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A Koala's Playground

I'll talk about dramas if I want to

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Author Archives: ockoala

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C-netizens Critique Victoria Song’s Dress as the Coveted Pick for 2020 Golden Eagle Goddess

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 19, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 19, 2020
Pageant contestants in glamorous golden dresses.

The Golden Eagle Awards are held every 2 years and the Golden Eagle Goddess selected also every 2 years. It’s basically a sign that C-ent thinks you’re the Current Drama It Girl. This year 2020 has selected Victoria Song as the Golden Eagle Goddess and she follows in the footsteps (reverse order) of: Dilraba Dilmurat (2018), Tang Yan (2016), Zhao … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion | Tagged Victoria Song

Start-Up Ratings Remain Steady in Episode 2 as Story Smartly Lines Up All Four Leads with Compelling Connections

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 18, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 18, 2020
Young adults interacting on a sunny campus.

Some dramas star a fan’s favorite star and the lengths by which I hear devotees try to rationalize the bad writing, lackluster directing, and even bland acting doesn’t make it actually any good. tvN‘s latest Sat-Sun drama Start-Up is the opposite for me, I could write it off easily but it’s just so so sooooo good, with a story that … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kang Hana, Kim Sun Ho, Nam Joo Hyuk, Start Up, Suzy

Kim Sun Ho and Younger Counterpart Nam Da Reum Steal the Show in Excellent and Tear Inducing First Episode of Start-Up

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 18, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 19, 2020
Three scenes of a young woman engaged in various activities.

She’s back!!! Screenwriter Park Hye Ryun I mean and she’s firing on all cylinders and arguably better than ever with her new tvN drama Start-Up. I watched episode 1 and immediately beelined to write about it. Well, after I stopped crying and it’s a total deju vu from my experience watching the first episode of Pinocchio years ago. Park Hye … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kang Hana, Kim Sun Ho, Nam Da Reum, Start-Up, Suzy

Yoo Ah In is Ridiculously Handsome in New CF Pictorial for Menswear Brand

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 18, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 16, 2020
Young man wearing a black hoodie.

I’m having flashbacks to Sungkyunkwan Scandal and this isn’t even a sageuk pictorial. That was the breakout role for Yoo Ah In and probably when I thought he was the most young and handsome, because he’s such an auteur he disappears into whatever role is required which mostly doesn’t do justice to his good looks. This menswear pictorial is totally … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion | Tagged Yoo Ah In

tvN Sat-Sun Drama Start Up with Suzy, Nam Joo Hyuk, and Kim Sun Ho Launches with 4.278% Ratings in Episode 1

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 17, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 17, 2020
Scenes from a Korean drama series.

I totally forgot it was premiere weekend for tvN and confess that I haven’t had a chance to watch the first episode yet so will reserve my opinion and commentary until tomorrow. This Saturday saw the premiere of new tvN weekend drama Start-Up and the initial ratings are on the low side for this time slot on the network. Starring … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kang Hana, Kim Sun Ho, Nam Joo Hyuk, Start Up, Suzy

Song Hye Kyo Rocks the Auburn Locks with Black and Grey Fall Fashion in New Footwear Pictorial

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 17, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 16, 2020
Woman in oversized sweater poses stylishly.

The arrival of fall feels welcome after a scorching summer and with it a breath of fresh air to don warmer threads. K-actress Song Hye Kyo has been dropping a succession of footwear ads in the last three months and each set is as lovely as the others. This latest batch released this week skew towards darker tones of black … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion | Tagged Song Hye Kyo

Eric, Yoo In Ha, and Im Joo Hwan Navigate Awkwardness of First and Current Husband Love Triangle in Promos for The Spies Who Loved Me

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 17, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 19, 2020
Romantic moments between two characters.

I feel like Im Joo Hwan was hired to be the sacrifice in upcoming MBC drama The Spies Who Loved Me as the barrier between ex-spouses Eric and Yoo In Na getting back together. That’s fine as long as he has a great role and interesting narrative, but ooomph is it going to hurt to watch. Eric is so good … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Eric, Im Joo Hwan, The Spies Who Loved Me, Yoo In Na

Episode 13 of Alice Turns into Ouroboros and Fails to Deliver Clarity or Catharsis With Lots of Talking But Lack of Important Information Shared

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 16, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 16, 2020
Two characters in a dramatic cross-section scene.

SBS Fri-Sat drama Alice would have benefited so much from airing on OCN and being a tight 12-episodes like Train. I’m making this conclusion even though it’s not finished yet because the last few episodes have felt like much ado about not a lot, dragging things out to fill screen time when it could be much tighter to maintain the … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Alice, Joo Won, Kim Hee Sun

Im Shi Wan Gets Second Test for COVID-19 After Outbreak in Neighborhood and Filming for Run On Shuts Down Again

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 16, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 16, 2020
Smiling young man in a formal outfit.

