#Jong Kim Martial Arts

[jong-kim-martial-arts-surrey]

Looking for a way to boost your teen’s confidence, focus, and resilience? Jong Kim Martial Arts, serving Surrey and Delta, offers teens Taekwondo classes that provide more than just physical fitness. With over 50 years of instructor experience, our academy is committed to developing life skills like self-discipline, respect, and responsibility. Through our structured curriculum, teens master self-defense while building mental strength to tackle the challenges of adolescence.

At Jong Kim Martial Arts, we believe in empowering teens with the tools they need for success in life, not just in martial arts. From increased self-confidence to enhanced teamwork and social skills, our program is designed to foster personal growth both on and off the mat. Try a FREE class today and see the results for yourself!

Whether you're in Surrey or Delta, enroll your teen now for a life-changing experience that guarantees growth, focus, and a winning mindset.

[luckykittens198]

When Your Dad is a Pillar of the Universe 8

"Old man! I'm going out with Senior Choi!" Kim Rok Soo suddenly yelled this morning.

Startled, Kim Seung Jong blearily looked at the clock before stumbling out of his room. He yawned, clearing out the remnant of sleep clinging to him. As a sequence 4 clone, he didn't really need much sleep. He did it simply so his main body can review his day to day memories. As he reached the kitchen, the sleepy police officer saw his son was busy puttering about.

"Isn't it" - he yawned as he turned on the coffee maker - "too early for whatever you are doing?"

Kim Rok Soo didn't stop moving at all, "Nope. Senior Choi is taking me to watch a drama filming and a martial art event."

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[beautifulpersonpeach]

To the anon who confessed to feeling surprised that Jungkook wasn't awarded the #1 soldier over Jimin... isn't it nice to have your expectations confounded from time to time? It makes like so much more interesting.

Of course, we all know Jimin is very athletic, trained in martial arts, with amazing hand-eye coordination, yada, yada, yada. But you all are acting like the entire criteria for this award is how well/efficiently you can kill people.

We aren't living in the days of Genghis Khan, people! It's a modern army and there are additional ways to measure leadership and readiness for battle. For example, Jimin's acknowledged proficiency in mathematics will serve him well in long-range artillery.

Finally, this idea that they are surrounded by nothing but toxic, bloodthirsty, and homophobic males is freaking hilarious, considering one of the soldiers expressed his dearest wish was to learn Jimin's skincare routine.

Once you JimIN, you can't JimOUT. Kim Jong Un doesn't stand a chance!

***

(From one anon to another)

[skboba-stars]

Lookism OC - Bio | Stats

"you should really know by now, i'll be the one you all fear in the end."

Names :

Korean : Baek Ghauravi 'Ravi'

English : Rai Baek

Height :

First year : 178 cm

Current height : 189 cm

Age : 16 years old

Gender : Female

Nationality : Korean

Ethnicity : Biracial [Indian-Korean]

Sexuality : Bisexual

Birthday : October 13th

Relationships :

Relatives :

Father : Baek Gogyeong (deceased)

Mother : Taushini Jin (deceased)

Uncle : Baek Yi-su (alive)

Brother : Jin Hwaraon 'Hwa' (twin, alive)

Sister : Kang Mingyu 'Gyu' (older - adopted, alive)

Friends :

Ji Yeonwoo

Seong Taehoon

Jay Hong

Vasco | Euntae Park

Mary Kim

Duk-Hwa Pyeong

Status :

School : Jaewon High School & Sungkyunkwan University (dual enrollment)

Occupation :

High School Student (2nd Year) [Computer Science Department] College Student (1st Year)

MMA Athlete & Competitive Swimmer

Newtuber

Direct Heir to Taesan

Affiliations :

J High

Taesan

Allied Crew

Martial Arts :

Krav Maga

Kalaripayattu

Taekkyon

Personality :

Ravi is someone who has a very sarcastic and loud personality. She comes across to many people as highly reserved, yet humorous and perhaps even crude at times. Even so, she has a reputation for being highly mysterious with not much known about her despite her outwardly open nature.

She is also highly known for her intelligence and work ethic due to her high grades in the Computer Science department despite not having much knowledge about the subject initially. This is also supported by her dual enrollment at Sungkyunkawan and her bility to balance her sports, family company work, and school.

She can be very lighthearted, but when she focuses on something - the becomes tunnel-minded and can even disrupt the best of plans.

She also earnt the title of the Queen Taipan due to her snake tattoos, her fighting style, and the ease that she could fight against Vasco.

Appearance :

Ravi is a well-muscled young woman of above average height. She currently stands at 189 cm with wavy. mid-back length black hair and black-red eyes emphasized by kajjal. She has tanned skin and a bridge of freckles across her nose and shoulders.

She has dual water color tattoos in black, lilac, and white of two snakes across her biceps and often has elaborate mendi patterns on her arms. Ravi has dual dimples and monolids. Her body type is an inverted triangle and slightly hourglass shaped and highly muscled and toned due to extensive training and strength conditioning.

As for style, Ravi prefers to wear tight turtlenecks and cargo jeans paired with her usual hoodies and leather jackets. She loves shoes with thick soles - usually Converse sneakers or combat boots. Usually, her overall outfits outside of school are either war core or grandpa core style.

She has a golden nose piercing and golden ear studs with a black industrial piecing in her left ear and a chain helix piercing on her right ear.

With her standard school uniform, she wears pants rather than the skirt, a skintight turtleneck, Converse thick soled sneakers, and her hoodie-leather jacket.

Background :

She was born to the head of Taesan and one of the shareholders of HnH. Her mother was a former wrestling champion who'd decided to try her way into business. When expanding her international branches and making a contract with HnH, she met Baek Dogyeong.

The two of them initially didn't get along, but they developed a camaraderie and strong friendship together, eventually opting to get married to merge their businesses

Shortly after her and her brother were born, her father and mother separated as they were much closer as friends. Her mother took custody of her twin brother and her father took custody of her

Before she was about to leave to return to India with Hwaraon, Taushini Jin was murdered by Park Jong-Gun as revenge against her sister died in an accident, leaving her father to raise the three of them on his own (he adopted Gyu before the twins were born).

Growing up, she had always been fond of martial arts and as the Heir to her father's company, such knowledge was expected. As a result, Ghauravi and Hwaraon grew up in a healthy environment despite being bullied through the majority of their early schooling and both pursued martial arts - Ravi being more so than Hwa.

However, in middle school, Hwa used to get bullied and Ravi would defend him, leading to her becoming a target. The girl who instigated the bullying was a daughter of an army official and at the time, her father was struggling, so she would continue to get severely bullied to the point that she would be scarred heavily.

Ultimately, after this, Ghauravi threw herself into training and she took up swimming and computer programming. She eventually emerged onto the MMA scene, where she befriended Seong Taehoon and eventually Ji Yeonwoo through her dual enrollment. When she entered J High, she was reunited with Jay - who she was childhood friends with - and he was the one who asked her to join <;Allied>.

Trivia :

Ghauravi likes to go by Ravi since her sister gave her that nickname and the two of them nicknamed their brother Hwa.

Ghauravi's MBTI-personality is ESTJ .

Despite being wealthy, Ghauravi used to live in a two-story home in a more suburban area near Seoul. After her father's death, she rotates between living with her sister and brother in a multi-bedroom apartment and living with her Uncle in their Taesan safehouse.

Her title in the Allied crew is [Serpent].

She has a pet lavender corn snake, a pet hognose snake, and two fat tailed geckos as pets.

She had a herpetology phase in middle school.

She understands English, Hindi, and Korean but is terrible with languages and the arts.

Alongside running Taesan, Ghauravi plans on being a professional athlete in both MMA and competitive swimming.

She has a motorcycle that she uses to pick up Taehoon and Yeonwoo whenever they decide to join Hobin in his chaos.

She has a Tic-Tak-Tok account that she just blatantly and openly talks about all the drama in the crews and exposes everyone. [A majority of the heads of the Four Crews follow her and think she's joking.]

[mengstigerdragon]

Wing Chun Kung Fu Unlocking the Secrets of Martial Arts

Wing Chun Kung Fu is a dynamic and efficient martial art form that emphasizes quick reflexes, close-range combat, and strategic thinking. Originating from Southern China, Wing Chun has gained global recognition for its practical applications and effectiveness in self-defense. Whether you’re attending Wing Chun classes or engaging in Wing Chun training at home, this art form offers a unique pathway to mastering martial arts. Here’s how you can unlock the secrets of Wing Chun Kung Fu.

Understand the Philosophy: Wing Chun Kung Fu is not just about physical combat; it’s also about mental discipline and strategy. The art emphasizes efficiency and economy of motion, teaching practitioners to use the least amount of energy to achieve maximum impact. Understanding this philosophy is crucial to mastering Wing Chun.

Focus on Stance and Structure: A solid stance is the foundation of Wing Chun Kung Fu. The basic stance, known as Yee Gee Kim Yeung Ma, is designed to provide stability and balance. Whether you’re in Wing Chun classes or practicing Wing Chun training at home, maintaining the correct stance is essential for executing techniques effectively.

Master the Basics: Wing Chun is built on fundamental techniques like the straight punch, tan sau (palm up block), and bong sau (wing arm block). Mastery of these basics is crucial before moving on to more advanced techniques. Regular Wing Chun training helps in perfecting these core movements.

Develop Sensitivity: One of the unique aspects of Wing Chun Kung Fu is its focus on sensitivity training, often practiced through Chi Sau (sticky hands). This exercise helps practitioners develop the ability to read and respond to an opponent’s movements instinctively, a skill that is honed through regular practice.

Train with a Partner: While Wing Chun training at home can be beneficial, practicing with a partner in Wing Chun classes is vital for developing real-world combat skills. Partner drills allow you to apply techniques in a dynamic setting, improving your timing, distance management, and reaction speed.

Use Training Tools: Incorporating training tools such as the Wooden Dummy (Mook Yan Jong) can significantly enhance your Wing Chun training. The Wooden Dummy helps in refining techniques, improving precision, and conditioning your body for real combat situations.

