#Choi Sang-yeon

[alfaangel]

[junkobato]

Upcoming Kdrama June 2023 🩷

5/6: the Villain of Romance with Baro, Ha Seung Ri. 10 episodes; romance. Trailer

9/6: Bloodhounds with Woo Do Hwan, Lee Sang Yi, Park Sung Woong. 8 episodes; action, thriller, crime. Trailer

17/6: See You in My 19th Life with Shin Hye Sun, Ahn Bo Hyun. 12 episodes; rom-com, fantasy. Trailer

17/6: King the Land with Im Yoon Ah, Lee Jun Ho, Go Won Hee. 16 episodes; rom-com. Trailer

19/6: Lies Hidden in My Garden with Kim Tae Hee, Im Ji Yeon, Kim Sung Oh. 8 episodes; thriller, mystery. Trailer

23/6: Numbers with Choi Jin Hyuk, Yeon Woo, Kim Myung Soo. 12 episodes; mystery, business. Trailer

23/6: Revenant with Kim Taeri, Oh Jung Se, Hong Kyung. 12 episodes; mystery, thriller, supernatural. Trailer

26/6: Heartbeat with Taecyeon, Won Ji An, Yoon So Hee. 16 episodes; rom-com fantasy. Trailer

28/6: Miracle Brothers with Jung Woo, Bae Hyun Sung, Lee Ki Woo. 10 episodes; mystery, drama. Trailer

30/6: Celebrity with Park Gyu Young, Kang Min Hyuk, Lee Chung Ah. 12 episodes; thriller, mystery. Trailer

Where can I find the time to watch so many shows? 🥲

*REBLOG FOR UPDATES*

[stuff-diary]

Hellbound (Season 2)

TV Shows/Dramas watched in 2024

Hellbound (Season 2, 2024, South Korea)

Director: Yeon Sang Ho

Writer: Yeon Sang Ho & Choi Gyu Seok (based on their own webtoon)

Mini-review:

I feel like I'm one of the few people who loved the first season of Hellbound. It used an original and terrifying concept to showcase a fascinating exploration of themes like religious fanaticism, sectarianism and media manipulation. And this second (and final?) season delivers the goods once again. Yeon Sang Ho continues to be a master director of action scenes, plus the performances he gets from this cast are simply superb. On top of that, the CGI is much better than it was in the first one; I'm glad they made an effort to improve on that. I'm sure many people will stay mad at the show for refusing to give clear answers until the very end, but I think that makes the viewer feel the same chaos as the characters. If this is really the end, I have to say I really enjoyed what this dark fantasy had to offer.

[biotris-uwu]

☆「— ɪ'ᴍ sᴏʀʀʏ...」

☆「— ғᴏʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ?」

☆「— ғᴏʀ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ...」

ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛɪᴄ ʟᴏᴠᴇʀ - ᴇʏᴇᴅʀᴇss₊ ⊹⋆.˚☆

[horrorcrypt12]

Day 17 🎃:

Train to Busan (2016)

[justanotherfangirluwu]

since there’s been a kdrama drought these years, I’ve went back and watched some old dramas AND THEY ARE AMAZING GEMS.

Under the Queen’s Umbrella

This is a story about a mother’s love and how it can take different shapes and forms, though they don’t always necessarily put the child’s best interest at heart. In a place where all the princes and their mothers fight for the title of Crown Prince, the Queen only fights to protect her sons and their loved ones. Think Sky Castle but set in the Joseon era.

The metaphorical use of the Umbrella symbolizes the Queens protection and though she may get hurt, she would never allow her son’s to get hurt.

5 star review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Flower Crew: Joseons Marriage Agency

The message of the story is that no matter who you are or where you’re from, you deserve happiness. When you find the one you love, the weight on your shoulder eases because you now have another shoulder to lean on and to share the burden.

A common blacksmith is kidnapped on the day of his wedding to become the next king of Jose-on. He recruits the help of the Flower Crew to make the lowly status girl a noble lady to be eligible for the Queen’s selection. New feelings and evil intentions threaten lives and the characters’ happiness.

5 star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mr. Queen

A comedic drama that indiscreetly tells the audience that love is limitless - it can transcend time and it is fluid.

A modern male chef is “saved” by being trapped inside a Queen’s body in the Joseon era. He tries to return but in the process changes some events to his modern life and the Queen’s for the better.

