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A Koala's Playground

I'll talk about dramas if I want to

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Jung Kyung Ho and Jeon Do Yeon Deliver the First Hit of 2023 as tvN Rom-com Crash Course in Romance Hits 9.145% Ratings in Episode 5

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 28, 2023 by ockoalaJanuary 28, 2023
Various scenes from a dramatic television series.

Holy wow am I surprised upon surprised, and in a great way. After the red hot December 2022 in K-drama land with first Reborn Rich and then The Glory, it’s fantastic to see the momentum carry into the new year and January 2023 has the first hit already. tvN Sat-Sun drama Crash Course on Love is only in the third … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Crash Course in Romance, Jeon Do Yeon, Jung Kyung Ho

The Glory Supporting Actress Cha Joo Young Earns Her Limelight and Discusses the Steep Path to Acting Due to Later Start

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 28, 2023 by ockoalaJanuary 28, 2023
Main cast of "The Glory" Part 2.

I was so pleased to see this Allure Korea feature next month on K-actress Cha Joo Young, who plays the lowest totem member of the bully gang in The Glory. She is both the perpetrator and the victim and the character is fun to watch but it’s Cha Joo Young’s performance that elevates the role. The actress explained in an … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion | Tagged Cha Joo Young

OCN 2018 Heist Drama Player with Song Seung Heon Preps Season 2 but Female Lead Changes From Krystal to Oh Yeon Seo and Jang Gyu Ri

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 28, 2023 by ockoalaJanuary 28, 2023
Four characters in a stylized crime scene.

I didn’t think OCN drama Player was a big hit but it wasn’t a bomb and I guess the lack of new IP for the smaller cable network has led to resurrecting this 2018 drama for a season 2. Male lead Song Seung Heon will be back but female lead Krystal will not, instead the role (likely a different character) … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Jang Gyu Ri, Oh Yeon Seo, Player, Song Seung Heon

Reborn Rich Breakout Park Ji Hyun Jets Off to LA for CF Shoot Dressed to Impress

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 27, 2023 by ockoalaJanuary 26, 2023
Smiling woman in coat, posing cheerfully.

Rising K-actress Park Ji Hyun will come out of jTBC hit drama Reborn Rich as one of the biggest recipients of the ratings riches. She had a way more interesting character than the female lead and she gave a more charismatic performance, she definitely earned this breakout recognition. If she plays her cards right 2023 can elevate her further if … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Park Ji Hyun

Alice Ke, Greg Hsu, and Patrick Shih Visit South Korea to Promote the Movie Version of Hit TW-drama Someday or One Day

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 27, 2023 by ockoalaJanuary 28, 2023
Couple in black outfits at the airport.

I feel like Alice Ke and Greg Hsu totally got the South Korean star dress code before leaving for Seoul to promote their recently released TW-movie Someday or One Day, which continues the hit drama storyline. Their look at the airport was all black, matching, super sleek, and totally fit for the K-media news reporters there for the daily stake … Continue reading →

Posted in Films | Tagged Alice Ke, Greg Hsu, Patrick Shih, Someday or One Day

First Look at Sci-fi Disney+ K-drama Moving with Jo In Sung, Han Hyo Joo, and Ryu Seung Ryong

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 27, 2023 by ockoalaJanuary 26, 2023
Man crouching in a dark, outdoor setting.

I still think Disney+ despite getting some promising K-dramas in the last two years has a LONG way to go to catch up to Netflix in terms of international access to K-dramas on streaming. Even Viki is bigger. That’s why I get nervous when a high profile K-drama is produced and will stream solely on Disney+, it feels like it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Han Hyo Joo, Jo In Sung, Moving, Ryu Seung Ryong

Park Bo Gum and IU Confirmed for 2023 K-drama by Screenwriter Im Sang Choon of When the Camellia Blooms and the PD of My Ahjusshi

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 26, 2023 by ockoalaJanuary 26, 2023
Two stylish portraits of young adults.

Well K-drama gods you certainly delivered on this one. K-ent is reporting today that both Park Bo Gum and IU are confirmed to return together to the small screen in a K-drama in 2023. It’s titled You Worked Hard (a working title which is a saying from Jeju sland) and will be from the screenwriter Im Sang Choon of award … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged IU, Park Bo Gum

Park Hyung Sik and Jeon So Nee Embark on Tender Romance in New Stills for tvN Sageuk Our Blooming Youth

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 26, 2023 by ockoalaJanuary 26, 2023
Historical drama characters in traditional attire.

I remember the rise of the fusion youth sageuk in the early 2010’s, I would probably pin it around The Moon Embraces the Sun and perhaps foreshadowed by Dong Yi. The latter had a male lead king in his thirties but the female lead was very young and played young onscreen while the former had a super young male lead … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Jeon So Nee, Our Blooming Youth, Park Hyung Sik

Hyun Bin and Hwang Jung Min’s Thriller Rescue Movie The Point Men Surpasses 1 Million Tickets After One Weekend in Theaters

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 26, 2023 by ockoalaJanuary 25, 2023
Three men posing at an event.

The new year 2023 is off to a good start in the Korean box office and also good news for the thriller action movie The Point Men (Bargaining). The movie opened last weekend and has already passed 1 million moviegoers which is a solid showing for a high profile flick. Starring Hyun Bin and Hwang Jung Min in a dramatization … Continue reading →

Posted in Films | Tagged Bargaining, Hwang Jung Min, Hyun Bin, The Point Men

Shu Qi Shares Lunar New Year Greetings and Gets Criticism from C-netizens for Her Less Than Perfectly Dyed and Coiffed Hair

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 25, 2023 by ockoalaJanuary 25, 2023
Two people wearing masks and hats.

