#joo seok kyung

[nunafilms]

Are you still writing beautiful children's books?

No Gain, No Love 손해 보기 싫어서 (2024)

[riecurrents]

THROUGH THE CRACKS | CHAPTER 2

HA EUNBYEOL x JOO SEOKKYUNG

SYNOPSIS: Two wounded souls, bound and haunted by their past mistakes, meet again while embarking on a journey of remolding and forgiveness. How do they make each other realize that correcting their mistakes also involves the need to forgive themselves? Read on AO3

TAGS: post-canon, hurt/comfort, feel-good, slow burn, eventual romance, mental health issues (mostly on eunbyeol's part), trauma, angst, fluff, cohabitation, additional tags to come

READ CHAPTER 1 HERE

Since then, Eunbyeol and Seokkyung have stayed in contact. They have lots to talk about this time, after all.

“Giving me a daffodil to earn my forgiveness? What a fool, you think I’m that easy?” “Come on, the florist plucked it out for me with lots of love!” “She might as well give you money then! Money is the greatest form of love!” “Shut that, Joo Seokkyung! You sound like an evil man wanting to take over mankind out of money.” “You mean like my father?” “Oh god, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—” and all shenanigans Seokkyung says to tease Eunbyeol of her so-called seeking forgiveness agenda.

Deep inside, Seokkyung knows more than anyone that Eunbyeol owes her nothing. There’s nothing that Seokkyung needs to forgive Eunbyeol for because all the things she had done were not just her fault. The bullying? The two of them instigated it with their own free will. Her mother’s death? Eunbyeol was merely shackled by Cheon Seojin. If that were her mom, she would’ve done worse. She knows it herself. 

“I’ve been taking a walk around the church compound, something I’ve never done since I got there.”

“Wow, you’re a hermit in the making,” Seokkyung fakes a gasp. “What made you touch grass then?”

“Well, you said you’re trying to find more side jobs. So I went through asking around if there’s one available,” then Eunbyeol enthusiastically hands her a couple of crumpled pamphlets. “And I’ve seen these plastered at the post lights.” Then she proceeds to scatter the postings one by one in front of the befuddled Seokkyung. “Waitress, homeschool tutor, and, uh… Janitress at the Mookwon building—but I hope you don’t accept this because I visited that place after seeing the job posting. It’s so big you might end up straining your body.”

“You must be kidding me,” Seokkyung’s mouth hangs open and it’s all she has managed to say.

“O-oh, why?” And now Eunbyeol seems flustered. “Did I go too far? I’m sorr—”

“I forgive you for your sins,” Seokkyung cuts her off, nodding, still wide-eyed at the pamphlets she’s reading one by one this time around. “Who knows you could be an angel if you tried?”

“Oh stop, you!” Eunbyeol reddens. For some reason, she still couldn’t get used to Seokkyung’s sharp mouth. If she had the gall to point it out, she wants the girl to stop being snarky and teasing all the time. It never fails to fluster her! “A-anyway, I didn’t do that for free, okay? You promised me you’d visit the church someday.”

“Oh…” Seokkyung seems to have totally forgotten about it, making Eunbyeol’s pout more apparent. “Heh, just kidding! Didn’t I tell you I’d do that in exchange for you visiting my class one of these days? Look at you being here at my table! Seriously, you don’t need to do this much for me.”

Eunbyeol could only smile. Well, she seems like she'd gone too far after all. It’s just that the thought of Seokkyung working near her residence fills her with warmth for some reason. Maybe Seokkyung’s right that fateful day they met at the cafe. Maybe she really has no friends to hang out with.

“But I’ll be sure to check these out,” Seokkyung beams at her, that bunny-like smile brightening Eunbyeol’s features. “I’ll pay you back with this effort one of these days, okay?”

There’s no need, really. Eunbyeol thinks to herself. Her presence is more than enough to keep her at ease. Who would’ve thought? The past Eunbyeol could never imagine clinging to Seokkyung subtly this way.

Seokkyung’s class comes, but not before she tours Eunbyeol all over the school first. The tiny art school was far from the grandeur of Cheong-Ah, but Seokkyung seems surprisingly at home in it. Watching her in action—pointing here and there, scolding running children in the hallway, glaring at the couple doing a public display of affection at a secluded spot, among others—is actually entertaining.

Now, Eunbyeol is seated at the back of the room, watching Seokkyung conduct the students. They abruptly halt when Seokkyung hisses sharply, immediately intimidated by the short gesture.

“Alright, kids, that was…” Seokkyung’s eyes narrow, taking a long, dramatic pause, then sighs. “Utterly despicable. Are you guys listening to yourselves? You can't be serious!” she groans, disappointment palpable.

Eunbyeol shakes her head in dismay all the while stifling her laugh. What a temper this teacher has. She just knows the students talk about her badly after class.

“But! Thank me because I’m your ever-so-passionate teacher and I’m sooo thrilled to watch you improve from sick frogs into actual loving singers!” The shift in demeanor made the students flinch. Some things never change, Eunbyeol could only say to herself. “Here’s my friend who used to be one of the pioneers in Cheong Ah Arts, Ha Eunbyeol! Come on, Eunbyeol, give them a piece.”

The students start whispering to each other upon hearing the familiar name. Eunbyeol hears them mentioning Cheon Seojin at one point while she makes her way to the front of the room—not that it surprised her, it’s indeed a controversial name known by aspiring singers and the like. That’s why Eunbyeol is so thankful Seokkyung didn’t introduce her as the then primadonna’s child. It’s as though she understands what it takes to separate oneself from a parent who has been your extension for so long.

Seokkyung doesn’t need to hush them to acquire silence, because as soon as Eunbyeol starts singing, all of them are quickly in awe. Well, Seokkyung isn’t excluded from the charm of her voice. Not only has it been a very long time since Eunbyeol sang in front of her, but she's also singing a song that has been the trademark of Bae Rona, Lascia ch'io pianga.

Rona, the girl whom Eunbyeol had deeply wronged.

Let me weep my cruel fate,

Seokkyung can only watch in silence. Eunbyeol sounds different than her usual strong croons. There’s a charming lilt to her voice, one more liberated contrary to the then Eunbyeol onstage guided by the then primadonna.

So that I may sigh at my lost freedom.

