#korean natural eros

[cartoonistcoop]

ShortBox Comics Member Interview: Sloane Hong

Throughout the month of October, the Cartoonist Cooperative will be sharing interviews with members of the Co-op who have a new comic available at the ShortBox Comics Fair 2024! 

NOTE: The Cartoonist Cooperative is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way formally connected with ShortBox.  

Today’s spotlight is Sloane Hong ( @plaest2k ) and their new comic for ShortBox, Expiry Date.

We’d love it if you could introduce yourself and tell us about your background in comics.

Sloane Hong: Kia ora, my name is Sloane Hong (she/her), I’m a Korean-tauiwi illustrator, comic artist and tattooer based in Aotearoa, New Zealand. I only started making comics professionally about five years ago but they’ve always been a significant part of my life for as long as I can remember.

Tell us more about your new comic?

SH: Expiry Date is an erotic, body horror, sci-fi short story about coming home from a long day at your shitty, minimum-wage job, crashing on your couch and fantasizing about how fucking good it would feel to just die.

I mean, it’s also about transness, labour rights, our relationship with our bodies and death under capitalism, etc but it’s mostly about shitty jobs.

My friend described it as “what if David Cronenberg was a transsexual dyke who grew up reading ero-guro”.

What are some early experiences as a cartoonist that shaped you or your process?

SH: My brother’s also an artist, probably better than I could ever be, and I basically owe any good taste I might have to him. Growing up, I always got home from school first so I’d sneak into his room to admire his drawings and read his comics. He had most of the usual stuff you’d find on any Korean kid’s shelf in the 90’s: Akira Toriyama, Masamune Shirow, Yoshito Usui, etc, and a couple of Korean manhwa that are all now damn-near impossible to find. As he got older, he started getting into American comics and brought home stuff like R. Crumb, Daniel Clowes, Fletcher Hanks, etc from the library.

But it’s not just that I had someone to introduce me to all this stuff, it’s the fact I’m six years younger than him and he was already reading this stuff earlier than most. So I think I started looking at all those misanthropic underground comics by horny white men when I was, like, what… about 10 years old?

Besides my brother, the trauma of working shitty jobs for years on end, The Terrible Boredom of Paradise, and this weird and fucked up miracle we call life are probably the wellsprings of both my inspiration and ceaseless burnout. 

Tell us about your creative process; how did you develop this comic and what are the steps you took to bring it to the final stage?

SH: I did something really stupid for the 2023 ShortBox Comics Fair. I have ADHD and one of the many ways it manifests is that I have a debilitating habit of overthinking my stories. “Are the themes too obvious? Is it too heavy handed? Are the motivations for this character clear enough? Is this the right way to phrase this? Is this the right word? Is this the right letter? Is this the right punctuation?” etc, etc.

On paper, it probably sounds like something every writer goes through but when I say debilitating, I mean interferes-with-my-ability-to-live-a-normal-life-kind of debilitating. It’s kind of impossible to articulate how bad it was but it got to a point where I was so sick of myself and all the stories I never finished that I said fuck it–maybe if I just jump into a comic with nothing but a stupid premise, no planning and an impending deadline, I won’t have time to think about all these inconsequential details. So I sat down and forced myself to write, pencil and ink a comic, page-by-page.

It was essentially an exercise in automatism: I was still thinking about draftsmanship, composition, flow and everything but I kinda just let the story tell itself by writing/ drawing whatever felt like a natural progression for the narrative.

That was how I ended up with Marrow, which was kinda funny because the whole point was to make a goofy, low-stakes comic about nothing to circumvent the pressure of having to write anything good. Instead I’d inadvertently made something that was layered and deeply intimate and won the sci-fi category in the 2024 Minicomic Awards. But, more importantly, the whole process helped bring everything together. It reminded me of something I used to tell young artists: developing a style isn’t something you really set out to do, it’s something that just happens. You don’t practice drawing to get better at drawing; you do it to better channel your voice. It’s only when you can stop thinking about how to move your hand that your heart can take the lead.

I’d forgotten my own advice. I was so concerned about the technical details of how to write a story that I was basically assembling components rather than writing anything at all. Marrow helped me realize I’d already internalized everything I needed to write long ago. I just needed to stop thinking.

Expiry Date was a continuation of that process and made in basically the same way. There was just significantly less stress involved now that I knew I could trust myself.

Mostly.

Read the rest of the interview HERE! And dont forget to check out the Shortbox Comics Fair to support these lovely creators!!

[hakusins]

Very important question from someone you may or may not know:

Are you interested in Greek Mythology? If so, do you have any favourite gods, goddesses, creatures, and myths? Can we also know why you like them? 🎤

yeah i like greek mythology a normal amount. bjhEBRJHFBHJERBFJJEBRHF

BUT IN ALL HONESTY, anon - this ask had me running around clawing at my walls screeching and IT DEFINITELY WOKE UP A LOT OF DEMONS THAT WERE SLEEPING IN MY HEAD HJERBFBJHERF i actually had to take the whole day to just calm myself down.

no i don't like greek mythology i LOVE IT. I ALSO LOVE EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY, NORSE MYTHOLOGY, RIGHT NOW DABBLING INTO EAST ASIAN MYTHOLOGY LIKE KOREAN, JAPANESE AND CHINESE BUT IM GETTING THERE !!!!!! BHJTGBHJRHJHERFHBERFJ GRRRRRGRGGRHETGGRER. !!!!!!!!! IM SUCH A NERD, I LOVE LEARNING ABOUT MYTHS, I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT MYTHS !!!!!!!!!! its why I love the BL series ENNEAD and I LOVE LOVE LOVE xianxia danmei novels because ANYTHING WITH MYTHS WILL HAVE MY HEART!!!!!!

okay now onto your questions! In all honesty, from my very very deep and in depth knowledge of all of them, it is safe to say I can't say i think of any of them as cool or anything. i think they're all assholes one way or another. but i do quite like {oseidon because myths involving him are always the funniest to me JBHREFBJHREF but for goddesses... hm, there's not much but i quite like athena :DDD I honestly don't really have favourite goddesses/gods, but I do have favourite creatures!!!

THE MINOTAUR, ASTERION, IS DEFINITELY MY FAVOURITE !!!! HIS STORY TO ME IS SO TRAGIC, like he was always destined to be a monster - there was no moment since his conception that he could be anything BUT a monster and its just so utterly heartbreaking because this perversion of nature was created just by the gods, so by that principle, shouldn't he be something to be revered? something to be respected? or is it because his mom fucked the sacred bull gifted by Poseidon in order to conceive him that dictates that he is nothing more than a stain on his family, that he was an abomination that shouldn't have been born? bUT NOT ONLY THAT, his creation is the results of the gods' intending to punish King Minos for his arrogance and greed, but they made Queen Pasiphae, his wife, to bear the brunt of the humiliation? Like she's an innocent party in this matter, but she's the one who is forced to bear a half bull child and her husband just gets humiliation? I DONT KNOW ITS JUST, the creature of the Minotaur just fascinates me deeply that I want to nitpick the author or just the person who begun this myth because what was the cultural environment that inspired this myth? Was there a real life event that inspired this? Or was this just a cruel and sick imagination of how mortals think the gods dole out their punishments?

