Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
The “Big Mouth” cast is perfect, especially the lead actors Lee Jong-suk (as a lawyer on a losing streak) and Girls’ Generation’s Im Yoon-ah as his pragmatic wife (who’s a skilled nurse). There was not a moment where I didn’t believe that this couple was besotted with each other. Even when they argued, it was obvious that they cared so very much about each other.
“The Hymn of Death” is a bittersweet three-hour mini-series that tells the real-life story of Yum Sim-Deok — Joseon’s first soprano — and Kim Yoo-Jin, a renowned writer and playwright. Set during the period when Korea was under Japanese rule, the tragic story is familiar to many Koreans.
Since the beginning of time, celebrities have tried to hide their dating status. Part of it was for privacy issues. But there was also a business element. Managers wanted to make it appear as if their clients were available to fans. Certainly, this holds true for K-Pop and K-Drama stars, who are forced to spend an inordinate amount of time evading questions about their love lives.
Ahn Nae-Sang is one of my favorite actors. He has a small role in this K-Drama, but it’s pivotal. He plays the king, who prepares his son (played by Kim Soo-Hyun) for his role as the nation’s leader. He comes across as cold in the beginning, showering little affection of either of his sons.
“Secret Garden” is one of those K-Dramas that gets better as it progresses — even if that progression sometimes moves at a snail’s pace.
It hasn’t even been a month since Lee Jong-Suk enrolled for his mandatory military duty on March 8. But there’s a ton of us fans who miss him already. Am I right? (That’s a rhetorical question, by the way.)
I could go on and on about the romance elements. But because I knew the lead character would be fine regardless of who she chose — and that the men would be OK as well — I was more fascinated by the dynamics at the workplace and how difficult it can be for women to juggle being a mom with having a job outside of the home.
It’s a fact of life that all able-bodied South Korean men have to fulfill their mandatory military duties for their country. Top stars aren’t exempt from this, either. Due to a severe injury he suffered during his teenage years, Lee will be enlisting as a public service worker — rather than active duty — according to his A-MAN Project. As actor Lee Jong-Suk gets ready to begin his 22-month enrollment on Friday, March 8, let’s take a look at his life … and some of his most iconic work.
I am a complete sucker for shows that stress the importance of childhood relationships — the kind that last from adolescence through adulthood. And K-Dramas are chock full of them.
Just because you look good strutting down a runway doesn’t mean you have what it takes to be a good actor. But K-Dramas are full of models who have successfully navigated their way from the catwalk into television and films. Here’s a look at some of my favorites who made the transition look effortless.