Showing posts with label science fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label science fiction. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

My Korean Movie Collection is Now Yours | Twenty (20) Must-Watch K-Dramas

Need a Friday night movie pick for a date, a Saturday afternoon double feature, or a Sunday night at the movies with family and friends? My K-drama movie collection is an awesome cross-section of Korean cinema — folklore, horror, revolution, music, crime, psychological thrillers. Below is my personal hand-picked watch list of 20 films (i.e., not on an official published listing elsewhere).

AI generated image using ChatGPT

(1) 11 A.M. ~ We Only Time Traveled for 15 Minutes and Saw 'The End'

11 A.M. is a 2013 Korean film that explores time travel, survival, and the unraveling of a research team facing its own future destruction. It's a gripping deep-sea sci-fi thriller.

(2) Exorcism Chronicles ~ The Beginning (2025) ~ Save the Child, Save the World

The 2025 Korean animated dark fantasy film, adapted from the first chapter of Lee Woo-hyeok's acclaimed book series “Toemarok” ( “A Record of Exorcism”).

(3) Go Go 70s ~ Nirvana Was Shut Down in 1979

This film celebrates the birth of Korea’s first generation of rock and soul musicians, following Sang Kyu, Man Sik, and their band The Devils as they rise from small club performers to national icons after merging their talents and winning a major contest.

(4) Heung-Boo ~ The Revolutionist ~ Who is the “True Man”?

This movie reimagines the classic folk tale through a Joseon-era drama of divided brothers, political unrest, and the power of storytelling. Yeon Heung-Boo, a banned writer known for scandalous books, searches for the heroic older brother he lost in childhood.

(5) I Am the King ~ Where is a Doppelganger When You Need One?

A Crown is switched. 'I Am the King' reimagines the destiny of a crown prince through crazy comedy and chaos.

(6) Pawn ~ I'm Not a Pawn. I Have a Name.

A tough debt collector unexpectedly becomes a father figure to a little girl. She is the daughter of a widowed illegal immigrant. It’s simple, heartfelt, and perfectly reflects the film’s theme of unlikely family.

(7) Search Out ~ A Sick Way to Use Social Media

Two jobless friends decide to investigate a disturbing pattern of suicides linked to a manipulative online figure.
  • Memorable Quote: “If someone tells you to die… that’s murder.”

(8) The Last Princess ~ Exiled Royalty Hoping Until the End

The emotional historical film about Princess Lee Deokhye’s forced exile, her struggle for identity, and her heartbreaking journey to return home to Korea.

(9) The Mimic ~ She's a Little Girl But is She Dangerous?

It reflects the core horror of the Jangsan Tiger legend and the little girl’s unsettling ability to mimic the dead, warning that familiarity can be fatal.
Based on a true crime story about a murder at a fast-food restaurant in Itaewon in 1997. Two Korean American teens are charged with the brutal stabbing of a college student.

(11) Big Deal ~ A High Stakes Soju Showdown That Redefines Korean Corporate Drama

A devoted finance director and an ambitious investment strategist clash over the fate of a beloved Korean soju company. Set against the turbulent backdrop of South Korea’s 1997 Asian financial crisis during the 1997 financial crisis.

(12) Asura: City of Madness ~ The “C” is For City, Chaos, Corruption and Moral Collapse

A detective chooses to become corrupt and justifies his dirty deeds by using the money he accepted to pay for his wife's medical treatment. He gets trapped even deeper into a dangerous web when he ends up between a corrupt mayor and ruthless prosecutors. He has to choose sides.

(13) Phantom ~ It's Hard to Aim a Weapon at a Ghost

“Phantom” strikes fear in the hearts of the Japanese occupiers in Joseon. But aren't the Japanese supposed to be a mighty military force? Yes. But does one aim a weapon at an invisible target? It's hard to see “Phantom”. They're like ghosts. Those unwelcome and unwanted foreign occupiers BETTER BE SCARED!

(14) Clean Up ~ Why Can't I Clean Up My Conscience?

A woman and her husband kidnapped a child because they needed money. Later, their own child died. She not only grieves the loss of her son but is burdened with guilt because she committed a crime against another child about the same age as her son at the time. That boy grew up to be a criminal. Did the kidnapping scar him and ruin his life?

(15) Insane ~ You Gotta Believe Me! I'm not Crazy!