I CAN HONESTLY YAP THE SAME WITH MEDUSA, but Medusa had so many chances to not BECOME the gorgon Medusa. Like there could be timelines where Medusa was not a priestess in Athena's temple, where her tragedy began. Medusa could've chosen to be something or someone else and there's a chance she could've escaped her fate. THE MINOTAUR NEVER GOT THAT CHANCE, hell if you asked anyone with a mild knowledge of Greek mythology, no one would know that the Minotaur's name is Asterion! They only know him as the Minotaur, the beast of the Labyrinth.

but for myths, I honestly can't choose - Helen of Troy? Odysseus? Arachne? King Midas? Ixion? Sisyphus? Tantalus? Lycaon? Europa? The foundation of Athens? The birth of Peresphone? Hades and Persephone? Eros and Psyche? Adonis? Narcissus? Jason and the Argonauts? Perseus? Theseus? Heracles? The Titanomachy? The birth of Aphrodite? The Gigantomachy? Atalante? Typhon and Echidna? The birth of Dionysus? The several renditions of the birth of Zagreus? The birth of Hermes? Achilles and Patroclus? The women of the Amazon? The Titans? Pandora's Box? I CAN GO ON BUT THERE'S JUST TOO MUCH FOR ME TO TALK ABOUT !!! I HONESTLY HAVE SO MUCH FUN AND IM LOVING SO MUCH BERJFJBHERJBFEJHRF URHGRGHT please come back to talk to me about greek mythology anon please please please please, i swear i'm normal.

[cupidengaged]

Confidential & Classified

     To: The Esteemed Codebreaker

     From: EROS, Director of Cupid Secret Service

     Subject: Revelation of Cupid Agent - Operation AMOURSHADOW

Esteemed Codebreaker,

I trust this encrypted message reaches you in the shadows of utmost secrecy. It is with great admiration and respect that I extend my gratitude for your exceptional codebreaking prowess. Your unrivalled skills have unveiled the enigma that lies at the heart of Operation AMOURSHADOW.

Introduction:

Within the veiled realm of Cupid Secret Service, there exists a figure cloaked in mystery—the enigmatic Cupid Agent, known by the name Cecilion Rogers, operating under the code name AMOURSHADOW. Since his initiation in 2016, he has illuminated our covert world with the artistry of love.

Agent Profile:

Name: Cecilion Rogers

Code Name: AMOURSHADOW

Specialization: Field Cupid Agent and Love Orchestrator

Field Agent since: 2016

Birth Date: June 15, 1999

Place of Origin: Detroit, United States

Languages: Fluent in 5 languages: English, Korean, Indonesian, French, and Mandarin.

Abilities:

     Adaptability: Cecilion seamlessly adapts to any environment, blending in with ease.

     Body Language Skill: His keen observation of non-verbal cues allows him to understand unspoken emotions.

     Observational Acuity: With a keen eye, Cecilion assesses situations swiftly and accurately.

     Empathic Sensitivity: His empathic nature enables him to intuitively connect with others' emotions.

Background:

Born and raised in the vibrant city of Detroit, Cecilion Rogers emerged as a linguist prodigy, mastering five languages at an early age. His innate ability to understand the intricacies of human emotions led him to the realm of affairs of the heart. Cultivating adaptability, body language expertise, and acute observation skills, he embarked on a clandestine path as a Cupid Agent, orchestrating love's encounters with finesse.

Missions Accomplished:

Over the course of his service, Cecilion has successfully executed nineteen covert missions, uniting hearts destined for one another. Among his triumphs lies a single instance of capture, which occurred during his inaugural mission—a mere blemish on his otherwise impeccable record.

Ancestral Secrets:

Within the shadows of Cecilion's ancestral lineage, hidden threads of Korean heritage flow through the elusive chromosome X. Despite the restrictive veils cast by his parents, DNA reveals an enigmatic connection to the East, leaving us with a tantalizing mystery yet to be unraveled.

Current Assignment:

Presently, Cecilion resides in the captivating tapestry of Indonesia, where love intertwines amidst the enchanting cities. As he navigates the realm of love's intrigue, his artistry influences the destinies of those fated to find one another. His current mission spans the diverse landscapes of Indonesia, where Cupid's touch brings forth unforgettable connections.

Self-Destruction Protocol:

This correspondence is imbued with classified information. Upon reading, evoke the protocol: [CLASSIFIED]. Witness the ephemeral flames of secrecy engulf this message, leaving no trace behind.

In the realm of Cupid Secret Service, enigmas entwine with the ethereal artistry of love. Your exceptional expertise has brought us closer to the heart of AMOURSHADOW. Embrace your role as the guardian of shadows, where love's mysteries thrive.

With deepest reverence and secrecy,

EROS Director of Cupid Secret Service

[specs-tacularmen]

이이일일공칠🇰🇷ViRBRo

[phallic-thighs]

I usually keep my eyes closed and let my clients concentrate on their wank.

ഈ ജൈ ഗ്യോ।൨൨.൦൨.൨൪

[back-is-beautiful]

Deliveries at rear.

౨౧/౦౫/౧౯

[supermen-with-black-hair]

কিম কিডোং। ২১০২২৪

[livealittleoc-cb]

“Love is so complicated yet so lovely, when you find the one things could never go bad but when things go wrong everything crumbles.”

:･ﾟ✧:･.☽˚｡･ﾟ✧:･.: Ace Azarolla

⋆｡°✩ Warlock, Blessed as the Water Elemental, Specializes in Love Magic

⋆｡°✩ Apart of the royal guard, instantly made a high ranker his freshman year because of his skill with weapons && his elemental power, likes to form swords out of ice

⋆｡°✩ Gets extra cash as a tailor/seamstress

⋆｡°✩ Destined to become the next Cupid by Eros, Cupid && Aphrodite’s blessing, he is able to make people fall in love && create love potions, has a heart mark under his left eye to show it

⋆｡°✩ Loves animals! He has 4 familiars: 

Artic Wolf named Claw

Bee named Honey

Goose named Quack

Swan named Beauty

⋆｡°✩ From Blaiya, the human equivalent to Guadalajara, Mexico [Is mixed: Geskia/Philippines [Mom], Blaiya/Mexico [Mom && Dad]]

⋆｡°✩ He/She/They [Genderfluid] | Omnisexual, Demisexual, Polyamorous | 25 | 2/18 [Aquarius] | 5’9”

⋆｡°✩ He is:

the BIGGEST bear hugger

is super loving

caring 

is literally the embodiment of ‘looks like a cinnamon roll but will actually kill you’

he’s just a silly little man

can be a little shit

Extras

⋆｡°✩ natural eye color: pink

⋆｡°✩ eyes might change color: happy [brighter pink], anger [hot pink], sadness [pastel pink]

⋆｡°✩ little hearts pop around him when he is happy or flustered, his irises might even shape into hearts

⋆｡°✩ likes: mischief, pink white && red, sweets && sour foods, hugs, fashion, shopping, romance, books, shows, movies

⋆｡°✩ dislikes: hate, rude people, unnecessary pain/violence

⋆｡°✩ languages: english, spanish, korean, a little bit of italian

NSFW

⋆｡°✩ switch, can be an obedient sub or a soft dom; some of his kinks are temperature play [giving && receiving], spit play, roleplay/dressing up/cross dressing, rope play, pet names [bunny, sweetheart,etc.] [giving && receiving], possessiveness, praise [giving], impact play [receiving], dirty talk [giving && receiving], orgasam control [giving && receiving], squriting, pet play [will be your bunny], toys

⋆｡°✩ hard nos: feet, watersports, wasteplay

⋆｡°✩ is willing to explore other kinks just talk to him before you act

⋆｡°✩ when subbing is an obedient baby bunny but might get a little whiney if teased too much, he isn’t super patient

⋆｡°✩ when domming is the softest dom, he tends to care more for his partner’s pleasure && will give so much praise

⋆｡°✩ his eyes turn a wine red when arroused

⋆｡°✩ safe word: heart

⋆｡°✩ uses ♥️ on dash

Relationship Statuses

He is in a relationship with Dionysus!!!