Seokkyung could notice the limitations brought by the slash Eunbyeol had inflicted on her own neck that fateful day in the trial court, but it never made it less beautiful. It lacks the pressure, the conscious gazing, the anxiety lurking underneath the big smile as she hits a falsetto.

Let me weep my cruel fate, so that I may sigh at my lost freedom.

If one would squint, unaware of the facet of whatever Eunbyeol is trying to reclaim, they would see it clearly while she sings. When Seokkyung heard Rona sing it at the big stadium for the first time, she wept, remembering all that’s lost and those they’re trying to live on. If not for her students watching right now, she would’ve cried too. But this time with Eunbyeol, she chooses to smile—proudly so—for the kindness crooning out of Eunbyeol’s once shattered and rotten heart.

Grief may shatter the bonds of my sufferings out of pity alone

Eunbyeol has already come so far, maybe even farther than Seokkyung could ever go—she knows it herself. If there’s someone in this sinful world who would deserve most redemption and forgiveness—as much as she wants it to be her—it would be no other than the girl singing in front of her. Eunbyeol whom she thinks never got the privilege of a mom as kind as Suryeon’s, and yet is trying her best to live with it and atone for being Seojin’s daughter.

She owns herself the same way she owns her and her mother’s sin.

And not everyone in this world could go that far.

Seokkyung hid her face from the students to wipe a tear.

When the students are dismissed and Seokkyung busies herself fixing the chairs, Eunbyeol approaches with a teasing glint in her eyes. “So, how was it? Not so pioneer Cheong-Ah student now, am I?”

Seokkyung looks at her, eyebrows arched. “Who would’ve known Ha Eunbyeol’s most captivating performance would not be onstage, but in a measly classroom five times smaller than Cheong Ah’s? Not so pioneer indeed, how are you hide that from the school that brought you up?!”

Eunbyeol’s laugh echoes all over the room, pleasuring Seokkyung’s ear unknowingly. “But speak of, I pity your kids! My goodness, Seokkyung, don’t you think that was a bit harsh? They’re not from Cheong-Ah.”

Seokkyung rolls her eyes, arms crossed. “Come on, they deserve it! Have you ever heard them sing? If that performance were an audition, they wouldn’t even make it into a karaoke bar!”

Eunbyeol tsks, shaking her head. “Maybe have a little patience? You know, encouragement goes a long way. Not every student can be scolded into greatness like we were back then.”

“Oh, believe me, I’ve tried encouragement,” Seokkyung lets out an exasperated sigh. “They need something stronger—like divine intervention.” But her expression softens just a bit when her gaze lands at Eunbyeol. “Oh well, you should’ve seen their faces when you sang for them—they looked positively hopeless.”

At this, Eunbyeol’s cheeks flushed a soft pink. She looks down, fumbling with the strap of her bag. If this remark comes from someone like Seokkyung, it is indeed praise worth noting. It makes it even harder for her to believe. She touches the scar on her neck, the very scar that has ruined her singing for good. “You’re… being nice. You don’t have to say that just because we’re friends.”

But then, Seokkyung seems to know that for a fact. She raises an eyebrow, her gaze unwavering as she snarks, “Haven’t you figured out that I don’t sugarcoat things?”

And so the latter could only smile shyly, the compliment settling in her chest like a pleasant warmth. Her elderly choirmates have always praised her, but now, for some reason, it sounds different with Seokkyung. This time, her praises are holding weight, something about it that makes her feel flustered in a way she couldn’t quite explain.

Actually, the fluster has been happening more often than she cares to admit.

“Alright, alright,” Eunbyeol manages to say, clearing her throat as she gathers herself. “Well, I’m flattered… I think.” Then a small laugh follows suit as she looks away. “But you could still go a little easier on them. I’m sure they’re doing their best.”

Seokkyung rolls her eyes, a glimmer of playful mischief in it. After all, lately, she seems to have a hard time denying Eunbyeol. “Fine, fine. I’ll try to be nicer. Just don’t expect me to start handing out hugs and compliments every time they sing in tune.”

“Oh god. Wouldn’t want you to break character, don’t worry.” The latter shudders at the thought of it, though it doesn’t seem that bad if Eunbyeol thinks about it. “I think they’d be too scared if you suddenly got all sweet on them.”

The warmth lingers for the rest of the afternoon especially whenever she thinks of Seokkyung’s words. Her honesty—although unfiltered most of the time—makes Eunbyeol admire her in a manner she hasn’t felt before, not in a long time at least. They part ways when evening comes, leaving Eunbyeol with a bubbling warmth in her chest.

Much to her oblivion, however, Seokkyung would feel the exact way weeks after, when she finally visits Eunbyeol’s choir practice.

At first, she finds herself sitting at the back of the church, croons of the elderly voices surrounding her as they rehearse. Eunbyeol seems to lead them, completely in her element, voice soft but commanding, as though she was born to do just that—to nurture the singing voices of people whose caliber might never even meet hers. Seokkyung watches, in awe, as she witnesses a Cheon Seojin if she instead became a teacher more passionate and gentler, merely smiling and chuckling at the mistakes her students commit, and having them really hung on to her every instruction. She can't tear her eyes away from Eunbyeol as she gently corrects the altos and nods in approval whenever her sopranos hit the right note. Eunbyeol is loved here, respected, and it’s clear she deserves it after everything she has gone through.

As much as Seokkyung doesn’t want to admit, this way of teaching bears fruit at the end of the practice because they have sung surprisingly well. A bunch of amateurs have managed to tickle Seokkyung’s ears, all because of Eunbyeol’s gentle teaching. What a day worth noting.

But most importantly, she’s afraid Eunbyeol might be wrong. These people are more than just choir members or friends as she claims so—they are like family to her, doting on her with affection that reminded Seokkyung of a time long past, a time when things were simpler when Eunbyeol was just a snarky little teenager who lives off people’s praises.

“Seokkyung!” Eunbyeol calls her out in surprise, her yelp snapping her back from the ponders. Seems like she had spotted Seokkyung in the back corner where she’d been sitting silently for the last hour, and now Eunbyeol’s face is full of worry. “How long have you been here?”

Seokkyung looks up, startled. She hadn’t realized how much time had passed, the last few hours seemingly vanishing like sand through her fingers. When she glanced around, she could see the evening light fading outside, and to her surprise, it was already past dinner time. She never expected to just sit there throughout the whole practice. Hell, she was supposed to introduce herself to Eunbyeol’s choirmates! But there’s something about the atmosphere that made her forget the ticking clock and the encroaching worries of her own feelings. 