Dang, aging is hard enough but aging gracefully and still getting netizen dings is just such a downer. Last weekend was lunar new year 2022 (happy year of the rabbit everyone!) and with it the obligatory greeting pictures from all over Asian stars from all the countries that celebrate it. Nothing to write about but TW-actress Shu Qi who has … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Shu Qi

K-ent Abuzz with Rumors that Park Bo Gum Will Sign with HYBE the Agency of His Good Friend V of BTS

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 25, 2023 by ockoalaJanuary 25, 2023
Smiling person making a heart gesture.

The parlaying for top young actor Park Bo Gum is underway since news last month that he was not re-signing his contract with long time agency Blossom Entertainment. A name came to the surface yesterday, HYBE which was formerly known as Big Hit and is the agency that became big and powerful thanks to forming the biggest K-pop group of … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Park Bo Gum

Romance Period C-drama Unchained Love with Dylan Wang and Chen Yu Qi Wraps Disappointing Run with 6.7 Ratings on Douban

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 25, 2023 by ockoalaJanuary 24, 2023
Couple gazing lovingly at each other.

So the ratings on Douban for C-drama Unchained Love (Forbidden Love) really caught up on the general feedback with its ratings at 6.7 on the heel on its conclusion last week. I was interested in checking back in after hearing it got better in the middle probably around episode 14 and after. But then the drama ended last week and … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Chen Yu Qi, Dylan Wang, Unchained Love

jTBC Drama The Interest of Love Kicks into Gear as Feelings Finally Get Acted on at the End of Episode 8 Leaving the Second Half Excitingly Complicated

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 24, 2023 by ockoalaJanuary 24, 2023
Two people in emotional conversations, various settings.

Watching jTBC Wed-Thurs romance drama (if you call it that) The Interest of Love has been an exercise in waiting for the ball to drop. Like, literally waiting and waiting and waiting for something to happen beyond staring, longing, passive-aggressive frustration from all four main leads, so draggy to the point I was like JUST JUMP HER! And then the … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Moon Ga Young, The Interest of Love, Yoo Yeon Seok

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K-dramas: When the Phone Rings

Recent Posts

  • Chae Soo Bin and Kim Young Kwang Kick Off Filming for Rom-com K-drama Take Care of My Heart
  • Kim Hye Yoon and Park Solomon Embark on Their Own Nine-Tailed Fox and Human Rom-Com in SBS K-drama Human From Today
  • Modern C-drama Sniper Butterfly with Michelle Chen and Zhou Ke Yu Reportedly Doing Very Well in the Older Woman-Younger Man Romance Genre
  • iQiyi Airdrops Speed and Love with Yu Shu Xin and He Yu This Week as Expected Delivering an Old School Idol Romance Tableau
  • Tiffany of Girl’s Generation and Actor Byun Yo Han Confirm Dating with an Eye Towards Marriage
  • tvN Kicks off Promos for January 2026 Workplace K-drama Undercover Miss Hong with Park Shin Hye and Go Kyung Pyo
  • Modern Sci-Fi Romance C-drama Love on the Turquoise Land with Dilraba Dilmurat and Chen Xing Xu Wrap Uneventful Run and Nets a Relatively Low 6.2 Douban Ratings
  • Production of The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage Makes Dylan Wang and Meng Zi Yi Joint Top Billing as Filming Slated for Q1 of 2026
  • First Poster for iQiyi Modern Romance C-drama My Queen, My Rules with Ao Rui Peng and Shen Yu Jie Gives off Sleek Sexy Vibes
  • TW-tabloids Go Wild with News that F4 is Reuniting at Concert this December in Shanghai But Without Member Ken Chu and Adding Top TW-singers Jay Chou and Ashin of Mayday as Special Guests




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  • foulthings on Modern C-drama Sniper Butterfly with Michelle Chen and Zhou Ke Yu Reportedly Doing Very Well in the Older Woman-Younger Man Romance Genre
  • Rero on Chae Soo Bin and Kim Young Kwang Kick Off Filming for Rom-com K-drama Take Care of My Heart
  • HL on iQiyi Airdrops Speed and Love with Yu Shu Xin and He Yu This Week as Expected Delivering an Old School Idol Romance Tableau
  • HL on Modern C-drama Sniper Butterfly with Michelle Chen and Zhou Ke Yu Reportedly Doing Very Well in the Older Woman-Younger Man Romance Genre
  • Coralie on iQiyi Airdrops Speed and Love with Yu Shu Xin and He Yu This Week as Expected Delivering an Old School Idol Romance Tableau
  • Rei on Kim Hye Yoon and Park Solomon Embark on Their Own Nine-Tailed Fox and Human Rom-Com in SBS K-drama Human From Today
  • Didiey on Modern C-drama Sniper Butterfly with Michelle Chen and Zhou Ke Yu Reportedly Doing Very Well in the Older Woman-Younger Man Romance Genre
  • Leaves45 on iQiyi Airdrops Speed and Love with Yu Shu Xin and He Yu This Week as Expected Delivering an Old School Idol Romance Tableau
  • Sirey on Modern C-drama Sniper Butterfly with Michelle Chen and Zhou Ke Yu Reportedly Doing Very Well in the Older Woman-Younger Man Romance Genre
  • Somebody on Top J-pop Star Ayumi Hamasaki’s Shanghai Concert Abruptly Cancelled Last Minute as China-Japan Political Spat Worsens
  • Kristina on Kim Hye Yoon and Park Solomon Embark on Their Own Nine-Tailed Fox and Human Rom-Com in SBS K-drama Human From Today
  • Mandy 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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