Mental Health Law 24 was passed. According to this law, involuntary hospitalization only requires the consent of two guardians and the diagnosis of a specialist. Now … imagine if the guardians and the specialist are in cahoots with each other and they want you to be hidden from public view. A woman is wrongfully imprisoned in a mental hospital but manages to escape. After her daring escape, she is accused of murder and put in prison to serve time for the crime. Did she do it?

(16) Number One ~ The Descendants of Dangun Are Alive and Well

A high school student with supernatural abilities wants to know why he has to hide his great strength and endure until the “right time”. What is the “right time”?

(17) Joint Security Area
This award-winning film is based on Park Sang-Yeon's novel "DMZ".

A Swiss captain of Korean descent is sent to the DMZ to investigate a deadly shooting between North and South Korean soldiers, only to find that both sides are hiding the truth and “neutrality” is impossible in such a charged environment. After she’s removed from the case due to her father’s North Korean ties, she continues digging on her own and uncovers a surprising reality behind the conflicting accounts.

(18) Psychokinesis

A debt-ridden average man suddenly develops psychokinesis and tries to use his newfound power to protect his estranged daughter after a corrupt construction company causes her mother’s death. When powerful forces frame him as a societal threat and target his daughter as well, he refuses to stay imprisoned and becomes determined to save her and expose the truth.

(19) Ransomed

Based on a true story, and set in Lebanon. A Korean diplomat is sent on assignment in Lebanon because another Korean diplomat has been kidnapped. He crosses paths with a Korean taxi driver who speaks fluent Arabic and knows how to get around in Lebanon. Unfortunately, the cab driver is also a swindler. That's terrific! He can't even trust a fellow countryman in a foreign land.

(20) Unlocked ~ Sometimes Smart People Are Not Very Smart

A young woman loses her smartphone and a serial killer finds it. He turns her life into a living hell!

TV Series: Binge Watch Star Trek and Beyond! | Star Trek Celebrates 60 Years

Happy 60th Anniversary, Star Trek! 🖖

Binge-watching is bad for your brain. Some people say binge-watching is unhealthy. That might be true, and I suppose if you’re a youngster, you might do some extra research to be sure that you’re not damaging your brain. (How binge-watching is hazardous to your health.)

Oh, pish posh!  I'd rather enjoy new worlds where no one has ever gone before.  Besides, I am already beyond the half-century mark (50+). Video streaming is a new form of entertainment that wasn’t around when I was growing up. So I am going to take advantage of video streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Viki, etc. 

In particular, I plan to enjoy all of those old TV shows that I remember watching on television when I was younger and also TV series that I never got a chance to watch when they were being aired.  Binge-watching is necessary because there are so many seasons/episodes. If I view one a week or one episode a day, it might take 100 years! LOL. Sometimes I also enjoy binge-watching movies in certain genres, like sci-fi. 

Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock

Star Trek and Beyond!

(NOTE: Do not confuse the subheading above with the 2016 movie "Star Trek Beyond"). I simply meant to say I started with the original 1960s series and then went beyond to all of the spinoffs.)
These are the TV series that I decided to binge-watch: “Star Trek” and all of the other “Star Trek spinoffs”. Why? Because Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock made quite an impression on me as a child. The program had a talented and diverse cast. People from various backgrounds and ethnicities were represented “equally,” and back in the 60s in America, that was considered groundbreaking. I never watched the Star Trek spinoffs like “The Next Generation”, “Deep Space Nine”, etc. when they were on TV. But we have a Netflix subscription, and it has all of the Star Trek episodes, except for “Star Trek: Discovery”. Here is a recap of what I have binge-watched thus far. No spoilers, just a few “hints”.

Star Trek: The Original Series (1966 – 1969)

In 1966, I was 11 years old. Rewatching this series was a wonderful trip down memory lane. Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Lieutenant Uhura, and all of the others I remembered so vividly. I honestly can’t say that I have a favorite episode. But I can say that I was disappointed with the last episode. That TV series should not have ended like that.