I wonder if its time to change the name of upcoming jTBC drama Run On, to Run Stop Run Stop. It’s unfortunate because I’m really looking forward for this drama starring Im Shi Wan, Shin Se Kyung, Sooyoung, and Kang Tae Oh with a refreshing two sets of OTP structure. The filming stopped once in August due to an actual … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Im Shi Wan, Run On

First Stills and Preview for jTBC Youth Romance Live On with Jung Da Bin and Minhyun

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 16, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 15, 2020
Students in school uniforms, various expressions.

Ooooohhhhh, I totally lost track of this drama so it’s such a treat to see promos for this randomly this week. The upcoming November jTBC drama Live On has released first stills, script reading, and a teaser preview already and I’m totally vibing with it. The cast is young and a visual treat with leads teen actress Jung Da Bin … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Jung Da Bin, Live On, Minhyun

Tale of Gumiho Stays Solid at 5.511% Ratings as Episode 4 Reveals Brotherly Feud Back Story and Beautifully Tortures a Gumiho in Love

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 15, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 15, 2020
Emotional scenes from a dramatic fantasy series.

The Tale of Gumiho turns out to be as old as time, heh. Boy loves girl, boy loses girl, boy waits for girl to reincarnate, oh and boy misplaces younger brother who turns into a single minded revenge asshole. That about sums it up. Episode 4 continued the strong balance of practical mystery solving, and our female lead Ji Ah … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Jo Boa, Kim Bum, Lee Dong Wook, Tale of Gumiho

Sung Hoon and Lee Ga Ryung Confirmed for Makjang Queen Screenwriter Im Sung Han’s Comeback Drama Marriage Story

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 15, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 15, 2020
Group of stylish individuals posing for photos.

The lambs are all lined up for the makjang slaughter to come, lol. The leads and full cast have been confirmed for crazy (in drama and real life) screenwriter Im Sung Han‘s comeback drama Marriage Story. She wrote New Tales of the Gisaeng which a lot of people loved, and her even earlier dramas The Jewel Family and Miss Mermaid … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Im Sung Han, Lee Ga Ryung, Lee Min Young, Lee Tae Gon, Park Joo Mi, Sung Joon

Ha Ji Won Embraces Success in Her 40s as K-movie Pawn Breaks 1 Million Admissions

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 15, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 14, 2020
Woman in stylish orange outfit, smiling.

Movie going in 2020 with COVID-19 has been wildly up and down to say the least. In South Korea the theaters stayed open with social distancing of every other seat remaining empty which cut into admissions and tickets sold. Basically every K-movie released this year with have an asterisk next to it but that’s ok, we can at least look … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Ha Ji Won

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Recent Posts

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  • lai on Chae Soo Bin and Kim Young Kwang Kick Off Filming for Rom-com K-drama Take Care of My Heart
  • lai on Hyun Bin and Jung Woo Sung’s Disney+ Drama Made in Korea Holds Rare Television Star-studded Premiere with Lee Min Ho and Jang Geun Seok Among Others Attending
  • Yuis on Netflix Releases Posters and First Teaser Preview for Romance K-drama Can This Love be Translated with Go Yoon Jung and Kim Sun Ho Premiering January 2026
  • ordinary on Youku Premieres Period Strategy Thriller The Vendetta of An with Cheng Yi to Positive First Reviews
  • Royal We on Chae Soo Bin and Kim Young Kwang Kick Off Filming for Rom-com K-drama Take Care of My Heart
  • Meemaw on Hyun Bin and Jung Woo Sung’s Disney+ Drama Made in Korea Holds Rare Television Star-studded Premiere with Lee Min Ho and Jang Geun Seok Among Others Attending
  • eva on Netflix Releases Posters and First Teaser Preview for Romance K-drama Can This Love be Translated with Go Yoon Jung and Kim Sun Ho Premiering January 2026
  • Lil on Netflix Releases Posters and First Teaser Preview for Romance K-drama Can This Love be Translated with Go Yoon Jung and Kim Sun Ho Premiering January 2026
  • Annette on Netflix Releases Posters and First Teaser Preview for Romance K-drama Can This Love be Translated with Go Yoon Jung and Kim Sun Ho Premiering January 2026
  • Rero on K-ent Scandal Month of December 2025 Continues as TV Host and Comedienne Park Na Rae Faces Lawsuit Allegations of Workplace Bullying, Abuse of Power, and Violation of Medical Laws
  • Rero on Netflix Releases Posters and First Teaser Preview for Romance K-drama Can This Love be Translated with Go Yoon Jung and Kim Sun Ho Premiering January 2026
  • foulthings on iQiyi Airdrops Speed and Love with Yu Shu Xin and He Yu This Week as Expected Delivering an Old School Idol Romance Tableau

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