Historical Period Korean Drama: "Queen for Seven Days" (2017) ~ For Fans of Park Min Young

"Queen for Seven Days" is a Korean drama series released in 2017, with 20 episodes, categorized as Romance, historical period, sageuk, costume and period; and streaming on Viki. It is based on a true Joseon queen who only lasted on the throne for literally 7 days. 

• SUMMARY: A dramatization of the life of Queen Dangyeong. TRUE STORY: Shin Chae-kyung became Queen Dangyeong. She married Grand Prince Jinseong. In 1506, when Prince Jinseong ascended to the throne, he became King Jungjong and Shin Chae-kyung became the queen. Just seven days later, she was deposed and expelled from the palace. Her father, Shin Su-geun, was implicated in a coup against King Jungjong, which led to her deposition. She remained deposed until her death in 1557. Her title was posthumously restored, i.e. she was honored with the title of Queen after her death.

♦ Based on the True Story of Queen Dangyeong

In “Queen for Seven Days”, Shin Chae-kyung is the daughter of the king's most trusted official. That official is also a relative of the queen and is well-connected in many ways. Even so, he did his best to hide his daughter in the countryside and she doesn't know why. She thinks her parents are ashamed of her. However, her parents were told a prophecy. If their daughter married into the royal family, there would be a bloodbath. Her mother and father believed that. (Although, truth be told, during the Joseon Era, weren't there always bloodbaths in the royal family?) Nevertheless, Shin Chae-kyung overheard servants talking and saw that an important document was supposed to be delivered to her father. She stole the document, dressed up like a young boy, and traveled from the countryside to Hangyang to visit her family's home. It would be a surprise! Surprise? More like a SHOCK!

Before she finally reached her home, she had a few misadventures.

• First, she accidentally met Grand Prince Jinseong, the boy who would become her husband and would also become the king and she would be his queen. Having never been to Hangyang or the palace, she was clueless and thought he was just a rude child of a nobleman who acted like a gangster.

• Second, that important document that she was carrying to give to her father was stolen by a pickpocket. She wrongfully accused the grand prince of stealing it. That misunderstanding led to more misunderstandings.

• Third, she thought she was chasing after the grand prince but crossed paths with the current king, the older brother of the grand prince instead. Once again, she was clueless, not realizing that she was interacting with her future brother-in-law.

By the time she finally reached her home, her mother and father were meeting with the royal family, discussing her marriage to the grand prince. She was standing outside the door and could hear her parents making all kinds of excuses about why she was not a suitable match. The grand prince noticed that someone was eavesdropping and when he pushed the door open, she fell down. Her parents were shocked and yelled out her name in the form of a question. “Chae-kyung????“ It was their turn to be clueless. What was their daughter doing in Hangyang? That was their question. Her question was why were her parents saying such terrible things about her? She was a suitable match for the grand prince and she was going to prove it!

Shin Chae-kyung had no idea about the prophecy. She also had no idea that the document she was bringing to her father was the “secret order” of the late king. It was that king's will that the grand prince ascend to the throne. Grand Prince Jinseong was also clueless about these matters. They were both innocents who had unintentionally walked directly into a fire, a hotbed of treachery and treason, and a bloodbath. They would eventually marry but Shin Chae-kyung would not survive?

• If only that young innocent girl had remained hidden in the countryside and/or her parents had told her about the prophecy.

• More importantly, if only the Joseon noblemen, government and court officials, and the royal family didn't always engage in politics based on treachery and treason!

Would her history have been different? We will never know.

Main Characters:

• Shin Chae-Kyung (played by Park Min-Young)

• Lee Yeok (played by Yeon Woo-Jin)

• Lee Yoong (played by Lee Dong-Gun)

Where to Watch

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb: 7.6 out of 10 stars

• My Drama List: 8.2 out of 10 stars

• Dramabeans: 9.3 out of 10 stars

• Google users shared a rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars

• Viki viewers have rated this series 9.3 out of 10 stars

Park Min Young has had a loyal following ever since “Healer” but “Marry My Huband” made her even more popular. Fans may want to visit or revisit some of her earlier work like “Queen for Seven Days”.