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987 – 1994)

This series was an excellent follow-up to the original series. My two favorite characters were Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Data. The Starfleet crew was even more diverse. They had a Klingon on board who was in charge of security. If you watched the original series, you will recall that the Klingons were The Enemy. This series introduced Another Enemy far worse than the Klingons. The Borg. If they don’t scare you, it’s because you’ve already been “assimilated”. (Hint.) Like the original series, I don’t have a favorite episode in this series either.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993 – 1999)

The crew/cast is “even more diverse”. In addition to humans, there are Klingons, Ferengis, Cardassians, Bajorans, and a species who were even scarier than the Borg. They were called the Dominion. My two favorite characters were Commander Benjamin Sisko and Odo, the Changeling. Incorporating the character Vic Fontaine, played by James Darren, in the holodeck was a very creative piece of scriptwriting. My favorite episode in this series is “Badda-Bing Badda-Bang”. Commander Sisko is very talented. (Hint.)

Star Trek: Voyager (1995 – 2001)

A starship lost in space trying to get back home. My favorite characters are not the stars of this show. They are a part of the supporting cast. I love Mr. Neelix and Seven of Nine. In my opinion, this series is not as interesting and engaging as the other series. But it is imperative that I watch it to The End. I have to know how they get home. What a hook!

I could ramble on and on, but I'll close off this post with a quick list: Star Trek TV Series and Films After the Original 1960s Series, so you can pick and choose what you want to binge-watch.

🖖

All Star Trek Series

  • Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973–1974)
  • Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994)
  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999)
  • Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001)
  • Star Trek: Enterprise (2001–2005)
  • Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2024)
  • Star Trek: Short Treks (2018–2020)
  • Star Trek: Picard (2020–2023)
  • Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020–2025)
  • Star Trek: Prodigy (2021–2024)
  • Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022–ongoing)
  • Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (2026–ongoing)

🖖🖖

All Star Trek Movies (1979–2016)

The Original Series Cast Films (TOS)

  • Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
  • Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
  • Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
  • Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
  • Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
  • Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)

The Next Generation Cast Films (TNG)

  • Star Trek: Generations (1994)
  • Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
  • Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
  • Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)

The Kelvin Timeline (Reboot) Films

  • Star Trek (2009)
  • Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
  • Star Trek Beyond (2016)





**

In Memory Of:

Leonard Nimoy — Spock (1931 - 2015)

DeForest Kelley — Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy (1920 - 1999)

Nichelle Nichols — Lt. Nyota Uhura (1932 - 2022)

James Doohan — Lt. Cmdr. Montgomery “Scotty” Scott (1920 - 2005)

**

Sunday, September 6, 2026

CLAYFACE (2026) ~ Feature Film (DC Universe – Chapter One: Gods and Monsters)

"CLAYFACE" is a 2026 R-rated film, categorized as Science Fiction (Sci-Fi), Thriller, and Horror, to be released on October 23, 2026, exclusively in theaters.

CLAYFACE
  • Memorable Quote: “Even if it kills me, I'll be better off than I am now.”

STORYLINE:

"CLAYFACE" (2026) plunges audiences into a tragic, body-horror-driven origin story centered on Matt Hagen, a rising Hollywood actor whose life is violently derailed. After a brutal disfigurement leaves his once-celebrated face destroyed, Hagen becomes desperate for restoration—not only of his appearance, but of his identity and career. His search leads him to Dr. Caitlin Corr, a fringe scientist whose experimental treatments promise the impossible. Initially, the procedure appears miraculous, offering Hagen a glimpse of the life he lost. But the breakthrough quickly mutates into a nightmare.

As Hagen’s body begins to transform into living clay, he discovers he can reshape himself into other forms—an ability both wondrous and horrifying. But these changes strip away not only his humanity but also his sense of self, pushing him toward a violent spiral of revenge. Hagen’s psychological descent is a tragedy and also makes you question the consequences of unchecked scientific experimentation.

Set within the emerging DC Universe, “CLAYFACE” embraces grotesque transformation over traditional superhero spectacle. Hagen’s evolves from victim to a monster consumed by rage toward those who wronged him. As his powers grow, so does the danger he poses. CLAYFACE reimagines one of DC’s oldest villains through a modern, psychologically intense lens.

CAST BIO & CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

Tom Rhys Harries

Plays (Matt Hagen / Clayface); a rising British actor known for both film and television work. His notable credits include “The Gentlemen”, “The Return”, and the series “White Lines”. He has also appeared in “Suspicion” and delivered a standout performance in the “Doctor Who” episode “Dot and Bubble.” Harries was selected for the role of Matt Hagen over several other contenders, including Tom Blyth, George MacKay, Jack O’Connell, and Leo Woodall, signaling DC Studios’ confidence in his ability to anchor a psychologically intense horror narrative.

