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A Koala's Playground

I'll talk about dramas if I want to

Two young men with artistic background.

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K-ent Discusses the Resurgence of School K-dramas After Extraordinary You’s Cult Hit Impact

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 18, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 19, 2020
Teen drama promotional image with three characters.

The school theme for K-dramas has been around since the start of, well, K-dramas lol, but every few years there does seem to be a concentration of them released around the same time. We’re seeing another wave with True Beauty and Live On, both dropping at the end of 2021, and in early 2021 there will be Dear M and … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Dear M, School 2021

Ji Chang Wook and Kim Ji Won Tug at Modern Romance Heartstrings in First Poster for City Couple Way of Love

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 18, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 18, 2020
Two people smiling under fireworks at night.

Gah, I love this poster so much, thank you City Couple Way of Love! In my twenties I would have framed it for so magically capturing that ephemeral young girl dream. That I could have that perfectly framed moment, and look as radiant as Kim Ji Won, and that a man as handsome and adoring as Ji Chang Wook would … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged City Couple Way of Love, Ji Chang Wook, Kim Ji Won

K-actor Childhood Photos Show Progression into Hallyu Stars of Today From Hyun Bin, Kim Soo Hyun, Lee Min Ho, Ji Chang Wook, and More

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 18, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 12, 2020
Childhood photos leading to famous actors.

Come one, come all, come get all your oppa and dongsaeng childhood pictures galore and marvel at how everyone grew up into the hotties we know today. It’s impossible to deny that many a K-actress got some surgical help to become the current day beauties so it’s safer to marvel at the men of South Korean entertainment that have parlayed … Continue reading →

Posted in My Loves | Tagged Gong Yoo, Hyun Bin, Im Shi Wan, Ji Chang Wook, Jo Jung Seok, Jung Hae In, Kang Dong Won, Kang Ha Neul, Kim Bum, Kim Soo Hyun, Kim Woo Bin, Lee Dong Wook, Lee Jong Seok, Lee Jun Ki, Lee Min Ho, Lee Seung Gi, Park Bo Gum, Park Seo Joon, Seo In Guk, Seo Kang Joon, So Ji Sub, Song Joong Ki, Woo Do Hwan, Yoo Seung Ho

tvN Sageuk Queen Cheorin Releases New Poster and Stills of Leads Shin Hye Sun and Kim Jung Hyun

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 17, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 18, 2020
Four characters in traditional attire, dramatic setting.

I’m so excited for tvN sageuk Queen Cheorin that I’m not even annoyed it can’t settle on an English drama title. I think using the Korean title would be best but first it went with No Touch Princess and now it’s going to be Mr. Queen. That’s a little to cheeky and I won’t want to run afoul of the … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kim Jung Hyun, Mr. Queen, Queen Cheorin, Shin Hye Sun

Lee Yeon Hee Parts Ways with SM Entertainment After 19 Years, Signs with Hyun Bin’s Agency VAST Entertainment

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 17, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 17, 2020
Smiling woman in stylish outfit at event.

Dang, big news either way and honestly so wild that K-actress Lee Yeon Hee has been in the industry for 19 years! Lee Yeon Hee has elected not to renew her expiring contract with SM Entertainment, which has repped her since she debuted. She has signed with recently formed agency VAST Entertainment which was founded by Hyun Bin and has … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Lee Yeon Hee

Lee Do Hyun Wraps Up 2020 on Career High Note with Indelible Performance in K-drama 18 Again

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 17, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 16, 2020
Person with hand on chin, neutral expression.

One thing Record of Youth did convey realistically is that K-ent is always primed for the next big thing, and in some ways retaining success is even harder than that serendipitous big break which feels in some way like luck. It’s safe to say K-actor Lee Do Hyun is one of the breakouts of 2020, like last year we had … Continue reading →

Posted in My Loves | Tagged Lee Do Hyun

First Look at Second OTP Sooyoung and Kang Tae Oh in jTBC Drama Run On

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 16, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 16, 2020
Two characters promoting the show "Run On."

I like to think of upcoming jTBC drama Run On as two separate dramas that are interconnected because it has two sets of OTPs so the second leads are just different leads with their own cute story. The drama has released the first pictures of Sooyoung as a sports agency CEO and Kang Tae Oh as a college arts student, … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kang Tae Oh, Run On, Sooyoung

Kim Hye Yoon to Make Cameo Appearance in High School Romance K-drama Live On

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 16, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 16, 2020
Student wearing a school uniform, looking surprised.

