K-netizens Continue to Be Upset that Netflix Hit Drama Squid Game is Too Similar to Popular Japanese Manga As the God’s Will

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It’s a fascinating case study on the domestic South Korea response to hit Netflix survivor game drama Squid Game. After a weekend dominating the streaming platform in multiple regions and getting as high as #1 in the worldwide rankings, one would think K-netizens would be proud. Instead the commentariat has remained focused on and frustrated by the same concept and … Continue reading →

tvN Releases Side-by-side Posters of Leads Kim Go Eun and Ahn Bo Hyun With Their Expressive Cells

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Okay, thanks to all those playground peeps who told me episode 2 of Yumi’s Cells got better I pressed play and found myself literally cringe laughing (in a good way) at the end of the episode which redeemed the premiere weekend for me. It wasn’t Kim Go Eun‘s cells that are charming and funny, which they are, but Ahn Bo … Continue reading →

SBS Releases Eye-catching Pictures of Lovers of the Red Sky Leads Kim Yoo Jung, Ahn Hyo Seob, and Gong Myung During Chuseok Off Week

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Clearly I’m in withdrawal lol, and excuse my grasping at whatever straws/goodies are out for SBS Mon-Tues sageuk Lovers of the Red Sky (Hong Chun Gi). That the drama has overcome tons of doubts – Ahn Hyo Seob‘s sageuk acting concerns, the top billing brouhaha, and the general “will it work” questions about the fantasy with palace intrigue combo – … Continue reading →

Ro Woon Keeps Seeing Park Eun Bin’s King as a Princess in Second Teaser for KBS Drama The King’s Affection

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I can totally see the acting experience gap between leads Ro Woon and Park Eun Bin in the upcoming KBS sageuk romance The King’s Affection, but so far it’s not worrying or disparate enough to make me think they can sell the story and their relationship. The second teaser is out and we see Ro Woon’s royal tutor getting constantly … Continue reading →

Jeon Ji Hyun is a Spirited Park Ranger with Mellow Counterpart Joo Ji Hoon in Second Teaser for tvN Drama Cliffhanger

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With Hometown Cha Cha Cha doing great ratings on Sat-Sun midway through its run, made even more impressive with it’s rom-com and slice-of-life genre, the stage is looking great for its successor drama the mega high profile Cliffhanger (Mount Jiri) to premiere in a month. It’ll be a 180 change of genre and pace not to mention lots of mountain … Continue reading →

K-netizens Marvel at UEE’s New CF Pictorial as She Looks Healthier and Captivates with a Return to Her Early Debut Charm

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Wow this is definitely eye candy but even better a really positive development with UEE. The former idol turned actress has been one of the biggest chameleons in her look for the last decade, most notably her weight loss to a nearly gaunt look for a few dramas that was worrying. Her honey thighs during the After School era was … Continue reading →

Squid Game Becomes Highest Rated Netflix K-drama Surpassing Sweet Home

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I’m not surprised that worldwide audiences tuned in for this past weekend’s premiere of Squid Game on Netflix, it’s highly watchable and just that combination of action, thrillers, and terror perfect for binge watching. The highest ranked K-drama to premiere on Netflix thus far has remained Sweet Home which got as high as 4th worldwide ranking in December 2020 when … Continue reading →

Taecyeon and Kim Hye Yoon Unflappable in a Changing Joseon World in First Teasers for tvN Sageuk Drama Secret Royal Inspector and Jo Yi

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Remember when I said the upcoming fall/winter season was going to be sageuk Heaven? It’s coming fast and furious – we have Lovers of the Red Sky airing, then comes The King’s Affection (Yeonmo) in October, followed by The Red Sleeve Cuff and also Secret Royal Inspector and Jo Yi in November. The weather is getting cold but we’re getting … Continue reading →

SBS Preempts This Week of Lovers of the Red Sky Episodes 7-8 for Chuseok Festival, Will Air on September 27th

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Grah, it’s the worst to be addicting to a K-drama when it airs over a holiday season, be it lunar new year or mid-autumn festival which is called Chuseok in Korea. It’s a big holiday as it is in Chinese-speaking countries, like the Asian version of Thanksgiving. This Tuesday the 20th of September is Chuseok in South Korea so everyone … Continue reading →

K-ent Notes that Jeon Do Yeon and Ryu Jun Yeol’s Arthouse jTBC Drama Lost Has Dropped in Ratings Through Episode 5 into the 1% Range

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There was always a popular bar that jTBC drama Lost (Human Disqualification) was going to have to vault over. The drama is serious and tackles the depressing aspects of life and that’s never an easy sell. But My Ahjusshi (My Mister) did it in both critical acclaim AND bringing in high ratings so it is doable, but 5-episodes in Lost … Continue reading →

Song Hye Kyo Shines with Simple Elegance in New Jewelry CF

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This week is actually the 21st premiere anniversary of classic Hallyu K-drama Autumn in My Heart, and I mention it because female lead Song Hye Kyo has basically reverse glowed up herself from that drama to now and doesn’t seem to have an end in sight. Back then she was youthfully cute but now she’s all sorts of layered pretty. … Continue reading →

Episode 1 of Yumi’s Cells is Surprisingly Well Done But Ultimately the Webtoon Does Not Work as a Live-action Adaptation

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The low(er) premiere ratings of tvN Fri-Sat drama Yumi’s Cells is sadly aptly earned. I watched the first episode and came away with opinions that were the opposite of what I thought I would think when I saw the casting and promos. I thought the webtoon would be perfect for a live-action drama but was not feeling the casting of … Continue reading →

K-netizens Find Netflix Drama Squid Game Just Meh with Bad Acting and Non-fresh Story the Opposite of I-viewers Who Love the Series

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It’s always fascinating to see how different cultures view the same product and just premiered Netflix drama Squid Game is generating opposite reactions from inside and outside South Korea. Unlike it’s predecessor D.P. (Deserter Pursuit) which got rave reviews and reception domestically, even reviving Jung Hae In‘s career and perception with K-netizens and rocketed Koo Kyu Hwan to a new … Continue reading →