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

Chief of Staff 1 and 2 (2019); Political; Drama

“Chief of Staff”, Season 1, introduces Jang Tae-joon, an ambitious political aide with a troubled past, but a charismatic personality. The dark cutthroat world of Korean politics is an intricate web of power and corruption. Nevertheless, Tae-joon rises through the ranks to become the Chief of Staff. Even though he faces constant moral dilemmas and ethical challenges, he is determined in the pursuit of justice and bringing about meaningful change. His personal relationships may or may not be sacrificed.

 Lee Jung-Jae plays Jang Tae-joon.

Season 2 carries on with the political intrigue and power struggles. Tae-joon faces new adversaries, discovers secrets, and forms unexpected alliances. There are new characters and relationships evolve. Conspiracies play out that threaten not only their careers but their lives. The scriptwriters for this K-drama series skillfully weave together personal and political storylines. This intense political drama is very thought-provoking. Where to Watch

RATINGS:

• IMDb: 7.8 out of 10 stars
• MyDramaList: 8 out of 10 stars

Netflix K-Content. “Chief of Staff | Official Trailer | Netflix [ENG SUB].” YouTube Video. YouTube, June 21, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl8YMGaQRKI.‌ VIEW TRAILER/TEASER.

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Korean Drama: TV Series: Shine or Go Crazy (2015)

"Shine or Go Crazy" (alternate title:  "Shine or Be Mad") was released in 2015 and it is a "gem".  If you have not already watched, then add this Korean drama series to your watch list. It has 24 episodes and is available on Viki.com. 

Image credit: https://asianwiki.com/File:Shine_or_Go_Crazy-p1.jpg

Talk about palace intrigue. It's loaded with murder by poison, spies who spy on the spies, and warriors on different sides. The good guy warriors or the "Righteous" wear BLACK. The bad guy warriors wear RED. It is set during the period BEFORE the Joseon era when the country was called Goryeo. The main character is Wang So (played by Jang Hyuk) and he is the cursed Prince of Goryeo who is destined to become the emperor. But!  Will he be a good emperor or a bad emperor?

The reason the series is called “Shine or Go Crazy” is because when his future or fate was read, it was determined that he was born with both a light and fire. That means he will either shine bright like a star OR he'll be a madman. We won't know until the last episode. LOL. 

Is there a love triangle? Of course! It's a Korean drama! There is more than one love triangle and some interesting family ties. I love all of those complicated relationships.

I have a silly complaint though. I don't really like the costumes from the Goryeo Dynasty (AD 918-1392). I like the clothes they wore during the Joseon historical period. But hey! It's history. If that was the fashion back then, I'll just have to accept it.

Boys Over Flowers (2009 Korean TV series)

K-drama television series are addictive. Why? Because of their special ingredient called “adorable cuteness”.

Example and Recommendation:

Boys Over Flowers (2009 Korean TV series)

Image credit: viki.com

It’s official! My kids have decided that their mother has lost all the marbles in her head. Why? K-drama television series. Very pleased with the business decision by Netflix to add such programs into their database. Even more pleased that many of the programs are available for viewing online free at various websites.


Can’t explain my reactions. Grew up on American television. My husband got me started watching foreign films. Once my kids began subscribing to Netflix and other similar video streaming services noticed that some of them were into binge-watching. One particularly boring day at home decided to binge-watch a BBC mystery because BBC television mysteries are my favorite. From that point, binge-watching became my way of treating myself to a healthy dose of doing … The Nothing! You know. Those days when you just decide you have earned your “Goof Off All Day” reward and no serious work will be done on that day!



However, even when indulging myself in binge-watching, never lost sleep over a TV show; and certainly never really thought any series was worth watching more than once. Might watch a few particular episodes a few times more. But never the whole series!

Did I say BBC mysteries “are” my favorite? Sorry. Meant to say “were”.

• Netflix Junkie (Especially BBC Mystery)

Huh?? Duh??!!
That was how my children reacted.
– (???) What could possibly make mom choose an alternative for the BBC?