“Oh, I just got here,” she lies, not wanting to admit she’d been sitting there far longer than she intended. “You’re busy. I didn’t want to interrupt your practice.”

Eunbyeol, still frowning, doesn’t seem convinced, but since Seokkyung looks out of it, she just softly nudges. “You must be starving then. Come on, let’s go grab dinner. You’re gonna come back here next practice and I’m gonna introduce you to them, okay?”

At dinner, they settle into a quiet corner of a small, local restaurant, with the warm scent of kimchi filling the air. Seokkyung took a sip of water before saying the thing on her mind while observing the girl. “Your choir mates seem... really kind.” 

Eunbyeol’s face lights up. “They are! They’re doting in a manner that could be quite concerning, but I like it more than I can imagine. Sometimes I feel like I’m their honorary child.” Then all of a sudden, she sounds and looks like a kid all giddy and nice with her storytelling, her voice full of warmth. “ They always ask about me, make sure I’m okay... especially the mothers. Did I mention the time when I wasn’t in the mood to eat until one of them pulled out a huge casserole of seaweed soup for everyone to share? They did it just to fill my stomach because they don’t want to see me losing weight!”

Seokkyung laughs, the sound surprisingly light. “I can see why you enjoy it here. You’re the baby of the group now, huh?”

“I love it!” Eunbyeol grins, a little sheepish. “They worry about me a lot, but... it’s kind of nice. To have people worry about someone like me, as much as I don’t deserve it.”

Seokkyung almost counters her statement quickly, but then she realizes it’s not the time for that. Not yet. “Must be nice. You seem to be equally worried about them. Doing your best to improve their singing and all that.” She stares down at her food, unsure why she suddenly feels a pang of something unfamiliar in her chest.

“Next time you come, I’ll introduce you to them! They’ve been asking about you too, you know.” Eunbyeol says enthusiastically. “They’re all curious why I’ve been hanging out with a teacher from the small art school. They think it’s adorable that I have someone my age to talk to.”

Seokkyung can’t help but laugh at the thought. “They want to set me up with someone, huh?”

“No!” Eunbyeol chuckles, shaking her head. “It’s not like that. I’d be mad if they do that.”

"Well, next time we will. I’ll have to check my schedule though. I’ve been so busy that I barely have time for anything else. The school’s been quite... well, difficult.”

Eunbyeol leans forward, concern flashing in her eyes. “What happened?”

“One of my part-time jobs didn’t pay me on time. It made me miss my rent. I’m trying to make up for it, but now the landlord’s really pushing me. I have to find a way to come up with the rent soon, really.”

Eunbyeol’s expression falters, her heart aching for Seokkyung. “You should ask Seokhoon for help. He’s doing well now, right? A successful pianist and all...”

But then, mentioning Seokhoon abruptly brings a pang of guilt in Eunbyeol’s chest. The last time she saw him, he had been nothing but kind to her. He’s the only one who had visited her at the hospital to thank her for what she had done, and to apologize for what happened to her Mom.

And Bae Rona, the person she’s been trying to rid of her head for so long.

She hadn’t seen them in years, but the thought of their successful lives made her feel like an outsider. She hurt them both so much back then, and she still feels the weight of her sins.

What cuts her ruminations off is Seokkyung shaking her head vehemently. “No! I’d rather die than ask him for help. He’s... he’s not someone I can depend on, not after everything.”

Eunbyeol falls silent. What a stubborn girl, she almost chuckles. She could see the deep pride in Seokkyung, the same pride that had driven her to such extremes in the past. It’s clear that no matter how much Seokkyung is struggling, she would rather endure it all than seek help from the people who love her.

“That’s going to kill you one day.”

Seokkyung scoffs, her eyes bitter. “Maybe it should. It’s what I deserve.”

There, Eunbyeol is rendered into silence. Seems like she’s not the only one who deems so lowly of herself. The things she had done, the people she had hurt, all that darkness still lingered in her, clouding her self-worth.

Eunbyeol bites her lip, thinking for a moment before she blurts out an unexpected offer.

“Live with me, then.”

“W-what?”

“It’s hard managing the house all on my own. It gets lonely, you know,” Eunbyeol continues, her voice more confident now. “My dad’s old place has an extra room. We don’t have to worry about rent—it’s part of a small complex he owned and rented for others before he passed away.”

Seokkyung stares at her, speechless for a long moment. “But... I can’t repay you immediately.”

Eunbyeol smiles softly, gaze steady. “In exchange, help me find a pet. That place has always been so empty since I moved in. I think a cat would bring life to it, no? How about a dog? The thought of someone waiting for me at home kind of excites me!”

Seokkyung hesitates, her mind spinning. The offer seems too good to be true. She had been downplaying the situation with her landlord, but now it seemed like this might be the lifeline she needed.

Finally, she nods meekly, so unlikely of the prideful Joo Seokkyung. “O-okay. I’ll think about it.”

They share a quiet moment sitting across from each other, both tentative yet hopeful. They both have their burdens, but for the first time in a long time, they’re not carrying them alone.

<<< prev

[ysabeausfrenchtwist]

Joo Sook-hoon & Joo Seok-kyung's reunion with Shim Su-ryeon Penthouse (2020-2021)

[somanykdramas]

WELCOME TO SAMDAL-RI

GENRES: Drama, Romance

SUMMARY: When life gets too tough, its important to have a place you can go where people believe in you for who you always were.

THIS SHOW HAS EVERYTHING: Convenience store hideouts, corporate abuse, haenyeos, amusement park failures, dog mascots, weather forecasting, old flames, flashy sports cars, loss and forgiveness, crooners, drunken kisses, and dolphins.

HOT TAKE: I'm always hesitant to watch these small town slice-of-life dramas since I know they're going to be slow and drawn out, but you know what? I've never regretted sitting through one yet. There's something just very soulfully soothing about casual strolls, nosy-yet-supportive neighbors, and honest dialogue and communication, and this show is no exception.

Nevermind best kdrama kissers: I want a list of best kdrama huggers, starting with the King, Ji Chang Wook.