Naomi Ackie

Plays Dr. Caitlin Corr, the scientist responsible for the experimental procedure that transforms Matt Hagen into Clayface. Her character has been compared to real-world controversial figure Elizabeth Holmes for her ambition and risk-taking.

A British actress known for her versatility across film and television. Credits include:

LINKS OF INTEREST:

DC Studios Moves ‘CLAYFACE’ to October 2026, Warner Bros. Shifts ‘Practical Magic 2’ Release Date | Variety

TRAILER/TEASER:

ONE Media. “CLAYFACE Official Trailer (2026) DC.” YouTube, 22 Jul. 2026, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3w9bt4fTdE.

Visit my original article published at PopGeeks.

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Old Movies: The Butterfly Effect (2004): TIME and TRUTH Are in God's Hands

The 2004 movie titled "The Butterfly Effect" is about how small changes in the past can create massive, unintended consequences in the present. A young man who suffered traumatic childhood blackouts. As an adult, he discovers that by reading his old journals, he can travel back in time and inhabit his younger self during those blackout moments. The problem is that every time he tried to “fix” a painful event — the present changed and the changes were NOT always good. Every time he attempted to repair the past, it only created new tragedies.

(My Takeaway.) For me, the moral of the story is:

There are two things a human can't mess with: TIME and TRUTH.

Those are in God's hands.


IMDb rating: 7.6 out of 10 stars


Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers.  “The Butterfly Effect (2004) Trailer #1.” YouTube, 3 Jan. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkWQLjI2rAU.

Great movie to watch if you like dark sci‑fi thrillers.

🎬🎬🎬

Three More Recommendations (similar to The Butterfly Effect):

These films are dark, mind‑bending stories where time, memory, or alternate realities twist the characters’ lives in unexpected ways. 

1. Donnie Darko (2001)

A troubled teen begins experiencing visions of a mysterious figure who tells him the world will end. The film blends time loops, alternate timelines, and psychological tension — very much in the same emotional and philosophical space as The Butterfly Effect

  • IMDb rating:  8 out of 10 stars

🎬 2. Memento (2000)

A man with short‑term memory loss tries to piece together the truth about his past using notes, tattoos, and fragmented recollections. The nonlinear storytelling and themes of trauma, identity, and unreliable memory make it a perfect match.

  • IMDb rating:  8.4 out of 10 stars

🎬 3. Mr. Nobody (2009)

A man reflects on multiple possible lives he could have lived, each shaped by small choices that ripple into drastically different futures. It’s philosophical, emotional, and deeply rooted in the “one small change alters everything” concept. 

  • IMDb rating:  7.7 out of 10 stars

🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

References to Western Literature Mentioned in Five (5) Korean Dramas

Korean dramas often spark curiosity beyond the screen—whether it’s real events, food, or references to Western literature woven into the plot. 

These five dramas use real books as emotional and thematic markers to deepen character development and highlight Korea’s blend of global influences. For me, these literary references make the stories richer and inspire me to explore the books behind them; I wonder if they do the same for you.

books in Korean dramas


(1) The Lucifer ~ Inside the Mind of a Dark Genius

The drama uses “People of the Lie...” to frame its exploration of human malice, self-deception, and moral corruption. Peck’s psychological insights become central to the protagonist’s investigation, shaping the entire narrative.


(2) Born Again ~ 3 People Reincarnated, Love Triangle Recreated

  • Emily Brontë’s gothic classic novel about obsession and fate, Wuthering Heights.

The story mirrors “Wuthering Heights” through themes of longing, fate, and emotional obsession. Three souls connected in the 1980s are reborn to repeat a tragic love triangle across lifetimes.


(3) My Love From the Star ~ A Cosmic Romance Phenomenon

The drama references “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” to highlight Do Min Joon’s emotional evolution from detachment to love. Like Edward, he learns through loss, vulnerability, and connection what it truly means to care.


(4) The Nice Guy – I Just Want To Live Happily Ever After

  • The Sun Also Rises, is a classic novel written by the Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway.

A gentle-hearted heir trapped in a violent family clings to the hope symbolized by Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises”. The quote about the rising sun becomes his reminder that a peaceful life might still be possible.


