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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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Teaser and Confirmed Casting for tvN Drama Byun Hyuk’s Love with Choi Siwon, Kang Sora, and Gong Myung

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 7, 2017 by ockoalaSeptember 6, 2017
Three posing in smart casual outfits

Hopefully this will be one of tvN‘s solid romantic drama outings rather than one of it’s flat footed fails, for some reason the network is pretty extreme in either direction when it comes to rom-coms. In terns of now confirmed casting for upcoming Byun Hyuk’s Love it’s definitely picked right, scooping up just out of the military idol-actor Choi Siwon … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Byun Hyuk's Love, Choi Siwon, Gong Myung, Kang Sora, Lee Jae Yoon

Famed K-drama Screenwriters Kim Eun Sook and Kim Eun Hee Hold Joint Question-Answer Session in Seoul

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 6, 2017 by ockoalaSeptember 6, 2017
Two women smiling while speaking at an event.

If you love screenwriter Kim Eun Hee and/or Kim Eun Sook, the two sat down for a joint question-and-answer session this week in Seoul to share thoughts on their streak of successful K-dramas through the years. First they were asked about upcoming dramas – Kim Eun Hee has Kingdom, the Joseon era zombie drama, and she promises it will be … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Descendants of the Sun, Ghost, Goblin, Kim Eun Hee, Kim Eun Sook, Sign, Signal

Lee Jong Seok and Suzy Discuss Changing the Future in First Teaser for While You Were Sleeping

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 6, 2017 by ockoalaSeptember 6, 2017
Two people sitting close on a bus.

It’s here, the first teaser for the highly anticipated (by me!) SBS Wed-Thurs fall drama While You Were Sleeping. It was fully pre-filmed but unlike another pre-produced drama Uncontrollably Fond which was filmed in winter but aired in the summer so all the visuals were wonky with it being boiling outside and the leads swathed in great coats and scarves, … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Lee Jong Seok, Suzy, While You Were Sleeping

OCN Releases First Moody Drama Stills of Black With Leads Song Seung Heon and Go Ara

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 6, 2017 by ockoalaSeptember 5, 2017
Man in formal attire near the ocean.

Oh goody, if the first impression has any merit then upcoming OCN fall drama Black certainly deserves props for delivering a solid visual look. Starring Song Seung Heon and Go Ara, both coming off lackluster sageuk dramas Saimdang: Light’s Diary and Hwarang, respectively, going the opposite direction with a dark modern narrative seems to have been a smart choice in … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Black, Go Ara, Song Seung Heon

New Preview and Drama Stills for Temperature of Love with Seo Hyun Jin, Yang Se Jong, and Kim Jae Wook

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 5, 2017 by ockoalaSeptember 6, 2017
Young woman smiles through prison bars.

Seeing Kim Jae Wook smile so adorably seals the deal for me, I’m watching upcoming SBS Mon-Tues drama Temperature of Love come hell or freezing over. I’m keeping my expectations measure for this drama in terms of ratings, romance dramas tend not to do as well these days with the domestic audience and while Seo Hyun Jin has two recent … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kim Jae Wook, Seo Hyun Jin, Temperature of Love, Yang Se Jong

Netizen Has Lucky Chance Sighting of Engaged Stars Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo Together on the Plane

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 5, 2017 by ockoalaSeptember 6, 2017
Woman applying skincare product, natural glow.

There are many instances for chance encounters but plane sightings are especially lucky for fans since everyone’s cooped up inside the same flying machine. A netizen, who must have been flying first or business class judging from the seats, had a really stupendous spotting of engaged Korean stars Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo together in a now rare … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Dating, Song Hye Kyo, Song Joong Ki, Wedding

Korea Shocked by Footage of Middle School Girls Brutally Attacking Even Younger Victim

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 5, 2017 by ockoalaDecember 2, 2019
Group of people in a dimly lit area.

Entertainment shows like dramas and movies are there for enjoyment and sometimes education when it attempts to hew close to reality and highlight relevant issues. The School series has in recent years dealt with bullying in South Korea, and also the drama Angry Mom addressed the problem head on. Knowing it exists and is a really big problem can’t prepare … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Busan

Taecyeon Quietly Enlists for Military Service as His OCN Drama Save Me Does Well in Ratings

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 5, 2017 by ockoalaSeptember 4, 2017
Two friends posing for a selfie outdoors.