Answer. Those silly cute adorable Korean drama television series that have incredibly simple yet intricate, seemingly never-ending storylines with each episode, that leave with the thought”: ‘Gotta find out how this ends!!’

My first taste of K-drama was a movie called “Commitment”. It was intense!!

Then my husband found a more light-hearted TV series called “Tamra the Island” It’s a romantic dramedy (drama and comedy blend) that was “Inspired by the real story of a Dutch explorer, a young Englishman discovers Kdrama in the 17th century Joseon Era”. (Quote source: dramafever)


One of the main characters was played by this tall handsome guy with the “skinny little body” whose name in the series was Park Gue, whose real name is Im Ju Hwan. I was impressed with him so search for more programs where he was playing a character.

This is where “Boys Over Flowers” comes in.

My research indicated that Hwan (Park Gue) had made an appearance in this show. Started watching the program only looking for him. Got stuck on it!! Got so stuck one night and didn’t go to sleep until about 4:30 in the morning!! Hwan did make an extremely brief appearance, after about 20 episodes. Talk about an Easter egg hunt! Anyway … glad someone realized this young man’s acting abilities and gave him the lead role in “Tamra the Island”.

Disappointed at only catching a tiny glimpse of Hwan in this TV show. However, my decision to view the entire series was filed under “Happy R&R Time Well Spent”.   Took me a few days to finish all the episodes. Will say no more because people hate spoilers. But if you like romantic dramedy, you’ll like “Boys Over Flowers”. Wonderful love story. It’s so cute!! 

Content previously published at BlogJob.com

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Korean Drama Series Review: Miraculous Brothers (2023)

In "Miraculous Brothers", the two main characters ~ Yook Dong-Joo and Lee Kang San ~ meet each other by accident. But perhaps the accident that brought them together was actually a miracle. This Korean drama series was released in 2023 and has 16 episodes.

Some people are chasing after a young man and he is running for his life. The night is dark, it's raining, and just as lightning strikes he runs into the street and gets hit by a car. The driver of the car takes him to a hospital where he is pronounced dead. While in the hospital's Emergency Room, the driver hears someone calling “Brother! Brother!” Not sure where the voice is coming from, he approaches the bed where the young man is lying dead from his injuries. When he leans in closely, without realizing it, his breath goes into the young man's nostrils and his eyes open. HE'S ALIVE!! It's a MIRACLE!

Lee Kang San is alive but he is suffering from amnesia and doesn't even know who is. Except he does remember having a backpack, although he can't remember what was inside the backpack. Yook Dong-Joo is keeping something a secret and kind of hopes Kang San won't remember. If Kang San regains his memory, Dong-Joo will want to be there so he can explain his actions and beg for forgiveness. Since Yook Dong-Joo was the driver, he accepts responsibility by allowing Kang San to come and live with him.

Lee Kang San has no memory but discovers that he has superpowers. He hears voices, can feel the pain of others, and can disappear and reappear. Dong-Joo advises him to keep his special abilities a secret.

At first, Dong-Joo is worried that Kang San would find out he stole the manuscript that was in his backpack. But he becomes even more anxious because:.

• An anonymous phone caller tells him that the manuscript should have never been published. He realizes someone else must know he stole the manuscript. If they know, then what are they after? Is he in danger?

• A police detective tells him that the murders written about in the manuscript are actually happening. Not only that but the present-day murders are linked to a 27-year-old murder case.

Dong-Joo begins to do research on his own about the murders and makes a shocking discovery. It appears that Lee Kang San is a TIME TRAVELER!

Things just keep getting more and more complicated. 

Main Characters:

• Yook Dong-Ju (played by Jung Woo)

• Lee Kang San (played by Bae Hyun-Sung)

"Miraculous Brothers" is streaming on Viki and Netflix. 

K-Drama Review: 100 Days My Prince (2018) ~ Season 2 Confirmed for 2024

100 Days My Prince (2018) is a historical period K-drama, with 16 episodes, currently available on popular streaming sites such as Netflix, Viki, and Amazon Prime.  

"100 Days My Prince Series season 2nd not a secret now. We're expecting it to land on Saturday, May 11, 2024 almost same time as previous. Here's all we know about the upcoming part of the history."  (Source)

For those who have not watched Season 1, below is a recap.

