↓
 
A Koala's Playground 
 
  • Home
  • About
  • Drama/Book Recaps
  • Favorites
  • Glossary
  • Headers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Ratings/Top Ten
    • K-dramas Ratings/Top Ten
    • TW/C dramas Ratings/Top Ten
  • Reviews

A Koala's Playground

I'll talk about dramas if I want to

Person standing in a snowy playground setting.

Post navigation

← Older posts
Newer posts →

Kim Soo Hyun and Cha Seung Won Lead the Script Reading Stills for Coupang Play Legal Murder Mystery Drama One Ordinary Day

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 30, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 30, 2021
Two men holding scripts in matching outfits.

The promos are increasing for upcoming Coupang Play high profile thriller drama One Ordinary Day (formerly That Night), a K-remake of the BBC series Criminal Justice. The first poster came out last week with leads Kim Soo Hyun and Cha Seung Won shaking hands in a jail cell, with the latter defending the former accused of murder. Now comes the … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Cha Seung Won, Kim Soo Hyun, One Ordinary Day

tvN Releases First Two Mathematics Inspired Drama Posters for Teacher-Student Romance Melancholia

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 30, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 29, 2021
Two characters sitting on a bench outdoors.

Okay, this may be one of those dramas that conceptually turns me off but visually works onscreen. I sorta hate that, because on principle I LOATHE teacher-student romances but can also accept that it could work with the right leads and the least icky of set ups. For example, I think Doctors ended up working after they met again as … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Im Soo Jung, Lee Do Hyun, Melancholia

TW-actress Ariel Lin Confirms Pregnancy After Tabloid Leak, Expecting First Child with Husband This October 2021

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 29, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 30, 2021
Couple posing at a formal event backdrop.

This is totally watching my baby girl grow up and have a baby of her own. TW-actress Ariel Lin is pregnant with her first child with husband of 6-years Charles, a non-celebrity. Tabloids broke the news first by spotting Charles back in Taiwan and Ariel quickly confirmed the happy tidings. What’s wild is how she kept it under wraps because … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Ariel Lin

Lovers of the Red Sky Episodes 7-8 Resumes with Similar Ratings of 9.3%, 8.9% as the Week Hiatus Slows the Momentum

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 29, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 29, 2021
Two characters in traditional Korean attire, smiling.

I was super excited on Monday for the resumption of Lovers of the Red Sky, with episode 7 picking up from the end of the painting competition and the arrival of Chun Gi’s mentally damaged dad to cause a ruckus. I don’t know if it’s mostly due to the Chuseok week preemption but the episode felt so slow and took … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Ahn Hyo Seob, Gong Myung, Hong Chun Gi, Kim Yoo Jung, Kwak Si Yang, Lovers of the Red Sky

Veteran Award Winning Actress Youn Yeo Jung in Talks for 2022 K-drama Tree Dies While Standing with Kang Ha Neul and Son Ye Jin

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 29, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 28, 2021
Smiling woman with curly hair and earrings.

This as as award winning a powerhouse drama lead casting as I have ever seen. We have three Baeksang Best Actress/Best Actor winners joining together for a 2022 slated K-drama literally translated as Tree Dies While Standing. Korea’s first Oscar acting winner veteran Youn Yeo Jung will be making a K-drama return as a North Korean born now old woman … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kang Ha Neul, Son Ye Jin, Youn Yeo Jung

Shin Hye Sun Fierce and Fabulous in New October 2021 W Korea Pictorial

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 28, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 28, 2021
Model posing stylishly on the floor.

What a weird year it’s been for K-actress Shin Hye Sun, it started off with the biggest drama hit of her career and she was the titular lead in tvN sageuk Mr. Queen (Queen Cheorin). Then immediately after, before she could even bask in the post-drama success, her leading man Kim Jung Hyun delivered a scandal for the ages to … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Shin Hye Sun

Gallup Poll Ratings for the Most Popular K-dramas in the Past 5 Years Has Sky Castle then Goblin in the First Two Spots

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 28, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 28, 2021
Cast of Korean drama "Sky Castle."

