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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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China Adds to the Ban on Palace Dramas with No Kids on TV or CFs, and No Dyed Hair and Earrings for Men on TV

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 30, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 30, 2019
Group of characters in traditional costumes.

Methinks someone in the Chinese broadcast authority has too much time on their hands. Hot on the news that court and palace themed C-dramas like the mega hit Story of Yanxi Palace were on the outs for promoting bad values of extravagance and plotting, the Chinese authorities are also cracking down on the use of entertainment kids to make money. … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Yanxi Palace

Park Shin Hye Posts Cheerful Selfies with Memories of Alhambra Cast at Wrap Party

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 30, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 30, 2019
Two smiling individuals posing for a selfie.

With all the viewer feedback and opinions on recently wrapped tvN sci-fi drama Memories of Alhambra, male lead Hyun Bin reportedly said it was the longest drama he’s ever filmed and the most grueling. That likely means the cast and crew formed a tight bond during filming especially the skeleton crew that lived in Spain for nearly two months for … Continue reading →

Posted in My Loves | Tagged Hyun Bin, Lee Re, Memories of Alhambra, Min Jin Woong, Park Shin Hye

Kim Jae Wook Confirmed for Rom-com Her Private Life Opposite Park Min Young

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 29, 2019 by ockoalaMay 6, 2019
Two actors posing separately, one smiling.

I would do the koala happy dance except I’m not quite sure what that looks like in the wild, lol. But imagine it’s happening and at feverish pace because that’s just how excited I am with the confirmed casting new of Kim Jae Wook opposite Park Min Young in the upcoming rom-com drama Her Private Life. The drama is based … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Her Private Life, Kim Jae Wook, Park Min Young

Han Ji Min to be Jung Hae In’s Noona Leading Lady in PD Ahn’s Next Romance Drama Spring Night

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 29, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 29, 2019
Two smiling young adults posing for portraits.

K-actor Jung Hae In is clearly going to milk to nice young man drama persona for another go-around, but luckily this time he isn’t going to repeat with Son Ye Jin after their hit couple in Pretty Noona Buys Me Food (Something in the Rain). Jung Hae In is confirmed for upcoming mid-year MBC romance drama Spring Night, and his … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Han Ji Min, Jung Hae In, Spring Night

Shin Se Kyung Offered Female Lead Role in MBC Sageuk Drama Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 29, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 28, 2019
Young woman in traditional attire outdoors.

I find sageuk dramas do a well rounded job of featuring strong female leads as much as male-centric stories. From Dae Jang Geum to Queen Seondeok to Empress Ki and many more, strong women rightfully took their places alongside and even leading the men and K-dramas have highlighted this probably better than with modern female roles. Shin Se Kyung is … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung, Shin Se Kyung

Chinese Authorities Excoriate Court Dramas Like Yanxi Palace for Promoting Bad Values, All Court Dramas Pulled From Current TV Schedules

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 28, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 29, 2019
Group of characters in traditional costumes.

When something is too popular it’s bound to get backlash in still communist ideology controlled Mainland China, bucking up against tighter controls over social and policy restrictions. The biggest C-drama of 2018 was by far Story of Yanxi Palace, followed by another court drama Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace. The two were quite similar in central depictions of a … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace, Yanxi Palace

Netflix Zombie Sageuk Drama Kingdom Premieres to Great Reviews and Readies for Season 2 Filming

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 28, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 28, 2019
"Various character posters for a Netflix series."

Netflix premiered the 6-episode K-drama Kingdom this past weekend and I devoured it much like the zombie hordes in the story. It was riveting and fast-paced, and the short 6-episodes flew by ending with a helluva cliffhanger. Thankfully the second season has been green lit with screenwriter Kim Eun Hee also of Signal fame having finished her scripts already in … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Bae Doo Na, Joo Ji Hoon, Kingdom, Ryu Seung Ryong

Supporting Actor Min Jin Woong Wins the Male Breakout Prize in Memories of Alhambra

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 28, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 27, 2019
Two men in contrasting outfits sitting.