Plot Summary

In the beginning episode, we meet the young boy who will become the prince and the young girl that he falls in love with and promises to marry.  Like typical historical Korean dramas, it is loaded with political power struggles between ruthless court officials and of course, there's a touching love story. 

Childhood Trauma

A young prince witnesses horrific bloodshed and commands that it be stopped. Since he is a small child, his command is disregarded and he is returned to his father; only to learn that it was his father who ordered the bloodshed. To add insult to injury, his mother is “accidentally” killed (really she was murdered). 

From that day forward, he not only hates his father, HE HATES EVERYBODY!

Everybody except his close friend from childhood.  Everybody should have at least one true friend in this world. 

Two Marriages of Convenience?

The prince is forced into a marriage of convenience.  His wife, the princess, becomes pregnant by another man. In an effort to cover up her infidelity, the father-in-law (the father of the princess) attempts to kill the prince. The assassination attempt fails. However, while trying to escape his assassins, the prince falls down a slope and hits his head. A poor man finds him and takes care of him as best he can while he is unconscious. 

When he regains his consciousness, he does not remember who he is. When he was the prince he had given an order that all spinsters get married.  The poor man's daughter has not yet obeyed this command and time is running out.  The poor man is desperate to save his daughter from being punished for disobeying the law.  She is in peril and could be flogged to dearth.  So he the prince that he is his daughter's husband-to-be and that they must marry immediately.  Another marriage of convenience? 

What Happened During 100 Days

For 100 days, he lives the simple life of a commoner and falls in love. He is found by his father-in-law and brought back to the palace. His memory has not returned. But slowly bits and pieces of incidents from his past, like puzzle pieces, begin to fit together. His story begins … AGAIN! 

Gradually he realizes who he is and what he needs to do, i.e. fight against those who want him dead.  But he also knows what he wants to do, i.e. marry the woman he fell in love with as a commoner.  Eventually, he'll discover that she is the little girl he met when he was a child and had promised he would marry anyway.  Sadly, along the timeline from their childhood to young adults, many many unhappy and tragic events have occurred.

Will the prince overcome his opponents and will he and the woman he loves be able to live happily ever after?

• Do Kyung Soo stars as Prince Yul; and
• Nam Ji Hyun plays Yi Seo, the woman he truly loves.

RATING

Most viewers gave this series 4.8 out of 5 stars or 9.5. out of stars.  I agree.  To date, 100 Days My Prince stands as "the 11th highest-rated drama in Korea" (Source); and fans are super excited for Season 2.

Original source

If you are a Do Kyung-Soo (D.O.) fan, while you're waiting for 2024 to arrive, check out these:

• Swing Kids (2018)

• Along With the Gods: The Last 49 Days (2018); AND Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds | Singwa Hamgge- Joewa Beol (2017)

• Bad Prosecutor (2022)

Along With the Gods: The Last 49 Days (2018)

Along With the Gods: The Last 49 Days (2018) is the second film based on the webtoon series by Joo Ho-Min. Tibetan Buddhists believe that there is an in-between stage known as the bardo which can take up to 49 days.

The first film was Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds. In the previous film, Su Hong was a vengeful spirit roaming the earth.  In this sequel film, Su Hong (played by Kim Dong Wook), the vengeful spirit has now been taken into the afterlife. He must pass the series of heavenly court trials and prove that he has lived a virtuous life (not counting the time when he was misbehaving as a vengeful spirit).

If he is judged not guilty, he can be reincarnated.

Only ... he does not want to be reincarnated.

But? What will happen if he does not get reincarnated?

That causes a problem for the trio of guardians. Assisting souls and helping them get reincarnated are acts, “good deeds”, that are credited on their records. If they can help a certain number of souls get reincarnated they will also be allowed to reincarnate. They were once human and evidently, because of what they did in their past life, they were unable to prove their worth. So the gods in charge promised they could return to earth as mortals IF …

Su Hong's insistence that he does not want to be reincarnated is complicating matters for them.