Build Endurance and Strength: Physical fitness plays a critical role in Wing Chun Kung Fu. Strength training, cardio, and flexibility exercises should complement your Wing Chun training routine to ensure that you have the endurance and power to execute techniques effectively.

Study the Forms: Wing Chun consists of three main forms: Siu Nim Tao, Chum Kiu, and Biu Jee. These forms encapsulate the core principles and techniques of Wing Chun. Regular practice of these forms, whether in Wing Chun classes or at home, is essential for mastering the art.

Emphasize Mental Focus: Wing Chun Kung Fu requires sharp mental focus. Meditation and mindfulness practices can help in enhancing your concentration and mental clarity, making your Wing Chun training more effective.

Commit to Continuous Learning: The journey of mastering Wing Chun is ongoing. Whether you’re attending Wing Chun classes or practicing at home, staying committed to continuous learning and improvement is key to unlocking the deeper secrets of Wing Chun Kung Fu.

By following these steps, you can unlock the secrets of Wing Chun Kung Fu and develop into a skilled martial artist. With regular Wing Chun training and a deep understanding of its principles, you’ll gain confidence, discipline, and the ability to protect yourself effectively.

[ulkaralakbarova]

After a deadly earthquake turns Seoul into a lawless badland, a fearless huntsman springs into action to rescue a teenager abducted by a mad doctor. Credits: TheMovieDb. Film Cast: Nam-san: Ma Dong-seok Yang Gi-su: Lee Hee-jun Choi Ji-wan: Lee Jun-young Han Su-na: Roh Jeong-eui Lee Eun-ho: Ahn Ji-hye Kwon Sang-sa: Park Ji-hoon Teacher: Jang Young-nam Tiger: Park Hyo-joon Yeon-su: Seong Byeong-suk Madame: Jung Young-ju Ju-ye: Lee Han-joo Director Choi: Park Sang-hoon Director Oh: Ahn Seong-bong Ju-ye’s Father: Jeong Gi-seop Ju-ye’s Mother: Kim Young-sun Western Grandfather: Sin Sin-beom Western’s Mother: Hong Yi-joo Film Crew: Production Design: Jo Hwa-seong Sound Supervisor: Kim Suk-won Editor: Nam Na-young Special Effects Supervisor: Jung Do-ahn Adaptation: Ma Dong-seok Lighting Director: Song Hyun-suk Director of Photography: Byun Bong-sun Production Sound Mixer: Jung Gun Producer: Choi Won-ki Makeup & Hair: Nam Ji-soo Special Effects Makeup Artist: Pi Dae-seong Digital Intermediate: Lee Hye-min Production Design: Park Gyu-bin Original Music Composer: Kim Dong-wook Editor: Ha Mi-ra Martial Arts Choreographer: Heo Myeong-haeng Writer: Kim Bo-tong Executive Producer: Byun Seung-min Martial Arts Choreographer: Yoon Seong-min Original Story: Kim Dong-gyun Adaptation: Kim Chang-hoon Writer: Kwak Jae-min Executive Producer: Choi Byeong-hwan Special Effects Makeup Artist: Seol Ha-un Props: Kang Shin-hong Key Grip: Lee Hyun-gyu Special Effects Supervisor: Im Jong-hyeok Line Producer: Choi Su-im Visual Effects: Yuk Gwan-woo Movie Reviews: Chris Sawin: The film features some hard-hitting and explosive action sequences that will rightfully cater to fans of the genre. The battle in the basement of the apartment building, where we see Nam-san use a shotgun to blast his way through some of the doctor’s ‘enhanced’ individuals, is a total exhilarating blast. Ma Dong-seok has been a powerhouse for most of his career post Train to Busan, but he sends people flying whenever he throws his fist or pulls the trigger. _Badland Hunters_ also has to break a record for most decapitations in a film. **Full review:** https://bit.ly/bdlndhntr MovieGuys: Badland Hunters does something things well, others just passably. Action is wall to wall and well choreographed.Special effects are excellent. Characterisations are solid if predictable and the acting is not to be sniffed at. However, the story is unremarkable, with a climax that feels, well, anti climatic. In summary, an okay but hardly exceptional watch, that would have benefited from more creativity on the storytelling front. Ritesh Mohapatra: “Badland Hunters: A Visually Striking Action Spectacle with Narrative Shortcomings” In this post-apocalyptic action thriller, Badland Hunters, while suffering from a repetitive and clichéd plot and uninteresting characters, excels in stunning hand-to-hand choreography and scintillating action set pieces. The film benefits greatly from the expertise of its veteran stunt coordinator turned director, known for his work on Train to Busan. Commendable world-building, visionary concepts, and excellent VFX are hindered by conventional writing. The short, crisply edited runtime avoids unnecessary elements. Don Lee’s exceptional portrayal of Nam-san, with exhilarating action sequences, overshadows the film’s narrative weaknesses, making it a guiltily satisfying popcorn-worthy entertainer, particularly for adrenaline enthusiasts. Instagram & X @streamgenx.

[enterenews]

Kim Dong-hyun, an unexpected reversal of brain charm…

Mixed martial arts player and broadcaster Kim Dong-hyun reveals a reversal.

On SBS 'Running Man', which will be broadcast on the 15th, 'Sexy Cicada Team' Choo Seong-hoon and Kim Dong-hyun of 'Pure Fighter' will show world-class entertainment.

In a recent recording, Yoo Jae-seok and Yang Se-chan transformed into managers of each team and held salary negotiations.

During the salary negotiations, the fact that Kim Dong-hyun's real name was 'Kim Bong' was revealed, and at the same time, the members provocatively said, "It's my favorite code," "Suddenly, I'm affectionate," and "I'm ~Bong!" He made an unconventional remark and turned the scene upside down.

Then, a quiz mission was conducted, and Kim Dong-hyun said, “The fighters are at the top of the list. He expressed strong confidence, saying, “The mansa of the fighter world.”

He showed a sexy brain that hadn't been seen before, but we are curious to see if his quiz grades were as good as he boasted.

On the other hand, Choo Seong-hoon quickly emerged as a 'fighter-type kink' by listing extraordinary wrong answers, but he laughed at his perfect adaptation to 'Running Man', such as trying to cheat.

On the other hand, the opportunity to punch was given according to the quiz results, and the players took the title of fire fist and worked seriously as in the game, and not only that, but also the 'Running Man's Fist King' who will surpass Kim Jong-guk was born, raising questions.

[binging-asian-dramas]

Chuno / Slave Hunters 9-10

Story: 9

Acting: 10

Chemistry: 10

Comparable to: Damo (kdrama) ; My Country: the New Age (kdrama)

This is one of those highly emotional binge’able phenomenal historical kdramas that I torture myself to rewatch over and again because I love it so much. Between the acting, scenery, fighting sequences, chemistry, well basically everything, this drama for me is near perfect, (some episodes yes were draggy) and the last few episodes killed me to watch, hence my next warning. Bring tissues.

[x-xsunlightx-x]

Hello! May I ask for Jake encountering, falling in love with, and trying to recruit Fem! reader that is insanely skilled. Like "able to use many martial arts an is really smart" skilled. (I asked multiple fanfic writers similar requests like this so hope you don't mind <3) - Fellow Korean

yea am okay with it dw! Thank u for the request 💜

note : some of it is related to ep 316

Again ( jake kim x reader )

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When jake arrived at the scene , surprisingly olly wang and johan seong has already been taken down , for some reason even samuel was there on the ground bleeding , and then there was you , the one who caused all this mess

All you wanted honesty is to get your stolen shoes back from Johan , but while you were fighting him , olly wang just decided to join in after beating the shit out of samuel , so you had no other choice just to beat them both

You kind of already knew it will be quite hard getting rid of those two since you already did your research about them but you didn't expect it to be that hard , since one of them is basically a copy paste-er and another one is just crazy . Luckily you didn't give johan enough time to copy you so you managed to take him down first , and the only quick way to end a fight with someone who doesnt feel pain without killing them is to knock them out .  and after you were finally done jake appeared

" oh Please don't tell me You want to fight me too "

" ... "

" You're gapry something son right ? "

You seriously don't have the energy to fight another person . Just when you were about to attack jake first , jong goo came

" What the hell ? "

He looked at you both and jake and waited for an explanation , but neither of you gave him one

" Am leaving "

" Wait- "

jake picked up his phone and pointed at it

" Can i get a number please ? "

" Wow , you are just like your father "

" no-"

" Nope,I don't do thugs Sorry "

" What is going on?! "

and just like that you left that place as quickly as you came .

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

it's been almost years since that encounter , but jake couldn't just stop thinking about it , there was just something about you . Was it perhaps love at first sight ? no that's too cheesy he thought , mabey admiration is the right word . You were able to defeat two strong opponents alone , and you somehow reminded him of himself , he couldn't help but think things would have been better if you were by his side now .

He really thought he wouldn't see you again , but here he is , in the middle of a sea of dead men while you are In Front of him covered in blood , He found it romantic for some reason , just both of you Standing together in the middle of chaos .

" well hey there"

" Before you judge , These asshole tried harassing me first "

" Don't worry , i didn't judge "

" Well am leaving now , it was nice meeting you-"

" wait "

He got his phone out and pointed at it

" Can i get a number please ? "

"You never change , do you "

" i just think our boss will like you "

" You're not asking me if i want to join your little gang right ? "

" i am "

well that's not the only reason he wants your number but you don't have to know that

" no sorry , i like copy paste-er style more , solo all the way "

" Well you may change your mind ? "

" nope , i never change my mind "

Jake was about to go back disappointed , but then you grabbed his phone and saved your number in it

" but hey , i would like if we had coffee together sometimes "

" Really!? thank you "

" we will catch up soon , Mr. thug "

" Wait-"

...

" looks like She is always going to leave before i finish my sentences "

And just like that you met jake kim again .

[sadviper]

Kim Jin Won: Interview with Kankoku TV Drama vol. 97 (Aug 2020)

Director Kim Jin Won

A transformative drama about the birth and founding of the Joseon nation. Spinning a tale of the common people.