LINKS OF INTEREST:

FirstImpressions: “Queen For 7 Days” Delivers Sweet Puppy Love AndIntense Family Drama | Soompi

Queenfor Seven Days Korean Drama Review | Kdrama Kisses

SevenDay Queen Finale Review | I Dreamed A Drama

K-Drama Review: "Queen For Seven Days" Reigns With Emotional Love Picture & Standout Portrayals | Hello KPop

5 K-Dramas to Watch If You Enjoyed ‘Marry My Husband’

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“Queen for Seven Days” is Available on DVD

♦ (Original source)

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

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.

Original source

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.

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

Five (5) Popcorn-Worthy 'BAD' Korean Dramas

Check out this list of Korean dramas with the word “Bad” or “Bad” in the titles, available on popular streaming platforms in the USA.

Pass the popcorn, please!

 ♦ (1) Bad Guys (2014)

Watch Bad Guys (2014) Online for Free | The Roku Channel | Roku

Main Characters:

• Oh Goo-Tak (played by Kim Sang-Joong)

• Park Woong-Cheol (played by Ma Dong-Seok)

• Lee Jung-Moon (played by Park Hae-Jin)

• Jung Tae-Soo (played by Jo Dong-Hyuk)

• Yoo Mi-Young (played by Gang Ye-Won)

Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller, Police Procedural

PLOT: Who better to fight bad guys than bad guys? In the classic American war movie “The Dirty Dozen”, the military decides to send a dozen criminals into enemy territory to fight for their country. They had particular skill sets that were useful and the military just needed to train them to be soldiers. This Korean drama has a similar storyline. A police detective lost his daughter to a murderer. He was suspended from his job for using excessive force to apprehend suspects. But then he was called back to work because one of his superiors also lost his son to a murderer. Violent crimes are on the rise, so the police detective forms a crime team made up of criminals to catch criminals. One is a contract killer and the other is a serial killer. Their work will result in reduced sentences and possibly their freedom. But will this really work?  

WATCH TRAILER

♦ (2) Bad Guys: Vile City (2017)

(NOTE: This is “Bad Guys 2.)

Available on Apple TV+

Main Characters:

• Woo Je-Moon (played by Park Joong-Hoon)

• Jo Young-Kook (played by Kim Hong-Fa)

• Heo Il-Hoo (played by Joo Jin-Mo)

• Jang Sung-Cheol (played by Yang Ik-June)

• No Jin-Pyeong (played by Kim Moo-Yul)

• Han Gang-Joo (played by Ji Soo)

Genre: Mystery, Action, Crime, Thriller, Police Procedural, Political

PLOT: The bad guys keep fighting the bad guys in this Korean drama series sequel. It has the same theme as Season 1. This time a crusading prosecutor and a detective work together and go after a crime lord. The investigative team includes a serial killer, an assassin and a mobster with a personal vendetta. The crime lord has managed to evade capture because there are those on “the inside” who work for him. Battling organized crime is hard enough but it's extra hard when you have to fight institutional corruption. But no matter, because for the team, it's just another day at work.

WATCH TRAILER

♦ (3) The Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos (2019)

(NOTE: This is a movie. The series “Bad Guys”, released in 2014 is the prequel.)

Available on Apple TV+

Main Characters:

• No Sang-Sik (played by Jo Young-Jin)

• Detective So Oh Goo-Tak (played by Kim Sang-Joong)

• Park Woong-Cheol (played by Ma Dong-Seok)

• Kwak No-Soon (played by Kim A-Joong)

• Ko Yoo-Sung (played by Jang Ki-Yong)

Genre: Crime and Action

PLOT: While prisoners are being transported, the vehicle is attacked by ruthless assassins, in order to free a former Korean gang boss, who works with the yakuza. A crime investigative unit is tasked with capturing the escaped prisoners, especially the former gang boss. The unit includes certain criminals who are promised reduced sentences if they succeed. Some in law enforcement are aligned with the yakuza leader and they interfere with the mission and even betray their fellow officers. But the crime investigation team never wavers. They know what their mission is and they aim to catch the escaped prisoners and put them back behind bars.

WATCH TRALER

♦ (4) Bad and Crazy (2021-2022)

Netflix USA started streaming the series on November 28, 2022.