[stuff-diary]

Bloodhounds

TV Shows/Dramas watched in 2023

Bloodhounds (2023, South Korea)

Director & Writer: Kim Joo Hwan (based on the webtoon by Jeong Chan)

Mini-review:

I'm gonna be honest: I'm not usually a big fan of these type of movies/shows and I only started this one because of the wonderful Woo Do Hwan. However, color me surprised, cause I ended up loving Bloodhounds. Sure, this story has been told a million times before, but the bromance, the incredibly lovable characters (and incredibly hateful villains!) and the showstopping action scenes take this show to the next level. I'm telling you, it's a really enjoyable experience.

On top of that, the cast absolutely delivers. The show is filled with knockout (pun intended) performances, there's not a single weak link. You can tell just how hard these actors worked to prepare for all the fights and action sequences. Oh, and I can't leave out Kim Joo Hwan's propulsive directing, which left me breathless in several episodes. I do think the final scene cut off way too suddenly, and the sort-of-time-jump in episode 7 is also rather awkward, but I guess it's understandable, considering all the trouble the show went through during post-production. Anyway, Bloodhounds took me by surprise, and I think most people who like action movies/shows focused on hand-to-hand combat will love this.

[passionforfiction]

Dr. Romantic: The Way to a Dream Come True

Dr. Romantic is made up of three seasons with a lapse of 4 years between the Season 1 and Season 2 and a 3 years lapse between Season 2 and 3. The first season we are introduced to the regular Doldam Hospital and new arrivals: Kang Dong Joo and Yoon Seo Jung. Master Kim helps these two young doctors and his regular staff to sharpen their skills and find realize their dreams. We see their growth as professionals and as human beings, while healing people and fighting to keep the hospital open. This first season ends with Kang Dong Joo and Yoon Seo Jung heading to new challenges but leaving a hope for their return.

Second season, Master Kim and his regular staff are still healing people while fighting to maintain the hospital running. We are introduced to three new doctors: Cha Eun Jae, Seo Woo Jin, and Yoon Ah Reum. In this case we have doctors returning and a doctor from a capital hospital, Park MinGuk becomes Holdam Hospital director as part of Chairman Do's attempt to take Master Kim down. But at the end we leave the hospital with a secure standing (no one can touch the property) and Dr. Park decides to partner with Master Kim and work together towards making Master Kim's dream come true - have a trauma center in the hospital.

Season 3 seems to be the conclusion to his story. Now they have the trauma center building connected to the old part of the hospital and they are about to open, but they need government funding to help run the center since this is a non-profit hospital. The staff is divided into two areas and those working at the trauma center will need to deal with their new director. Master Kim's Plan B - Dr. Cha Jin Man, who is also Dr. Cha Eun Jae's father and later Plan A - Kang Dong Joo.

I must admit that I was so excited to see Kang Dong Joo back and to see that Yoo Seo Jung returned, along other doctors that were part of the staff in the previous two seasons. It is satisfying to see Master Kim's dream come true: have the trauma center ran by his students.

You would've thought that he would want to run the center - after all, it was his dream - but he decided to stay in the old part of the hospital and have the another person run the trauma center. I loved the love stories and the new young characters. It was a really sweet way to bring this story to an end.

This story is one of my favorites on the doctors-drama category. A most watch, the three of them. I would watch them back to back, that way I would catch on things I probably missed since I saw them when they came out and time has past between each viewing.

[quarter-lif3crisis]

Weightlifting Fairy Bokjo (2016-2017)

[binging-asian-dramas]

Big Mouth. 7/8

Story: 9

Acting: 10 👌

Chemistry: 10

Comparable to: Vagabond (kdrama) ; Flower of Evil (kdrama); Cruel City (kdrama) ; Mouse (kdrama)

Is the drama way way overhyped, yeah. Is it good yeppers. First half of the drama is excellent but unfortunately it didn’t keep that pace and kind of steadily decline throughout the series (what is with all the Hulu/Disney+ shows. They start out like a bang then poof out at the end) First off though, Lee Jong Suk is phenomenal in this, there’s no denying that. Im Yoon Na is just as good, the chemistry between them were amazing. The rest of the cast is outstanding as well. The storyline is not overtly complicated nor is the mystery part that hard to figure out, the whole ‘who’s big mouth’ revelation is actually underwhelming when everything was revealed. In the end though, overall It’s a decent thriller suspense kdrama that was entertaining to watch.

[thegirlisuedtobe]

This is a bonus interview translation for the 10th anniversary Elisabeth send off special, which gives context to the previous interview translation with Ock Joo Hyun and Shirota Yu. They met after the concert that is being talked about in this interview.

Initially, I couldn’t find any Elisabeth interviews from 2013 so I just resolved to using this one since three of the four interviewees had been involved in Elisabeth even though they don’t talk about it much. Luckily I found the other one but I didn’t want to let this translation go to waste so a bonus for you all~!

[cherubning]

Unforgettable (2016) dir. Lee Eun Hee

The water is wide, I can't cross over

And neither do I have wings to fly

Give me a boat, carry two

And both shall row

My love and I

[korelist]

DR. ROMANTİC // KDRAMA DİZİ YORUMU

UYARI : Yazılar genel olarak spoiler içerebilir. İçermeyedebilir.

İmdb puanı: 8,3 Benim puanım: 8

Drama: Dr. Romantic / Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim

Hangul: 낭만닥터 김사부

Director: Yu In-Sik, Park Soo-Jin

Writer: Kang Eun-Kyung

Episodes: 20 + 1 special episode

Date: 2016 – 2017 - 2020

Language: Korean

Country: South Korea

1.Cast: Han Suk-Kyu, Yoo Yeon-Seok, Seo Hyun-Jin, Jin Kyung, Kim Min-Jae, Yang Se-Jong, Choi Jin-Ho

2.Cast:  Ahn Hyo-Seop, Lee Sung-Kyung, Kim Joo-Hun, So Ju-Yeon, Byeon Woo-Min

2016 SBS Drama Awards - December 31, 2016

Grand Prize (Han Suk-Kyu)

Excellent Actor (genre) (Yoo Yeon-Seok)

Excellent Actress (genre) (Seo Hyun-Jin)

Ten Star Award (Han Suk-Kyu/Seo Hyun-Jin)

New Star Award (Kim Min-Jae)

Best Couple Award (Yoo Yeon-Seok/Seo Hyun-Jin)

