“Law and the City” (서초동)
One of the elements I loved the most about this series was watching the friends eat together in every episode. Delicious jiggaes (stews), grilled meat — it was like a legal mukbang!
Tag: Substack
“Where Are You Really From?”
“Where Are You Really From?” Why many Asian diaspora don’t like being asked this question
Not Every Korean Actor Can Sing and Dance — It Just Feels Like It Sometimes
By Jae-Ha Kim Substack July 1, 2025 The past few days have been disgustingly hot (and humid). None of that dry heat for us in Chicago. So…it just felt like the right time to share […]
7 Best K-Dramas of 2025, So Far
2025 isn’t over yet, but it’s already been an exciting year for some of the best K-dramas. Though “Squid Game” has come to an end (for now) that doesn’t mean there aren’t still plenty of Korean dramas to obsess over.
“Our Unwritten Seoul” (미지의 서울)
Park Bo-young beautifully captures the nuances of both sisters and the struggles that each deals with daily. “Our Unwritten Seoul” presents everyday choices that may seem too much to bear, but also offers the kind of realistic hope that’s better than a pat, happy ending.
Ew, the VIPs are back in “Squid Game 3” and They’re as Horrible as Ever
The VIPs are back in the third season of “Squid Game” and they’re as insufferable as ever. Acting wise, the characters may actually be worse, sounding more like Sylvestor the Cat exclaiming “sufferin’ succotash” than a group of hedonistic oligarchs. Seriously, couldn’t the creatives have spread a wider net to cast actors who could…act?
Ahn Hyo-seop Talks About Playing Jinu in “KPop Demon Hunters”
“I hope that KPOP DEMON HUNTERES reminds people that we all have darkness within us, and sometimes the bravest thing we can do is to just face it,” said Ahn Hyo-seop, who provides the voice of Jinu. “And at its core, this is a story about finding the strength to trust your own voice and move forward. So I hope it offers comfort and courage to those who actually really need it.”
“KPop Demon Hunters”
While “KPop Demon Hunters” could’ve been a cutesy story about a boy-crazy girl group flirting with a boy band, there is a strong subtext here with a profound message. The secrets that we keep and the lies that we tell may have started off innocently enough. But they ultimately lead to our downfall unless we deal with the truth.
“Mercy for None” (광장)
If you enjoy the John Wick franchise, So Ji-sub’s “Mercy for None” will be right up your alley.
“Home Alone” (나 혼자 산다)
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.
“Heavenly Ever After” (천국보다 아름다운)
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: […]
VVS is Not Your Mother’s K-pop Girl Group
After making their official debut on April 22 with their infectiously catchy single, “Tea,” VVS is back with their eight-track EP D.I.M.M. — which stands for Diamonds in My Mouth. Besides “Tea,” the album — which is a mesh of pop, hip-hop and R&B — includes “Fact$” and “Touch It.”
How ablume Overcame Legal Battles to Flourish with “Echo”
Former members of the K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty (“Cupid”) reinvent themselves in their new group, ablume. Of leaving the group that made them famous, group leader SAENA told me, “I truly believe it was an act of courage for us.”
K-Pop Idol BAIN Came Out Because He was Tired of ‘Hiding’
“I’m still scared sometimes, and there’s so much I’m still learning. But one thing I know for sure is that I feel freer and stronger than ever. For the first time, I’m not hiding. I’m finally moving toward what I really want — not what I think people expect from me.” —BAIN
“Weak Hero Class 2” (약한영웅)
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.
Kang Ha-neul & Park Hae-joon Discuss Their Roles in “Yadang the Snitch”
In Hangul, yadang/야당 refers to an informant (or a snitch). Since opening in South Korean movie theaters on April 16 in the No. 1 spot, “Yadang: The Snitch” remains in the top position, thanks to a thrilling plot and a cast of stars that includes Kang Ha-neul (“Forgotten,” “Squid Game 2”) and Park Hae-joon (“When Life Gives You Tangerines,” “My Mister”).
Taz Singh: How an Indian actor from Scotland Found Himself Cast in RM’s “Lost!” Music Video
“It’s not just about BTS’s music,” said Indian-British actor Taz Singh. “It’s deeper than that. They stand for values like self love, and they’re very real and vulnerable. I feel that is why so many people can relate and connect to them so well.”
“When Life Gives You Tangerines” (폭싹 속았수다)
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.
“My Dearest Nemesis” (그놈은 흑염룡)
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.
A Conversation with Gavin Rossdale About Korean Food
In the late 1990s and early aughts, I interviewed Gavin Rossdale of the British grunge rock band Bush many times. But it wasn’t until our chat this year that I learned something new. He loves Korean cuisine. Not as in, “Oh, I love Korean barbeque.” Rather, he enjoys Korean food so much that he cooks it at home for his family. And when he does hire a chef to help out for larger get-togethers, it’s always his preferred Korean chef.