The 2017 trend of Korean male actors enlisting around a new drama continues as JYP Entertainment announced in Monday September 4th that Taecyeon had quietly enlisted for his mandatory military service today. His cable network OCN dark drama Save Me premiered in early August and is slightly more than midway through airing, and is doing quite well as ratings have … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Taecyeon

KBS Drama My Golden Life with Park Shi Hoo and Shin Hye Sun Wins Ratings on Premiere Weekend

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 4, 2017 by ockoalaSeptember 4, 2017
Four characters from "My Golden Life" drama.

When I first heard of KBS weekend drama My Golden Life it was all around the controversial casting of male lead Park Shi Hoo who had been surrounded by scandal since a rape allegation from 5 years ago was settled out of court. I totally didn’t bother to check out the production team but now I’m super torn in really … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Lee Tae Hwan, My Golden Life, Park Shi Hoo, Seo Eun Soo, Shin Hye Sun

K-remake of Criminal Minds Passes Midway Airing and Drops to 2% range from Premiere Ratings High of 4%

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 4, 2017 by ockoalaSeptember 3, 2017
Two people walking together in a garden.

Things are not dire but is certainly disappointing as tvN‘s high profile and big name casted K-drama remake of Criminal Minds hasn’t really resonated with the local audience. Episode 1 did a promising and high for cable 4.187% AGB nationwide ratings but has then fallen to the 2% range with a few episodes going back up past 3% but nowhere … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Criminal Minds, Lee Jun Ki, Moon Chae Won, Son Hyun Joo, Yoo Sun

Kim Nam Gil and Kim Ah Joong’s tvN Drama Live Up to Your Name Breaks 6% Ratings for Episode 6

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 4, 2017 by ockoalaSeptember 4, 2017
Man smiles while woman looks concerned.

The hit-making streak of tvN continues for the Sat-Sun time slot after Secret Forest (Stranger) did so well. Followup drama Live Up to Your Name (Deserving of the Name) has seem rating increases for the most part, except for one episode drop, since it premiered with 2.715% AGB and now in episode 8 it has broken a new barrier to … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kim Ah Joong, Kim Nam Gil, Live Up to Your Name

First Drama Stills of Lee Jong Seok and Suzy for While You Were Sleeping Along with Script Reading Session

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 3, 2017 by ockoalaSeptember 3, 2017
Actors smiling at a table during a meeting.

September is here which means the countdown to the arrival of SBS Wed-Thurs drama While You Were Sleeping is less than 30 days away. This is one pre-filmed drama that I’ve been following along with consistently since it was announced earlier this year, solely for male lead Lee Jong Seok and also his third reunion working with screenwriter Park Hye … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Go Sung Hee, Jung Hae In, Lee Jong Seok, Lee Sang Yeob, Suzy, While You Were Sleeping

First Look at Nirvana in Fire 2 with Huang Xiaoming and Tong Li Ya

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 3, 2017 by ockoalaSeptember 2, 2017
Romantic moment between two elegantly dressed characters.

The drama adaptation of Nirvana in Fire was such a smashing critical and popular success it’s a no brainer to make a sequel, lesser received dramas have spawn follow ups but this one comes with heavy expectations that will be hard to match. The exact same production team is back for Nirvana in Fire 2 (Wind Rises From Chang Lin) … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Huang Xiaoming, Liu Hao Ran, Nirvana in Fire, Tong Li Ya, Zhang Hui Wen

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  • Jeannie on CCTV and iQiyi Medical Drama Small Town Remedy with Xiao Zhan is the Most Well Received C-drama of October 2026
  • Jeannie on Cast Confirmed for Royal Revenge Drama Sister, I am the Queen in This Life with Kim Tae Ri, Ha Yoon Kyung, Jo Han Gyeol, and Moo Jin Sung
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  • Somebody on Where the Mask Ends Completes Airing with 19th Consecutive Days of Over 10,000 Heat Index on Youku Surpassing 18 Day Record Set By Legend of Zang Hai and The Immortal Ascension
  • Somebody on CCTV and iQiyi Medical Drama Small Town Remedy with Xiao Zhan is the Most Well Received C-drama of October 2026
  • Somebody on Meng Zi Yi Reportedly Selects Republic Era Revenge Drama Jing Gui as Next Project and Male Lead Rumored to be Cheng Lei
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