Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
j-hope’s appearance on HOME ALONE gave insight into his role as a worldwide pop star. But it was the tender moments with his sister that were the most precious to me. They gave viewers an understanding of who he is: a man whose career is secondary to his family.
By Jae-Ha Kim Substack May 28, 2025 ☆☆☆ (out of ☆☆☆☆) Lee Hae-sook (played by Kim Hye-ja) Ko Nak-joon (played by Son Suk-ku) ↑Note: Korean names denote the surname followed by the given name. tl;dr Capsule review: […]
No one tops South Korean creatives when it comes to telling high school-centered bullying stories. In the sequel to 2022’s “Weak Hero Class 1,” our protagonist Si-eun (Park Ji-hoon) wants nothing more than to be left alone and study.
This beautifully-executed slice-of-life K-drama spans the decades-long relationship between Ae-sun — who wanted to escape Jeju-do and become a poet in Seoul — and Gwan-sik, who wanted nothing more than for Ae-sun to love him back. We watch as their relationship unfolds from their childhood in the 1960s to the present day.
Korean scriptwriters excel at presenting the childhood friends-to-lovers trope. Based on the webtoon of the same Korean title (He’s the Black Dragon), this K-drama centers on a pair of teenage gamers who reunite as adults who, coincidentally, work for the same company.
Two things can be true: You can commit a crime, and you can atone for your actions without being harassed to death. But that wasn’t the case for actress Kim Sae-ron.
The K-pop girl group Young Posse released the stunning music video for “Cold” on March 2. It’s by far one of the most meaningful videos I’ve watched in a long time — maybe since K. Will’s “No Sad Song for My Broken Heart” and IU’s “Love Wins All.”
Each of us has our own favorite K-dramas that are informed by our own personal experiences (and access). For instance, I was never able to get my hands on South Korea’s early dramas like “Death Row Prisoner,” which premiered in 1956. Therefore, my picks are influenced by what I’ve seen, which are primarily shows from 2000 onward.
This emotionally-engaging show is less of a rom-com than it is a slice-of-life K-drama that explores how familial loss greatly impacts who we are today.
There is a lot going on in “Bogotá: City of the Lost” — shootings, explosions, backstabbing. But when it’s all over, you realize that it was mostly much ado about nothing.
An interview with the Korean German actor on why he joined the cast of “The Recruit”
NPR invited me back on their Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast to discuss the second season of the Korean series “Squid Game.”
“Squid Game” season 2 introduces a whole new set of compelling characters. Will they make us forget fan favorites like North Korean defector Sae-byeok (Jung Ho-yeon) and Pakistani immigrant Ali (Anupam Tripathi)? No, but the star power of veteran K-drama stars, including Park Sung-hoon (“The Glory”), Park Hee-soon (“Moving”) and Im Si-wan (“Misaeng: Incomplete Life”), is a nice concession to killing off nearly all of last season’s characters.
It was an excellent year for Korean dramas — and with Squid Game season 2 on the horizon, there’s more to come.
Based on Sang Young Park’s bestselling novel of the same name, the K-drama adaptation was overshadowed by the film version, which stars Kim Go-eun (Little Women) and Steve Sanghyun Noh (Pachinko). But this series is so relevant as it matter-of-factly addresses homosexuality — a topic not often depicted in South Korean media in any meaningful way.
Adding a twist to the contract marriage trope, “The Trunk” tackles the plot device from a film noir perspective.
If there’s one thing this K-drama gets across, it’s that keeping secrets from children about their own history is never the way to go.
“Love Next Door” is written as a love story between two childhood neighbors. And it is. But it’s also about loving yourself enough to follow your convictions, despite objections from those you love.
Starring Shin Min-a and Kim Young-dae, “No Gain No Love” falls into the contract marriage trope. But, oh, it offers so much more.
“Officer Black Belt” is an action-packed thriller starring Kim Woo-bin. Is it predictable? Yes? But is it a fun watch? Absolutely!