2017 (53rd) BaekSang Arts Awards - May 3, 2017

Best Director (Yu In-Sik)

2020 SBS Drama Awards - December 31, 2020

Excellent Actor (Ahn Hyo-Seop)

Excellent Actress (Lee Sung-Kyung)

Best Supporting Actor (Kim Joo-Hun)

Best Supporting Actress (Jin Kyung)

Best New Actress (So Ju-Yeon)

2020 (56th) BaekSang Arts Awards - June 5, 2020

Best New Actor (Ahn Hyo-Seop)

Bu dizi ile ilgili uzun uzun yorum yazabilecek kadar söyleyecek bir şeyim ne yazık ki yok. Hastane dizilerini seviyorsanız her türlü seveceğiniz bir dizi. Ben çok keyif alarak izledim. Bütün hastane ekibi oyuncuları çok güzeldi. Büyük bir hastanede baş hekimlik yapan bir adamın, yaşadığı bir olay sonrasında kayıplara karışarak küçük bir kasabada küçük bir hastanede ismini değiştirerek çalışmasını anlatıyor. İlk sezonda yanında çalışan iki yeni doktorun gelişimlerine şahit oluyoruz. İkilinin arasındaki romantik hikaye çok ön plana çıkmasa da dizi içerisinde güzel yer edinmiş.

Kang Dong-Joo (Yoo Yeon-Seok ) ve Yoon Seo-Jung (Seo Hyun-Jin) ilk sezonun yıldızlarıydı. Yoo Yeon-Seok ile ilk tanıştığımız diziydi. İlk karşılaşmamızda fazlaca pembe dizi tadında bulsam da şöyle söylemeliyim ki  Mr. Sunshine dizisinde yıkıp geçiyor. Efsaneye dönüşüyor. Seo Hyun-Jin ise Korede başarılı oyuncular arasında ismini yazdırmış, yetenekli kadınlardan birisi. Kendisine en net The Beauty Inside dizisinden aşinayım.  İkisinin de ayrı ayrı trajik hikayeleri arka planda ilerlerken küçük hastanenin hastaları, hastane içinde olan olaylar diziyi götürüyordu. Doktor dizilerinde her bölüm tanıştığımız hastalar asıl hikayeyi şekillendiriyor. Bu dizide hasta hikayeleri yine vardı ama o kadarda ön plana çıkmıyorlardı. Dizi çok ayarında yazılmıştı. Doktorların aralarındaki rekabetler, ameliyatlara girmek için yapılan çekişmeler, özel hayatları ve baş rol Profesör Kim (Han Suk-Kyu)’in hikayesiydi.  

Bu hikayelerin yanı sıra, ilk başta geçen büyük hastanenin müdürü ile Profesör Kim arasındaki husumet anlatılıyordu. Dizinin kötü adamı gerçekten hepimize yaka silktirdi. Bu kötü adamın oğlu da aynı hastanede doktordu, o da ilerleyen bölümlerde profesörün ekibine katılıyordu.

Birinci sezon sonunda hikaye normal seyrinde bittikten sonra genç doktor kadrosunu ikinci sezon için değiştirmişler. İkinci sezon başında çok kısa laf arasında birinin yurtdışında eğitime diğerinin ise sınır tanımaz doktorlara katıldığını söylediler. Müdürün oğlu ise büyük hastaneye geri dönüş yapmış. Birinci sezondan yalnızca müdürün oğlu ikinci sezon konuk oyuncu olarak geliyordu. Başta oyuncuların değişmesi hoşuma gitmese de ikinci sezonu bitirdiğimde damağımda hoş bir tat bıraktı. Bu şekilde yenilikçi bir tavır hoşuma gitti. Belki aynı çift ile devam edilseydi, aynı tadı vermeyebilirdi.

İkinci sezonda Profesör Kim, küçük hastanenin doktor eksiği nedeni ile talepte bulunuyor. Ve bir grup genç doktor hastanede zorunlu çalışmak için gönderiliyor.  Seo Woo-Jin (Ahn Hyo-Seop), Cha Eun-Jae(Lee Sung-Kyung), Bae Moon-Jung (Shin Dong-Wook), Yoon A-Reum(So Ju-Yeon) ikinci sezon gelen genç doktor kadrosu diyebiliriz. Bu sezonun çifti ise, Seo Woo-Jin (Ahn Hyo-Seop), Cha Eun-Jae(Lee Sung-Kyung) oluyor. İlk çifte nazaran bu çiftin romantizm dozu daha da düşüktü. Abbys dizisinden tanıdığımız Ahn Hyo-Seop bu dizide asi söz dinlemez bir genci canlandırıyordu. Weightlifting fairy kim book joo dizisinden tanıdığımız Lee Sung-Kyung ise önceki dizisine nazaran çok daha kadınsı, nazlı ve narin bir karakteri canlandırıyordu. İkilinin uyumu aslında birinci sezon çiftinden daha güzeldi ama yine de birinci sezon çiftinin hikaye derinliğini yakalayamadılar. Çok daha yüzeysel bir ilişkileri var gibiydi.

Jin Kyung’u baş hemşire olarak izlemek çok keyifliydi. Kim Min-Jae ise hemşire rolünde çok arka planda olsa da göze batmayı başarıyordu. Genel olarak karakterler üzerinden yazdığım bir yazı oldu ama dediğim gibi hastane dizileri bölümlük konuları ile biliniyor. Ben bu tarz dizileri sevdiğim için çok keyif aldım. İki sezon olmasından sıkılmadım. Hatta 3.sezon anlaşması yapıldığı için memnunum.

Raven Melus

BAŞKA NELER VAR ?

FOTOĞRAFLAR

[riecurrents]

THROUGH THE CRACKS | CHAPTER 1

HA EUNBYEOL x JOO SEOKKYUNG

SYNOPSIS: Two wounded souls, bound and haunted by their past mistakes, meet again while embarking on a journey of remolding and forgiveness. How do they make each other realize that correcting their mistakes also involves the need to forgive themselves? Read on AO3

TAGS: post-canon, hurt/comfort, feel-good, slow burn, eventual romance, mental health issues (mostly on eunbyeol's part), trauma, angst, fluff, cohabitation, additional tags to come

The flowers Eunbyeol has picked for today’s anniversary are yellow daffodils.

