoy During The Fall | Soompi

9 Entertaining K-Dramas That Involve Multiple Worlds |Soompit

Winners Of 2019 KBS Drama Awards | Soompi

WATCH TRAILER:

Viu Singapore. “Angel’s Last Mission: Love 단, 하나의 사랑 TRAILER | INFINITE’S L, SHIN HYE SUN.” YouTube Video. YouTube, May 23, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TSA7zVmmx0.

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"Angel’s Last Mission: Love" ~ Finding Love for the Unlovable https://t.co/VzPlpPb7an #kdramas #Koreandrama #allthingshallyu #entertainment #popcornworthy #fantasy

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) August 10, 2024

Watch and Learn: Learn a Foreign Language While Watching a Foreign Drama

I love foreign films and television shows, as long as they have English subtitles.  But what if?  What if there was a tool to combine my education with my entertainment?

I got hooked on Korean dramas several years back. I especially liked the historical dramas during the Joseon or Chosun time period.

Because Netflix did not have enough K-dramas to satisfy me, Viki became my GO-TO site for Asian TV. One thing that used to frustrate me though was having to wait for a series to be translated with English subtitles. My first K-drama television series was “Tamra the Island”. The young British noble William seemed to have a gift for learning languages. But the one thing I noticed when I started watching K-dramas was that the language was not that difficult to learn. I am not gifted like William however I found it easy to pick out conversational phrases like “Have you eaten?” However, the idea of adding a feature to the video that helps you learn the language? That's absolutely fabulous! Way to go Viki! And the tool will teach Chinese also?? SCORE!

• Learn more about how to Learn languages while watching dramas! ~ Viki Blog

Watch Tamra the Island on Viki 



Follow Viki on Twitter:
Tweets by Viki

Watch Asian Dramas ~ Free Online Streaming

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Pandora (2016): Korean Drama: Disaster Film and Political Thrille

When the government tells the people everything will be alright and what they are doing is good for the country's economy ... DON'T BUY THAT LINE!! That's what all politicians say. They work from a distance. 

Sadly, the person who is working AT the nuclear plant tries to warn the president, the head of the government, that the nuclear plant is not being maintained and that if prompt action is not taken, the result will be disastrous .. IS IGNORED. 

A loyal employee at the nuclear facility prepared a scathing report, identifying problems, and recommending solutions BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE! For his concern and due diligence, he is removed from his position and replaced by someone less competent who does whatever he was told to do. 

Long story short, by the time the president realized how grave the situation was at the nuclear power plant, nobody was willing to risk their lives to go inside and fix it! So the president gets on television, informs the nation of the danger, and pleads for volunteers who are willing to go inside the plant and make the necessary repairs.

VOLUNTEER FOR SUICIDE? 

Where are the heroes when you need them?

Main characters:

• Jae-Hyeok (played by Kim Nam-Gil)
• Pyung-Sub (played by Jung Jin-Young)

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Korean Movie: The Berlin File (2013), Action, Spy Thriller

The criminal underworld believes in equal opportunity.  If anyone wants to participate in organized criminal activity, the door is open.

In the case of The Berlin File, the door that opened is now closed because of secrecy needed to conduct an illegal arms exchange taking place between a North Korean, a Russian, and an Arab, in a hotel room in Berlin, Germany. 

Before the transaction can be completed, agents from the Mossad (Israeli intelligence) burst into the room. They tell the North Korean he can leave; they only want the Arab and the Russian guys. 

The North Korean spy tries to leave the scene but a South Korean NIS agent chases after him. He manages to escape but the NIS agent still plans to pursue him. South Korea needs to find a bank account that belonged to the late Korean leader Kim Jung-il. The funds will be used by other countries that aid North Korea. NIS believes the North Korean spy has information about the money. 

Unfortunately, the spy is being betrayed by his own countrymen. They also want to gain access to Kim Jung-il's bank account for their own political agenda and plan to frame him as a traitor. He needs to try to escape from his North Korean comrades. the South Korean NIS, and the other international spy agencies like the Israeli Mossad and the American CIA who are thrown into the “mix”.

He wants to escape with the woman he loves.

Can he escape? Where will he go?

Main Characters:

• North Korean spy Pyo Jong-Sung (played by Ha Jung-Woo, “Narco Saints”)

• South Korean NIS agent Jung Jin-Soo (played by Han Suk-Kyu, “Tree With Deep Roots”).