But what did they do in their past life? 

Their memories were wiped. So they don't exactly know. In this sequel film, the life story of each guardian is revealed. It turns out there are some differences they need to resolve with each other. Su Hong's heavenly trials and the reconciliation of the relationships between guardians all take place in 49 days.

“Along With The Gods” Director Talks About Series + EXO’s D.O. Confirmed For Third Film | Soompi

• Where to Watch “The Last 49 Days”

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Along With The Gods: The Two Worlds (2017) | Korean Drama That Explores the Afterlife and Reincarnation

Along With The Gods: The Two Worlds, released in 2017, is a film that explores Buddhist beliefs regarding the afterlife and reincarnation.  It is based on the webtoon series by Joo Ho-min.

Kim Ja Hong (played by Cha Tae Hyun, “Brain Works”) is a courageous firefighter who died in the line of duty. When he enters the afterlife he finds himself being escorted by a team of guardians. They inform him that he died and that he must go through seven (7) otherworldly courts. In each court, there are specific things that he has done in his life and he will either be judged innocent or guilty.

The Three Guardians are:

• Hae Won Maek (played by Joo Ji Hoon),
• Gang Rim (played by Ha Jung Woo), and
• Lee Deok Choon (played by Kim Hyang Gi).

They must attend each of his heavenly court trials, sort of as his team of defenders, and present proof that he has lived a virtuous life and therefore he should be reincarnated to live once again in the mortal realm. However, a problem has arisen that is making it difficult to prove his worth. It seems that his brother, Su Hong (played by Kim Dong Wook) has died a wrongful death, and has turned into a vengeful spirit. His brother's ghost is roaming around the earth venting his anger. Some of that anger is directed at Kim Ja Hong. He and his brother need to resolve their difference and reconcile with each other, so the trials can be completed. 

Of course, since Kim Ja Hong is dead and no longer on the earth, it might be hard to get in touch with his brother's spirit which has not left the earth. No worries. The guardians will find a way to bridge the two worlds.

Original source

Where to Watch ~ Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds

Finland Papa (2023) | A Viki Original K-Drama Series

Finland Papa is a K-drama Viki Original series that is an unusual story of love and healing.  Just 6 episodes; released in 2023. 

Finland Papa centers around the life of a young woman grieving the loss of her grandmother. In the first episode of this very short series, we meet Yu Ri (played by Kim Bo Ra). She is wearing the traditional black hanbok dress and standing alone in front of her grandmother's memorial. You can immediately feel her grief, pain and sorrow. Not only has she lost her grandmother, but her father had also tragically passed away. They were her only family. Now she is left in the world all alone. How will she carry on?

Her childhood friend encourages her to apply for a job at a restaurant called Finland Papa. According to the job ad, the applicant will be required to eat dinner with the staff. Yu Ri goes for the job interview and SHE'S HIRED!

There is something delightfully wonderful, yet mysterious and strange about the restaurant, such as:.

• None of the employees know who “Papa” is. They have never met the owner of the restaurant. But he gave 10 rules they must follow or they will lose their jobs.

One of those rules is: If one of the employees has a problem or something that's bothering them, all of the other employees must stop what they're doing and listen.

Read full review at PopGeeks.com

 

Narco Saints (2022) | Korean Drama Based on a True Story

Beware of a wolf in sheep's clothing.  Narco-Saints is a Netflix series released September 2022, and based on the true story based on the true story of a drug lord named Jo Bong-haeing.  This criminal creep is definitely not the hero of the story.  The hero is an honest businessman from South Korea who traveled to Suriname to set up an honest exporting business with his dear friend.  

• Kang In-gu (played by Ha Jung-woo) is the business and Pastor Jeon Yo-hwan (played by Hwang Jung-min). is the wolf in sheep's clothing; a drug lord pretending to be a servant of the Lord.

Watch and stream Narco-Saints

Kamg In-gu'ss friend is brutally murdered and he gets falsely accused and thrown into prison for drug smuggling.  While in prison he is visited by someone from the National Intelligence Service and is recruited to participate in a secret operation.  The goal of the operation is to capture the drug lord who deceived him and murdered his friend.  Uh oh!  The wolf has grabbed a tiger by the tail.  HE'S GOING DOWN!!