Main Characters:

• Ryu Soo-Yeol (played by Lee Dong-Wook)

• Alternate Personality named K (played by Wi Ha-Joon)

Genre: Police Procedural, Legal Drama, Medical Drama, Action, Comedy

PLOT: A young man has a split personality. He suffers from multiple personality disorder, also referred to as dissociative identity disorder (DID). It's not that he's “bad” or “crazy”. He just wants career advancement in the law enforcement agency he works for and figures the best way to get a promotion is to overlook or cover up crimes that have been committed. All he has to do is neatly wrap things up, close the cases, and file them away. However, his alternate personality known as “K” pricks his ethical and moral conscience and makes him do the right thing. In other words, his alter ego is a justice-seeking HERO!

WATCH TRAILER

♦ (5) Bad Prosecutor (2022)

Viki viewers rated this series 9.5 out of 10 stars

Main Characters:

• Jin Jung (played by Do Kyung-Soo)

• Shin A-Ra (played by Lee Se-Hee)

• Oh Do-Hwan (played by Ha-Joon)

Genre: Legal Drama, Action

PLOT: A young boy who witnesses many things that were unjust decides that when he grows up he will wield a sword of justice just like the swordfighters in video games. However, as an adult, he realized the fight against injustice was rigged by people with wealth and power, in their favor. The “sword of justice” he planned to use would not be effective in eliminating crime and corruption. He was hired as a prosecutor and assigned to the Central District Prosecutors' Office Criminal Division 3. Some of the prosecutors he worked with were as corrupt as the bad guys on the outside. They abused their positions of public trust and covered up crimes. Going by the book was not only time-consuming, but those standard processes and procedures usually did not work. Because his work methods were different from his fellow prosecutors and he didn't follow the “rules”, the young man was labeled a “bad prosecutor”. Since he knew that some prosecutors had ways to erase dirty deeds, he simply developed ways to work around them so that justice could be served.

WATCH TRAILER

Five (5) Popcorn-Worthy 'GOOD' Korean Dramas

Check out this list of Korean dramas with the word “Good” in the titles, available on popular streaming platforms in the USA.

Graba bowl of popcorn and enjoy!

♦ (1) Good Doctor (2013)

Viki viewers rated this series 9.6 out of 10 stars

Main Characters:

• Park Shi-On (played by Joo Won)

• Cha Yoon-Seo (played by Moon Chae-Won)

Genre: Medical drama, Romance

PLOT: The chief director of a hospital who knows a young man with special abilities persuades the other hospital directors to place him in the residency training program by putting his own job on the line. It's a tremendous risk, but he is that confident that he can be a good doctor. But if the resident trainee does not perform well, the chief director who recommended him agreed to resign. A top pediatric surgeon will mentor the young savant and he will live in an apartment complex for hospital doctors where he meets other residents he will work with. Against the odds, this young man with savant syndrome and a developmental disability, becomes a pediatric surgeon.  WATCH TRAILER

♦ (2) Good Manager (2017)

Viki viewers rated this series 9.5 out of 10 stars

Main Characters:

• Kim Sung-Ryong (played by Namkoong Min)

• Yoon Ha-Kyung (played by Nam Sang-Mi)

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Idol Drama

PLOT: A young man used to receive awards for being a math genius when he was a little boy. Somehow he took a wrong turn as an adult and ended up managing money for gangsters. Of course, he was skimming some of the money he collected for his gang boss. He had hopes, dreams, and big plans to immigrate to Denmark. Why? Supposedly it was a nice country with very little crime. How ironic. One day his crime boss found out that he had a cash stash and demanded his money back or else! TQ Group is a business that looks legitimate, but under the surface the executives are just as corrupt and dirty as gangsters. The corporation wants to fill their position for the chief of their accounting department and prefers to hire an outsider rather than choose from management or staff already working there. The young man interviews for the job and is hired. His gangster boss decides that instead of getting rid of him, he should have his former employee work at TQ Group. The boss hopes there might be a door of opportunity that will allow him to secretly infiltrate this so-called legitimate business. The young man is also hoping his job will be an opportunity, but for different reasons. Denmark is still his dream destination.  WATCH TRAILER

♦ (3) The Good Thieves (2017)

Viki viewers rated this series 9.3 out of 10 stars

Main Characters:

• Jang Dol-Mok (played by Ji Hyun-Woo)

• Kang So-Joo (played by Seohyun)