5 star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[taekwondolifemagazine]

Two (2) From Well Go USA

June 22, 2024 (NYC)– Two (2) from Well Go USA.   A Look at Two new international films, originating in South Korea,  distributed by Well Go USA, and hitting digital on June 25th.   Here is a synopsis and review of these Well Go USA Entertainment releases. HOPELESS Synopsis:       After spending his entire childhood in a town riddled with crime and violence, a teenage boy saves up his money in…

[passionforfiction]

Call It Love

This is not the typical cross-lovers story. Shim Woo Joo - in her quest to avenge her family from her late father's mistress (and later wife) who took away their home - she meets Han Dong Jin (the woman's son). And in her attempt at revenge, she falls in love.

Even if the story sounds like the typical storyline, the execution is different. Here she has a male-best friend who is just a friend. There is no best friend-in love with her in silence troupe. They are truly best friends and he falls in love with her older sister. It explores what happens when a parent leaves home to be with someone else from different perspectives. Hae Sung (the eldest daughter) is always dating the wrong men but never gives up on being with someone. Yet, when she finds out that the man she is seeing is actually married, she feels horrible about herself because she has sworn never to do that. She knows how painful that is. Woo Joo took on the weight of the house, not going to school and working. She is the strong one, the one who takes charge, the one that suffers in silence while her older sister can play and her younger brother too. She is the one with the consuming anger, the one that knows the face of her father's lover, the one who confronted him and watched him leave with the other woman. And she is the one who seeks revenge when the woman throws them out of their home. Ji Goo was too little when it happened. He only remembers his father as a loving man. He never saw him with another woman, and he lives a pretty much carefree life. Their mother is also an elegant woman, who doesn't lower herself in front of the mistress or her unfaithful husband. I liked that too. I can understand their pain, I could relate to Woo Joo in many ways.

I could also see Dong Jin and how his mother's actions also affected his life. How he carried the shame of her unethical behavior, how he has to deal with the consequences of her actions. These are young people that are living with the hurt and pain, and I liked watching their healing process. I liked how the story unfolded, leaving cliché out of the equation. It felt real and its bittersweetness, mixed with the sweetness of hope, balancing the mood of the story.

I truly loved the story and recommend it.

Poster from iMDb -https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26228312/

[binging-asian-dramas]

FanLetter Please 9

Story: 10

Acting: 10

Chemistry: 10

Comparable to: When the Camilla Blooms (kdrama);

Wholesome, beautiful, fluffy, and just top quality. It’s a short kdrama being four episodes with one hrs long each, so it’s very easy to binge right through the whole series. It’s a light fluffy romantic drama that focuses on bullying and healing. The main leads did an outstanding performance in their roles (chemistry is off the charts oof) as did the supporting, the child was so adorable. It’s a very nice hidden gem and definitely a recommendation to romance fans.

[jang-geums-dream]

Official character introductions for season 2

[thepersona]

Under the Queen's Umbrella: Thoughts on episodes 9-10 (spoilers!)

Another unwanted post with crappy screen grabs. Spoiler alert! I think I have to separate this post by issue / arc to keep it somewhat organized.

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Queen Hwaryeong & the King vs. the Dowager:

We see the aftermath of the iconic cuckoo pint gift/threat. The Queen shows the King proof that the Dowager was behind the assassination attempt on Grand Prince Seongnam, and the Dowager supposedly poisons herself with the plant the Queen gave her to force a kind of stalemate on the issue. Again, the acting between the two ladies is ridiculously good.

I never expected to like the King, but I started to admire him this week. He believed the Queen right away, and lightly told her off about the plant thing, not because she could have killed his mother but because it delayed bringing the Dowager to face justice even more. Their dynamic is so intriguing I'd love to know more especially since they've given us another flashback of Hwaryeong as Crown Princess.

Let's talk about that flashback and the rumor about Seongnam's parentage. If the rumor is what gives the Dowager whatever power over the Queen then should we think that there must be some truth to it? (Was it just me or did they pay attention to the baby's birthmark?) Or does it have something to do with conceiving during the time of mourning? I need more details!

Here's a theory, though I'm probably wrong. What if the Dowager hired someone to take advantage of the young Crown Princess while her husband was in mourning and inaccessible? And that incident resulted in the conception of Seongnam? After rewatching ep 9, I was so intrigued that the King's first reaction was to stop the rumors to protect his wife rather than interrogate her. So that tells us that he knows the truth. Either Seongnam really is his kid but conceived at the wrong time, or he found out what happened and decided to recognize Seongnam as his own. This would also explain the Queen's motivation to set up the women's shelter by the time she was pregnant with Grand Prince Muan. And my gosh that shelter and that flashback! (I'm not one for slapping scenes but I admit the justice is satisfying)

I still enjoy the chess motif. I love that no matter how brilliant Hwaryeong is, she still makes less than ideal decisions and reveals more than I care for tbh. I love how she finds a way to get her enemies to stab each other in the back (and front lol). She knows that the Hwangs are nowhere near as shrewd as the Dowager, who would never put all of her eggs in the same basket (I love that about the Dowager btw).