"The Berlin File" (2013) - #Kdrama #Koreanmovies #Action #Spy #Thriller #moviegems
Exposed during an illegal arms trade gone wrong in Berlin, a North Korean agent tries to flee! But a South Korean agent is on his trail.https://t.co/4zvRO6hfUe via @amazon @goshoppingbees pic.twitter.com/IYOexV1Zo3

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) April 30, 2024

THE UNJUST (2010) ~ Korean Drama Movie Gem

Netflix suggested Unjust (2010) as a gem and I agree. The IMDb Rating: 6.6 out of 10 stars. But my rating for this movie is 9 out of 10 stars. This movie painted a very realistic picture of unjust acts that corrupt civil servants commit in their official line of duty. It was a chilling eye-opener.

The Unjust is an Intense Crime Drama!

The viewer is immediately drawn into the storyline when it starts with televised news reports about a serial killer on the loose, killing young children and mutilating their bodies. The public is justifiably outraged and wants to know why the police have not yet captured this menace to society. Choi Cheol-Gi is assigned to head up the task force and bring this brutal murderer to justice. But instead of finding the real killer, he picks a guy who has served time in prison for sexual assault against a child and presents him to the public as the culprit. WHY? The public will be relieved, the case will be closed, he will be painted as a HERO, and will finally get that promotion.

Not so fast! Prosecutor Joo-Yang eats and plays golf with a wealthy corrupt businessman. When that businessman is arrested for crimes, the prosecutor bends the law to get the charges dropped. He is not exactly a saint. But when he finds out that Choi Cheol-Gi did not catch the real killer, he makes it his mission to expose him. There's bd blood between the two of them.

The truth is these guys abuse their positions of public trust in order to advance their careers. They're both corrupt and unjust. But one of them is … The Unjust. Which one? 

K-Drama Movies to Watch Free on Pluto TV (Part 2)

The list below are 5 Korean movies that are streaming free with ads on Pluto TV. The “H” means the film is historical. In the previous list published via PopGeeks, the movie gems were released between 2009 and 2012. The films on the list below were released between 2013 and 2021.

1. Killer Toon (2013)
2. The Sound of a Flower (2015)-H
3. The Swordsman (2020)-H
4. Beasts Clawing at Straws (2020)
5. Escape from Mogadishu (2021)

♦ 1) Killer Toon (2013)

A webtoon artist who becomes entangled in a series of gruesome murders because the real-life crimes resembling her fictional work. As she delves deeper into the mystery, she uncovers dark secrets and a chilling connection between her creations and reality.  This film is categorized as Horror, Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense.

• Detective Lee Ki-Cheol (played by Uhm Ki-Joon, “The Escape of the Seven”, “I Am Not a Robot”)
• Webcomic Writer Ji-Yoon (played by Lee Si-Young)

PAYNUX Movie. “Killer Toon 2013 Full Movie Trailer - Murder Tragedy Based on Comic Story.” YouTube Video. YouTube, September 10, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChUrNinYNq8.

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♦ 2) The Sound of a Flower (2015)

This historical period drama is based on a true story, set in 1867 Korea. Jin Chae-seon is a Korean pansori singer. She disguises herself as a man in order to compete in “Naksungyeon”, a national competition of pansori performers. This historical figure is believed to be the first female master of a male-dominated genre. Born in the 1840s, she became a master of performing Simcheongga and Chunhyangga.

• “Pansori is a traditional Korean performance that combines singing, drumming, and body language to tell a story.” Learn more: [Visual History of Korea] ‘Pansori’ -- Musical storytelling across societal barriers | The Korea Herald

• Chae-Sun (played by Bae Suzy, “Doona”)
• Shin Jae-Hyo (played by Ryu Seung-Ryong)

CJEntertainmentUSA. “The Sound of a Flower Official Teaser Trailer W/ English Subtitles [HD].” YouTube Video. YouTube, October 30, 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL_CP1sw9L4.


♦ 3) The Swordsman (2020)

After a king of Joseon was dethroned, the country's best swordsman who has served him faithfully, vanishes. His wish is to live quietly with his daughter away from the palace intrigue, corruption, and constant conspiracies. But his wish was not granted. There is a conflict between Qing and Ming Dynasty has thrown Joseon into chaos and his daughter is kidnapped. He must pick up his sword once again to go save his daughter.  This film is categorized as Action, and Historical Fiction.