She smiles at the florist, appreciative of how she has decorated the two bouquets, “As usual, Auntie, you never disappoint.”

“How can I, when the one who requested it is my cutest customer?” the florist beams. “Who is it for this time? You hadn’t got two boyfriends, had you?”

Eunbyeol chuckles, raising a brow as she jokes back, “Do I look like I could score myself a boyfriend? Let alone two of them?”

“If it’s not for a boyfriend, then it's all good. My customers buy daffodils when they've done something wrong and need to apologize,” the florist shakes her head humorously. "You don’t look like someone who could wrong your lover, so I got a bit confused.”

“But I really bought these to seek forgiveness,” her smile softens this time around, albeit it's more gloomy—poignant, even, “I searched what daffodils mean before choosing it. I’m quite more knowledgeable about flowers now, don’t you think?”

“That so?” the florist ponders, examining her favorite customer’s expression first before she adds, “Then, here. Take this.”

“Another daffodil?” Confusion wraps Eunbyeol's face. The extra daffodil is wrapped simply in parchment paper and tied with a ribbon of the same shade and color underneath. “But I could only pay for these bouquets.”

“No, it’s for you. Take it for free,” the old woman states. “Seeking forgiveness from someone also includes forgiving yourself.”

Eunbyeol’s smile falters. The florist might not expound but the statement is already clear as day—much to her discomfort. Five years into Suryeon’s death anniversary and she still hasn’t forgiven herself. She doesn’t think she ever could. In this lifetime and even beyond.

After all, unlike any other deaths she had witnessed before, Suryeon’s death was something that would’ve been completely avoided had it not been for her stubbornness. And now as she hands the yellow daffodils to Suryeon’s and Yoonhee’s grave, there is nothing more stark in Eunbyeol’s head right now: she could never forgive herself for this—she never would.

“Ha Eunbyeol?”

Eunbyeol freezes on her spot at the familiar voice. The lump in her throat takes her a good minute or so to respond, “J-joo Seokkyung…”

“It’s been a while,” Seokkyung smiles. “Glad to see you’re doing fine.”

Her stance is casual contrary to Eunbyeol’s nervous one. Seokkyung then kneels on the graveyard to give her offerings: a parfait to Suryeon, and a flower offering to Yoonhee, which is—much to Eunbyeol’s surprise—also a daffodil. Seokkyung closes her eyes with a flat smile and Eunbyeol takes it as a signal to talk to the two departed souls in her mind, hoping nothing else but them hearing her forgiveness.

After a while, Seokkyung speaks out of nowhere, “Thank you… for making the hard decision during the trial day. It gave Mom the justice she very much deserved.”

Eunbyeol shifted uncomfortably, her gaze falling to the ground. “It was the bare minimum,” she murmured, guilt gnawing at her. To make it less apparent, she instead attempts to tease the latter, “So unlikely of you to commend someone for acting as they should, Joo Seokkyung.”

“Doing the right thing doesn’t make it less hard,” Seokkyung says as a matter of fact, “especially if we’re talking about turning your back on your parent.” 

Eunbyeol senses the undertone in Seokkyung’s statement. After all, if anyone in this world could understand how hard it is for her to turn her back on Cheon Seojin, it would be no other than Seokkyung who turned her back on Joo Dantae. 

“I’ll go now,” Eunbyeol stammers, hands shaking, deeply uncomfortable at the wounds resurfacing. 

But then, before she can take another step to leave, Seokkyung speaks again, her tone a little brighter this time. “Are you free today? There’s a restaurant I used to work at nearby. Let’s eat if you haven’t already. My treat.”

“No,” she quickly refuses, which immediately fills Eunbyeol’s guts with guilt. And so she tries to find an excuse. “I-I mean, I have lots to do for today. I’m not supposed to stay long.” Then she starts walking away as fast as she can, hoping Seokkyung will not press her again, hoping that this is the last time they’ll come across each other again.

Her words come back at her, though, because it doesn't take long for her legs to give up.

It’s been two days since she had last eaten.

And much unfortunate for her because Seokkyung comes running to her rescue, her voice urgent as she asks, “Eunbyeol! Are you okay?”

“All good... Don’t mind me. This happens a lot.”

“Come on, let me get you back up.” Left with no choice, she accepts Seokkyung’s hand to stand.

As she tries to stumble away again, however, her stomach grumbles. Oh dear god, Eunbyeol whispers to herself in sheer embarrassment. Please kill me now.

And it takes Seokkyung a strained chuckle to repeat her offer, “Come on. Let’s eat.”

“I said I’m good!” Eunbyeol voice rises, but quickly catches herself this time around—perhaps the age helped to keep her temper in check, unlike their high school, temperamental days. “S-sorry. I didn’t mean to shout.”

“You’re clearly not good.” Seokkyung—with her usual lack of patience—snatches Eunbyeol’s bag, making it her temporary hostage so the latter would have no choice but to follow her. “You see, Eunbyeol, there’s something Mom had told me before.”

“W-what…?”

“You have to eat to get the needed energy to fight and hate me.”

“But… I don’t hate you, Seokkyung… If anything—”

“Yeah?” Seokkyung’s teasing smile remarks that she has already won the conversation. “Go eat with me, then.”

The restaurant is a modest place downtown with warm lighting and the cozy smell of simmering broth. Seokkyung leads the way to a quiet booth, and they slip into their seats. A comfortable silence stars hanging between them, thick with unspoken things that only time could bring to the surface. But then, Eunbyeol is now genuinely confused; not just because Seokkyung asked her to eat with her, but also because the restaurant seems plain and old. This is not a place Eunbyeol would expect Seokkyung to work at all. Hell, she even has a greater question in mind.

"You... work?" The latter's words only sink into Eunbyeol at that moment. Joo Seokkyung, the Cheong-Ah Arts School's spoiled brat, used to work at a measly restaurant downtown? What a piece of news.

“A lot has changed since then. I guess I had to grow up too.” Seokkyung gives a small, half-smile, one that doesn’t reach her eyes but holds a quiet dignity nonetheless. “Come on and order up. I recommend their fried chicken. God, it’s just the best.”

Eunbyeol then takes in Seokkyung’s appearance—the once impeccably styled hair is now casually curled, cut short as if the mornings had no room for vanity. Her clothes are simple—a faded polo and jeans that spoke of practicality rather than the luxury of the past. A small squint and Eunbyeol would see a faint reflection of Min Seol Ah, the girl they had both wronged in ways that could never be undone.

