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A Koala's Playground

I'll talk about dramas if I want to

Young couple gazing at each other warmly.

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

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 19, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 19, 2021
Woman in traditional attire smiling warmly.

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 →

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

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

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 19, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 21, 2021
Actors collaborating in various scenes and expressions.

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 →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Human Disqualification, Jeon Do Yeon, Lost, Ryu jun Yeol

Song Hye Kyo Shines with Simple Elegance in New Jewelry CF

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 19, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 19, 2021
Vogue Korea cover featuring Song Hyekyo.

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 →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Song Hye Kyo

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

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 18, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 18, 2021
Collage of animated and live-action characters.

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 →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kim Go Eun, Lee Yoo Bi, Minho

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

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 18, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 18, 2021
"Group of people surrounded by money and games."

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 →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Lee Jung Jae, Park Hae Soo, Squid Game

Tons of New Stills Released of Leads Han So Hee and Ahn Bo Hyun in Upcoming Netflix Revenge Thriller My Name

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 18, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 17, 2021
Two characters sharing an intense moment.

It’s so weird going from Ahn Bo Hyun dressed like a hobo space rabbit in the upcoming Yumi’s Cells to him looking smexy and kickass in the also upcoming My Name. He’ll be pulling a Joo Ji Hoon from last two in having two K-dramas airing on the same time come next month in October. My Name will be released … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Ahn Bo Hyun, Han So Hee, My Name

Mega Drama Premiere Friday as The Veil, Yumi’s Cells, One: The Woman, and Squid Game All Premiere to Varying Ratings Reception

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 17, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 17, 2021
Four posters of Korean TV shows.

Oh heck, I didn’t even get to write about the press conferences this week and BAM! all four dramas dropped on me this Friday. Goes to show what a busy work week can do for keeping on top of other things. This Friday was one of those rare events now, a multi K-drama premiere that used to happen all the … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged One the Woman, Squid Game, The Veil

Chinese Broadcasting Authorities Also Crackdown on C-stars CF Endorsements Requiring Heightened Pre-approval of Content

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 17, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 16, 2021

Conspicuous consumption has long been a double-edged sword of freedom to buy versus the never ending pursuit of the thrill of acquisition. Commercials and star endorsements have been growing at record pace in China for the last two decades and is now also falling victim to the recent Chinese government crackdown on the broader entertainment industry. This week a new … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous

Netflix Releases Deadly Child’s Play K-drama Squid Game with Lee Jung Jae and Park Hae Soo

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 17, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 17, 2021
"Group of people surrounded by money and games."

This Friday September 17th is another Netflix K-drama drop, the previous one was the critically acclaimed D.P. (Deserter Pursuit) and this time its Squid Game with Lee Jung Jae and Park Hae Soo plus a bevy of supporting characters some of whom will probably not make it out of the first game alive. The drama is set in the present … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Heo Sung Tae, Jung Ho Yeon, Kim Joo Ryung, Lee Jung Hae, Park Hae Soo, Squid Game, Wi Ha Joon

Kim Soo Hyun and Cha Seung Won Strike Up a Deal in First Teaser and Poster for Coupang Play K-drama One Ordinary Day

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 16, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 16, 2021
Two men shaking hands in a jail cell.

Oh wow, this one snuck up on me in terms of a surprise teaser drop but it just made it more exciting to get this unexpected treat. Upcoming Coupang Play legal thriller drama One Ordinary Day (formerly known as That Night) starring Kim Soo Hyun and Cha Seung Won is officially on the promo radar as the first teaser poster … Continue reading →

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

Ro Woon and Park Eun Bin Only Have Eyes for Each Other in New Couple’s Poster for KBS Sageuk The King’s Affection

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 16, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 15, 2021
Intimate gaze between hanbok-clad pair

