“The Summer I Turned Pretty” Review: Breezy, Beautiful, But Dated
In this review, writer Jae-Ha Kim explores Prime Video’s “The Summer I Turned Pretty” and the way it approaches its Asian American lead — and her love interests.
Author: Jae-Ha Kim
‘Crash Landing on You’ co-stars confirm they’re expecting their first child
Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin fell in love while filming the popular K-drama “Crash Landing on You” and were married earlier this year. “A new life has found us,” Son said on Instagram. The couple are expecting a baby!
Go Away With … Chastity Brown
Chastity Brown’s latest album “Sing to the Walls” is a reflection of her life during these tumultuous past few years, which included navigating a pandemic and dealing with the aftereffects of the high-profile murder of George Floyd in her South Minneapolis neighborhood.
“Money Heist: Korea” Reimagines Netflix’s Hit Series as a K-Drama — and It Works
The Spanish TV phenomenon gets remade and reset in an imagined North and South Korea, complete with charged political commentary and BTS namedropping. My latest review for Rolling Stone.
Go Away With … Park Hae-soo and Yoo Ji-tae of “Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area”
Last week, Yoo Ji-tae – who portrays the mastermind of a group of thieves – and “Squid Game” star Park Hae-soo – who plays the gang’s charming but deadly leader – participated in this interview from Seoul and Los Angeles, respectively, to talk about “Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area” – the Korean adaptation of the hit Spanish series “La Casa de Papel.”
“My Liberation Notes” (나의 해방일지)
“My Liberation Notes” is very beautifully executed in presenting a slice of life that doesn’t offer a fairy-tale ending … or offer finite solutions to ease the characters’ lives. But what this K-drama does do is allow for growth. Who the characters are at the start of the series is not who they are by the finale, and that’s a good thing.
“Our Blues” (우리들의 블루스) Is One Of the Best K-Dramas in Recent Years
At first glance, “Our Blues” appears to be about a somewhat eccentric community of folks in Jeju-do — South Korea’s largest island. And it is. But it’s also about so much more. Over the course of 20 episodes, the series weaves together the complex stories of more than a dozen characters, creating a larger picture of love, forgiveness, and what it means to truly look out for one another.
“Again My Life” (어게인 마이 라이프)
“Again My Life” stars Lee Joon-Gi as a prosecutor who gets a second chance at life … literally. He is smart, charming and (of course) ridiculously handsome. This series is a lot of fun to watch, especially if you like revenge dramas.
Go Away With … Scout LaRue Willis
“We just went on a little mini tour of the coast of California and I had so much fun,” said Scout LaRue Willis. “I’ve been in the studio and then I’ve been working on a lot of music videos, so I haven’t done a lot of touring. I will go anywhere. I said recently I want my career to make my life a vacation.”
Go Away With … Braeden De La Garza
“Living in a pretty socially conservative part of Texas for most of my life, I was surrounded by a lot of prejudice against the LGBTQ+ community,” said “The Quest” actor Braeden De La Garza. “And because of that, I wanted to do what I could to support them.”
Go Away With … Hollis Wong-Wear
“Being in the desert felt like the safest place to be during the pandemic,” said Grammy-nominated songwriter Hollis Wong-Wear of her trip to Joshua Tree. “I could go on walks without a mask and not feel like I was endangering anyone.”
How K-pop Stars Are Leading Vital Mental Health Conversations
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Coincidentally, it’s also Mental Health Awareness Month. And while the latter designation draws attention to the benefits of taking care of our overall well being, mental health care traditionally has been overlooked by Asians – a mindset that experts say has trickled down to Asian Americans.
Go Away With … Marie Myung-Ok Lee
Marie Myung-Ok Lee’s linguistic skills and travels play a prominent role in her latest novel “The Evening Hero” (Simon & Schuster, $28.99), which centers on a septuagenarian doctor whose past in Korea threatens to upend his perfect American life.
The Best K-dramas on Netflix
Here’s where to start on your K-drama journey — including the one romance everyone seems to be talking about.
Go Away With … Natasha López
“I may be biased but I swear every time I go to Puerto Rico, I keep finding new things to see and do,” said “The Time Traveler’s Wife” actress Natasha López. “If you are staying in the San Juan area you must visit El Yunque National Forest and Old San Juan.”
“Military Prosecutor Doberman” (군검사 도베르만)
“Military Prosecutor Doberman” explores some of the same themes as last year’s superior “D.P.” — but with more fight scenes, comedy and shirtlessness, courtesy of the series star Ahn Bo-hyun (“Itaewon Class”). It also stars Jo Bo-ah as his kickass colleague who’s as full as vengeance as he is.
What Makes BTS Standout?
Boy bands generally don’t get a lot of respect from journalists regardless of what language they speak. But if BTS was a white boy band singing in English, I’m positive their songs would get more attention and radio play.
Go Away With … AleXa
At the time of our Zoom interview, AleXa had no idea that she would win NBC’s “American Song Contest.” “I’m just grateful for this experience,” she said. “I performed for a huge American network in front of a live audience. Hopefully, I can take this positive energy and move forward with it.”
Lee Byung-hun: The Rolling Stone Interview
Actor Lee Byung-hun told me, “I experienced touching emotions, and found consolation and hope ever since I read the script for ‘Our Blues.’ I hope that this drama will be able to comfort all wounded souls.” My cover story for Rolling Stone Korea.
Go Away With … Isné Bobo Nuyent
“My father really pushed me to travel the world,” photographer/musician Isné Bobo Nuyent recalled. “He said, ‘You need to train your mind and understand other people and cultures and what they go through. So go travel.'”