Read full review:  Narco Saints | Korean Drama Based on a True Story | popgeeks.com

Business Proposal (2022): Korean Drama Netflix Series

Business Proposal is a Netflix Series released in 2022.

What is the best way to avoid going on blind dates?  There are two different answers to that question. 

1) Get your friend to show up for the date in your place and have her put on an act that will make the blind date run away and never look back!

-OR- 

2) Propose marriage to your blind date.  For real??  No!  Of course, it is not a real marriage proposal.  But it is a real business proposal.

• Shin Ha-ri (played by Kim Se-jeong) works as part of Go Food's Food Development Team One. 

She not only comes up with great recipes but creative ideas of how to turn the company's food products into best sellers. Her parents run a restaurant that sells great fried chicken. Her family, which also includes a younger brother, is not rich but they live comfortably and are happy. Her BFF (best friend forever) is Jin Young-seo.

Jin Young-seo hates the idea of arranged marriages and wants to marry for love. The problem is she keeps getting set up to go on blind dates to meet her “future husband”. But it's not really a “problem” because she has found the perfect way to get out of going on these dates. She sends her BFF instead.

• Kang Tae-moo (played by Ahn Hyo-seop) is the president of Go Food. 

He did not work his way up the corporate ladder. His grandfather put him in charge. But nobody can accuse him of not doing his job. He runs the business operations successfully, not just in South Korea, but in foreign markets as well.

Kang Tae-moo's grandfather wants him to marry so that hopefully he will see his grandchild before he departs this life. But Tae-moo has “issues” and does his best to avoid marriage. Kang Tae-moo's grandfather orders him to go on blind dates until he finds the woman who will become his mate for life. OR ELSE!!

Shin Ha-ri shows up pretending to be Young-seo, not realizing that the blind date is HER BOSS!  Shin Ha-ri does everything she can to discourage him and make him dislike her, not realizing that Tae-moo didn't want to be on the date either.

Tae-moo thinks her behavior is strange but he is distracted by his own thoughts. He's thinking of how to avoid the remaining blind dates his grandfather set up for him. He comes up with the perfect way to get out of going on these dates. He proposes marriage to Shin Ha-ri.

WHAT???!!!!

No worries. It's not a marriage proposal. It's a business proposal.

Shin Ha-ri signs a contract pretending to be his future wife. She goes FROM pretending for her best friend TO pretending for her best friend's blind date.  That way Kang Tae-moo's grandfather can stop pestering him and he can keep being married to his work.

Why do the best-laid plans always seem to backfire?

Read full review at PopGeeks.com:  Business Proposal | Netflix Korean Drama Series Based on Webtoon

  

My Favorite Korean Actress: Kim Yoo Jung

ReelRundown is a fun site that publishes lists like this one: 

Top 10 Most Successful and Beautiful Korean Drama Actresses – ReelRundown.  

On this list my favorite actress is Number 10. Kim Yoo Jung.

She has been acting since she was a child and I like to call her the “Korean Shirley Temple” because her acting skills, even from when she was a little girl was impressive.  No surprise she has grown up in the business and they still offer her parts.  I have seen her in many series and movies and even when she played a support role or a small part, I still liked her.  She comes across as being a beautiful person, both inside and out. Just to name a few of the roles that I remember her from:

* Tamra Island

* Dong Yi

* Iljimae 

* Love in the Moonlight

* Moon Embracing the Sun  

Most recently, she starred in A Viki Original Series, “Lovers of the Red Sky”.  (I published a review on Read.Cash. )

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Historical Korean Drama Webtoon Adaptation | Joseon Attorney: A Morality (2023)

Joseon Attorney: A Morality (2023) is a historical Korean drama series that stars Woo Do-Hwan. Fans of this popular South Korean actor are very pleased with his performance in this webtoon adaptation as the Joseon attorney Kang Han-Soo. 

For Money, Justice, or Revenge?