⋆｡°✩ at disney && having the time of his life~

⋆｡°✩ happily dating [4/5]: @welcome-to-maniac​ Felix [fairy kitten 🐈💘] [3.29.23], @kardpackcb JSeph [golden eyes🍯💛] [4.8.23], @fantasyaespa Ningning [sunshine ☀️💎] [12.20.22] [engaged on 12.25.23], married to @theinvitation-bot Yangyang [baby mouse 🐭👑] [4.30.23]; uniterested

⋆｡°✩ dating di [their dino 🦕] && @monsterhigh-cb Hongjoong [their puppy 🐶] [ace && dionysus will not be taking anymore partners together]

⋆｡°✩ friends: @badbf-cb Lisa [lili 🛍️💕] 

⋆｡°✩ family:

Tags

⋆｡°✩ relationship tag(s): #🩵🩷ninace [queen of hearts ship tag], #☀️❄️sunshine of life [queen of hearts ship tag], #💍engaged to my heart [ninace engagement tag], #🩷💛acelix [pretty freckled boy ship tag], #🌻🐣baby chick [pretty freckled boy ship tag], #💛🩷sephace [dream man ship tag], #⭐️💝dream man [dream man ship], #🩶🩷yangace [vampire king ship tag], #👑🐭king of kings [vampire king ship tag], 💍💒my dark king [yangace marriage tag], #💙🩷joongace [little puppy ship tag], #💙❤️🩷joongdice [throuple ship tag], #⚡️🐶lightning puppy [little puppy ship tag]

⋆｡°✩ friend tag(s): #💕🩷liace [the best of best friends friend tag], #💵🛍️shopping buddy [the best of best friends friend tag]

⋆｡°✩ family tag(s):

⋆｡°✩ music tag(s):

⋆｡°✩ inspo tag(s):

faceclaim: @/fabiicapri on instagram

[specs-tacularmen]

🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶

তোংযল । 동열

🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶🕶

২২১১২১। 이이일일이일

[phallic-thighs]

"What's that you said about how the sexualization of the male body emasculates a man?"

"Hold on a second, while I get ready to rip you to shreds…"

조치원 210922

[supermen-with-black-hair]

King Kwon says it:

“I only live once. Enjoy my body.”

ক্বন্ উংগূ। ২০১১০৫

[cosmictulips]

A sort of Reintroduction

because it's time to clear some things up

also thank you to @introvertedlion7711 who will either be tagged or not because tumblr.. isn't showing... your blog as I type this lmao --- for the beautiful name suggestion because I saw it, I screamed and I knew it had to be mine uwu.

so with the mess of the discourse, and a bunch of people unfollowing, following, etc. and the fact Im at 4250 posts and 425 followers, I figure it's time that a lot of people know what my blog is because it has kind of had some small booms lately and a lot of people don't think my blog is anything outside of tarot.

and I got some news for you LOL

so let me reintroduce myself since been years.

Hi!

I can't form question marks without tumblr doing something weird! my name is Taryn, but please call my Tulips or Cosmic. or Taryn. Idk. whatever suits ya lol.

I am 25 years old, going on 26. Astrologically speaking I am a Taurus Sun, Virgo Moon, Pisces Rising. I have Mars and Saturn in my first house, and I have a sagittarius midheaven. many people like me, many people don't. it's interesting because I also have Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune in the 11th house. so... pls... be my friend uwu I like talking to people.

I am a witch of many things! Ocean stuff, Space stuff, Earth and Nature stuff. Hedge Witch. I'm a hedge witch lol. Not to be confused with Plant stuff because I can't keep plants alive but I sure do love to know about them lmao.

I have plenty of tags which you can find in my pin post. Id recommend checking them out because a lot of it, you can't find anymore because the person deactivated lol. I'm like a weird time keeper.

and this is the stuff I like to reblog and post about. not just tarot readings. and tarot stuff.

In terms of witchcraft and all these fun divination things, I've been doing it for a long time. since I was 11. Tarot since I was about 16 but fully committed at 19. I work with many Gods. Norse and Greek. though I know a lot about Celtic and Roman as well. My sister works with the Norse Gods so while I don't personally worship them, they have popped up for messages and are pretty chill with me. so that's nice.

My gods that currently worship are as followed :: Zeus, Aphrodite, Athena, Artemis, Nike, Soteria, Eirene and Enyo. these are in no particular order of importance of my life. though Aphrodite is always hanging around my shoulder.

In recent time I've felt Eros, Apollo and Hermes sneak around. so I'm trying to work with them as well as Hecate and Hestia. Hestia in particular wants me to practice Bindrunes so at some point you will all see that too. I got a deck coming in at some point in the year. so be on the look out lmao.

I have a temper. a lot of you have seen that already. it's not an attitude problem, it's a respect problem. I'm a very nice person until you disrespect me. that's just how it is. I don't believe respect should be earned, it's automatically given and it's up to you to keep it. that's all I will say about that.

I can understand 4 languages. French, Dutch, ASL and Japanese. Japanese is a little wishy washy but it's getting there. I'm also learning Norwegian, Greek and I'm thinking about getting into Korean or Mandarin. idk.

UHm but yea going back to like, the witchcraft and astrology stuff. I am dominant in Uranus energy. Uranus, Mars and Saturn. what a FUCKING trio lmao. I have a lot of fire and air in my chart so have fun with that. and I guess capricorn since Saturn is like... my top guy. these aren't the first, second, third placements by the way. they're a three way tie LOL.

I am Dyslexic. I have ADHD if you haven't noticed, and I have a lot of anxiety to the point of paranoia....and anger issues. I won't be afriad to admit that. I'm working on it though. it's why my perfectionism is so strong and my will to survive is so weak.

I don't really care to talk about that kind of stuff though. I don't see it as a badge of honor like a lot of other people. I just see it as a way of my life. the fact that I even have to put some of this in order to gain some sympathy from some of you is kind of annoying. but whatever. it is what it is. and i"d like you to know this bit about me.

some other fun facts about me::

1. I get horribly motion sick a lot.

2. I get headaches... every day. regardless of what I eat or drink. I don't know.

3. I think my ears are fucked up LOL I once lost hearing for a whole year. I don't know.

4. I am a twin =)

5. fastest way to my heart is to send me photos of your pets. you'll get a free reading from it and make my night.

6. Id like to be an Ambassador someday. or a Linguistic Anthropologist. travel around the world, learn languages and help restore cultures and languages that we're so constantly losing.