I also like her silent teamwork with the King, who's been making subtle but effective moves to keep the contest fair and delay a rebellion at the same time (!) He has to maintain the illusion of being helpless but when he takes a step it always seems to count.

Meanwhile the Queen is steering Minister Yoon to her side. This makes me even more curious about that request that the deposed Queen Yoon will make that Hwaryeong won't be able to refuse. My guess is that it has to do with getting revenge on the Dowager and the King.

The Contest:

We've all known from the get-go that Seongnam, Bogeom, and Uiseong would be the final three so no surprise there. We all knew Uiseong is a murderous a-hole and I enjoyed him being told off by the King. His choice to prioritize the contest over keeping the peace should have been grounds for disqualification, not to mention the assassination attempt against GP Gyeseong.

I like the bond building between Seongnam and Bogeom, especially when the latter refused to use the intel his mother gave him. I swear Consort Tae has much to learn from her son, she's going to get him killed if she keeps this up. I have a feeling that if Bogeom becomes Crown Prince, then he would most likely end up dead. I'm afraid Uiseong might kill him while Seongnam and the Queen (who would have to give up her title) are indisposed. All the more likely if it turns out that Uiseong has no relation to the King or if he goes against the Dowager.

I never cared for the romantic storylines, but I see why they are necessary here. Cheongha comes off a little stalkery and desperate at the moment but I see how she can be an asset to the Queen's cause once they officially meet. She's resourceful and bold, two characteristics the Queen definitely values. As for Muan and Cho-wol, the fated-from-the-womb cliché wasn't my thing but at least it gave us some insight into the women's shelter. I'm not interested in how it will end happily for them, but I did enjoy this scene (Hwaryeong's face lol).

I'm just glad Ilyoung and Hodong are okay, tbh. Let the babies have their food trip and everything will be fine.

Motherhood:

The show has such a nuanced depiction of motherhood. Instead of rose-colored glasses, we get a kaleidoscope. We have Hwaryeong who represents the modern ideal despite all her flaws. But we're also presented with other perspectives that are realistic and relatable. This week shed more light on the relationship between Consort Ko and Prince Simso. His early signs of intelligence fueled her (projected) ambitions, which in turn have led her to push her son to vie for a position that he never wanted and neglect his overall well-being. It's all too real y'all.

Despite her actions and corrosive words towards him, not even the Queen doubts Consort Ko's love for Simso. But it only goes to show that maternal love can manifest in different and potentially harmful ways. It's something that the Queen herself has to control, even if her nagging comes from a place of worry for her children's lives. I love everything about the whole drinking / magic cup scene, which also tells me that Muan and Cho-wol are endgame because the Queen will eventually allow it.

I know we won't be stanning Consort Ko anytime soon but I wouldn't wish death upon someone who knows how to right her wrongs. Woo Jeong-won's acting was amazing this week, btw. She really made the most of her screen time. You know it's good writing when you can sympathize with a character who's done some detestable things. (I've been trying to gif this scene but I don't know the best way to cut it because it says so much with no dialogue!?!)

I get that her helping Gyeseong was thanks to Hwaryeong saving Simso but you gotta admit it felt so good to see Consort Hwang demoted!

TLDR: It's still really good. Can't wait til Saturday to know more about the Prince Seongnam situation.

[thenoonachronicles]

Duty After School squad.

Did you like the ending?

[adamwatchesmovies]

Train to Busan (2016)

Train to Busan makes great use of the familiar elements of a zombie movie by centering its plot on a single location and injecting societal commentary into its plot. While this 2016 horror film does not reinvent the wheel, what it does, it does well.

Seo Seok-woo (Gong Yoo), the divorced, workaholic absentee father of Su-an (Kim Su-an), agrees to bring his daughter to Busan so she can visit her mother. Onboard the train, a young woman suddenly bites one of the attendants. Soon, an infectious disease has reduced most of the passengers to gnashing ghouls. Those who remain must work together to survive.