(5) Notes From The Last Row ~ A Mentorship Turns Into Psychological Warfare

Referencing "The Sorrows of Young Werther" signals the drama’s focus on obsession, unrequited longing, and emotional unraveling. The mentor-student relationship spirals into a tense psychological battle echoing Werther’s intensity.


Condensed from content published via PopGeeks.com.

Saturday, August 1, 2026

11 A.M. ~ We Only Time-Traveled for 15 Minutes and Saw 'The End'

11 A.M. is a 2013 Korean film, categorized as Science Fiction (Sci-Fi), Time Travel, Thriller, streaming on Tubi TV and The Roku Channel. The film blends time-travel mystery with psychological thriller elements.

  • Memorable Quote: “Time travel is possible.” … “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” (Proverbs 27: 1)


11 A.M. blends sci-fi time travel with psychological thriller intensity as a team of deep-sea researchers tests a prototype capable of jumping exactly 24 hours ahead, only for Woo Seok and Young Eun to arrive in a future where their lab is destroyed, their colleagues have vanished, and a violent attack appears imminent. Woo Seok returns alone, shaken and racing against the clock to prevent the catastrophe he witnessed, unraveling corrupted surveillance clues, rising paranoia, and the possibility of betrayal within the team. As tensions escalate and the countdown to 11 A.M. approaches, the scientists struggle to determine whether the future is fixed or if they can still change the fate awaiting them—and save Young Eun from a doomed timeline.


TRAILER/TEASER:

CJ Entertainment USA. “11 A.M. (열한시) - Official Teaser Trailer with English Subs [HD].” YouTube, 28 Oct. 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pVRzBJ46nU.



Another excellent Korean movie for sci-fi lovers. I really loved the quote from Proverbs, although at first I didn't get it. But when they went to the future, I totally got it!

READ Full review on PopGeeks.



Thursday, July 16, 2026

The Cosmic Charm of Do Min‑joon: How the Korean Drama 'My Love From the Star' Became Iconic

The keyword for "My Love From the Star" is "destiny".

This classic Korean drama, released in 2013, is about Do Min‑Joon (played by Kim Soo-Hyun, “The Moon Embracing the Sun”,  “Queen of Tears”), a centuries‑old alien living secretly on Earth.  He is just months away from returning to his home planet when his quiet, carefully controlled existence is upended by Cheon Song‑Yi (played by Gianna Jun, “The Legend of the Blue Sea”), a glamorous actress whose chaotic life keeps pulling him closer.  Their "connection" is rooted in a girl he once failed to save in the Joseon Era.

My Love from the Star

When Cheon Song‑Yi crosses his path in modern-day Seoul, it forces him to confront emotions he has avoided for 400 years. His interactions with the snobby actress are further complicated by the people in her life who get tangled up in his quiet life.  

  • a best friend who is really not a friend, 
  • a close friend who insists he's her boyfriend, and 
  • the brother of the alleged boyfriend who is murderous and ruthless.

Complications involving Song‑Yi’s "circle of friends(?)" threaten to expose the alien's true identity. 

As Do Min‑Joon struggles between duty and desire, "My Love From the Star" unfolds as a modern tale of star‑crossed lovers—destined to meet yet destined to suffer. 

The series remains beloved not only for its cosmic romance but also for its compelling characters, sharp humor, and, as of 2026, the real‑world resilience of actor Kim Soo‑Hyun, who overcame damaging AI‑generated allegations before returning to the screen.

This 2013 sci-fi romance is Kim Soo-Hyun’s most iconic role.

See full article at PopGeeks


Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Five (5) Popular Korean Sci-fi Series Released in 2023, 2024, and 2025

It's one thing to be a sci-fi junkie and another thing to be a K-drama addict. What happens when you combine them? You get the best of both worlds. Awesome Korean drama science fiction series.

sci-fi collage
Free AI image created with DreamUp

(1) Black Knight (2023)

In a dust-choked future where breathable air is scarce, Korea is divided into rigid social classes controlled by a powerful corporation. Delivery drivers — known as “Black Knights” — risk their lives transporting oxygen and supplies across dangerous wastelands. When a legendary courier crosses paths with a refugee boy targeted by the regime, the two become unlikely allies in a fight against corruption. The series blends dystopian sci-fi with action and social commentary, offering a stylish, high-stakes vision of survival.