7. I'm a huge humanitarian. I care way too much about other peoples suffering. it's almost... debilitating lmao.

8. I'm dumbly intuitive. you can't get much past me. sorry.

9. ask me about space. ASK ME.

10. Tulips are my favorite flower c=

[vicecityhq]

██████████████]99% LOADING...SUSPECT INTO THE APD DATABASE...

WITNESS(ES) SAY HE REMINDS THEM OF: stripcore, bimbocore, angelcore . With a slight resemblance to LEE DONGHYUCK (HAECHAN) of/the NCT DREAM/127.

CLICK BELOW TO VIEW ENTIRE FILE.

FULL FILE:

last name, first name: seo yejun alias: eros realm of birth: the heavens age: 21 date of birth: 00/06/06 gender: non-binary preferred pronouns: he/they species: cupid occupation: stripper at cache sexual orientation: gay™️

VISUAL FILE:

skin color: n/a eye color: pink scars: n/a piercings: belly button, tongue tattoos: n/a hair color: pink abnormalities: n/a horns/ wings/ etc: white wings transformed form: n/a

PERSONAL FILE:

religious belief: agnostic  sins: lust virtues: humility known languages: korean, english, spanish, french secrets: has bipolar disorder and hides his alcohol/drug addictions savvies: dancing, singing, makeup/fashion 

powers & abilities: cupid physiology, enhanced beauty, love manipulation, love potion creation, mild madness manipulation, desire manipulation, and flight

traits: charming, social, intelligent / impatient, moody, blunt

BACKGROUND CHECK:

date of birth: 00/06/06 date of death: n/a crime record: drug use (human world)

Background/Biography:

yejun doesn’t remember much about heaven, about being born. he doesn’t really know much outside the life he lives now, bright neon lights and back alleys, stripper poles and lines of drugs on silver platters. he knows far too much about the nature of humanity to really give a shit about being from another realm, especially one associated with god and paradise. surely, someone like him couldn’t be from somewhere like that.

and with the gifts he’s given, there’s no possibility of being pure.

he finds comfort in the touch of a stranger, defying the house rules just to make a handful more of cash. there’s something about the anonymity of it, the act of being vulnerable, of being touched, loved, without the consequences of it. yejun knows no one will ever truly know him, and he’s comforted by it, the freedom of it. but it leaves the empty parts of him more empty, hollow and bare. even the drugs and alcohol don’t make up for it, the loneliness of his swinging emotions or the shake of his palm.  

truly, when he’s alone, he is numb; laughs when he cries, breaks himself down to atoms, past the shape of his wings, the pink and glowing hue of his skin. he looks like an angel, his skin is soft, warm, and velvet like one, but every part of him deceives, cuts like glass, burns so hot that it catches on fire, swift and

so he choses to live his life in the dark, so different from how and where he was born. he lives in cigarette smoke, in the fleeting pleasure of a one nightstand, or the loud, thumping music in the club

INTERVIEW QUESTION (para sample): “Just run us through what happened that night”. - Officer

“just tell us what happened that night.” yejun’s fingers fiddle with the lace attached to his outfit. he knew he should have done laundry and his laziness comes in the form of cheap silks that scratch against his skin. he lets out a sigh and rolls his neck to elevate some of the stiffness while he thinks, sitting pretty on the leather couch in the back of the club. part of him thinks that the cops are here questioning the employees just so they can get a free show and if they���re not arresting him, he has no intention of giving them any information.

“i came to work and it went how it usually does, usuals and private rooms. if you want the details, you’ll just have to come visit me sometime. otherwise, i’m not sure what else to tell you. i don’t pay attention to the gangs, i’m just here to take off my clothes and get paid for it.”

[ji-sued]

violation: shirt | hjs

When you’re an idiot that protects before thinking, you end up being an even bigger idiot… with Han Jisung’s number.

So, maybe, you’re not an idiot after all.

pairing: han jisung x reader genre: fluff drabble, fansign!au word count: 4k contains: very slight mention of suicide/suicidal thoughts, an unrealistic situation, you = idiot

“What’s your secret confidence-booster?” he read the question aloud and you gave him a big smile at the way he pronounced the last word.

He lifted his eyes, humming in thought, before suddenly waving with his pen as his mouth opened in a child-like grin of excitement.

“Versace Eros,” he winked. Did you hear him wrong? It was kind of loud at the fan sign…

“Huh?” you blinked.

Laughing at your dumbfounded expression, he shook his curly blonde hair away from his eyes. “It’s a perfume. Versace Eros.”

Your mouth formed a circle at his explanation and the 23-year-old man giggled.

Wait, that’s not legal…

“What’s your name?” he asked in English and you smiled, giving him the answer. “That’s a cute name, how long have you had it?”

“I was born with it,” you played along with his joke, but subtly gave him a judgy look that he definitely caught, bursting out into laughter.

After signing your album and an exchange of a few more words, you were waving goodbye to Bang Chan and moving on to the next member.

“Hi!” Seungmin smiled and his teeth nearly blinded you.

“Hi,” you exhaled, still trying to get over how beautiful these men were in real life.

“Where are you from?”

After a very comfortable conversation with Seungmin, you talked to Changbin whom you gave a flower crown you had made with one of your best friends. His grin was so big, your own cheeks started to hurt. For some reason, the time you spent with him was shorter than how long you had been with the past three, so Changbin pouted while holding your hand. You couldn’t help but laugh at his actions. Next was Jeongin, with whom you talked almost completely in Korean, though you made a grammatical mistake in your third sentence at which he proceeded to laugh so hard, Changbin had to ask him if he was alright.

The staff person behind their backs motioned you to move on so you quickly wished Jeongin to stay healthy and happy before moving on to Hyunjin.

He was wearing the cutest puppy ears and after the introductory small talk, you complimented him, saying he looked like his Kkami. He posed for a few moments with a smug pout which rendered you speechless. It was all going so fast that you felt like this was a dream.

“One of your buttons is undone.”

You looked down at your white shirt in panic, whispering a “what” under your breath.

Okay, so it wasn’t a dream.

Turning beet-red, you quickly turned away from a laughing Hyunjin to button the missing bastard and apologized in a high-pitched tone, which Hyunjin just waved away, saying: “No, don’t be sorry. It happens to me all the time. Thankfully, I have Stylist Noona.”

��Of course,” you faced him again, blush still colouring your cheeks. Shaking some hairs from your face, you decided to stop being so shy. This was a one-time experience, after all. You were probably never going to see Stray Kids again. So, you gave him a cheeky wink. “Safety first, right?”

His mouth dropped but he quickly recovered with a silly wink of his own. Pointing finger guns in your direction he responded: “Right.”

After another set of finger guns, you were moving on to Felix.

You two engaged in a very serious conversation.

“No, I’m telling you; Yongbok fits you! It sounds cute and then you look at the meaning, and there’s this dragon there all of a sudden! Like, you get it, you look cute and then you open your mouth and you’re a dragon!”

Open-mouthed, he stared. “Okay, maybe Yongbok isn’t that bad. But I’m Felix. Just Felix.”

“Okay, just Felix. Thanks for that Harry Potter reference.”

“Harry Potter? Do you like the movies?”

“I loved the books first,” you carried on the conversation with ease, finding Felix to be effortless to talk with. Perhaps it was because you were both more comfortable in English. “But yes, I like the movies. Especially the music score; it’s amazing.”

