↓
 
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

Portrait of a person with styled hair.

Post navigation

← Older posts
Newer posts →

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

Netflix Releases First Still of Seohyun and Lee Jun Young in K-drama Adaptation of SM Webtoon Moral Sense and Gives It the Most Cringe New English Title

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 26, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 25, 2021
Couple walking in a lush green park.

Getting new or occasional viewers to check out K-dramas necessitates a story that is universal in connection but it must overcome subtitles and the general cheesiness factor that most still associate with it. A good title helps and the upcoming Netflix K-drama adaptation of the SM tinged webtoon Moral Sense was well on its way to adding modern spicy until … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Lee Jun Young, Love and Leashes, Moral Sense, Seohyun

Post navigation

← Older posts
Newer posts →

Currently watching:

K-dramas: When the Phone Rings

Recent Posts

  • 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
  • Tencent Modern Thriller C-drama Kai Dao Tu Mi in Talks with Bai Lu, Peng Guan Yin, and Chang Hua Sen as Leads
  • Well Known Supporting C-actor Jin Zhe Confirmed to Have Passed Away at 33 Years Old
  • K-netizens Call for Netflix to Remove Newly Premiered K-drama Teach You a Lesson with Kim Moo Yeol Due to Controversial and Edgy Take on School Violence and Discipline
  • 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
  • Ji Chang Wook Reported to Owe Billions of Won in Taxes After Government Audit in Continued Crackdown on High Earning K-stars




Latest Comments

  • Somebody on 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
  • HL on 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
  • Annette on MBC to Cut the Historical Distortation Coronation Scene From Perfect Crown Hoping to End Controversy After Netizens Demand the Entire Drama be Pulled
  • Annette on Perfect Crown with IU and Byun Woo Seok Drops Absurd Royal Twist in Last Episode to Achieve Dull Happy Ending
  • Anne on Long Time K-celeb Couple Jung Kyung Ho and Sooyoung Confirm Breakup After 14 Years Together
  • Lev on Long Time K-celeb Couple Jung Kyung Ho and Sooyoung Confirm Breakup After 14 Years Together
  • Merry on Yu Shu Xin and Hou Ming Hao Cast in Xianxia C-drama Longing for My Beloved with Rumored Supporting Cast Being all AI Generated
  • Merry on Well Known Supporting C-actor Jin Zhe Confirmed to Have Passed Away at 33 Years Old
  • Snails on Long Time K-celeb Couple Jung Kyung Ho and Sooyoung Confirm Breakup After 14 Years Together
  • prettyautumn on Long Time K-celeb Couple Jung Kyung Ho and Sooyoung Confirm Breakup After 14 Years Together
  • avarachika on Chen Yao is the Female Lead Opposite Deng Wei in Director Guo Jing Ming’s Next Drama the Fantasy Romance Bai Yao Pu
  • Somebody on K-netizens Call for Netflix to Remove Newly Premiered K-drama Teach You a Lesson with Kim Moo Yeol Due to Controversial and Edgy Take on School Violence and Discipline

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

Dating Gong Hyo Jin Gong Yoo Ha Ji Won Han Ji Min 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
©2026 - A Koala's Playground - Weaver Xtreme Theme
↑
error: Content is protected !!