Kang Han-Soo (played by Woo Do-Hwan) was supposed to be dead. His father was falsely accused and executed. The false accusers then went to his home and killed his mother by hanging her, making it appear as a suicide. The people behind the brutal murder of his parents believed that he had died when his family home was burned down. But he survived, grew up, and studied to become a lawyer. He has a childhood friend who helps him with various court cases. 

Initially, he creates the impression that he is only practicing law for the money. But his plan also includes getting revenge for the unjust deaths of his parents.  However, when he takes different cases to defend commoners and slaves who have been wronged by greedy corrupt noblemen and wins, the people praise him for his noble efforts.  

• Kpopmap.com supplied an excellent summary of this K-drama series:  “Originally by Sim Gun and Writer Jeong, "Joseon Lawyer" is a hugely popular historical webtoon about a manipulative lawyer who orchestrates lawsuits and takes advantage of the victims but accidentally gets hailed as a savior of the people, which leads him to reflect upon himself and grow as a true server of justice.” 

Duty After School | K-Drama Sci-Fi Series Based on a Webtoon

Duty After School is a Korean drama sci-fi series based on a webtoon by Ha Il-Kwon.  It's 10 episodes, released in 2023, and currently streaming on Rakuten Viki. 

*****

High School Seniors Earn Credits for College

It's your last year of high school and the last thing that you're thinking about is … FIGHTING ALIENS! And it's not a video game or anime. It's REAL!

For about a year there have been some strange-looking spheres floating in the skies. Were they dangerous? Did they pose a threat? Nobody knew. Nothing ever happened. Well! According to the news that was reported to the general public, nothing happened. The military knew a different story but the higher-up officials who headed up defense operations did not want to cause mass panic and hysteria. 

Seongjin High is a typical high school with a typical graduating senior class of boys and girls. There's the girl that all the guys like, the besties who always stick together, the nerds, the outcast, the class clown, the bully, etc. One day the homeroom teacher for Grade 3 Class 2 announces that early admissions to college or university have been canceled. Instead, the students will serve in the military. No worries. Their service will be translated into credits that will count toward their future education.

That announcement on that day changed their lives forever!!

Each episode of Duty After School poses a new challenge for these kids to overcome. The characters are very diverse and the differences in personalities often cause clashes. 

• Some are selfish and immature, and their fear makes them think only of themselves. They are not team players but they will stick with the team because … it's safer when you stick together. 
• Others prove to be brave and loyal and emerge as leaders who can take charge when serious decisions must be made. They will make a sacrifice for the team if they have to.  

Fortunately for all of them, Platoon Leader Lee Choon-Ho (played by Shin Hyun-Soo) is an excellent role model.

• Viki viewers gave Duty After School a rating of 9 out of 10 stars. I agree.

• Read full review on PopGeeks.com. 

K-Drama Review: Delivery Man (2023)

Scriptwriters for Delivery Man get A+++ for their creativity.  A taxi service for ghosts?  What an unusual storyline.

A taxi service for ghosts? Seo Young Min (played by Yoon Chan Young), is a cab driver who discovers that he can see and hear ghosts. These wandering souls are unable to leave this world because when they departed this life, they had some unfinished business. He starts a service where he picks up these lingering souls, and helps them finish what needs to be done so that they can be delivered into the afterlife.

It proves to be a profitable business endeavor. Only …? His first ghost passenger is Kang Ji Hyun (played by Minah). Her problem is not so easy to solve because she has no memory of who she is and why she ended up in his taxi cab. But she does prove to be a valuable assistant and with her help, Seo Young Min can help his other ghost passengers pass on to the next world.

This series was released in 2023 and is only 12 episodes. Viki viewers rated it 9.3 out of 10 stars.

Read full review at PopGeeks: Delivery Man | Viki Original Korean Drama Series

K-Drama Adapted from a Webtoon: The Heavenly Idol (2023)

The Heavenly Idol is a 2023 Korean Drama series, adapted from a webtoon, titled "Sungseureowoon Idol”, by Shin Hwa-Jin. 