Director Kim Jin Won has been recognized for his delicate and heartwarming productions such as "The Innocent Man" (2012 KBS) and "Wonderful Days" (2014 KBS). From the time he first dreamed of directing dramas, he thought of telling stories from the point of view of ordinary people rather than from the viewpoint of the rich and blessed. It was the same for “My Country” (2019 JTBC), which was the director’s first time managing a full-scale historical drama. Although the theme was the founding of Korea, the starring roles were not famous figures such as Yi Seong-gye and Yi Bang-won, but the common folk at the lowest rungs of history. A human drama performed by fresh young stars and historical facts are exquisitely entwined to create a dynamic historical production. 

The contrast of Se-jong and Do-hwan as they unveil expectation-shattering performances

--What is the story behind how you became the director for “My Country”?

KJW: Can I speak frankly? To tell you the truth, I don’t really like historical dramas. But when I read the synopsis, it seemed very interesting. It was refreshing to have well-known figures such as Yi Seong-gye and Yi Bang-won play supporting roles in a story about the early days of Joseon. Instead, it pulls the story from the point of view of the commoners. While reading the script, I understood what regular people were thinking during the founding of the nation. That was interesting to me and I agreed to take on the production.

--When talking about the closing years of Goryeo to the early days of Joseon, aren't there essential people or events that have to appear?

KJW: We also thought it would be more interesting for Jeong Mong-ju (🔺1) and Jeong Do-jeon (🔺2) to make appearances, for they are indispensable to this era. The scale of the story would become larger and more dramatic. However, if we did that, it would be too similar to other works, so I abandoned the idea. First, the scriptwriter and I promised to not distort historical facts, and following this guiding principle, we developed the story.

(🔺1) Jeong Mong-ju (鄭夢周): A Confucian scholar and literary vassal who made a name for himself in the late Goryeo period. Yi Seong-gye and Jeong Do-jeon, who aim to establish a new country, oppose him. While planning their assassinations, Mong-ju himself is assassinated by Yi Bang-won's aides.

(🔺2) Jeong Do-jeon (鄭道伝): A politician who exercised his talents as an aide to Yi Seong-gye. He plays a major role in the founding of Joseon and the early national administration. He comes into conflict with Yi Bang-won, who was trying to succeed his father and become the king, and is subsequently killed.

--On the other hand, there are also fictional characters such as Seo Hwi (played by Yang Se-jong), Nam Seon-ho (played by Woo Do-hwan), and Han Hui-jae (played by Seol-hyun <AOA>).

KJW: Yes. Hwi and Hui-jae are characters we created from scratch. We researched how the common people lived during the founding of Joseon and the civil war that is known as the “Strife of the Princes”, and came up with these fictional characters. Nam Jeon, the antagonist and Seon-ho’s father (played by Ahn Nae-sang), was created by mixing together the real historical figures of Jeong Do-jeon and Nam Eun (🔺3). If anything, there are more elements of Nam Eun than Jeong Do-jeon. Nam Eun had several sons, but we made a single motif out of them and created Seon-ho. However, all his rebellious opposition to his father was our invention.

(🔺3) Nam Eun: A politician who was active from late Goryeo to the beginning of the Joseon era. He supports Yi Seong-gye with Jeong Do-jeon and contributes to the founding of Korea. However, Yi Bang-won launches the civil war that is called the "First Strife of Princes" and there Nam Eun loses his life.

--At the drama’s press conference, you told us about your dream casting.

KJW: Previously I produced “Just Between Lovers” (2017 JTBC) and wanted to cast Yang Se-jong as one of the main characters, however, during the preparation stage, that character was removed and I wasn’t able to make him an offer. Ever since, I’ve kept a close watch. Looking at Se-jong, he has a soft image and seems suited for melodramas, but in reality, he’s very manly and even handles his own action scenes. The character Hwi is adept at martial arts and is intelligent, but behind the scenes, he was a difficult character who carried an extraordinary amount of loneliness and heartache. When I met Se-jong, just as he was, I could see Hwi’s painful silhouette, and on the spot, I proposed that we work together.

--And what about Woo Do-hwan?

KJW: A long time ago, I asked my industry peers if there were any actors that were attracting attention recently, and that’s how I learned about Woo Do-hwan. At that time, he was a real newcomer with only two works in his filmography. To tell you the truth, Seon-ho’s casting was nerve-wracking. If the other actor can’t match Se-jong’s presence, then it’s difficult for a story that is spearheaded by dual male leads. After worrying over it, Do-hwan came out as the top contender and I made him an offer.

--How were the two on set?

KJW: They are the same age, but they are completely different types. Se-jong is the type of actor who acts after his emotions boil out of him. His emotions won’t emerge if he isn’t convinced, so he needs time to immerse himself in the role and empathize with the character. Do-hwan is the opposite; he is the type who enters the character instantly. Their styles differ but that difference created a transformative, synergistic effect. Se-jong said that one of his few friends was Do-hwan; they went as far as becoming best friends. They often came to me and talked about how they learned a lot from each other.

--During filming, at what point did you feel their charisma?

KJW: First of all, the scene where Se-jong was dragged off to jail was a performance that truly exceeded my expectations. He struck his head against the wall and was suffering, but his eyes! They were eyes that you can’t take a second time. Afterwards, I saw that his forehead was red and swollen. For Do-hwan, it was when we filmed the scene where his haggard figure was seated after Hwi’s sister, Yeon (played by Cho I-hyeon), experienced a traumatic episode. During rehearsal, tears spilled out of Do-hwan’s eyes. I didn’t expect him to cry; I immediately stopped the rehearsal and switched to filming. I thought that the actors properly captured the emotions; I told them to play those two scenes as they wanted to. Their performances were realistic and absolutely heart-wrenching.

Regrets for the limited romantic kiss scene

-- At what point did you feel Seol-hyun’s appeal and pick her for the role?

KJW: Casting the role of Hui-jae was a bit difficult. The drama was male-centric, and there was no clear romance. Be that as it may, even though the role is to become Hwi and Seon-ho’s emotional support, I thought that it had to be an actor that everyone understood. If it were Seol-hyun, she would give a skillful performance.

-- Seol-hyun’s performance received particularly good reviews.

KJW: I’m the most glad about that. During the middle of the broadcast, we held a press conference and from the very beginning, the reporters paid her many compliments. Without a doubt, her popularity increased with this work. She had a strong desire to do well, and together we discussed it and made it happen. In particular, Seol-hyun’s charms shone especially bright in the scenes with Seo Seol (played by Jang Young-nam), who manages the brothel.

-- There is one more main character: what is the story behind casting Jang Hyuk for the role of Yi Bang-won?

KJW: This casting was also very stressful. This drama was so nerve-wracking that you could say casting took up more than half the effort. In particular, Yi Bang-won is a figure that symbolizes this era, so I want an actor with a powerful presence to play the role. Otherwise, the scale will shrink and Yi Bang Won’s charisma as he faces the main characters will disappear in the second half. If you watch the drama, you’ll know that Yi Bang-won is involved in everything: he is in conflict with Seon-ho; he develops a close rapport with Hwi; and he fights for power with Yi Seong-gye and Nam Jeon. It requires an actor with profound emotions. The first person who came to mind was Jang Hyuk.

-- While filming, when was the moment that you thought ‘as expected’?

KJW: Jang Hyuk can dominate the screen with just the look in his eyes, without having to say a word. Also, he is as erudite as a historian, so I had an easy time as the director. The most memorable scene is the one with his father, Yi Seong-gye (played by Kim Yeong-cheol). In the scene where the two of them argued over the throne, initially I thought they would show a top-down hierarchy between a father and son. However, after rehearsal, Jang Hyuk and Kim Yeong-cheol were able to portray their relationship on equal footing. Man versus man. There was no discussion, it was a spontaneous expression. I could clearly see that Yi Bang-won was facing his father as a man. I thought it was excellent.

-- From the young to the veteran, the appeal of the actors was outstanding, and I enjoyed the male friendships.

KJW: First of all, what’s wonderful about Kim Yeong-cheol and An Nae-sang is that anyone who performs alongside those two ends up looking better. They only have to stand on the side, and it makes the other person look cool. Even Jang Hyuk, who is already strong enough, doubled in appeal when he was with them. After that, Jang Hyuk gave a lot of advice to his juniors. In the drama he was taciturn, but in reality he is quite talkative (laugh). Whenever he thought he didn’t have to be on set, he was always talking to his juniors by the side of the car that was used as the make-up room. Male friendships are good, but it’s just that I wanted to show more romance.

-- You mean Hwi and Hui-jae’s romance?

KJW: Yes. It wasn’t easy to incorporate the romance because the scale of each episode was so large. The only thing I was particular about was when Hwi was first taken to the battlefield--instead of remembering his sister, Yeon, he remembers Hui-jae. When I went to military service and woke up in the morning at the training center, the first thing that came to my mind wasn’t my family but my girlfriend (laugh). In the end, I changed it so that Hwi remembers both Yeon and Hui-jae. This was because Hwi is in a unique situation where he doesn’t know how Yeon is doing.

-- What about Hwi and Hui-jae’s first kiss scene?

KJW: I also have a lot of regrets concerning that scene. It was the first important kiss scene, but it took place in such a crappy little room! Hwi being beaten up, his lumpy face, and the shabby location are what I remember when I think about that scene. The art director and I did our best to film it as beautifully as possible. Otherwise, Hwi and Hui-jae’s feelings won’t be conveyed properly to the audience.

-- The early scene of paper lanterns soaring into the sky was also beautiful.

KJW: I put a lot of effort into that. It was the only happy time I could give Hwi before he heads out for the battle called the Liaodong Conquest. The script only called for flying kites, but I thought it would be unnatural to fly kites from day until night. After worrying about it, I ultimately decided to fly paper lanterns at night. The atmosphere was romantic, which was very nice.

Putting your heart and soul into the battlefield scenes

The trouble with bows and arrows in acting and film

-- You put in a remarkable amount of effort, not just for the romance scenes but also for the war scenes?

KJW: I poured the most effort into this part. There are a total of three battle scenes, but I filmed them all over six days. Of those, I focused the most on the scene for the Liaodong conquest. Hwi is suddenly taken to the battlefield, he’s bewildered and confused as to why he’s there, and he has to survive. I decided to film in one continuous take in order to highlight the figure of Hwi fighting without knowing the situation he’s in, but an entire day was gone just from checking the flow lines of the cameras and actors…It was an enormous challenge for me. It was very difficult.