As they wait for their food, Seokkyung glances up at the baffled Eunbyeol, her gaze direct yet unguarded in a way that also makes the latter’s heart flutter. “How are you doing, really? You say your feet collapsing happens a lot. Does it mean you also starve yourself a lot?”

“N-no, I was lying,” Eunbyeol takes a breath, collecting her thoughts. “I forgot to eat breakfast this morning.” Only to pile it up with another lie. The truth is, Eunbyeol becomes like this whenever it’s nearing Suryeon’s death anniversary. And because she lives alone in a small apartment Yoonchul had left for her, no one gets to scold her for her bad eating and mental health habits.

“But you look—” Seokkyung hesitates, perhaps she has also learned how to hold her tongue to people. “How are you doing lately? How’s your life since then?”

“I sing in the church choir now. It’s… peaceful,” Eunbyeol smiles almost shyly. “After everything that happened, I needed somewhere quiet, somewhere where I could find myself again.”

Seokkyung’s lips curve into a small smile too, deeming Eunbyeol’s shy one contagious. “I envy you for that—finding a place that way, I mean. For me, it’s been more about finding places that will hire me.”

“I still find it hard to believe that you now work,” Eunbyeol giggles. “You’re doing okay, though? Really?”

Seokkyung nods, “Teaching music is something I actually love. Even the part-time jobs… they’re humbling, but I think I needed that. To see what life is like for people who didn’t have what we did… back then.”

The food arrives, and they begin to eat in silence, each bite a quiet reunion of shared history and tentative new beginnings. Eunbyeol watches Seokkyung across the table, noticing the way her eyes crinkle a little when she sips her soup, and how she no longer seems weighed down by the bitterness and arrogance that once surrounded her. There’s a quiet strength to her now, a kindness that hadn’t been there before.

As they finished their meal, Eunbyeol gathered the courage to say, “You shouldn’t be this kind to me.”

“Yeah?” Much to Eunbyeol’s strange remark, Seokkyung just nonchalantly asks, “Why?”

“After all the things I’ve done—”

“Why? You think I was an angel back in the days?”

“No!” Eunbyeol snaps, then shuts her eyes tight at the slip of her temper yet again. She seems to be moody recently. She wonders if it’s because she’s been skipping meals. “You don’t understand. T-that day, when Aunt Suryeon died, I—”

“Stop.”

“Aunt Suryeon’s death could’ve been avoided had I not been a stubborn little—” but she couldn’t say it.

Had I not been a stubborn little prick and believed Aunt Suryeon the day my father died, she wouldn’t have to die in my mother’s hands. Had I not believed that my monster of a mother would ever change, then Seokkyung and Seokhoon would still have their—

“Eunbyeol,” Seokkyung lowly calls, the authority and command lacing her voice snaps Eunbyeol back from it. “Look at me.”

And so Eunbyeol does, albeit with the corner of her lips shaking.

“Live with it.”

“I—”

“Listen,” Seokkyung hand reaches her shaking one. She grips it, looking at her firmly as she adds, “We live with it. Everything. The sins we’ve done. The guilt for the people we’ve wronged. We live with it.”

“That’s why I’ve been saying you shouldn’t be this kind to me!” The tears prickling Eunbyeol’s eyes finally pours down and she couldn’t look Seokkyung in the eye. “I’m a wicked human being undeserving of all of this. Aunt Suryeon died because of me the same way Aunt Yoonhee did. All your pain from losing her, all the—”

“And then what are you gonna do? Let’s say you’ve really wronged me for not preventing my mom’s death. What then? Are you gonna keep running away from me? Gonna do everything to not cross with me or my brother? Because we remind you of your so-called sin?”

And finally, Eunbyeol can understand where Seokkyung is coming from. Seokkyung’s gaze is unrelenting, and her grip on her hand is hard, telling of how Seokkyung wants this conversation to go. Eunbyeol will not be standing up on that chair until her point is registered.

“If you really feel like you’ve wronged me, then ask for my forgiveness. And note that my forgiveness isn’t gained by shutting me off or running away from me.”

And, just as if it's the needed signal, Eunbyeol finally breaks down, her sob louder than the previous one, enough for the person seated next to them to turn his back. “I’m so sorry. Seokkyung, I’m so sorry.”

As her sobs tip higher with multiple utterances of “I’m sorry,” “Please,” “I’ve been wrong,” and “Forgive me,” Seokkyung stays still. Her hand is still holding Eunbyeol’s, her face as hard as steel.

“Yeah, that’s just right,” Seokkyung affirms, almost nonchalantly, but when Eunbyeol raises her head, she sees Seokkyung’s soft gaze—her eyes tearful. “There you go, Ha Eunbyeol. Much easier than walking away with a rumbling stomach, no?”

The snarky remark pulls a sudden chuckle out of tears and snot-riddled Eunbyeol. 

“Yes,” Eunbyeol could only shake her head, wiping her snot along the way. How ridiculous this situation is, really. “Much easier than what I did.”

Seokkyung’s face softens, a wistful sadness in her eyes. “There are lots of people I want to seek forgiveness for, but I can’t because they’re gone. If you see someone you’d like to apologize to, don’t run away from them. Beg them. Kneel if need be. And when they ask you to eat with them, appease them. If that’s what it’d take to gain their forgiveness.”

“Is this how I’m gonna earn your forgiveness? By eating with you? Your treat, no less?” Eunbyeol raises a brow after a while, eyes still red but now lighter in feeling.

“You wish,” Seokkyung scoffs. “Next time we go out, it will be your treat.”

Eunbyeol chuckles at first because when she realizes this, her smile falters. “Y-you’d like to keep in touch?”

“Well, I just wanna see if you’ve really changed,” Seokkyung weakly utters. “You want to earn my forgiveness, right?”

It doesn’t take long for Eunbyeol to deduce that Seokkyung is just reasoning out of thin air. Out of sheer concern, she asks, “You... You don’t have friends, do you?”

“Hey!” she snaps. “What about you? Do you even have friends? You look like you haven’t eaten for years!”

“I have!” Eunbyeon snaps back.

“Really?”