After introducing Seok-woo and Su-an at their home, nearly all of the story takes place inside the titular train to Busan. We get a couple of stops along the way but these are at a train station and at a terminal, which are extensions of the train itself. On top of the usual fears of having to face possessed loved ones and rampant infection, we also deal with claustrophobia. The space inside the train is already small and it keeps getting smaller. When someone becomes infected, everyone rushes to the next compartment and blocks the entrance. The safe space has shrunk. Sometimes, people are forced to hide in the tiny bathrooms, holding the door shut as best they can while fingernails scrape the other side. The limited space and ressources requires ingenuity - both from the characters and the filmmakers. This is one of those movies where you can tell writer Park Joo-suk sat down and wrote every aspect of the train he could use. Tunnels, the bathrooms, luggage, doors, passengers, etc. You feel a certain satisfaction whenever he ticks off one of these boxes - you were just wondering how the characters would deal with X. They need to use their wits to survive and you’re glad to see that they’re all pretty sharp.

You can also tell care was put in the writing by the number of well-rounded characters. Not everyone gets equal amounts of screentime but you get to know many passengers. They’re not just bodies waiting to get infected. There’s character development and growth. You understand what makes these people tick. This is also where the movie injects some commentary about our society (or Korea’s, I guess). If there’s an antagonist - besides the zombies - it’s a rich businessman called Yon-suk (Kim Eui-sung). You can see he might represent Seok-woo's future. Both are well-paid tie-wearing men who are all about their jobs, and nothing else. Both are disconnected from the world, as evidenced by their treatment of the other passengers. Unlike the altruistic blue-collar Yoon Sang-hwa (Ma Dong-seok), they hesitate to help anyone. With his relation to his daughter already strained, you can picture Seok-woo becoming exactly like the older man - and you hate that guy. He’s a worm but he’s also got power. The attendants and the train’s captain all turn to him - the rich guy - rather than the common people when a crisis arises. They don't realize he only cares about himself. Everyone is scared but his fear threatens to doom everyone. We’re used to this idea that “the worst monsters are the people” in zombie movies so it doesn’t feel out of place, and it gives you something to think about too.

The picture maintains a steady level of suspense throughout. Whenever you get a reprieve, it’s either to set up somethig even bigger or allow you to get to know the characters. Now that you care about them that much more, the stakes feel bigger than before. The body count grows, the number of people shrinks, those who remain you’re even more determined to see survive. Best of all, you’re not sure who will make will live and who won't.

Train To Busan is one of the better zombie films in recent years. It’s got the right amount of gore and suspense to keep horror fanatics happy and it shows restraint when needed to make it nice and accessible to the rest too. (Original Korean with English subtitles, April 2, 2021)

[stuff-diary]

My Demon

TV Shows/Dramas watched in 2024

My Demon (2023/24, South Korea)

Director: Kim Jang Han

Writer: Choi Ah Il

Mini-review:

Look, I'm not gonna lie. I started this drama for a very superficial reason: Kim Yoo Jung and Song Kang are one of the most gorgeous couples I've ever seen. And tbh, that's one of the things that kept me watching until the end. The first half was pretty fun, thanks to their will-they-won't-they dynamic and some really funny supporting characters and recurring gags. Unfortunately, it began to drag around the middle part, and then it got more and more boring with each passing episode. By the time the final episode came out, I no longer cared about the plot, the characters or anything else (although the ending itself was quite nice). With all that in mind, I can't help but think My Demon would have worked much better as a movie.

[unnieshimkoongkdramas]

Three Must Watch Fun KDramas - No Drama KDramas

Did you just finish the first season of The Glory? Or maybe you finally caught up on Reborn Rich. Was Anna and Big Mouth too much heart break? Let me suggest these emotional palate cleansers for you. Sometimes you don’t want the intensity or need to come down from something super emotionally taxing. Here are my suggestions. The Fabulous Lead actors: Chae Soo Bin, Choi Min Ho, Park Hee Jung, Lee…

[elenichr]

Year of Lists

June Films

Short but sweet:

Train to Busan (부산행) 2016 *7.5 - was surprised this didn’t come out earlier based on how much it has inspired subsequent work. Hell.Yeah. I love love love that it takes off so quickly and aggressively, infection rates are insane ——— attention: the zombies are not slow. This is a leaning forward, elevated heart rate watch through and through. Events unfolding are a constant surprise, not the gasp, I didn’t expect that kind, because this movie is so good at breadcrumbing for peak emotional destruction.

Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One 2023 *6 - meh, coulda been better. The AI stuff was interesting but I prefer my no way moments to come in stunt only form. The plot felt too farfetched to be believable but only because it wasn’t brewed well enough.

Amadeus (Director’s Cut) 1984 *8 - first watch, at my favourite cinema, the Prince Charles - and if I remember correctly this was screened on film. I don’t have much to say, it’s superb, a feat of storytelling.

Notable series mentions: Jujutsu Kaisen 2020 *9 and Normal People 2020 *8 - omg omg omg for both of these