 -- It was also impressive that bow and arrows were used as the main weapons instead of swords.

KJW: When I first spoke to the screenwriter, I wanted to take a different approach from other historical dramas, so I chose bow and arrow. However, that was the start of my troubles. Swords look cool and film well when you swing them around, but you can’t do that with bows and arrows. This time, I realized this while shooting. The actors also had a lot of trouble. Drawing the bow requires considerable power, so when they spoke their lines, their hands would quiver. Luckily they were all skilled at action and did a great job carrying it out.

-- One month after the start of filming, you regretfully asked yourself, “Why did I decide to do a historical drama?” (laugh) Was this because of the battle scene from before?

KJW: No. I didn’t have regrets during that time. It was during the appearance of the children. Two child actors played the queen’s (played by Park Ye-jin) sons. They only appear a few times in the drama, but for the sake of that scene, those two suffered a lot. I’m a father with a child their age, so it was really heart-breaking. When I was an assistant director, I shot a historical drama and I realized that it didn’t suit me, but unfortunately, over time I forgot. Hahaha.

--Seems like you really value the actors. When viewing the making video, the actors are often heard voicing their opinions.

KJW: That’s not always the case (embarrassed laugh). “My County” had many large-scale scenes, so I communicated the way I would with a contemporary drama. In particular, I had all kinds of discussions with the protagonists Se-jong, Do-hwan, and Seol-hyun. Thanks to this, the burden on each other was lightened, and we were able to save time during filming. After listening to the opinions of all the actors, I have an image of the scene before I film. However, for important scenes, I felt that I should capture the emotions the actors are trying to express rather than just capturing beautiful images.

--This is your second drama since transferring to JTBC. What is the story behind your transfer?

KJW: I wanted to continue directing. KBS is also a very good company and I learned many things there. But as any organization gets older, the time comes when you have to move to the next step on the ladder. It goes from director to producer, then from producer to a desk.  I transferred because I still had a strong desire to be in the field instead of in a managerial position.

--What are your plans now?

KJW: I don’t have any plans yet, but I’m joking with the staff that my next project will be set in Seoul, so they don’t have to go to the countryside and practically live there (like for “My Country”), hahaha. There is a project that I want to create for myself. A bright and healing work. After I transferred companies, I was told I could do what I want, so the first thing I filmed was the drama “Just Between Lovers”. After that, someday at least once, I want to try making a drama about the story of the Sewol issue. Nothing exciting, but the kind of story that heals the trauma.

[jong-kim-martial-arts-surrey]

Choosing the Right Martial Arts School: Essential Tips for Surrey and Delta Residents

If you’re looking to join a martial arts school in Surrey or Delta, BC, choosing the right one is crucial. Whether you're interested in Taekwondo, karate, or mixed martial arts, finding a school that aligns with your goals and values can shape your experience and growth in the martial arts world. Here’s a complete guide to help you make an informed decision and kickstart your martial arts journey!

1. Qualified and Certified Instructors

Look for martial arts schools in Surrey or Delta with certified instructors who have real-world experience in Taekwondo, karate, or mixed martial arts. Qualified instructors can provide the best learning experience, especially for beginners. Many top schools have instructors certified by recognized organizations like Taekwondo Canada, ensuring you’re learning from trusted professionals.

2. A Positive and Supportive Learning Environment

The best martial arts schools offer a welcoming and supportive environment that motivates students. Schools with a strong community atmosphere will make learning fun and engaging. Whether it's Taekwondo or karate classes, a trial session can give you insights into the school culture and whether it’s the right fit for you.

3. Variety of Classes to Meet Your Needs

Choose a martial arts school that offers classes for all levels, from beginners to advanced students. Look for options like Taekwondo classes, karate martial arts, or mixed martial arts tailored to your age and skill level. Many schools in Surrey and Delta cater to all ages, offering family classes, kids’ martial arts programs, and adult classes.

4. Convenient Location and Accessible Facilities

Finding a school close to home or work can make it easier to attend classes regularly. For instance, martial arts schools in Surrey, BC, Delta, BC, or North Delta can make classes more convenient to reach. Check out schools like Taekwondo Delta Club or Martial Arts Surrey BC Canada to see if they meet your needs.

5. Emphasis on Discipline and Personal Growth

Martial arts training emphasizes physical fitness and promotes life skills like discipline, respect, and personal growth. The best schools will focus on helping you develop both mental and physical strength. Ask instructors how they incorporate values like perseverance and self-control into their classes.

6. Reputation of the Martial Arts School

A school’s reputation can tell you a lot about the quality of instruction. Look for reviews from current or former students to get an idea of the school’s strengths. Martial arts schools with a solid reputation for Taekwondo classes or mixed martial arts gyms are likely to offer well-structured programs and a supportive learning environment.

7. Safety and Cleanliness of Facilities

A safe training environment is essential. Make sure the school has clean, well-maintained facilities and follows safety protocols, especially for contact-based martial arts like karate or mixed martial arts. Quality schools invest in high-standard equipment, such as mats and protective gear, to ensure students' safety.

Conclusion: Start Your Martial Arts Journey in Surrey or Delta!

Choosing the right martial arts school is key to achieving your personal and fitness goals. Whether you’re interested in Taekwondo Canada, mixed martial arts, or karate, look for schools in Surrey and Delta that prioritize qualified instruction, positive learning environments, and personal growth.

Ready to Find the Best Martial Arts School in Surrey or Delta?

Contact us to book a free trial class at one of the top-rated martial arts schools in Surrey, BC, or Delta, BC. We’ll help you find the right Taekwondo, karate, or mixed martial arts classes that fit your needs and goals. Start your martial arts journey today!

[the-inner-weebs]

K-Drama Recommendation Masterlist

RICH GUY POOR GIRL

Coffee Prince (2007) 커피프린스 1호점 ~

Genre: Food/Friendship/Comedy/Romance/Drama

𝐆𝗼𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝗼𝗼 ~ Choi Han Gyul

𝐘𝗼𝗼𝐧 𝐄𝐮𝐧 𝐇𝐲𝐞 ~ Go Eun Chan

Choi Han Gyul is the grandson of chairwoman Bang of Dong-in Foods, a company that has a thriving coffee business. He has never had a job and does not care for responsibility. Han Gyul is hung up on his first love, Han Yoo Joo, who only sees him as a friend.

Go Eun Chan is a 24-year-old tomboy who is often mistaken for a guy. Her father died when she was 16 years old and since then she has taken over as the breadwinner in her family.

When Han Kyul and Eun Chan meet, he, not knowing that she is a girl, decides to hire her to pretend to be his gay lover so that he can escape the blind dates arranged by his grandmother. After getting an ultimatum from his grandmother, Han Gyul takes over a rundown old coffee shop, later renamed "Coffee Prince," to prove that he's capable, both to his grandmother and to Yoo Joo. In order to attract female customers, he only hires good-looking male employees. Eun Chan, desperate for money, continues to hide her gender to get a job at Coffee Prince.

Director: Lee Yoon Jung

Secret Garden (2010) 시크릿 가든 ~

Genre: Comedy/Romance/Drama/Melodramatic/Supernatural

𝐇𝐲𝐮𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐧 ~ Kim Joo Won

𝐇𝐚 𝐉𝐢 𝐖𝗼𝐧 ~ Gil Ra Im

The drama tells the story of Kim Joo Won, an arrogant and eccentric CEO who maintains the image of seeming perfection, and Gil Ra Im, a poor and humble stuntwoman whose beauty and body are the object of envy amongst top actresses. Their accidental meeting, when Joo Won mistakes Ra Im for actress Park Chae Rin, marks the beginning of a tense, bickering relationship, through which Joo Won tries to hide a growing attraction to Ra Im that both confuses and disturbs him. To complicate matters further, a strange sequence of events results in them swapping bodies.

Director: Kwon Hyuk Chan/Shin Woo Cheol

Personal Taste  (2010)  개인의 취향 ~

Genre: Comedy/Romance

𝐋𝐞𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝗼 ~ Jeon Jin Ho

𝐒𝗼𝐧 𝐘𝐞 𝐉𝐢𝐧 ~ Park Gae In

Jeon Jin Ho is a straight guy who is mistaken as gay when he applies to become Park Gae In's roommate. His hobbies include organization and ironing, and he's known for his stoic poker face. He's a stickler for cleanliness, but he also has a talent for figuring out a women's feelings. Gae In is very trusting even though she has a habit of being betrayed. However, that doesn't stop her from giving people the benefit of doubt and Jin Ho is no different. How will Gae In react when she finds out that her gay roommate is not actually gay at all and that he has fallen for her?

Director: Song Hyung Suk/Noh Jong Chan

What’s WrongWith Secretay Kim (2018) 김비서가 왜 그럴까 ~ 

Genre: Friendship/ Business/Comedy/Romance

Park Min Young ~ Kim Mi So

Park Seo Joon ~ Lee Young Joon

The series revolves around the narcissistic Lee Young Joon, the vice president of a company run by his family. He is very self-absorbed and thinks highly of himself, so much that he barely acknowledges the people around him. Lee Young Joon has a capable and patient secretary Kim Mi So who has remained by his side and worked diligently for 9 years without any romantic involvement. However, Mi So now wants to set her life & focus on herself so when she decides to resign from her job, hilarious misunderstandings ensue. After 9 years of their strictly-workplace relationship, can it now develop in something more?

Director: Park Joon Hwa

SUPERNATURAL

Goblin (2016) 도깨비 ~ 

Genre: Comedy/Romance/Fantasy/Melodrama/Supernatural

Gong Yoo ~ Kim Shin

Kim Go Eun ~ Ji Eun Tak

Kim Shin was once an unbeatable general in Goryeo's military who died a tragic death. He now possesses immortality but is tired of living while everyone else around him dies. For 900 years, Kim Shin has searched for his bride, a mortal who can pull out the sword and end his life. One day, he encounters Ji Eun Tak, a positive, upbeat high school student who can see the dead and has gone through tragic events, yet still stays strong. She claims to be the Goblin's bride who can end his immortal life, but what appears to be an easy task, only gets complicated, as the two fall in love.