The writers poked fun at the entertainment industry and in particular, K-Pop boy groups. But it was done in good humor and good taste; and not meant to be insulting or derisive. In addition, I became a fan of Kim Min Kyu when he played the king in “Queen: Love and War”. In “The Heavenly Idol, he did a great job playing both a high priest from the other world and an idol in the new world. Since he had the lead role, I would not be willing to give the show a lower rating.

Per this user review found at IMDb: “The Heavenly Idol is quite frankly a perfect romantic comedy. It has a very wide range cast of characters that are all so much fun to watch, with each one adding a little bit of flair to the overall plot line. The story is fun, interesting, and just different enough to make it stand out from the crowd.”

I could not have said it better.

Lembrary (played by Kim Min Kyu) is a loyal and pure high priest who serves the god Redlin. Right at the precise moment that he is about to eliminate the Devil, he gets a splitting headache. When he opens his eyes and can see clearly he is shamefully dressed in black. I mean … he's a high priest and his bare abdomen is showing.  What happened to his long white robe?  That's not all. His hair is short, it's a different color, and his name is Woo Yeon-Woo. He's supposed to be a sexy male idol, a member of a not-so-successful K-Pop boy group called Wild Animal. Sexy? Idol? Wild? How vulgar!  The spirit of Lembrary, the high priest of Redlin, is trapped in the body of Woo Yeon-Woo. 

Kim Dal (played by Go Bo-Gyeol) met Woo Yeon-Woo (BEFORE he became possessed by Lembrary). He gives her an autographed CD and encourages her with kind words. He tells her that she'll be alright and he knows this because he has a gift for healing people. From that moment forward Kim Dal becomes a devoted fan of Woo Yeon-Woo.

***

Guess who else came to the “new world”: The Devil!

The Devil (played by Lee Jang Woo) switched bodies with Shin Jo-Woon, the Chairman of RU Entertainment. His presence is not an accident. He has been sent from the other world to kill Lembrary.  His minions are recruited by another being from the other world, who heads up an organization called the Red Rain Battalion in the new world. It's surprising how many humans are willing to sell their souls. Where does the RRB find so many willing souls? Uuuh … celebrities in show business. Where else?

Read my full review of The Heavenly Idol at PopGeeks.com.

Decoy: Crime and Mystery Korean Drama Series

Decoy is a K-drama crime and mystery series that has two (2) seasons. Seasons 1 and 2 were both released in 2023 and are six (6) episodes each. 

~ Noh Sang Chun (played by Heo Sung Tae) is a thug turned mastermind scammer.

~ Goo Do Han (played by Jang Geun Suk) is a lawyer turned detective.

~ Kang Jang Hoon (played by Lee Sung Wook) was once a detective but is now the Deputy Head. When he was a detective, he was in charge of the team investigating the crimes of Noh Sang Chun. However, the case was closed because the prime suspect died. As the Deputy Head, he is now Goo Do Han's boss.

Goo Do Han is very good at investigating but sometimes his superiors discipline him because he may have not followed "procedure".  The Deputy Head has a problem. It's been 10 years since the death of Noh Sang Chun. But several murders are occurring and before the victims die they call the police and say “Help! I am being killed by Noh Sang Chun.”

Detective Goo Do Han is supposed to be at home because he was suspended pending an internal review. He is not supposed to be working. The Deputy Head disregards the fact that Goo Do Han has been suspended from official duty and calls him back to work on this case.

Detective Goo Do Han is stuck between a rock and a hard place. It seems not only is he trying to bring criminals on the outside to justice, but there are corrupt government officials and police investigators on the inside who may be involved as well. He really needs to do his job while watching his back! If he doesn't, he might end up being one of the murder victims. He needs to determine:

• If Noh Sang Chun was reported dead but is in fact, alive and committing murders; or
• If someone is committing murders and confusing the police by claiming to be Noh Sang Chun.

It is amazing how much intensity could be packed into 12 episodes. Viewers who like crime and mystery TV shows will want to add Decoy Parts 1 and 2 to their watch list.

Read my full review of this K-drama series at PopGeeks.com.