(2) Moving (2023)

A group of teenagers discovers they’ve inherited superhuman abilities from their parents — former government operatives who once participated in a secret program. As the kids struggle to control their powers, a mysterious assassin begins hunting enhanced individuals, forcing their families to confront buried pasts. Moving mixes superhero action with heartfelt family drama, earning praise for its emotional depth and character-driven storytelling.


(3) Parasyte: The Grey (2024)

Based on the iconic Japanese manga but reimagined in Korea, the series follows a young woman who becomes partially fused with an alien parasite after an invasion begins. Unlike other hosts, she retains her humanity — creating a tense alliance with the creature inside her. As authorities scramble to contain the outbreak, she becomes a key figure in the fight against the parasitic threat. The show blends body horror, sci-fi action, and moral ambiguity.


(4) The Silent Sea (2023 global release window)

In a future where Earth suffers from extreme water shortages, a team of astronauts is sent to a deserted lunar base to retrieve a mysterious sample. What they find instead is evidence of a catastrophic experiment — and a new form of life that challenges everything they know. The series combines hard sci-fi, mystery, and survival horror, with a slow-burning tension that builds toward a haunting finale.

(5) Glitch (2023–2024 streaming surge)

When a woman’s boyfriend disappears in a flash of strange light, she teams up with a UFO obsessed online community to uncover the truth. Their investigation leads to cults, conspiracies, and unexplained phenomena that blur the line between reality and belief. Glitch blends sci-fi mystery with quirky humor and social satire, making it one of the more unique Korean genre series in recent years.

***
But wait! There's more! Check out these lists.


Friday, May 15, 2026

Korean Dramas Based On or Inspired by South Korea's First Serial Killer Investigation

The Hwaseong Serial Murders were a series of brutal crimes committed in rural South Korea between 1986 and 1991, in which at least 10 women were assaulted and murdered in the area around Hwaseong. 

The case became one of the country’s most infamous unsolved mysteries for decades, marked by investigative missteps and public fear. It was finally linked in 2019 to Lee Choon-Jae through DNA evidence, bringing long-awaited answers to a case that had deeply shaped South Korea’s criminal justice system and popular culture.

It's unfortunate, but these murders might likely have been solved faster were it not for the serious weaknesses in South Korea’s law enforcement / investigative practices and procedures at the time. Police relied heavily on coerced confessions, lacked modern forensic tools, and struggled with coordination. This led to wrongful arrests and missed evidence.

Because of these murders, authorities modernized their approach to solving crimes. The use of DNA analysis was expanded, procedures for preserving evidence were improved, and standardized investigative procedures were introduced. In addition, reforms were aimed at protecting suspects’ rights and reducing reliance on forced confessions.

But the most significant change was that the serial murders played a key role in pushing South Korea to adopt criminal profiling as a formal investigative tool. Together, all of these changes transformed South Korea’s policing. Investigating, particularly investigations of major crimes, became a more scientifically grounded and accountable system.

Several K-drama series and films have been directly based on or inspired by the real-life Hwaseong serial murders. There is also a documentary.

Click here to view the listing on PopGeeks.com.

Friday, January 2, 2026

Books and Movies: The Beginnings of Science Fiction

Science fiction is a very popular book genre.

But sci-fi wasn’t always accepted as “real writing”.

Sharing an interesting fact about the beginning of science fiction, how it developed into a recognized and respected form of 20th-century literature. 



Though science fiction enjoys a wide audience of readers today, it’s not the type of story that suits my reading preferences. Would much rather watch a well-done film adaptation of a sci-fi novel. Why? Because a lot of the language in sci-fi books is too complicated for me. (Everybody’s brain works differently.) But to see an apocalyptic catastrophe on the big screen? I totally get it! Additionally, extreme relief washes over me to know that the event is just a product of a writer’s detailed research and his or her overactive imagination. Whew! So it’s great that science fiction book writers have a loyal fan base because, later on, their novels might be made into fantastic movies!

If you are a sci-fi book fan, this information likely comes as no revelation, but it was news to me! According to 
Kingsley Amis, there are three literary works thought of as precursors of OR that in some way created an opening for the Sci-Fi genre to find its way into the hearts of book lovers:
  1. Voltaire’s Micromégas;
  2. Shakespeare’sThe Tempest; and
  3. Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels.
Jonathan Swift’s Lilliputians? OK. I think a land of little people sounds like science fiction. But François-Marie Arouet, aka Voltaire, and William Shakespeare? Writers of sci-fi? Not so sure that I agree. At any rate, Amis published his survey of science fiction in 1960.