Director: Lee Eung Bok

Moorim School (2016) 무림학교 ~

Genre:Action/Romance/School/Drama/Martial Arts/Fantasy

𝐋𝐞𝐞 𝐇𝐲𝐮𝐧𝐖𝗼𝗼 ~ Yoon Shi Woo

𝐇𝗼𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐢𝐧 ~ Wang Chi Ang

𝐒𝐞𝗼 𝐘𝐞 𝐉𝐢 ~ Shim Soon Duk

𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝗼𝗼 𝐉𝐢𝐧 ~ Hwang Sun Ah

The Moorim School is a hidden school that can only be seen by special individuals, it isn't focused solely on high academic scores but on physical abilities. The school teaches its students great virtues which include honesty, faith, sacrifice, and communication. The teachers and students at the school come from different countries and each has their own stories. Everything is very extraordinary and normal until a student who doesn't seem to fill the role wanders into the academy and changes the destiny of all the students.

Director: Lee So Yeon

Strong Woman Do Bong Soon (2017) 힘쎈여자 도봉순 ~

Genre: Action/Thriller/Comedy/Romance/Drama/Supernatural

Park Bo Young ~ Do Bong Soon

Park Hyung Shik ~ Ahn Min Hyuk

Ji Soo ~ In Gook Doo

Do Bong Soon is a petite, unemployed woman who is honest and kind. She appears little and sweet on the outside, but she is in fact very, very strong. In her family, for generations the women have been gifted Herculean strength to use for the greater good. If abused, however, their power will be taken away. Whilst standing up for herself after gang members bully her, she finds herself approached by Ahn Min Hyuk, the handsome and somewhat childish CEO of Ainsoft, a gaming company. Ahn Min Hyuk, who holds a great distrust towards the police, witnessed the whole exchange of Bong Soon's superhuman strength, and now wants to employ her as a bodyguard after being threatened by an unknown enemy. Min Hyuk falls in love with super-strong Bong Soon at first sight, but there's a catch. Bong Soon has eyes for someone else; police officer and childhood friend, In Guk Doo, whom she has known since high school. When chaos ensues after a series of kidnappings in Do Bong Soon's hometown of Dobong-dong, Dobong-gu, Bong Soon must decide whether to use her strength and stand up to evil, or play it safe and keep her powers hidden from the world. Combined with the love triangle she faces between In Guk Doo and Ahn Min Hyuk, as well as having to keep Min Hyuk safe, Bong Soon's life is thrown into turmoil. Can she use her strength for the greater good, or will it prove in the end to be too much?

Director: Lee Hyung Min

He is Psychometric (2019) 사이코메트리 그녀석 ~

Genre: Thriller/Mystery/Comedy/Romance/Drama/Fantasy

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐉𝐢𝐧 𝐘𝗼𝐮𝐧𝐠 ~ Lee Ahn

𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐘𝐞 𝐄𝐮𝐧 ~ Yoon Jae In

𝐊𝐢𝗺 𝐊𝐰𝗼𝐧 ~ Kang Sung Mo

After losing his parents in a fire, Lee Ahn acquires the power of psychometry, the ability to read a person or an object's past through physical contact, and he decides to use it to take bad people down. While he does not know how to control his power yet, he meets Yoon Jae In who tries her best to hide her painful secrets. Together with his foster guardian, prosecutor Kang Seong Mo, and the latter's colleague, investigator Eun Ji Soo, they team up to solve an elusive case that has been haunting the lives of Ahn, Sung-Mo, and Jae In. The case revolves around the life of prosecutor Kang his mother and father who were the main cause of the fire. Jae In and Lee Ahn heal each other through their past present and future and find the culprit.

Director: Kim Byung Soo

Memorist (2020) 메모리스트  ~

Genre: Action/Thriller/Mystery/Crime/Supernatural

Yoo Seung Ho ~ Dong Baek

Lee Se Young ~ Han Sun Mi

Dong Baek has an extraordinary ability. He can peer into the memories of whoever he touches. With his supernatural power, get it done attitude, and eye-pleasing looks, he is fervently revered worldwide as a superstar detective. However, when his punches meet with suspects before words, he can be a bit of a headache to his comrades. Starting from the age of twenty, Han Sun Mi is the youngest to have passed the bar exam, obtain a doctorate in criminal psychology, and become a senior superintendent in the police force. Having solved five cold cases that even a detective with supernatural powers couldn't do, she is a genius profiler. She has a secret that drives her to do what she does. These two highly-skilled professionals meet their match—a serial killer with abilities that transcend theirs combined. It's going to be a fight worth watching.

Director: So Jae Hyun, Kim Hwi

Tale of the Nine-Tailed (2020) 구미호뎐 ~

Genre:Action/Suspense/Thriller/Horror/Romance/Fantasy

Lee Dong Wook ~ Lee Yeon

Jo Bo Ah ~ Nam Ji Ah

The mythical nine-tailed fox, or gumiho, Lee Yeon had to settle in the city many centuries ago. Able to transform into human form, he eradicates supernatural beings that threaten the mortal world. His real aim is to find the reincarnation of his lost first love.

The talented television producer Nam Ji Ah works in a show that features urban myths. In the past, her parents were involved in a mysterious car accident and disappeared, and she suspects that Lee Yeon might be connected with this accident.

The half-brother to Lee Yeon is the captivating Lee Rang.  Despite being half-human himself,  he harbors a deep-seated contempt for all people. For sport,  he will unleash his seductive prowess upon his human-du-jour,  by promising to grant them their wishes, only to trick them into paying a hefty price for their earthly desires.

Director: Kang Shin Hyo

PSYCHOLOGICAL

Heal Me Kill Me (2015) 킬미힐미 ~

Genre: Psychological/Comedy/Romance/Drama

Ji Sung ~ Cha Do Hyun

Hwang Jung Eum ~ Oh Ri Jin

A traumatic childhood experience leaves Cha Do Hyeon, suffering from memory loss and dissociation. The latter has resulted in the creation of seven distinct personalities. Wanting to regain control over his life, he asks Oh Ri Jin, a first-year psychiatric resident, to help him, but she eventually falls in love with one of his personalities. Ri Jin’s twin brother, Oh Ri On, a famous mystery novelist, investigates Do Hyeon and his family.

Director: Kim Jin Man, Kim Dae Jin

It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020) 사이코지만 괜찮아 ~

Genre: Psychological/Comedy/Romance/Drama/Family

𝐊𝐢𝗺 𝐒𝗼𝗼 𝐇𝐲𝐮𝐧 ~ Moon Gang Tae

𝐒𝐞𝗼 𝐘𝐞 𝐉𝐢 ~ Ko Moon Young

𝐎𝐡 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞 ~ Moon Sang Tae

The story of a community health worker at a psychiatric ward who lives on 1.8 million won (approximately $1,520) a month and a storybook writer suffering from an antisocial personality disorder. A man who denies love and a woman who doesn’t know love defy fate and fall in love, finding their souls and identities in the process.

Moon Gang Tae is a community health worker at a psychiatric ward who was blessed with everything including a great body, smarts, ability to sympathize with others, patience, ability to react quickly, stamina, and more. Meanwhile, Ko Moon Young is a popular writer of children’s literature, but she is extremely selfish, arrogant, and rude.

Director: Park Shin Woo/Jung Dong Yoon

MEDICAL

Emergency Couple (2014) 응급남녀 ~ 

Genre: Comedy/Romance/Drama/Medical

𝐒𝗼𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐢 𝐇𝐲𝗼 ~ Oh Jin Hee

𝐂𝐡𝗼𝐢 𝐉𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐲𝐮𝐤 ~ Oh Chang Min

𝐋𝐞𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐥 𝐌𝗼 ~ Gook Chun Soo

Jin-Hee led a satisfying life as a dietitian. She then met medical school student Chang-Min. Despite his wealthy family's strong opposition, Jin-Hee and Chang-Min decided to get married. Chang-Min's family is full of doctors. Chang-Min though gave up his medical internship and began working as a pharmaceutical salesman. Their marriage life was not happy. Chang-Min's family looked down on Jin-Hee and even Chang-Min seemed to change. Chang-Min began to think terribly of Jin-Hee and they finally divorced. After their divorce, Jin-Hee became a medical student and now works as an intern. Chang-Min also graduated from medical school and begins to work as an intern. One day, they meet in the emergency room of a hospital where they will both work together.

Director: Kim Chul Gyu

Doctor Stranger (2014) 닥터 이방인 ~ 

Genre: Thriller/Romance/Drama/Medical

𝐋𝐞𝐞 𝐉𝗼𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐤 ~ Park Hoon

𝐉𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝗼𝐧 ~ Song Jae Hee

𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝗼 𝐑𝐚 ~ Oh Soo Hyun

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐇𝐚𝐞 𝐉𝐢𝐧 ~ Han Jae Joon

As a child, Park Hoon and his father were kidnapped by North Korea. In North Korea, he was trained to become a doctor by his father who was already a doctor. Park Hoon became a genius-like heart surgeon. He then flees to South Korea. Park Hoon begins to work as a doctor in South Korea's top hospital Myeongwoo University Hospital, but he feels like a complete outsider. To bring his love from North Korea, he does anything to make money.

Director: Hong Jong Chan/Jin Hyeok

Blood (2015) 블러드 ~

Genre: Action/Vampire/Romance/Drama/Medical/Supernatural

𝐀𝐡𝐧 𝐉𝐚𝐞 𝐇𝐲𝐮𝐧 ~ Park Ji Sang

𝐆𝐮 𝐇𝐲𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝗼𝐧 ~ Yoo Ri Ta

Park Ji Sang is a doctor specializing in hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery in the best cancer research hospital in the country. He is also a vampire. Despite seeming cold and unfeeling, Ji Sang masks his soft heart and inner pain and yearns for closeness with people. He believes very strongly in the sanctity of human life and suppresses his thirst for blood to treat terminally ill patients and save lives.