“Oh, really?” his eyes sparkled as you nodded. “I’ll pay more attention next time. Chan Hyung is super big fan, so he’ll probably watch with me.”

The staff ushered you on.

“Thank you so much for everything, Felix. You’re really an admirable human being,” you chuckled as you waved goodbye.

“I thought you were gonna call me Yongbok,” he smiled.

“Not without permission.”

He waved and you turned your attention to the next in line.

Your heart started beating faster. You were so close to meeting him and you were… all sweaty and gross and your hair was probably frizzing up…

“Hi,” Minho spoke in Korean and so you answered back the same, politely passing him the album.

Looking a bit surprised, he complimented your pronunciation and you softly disagreed, explaining that you’ve been studying the language for a year now and still weren’t exactly fluent while he was writing down the answer. Minho said that you were extremely good for someone who was learning for just one year. Asking what your name was, where you were from and other such things, you conversed normally without any slip-ups. Giving Minho a pair of fluffy cat ears, you waved him goodbye with a big grin.

And then it was time for the last member.

Han Jisung.

Except, the girl before you wasn’t moving on, so you stood there awkwardly, waiting for your turn. At first you felt slightly annoyed, but then you saw her practically sob and you reached inside your pocket, bringing out a pack of tissues. Poking her lightly on the shoulder, you waited for her to look up. When she saw you holding out the pack she bowed with you reciprocating the action. The staff finally got her to move away and you sighed, watching her go.

“Hello,” you heard a very familiar voice speak.

You rotated your head towards Jisung so fast, your neck nearly snapped. Bowing in greeting, you hastily put down the album for him to sign. You caught a questioning look in his eyes which made you realize that he spoke in English and you answered in Korean. You winced.

It’s fine. This is fine. Completely fine.

“Oh!” you exclaimed, making him jump a bit. You bit your lip at your sudden social inability and practically whispered the following sentence. “Sorry, I have this letter for you.”

Nodding, wide eyed, he accepted the letter with a polite smile.

You were actually ruining the brief time you had with the person that basically meant the most to you in the whole world out of your family circle.

However awkward that was, as Jisung was furrowing his eyebrows in thought while answering your question, you had a bit of time to take in how beautiful he actually was.

His hair was his natural colour and it just so perfectly contrasted with his warm skin tone. His big eyes were sparkling in the reflective lights and just seeing him mutely wording what he was scribbling was enough to calm down any nerves you had had.

But then it happened.

Just as he finished writing, he clicked his pen and it flew off the table.

Wide eyed you stared as he, instead of standing up and getting the pen, tried to pick it up from where he was sitting.

It only took a second before his chair started toppling over.

Jumping into action, you grasped onto his arm as he screamed. Thankfully, you managed to steady him, but instead of gripping onto his hand, like you intended, your finger pulled on his shirt.

A shredding sound paralyzed you.

Gasping, you looked at the piece of cloth in your left hand, the other hand covering your mouth. Focusing your attention to the man before you who was just as shocked as you were, you immediately bowed. “I am so sorry! I’ll buy you a new shirt!”

“No, no, it’s okay!” he tried calming you down, simultaneously giving the staff and everyone around an okay signal, as the situation had caused everyone in the room to pay attention to the two. Your head was still down when the talking resumed.

Getting an idea, you reached into your bag to pull out a notebook and gave it to Han. “Please, write down your bank account and I’ll transfer you the money. How much was the shirt?”

“Uhh…” he let out a drawl, nervous at your desperation.

Tears filled your eyes.

“Please, I have to repay you, I feel so bad,” and yep, you were crying. This was just the best.

With widened eyes, he grabbed onto your hands and made you look at him. “Don’t cry, please. It’s okay! I don’t even know my bank account number…”

“No, it’s not okay! I ruined your shirt!” you sobbed.

Out of all the things you could’ve been thinking about then it was this: You shouldn’t have given your damn pack of tissues to that girl.

The staff motioned you to move on, but you were still waiting for Jisung to write down the account number. Then, you finally registered what he had mumbled in the end of his sentence. Wait… he didn’t know it?!

“Okay, let’s make a deal,” he spoke in urgency, seeing the panic in your eyes, squeezing your hands. “You stop crying and you can pay me back for my shirt. Okay?”

“Yes!” you nodded quickly, not wanting to prolong this meeting because the girl next in line was now waiting for you.

“Great, let me just give you my number…” The first genuine smile in a while lit up on his face. You saw him remove his hands from yours and begin to write down his number. You blanched. The girl behind you clearly heard him say that, and so did presumably many others…

“Wait!” you stopped him, taking his pen and beginning to write down your number below the one he had started. You saw his shocked expression in the corner of your eye. “It’s safer if I give you my number. What if… uh… I lose yours?”

He observed you silently until you finished writing and you knew he didn’t buy your excuse.

“This is my real number, I promise. Please, please text me the bank account – from whichever number. I won’t sleep before you do,” you fixed him with a stern look before turning to apologize to the girl who was waiting and then also bowing to the worried staff.

“Thank you so much, for everything. And I’m so sorry. Bye!” you waved to the man you loved with all your heart and ran out of the room.

***

It had been two days and you haven’t slept.

You may have dozed off accidentally in the middle of an extremely boring lecture on things you already knew, but that doesn’t count – you were woken up 5 minutes into the nap anyway by one of your friends.

The first day, it was… easy.

The first half of the day you were just crying about how impossible you were at the fan sign and your head kept replaying Jisung’s shocked expressions. And his white shirt. His shredded white shirt. You couldn’t keep count of how many times you screamed into your pillow.

The second day, you were a zombie.

It was a school day and you had three consecutive lectures. The first two, you caffeinated your way through. The third one was pure torture. At least you got those 5 minutes of sleep, though?

Currently, it was 10 pm on the third night and you felt like crying again, but no liquids could come out of your tired eyes.

You had never felt so drained before in your entire life.

But you couldn’t sleep.

You promised.

Falling onto your back, you sighed as your head replayed all the events of the fan sign once more. With an angry growl, you stood up and decided to take a shower. You had to clear your head.

Just before leaving the room you paused, looking at your phone.

Silent and unassuming.

But so are twitter’s most problematic stans in the beginning, you countered yourself.

You grabbed it and brought it with you into the bathroom. Just in case.

Putting it onto the counter, you slipped out of your clothes and let the water wash away your tiredness and worries. You were just stepping out and hugging yourself with a near-by towel when a soft ding! sounded across the room. Your eyes widened.

Trying to calm down your heartbeat, you reasoned with yourself while walking towards your phone’s location. Maybe it was just your friend. Or your mother. Or the telephone company wishing you a Merry Christmas. Except it wasn’t Christmas.

Grabbing the device, you unlocked it to see an actual message from an unknown number.

Letting out a shriek, you pressed on the icon so strongly, you accidentally opened another app. Now getting truly impatient, you exited the app and finally clicked on the right icon, your eyes taking in the text.

1234-4321-1234-4321 [ 22:13, opened ]

Your eyebrows closed together.

That was it? Was that even an actually bank account number? What about the bank this belonged to? Also, how much was the shirt?

Deciding not to prolong your sleep quarantine, you texted back:

Hello? Is this Han Jisung’s bank account? [ 22:15, sent ]

 You shivered and realized you were still just in a towel. Drying yourself off in seconds, you threw on your pyjamas. There may be hope for you to sleep again after all.

