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A Koala's Playground

I'll talk about dramas if I want to

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Tale of Gumiho Scene Stealers Kim Bum and Kim Yong Ji Turn into Hip Rock Stars in Bazaar Korea Pictorial

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 31, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 30, 2020
Two individuals in matching red suits.

It’s midway point for tvN fantasy drama Tale of Gumiho and the reason for my continuing into the second half is for the supporting leads Kim Bum and Kim Yong Ji. I even love that theirs is a “family/friend” type of relationship with no love lines, rather broken souls trying to make merry in a world where they have lost … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kim Bum, Kim Yong Ji

Shin Hye Sun and Kim Jung Hyun Lead Script Reading for tvN Sageuk Queen Cheorin

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 30, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 31, 2020
Two actors holding scripts and making heart gestures.

tvN hasn’t had a true saguek in the Sat-Sun time slot and the last sageuks it aired in a different time slot were The Crowned Clown and 100 Days My Prince. It’s time to bring the gravitas and the upcoming Queen Cheorin seems like the comedy soul-swap element will merely be an appetizer comedy before it gets into the heady … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Bae Jong Ok, Kim Jung Hyun, Kim Tae Woo, Queen Cheorin, Shin Hye Sun

First Look at Jeon Ji Hyun and Joo Ji Hoon in Full Climber Mode for K-drama Mount Jiri

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 30, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 30, 2020
Hiker with backpack in sunlit forest.

Next year’s big dramas is definitely led by the wilderness survival K-drama Mount Jiri. Starring Jeon Ji Hyun and Joo Ji Hoon with the script by Kim Eun Hee of Kingdom and Signal and the PD of Mr. Sunshine, this drama screams both arthouse cred and Hallyu reach. The two leads play park rangers working in Jiri Mountain and encounter … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Jeon Ji Hyun, Joo Ji Hoon

Nam Joo Hyuk is Sweet and Sleek in New November 2020 GQ Korea Pictorial

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 30, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 28, 2020
Young man in a white shirt, looking directly.

Four episodes of Start-Up in, I’ll fight anyone who says Nam Joo Hyuk is still a bad actor. He was wonderful in Dazzling (The Light in Your Eyes) but it was easy to chalk up his improvement to acting opposite consummate veterans Han Ji Min and Kim Hye Ja. He has picked bad dramas like Bride of the Water God … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion | Tagged Nam Joo Hyuk

Lee Dong Wook Makes the Solomon’s Choice Between Lady Love and Brother in Episode 8 of Tale of Gumiho

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 29, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 29, 2020
Various scenes from a dramatic series.

The inexplicable and bizarre lack of romantic chemistry between the leads in Tale of Gumiho is really dragging down the energy of the drama, but conversely it makes the other parts work harder to keep this thing afloat. Episode 8 is the midway point and got ratings back up to 5.137% and still delivered the good and the dull in … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Jo Boa, Kim Bim, Lee Dong Wook, Tale of Gumiho

First Posters of Run On Flash the Brilliant Blue Sky of Optimism with Leads Im Shi Wan and Shin Se Kyung

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 29, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 28, 2020
Young man in a colorful jacket outdoors.

These drama posters are boring but very very pretty, which accounts for something. Upcoming jTBC drama Run On has an airing date finally of December, after already having two separate 2-week filming shutdowns due to COVID-19 positive testing in the production team. It’s been filming since early summer so I think it could have enough footage in the tank by … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Im Shi Wan, Run On, Shin Se Kyung

Top Stars Kim Hee Ae, Hyun Bin, Gong Hyo Jin, and Kang Ha Neul Receive Commendations at the 2020 Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 29, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 28, 2020
Woman smiling at microphone, man in suit

The 2020 Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards took place this week in Seoul with an actual ceremony though very understated as it’s a government sponsored function. It’s organized by the government’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the awards go to all entertainer groups. Of the actors and actresses here are the winners: Order of Cultural Merit went … Continue reading →

Posted in Awards | Tagged Byun Hee Bong, Chun Ho Jin, Go Doo Shim, Gong Hyo Jin, Hyun Bin, Kang Ha Neul, Kim Eun Hee, Kim Hee Ae

Tale of Gumiho Ratings Drop Slightly to 4.789% in Episode 7 as Story Plods Along with the Return of the Big Bad and Ji Ah’s Backstory

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 28, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 28, 2020
Couples in professional outfits interacting playfully.

The ratings have been dropping for four consecutive episodes of Tale of Gumiho (Tale of the Nine-tailed) and that’s not a good sign since it’s only episode 7. But I totally understand why and while I will probably watch this through to the end it’s starting to go on FF mostly to see what happened in the past and also … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Jo Boa, Kim Bum, Lee Dong Wook, Tale of Gumiho

Joynews Poll Selects Hospital Playlist and The World of the Married as Best Dramas of 2020, The King: Eternal Monarch and Backstreet Rookie Win Worst Dramas

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 28, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 28, 2020
Two contrasting drama posters featuring characters.

Oooh, I totally forgot that year end is coming (though still two months away) so it’s starting polling season on best/worst lists. Kicking it off is Joynews Korea which held a poll this month to celebrate it’s 16th anniversary. It polled 200 entertainment industry insiders including agency heads, television producers, movie and drama producers, and entertainment news writers for their … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Backstreet Rookie, Hospital Playlist, The King: Eternal Monarch, The World of the Married

Paying Homage to Hot Daddy Kwak Si Yang as the Best Thing in the Flaming Hot Mess that was SBS Drama Alice

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 28, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 28, 2020
Cast making finger heart poses

If I try to think even one brain cell more on the whys/hows/whats of SBS drama Alice I think my brain would cave into its own black hole the way the writing did in that drama. As awful was it was by the end, the journey was well worth it for the chance to remember why K-actor Kwak Si Yang … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kwak Si Yang

Record of Youth Ends with 8.740% in Episode 16 and Confirms Point of Entire Drama was Mocumentary Military Send off for Park Bo Gum

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 27, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 27, 2020
Group discussions and reflections in a cozy setting.

There were nice snippets in Record of Youth but everything else was so anemic and rudimentary I felt like throwing a temper tantrum just to elicit some emotion around me as I watched. The drama finished this Tuesday with series high 8.740% AGB nationwide ratings, quite remarkable for a thoroughly dull drama and buoyed from beginning to end by the … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Byun Woo Seok, Park Bo Gum, Park So Dam, Record of Youth

Posters, Stills, and Trailer for Sci-fi Action K-movie Seo Bok with Gong Yoo and Park Bo Gum

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 27, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 27, 2020
Movie poster featuring two main characters.

K-actor Park Bo Gum may be in the military but he’s all over television the last two months and soon will be on the big screen as well. The sci-fi action big budget movie Seo Bok has started promotions for a December 2 release so just a month away. Gong Yoo is carrying the promos with his costar in the … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Gong Yoo, Park Bo Gum, Seo Bok

Filming Halted on Set of K-drama Hello It’s Me with Choi Kang Hee and Kim Young Kwang After Positive COVID Test

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 27, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 26, 2020
Celebrity pair posing at a public event.

There are already less than half the K-dramas that used to air from a decade ago during the heyday of Hallyu shows and now we have to account for understandable filming delays and halts. Looks like COVID-19 isn’t under control yet in South Korea as another production has to pause this week. K-drama Hello It’s Me starring Choi Kang Hee … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Choi Kang Hee, Lee Re

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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
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  • 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
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