Among his colleagues is Yoo Ri Ta, a hotshot physician who entered medical school at the age of 17 and is also the niece of the chaebol group chairman who owns the hospital. Ri Ta is highly capable but snooty and prideful, yet Ji Sang finds himself falling for her. He also gets drawn into a conflict between good and evil as he encounters Lee Jae Wook, a two-faced hospital chief who gains everyone's trust with his gentle demeanor but inwardly harbors a dangerous ambition for power and a talent for cruelty.

Director: Lee Jae Hoo/Ki Min Soo

D-Day (2015) 디데이 ~ 

Genre: Romance/Drama/Medical

Kim Young Kwang ~ Dr. Lee Hae Sun

Jung So Min ~ Dr. Jung Ddol M

An unprecedented 6.5-magnitude earthquake has struck Seoul, destroying roads and buildings, and preventing ambulances from reaching victims. Woefully unprepared for such a massive disaster, Korea can only watch the desperate situation and listen to the pleading cries for help. Hae Sung, a competent surgeon, can’t resist doing everything he can to help the injured people during the emergency. This upsets his hospital and they put him on a blacklist, as his benevolent help is against the hospital's profit. Ddol Mi, beautiful and ambitious, chased money and fame as a doctor, but now wants to become a truly compassionate doctor after meeting Hae Sung. Woo Jin has been building a successful career as Korea’s rising doctor, but secretly, he truly cares about being a genuine doctor, saving the lives of the sick. These three characters team up to rush into emergencies, holding onto hope in the most desperate situations, and taking all sorts of risks for the sake of saving lives.

Director: Jang Yong Woo

Hospital Ship (2017) 병원선 ~

Genre: Romance/Drama/Medical

Ha Ji Won ~ Song Eun Jae

Kang Min Hyuk ~ Kwak Hyun

Lee Seo Won ~ Kim Jae Gul

Army doctors board a hospital ship, which is a floating hospital that serves people who live on remote islands. But were these doctors interested in helping underprivileged people for free? Not at all. There is the non-army doctor Eun Jae, a cold perfectionist surgeon whose fast-track career was derailed. Kwak Hyun who practices internal medicine is the first army doctor to volunteer for duty on the hospital ship. Then there is the irritating Jae Geol, an oriental medicine doctor who drew the short straw and now has to serve on the hospital ship. A bunch of doctors with different backgrounds finds themselves afloat at sea. They are too old to be called youthful doctors as they are all in their thirties. Though they have skills obtained through long years of studying in medical school, their hearts and souls are barren. This is a coming-of-age story about doctors who have experienced setbacks in life that they are trying to bounce back from while they learn how to be a compassionate doctor and pursue fulfilling lives.

Director: Park Jae Bum, Kim Sang Woo

Doctor John (2019) 의사 요한 ~

Genre: Mystery/Comedy/Romance/Life/Drama/Medical

Ji Sung ~ Cha Yo Han

Lee Se Young ~ Kang Shi Young

“Doctor John” is a new medical drama about doctors specializing in pain management. In a refreshing take on the genre, “Doctor John” will portray the doctors’ search for the cause of their patients’ mysterious pain as a thrilling chase, almost like a detective hunting down the perpetrator behind an unsolved crime. 

Cha Yo Han is a genius anesthesiologist, who is also the youngest professor at his medical school. The brilliant doctor goes by the nickname “10 Seconds,” referring to his ability to figure out his patients in the 10 seconds that it takes for them to enter an examination room and walk to their seats.

Kang Shi Young is a legendary anesthesiologist, who was always at the top of her class throughout medical school. The talented doctor inherited her skills from her cool-headed, rational mother, while she inherited her empathy, listening skills, and warm bedside manner from her father.

Director: Jo Soo Won

ROMANCE COMEDY

Pinocchio (2014) 피노키오 ~

Genre: Thriller/Mystery/Comedy/Romance/Melodrama

Lee Jong Suk ~ Choi Dal Po 

Park Shin Hye ~ Choi In Ha

The idealistic Choi In Ha has her work cut out for her when she becomes a broadcast journalist, especially when she suffers from a condition known as “Pinocchio syndrome,” which makes her break out into hiccups whenever she tells a lie. Her rookie colleagues include Choi Dal Po, whose shabby appearance masks his true eloquence and sharp memory; Seo Bum Jo, a wealthy heir who has had everything handed to him in life; and Yoon Yoo Rae, whose fangirl knowledge comes in handy in covering the news. The 20-something newbie reporters pursue justice as they try to discover themselves in the process.

Director: Jo Soo Won

I am Not a Robot (2017) 로봇이 아니야 ~ 

Genre: Friendship/Comedy/Romance/Drama/Sci-Fi

𝐘𝗼𝗼 𝐒𝐞𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝗼 ~ Kim Min Kyu

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐞 𝐒𝗼𝗼 𝐁𝐢𝐧 ~ Jo Ji Ah

𝐔𝐡𝗺 𝐊𝐢 𝐉𝗼𝗼𝐧 ~ Hong Baek Gyun

Kim Min Kyu is the largest shareholder of a financial company. He suffers from a "human allergy", preventing him from normal interactions with other people. He becomes interested in a robotic project named Aji-3 created by the Santa Maria robotic team. The team is headed by Hong Baek Gyun,  inventor of Aji-3 and world-renowned robotics professor. He modeled Aji-3 after his ex-girlfriend, Jo Ji Ah, a struggling inventor that also works as a personal shopper to make ends meet.  Just when Kim Min Kyu wants to test the robot, an accident causes the malfunction of the robot's battery. Hong Baek Gyun begs Jo Ji Ah to take the place of Aji-3 and pretend to be the robot so they can get funding from Kim Min Kyu. But, Aji-3 becomes the closest thing that the lonely Min-Kyu has to real contact with another person.

Director: Jeong Dae Yun

My Shy Boss (2017) 내성적임보다 ~

Genre: Business/Comedy/Romance/Drama/Melodrama

𝐘𝐞𝗼𝐧 𝐖𝗼𝗼 𝐉𝐢𝐧 ~ Eun Hwan Ki

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐇𝐲𝐞 𝐒𝗼𝗼 ~ Chae Ro Woon

When a young, energetic employee joins a public relations firm with an introverted and severely misunderstood boss, she makes it her life’s mission to show the world who he really is.

Eun Hwan Ki is the boss at a PR company. He is really shy. So shy that even his employees don't know him that well. He prefers to hide in his office. Everyone thinks he is a cold, prickly, arrogant grouch. They call him the "Silent Monster".

Chae Ro Woon is a recent hire at the same company. She is energetic, bubbly, loves to be the center of attention, and always has something to say. The exact opposite of her boss, who she seems to have an old grudge against. Her goal in life is: to expose the big boss man for who he really is and take her revenge.

The same company also employs Kang Woo Il, co-boss at the company. He, unlike his partner, is warm, sensitive, and well-liked.

Eun Yi Soo is a chaebol heiress who has been engaged for three long years.

Director: Song Hyun Wook

Thirty But Seventeen(2018) 서른이지만 열일곱입니다 ~

Genre: Friendship/Music/Coemdy/Romance/Life/Drama/Family

Shin Hye Sun ~ Woo Seo Ri

Yang Se Jong ~ Gong Woo Jin

Woo Seo Ri, a violin prodigy at 17 who was about to study in Germany, got into a bus accident and fell into a coma waking up 13 years later. Mentally she is still only 17, while physically she is now 30.

Due to a trauma he experienced 13 years before, Gong Woo Jin does not want to have a relationship with others.

This series is about a man and a woman whose lives in their own ways essentially stopped when they were 17. Together, they use all their might to try and open the door to the happiness that they once thought had been closed to them.

Director: Jo Soo Won

Romance is a Bonus Book (2019) 로맨스는 별책부록 ~

Genre: Frienship/Business/Comedy/Romance/Life/Drama/Melodrama

Lee Na Young ~ Kang Dan Yi

Lee Jong Suk ~ Cha Eun Ho

Cha Eun Ho is a successful and handsome writer who is also the youngest chief editor at a publishing company.  He has a calm demeanor and remains reasonable at work.  He then becomes involved in the life of his childhood friend, Kang Dan Yi who was once a popular copywriter. She is now divorced, a single mother, unemployed and struggling in life though still attempts to find a job, but even with her once good career, she cannot. 

However, in a desperate attempt to find a job, she lies about her background and begins to work as a temporary worker in the same building under none other than Cha Eun Ho. As they become involved in each other’s life more than often, a love story begins to unfold.

Director: Lee Jeong Hyo

DoDoSolSolLaLaSol (2020) 도도솔솔라라솔 ~

Genre: Music/Comedy/Romance/Drama/Melodrama

Go Ah Ra ~ Goo Ra Ra

Lee Jae Wook ~ Sun Woo Joon

Goo Ra Ra is a naive rich girl, who dreams of being a great pianist with her father's love guiding her. But her path becomes rocky when her father passes away, and she finds herself going bankrupt. Being scammed of home and needing an escape, she goes on a ride where she encounters an accident trying to avoid Sun Woo Joon, a diligent worker trying to meet ends. Being hospitalized with a broken arm and no place to go, guilty Sun Woo Joon decides to take responsibility and take care of her. With Go Ra Ra’s naive personality, she slowly begins creeping into Sun Woo Joon's heart, while trying to deal with the challenges of living an adult life.

Director: Kim Min Kyung

YOUTH/LIFE

You’re beautiful (2009)  미남이시네요 ~

Genre: Friendship/Music/Comedy/Romance/Drama

Jang Geun Suk ~ Hwang Tae Kyu

Park Shin Hye ~ Go Mi Nam 

Jung Yong Hwa ~ Kang Shin Woo

Lee Hong Ki ~ Kang On Yu

The management company of the idol group A.N.JELL insisted on adding a new singer to the group as the lead vocal, Tae Kyung's voice was hurting. However,the new member, Mi Nam, had to go to the States to repair a botched eye job just before signing the contract. His agent came up with the idea of having his twin sister, Mi Nyu,to stand in for him and pretend that she was her brother. The two of them grew up in an orphanage and Mi Nyu, who was all set to become a nun, agreed to this charade as she didn't want to spoil her brother's chance of fame which would make it easier to look for their mother.

