“Sisyphus: The Myth” (시지프스)
“Sisyphus: The Myth” has an intriguing premise, in which an inventor creates a time machine. And as with many time travel stories, you have to suspend your belief in reality to enjoy this production.
Category: Reviews
11 K-Dramas With Strong Women Characters & Empowering Storylines
Lately, there have been some compelling K-dramas where the female lead is more than just an object of desire. Rather, she is the capable one who is an integral part of the plot. Here are 11 K-dramas from recent years that exemplify female empowerment.
Spend the Holidays Watching K-Dramas? Yes, Please!
As the year winds down and we get ready to welcome 2022 in less than two weeks, it’s time to give ourselves the gift of relaxation. If you’re lucky enough to get a few days off from work, why not snuggle under your blanket and treat yourself to a K-drama or two (or more!)?
“The Silent Sea” (고요의 바다)
“The Silent Sea” is based on director Choi Hang-Yong’s short film of the same name. Starring Bae Doona and Gong Yoo, the eight-part series is set on the moon, where the astronauts have been tasked with recovering research from the previous mission.
11 Best K-Dramas of 2021
Narrowing down the best-of list to just 11 K-dramas was painstaking. But these shows from 2021 are must-sees that you will want to add to your watch list. Below, dive into the best K-dramas of 2021.
“Tune in for Love” (유열의 음악앨범)
Set in the 1990s, “Tune in for Love” is a beautiful slice-of-life film focused on a young couple who meet as teenagers, lose touch, and reunite on and off throughout their twenties.
Chansung’s Getting Married and Having a Baby! (& More 2PM Info!)
2PM’s Chansung is getting married and expecting a baby with his long-time fiancée! Let’s catch up with the idol actor and his bandmates.
The 54 Best K-Pop Songs of 2021
Teen Vogue asked 54 music writers to pick their favorite K-pop songs of 2021. I chose Monsta X’s “One Day,” which features gorgeous harmonies, along with heartbreaking lyrics that may make the listener sob in commiseration. Radio really dropped the ball on this song.
Return of the Ajeossi Actors (Part 2)
You asked for more ajeossi actors and we’re here to deliver. Who do you think made it onto this list of six top actors of a certain age?
“Happiness” (해피니스)
There are still 18 days left until the end of the 2021 — and Gong Yoo’s “The Silent Sea” doesn’t even makes its premiere until December 24. But I don’t know that there will be a better K-drama this year than “Happiness.”
“Inspector Koo” (구경이)
“Inspector Koo” starts off strong, with a whip-smart teenage serial killer manipulating her victims, teachers and the police. She is as much a sociopath as a psychopath, which is explained away during a backstory that involves childhood trauma.
“Nevertheless” (알고있지만)
In many ways, “Nevertheless” is a primer for how women are manipulated into diminishing their own wants and desires for a man.
Lost in Translation Watching K-dramas? We Can Help!
Aigoo or aegyo? Sunbae or hoobae? Is there anything more frustrating than watching a K-drama and not understanding what’s going on, even when you have the subtitles turned on?!
‘Vincenzo’ and adoption myth entrenched in Korean society
“Having been raised using Korean in her family, a Korean American journalist said that she still struggled to speak Korean fluently, and this experience led her to question why Korean entertainment writers and consumers failed to question improbable stories, such as that of ‘Vincenzo,” Lee Kyung-eun — the director of Human Rights Beyond Borders — wrote in her OpEd piece. The journalist she is talking about … is me.
“Mystic Pop-up Bar” (쌍갑포차)
Hwang Jung-Eum is one of my absolute favorite actresses. I love everything about her, especially the forthright way she delivers her dialogue. Her chemistry with both leading men is on point and viewers can see the family-like dynamics shared by the trio. Choi Won-Young and Yook Sun-Jae are superb actors whose subtle (and overt) mannerisms speak to viewers without them having to utter a word.
Product Placements in K-dramas: Love Them or Hate Them?
Even if you’ve only watched a few K-dramas, you’ve probably noticed the preponderance of product placements in many of your favorite series. Do they bother you? Or are they just part of the K-drama fun?
K-drama’s New Format: Love It or Hate It?
There’s something to be said about the classic K-drama format with the second lead syndrome, the white truck of death, the over-the-top chaebols and, most importantly, the one-and-done season that ends after 16 to 20 episodes.
K-drama Adoption Storylines Are Making Positive Strides, But There’s More Work to Do
“Having diverse characters leads to endless possibilities for storytelling. And there are infinite ways to tell an adoptee’s story…”
“Hellbound” (지옥)
Director Yeon Sang-Ha (“Train to Busan”) adapted “Hellbound” from his own webtoon of the same name. He makes it clear that cults are the true sinners, which manipulate people’s lives with fear. And that hell isn’t necessarily a place foreign to us, because it’s where we may already be living.
Getting Better All the Time: 7 Ajeossi Actors You Love to Watch
Being an ajeossi isn’t a pejorative. As Gong Yoo, Hyun Bin and Lee Jung Jae have proven, there is beauty to being successful and in demand in your late 30s and beyond. More power to these fine gentlemen.