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?!
Go Away With … Kate Siegel
“My family traveled every year to the great American West, as my mom called it,” said Kate Siegel, who’s currently filming the HBO series “The Time Traveler’s Wife.” “We explored Moab, Utah, Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole, Wyoming and many more. I remember it fondly now, but as a child I was very grumpy about all the hiking and driving.”
The Social Significance of BTS in the U.S.
I’m most grateful that Asian American children today have pop culture role models who look like them. It’s so important for children to see themselves represented. When I was my son’s age, there were no famous artists in the U.S. who were talented, young, handsome, great role models AND Korean! I’m so happy that he has BTS to listen to, laugh with and look up to.
‘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?
Go Away With … Katie Rich
“We were going to go to Mexico to see Phish, but that got postponed (due to the pandemic),” said Katie Rich, the co-creator of the Netflix animated series “Chicago Party Aunt.” “I actually think we ended up traveling more than ever just in the Midwest, tooling around in our little Honda Fit.”
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…”
Go Away With … Ariana Ron Pedrique
“When I was a kid, my family would take me to Isla Margarita,” said “Ayar” actress Ariana Ron Pedrique. “We would go to all these beautiful beaches and eat empanadas for breakfast down at the seashore. This is by far one of the best memories I have of growing up in Venezuela.”
“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.
Chili Crunch Oil
You know those chili oils at Chinese restaurants that come with your meals? I am a huge fan of spicing up my food with those. Though none of the jarred oils are as delicious as the homemade ones, some of them as still pretty darned tasty. I’m talking about you, Momofuku.
Lee Min Ho in the States: The Talk of the Town!
Lee Min Ho will next be seen in “Pachinko.” Given his recent visit to Los Angeles, we think it’s time to revisit “The Heirs,” which was partially filmed in Huntington Beach, California.
Go Away With … Nikki DeLoach
“’Five More Minutes’ is a movie about hope and faith in the face of loss and grief,” said Nikki DeLoach, who stars in the Hallmark movie inspired by Scotty McCreery’s hit song of the same name. “I lost my dad three months ago, so while this movie was emotionally hard for me, it was very healing and a way to honor my dad.”
Was BTS Just Lucky? Nope.
Did luck and timing play a part in BTS’ success. It’s important to remember that luck isn’t just something that happens while you’re sitting around doing nothing. As Jungkook said in an episode of “Burn the Stage,” “We’ve been lucky, but we worked hard for that luck.”
Go Away With … Sarah Brightman
“I always follow the food, because if you go to an interesting restaurant or street vendor, you will find yourself in an interesting square, and that square could be a palace, or a store or an art gallery,” said soprano Sarah Brightman.
“The Bros” (부라더)
Seok-Bong and Joo-Bong are estranged brothers who reunite for their father’s funeral. Neither one remembers having a close relationship with anyone in their family and dread the thought of spending time with them.
“You Are My Spring” (너는 나의 봄)
“You Are My Spring” stresses the importance of mental health care and normalizing treatment for everyone, rather than as something that’s just for the clinically insane. And … There’s also a serial killer element.
“Chief of Staff” (보좌관): Season 1 & 2
Lee Jung-Jae and Shin Min-A star as a political dream team working for opposing candidates. He is a former police officer, whose goal it is to become an assemblyman. She was an attorney and on-air journalist before becoming an assemblywoman.