Director: Hong Sung Chang

Boys Over Flowers (2009) 꽃보다 남자 ~ 

Genre: Friendship/Comedy/Romance/School/Youth/Drama

Gu Hye Seon ~ Geum Jan Di

Lee Min Ho ~ Goo Joon Pyo

Kim Hyun Joong ~ Yoon Ji Hoo

Kim Bum  ~ So Yi Jung

Kim Joon ~ Song Woo Bin

Geum Jan Di comes from a poor family who owns a dry-cleaning shop. One day, she visits Shinhwa High School, a prestigious school for the wealthy, and saves a student trying to commit suicide because of bullying. For her heroic act, Jan Di receives a swimming scholarship and starts attending the school.

In school, she meets the notorious F4, the most popular and powerful group of boys at the school, consisting of Gu Jun Pyo; the leader of F4 and heir to the Shinhwa Group, Yoon Ji Hu; the grandson of a former president of Korea, So Yi Jung; a skilled potter who comes from a family that owns the country's biggest art museum, and Song Woo Bin; whose family runs the country's largest construction company.

Her life at school starts out miserable, as she doesn't fit in with other students because of her status, and later becomes worse when she is labeled as the new bullying target of the F4.

Director: Jeon Ki Sang

To the Beautiful You (2012) 아름다운 그대에게 ~

Genre: Comedy/Romance/School/Youth/Drama/Sports

Sulli ~ Goo Jae Hee

Choi Min Ho ~ Kang Tae Joon

Lee Hyun Woo ~ Cha Eun Gyeol

Tae Joon became Jae Hee’s strength during her toughest time, and she leaves the US for Korea to enroll in a men’s physical education high school to help Tae Joon restart his high jump career.

Tae Joon announces his retirement from the high jump national team and closes his heart, but his closed heart begins to open after meeting Jae Hee.

Eun Gyul is confused about his sexual orientation as he falls in love with Jae Hee who is masquerading as a man. The student-athletes have a fun time training with each other and are not tied down to setting a record or competition. 

Director: Jeon Ki Sang

Strongest Delivery Man (2017) 최강 배달꾼 ~

Genre: Friendship/Business/ Comedy/Romance/Life/Youth

Go Kyung Pyo ~ Choi Kang Soo

Chae Soo Bin ~ Lee Dan Ah

Choi Kang Soo is a deliveryman. In spite of his humble beginnings, Choi Kang Soo is fearless and gives it all in everything he does. Lee Dan Ah is another delivery worker. She hates her current socioeconomic status so much that she, like many young people, calls her country “Hell Joseon.” Lee Dan Ah is so focused on making money and changing her life that she has no time for men. But when she comes across the charming Choi Kang Soo, her attitude is due to be moved.

Together, Choi Kang Soo and Lee Dan Ah have a budding competition and romance in their quest for glory. And, for them, glory means being like rich folk Lee Jin Yoon and Oh Jin Gyu. They compete to conquer life but, as our two delivery workers soon learn, being the strongest does not guarantee success.

Director: Kim Shin Il, Jeon Woo Sung

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo (2016) 역도요정 김복주 ~

Genre: Friendship/Comedy/Roamnce/School/Youth/Sports

Lee Sung Kyung ~ Kim Bok Joo

Nam Joo Hyuk ~ Jung Joon Hyun

Bok Joo is a weightlifter who is pursuing her dream of winning the gold medal but she then finds romance for the first time in her life. While she is a woman who trains with heavy steel weights, she is also very feminine when it comes to relationships. To focus solely on weightlifting would jeopardize her relationship but leaving her weightlifting career for love would keep her from attaining her dreams. Can she find a way to have love as well as glory at the age of 20? The characters within this drama are elite athletes in weightlifting, swimming and rhythmic gymnastics who work hard to reach their goals in life. It covers their coming-of-age stories and relationships through hectic life.

Director: Oh Hyun Jong

Itaewon Class (2020) 이태원 클라쓰 ~

Genre: Food/Friendship/Business/Romance/Life/Drama

Park Seo Joon ~ Park Sae Ro Yi

Kim Da Mi ~ Jo Yi Seo

Kwon Na Ra ~ Oh Soo Ah

Park Saeroyi's life has been turned upside down after he gets expelled from school for punching a bully and his father is killed in an accident. Following his father's steps, he opens a pub named "DanBam" in Itaewon and, along with his manager and staff, strive towards success and reaching greater heights.

Director: Kim Seong Yoon

ROMANCE

One Spring Night (2019) 봄밤 ~ 

Genre: Romance/Life/Drama/Melodrama

Jung Hae In ~ Yoo Ji Ho

Han Ji Min ~ Lee Jung In

Feeling trapped in a stale four-year relationship and reluctant to take the next step into marriage, Lee Jung In stumbles into Yu Ji Ho's pharmacy one morning, nursing a hangover after a night of drinking with her friend. As she tries to reassemble herself before going to work, Jung In discovers that she has forgotten her wallet and cannot pay. Ji Ho kindly helps Jung In, despite her prickly personality. What begins as an innocent daily interaction, develops into a deeper attachment as the two find themselves drawn to one another. They embark on a secret friendship while navigating the minefield of familial and societal expectations. 

Director: Ahn Pan Seok

Crash Landing on You (2020) 사랑의 불시착 ~

Genre: Military/Comedy/Romance/Drama/Political

Hyun Bin ~ Ri Jung Hyuk

Son Ye Jin ~ Yoon Se Ri 

Tells the story of two star-crossed lovers, a South Korean heiress and a North Korean elite who also happens to be an army officer. One day, while paragliding, Yoon Se Ri has an accident caused by strong winds, leading her to crash land in North Korea, where she meets Ri Jung Hyuk, a North Korean army officer, who agrees to help her return to South Korea. Over time, they fall in love, despite the divide and dispute between their respective countries.

Director: Lee Jeong Hyo 

THRILLER

Extracurricular (2020) 인간수업 ~ 

Genre:  Friendship/Psychological/Crime/Life/School/Youth/Drama/Mature

Kim Dong Hee ~ Oh Ji Soo

Park Joo Hyun ~ Bae Gyu Ri

"Extracurricular” is centered around three high school students who start committing crimes to earn money and the unpredictable dangers they face as a result.

Kim Dong Hee will portray Ji Soo, who goes from a model student to a criminal after committing an unthinkable act. Jung Da Bin as school bully Min Hee, who gets caught up in Ji Soo’s crime. Park Joo Hyun will portray Ji Soo’s dangerous partner in crime Gyu Ri, while Nam Yoon Soo will appear as Min Hee’s boyfriend and the school’s most popular guy Ki Tae.

Director: Kim Jin Min

[watching-pictures-move]

Movie Review | Game of Death II (Ng, 1981)

Perhaps my recent viewing of Game of Death has softened me to the idea of trampling all over Bruce Lee’s grave, but I did not find this movie’s first act as trying this time around. Yes, there is the extremely objectionable use of real footage from Lee’s open casket funeral, and yes, there are awkward inserts of the real Lee (dubbed so that he sounds the same as all the other male characters and nothing like his actual voice) when the movie goes in for close-ups. But the movie is slapdash enough about trying to disguise the lead actor (there are no fake beards like the other film) that it mostly stops trying during the fight scenes, of which there are a few, and opts to just pull back the camera and take it easy on the cutting. There is some novelty in seeing Lee as a child (the inclusion of this footage is explained by Lee’s character reminiscing about how much of a troublemaker he was at a young age), and the scene in the Japanese nightclub has a fun ambience (as well as a poster of Momoe Yamaguchi flashing a million dollar smile).

Of course, the movie does get immeasurably better once it kills off “Lee” and switches to that of his brother, who (surprise, surprise) is played by the same actor and can now be shot without trying to disguise him. Lee’s character was investigating the death of his friend Hwang Jang-Lee when he was killed (while dangling from a coffin being stolen from the funeral by helicopter), so it’s up to his brother to find out who’s behind his death. This involves visiting a secluded compound presided over by a white man in a tracksuit (Roy Horan, likely cast for his resemblance to Robert Wall but gets in a sweet fight scene nonetheless) who has a fondness for deadly martial arts and exotic animals. We see evidence of the latter with the monkey he carries with him and a tour of his facility where he points out different animals he is fond of (his menagerie includes peacocks and lions, both of which influence his fighting style). He is frequently accompanied by a sinister assistant who may or may not have just one arm. In my initial viewing I was not particularly attentive and assumed that he magically grew back his arm in the middle of a fight scene. This time around it still wasn’t clear to me whether he had been hiding the other arm the whole time or that he actually could grow it back as he pleased. Many famous, renowned films have ambiguous endings; Game of Death II uses ambiguity to complicate our relationship with one character in particular.

My favourite moment comes two thirds into the movie, where the hero, at the sight of a naked woman, has flashbacks to a dirty book and soon after is attacked by a man in a lion suit. It’s a culmination of a few threads in the film (the brother’s differing attitudes towards sex compared with Lee’s character, who is seen early in the film throwing away said dirty book and a bunch of porno magazines; also lions) and is still one of the funnier things I’ve seen in a movie. (This is another instance where the movie uses ambiguity, as it’s not entirely clear if it’s supposed to be a real lion or someone disguised as one.) The climax of the film takes the tower concept from the earlier film, literally turns it upside down and uses it as a launching pad for cheapo Bond-style theatrics. I won’t detail exactly what goes down, but a real flair for camp and a number of fast moving fights choreographed by Yuen Woo-Ping make this all highly enjoyable. Now, if you’re worried that you need to see the original Game of Death to get anything out of this, fear not, as the movies are hardly related. Technically “Lee” is playing the same character in both films (and the lead actor, Kim Tai-jong, doubles for Lee in both films), but there are no story elements carried over. The more practical explanation was that Golden Harvest probably wanted to make their Brucesploitation entries feel more official, and as the last film had great “new” footage of the real Lee, naming this one similarly would likely get more asses in seats. Given that I first saw this because I mistakenly rented it thinking I’d picked up the other film, it worked in at least one case.