“Yes!” Her middle-aged choir members count as friends, right? “I could bring you to them sometime if you want.”

“Well—” Seokkyung’s eyes dart all over the place, seemingly coming up with something to say. She smirks when she’s found her words. “Have you become a friend Seol Ah would have deserved to have? That’s my standard.”

For a moment, neither of them speak, both lost in the heaviness of those memories. Seokkyung’s gaze, although still soft, is taunting, challenging Eunbyeol if she has something to say about that.

Eunbyeol feels a warmth rise in her chest, a hope she hasn’t allowed herself in years. This time, she’s the one to reach out her hand to Seokkyung’s. “Would you… come with me to choir sometime?” Eunbyeol whispers a small but heartfelt invitation.

Seokkyung’s eyes sparkle with a hint of that old mischief, “Why? Are you gonna exorcise me or something? I’ve been remolding, but I’m not very religious just yet, you know?”

“No!” Eunbyeol laughs. “If you want to see if I really changed, then have a glimpse of the life I’m having right now. Be the judge. What do you think?”

Seokkyung hums in ponder. Then she nods, yet with another teasing dare, “Only if you promise to visit my class. My students need to see what a real singer looks like.”

“Would I be allowed to see them?”

“Of course, you nitty-gritty soprano,” Seokkyung rolls her eyes. “Lower your standards, though. They sound nasty.”

Eunbyeol laughs even more, the sound like a release of all the burdens she’d carried. She had expected Seokkyung to be cold or bitter, maybe even resentful, but here she is—earnest, even welcoming. A part of Eunbyeol wants to say no, to keep her distance and push her away because she doesn’t think she deserves it. But another part of her—the one that still remembered the girl Seokkyung used to be—is holding her back.

They leave the restaurant together, walking side by side through the quiet streets, catching up as the late afternoon settles around them.

Each step feels like a path forward, not away from the past but towards a future they could build. Thus, just when they are about to part ways at the bus stop, Eunbyeol hands Seokkyung something from her bag.

“Here, take this,” Eunbyeol nudges.

“A flower? The one you’ve given my mom?!” Seokkyung scoffs. “Am I dead—”

“Come on, just take it!” Eunbyeol shoves it to Seokkyung just as her bus arrives. The latter had no choice but to receive it, albeit genuinely confused.

Before the bus door closes, Eunbyeol explains, “Daffodils. Search up what they mean.”

“Why don’t you just—”

“Bye!” she waves, and the door finally closes, leaving a baffled Seokkyung. 

“Tch, what a hassle,” and yet Seokkyung fiddles on her phone to search for it.

She ends up chuckling, rolling her eyes along the way.

“That fool. What a weird way to ask for my forgiveness.”

Lies. In fact, Seokkyung thinks it’s cute.

next >>>

[k-star-holic]

Ko Chang-seok "Knowing Bros" (Kim Hye-soo, who greeted me at the time of obscurity, "Doubtful to me"

[stuff-diary]

Revenge of Others

TV Shows/Dramas watched in 2022

Revenge of Others (2022, South Korea)

Director: Kim Yoo Jin

Writer: Lee Hee Myung

Mini-review:

I basically started watching this because of Park Solomon and the first episode was kinda meh. However, it got a lot better with each following episode and it ended up becoming a really fun murder mystery. It kept the twists and surprises coming and it always kept me guessing and thinking, which isn't easy with this kind story that's been told a million times. I'm not going to lie, I did not like the last two episodes and I think the writer's only goal was to make shocking final reveals, even if they didn't make much sense. But, other than that, I had so much fun watching this show and I will miss my weekly dosis and Shin Ye Eun/Chanmi and Park Solomon/Sooheon. Also, kudos to Shin Ye Eun cause she killed this role, and the rest of the cast was pretty good too.

[prbni]

"Had she initiated a peck, he would have turned it into an intense lip lock" pairings in KDramas

Ku San Young(Kim Tae Ri) and Lee Hong Sae(Hong Kyung) in Revenant

Cha Se Eum(Kim Young Ae) and Yoo Jeong Jae(Lee Moon Sang) in Maestra: Strings of Truth

Lee Gang Hyeon( Park Ji Hyun) and Jin Yi Soo(Ahn Bo Hyun) in Flex x Cop

Lim Jukyung(Moon Gayoung) and Han Seojun(Hwang Inyeop) in True Beauty

Oh In Joo (Kim Go Eun) and Choi Do il(Wi Ha Joon) in Little Women(2022)

Kang Nam Soon (Lee Yoomi) and Ryu Shi Oh (Byun Woo Seok) in Strong Woman Kang Nam Soon

Kang Sol A(Ryu Hye Young) and Han Joon Hwi(Kim Bum) in Law School

Bonus: Japanese Drama Couple

Didn't get a better GIF for them

Kokuryu Kirika(Mio Imada) and Tennoji Haru (Meguro Ren) in Trillion Game

[junkobato]

Upcoming Kdrama January 2024 🌈

1/1: Marry My Husband with Park Min Young, Na In Woo, Lee Yi Kyung. 16 episodes; rom-com, fantasy.

2/1: Love Song for Illusion with Park Ji Hoon, Ji Woo, Hwang Hee. 16 episodes; historical, romance, fantasy.

12/1: Knight Flower with Lee Hanui, Lee Jong Won, Lee Ki Woo. 12 episodes; historical, mystery, comedy.

17/1: A Shop for Killers with Lee Dong Wook, Kim Hye Joon, Seo Hyun Woo. 8 episodes; action, thriller.

19/1: the Bequeathed with Kim Hyun Joo, Park Hee Soon, Park Byung Eun. 6 episodes; thriller, mystery.

19/1: LTNS with Ahn Jae Hong, Esom. 6 episodes; rom-com.

21/1: Captivating the King with Jo Jung Seok, Shin Se Kyung, Lee Shin Young. 16 episodes; historical, melodrama.

26/1: Flex X Cop with Ahn Bo Hyun, Park Ji Hyun, Kwak Si Yang. 16 episodes; action, mystery, rom-com.

27/1: Doctor Slump with Park Shin Hye, Park Hyung Shik, Yoon Park. 16 episodes; medical, rom-com.

31/1: Queen of Divorce with Lee Ji Ah, Kang Ki Young, Oh Min Suk. 12 episodes; law, drama.

Let's start the year with some good dramas!!