Seeing the most popular and highest rated K-dramas matched up against each other helps give even more context for what was super high profile when it aired due to so many viewers tuning in. In a Gallup Poll ranking of the most popular K-dramas for the last 5 years (2016-2021), the pinnacle remains the grande dame herself Sky Castle which … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Goblin, Sky Castle

tvN Fantasy Exorcism Drama Island Confirms Cast of Kim Nam Gil, Lee Da Hee, Cha Eun Woo, and the Return of Sung Joon Playing the Big Bad

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 28, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 27, 2021
Four portraits of stylish Asian actors.

This was always going to be an ambitious drama production, with many CGII elements needed and a dark tone that would needed to be balanced for the majority K-drama viewing populace. That it’s initial leading lady pick had to bow out due to her poor real life behavior scandal was enough to delay everything. Now it’s back on track and … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Cha Eun Woo, Island, Kim Nam Gil, Lee Da Hee, Sung Joon

Actress Min Hyo Rin 9 Months Pregnant with First Baby with Husband Singer Taeyang

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 27, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 27, 2021
Couple taking selfies and wedding photos together.

This is such sweet happy news and adds a bit of positivity when viewing the normally superficial underpinnings of the Korean idol pop world. Big Bang member and solo singer Taeyang and his actress wife Min Hyo Rin are expecting their first child together. The news was confirmed and she’s currently 9 month pregnant so it’s basically any day now. … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Baby, Married, Min Hyo Rin, Taeyang

tvN to air Second Season of Tale of Gumiho Set in the Joseon Era with Returning Lee Dong Wook and Kim Bum But Replacing Female Lead Jo Boa

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 27, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 27, 2021
Fantasy drama poster featuring two characters.

Well this is random and I wonder who is the target audience? tvN will be airing a second season of fall 2020’s fantasy romance drama Tale of Gumiho (Tale of the Nine-tailed) which thoroughly confounded me when it aired. There were glimpses of something MORE that could have made the drama work but what aired was just blergh. I liked … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kim Bum, Lee Dong Wook, Tale of Gumiho, Tale of the Nine-tailed

Yumi’s Cells Smooths Out in Episodes 3-4 as the Kind and Considerate Budding Romance Elicits Smiles From the Viewers and Cells Alike

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 27, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 26, 2021
Collage of animated characters and live-action scenes.

I’m so glad other readers suggested I stick with Yumi’s Cells after the tonally disparate first episode, saying the second episode gets a lot better. It did, and now I can say episodes 3-4 gets even way better. The story is really such a small circle of Yumi and the men in her life, first her small crush on her … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Ahn Bo Hyun, Kim Go Eun, Yumi's Cells

Lovers of the Red Sky Resumes Airing After Week Hiatus with New Stills Showing Chun Gi Having Curious Encounters with Ha Ram, Prince Yangmyeong, the Mountain Goddess Grandma

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 26, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 26, 2021
Two characters in traditional Korean attire, smiling.

I hope everyone had a great Chuseok/Mid-Autumn week because it better have been good to make me not go rabidly angry that the family holiday led to a one week preemption of airing new episodes of SBS Mon-Tues drama Lovers of the Red Sky (Hong Chun Gi). I was kinda close to turning into my version of the red eyed … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kim Yoo Jung, Lovers of the Red Sky

Rising Actors Jung Ho Yeon, Wi Ha Joon, and Lee Yoo Mi Rocket Up in Popularity After Squid Game with Multiple Increases on Instagram Followers and Comments

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 26, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 26, 2021
Model posing with a Rubik's cube.

The success of Netflix drama Squid Game is like the gift that keeps on giving, bringing more recognition of Korean dramas worldwide and now also being a platform for rising and/or perennial supporting leads to step up into the broader popularity. Case in point the three younger actors in Squid Game – Jung Ho Yeon, Wi Ha Joon, and Lee … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Jung Ho Yeon, Lee Yoo Mi, Squid Game, Wi Ha Joon

Post navigation

← Older posts
Newer posts →

Currently watching:

K-dramas: When the Phone Rings

Recent Posts

  • Shin Mina and Kim Woo Bin Tie the Knot at Private Wedding in Seoul with Top Industry Star Friends in Attendance
  • KBS Soul Swap Sageuk Romance To My Beloved Thief with Nam Ji Hyun and Moon Sang Min Release Pretty New Poster and Preview
  • Im Shi Wan and Seol In Ah Confirmed for tvN Mystery Romance Cross-dressing K-drama My Guilty Person
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Youku Premieres Period Strategy Thriller The Vendetta of An with Cheng Yi to Positive First Reviews
  • 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




Latest Comments

  • Yuhyi on Shin Mina and Kim Woo Bin Tie the Knot at Private Wedding in Seoul with Top Industry Star Friends in Attendance
  • Irisz on Shin Mina and Kim Woo Bin Tie the Knot at Private Wedding in Seoul with Top Industry Star Friends in Attendance
  • eJc on Shin Mina and Kim Woo Bin Tie the Knot at Private Wedding in Seoul with Top Industry Star Friends in Attendance
  • prettyautumn on Shin Mina and Kim Woo Bin Tie the Knot at Private Wedding in Seoul with Top Industry Star Friends in Attendance
  • Jae on Shin Mina and Kim Woo Bin Tie the Knot at Private Wedding in Seoul with Top Industry Star Friends in Attendance
  • Gia on KBS Soul Swap Sageuk Romance To My Beloved Thief with Nam Ji Hyun and Moon Sang Min Release Pretty New Poster and Preview
  • Trippy 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
  • Lazybutt on KBS Soul Swap Sageuk Romance To My Beloved Thief with Nam Ji Hyun and Moon Sang Min Release Pretty New Poster and Preview
  • Raylee 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
  • Somebody on KBS Soul Swap Sageuk Romance To My Beloved Thief with Nam Ji Hyun and Moon Sang Min Release Pretty New Poster and Preview
  • Somebody on KBS Soul Swap Sageuk Romance To My Beloved Thief with Nam Ji Hyun and Moon Sang Min Release Pretty New Poster and Preview
  • Rero on KBS Soul Swap Sageuk Romance To My Beloved Thief with Nam Ji Hyun and Moon Sang Min Release Pretty New Poster and Preview

Categories

  • Awards
  • Books
  • Discussion Forum
  • Download Links
  • Drama Previews
  • Fashion
  • Films
  • First Impressions
  • J-doramas
  • Japanese Manga
  • K-dramas
  • Miscellaneous
  • Music
  • Musings
  • My Loves
  • Oldies but Goodies
  • Recaps
  • Recess
  • TW & C dramas
  • Year End Reviews

Tags

Bu Bu Jing Xin Dating Gong Hyo Jin Gong Yoo Ha Ji Won Hyun Bin IU Jang Geun Seok Jeon Ji Hyun Ji Chang Wook Ji Sung Jung Hae In Jung So Min Kim Go Eun Kim Ji Won Kim So Hyun Kim Soo Hyun Kim Woo Bin Kim Yoo Jung Lee Dong Wook Lee Jong Seok Lee Jun Ki Lee Min Ho Lee Seung Gi Liu Shi Shi Married Moon Geun Young Nam Joo Hyuk Park Bo Gum Park Min Young Park Seo Joon Park Shin Hye Shin Se Kyung Song Hye Kyo Song Joong Ki Song Seung Heon Son Ye Jin Suzy Wedding Yang Mi Yoo Ah In Yoona Yoon Eun Hye Yoo Seung Ho Zhao Lu Si

Archives

Blogroll

  • Dramabeans
  • Jomo's Findings
  • Mookiehyun
  • Thundie's Prattle
  • WaterOB

Favorite Book Translations

  • Da Mo Yao (Ballad of the Desert) Da Mo Yao (Ballad of the Desert)
  • Lost You Forever Lost You Forever
  • Yun Zhong Ge (Song of the Clouds) Yun Zhong Ge (Song of the Clouds)

Favorite Drama Recaps

  • In a Good Way In a Good Way
  • Nice Guy (The Innocent Man) Nice Guy (The Innocent Man)
  • The King 2 Hearts The King 2 Hearts
©2025 - A Koala's Playground - Weaver Xtreme Theme
↑
error: Content is protected !!