[natehoodreviews]

400 Words on MONSTRUM [2018] ★★★

Heo Jong-ho’s Monstrum is a film that wears many hats—or, er, many gats. On the one hand it attempts to be a lavish historical epic that elevates the iconography of the sixteenth century Joseon period to the same levels of splendor as ancient China and Japan. In South Korea’s continuing bid for Southeast Asian cultural superiority, it only makes sense that they’d want to make ancient Korea as iconic and instantly recognizable as China’s Forbidden City and imperial court or Japan’s august shiro and indomitable samurai. The film’s also a kaiju movie, centering on a giant monster known as “Monstrum” that lives on Mount Inwangsan near the capital city. The creature ravishes the countryside, destroying whole villages and infecting the survivors with plague. Looking like a pustule-ridden shisa with gorilla arms, Monstrum is a terrifying, agile, and indestructible beastie. Meanwhile, the film also features Game of Thrones style realpolitik scheming, frequently focusing on the inner machinations of the Joseon court and the Prime Minister’s ruthless Machiavellian scheming to undermine and overthrown the emperor. In the midst of all this, the film’s also a family survival drama reminiscent of Roland Emmerich’s disaster movies, following disgraced former general Yun Kyum (Kum Myung-min) as he’s summoned by Emperor Jungjong (Park Hee-soon) to hunt down Monstrum. He takes with him his doltish but devoted second-in-command Sung Han (Kim In-kwon) and his headstrong adopted daughter Myung (Lee Hye-ri), both of whom get their own subplots and characters arcs. And finally, Monstrum tries to be a big-budget action movie, combining traditional creature feature destruction with wuxia-flavored Korean martial arts fights. Does it all work? Not particularly. For in addition to everything previously mentioned, the film also tries to be an allegory. Who are the real monsters, it asks, the shisa-gorilla or the scheming, despotic politicians (who for the first half of the movie are implied as having invented Monstrum as an urban legend to help discredit Jungjong)? The answer, of course, is that the giant monster is the real monster, rendering all its metaphors about the dangers of unchecked political ambition moot. The film has serious structural issues, too, with a third act that goes on and on and on. Still, if Monstrum is a mess it’s an admirable one, the product of too much ambition, not a bottom-line driven lack of it.

[trendingdrama]

hey i was wondering if u have any high school romance kdrama rec?? ive been searching and the ones i found are too old,, thank you !!

Hey! Sorry for replying so late :(

SO here are few list of high school drama I have watched! (no particular order ) Well not many new romance school dramas were done so that’s why mostly you would find old ones :

1. School 2017 - 16 episodes (2017)

Though it may not have a great story line, first half is really enjoying and unpredictable in the plot-wise but later on it just lacks a bit of story… But romance and acting wise if was fantastic esp the lead chemistry was just amazing ( kim se jong and kim junghyun’s acting omg!) that if i got bored i would skip to their scenes. Other than that even the other characters in drama are also to be looked out for. It also deals bit on bullying in Korean society like most of high-school dramas do.

2. Sassy Go Go / Cheer Up - 12 episodes  (2015)

Cheer Up! is a drama revolving around cheer-leading club in a school which focuses more on achievements based  on academic scores.( they were supposed to show more about cheer-leading tho in the drama but not as much as I expected).But the plot-line was really good and since its a short drama wasn’t draggy at all. I really loved jisoo’s and eunji’s acting. The cast was what made watch this ( Eunji, Jisoo , chae soobin ) but I ended up falling for the story and the drama.. Romance is also great amost the lead while I had SLS (nvm I almost always have lol when it’s jisoo except in swdbs but hyungsik stole my heart in swdbs :p)

3. Reply 1997 - 16 episodes (2012)

I know this is old drama ‘(2012 is quite old )but if you haven’t watched it you should definitely check it out.( even all 3 series tho not all are high school related and the story is different too  )Because the narrative itself is quite different compared to other kdramas. I absolutely love Eunji as shi ahn who is a fangirl of a boyband H.O.T. and Seo in guk as Yoon jae her childhood friend and his brother. About romance it had a quite a good amount and was really one satisfying drama I’ve watched… Oh and one more thing because the story is a narrative sort of the story is set in 1990′s and cinematography is also like that.. It’s quite funny too won’t tell much but do give it a try :)

4. A-TEEN - Webdrama (2018)

This is not a usual 1hr long 16 episode kdrama but rather awebdrama 10 - 12 min each of total 23 episode availiable on youtube. It dealswith how even 18 years old have problems they aren’t problem free be it inschool or anywhere else.I enjoyed their friendship more than anything.also hasa quirky romance in it.[ Btw the actress is shin ye eun ( from he ispsychometric ) ] You can give this a try whenever you have time but its reallynice one and actors are all are new but they really did their job well.

5. Moorim School - 16 episodes  (2016)

If you’re up for a action romance then you should definitely watch this! It is set up in a martial art school where students learn about their true self. Overall story is good and love line was like roller-coaster ride for few times to me …

But acting wise almost everyone did their job well .. I truly like lee hyunwoo and seo ye ji ( though sometimes i felt it was off ) and hongbin also did good job almost like that character was written just for him :)

Here are few others worth mentioning tho old or new :

 6. Who are you? / School 2015 - 16 episode (2015)

I had my major SLS with sungjae’s characters Every alternate year after  School 2013 became successful we have school series lol so I guess we may get school 2019 this year?

7.The Heirs - 20 episodes (2013)

I personally didn���t like it but many of my friends have liked it so I added it here ( sometimes I can be the odd one in the group) Lee hongki’s soundtrack is one of my fav ost until now

8. Boys over Flowers - 25 episodes (2009)

I had felt it was waste of 25 hours watching this rather than that I would watch the original Japanese drama better… Because that’s just 10 or 12 episodes.. I specially didn’t like Jan Di’s character while I had loved that character tsukushi in original drama in japan. But as you may know this is one such drama which is almost everyone’s first drama. (PS: Gu jun pyo’s hair is so lol )

9. Playful Kiss - 16 episodes (2010)

Same like the BOF I like Japanese original better (Itazura Na kiss ) 

10. To the Beautiful You - 16 episodes (2012)

Again another remake from jdrama hana kimi but  I really liked this adaptation when I had watched  because of cuties lee hyunwoo,minho and kang haneul..  and the friendship element was portrayed quite fine. But now if I want to watch this I would rather pass nevertheless it’s a cute drama. I love the soundtracks in this drama! 

Other dramas without much romance :

School 2013 ,( no romance but plot is really good lee jong suk and kim woo bin did a great job here )

Dream High and Dream High 2.

I think there are very few high school drama in Korean(maybe I have watched less) but japan has loads of them lol but you can try watching the original of boys over flowers ( hana yori dango in japan) and to the beautiful you (hana kimi). Cdrama a love so beautiful (2018) is really a cute drama too :) ]

Very recently I watched a Thriller set up in high school jdrama called 3 nen A gumi it was so freaking awesome esp the plot twist ! I wish to see some kind of dramas like that in Korea too.

Anyway this looks more like review than recommendation lol sorry for long post

Hope it helps :)

[fanwright]

Retro: ATLA in 2005

The world was a different place back in February 2005.

Avatar: The Last Airbender was released on February 21, 2005. It would be the first time that mass audiences tuning in would see the intro sequence above for the very first time, marking the beginning of a highly popular and critically acclaimed show.

It was also winter in the States, snowing in some areas. It was a Monday. It was a school day for many kids and teens, the start of a long week of studying. For the adults, it was the start of another work week. Ads on TV hyped up the show as a crisp, action-packed, martial-arts inspired adventure with fantastical fantasy elements. A fresh new show with a fresh new take on the genre, one that had potential to be a runaway hit with budding new fans.

In that same month, during that same week, American singer Mario Dewar Barrett, a.k.a. “Mario”, and his #1 single "Let Me Love You", would continue to stand at the top spot for best single for that week, becoming his best-performing single in 2005.

Earlier that month, February 13th, marked the start of the 47th Grammy Awards. Held in Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Britney Spears would go on to earned her first Grammy in the category of Best Dance Recording for her hit single “Toxic”.

Also earlier that month, on February 10th, Kim Jong Il, then the leader of North Korea, announced his country’s possession of nuclear weapons in response to the hostility his nation perceived to feel from the United States.

The same day ATLA was aired, then President George H.W. Bush, inaugurated for a second term back in January, was visiting Sri Lanka with Bill Clinton to observe the devastation of the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami.

February 6th marked the day of Super Bowl 39 (or XXXIX), pitting the New England Patriots against the Philadelphia Eagles. After the game, the very first episode of American Dad!, titled “Pilot”, aired on Fox.

Nickelodeon’s TV show Spongebob Squarepants was on a long hiatus by February of this year after the release of the Spongebob Sqaurepants movie in November 2004, amid rumors and speculation that the show would end, which it supposedly was originally. Its revival would occur later in the year.

February 2005 would see the release of numerous video game titles. Games like Star Wars: Republic Commando, Streetfighter III: 3rd Strike, and Star Fox Assault all released this month.

And with the release of popular and critically acclaimed titles such as World of Warcraft, Halo 2, Half-Life 2, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and Metroid Prime 2 back in November, with Resident Evil 4 following in January of 2005, gamers were still riding the waves of a reasonably strong winter gaming season.

In the following month however, March 6th of 2005, amid growing concerns of video gaming being harmful to children and teens, 60 Minutes would produce a segment attempting to address the issue of violence in gaming, which would later go on to be highly criticized by gamers for encouraging video game censorship.

And in February, as elections for the Iraqi Transitional Government were underway, 15,000 U.S. military personnel would have their tours of duty extended to provide election security, being pulled out of Iraq the next month. February had seen a relative lull in insurgent activity despite the continuation bombings and small scale attacks. This was considered an improvement compared to the months prior, where in November-December of 2004 U.S. Marines and Coalition forces would fight in the Second Battle of Fallujah, one the bloodiest battles during the U.S. led Iraq War and one of the bloodiest for the USMC in recent history up to that point.

Its against this backdrop that Avatar: The Last Airbender first aired on TV for Nickelodeon.

This is just some of the stuff that was going in that month, and in some cases it was very much a period of experiencing the aftermath of many significant events just in the previous year, just as the new year carried on.

Begs the question then: What else was going while ATLA was airing on TV? With you? With the world?