• Han Joon-Hee / Jang Min-Jae (played by Kim Ji-Hoon)

• Yoon Hwa-Young (played by Lim Ju-Eun)

Genre: Romance, Family, Crime and Mystery

PLOT: A group of thieves unite to fight corruption. Although they come from different backgrounds and circumstances in life, they have one thing in common: their ancestors were Freedom Fighters. Anyone who knows the history of Korea knows that the Freedom Fighters in Korea were courageous individuals with diverse backgrounds and skills who resisted oppression and fought for independence. They played a key role in shaping Korea's national identity. They certainly didn't risk their lives so that their country could be handed over to lawless and corrupt people. A group of thieves band together to pull off one last heist to expose the dirty secrets and horrible crimes of the rich and powerful. It's for justice and for the future of their own children.  WATCH TRAILER

♦ (4) Good Job (2022)

Viki viewers rated this Original series 9.3 out of 10 stars

Main Characters:

• Eun Seon-Woo (played by Jung Il-Woo)

• Don Se-Ra (played by Kwon Yuri)

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Crime and Mystery

PLOT: A young man who serves as the CEO of Korea's largest company. To those on the outside he's just another another chaebol heir, born into money. However, he secretly runs a detective agency. You could say he says similar abilities to Sherlock Holmes and he chooses to use them solve crime. He crosses paths with a young woman who was born with hyperacuity, and decides that she would be an excellent assistant and help him with conducting investigations. Almost like a Holmes and Watson duo, only a little bit funnier. As they work together solving crimes, their relationship blossoms into romance.  WATCH TRAILER

♦ (5) Good Partner (2024)

Viki viewers rated this series 9.3 out of 10 stars

Main Characters:

• Cha Eun-Kyung (played by Jang Na-Ra)

• Han Yu-Ri (played by Nam Ji-Hyun)

Genre: Legal Drama

PLOT: A rookie attorney thought she was starting her dream job in the corporate department of a prestigious law firm. Instead she was assigned to the divorce team. Her new boss has also been her teacher in law school and they never agreed with each other. Now they are working together? As soon as she starts working on divorce settlements, their differing perspectives clash again. Despite their differences, the rookie attorney realized that she was going to gain a great deal of legal experience and wisdom from her boss. Her boss actually appreciated the different way the rookie attorney approached her cases. She knew that the rookie always wanted to do the best for her client, which is why she hired the rookie to handle her own divorce. Her divorce was going to be very contentious and complicated. The experienced attorney needed someone who would think “outside of the box” and devise a successful legal strategy to severe ties with her adulterous husband and grant her custody of their only child. This was a challenge. Would the rookie attorney be able to come up with an effective legal approach?  WATCH TRAILER

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
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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? 

Korean Drama TV Series: The Scholar Who Walks the Night (2015)

I am not a fan of the horror genre. But I do like Korean historical period dramas. That's why when I first came across this TV series titled “The Scholar Who Walks the Night” which was about vampires during the Joseon Dynasty, I wasn't sure if I wanted to watch it.

First of all, my background is Christian and all the vampires that I have ever seen were weakened or even killed by a crucifix. So I'm thinking … how are they going to kill vampires in Korea??? Surely they won't use a cross. Nevertheless, I decided to watch the show because the main actor is Lee Joon-gi and I'm a fan.

There is a good vampire and a bad vampire. Lee Joon-gi plays the “good vampire”. He was close friends with the crown prince. The crown prince was fully aware that there was a vampire who was attacking people in the palace and he wanted to get rid of that vampire. Scholar Kim Sung-yeol (played by Lee Joon-gi) had no idea he was going to become a vampire. 

What happened was that the crown prince knew another good vampire who was trying to help him get rid of the bad vampire. He told his friend, the scholar, what his plans were and introduced him to the good vampire. 

Long story short. He was taken by surprise when the good vampire bit him! The good vampire told him that it was the only way for him to save the kingdom from that menacing wicked vampire. Lee Soo-hyuk plays Gwi, the bloodthirsty evil vampire who wants to rule over all the humans.

Oh! What did they use instead of a crucifix? Something called Chinese hawthorn.

It was 20 episodes and to my surprise, I really enjoyed it!  Glad I stepped outside my comfort zone.

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