• Tae Yool (played by Jang Hyuk, “My Country: The New Age”)
• Tae Yool’s daughter Tae Ok (played by Kim Hyun-Soo)

Well Go USA Entertainment. “THE SWORDSMAN Official Trailer | Directed by Choi Jae-Hoon | Starring Jang Hyuk and Kim Hyeon-Soo.” YouTube Video. YouTube, December 16, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMuBuL982iQ.

♦ 4) Beasts Clawing at Straws (2020)

A bag of money gets lost and the lives of several characters interconnect and intersect. The more greedy and desperate they become to find the money, the more they are willing to take extreme measures.  This film is categorized as Black Comedy, Crime, Thriller, and Neo-noir.

• Joong-Man (played by Bae Sung-Woo)
• Tae-Young (played by Jung Woo-Sung)
• Yeon-Hee (played by Jeon Do-Yeon, “Crash Course in Romance”)
• Mi-Ran (played by Shin Hyun-Bin)
• Jin-Tae (played by Jung Ga-Ram)

Artsploitation Films. “Beasts Clawing at Straws | Official Trailer.” YouTube Video. YouTube, September 28, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQFyCvDgL7Q.
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♦ 5) Escape from Mogadishu (2021)

Based on true events. South and North Korean diplomats must escape from war-torn Somalia in 1991. The divisions of north versus south and political ideologies don't matter. In the midst of chaos and conflict, it's just humans working together to overcome adversity. Survival is what counts.  This film is categorized as Action and Historical; and has won 20+ awards, including Best Film and Most Popular Film.

• Han Shin-Sung, Ambassador, South Korean Embassy (played by Kim Yun-Seok)
• Kang Dae-Jin, Councilor, North Korean Embassy (played by Zo In-Sung)

Well Go USA Entertainment. “ESCAPE from MOGADISHU Official Trailer | Korean Action War Drama | Directed by Ryoo Seung-Wan.” YouTube Video. YouTube, July 13, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvNFzwKtSy0.
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Watch Free on Pluto TV: 5 Korean Movies Released 2013-2021 | https://t.co/gmI236IWvl https://t.co/hJj0uXHu6E pic.twitter.com/2uEPMglrhe

— Joie de Vivre Magazine (aka My Fox Nooze) (@FoxMarks_ATX) February 23, 2024

K-Drama Movie Gems to Watch Free on Pluto TV (Part 1)

The list below is 5 Korean movies I have already watched or are on my watchlist. The “H” means the film is historical.

1. Castaway on the Moon (2009)
2. I Saw the Devil (2010)
3. Swordbrothers: The Showdown (2011)-H
4. Nameless Gangster (2012)
5. Perfect Number (2012)

♦ 1) Castaway on the Moon (2009)

Kim Seung-Keun (played by Jung Jae-Young) goes to a bridge over the Han River because he is contemplating suicide. He jumps but instead of dying he ends up stranded on a deserted island in the middle of Seoul. Looks like it just wasn't his day to die. Once he gets adjusted to his new life, he decides living a solitary life is not so bad, even though he still wrote out a message in the sand “HELP”, just in case.

Kim Jung-Yeon (played by Jung Ryeo-Won) also lives a solitary life and never leaves her apartment. Her hobby is taking photos of the moon. But one night she happened to see “HELP” written in the sand and a figure of a man walking on the shore of the deserted island.

It's a very unusual way for two solitary people to connect.

♦ 2) I Saw the Devil (2010)

This K-drama is a gripping and suspenseful thriller. So-Hyun (played by Lee Byung-Hun, “Concrete Utopia”, “Mr. Sunshine”) is an agent for the NIS (National Intelligence Service). When his fiancée is murdered by a serial killer, he uses his KSAs (knowledge, skills, and abilities) as a secret agent to relentlessly pursue the killer. If he catches the murderer alive, the right thing to do is turn him over to law enforcement for trial and conviction. However, since he is a covert agent he might blur the lines between right and wrong, and misuse his “license to kill”.

♦ 3) Swordbrothers: The Showdown (2011)

This is a Korean historical period drama and the setting is Manchuria, China, 1619. Heon-myung (played by Park Hee-soon, “The Bequeathed”); Do-young (played by Jin Goo, “Shadow Detective”); and Du-soo (played by Ko Chang-seok) are three swordsman from Joseon who are forced to come to China by the Ming Dynasty. They tried to take refuge in a tavern but found themselves cornered by Manchu forces.

Do you love intense sword fighting scenes in historical K-dramas? Then you'll love this movie.

