Month: April 2018

“Strong Woman Do Bong-Soon” (힘쎈여자 도봉순)

Jae-Ha Kim

“Strong Woman Do Bong-Soon” came out around the same time as “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo.” And that was one reason why I waited so long to watch it. While the latter was a cute drama, it wasn’t great. “Strong Woman” is a wonderful series that started off with so much potential. The first few episodes were so great that I thought I might be awarding it four stars. But I ended up docking it a point, because of the cringe-inducing way it treated gays.

“BTS: Burn the Stage”: Episode 6

Jae-Ha Kim

The men in BTS are still so young. But I get the impression that they are not oblivious to the passage of time. They know the half life of a musician’s career isn’t forever. Far from it. And while a part of me feels sad that they had to grow up so fast in the music business, the other part is grateful that they appear to be making plans for the future, even as they are enjoying what they have today.

“BTS: Burn the Stage”: Episode 5

Jae-Ha Kim

I was delighted that Chicago was so beautifully prominent in this episode. Late one night back at their hotel, they’re trying to figure out how to perform on a tiny stage for their first U.S. television appearance. I used to do a little work for JBTV way back when, and I can tell you that the stage is tiny. It’s fine for most of the bands that pass through Chicago. But most bands aren’t BTS.

Go Away With … Terry Crews

Jae-Ha Kim

Terry Crews is many things: Actor (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”), furniture designer, artist, Old Spice spokesman and former NFL player. But the achievement he’s most proud of these days is raising his voice on behalf of the #MeToo Movement. TIME magazine recognized him as one of the Silence Breakers in its Person of the Year cover this past winter.

“BTS: Burn the Stage”: Episode 4

Jae-Ha Kim

The argument between two members of BTS was hyped up as being a shocking revelation in the previews. But for anyone who has a sibling — or who has ever been in a serious relationship — speaking the uncomfortable truth is par for the course. Arguments often aren’t about what you’re addressing at the time, but rather all the little things that have built up to make you reach that boiling point. What was more interesting to me was watching Jin and V dig to the bottom of the real issue: respect.

Go Away With … San E

Jae-Ha Kim

“I didn’t really know what hip hop and rap was when I was in (South) Korea,” San E says. “And then I moved to Atlanta when I was in middle school and just naturally started paying attention to it, because it was everywhere. I was lucky, even though I didn’t think so as a kid. Atlanta has a lot of great musicians. The music scene is pretty diverse and I was just going with it.”

“Call Me Mother” (마더)

Jae-Ha Kim

A common element running throughout the plot is that you are not a “real” child if you don’t share your parents’ DNA. One of the central characters views herself as superior to her adopted sister, because … adoption. The emphasis on a family’s pure bloodline is still in effect today in Korea. And though more adoptive families are telling their children about their adoption stories, many still let their kids assume they are biologically related to their adoptive parents.

“BTS: Burn the Stage”: Episode 3

Jae-Ha Kim

정 (jung) is a Korean word that is difficult to define in English. 정 encapsulates a feeling of love and loyalty that people have for one another. They will do things out of the kindness of their hearts, rather than as quid pro quo. As I watched the members of BTS drinking and laughing together, I realized that it was this 정 they had for each other that was as much of a component of their success as anything else.