Man, this drama could be the sanitized version of A Frozen Flower except totally het instead of BL, and that would be fine with me but probably couldn’t air on network television as yet. The way The King’s Affection is set up, the titular king is really girl Park Eun Bin (his twin sister) pulling the world’s most dangerous cross-dressing … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Affection, Bae Yoon Kyung, Choi Byung Chan, Jung Chae Yeon, Nam Yoon soo, Park Eun Bin, Ro Woon, The King's Affection, Yeonmo

Ahn Hyo Seob Rises to the Sageuk Challenge in Lovers of the Red Sky and Rocks the Modern Man Look in Elle Korea October 2021 Pictorial

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 16, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 15, 2021
Extreme close-up showing eye and lips

Much is written about how young actor Song Kang is in, like, every other drama which feels like it but fellow young actor Ahn Hyo Seob is also ridiculously on a busy roll recently. He’s opposite Kim Yoo Jung in the currently airing drama Lovers of the Red Sky (Hong Chun Gi), has started filming upcoming office romance drama Office … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion | Tagged Ahn Hyo Seob

Pigs Do Fly as Hu Ge and Liu Shi Shi Cast in New 2022 Period Romance C-drama Playing the OTP Love Interest

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 15, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 16, 2021
Modern actors beside inset historical romance scene

Oh dang, like, I’m legit both speechless and still disbelieving. I’ve been jerked around too much by C-casting with regards to these two that I’ll really only feel reassured when the drama actually AIRS. C-ent is reporting that Hu Ge and Liu Shi Shi have been cast in a new C-drama which will mark their first reunion onscreen in 7 … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Hu Ge, Liu Shi Shi

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Recent Posts

  • 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
  • Meng Zi Yi Reportedly Selects Republic Era Revenge Drama Jing Gui as Next Project and Male Lead Rumored to be Cheng Lei
  • CCTV and iQiyi Medical Drama Small Town Remedy with Xiao Zhan is the Most Well Received C-drama of October 2026
  • 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
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  • Vertical Mini C-drama Male Lead Dai Gao Zheng Breaks Out with Mainstream Hit C-drama Where the Mask Ends as the Oft Beaten Beefcake Antagonist
  • K-ent Industry Insiders Vote on Worst K-drama of 2026 and Royal Romance Drama Perfect Crown with IU and Byun Woo Seok Leading the Ignominious List
  • Republic Era War and Romance C-drama The Lament of Autumn with Cheng Lei and Xu Ruo Han Peters Out From Hot Start and Frustrates Viewers with Ending
  • Reunion of Blossom Leads Li Yun Rui and Meng Zi Yi in C-drama Tigers Sniff the Rose is Heading Towards Flop Territory Midway Through Airing
  • C-actor Song Zu Er to Ditch Her Stage Name and Go By Birth Name Sun Fan Qing Going Forward as Confirmed by Promos for New Dramas The Palace Stewardess and Wish You All the Best




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  • 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
  • Rina 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
  • 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
  • Rero on Meng Zi Yi Reportedly Selects Republic Era Revenge Drama Jing Gui as Next Project and Male Lead Rumored to be Cheng Lei
  • Lmao on Meng Zi Yi Reportedly Selects Republic Era Revenge Drama Jing Gui as Next Project and Male Lead Rumored to be Cheng Lei
  • Simon Johansen on Tencent Period Drama The Road to Splendor with Ding Yu Xi and Deng En Xi Gets More Good Reviews than Viewership with Solid 7.1 Douban Ratings
  • prettyautumn on Meng Zi Yi Reportedly Selects Republic Era Revenge Drama Jing Gui as Next Project and Male Lead Rumored to be Cheng Lei
  • Raya on Meng Zi Yi Reportedly Selects Republic Era Revenge Drama Jing Gui as Next Project and Male Lead Rumored to be Cheng Lei
  • Spears on CCTV and iQiyi Medical Drama Small Town Remedy with Xiao Zhan is the Most Well Received C-drama of October 2026
  • Mina 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

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