♦ 4) Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time (2012)

Set in the 1980s, this gritty crime drama follows a corrupt customs officer who rises to power in the criminal underworld. Choi Ik-Hyun (played by Choi Min-Sik, “In Our Prime”) is caught accepting bribes. He wasn't the only dirty officer but he is the one who took the blame. One night while still being employed as a customs office he discovers a stash of illegal drugs in a warehouse. Since he had to leave his honest job where he was dishonest, he makes up his mind to become completely dishonest. It turns out he's related to a crime boss, Choi Hyung-Bae (played by Ha Jung-Woo, “Narco Saints”), so they become partners in crime and take over the Busan underworld.

♦ 5) Perfect Number (2012)

This film is a mystery thriller. Suk-Go (played by Ryoo Seung-Bum, “The Berlin File”) is a math genius. That's the highlight of his life. He's good with numbers, but not much else and lives as a recluse. Hwa-Sun (played by Lee Yo-Won, “The Great Queen Seondeok”) is his neighbor. He makes no effort to establish any kind of neighborly bond. She moved there because she was trying to escape her abusive violent boyfriend, only he found her.

Suk-Go hears sounds coming from his neighbor's house which are obviously the noises made when people are having a violent fight. Hwa-Sun manages to kill her ex-boyfriend. Suk-Go knocked on the door to ask if there was a problem and when he entered the house, he saw the dead body.

Hwa-Sun does not try to stop him from calling the police but she asked him if he would listen to her side of the story before making the call. Suk-Go decides to help her cover up what happened.

Hwa-Sun accepts his help but later she starts wondering “what's his angle”? She starts adding things up in her mind. Why did he help her? Does he have dark secrets? Is he a psycho who is worse than her ex-boyfriend? I mean … she didn't even know him and he volunteered to . Things don't seem to quite add up. It's not just math!

This movie is based on the 2005 novel "Yogisha X no Kenshin" ("The Devotion of Suspect X").

Watch Free on Pluto TV: 5 K-Drama Movie Gems | https://t.co/gmI236IWvl https://t.co/vsiZIGKQrr

— Joie de Vivre Magazine (aka My Fox Nooze) (@FoxMarks_ATX) February 23, 2024

Spotlight on South Korean Actor Lee Dong-Wook

Lee Dong-wook appears on many lists of “most handsome” South Korean male actors. But he is not just a pretty face. He is popular for a variety of reasons. He is very talented, has a versatile acting range, is known to have a charming persona, and he is “best buds” with Gong Yoo.

• Lee Dong Wook shares the secret to his long and successful career without any controversies | Times of India

Lee Dong-wook is an award-winning actor. Since he has been appearing in Korean dramas since 2005, you might not know where to begin. Check out this list:

1. A Shop For Killers (2024)
2. Bad and Crazy (2021)
3. Tale of the Nine Tailed (2020)
4. Strangers from Hell (2019)
5. Life (2018)
6. Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016)
7. Hotel King (2014)
8. The Fugitive of Joseon (2013)

Published via Quora

Chuno (The Slave Hunters) (2010), 24 episodes

Fans of Jang Hyuk will enjoy this intense action-packed historical period Korean drama series.

Lee Dae-gil (played by Jang Hyuk) is the son of a noble family, who fell in love with Kim Hye-Won (played by Lee Da-Hae), a slave. Her brother destroyed his master and everything he owned. He thought he had killed Lee Dae-gil. The brother destroyed the slave ownership papers and created a new life for himself and his sister.

Since Lee Dae-gil had lost his family's wealth, he became a slave hunter. Mainly, because he was searching for the woman he loved, assuming that she was still a slave on the run. He would capture slaves, collect the reward, and then help them escape again but this time to freedom. Lee Dae-gil is also hunting for Song Tae-Ha (played by Oh Ji-Ho). He has been labeled as a slave but he is a brave and noble warrior who will one day reclaim his honor.

To continue establishing his reputation and wealth, Hye-Won's brother arranges a marriage for her. On the day of the wedding, she runs away. She is about to be attacked by bandits but Tae-Ha rescues her. Their relationship grows into romance, all the while she believes her first love, Lee Dae-gil, has died. Eventually, Lee Dae-gil finds her but realizes that she in now in a loving relationship with the man, the slave, he has been hunting. From there …. (NO SPOILERS!)

Source: Historical K-Dramas That Slipped Under the Radar (Pt 1 of 5)