When the message alert dinged the second time, you were already there.

Yes. [ 22:19, opened ]

You stared at the message for a moment longer than needed. Yes? That’s it? Seriously? Feeling just a bit agitated, you punched in the answer.

Prove it. [ 22:19, sent ]

You were biting your lip so hard that it started to hurt. Hissing at the pain, you instead began to pace around the bathroom. At one moment you almost slipped and fell into the shower, but your quick reflexes saved you. Deciding the environment wasn’t the safest, you ran back into your bedroom, pacing now barefoot on your soft carpet. Definitely an upgrade from the cold tiles, you thought.

It felt like an eternity had passed before you received the next message. Immediately unlocking the screen, you paled as you registered the written text.

 Was your nearly drowning really an accident? [ 22:31, opened ]

The phone fell out of your hand, but you didn’t even feel it slip.

You forgot you had given him the letter.

Sounds came rushing into your ears, ones of water rippling and ones of screaming, getting louder and harsher, ringing in your head- but then they all faded into nothingness. It was like darkness swallowed all forms of life. A black hole taking away all that was you. Alone, alone, alone-

The ding! brought you out of your mind.

 I’m sorry, that was too personal, wasn’t it? My favourite colour is red? [ 22:37, opened ]

A breathy laugh of disbelief was released before you could even register it.

Trying to recollect yourself, you combed a hand through your hair. Focus, you scolded yourself. The person who you love so much more than yourself is trying to get back what you took from him. Focus!

No, it’s fine. I was the one who overstepped the line with my letter and the shirt situation anyway. I am sorry. I will never do something like that again. [ 22:39, sent ]

What is the name of your bank? [ 22:39, unsent ]

You lied down on the bed, your body comforted by the softness of the mattress. Staring into the screen of the phone, you tried keeping your eyes open, but they were getting heavier and heavier…

No, please do not apologize. Your letter was really beautiful. Don’t tell anyone, but I might have cried. ㅋㅋㅋㅋ I wanted to thank you, actually, for still being here and not giving up. But I’m not that great of a person, you know? I am so grateful that my song helped you, but I wasn’t the only one who made this possible. If it weren’t for Stay, for all of you, I wouldn’t be here either. [ 22:45, unopened ]

I don’t need you to send me the money, I had the shirt repaired for free by Stylist Noona and it looks brand new! What did you mean by “I will never do something like that again”? [ 22:46, unopened ]

Hello? Y/N ssi? [ 22:49, unopened ]

Are you alright?? [ 22:57, unopened ]

There was a melody bursting into sound right by your ear and you jumped on your bed. Completely groggy from the sudden awakening, you took your phone into your hand and swiped to answer, not looking at the caller ID.

“Hello?” you spoke, your voice more a breath than anything else.

“Aa… Y/N ssi? I’m sorry… for… calling?”

Your eyes shot wide open. The deep tone of his voice was frighteningly familiar. Moving the phone away to look at the ID (and after being promptly blinded by the light), you gasped.

“Han Jisung ssi?” you inquired, switching between languages. “What happened? Are you alright?”

A clearing of the throat was heard through the line. “You can speak Korean?”

“Uh, yes. A little.”

“Oh. That’s really impressive!”

“Han Jisung ssi, why are you calling? Is there something wrong?”

A deep breath was released through the other side. “No, nothing’s wrong. I’m sorry for waking you up.”

“I wasn’t aslee-,” you stopped yourself in the middle of the sentence. “Okay, maybe I was sleeping. I haven’t slept in a while, I’m sorry if I haven’t answered your texts.”

“No, it’s fine, I was just worried.”

Your heart skipped a beat.

“Worried?” the word was small.

A silence followed. “Because I mentioned the letter and then… you weren’t responding. I was worried you’d…”

You let the rest float in the air, unspoken.

“I meant what I said in the letter, Jisung ssi. I’m never going to throw my life away. I’m never giving up.”

“Good girl,” you heard his smile through the call. All your nerves dissipated as a deep blush set on your cheeks. “You did well.”

A soft laugh left your mouth.

After a few comfortable moments of nothing, he asked: “Is it okay to talk? I should let you get back to sleeping…”

“No,” you immediately answered, shaking your head although he couldn’t see. “I want to talk to you. I won’t be able to fall asleep now anyway. But is it okay for you?”

The question had double meaning and you were holding your breath to hear how he would take it.

“It’s okay. My members aren’t here anyway and I don’t have anything scheduled for tomorrow. Not that if I had anything, I’d stop the call! I just meant-!”

“I know,” you stopped his rant, smiling. He was so cute.

“Okay!” he spoke out in accented English and it made you burst into laughter. Your heart wouldn’t slow down any time soon.

“Ah, right. How old are you?”

“I was born in 00’. We’re the same age.”

“So, we can speak casually then? Want to be friends?”

“Of course I want to be friends.”

“Okay, then, friend.” You giggled at his emphasis.

“Yes, friend, do you mind telling me the name of your bank now? I still have that shirt to repay.”

“Nope,” the low, soft timbre of his voice suddenly spiked in his attempt to sound cute. He succeeded. “My friends don’t have to repay me for ruining my shirts.”

“Now, that doesn’t sound like a good friend. Jisung-ah, don’t you know you can extort the most amount of money from your friends? So many opportunities for blackmail…”

A sudden silence followed your words and you frowned.

Did you go too far?

“Jisung-ah, is everything alright?”

“Ah! Yes, yes… it’s just, ah, I like how you say my name?”

“Oh- huh?”

He let out a heartfelt laugh and it made you even more of a mess than you already were.

“I’m sorry, your name?”

“Yup, you just have the slightest of accents. It’s cute.”

“What?!” You were shocked. What were you pronouncing wrong? “Where is it weird? Is it in the ‘ji’ or in the ‘sung’ part? Should I just call you Han?”

“No, no!” He was so loud, your ears hurt. He continued in a softer voice: “No, I like the way you say it.”

Cue the blushing.

“Okay,” you smirked. “Jisung-ah.”

“Yah, that’s enough. Stop it; I know what you’re doing.”

“What? I’m just talking, Jisung-ah-,”

“AND we’re changing the subject. What are you doing in Korea?”

You pouted, but decided to stop teasing. You wanted to actually talk to him, anyway. “I’m an exchange student. I’m double majoring in English and Film Studies. I love the different approach to film storytelling that Korea has and so I came to learn more about it. I actually already completed the first year of my English studies in the first semester, so now I have the time to focus on my film studies.”

There was a beat of silence on the other side and you panicked.

“I’m so sorry for ranting! I got too excited…”

“No, it’s fine! It’s… so beautiful to hear someone being so passionate about something. I was just stunned. You came to Korea, what, three months ago? And you’re already so good at Korean when it wasn’t even your major?”

“It’s not that��� special… I’ve been teaching myself for the past year…”

“Of course it is, you’re really smart.” His praise just made you redder. “What is it about the Korean film that you find interesting?”

“Honestly, so many things,” you sighed, flipping through the images in your head. “First of, the entire understanding of the world is so different from what I’m used to seeing in Western movies. It’s like there, they start to build the same building from the bottom to the top, while here it’s just parts being made separately and then moulded together. Probably not the best example… Point is; the fundamental ideas the stories stand on are different.”