I thought K-actress Kim Hye Yoon would be a lot more active this year in 2020, after her two breakout roles the prior year with Sky Castle then Extraordinary You. She does have a K-drama lined up with next year’s Snowdrop but she’s the second female lead with Ji Soo and Jung Hae In, and now her fans will have … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kim Hye Yoon, Live On

Excellent MBC Mon-Tues Drama Kairos is the Dark Horse Tightly Plotted Thriller Sliding Under the Radar

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 16, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 15, 2020
Drama poster featuring three characters from "Kairos."

MBC has been bottom of the ratings barrel for so long that I’ve really stopped paying much attention to its ability to deliver dramas worth watching. Consider me even more impressed with recently premiered Mon-Tues drama Kairos, currently with 5-episodes aired. It’s so good, like a tightly plotted thriller I would expect to find on OCN mixed with the layer … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Ahn Bo Hyun, Kairos, Lee Se Young, Nam Gyu Ri, Shin Sung Rok

Emotional Complications Abound in Start-Up Episode 10 as the Leads Need to Balance Professional Goals with Personal Hang-ups

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 15, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 15, 2020
Couple sharing tender moments at night.

I love that the truth revealed in episode 10 of Start-Up doesn’t get glossed over but also doesn’t get unrealistically compounded. Dal Mi learns that her pen pal Do San was actually Ji Pyeong but her biggest issue is that all the comforts she grew up with were manufactured and she doesn’t know if her feelings for present day Do … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Start-Up

Pale Faces and Dark Pink Lipstick Distract in Comedic New Teaser for True Beauty

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 15, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 15, 2020
Diverse emotional scenes from a drama series.

If the premise of upcoming K-drama True Beauty (Goddess Descends) is about the power of makeup alone to transform an ordinary girl into a wondrous beauty then the makeup team for the cast has already failed. The second teaser is out and I’m wildly distracted by the terrible makeup job on all three leads Moon Ga Young, Cha In Woo, … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Cha In Woo, Hwang In Yeop, Moon Ga Young, True Beauty

18 Again is the Feel Good K-drama of 2020 with Breakout Star Lee Do Hyun and Heartfelt Performances by Leads Kim Ha Neul and Yoon Sang Hyun

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 15, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 14, 2020
Three characters promoting a drama series.

I haven’t written about jTBC drama 18 Again since it premiered but I’ve been watching weekly, addicted and totally won over by this underrated gem. The feels it delivers is similar to the second chances sincerity in Thirty But Seventeen and the catharsis of Knowing Wife, with the entire cast giving it their all and bringing to life this complete … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged 18 Again, Choi Bo Min, Hwang In Yeop, Kim Ha Neul, Kim Kang Hyun, Kim Yoo Ri, Lee Do Hyun, Lee Mi Do, Noh Jeong Eui, Ryeo Un, Yoon Sang Hyun

Both Male Leads Acknowledge Uncomfortable Truths as Episode 9 of Start-Up Builds the Sweetness and Drops the Shot of Pain

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 14, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 14, 2020
Two people in a flower-filled night scene.

Gosh, I’m seriously appreciate of how well crafted Start-Up is, the plot has hidden surprises in each episode and it always adds color and depth to the proceedings. Episode 9 didn’t reveal the truth of the Letters right off the bat, but let that build slowly so that the viewer is as anxious as Do San and as frustrated as … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Start Up

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Recent Posts

  • 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
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  • Rero on Im Shi Wan and Seol In Ah Confirmed for tvN Mystery Romance Cross-dressing K-drama My Guilty Person
  • Leaves45 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
  • lai on Chae Soo Bin and Kim Young Kwang Kick Off Filming for Rom-com K-drama Take Care of My Heart
  • lai 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
  • Yuis 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
  • ordinary on Youku Premieres Period Strategy Thriller The Vendetta of An with Cheng Yi to Positive First Reviews
  • Royal We on Chae Soo Bin and Kim Young Kwang Kick Off Filming for Rom-com K-drama Take Care of My Heart
  • Meemaw 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
  • eva 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
  • Lil 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
  • Annette 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
  • Rero on 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

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