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A Koala's Playground

I'll talk about dramas if I want to

Four portraits of a young man.

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Tale of Gumiho Goes Back Up to 5.113% for Episode 9 Dealing with Loss, Fear, and Hope

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 4, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 4, 2020
Person in a black suit with injuries.

I feel like Tale of Gumiho tries so hard with the fated love/OTP element but it’s actually everything else that works and that central thread just falls for flat. The lack of chemistry between Yeon and Ji Ah continues so episode 9 keeping them apart made it one of the best episodes to date, and their reunion at the end … Continue reading →

Posted in Musings | Tagged Tale of Gumiho

Kim Hee Ae Tops the 2020 Best Actor/Actress Joynews Poll Followed by Jo Jung Seok, Jo Seung Woo, Hyun Bin and Park Seo Joon

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 4, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 4, 2020
Woman in black dress accepting an award.

Yes, the Queen slays and I love how she tops a poll followed by 6 men. The Joynews Korea 16th anniversary poll of the best actor/actress of 2020 is out, sampling over 200 entertainment industry professionals per the earlier poll topics. The World of the Married brought Kim Hee Ae ratings success and critical acclaim so she got 67 votes … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Han Suk Kyu, Hyun Bin, Jo Jung Seok, Jo Seung Woo, Kim Hee Ae, Park Bo Gum, Park Seo Joon

Namgong Min Captivates with Rugged Charm in New Drama Stills for Awaken

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 4, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 3, 2020
Man using a walkie-talkie, focused expression.

Three drama stills and three totally different vibes from Namgong Min in his upcoming K-drama Awaken. He got lots of praise and awards nominations for last year’s hit Stove League but lost out in the end so maybe 2021 will be his year with this drama. He’s so overdue for yet another boost in recognition and popularity and his channeling … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Awaken, Namgong Min, Night and Day

Kim Nam Gil and Seo Ye Ji Cast for OCN Mystery Monster Drama Island

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 3, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 3, 2020
Man with short black hair, serious expression.

Wow what a surprising pairing and a cool sounding story. Kim Nam Gil and Seo Ye Ji are cast in the OCN 2021 mystery fantasy drama Island about, well, an island. Seo Ye Ji plays a rich daughter of a chaebol banished to a weird island after she causes a hot mess for her daddy and his company in Seoul. … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Island, Kim Nam Gil, Seo Ye Ji

New Stills of L and Kwon Nara in Sageuk Drama Secret Royal Inspector

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 3, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 2, 2020
Three young men in traditional Korean attire.

The Secret Royal Inspector will start his secret inspecting this December 2020 on KBS Mon-Tues taking over from Zombie Detective. It’s one of the last premieres of this wild and discombobulating 2020 though K-dramas have provided more solace and entertainment for me than normal years due to the consistency and routine in my life. Watch and blog, then blog and … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kwon Nara, L, Secret Royal Inspector

Gong Yoo and Park Bo Gum Drop Maximum Visual Intensity in New Movie Posters for Seobok

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 3, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 2, 2020
Male figure with serious expression, promotional image.

I think its meta that Park Bo Gum is playing the first human clone since he’s gotten some flack for being too perfect as a robot. Not his acting, just that sweet polite boy vibe that can come across as too good to be true. For the upcoming sci-fi flick Seobok, he may be cloned but he soon gets dirty … Continue reading →

Posted in Films | Tagged Gong Yoo, Park Bo Gum, Seobok

Joynews Poll Selects Best K-drama OTP of 2020 as Hyun Bin-Son Ye Jin in Crash Landing on You Followed by Kim Soo Hyun-Seo Ye Ji in It’s Okay to Not be Okay

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 2, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 3, 2020
Man and woman smiling on pink backdrop

The Joynews Korea 16th anniversary celebration continues and a second K-drama related poll result is out. It’s the same pool of 200 some entertainment industry professionals sampled as they were asked which drama couple was the best OTP/best chemistry of 2020. Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin in Crash Landing on You was the runaway winner with the most votes … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Crash Landing on You, Hyun Bin, Its Okay to Not be Okay, Kim Soo Hyun, Seo Ye Ji, Son Ye Jin

Kwak Si Yang Mesmerizes in Post Alice Interview Stills and Picks Next Role in Sageuk Hong Chun Gi

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 2, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 1, 2020
Young man with dark hair and thoughtful expression.

