K-DRAMA REVIEWS (INDEX)
K-CULTURE WITH JAE-HA KIM is the space where I curate my reviews and views about Korean-centric things happening in the pop culture realm (and beyond) that pique my interest…and I hope yours, too. Won’t you join me?
Korean Male Diaspora: Did You Know You Could Be Conscripted?
Simon D. Lee, attorney and founding partner of Pureum Law Office, answers all the complicated questions.
BTS Shun the Grammys
In my latest for Rolling Stone, I report on BTS removing themselves from Grammy contention in 2027, and what all of this means.
Kim Theory: Meet the L.A. Teen Punk Band That’s Playing Lollapalooza
Named after a trio of awesome alt-rock Kims, Kim Theory is making lots of noise before graduating high school. My latest exclusive for Rolling Stone magazine.
The 7 Best K-dramas of 2026 So Far
Some people mistakenly describe K-dramas (even the best K-dramas) as soap operas. While daytime shows certainly exist in Korea—typically airing Monday through Friday for about 50 to 200+ episodes—the K-drama umbrella covers a multitude of genres. Read more in my latest article for Teen Vogue.
Music, music, music
I’ll be updating this page periodically to include music that’s piquing my interest at the moment. Song of the day: “Pretty Baby” by Blondie.
Eat, Drink and Be Merry
True story: When I was in college, we didn’t have access to The Internets like all you young whipper snappers today. So, instead of drooling over all the photos of food on Pinterest and Instagram, I used to look at recipe books and imagine that I could be eating that instead of the dorm food my parents had paid for.
Go Away With … Andy Koh
For Andy Koh, his debut album “Taking the Long Way” has been four decades in the making. Though he’d been writing songs and singing since his college days at Harvard University, his music took a back seat to his family and career as a pediatric oncologist. Said Koh, who recently celebrated his 60th birthday and 30th wedding anniversary, “2026 has been a year of milestones. Early in my [medical] career, it was extremely difficult to find time for music.”
Go Away With … Dana Carpenter
Dana Carpenter said that working on the film “Flesh Impact” gave her an idea of what Marilyn Monroe could be like today.
Go Away With … Paula Fong
“My father is a Chinese immigrant who grew up in Taiwan and Hong Kong,” singer-songwriter Paula Fong said. “[He] came to the United States for college where he met and married my mother, a Midwestern Hoosier with family roots in Kentucky. I asked my grandmother to teach me traditional Chinese folk songs and lullabies, and eventually would end up taking classes in Chinese opera and playing the dizi – wooden flute – in the Chinese orchestra during my time in undergrad at UCLA.”
Go Away With … Lily Vakili
“Live Wire” musician Lily Vakili said that her music and travels are intertwined.
It’s Min Jin Lee’s World – an Interview with the Bestselling Author of “American Hagwon”
A self-described nerd who enjoys studying and learning, bestselling author Min Jin Lee said that law school prepared her well for the extensive research she puts into her books (“American Hagwon,” “Pachinko,” “Free Food for Millionaires”), where fact and fiction coincide to tell universal and relatable stories.
Go Away With … Leenalchi
Founded by Jang Young-gyu (who scored the hit films “Train to Busan” and “The Wailing”), Leenalchi is a unique alternative rock group that conveys its lyrics through the traditional Korean storytelling genre known as pansori. The septet is signed to David Byrne’s Luaka Bop Records and has had their music featured in Apple TV’s “Pachinko.”
FREE K-Dramas with No Paywall? Yes, please!
How to watch “The Scarecrow” (my favorite show of the year), “A Bona Fide Killer,” and more during VIKI’s 4th Annual K-Drama Celebration
Go Away With … Min Jin Lee
For critically-acclaimed author Min Jin Lee, the in-depth research she did for her latest novel “American Hagwon” – out Sept. 29 – included extensive visits across three continents to ensure that her fictional family’s lives rang true.
Go Away With … Jasmin Stone
“I haven’t made it to India, Egypt or South America yet ,” said “Broken Moon” musician Jasmin Stone. “These places completely fascinate me with their statues, mystical temples and enchanting ancient cultures. On the flip side, I am dying to visit Tokyo. To me it represents the ultimate future, a city that is light years ahead of the world, even in its cultural concepts.”
Go Away With … Vivian Lin
“I love that every place you visit, from small town to metropolis, has its own unique way of living and point-of-view on life,” said “Crew Girl” showrunner Vivian Lin. “There’s always a local wisdom that I’ve never thought about that changes some part of my life for the better.”
Go Away With … Atsuko Okatsuka
When comedian Atsuko Okatsuka was eight years old, she thought her family was taking a two-month vacation to the United States. “It was never supposed to be longer than that,” Okatsuka said in a Zoom interview from her Los Angeles home. “I wanted to go back [to Japan]. When I realized I wasn’t going back, [I started fixating] on little things I disliked. I remember just going off in elementary school suddenly and refusing to use the [pencil] erasers. My classmates and the teacher must have thought I was just this insane eraser police.”
Go Away With … Kim Theory
“I remember being in my living room on our group chat, I saw the [Lollapalooza] offer come in,” said Kim Theory’s Audrey Cymone. “I was so excited. I told my dad about it and then he started losing his mind. We are so grateful for the opportunity.”
Go Away With … Dave Koz
“I think travel is the best way to hold a mirror up to yourself, because you get out of your comfort zone,” said saxophonist Dave Koz. “You realize that the way my culture does things is not the only way to do it, and it expands you as a person.”
Go Away With … Scarlett Estevez
“Don’t Say Good Luck” actress Scarlett Estevez says her favorite destination is the place she has yet to visit.
Influencers Snuck Kimchi into a BTS Concert (to Give to Jung Kook)
BTS don’t want anyone to do this. Here’s why.