A low hum came to your hearing, signalling that he was still listening.

“Mostly, I am just an enormous fan of Korean horror,” you concluded, too tired to think further on the matter.

“I love horror, too! Not just Korean though, all horror!” He sounded so excited. Then, a second later, you heard a yawn. Laughing at the contrast, you let out a reflexive yawn yourself.

“Same,” you closed your eyes, the feeling of slipping away taking over your limbs. “Maybe we could watch one together, someday…”

You didn’t hear him reply before letting go.

After a soft question of: “Are you asleep?” and hearing nothing but breathing, the boy on the other side on the line smiled.

“Sleep well, Y/N-ah.”

***

BONUS:

WAIT, so you actually didn’t sleep until I messaged you???? [ 00:01, unopened ]

[sazanes]

Hayden Headcanon Questionnaire

Name/Changed Name:

Hayden Young, he stole the name from Eros, he defines Hayden now.

Which Hayden? (Faceclaim optional)

Godfrey Gao

Personality:

Artist: Mysterious | Sweet | Humorous | Impusive

Qualities:

Musician

Relationships:

At the moment he is engaged to Selina Park, a very serious and loving relationship.

Best Friend:

Sloane, she's always by Hayden's side. Sloane is like an older sister and guardian angel. Hayden takes Sloane out of the comfort zone and helps her try new things. And Sloane helps Hayden to focus, sometimes he wants to do a lot of things at the same time so she helps Hayden get organized.

Interests:

sing, play guitar, video games, photograph and cook

Favourite film/TV show:

Film is the animation The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, he felt a strong connection to this animation and the TV show is a list that mixes everything on Netflix, from Brooklyn Nine-Nine to the Korean series of zombies Kingdom.

Fashion Preferences:

He likes to be comfortable, shirt and jeans are the main ones, but he loves to wear a leather jacket.

Favourite Food:

He loves food, likes to try, to taste the food of the places he visits, but never pineapple on pizza 🤢

Favourite Travel Destination:

Japan, India, Canada and New Zealand love to find out about the faith and religion of all the countries he visits. And also to photograph the beautiful things he sees.

Life After Eros:

He is working as a travel photographer, he has found a connection with mother nature that makes him feel safe and peaceful. He is working with Eros and Psyche to help Matches to be independent and integrate into society, they are making a lot of progress. Hayden and Selina are engaged and looking for a house now, they both decided to move to Cedar Rest, Hayden finds it a great and peaceful place and is also perfect for children (but Selina still doesn't know that, Hayden wants a baby, but will wait until after the wedding, to convince Selina).

Ideal Date:

One that lasts all night, he loves to find different restaurants and talk about everything, but talk for hours. Go to the cinema, walk in the park and end up lying on the grass next to Selina looking at the stars.

Dream House:

very simple and cozy

Pineapple Pizza or Nah?

never.no.why?

Find the template HERE

@haydenyoungappreciationweek

@lizzybeth1986

[kristarantsandmuses]

Quaranthings: Korean Dramas

It’s been a while, Tumblr. LOL I haven’t posted in a while – but we are living in a time of pandemic. I have never thought such day would come but here we are.

It has been 41 days since Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) was implemented in Manila – and I have managed to catch up on my Korean drama backlog.

Thanks to streaming sites like Viu and Netflix, I have spent countless hours just catching up on the latest dramas (The King: Eternal Monarch, Itaewon Class) and the ones I have not finished watching (Mr. Sunshine, Reply 1997, Go Back Couple, Kill Me, Heal Me, My Love from the Stars). I also found time to rewatch my favorites (Secret Garden, Innocent Man).

The last one I watched was Mr. Sunshine. The writer, Kim Eun Sook, tells the story of a Joseon slave-turned-American soldier named Eugene Choi and a noble named Go Ae Sin – and the people around them: the mysterious samurai Go Dong Mae; the rich playboy Kim Hee Seong; and the beautiful, rich heiress/double agent named Hina Kudo. Set in the early years of the Korean Empire (led by Emperor Gojong), the drama depicted the political turbulence of the time: the traditional Joseon ways clashing with that of imperialists as well as the personal struggles of each character. Then there’s storge, eros, philia, and agape - I’ll probably write another review of that because in terms of writing, I think this is the best Kim Eun Sook drama. 

 I have been meaning to write something like this, but I guess I was inspired to share with the world why I love Korean dramas – like it really is a hill I would die on anytime.

Some weeks ago, a Filipino director openly tweeted his disdain for Korean dramas. In his words, he said that Filipino movies and tv are “doomed” because of “K-drama galore: faux Cinderella stories with belofied whiter than white actors. And it’s all about love in the midst of pandemic.”

 LMFAO. I had to laugh.

It came from a director with reputable filmography – I mean I loved two (2) of his films for their social commentary but I have to ask.

How many Korean dramas have you watched – LOL don’t tell me you only watched Crash Landing on You.

HELLO, ITAEWON CLASS WAS IN THE TOP 10. DID YOU WATCH THAT? Did you watch the rags-to-riches story of Park Saeroyi and his quest for justice to defeat the biggest food company, Janga Corporation?

Have you watched Sky Castle? The compelling story of rich families and their schemes to get their children into the best universities?

 How about the Reply series? A nostalgic drama that tells the story of families, youth, and the times they lived in – 1994, 1997, 1988 – the nostalgia was fucking rich. I especially enjoyed 1994 and 1997.

Did you check out Another Oh Hae Young: a woman struggling to come into terms with her personal insecurities? Or have you picked up on It’s Okay, That’s Love: a romantic drama that properly tackled mental illness (the lead had schizophrenia).

From personal experience and the vast filmography of Korean dramas I have seen, let me point out why Korean dramas are the best – and why they’re so fucking addicting. I would have to say that this is not a research paper but rather a lengthy analysis based on my 12-year experience as a Korean drama enthusiast.

 1.      Creative value

Every drama starts with a great plot.

Sure, many Korean dramas are romantic. In fact, most of the Korean dramas I have seen in the early 2000s are romantic: Autumn in my Heart; Stairway to Heaven; Winter Sonata; Full House; My Name is Kim Sam Soon; and Princess Hours. There’s also Memories of Bali; I’m Sorry I Love You; and Coffee Prince. These dramas actually launched the Hallyu (Korean wave) that we know today – and their plots have the typical Korean drama romantic equation: guy meets girl – they don’t get along at first – then they fall in love – misunderstandings (or separation) ensues – reunited – fall in love again – they get married or end up together (or a lead dies). Then there are the non-romantic ones (historical): Jewel in the Palace and Jumong.

But as time went on, you see that the genres become varied – we started seeing action dramas (one of my favorites was Time Between Dog and Wolf) and medical dramas. Then there were dramas that also featured how Korean dramas were made (The World We Live In).

Korean dramas have varying plots that get recycled in many instances but with great plots also come characterization. The characters we see in dramas remind us of real people – we always relate to a character and we all get frustrated when they make stupid decisions (the Noble Idiot Syndrome) that really do not make sense. At the end of the day, we want happy endings for those who deserve happiness – we want justice served, we want closures, etc. because that’s how humans are.

In many romantic dramas, plots are reused but no character is the same. They would have similar traumas but never the same, carbon-copied character. There are villains you want to kill and then there are villains you sympathize with – because you realize that humans are multilayered, complicated creatures.