The trauma of watching SBS drama Alice is gradually fading but not my renewed appreciation for second male lead Kwak Si Yang. He was perfect in an imperfect drama and that’s always worth picking such a role. He’s been doing the media interview circuit last week and I especially love all the black and white pictures, he’s an actor that … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Hong Chun Gi, Kwak Si Yang

Son Ye Jin Radiant in New SNS Picture with Party Scene Backdrop

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 2, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 1, 2020
Smiling woman in elegant dress with decorations.

I’m a little late with this post but better late than never with something so pretty. K-actress Son Ye Jin has been low key since wrapping hit tvN drama Crash Landing on You and though she was offered the sageuk Moon Rising Over the River (early called Cut to the Heart) she ended up passing and the entire drama got … Continue reading →

Posted in My Loves | Tagged Son Ye Jin

The Start-Up Commences in Episode 6 for Do San and Dal Mi as Relationships Build and Stakes Rise

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 1, 2020 by ockoalaNovember 1, 2020
Group of young adults in casual settings.

October 2020 is over and November brings with it a full month of tvN drama Start-Up, likely the most substantive episodes with lots of meaty fodder. This Sunday’s episode 6 was about the due diligence, the papering of a start-up company versus the idea in episode 5 which is the glamour to the drudgery that goes on behind the scenes. … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kang Hana, Kim Sun Ho, Nam Joo Hyuk, Start Up, Suzy

Park Shin Hye Layers Up for Fall 2020 in New Womenswear Pictorial

A Koala's Playground Posted on November 1, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 31, 2020
Woman in stylish coat posing by books.

This weekend is Halloween then the first day of November and falling back on the clock. Too much going on lol especially since COVID days feels like not much is going on at all in the daily humdrum. K-actress Park Shin Hye is back on the CF scene with a new pictorial for womenswear brand Mojo S. Phine modeling the … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Park Shin Hye

Dal Mi and Do San Find Early Success Through Failure in Episode 5 of Start-Up

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 31, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 31, 2020
Young people interacting in a study environment.

It’s still too early to tell but tvN drama Start-Up could become my favorite K-drama of 2020. It’ll have to beat a few other stalwart successes this year but it has that combination of sweetness, humor, and positive spirit that is so heartwarming to watch in these trying times. Episode 5 continued the Hackathon competition at Sandbox pitting Dal Mi … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kang Hana, Kim Sun Ho, Nam Joo Hyuk, Start Up, Suzy

Minhyun and Jung Da Bin Find Opposites Attractive in Pretty Posters and Teasers for jTBC Drama Live On

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 31, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 31, 2020
Young couple in school setting, discussing.

I’m still waiting for my annual high school cute K-drama, it feels like candy corn on Halloween, gotta have it once a year just for the saccharine sweetness. It’s too bad it’s coming in late fall because jTBC drama Live On premiering on November 17th feels like a breezy spring drama. Starring Minhyun of NU’EST teen actress Jung Da Bin, … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Jung Da Bin, Live On, Minhyun

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Recent Posts

  • C-actress Wang Chu Ran Lands Big Budget Female Lead Centric Hunan TV Period C-drama General Chang Ning Set for 2027
  • 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
  • Agent Kim Reactivated Chosen by K-ent Industry Insiders as Best Drama of 2026 Followed by Teach You a Lesson and We Are All Trying Here
  • 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




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  • Yuhyi on 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
  • Yuhyi on 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
  • Bluey on C-actress Wang Chu Ran Lands Big Budget Female Lead Centric Hunan TV Period C-drama General Chang Ning Set for 2027
  • Elena Gallagher on Youku Modern Romance C-drama The Early Spring with Jing Bo Ran and Sun Qian Becomes Unexpected Summer Hit and Notches a Respectable 6.7 Douban Ratings
  • lev on C-actress Wang Chu Ran Lands Big Budget Female Lead Centric Hunan TV Period C-drama General Chang Ning Set for 2027
  • Ehhhh on C-actress Wang Chu Ran Lands Big Budget Female Lead Centric Hunan TV Period C-drama General Chang Ning Set for 2027
  • Raya on C-actress Wang Chu Ran Lands Big Budget Female Lead Centric Hunan TV Period C-drama General Chang Ning Set for 2027
  • K 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
  • arlene on Meng Zi Yi Reportedly Selects Republic Era Revenge Drama Jing Gui as Next Project and Male Lead Rumored to be Cheng Lei
  • Jeannie on CCTV and iQiyi Medical Drama Small Town Remedy with Xiao Zhan is the Most Well Received C-drama of October 2026
  • 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

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