Why I Like Korean Historical Period Drama During the Joseon Dynasty

My preference is for Korean historical period dramas. I get so attached to the characters. The women look so elegant and refined in their silk dresses; and their hair is so beautiful, adorned with those pretty hairpins. The men look so noble with those hats and those robes. If it weren't for the fact that the king and crown prince wore special robes, all the guys could look like kings. 

Joseon was the last dynasty of Korea and its longest-ruling Confucian dynasty. During its reign, Joseon encouraged the entrenchment of Chinese Confucian ideals and doctrines in Korean society. Neo-Confucianism was installed as the new dynasty's state ideology.  Wikipedia

Here is a problem for me that makes it difficult to watch the modern K-dramas. Once I see these men and women in the traditional clothes of the Chosun (or Joseon) era, it's hard to look at then wearing modern clothes in a 20th century drama or comedy. They just don't look the same!

Fortunately, in America, there are sites that stream these series so that I can watch them online. I can't afford to pay for the subscription so I have to watch with the advertisements. But I'm OK with that. (Even though it takes forever!)

Here's a TIP. Don't ever pick a series that is fairly new and all the episodes have not been uploaded and translated with the English subtitles. I made that mistake once. Never again!

I got hooked on “The Flower in Prison” (2016). but I did not realize that it was a new series. Oh the agony of waiting for the next episode to become available. But it was worth it!

However, whenever I get ready to watch a Korean drama TV series, I make sure all the episodes are there.

Like I said: Never again!

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Netflix Original: Korean Drama TV Series: The King's Affection (2021 - )

Recommending a Korean historical period drama: “The King's Affection” (2021-). It is set during the Joseon Dynasty and this series started on a very serious note. Twins were born to the royal princess: a boy and a girl. The king wanted to kill the baby girl and ordered a massacre. All of those who knew about the birth of the twins had to be killed, and the twin girl who was born had to die!

Like any loving mother would, the royal princess hatched a plan to save her child's life. The mother faked the death of her daughter and had her taken away to grow up elsewhere. But there was a fire, and the child lost the home that she grew up in an her caretaker also died. Consequently, she took to begging on the streets. A woman took her into the palace and she became a maid.

Image credit: Netflix

She was outside doing her chores and her brother, the crown prince was outside doing whatever princes do. Accidentally, she, a lowly maid, crossed paths with her twin brother, the crown prince, and that's where the story begins.

It's a Netflix series; 20 episodes for Season 1. 

I am already in love with the main characters.

The first episode was dynamite!! I can't wait to finish it!!

I did my review after the first episode, because I am always afraid I might give away the ending and spoil it for those who have not watched this series.

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If You Liked This, You Might Also Like:

• Korean Peninsula (2012)

• Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)

• Mr. Sunshine (2018)

• Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010)

Netflix Original: Korean Dramedy TV Series: My Only Love Song (2017)

Rewatched “My Only Love Song” (2017). It's a Korean drama, a Netflix Original Series. It's silly, cute, adorable, and totally unbelievable! And yes, I did say “rewatched”. I watched it a few years back and wanted to watch something that wasn't really serious, so I watched it again.

It's one of those time-travel series. An actress who was starring in a fictional historical Korean drama, gets into a van named “Boong Boong” and the van sets the GPS destination and takes her through the time portal where she ends up in a real life historical Korean drama

What I like about the main character, On Dal (played by Lee Jong-hyun), is that he looks like Johnny Depp from Pirates of the Caribbean when he puts on his fake moustache. LOL.

I also like the two guys who are support actors.

(1) Byun Sam-yong (played by Lee Jae-jin) who looks like such a sweet baby boy. You want everything to work out for him in the end.

(2) Moo-myung (played by Ahn Bo-hyun). He is the humble and loyal bodyguard for the princess but he is also in love with her. He never talks, yet everybody knows what he's saying. LOL. To best decribe him, I borrowed a line from Byun Sam-yong: “He looks cool without even trying.”

The leading ladies and the support female cast? Song Soo-jung (played by Gong Seung-yeon) and Princess Pyunggang (played by Jin Ye-ju). Eh! They were OK. But it's the guys who actually carried the series through from start to finish.

It's 20 episodes and lots of fun!

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