REF: Amis, Kingsley W. New Maps of Hell. New York: Ballantine, 1960.

Other Links of Interest:

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K-Drama Review: L.U.C.A.: The Beginning (2021) | Make the World Better By Making Better Humans

L.U.C.A.: The Beginning is a Korean drama about a mad scientist who thinks he's good enough to be like God. In fact, he's convinced himself that he can make better humans than God.

This series is 12 episodes, released in 2021, currently streaming on Viki. As for the genre? It has elements of crime and mystery and elements of science that might have the viewer wondering if it's science fact or science fiction

January 2 is National Science Fiction Day.


First, a woman supplied her ovum and a man supplied his sperm. You don't need to be a scientific genius to know that is the beginning of human life. But! Suppose after you joined the ovum and the sperm, you combined human DNA with DNA from jellyfish, fruit flies, electric eels, and other animals. Now! Is the baby a human? A monster? A half-human, half-monster?  

Ryu Joong-kwon (played by Ahn Nae-sang) is a scientist who thinks that ethics hinder the research and advancement of science. He found people who were willing to fund his unrestricted research, so he was able to perform numerous kinds of scientific experiments. Only one of his experiments was successful. He genetically engineered an artificially enhanced child who was named Ji Oh

  • L.U.C.A. stands for Last Universal Common Ancestor. Ji Oh (played by Kim Rae Won) is L.U.C.A.  This is his beginning.

Vintage Sci-Fi TV Series: The Twilight Zone (1959-1964) ~ Most Memorable Episode

“The Twilight Zone” was a popular TV series that aired from 1959 to 1964. It was hosted/narrated by its creator Rod Serling. The man was a genius!! Sadly, he lived a very short life: 50 years. Rodman Edward Serling (1924 – 1975). Even though this TV program only lasted for 5 years, it left an indelible mark in the history of science fiction entertainment.


Anybody who has watched this classic TV series probably has one particular episode they remember. Some people say that the most popular episode was the one titled “To Serve Man”. I don't know if it was popular because of the content OR because of that creepy looking guy with the funny-shaped head.


But to me the most memorable episode was “The Rip Van Winkle Caper”. The moral of the story was twofold:

    (1) One can plan for the future but one can not predict the future; and

    (2) Avarice and greed are probably timeless human characteristics.

Here's the plot. These guys get together to steal gold. One of the guys is a scientist. He tells his friends that they can steal the gold, and evade the law enforcement authorities by getting into this time capsule. They will go to sleep for several years, like Rip Van Winkle, and when they wake up in the future, they won't have to worry about going to jail for committing the crime. They reason that, in the future, law enforcement won't be looking for them because it will be assumed that they died many years ago. When they arrive in the future, they reason that they are now free from being fugitives from justice, and THEY'RE RICH! They can go to the secret place where they hid the gold, divide up the gold amongst themselves, and start living the good life! Right?

Uuuummm ... not quite. Because even in the future, there is no honor among thieves. They are still avaricious and greedy. They try to kill each other, and only one of them survives the double-crossing and the betrayal. That one who survived found himself with a lot of gold and in a hot desert. No humans around for miles. And also … no water. By the time he does see human beings, he tries to get help for himself, offering to pay them in gold, however … he drops dead! The humans who had stopped for him were confused by my his words and behavior.


The humans remark to themselves: “He seemed to think that gold was valuable.”

It turns out that in the future, gold was worthless!! Humanity had changed to the point where there was no need for gold. That was a fact that the thieves had not even considered.

This episode aired in April 1961. Out of all of the Twilight Zone episodes I watched, that one made an impression on me and the life lessons learned have stayed with me to this day.


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Treathyl Fox aka Cmoneyspinner – Home Business Entrepreneur.  Think. Dream. Focus. Believe in yourself? Hire yourself! Be your own boss! Do it! Self-employed and loving it!   ♦ DISCLOSURE: In compliance with FTC rules and guidelines, be advised that some links shared via this websites might contain affiliate referral links which means commissions might be earned if product sales resulted from your click-through to the vendor’s website.


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