 2.      Production value

Another observation I have with Korean dramas is their careful attention to details. When writers create the script, they somewhat have actors in mind to play the character. In Korean dramas, they don’t really care about love teams. In the Philippines, we produce dramas based on the hottest pairs. In Korea, they don’t give a shit about that. Dramas are produced with the intention of creating a meaningful production so actors are chosen based on whether the writers and producers think they can bring their characters to life, not because they are the hottest commodity. In some dramas, actors have to audition, but in many instances, scripts are sent to actors with potential to perfectly portray the character.

Prior to filming, writers, actors, and production staff would spend a day or two in story conferences – actors would have the opportunity to discuss with everyone how he or she thinks his/her character is like. The directors and writers would provide their input on how the characters should talk, act, etc. Actors would also take the extra mile to learn a skill or two for the characters they played. They would have dialect coaches, language instructors, etc. Writers would consult with professionals – for instance, in many medical or legal dramas, they would hire doctors or lawyers on board to verify accuracy of terms. During broadcast, you would even see the jargon on screen to simplify them for the audience. In historical dramas, you would also see the terms used (in Chinese characters) and explain them in hangul.

During filming, you’d see how the staff has placed much attention on details – from the wardrobe to the set. You would also see themes, symbols, etc. The production aspect is really like how movies are: vivid, deliberate, beautiful. Who would’ve thought red pinwheels would make me tear up? 

Each drama has a particular soundtrack – can I just say that Korean dramas have the best soundtrack. Each song played in a specific scene perfectly conveys the mood and feelings of the character. I have cried so many times listening to Park Hyo Shin’s “Snow Flower” (I’m Sorry I Love You) or Ji Sun’s ”Goodbye Without Saying Goodbye) (My Name is Kim Sam Soon). On my Spotify account you would see I have played Goblin, DOTS, and CLOY OSTs countless times.

In the past, dramas are not really pre-produced (meaning script came a week or two before filming). There are dramas wherein halfway through the broadcast, they had to switch writers because the earlier writer had a falling out with the production – so you’d see that the quality suffers (story plots would go crazy lol). There are dramas wherein they had to replace the actors because of scandals or accidents. In the last 5 years however, Korean dramas have become pre-produced: meaning the dramas will be filmed 6 months-2 years before being broadcasted. I guess this aspect has contributed to the fact that many Korean dramas are already available on streaming sites.

 3.      Cultural value

Each drama gives us a slice of the Korean culture – food, drink, skincare, attraction, and history. And noraebang (karaoke). Every romcom Korean drama has to have a scene at the noraebang...or jimjilbang (sauna). 

Modern and traditional Korean dramas have to feature food: Korean barbecue, stew, side dishes. LOL you name it. There’s also soju, beer, and makgeoli. BEER AND CHICKEN. 

In most modern Korean dramas, makeovers are a must. You would see product placements of known Korean products: Laneige, Etude House, Nature Republic, etc. The characters would go shopping in a particular shop like The North Face. Their coffee dates would be in one of these (Caffe Bene, Dal.Komm, HOLLYS, Zoo Café, Mango Six). They would buy their cakes or bread from Paris Baguette or Tous Les Jours.

Then there are road trips – many Korean dramas would feature a particular attraction, province, or city. Who can forget Nami Island (thanks Winter Sonata) or Namsan Seoul Tower (Boys Over Flower) or Petite France (Secret Garden, My Love from the Stars)? Of course, you can’t forget Busan (Reply 1997) or Jeju (Warm and Cozy) or Gangwon-do. It is definitely a K-drama fangirl’s dream to be able to visit in one of these places so we can relive our favorite Korean drama moments.

All of Korean dramas I have seen put emphasis on family – the importance of filial piety is always highlighted. The characters are often portrayed as dutiful daughters or sons. Conflicts often ensue when the character is challenged to choose between the parents or the love of his/her life (well in most Korean dramas that’s the case lol). Many dramas portray characters who try to be the good daughter-in-law and yet nothing is ever good enough. Then there are subtle flexes on Korea as an emerging superpower as seen by drama characters (chaebols) who head conglomerates. There is always a character who is filthy rich and can afford a billionaire lifestyle. Product placements include big companies like Samsung, Hyundai, etc.

Slice-of-life dramas also depict the realities in Korean society. Because This is My First Life and Something in the Rain aptly depicted the realities of harassment in the workplace from a woman’s experience. Many Korean dramas also relay harsh realities: meritocracy in the workplace; young adults juggling multiple jobs to make ends meet, etc.; even real estate situations are featured. Often you would find characters renting a small room because that’s all they can afford. From the dramas you would also notice that Koreans are not very kind towards single mothers or orphans. Then of course, there’s the North and South Korea situation: Crash Landing on You, Doctor Stranger, Spy Myeong-Wol, Descendants of the Sun are a few dramas that discussed this theme. The Reply series is a nostalgia drama featuring families that lived through some of important events in South Korea like the Seoul Olympics (1988), Asian financial crisis (1997), Sampoong Department Store collapse (1995), and the historic World Cup (2002).

Korean historical dramas are also interesting on their own – I guess until now, the Japanese occupation of Korea is still a sensitive matter for Koreans. Many of the dramas that feature such themes always depict the resilience and resolve of Koreans as they try to fight off the enemy. Yes, the scenes are depicted artistically, and the thought lingers long after the episode is over.

In terms of marketing, the government has also been proactive. With the Korean Wave (Hallyu), Korean dramas, as well as films, music, food, etc. have become an important commodity overseas. In 2016, Korean Culture Center wrote that Descendants of the Sun was sold to 27 countries, posting a profit of over KRW 10 billion (Php 412 million). The government acknowledges the important contribution of Korean dramas in tourism. Numerous papers have already been published showing the effect of hallyu in the South Korea tourism industry.

 To make the long story short:

Korean dramas have gone beyond “faux Cinderella stories with belofied whiter than white actors”.  I mean, if you want to produce a quality drama, it takes time and effort. Personally it has become a great escape from the realities I face. I do not welcome opinions that clearly spring out of snobbery and disdain for another person’s craft. Perhaps the director can look beyond the Top 10 (since that’s what he mentioned) and check out the wide selection on Netflix. Viu is also a great platform (I’ll start on World of the Married – been hearing and reading about it lol)

Hallyu did not flourish overnight, and the Korean drama industry – while a great model to cite – is also not perfect. There have been numerous cases and instances when staff are overworked or not paid long after the production is over. The #MeToo movement has also exposed some actors who have harassed fellow actors. If we want Filipino dramas to enjoy the same spotlight as that of the Korean dramas, we should be frank about the outputs we have had. We have potential, but it really is up to the decision-makers (at least from the network perspective since it’s all about profits and star value rather than quality production in the Philippines) to come up with a formula that would revitalize Filipino dramas. I can’t say the same for Filipino films because we have great films – the dramas need much work to be profitable. I mean, are we really satisfied with a few dramas being sold overseas? When will we produce dramas that are at par with our Korean chingus? If you want Filipino dramas to be streamed on Netflix or Hulu or Apple TV – maybe we can look at genres beyond police brutality or infidelity or hacienderos harboring a secret child somewhere.

 Anyway, Korean dramas are awesome – and that’s the tea.