If child actress Lee Re playing the young sister role was the female breakout in tvN fantasy drama Memories of Alhambra, the male breakout has got to go to supporting actor Min Jin Woong as the loyal and goofy Secretary Seo. Little cutie pie secretary’s death was the hardest one to swallow in the drama, and in fact his entire … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Memories of Alhambra, Min Jin Woong

Japan’s Current Top Male Idol Group Arashi Announces End of Group Promotions in 2020

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 27, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 30, 2019
Five men dressed in stylish jackets.

At the end, and still classy and united as always. Japan’s top boy idol group Arashi announced today that they are officially ending active group promotions at the end of 2020, leaving over a year remaining on their tenure as a group entity and leaving on such a high note it’s hard to remember an ending/pause as thoughtfully done as … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged Arashi, Sakurai Sho

Jung Eun Chae Trades Creepy Ghost-fighting of The Guest for Feminine Chic in 1st Look Pictorial

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 27, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 26, 2019
Close-up of a woman wearing elegant jewelry.

All it takes is one memorable performance and I’m a fan, and that’s the case for K-actress Jung Eun Chae who held her own opposite two charismatic male leads and a whole lotta crazy spooky in OCN horror thriller The Guest. She’s been acting for 8 years now but really hasn’t made an impression on me until now, and there … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion | Tagged Jung Eun Chae

Penultimate Episode 19 of Cable Drama Sky Castle Hits 23.216% Ratings as It Reaches Untouchable Ratings Level Ahead of Finale Next Friday

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 27, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 26, 2019
Promotional poster for the drama "SKY Castle."

Sorry for not updating on record shattering cable drama Sky Castle last week, I needed to recover from my brain being smashed in Memories of Alhambra and then whiplashing from the tedious episode 15 of Encounter to its beautiful final episode 16 ending. It appears the power of Sky Castle remains unfettered despite a one episode preemption on Friday night … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Sky Castle

tvN Sat-Sun Drama Romance is a Bonus Book Gets Solid Premiere Ratings of 4.280% and Really Positive Reviews

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 26, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 26, 2019
Group of people beside colorful book spines.

I wasn’t rooting for this drama to succeed or fail, I just wanted it to be good and it looks like after the first episode it may just attain ratings success and be a good drama. tvN premiered book-centric rom-com Romance is a Bonus Book this Sat, taking over from the higher profile Memories of Alhambra which ended on a … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Lee Jong Seok, Lee Na Young

K-drama Producers Prepping for Second Season of Winter Sonata with Same Screenwriters

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 26, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 26, 2019
Four friends smiling in a snowy landscape.

I think this is a terrible idea unless it’s a reboot set in an alternative universe. K-drama gods have apparently decided to kick into gear the long percolating project for a second season of the mega hit 2002 drama Winter Sonata. Starring Bae Yong Joon, Choi Ji Woo, the late Park Yong Ha, and Park Sol Mi, the drama is … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Winter Sonata

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  • C-ent Screenwriter Publicly Accuses Bai Lu of Using Her Clout to Remove Her From the Script of Recently Premiered C-drama The First Jasmine
  • Long Time K-celeb Couple Jung Kyung Ho and Sooyoung Confirm Breakup After 14 Years Together
  • Chen Yao is the Female Lead Opposite Deng Wei in Director Guo Jing Ming’s Next Drama the Fantasy Romance Bai Yao Pu
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  • Well Known Supporting C-actor Jin Zhe Confirmed to Have Passed Away at 33 Years Old
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  • Tian Xi Wei Offered Female Lead in Big Budget Adaptation of C-novel Deng Hua Xiao From the Writer of The Glory and Legend of the Female General
  • K-actress Moon Chae Won is a Glowing Bride in Wedding Pictorial Ahead of Upcoming June 2026 Wedding
  • SBS Confirms Release of So Ji Sub K-drama Agent Kim Reactivated for End of June 2026 and Reveals the Drama Used AI to Cut Costs and Increase Speed
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