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A Koala's Playground

I'll talk about dramas if I want to

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Posters and Stills for The Spies Who Loved Me Feels Like a Retread of Past Eric, Yoo In Na, and Im Joo Hwan Dramas

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 30, 2020 by ockoalaSeptember 30, 2020
Couple on a motorcycle in neon lights.

You watch K-dramas long enough, and blog about it long enough, then inevitably it’s like deja vu happening right before your eyes in slow motion. More posters and stills are out for MBC spy thriller romance The Spies Who Loved Me with Eric, Yoo In Na, and Im Joo Hwan. The leads are nicely selected to match well visually, age-bracket, … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Eric, Im Joo Hwan, The Spies Who Loved Me, Yoo In Na

SBS Fri-Sat Drama Alice to Skip One Week Airing Due to Chuseok Holidays

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 30, 2020 by ockoalaSeptember 30, 2020
Couple with blue balloon on carousel

I paused writing about SBS time travel drama Alice because while I am still watching the inexplicable flourishes the production insists on adding that adhere to K-drama tropes. I really wish this drama aired on OCN instead, alas it doesn’t so the last few episodes annoyed the heck out of me by throwing in typical rom-com cohabitation tropes between leads … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Alice, Joo Won, Kim Hee Sun, Kwak Si Yang, Lee Da In

Moon Geun Young Leaves Namoo Actors After 16 Years and Looks for New Agency

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 30, 2020 by ockoalaSeptember 30, 2020
Woman in stylish outfit making playful gesture.

Wow, 16 years is a loooong time and K-actress Moon Geun Young went from late teen to mature actress in that span of time she was with agency Namoo Actors. Her last 5 years in acting projects hasn’t been the most high profile of her career so a fresh reboot is not a bad decision. She’s amicably parting ways with … Continue reading →

Posted in My Loves | Tagged Moon Geun Young

Hye Joon Becomes a Star in Episode 8 of Record of Youth with 7.734% Ratings as Young Love Nears Testing Point and Potential Time Jump

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 29, 2020 by ockoalaSeptember 29, 2020
Two people smiling and interacting indoors.

It’s midway point for Record of Youth and my koala sense is that a time jump is coming up. The start of the drama said 2018 so what we are watching is clearly the stardom start and rise for Hye Joon as well as the foundations of his romance with Jung Ah. Where they are in 2020 is unknown though … Continue reading →

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

Jo Jung Seok, Seo Ye Ji, and Hospital Playlist Top the 2020 Korean Brand Awards in the Drama Category

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 29, 2020 by ockoalaSeptember 28, 2020
Young man posing thoughtfully against a brick wall.

This seems like a random award but since there is a television category might as well report on it. The 2020 Korean Brand Awards (handed out by advertisers) highlighted who was popular or buzzy on television this year and boy are the winners just a motley crew. I agree with the selection but think others could have just as easily … Continue reading →

Posted in Awards | Tagged Jo Jung Seok, Seo Ye Ji

Lee Dong Wook, Jo Boa, and Kim Bum Keep Up the Gumiho-Human Entanglements in New Teaser for Tale of Gumiho

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 29, 2020 by ockoalaSeptember 28, 2020
Two characters in a dramatic urban setting.

I’ve been snarking on the promo posters for tvN fantasy drama Tale of Gumiho (Take of the Nine-Tailed) so it’s a nice change of opinion to be pleasantly surprised by the latest preview released by the network. It’s less purposefully moody in that cheesy way and actually has some cool scene snippets that make me interested to watch. Lee Dong … Continue reading →

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

Record of Youth Episode Rises Back to 7.730% as Hye Joon Gets His Big Break in Acting and Romance with Jung Ah

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 28, 2020 by ockoalaSeptember 29, 2020
Medical professionals in various hospital scenes.

It’s 7-episodes in with Record of Youth and I can confidently say that my quibbles with this drama (and there are many) so not outweigh what I do love about it. And episode 7 had so much to love. The ending scene was my favorite, and for once it wasn’t some cheesy OTP kissing, it was the moment Hye Joon’s … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Park Bo Gum, Park So Dam, Record of Youth, Seo Hyun Jin

Coffee Prince Reunion Special Brings Back All the Feels as the Drama Becomes an Homage to the Youth of the Cast and the Viewers

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 28, 2020 by ockoalaSeptember 29, 2020
Group of six smiling individuals in various settings.

It’s here! The Coffee Prince 13-anniversary reunion special has aired so go find the subbed source of your availability and grab a cup of coffee to settle in with old friends. It feels like the cast of Gong Yoo, Yoon Eun Hye, Lee Seon Kyun, Chae Jung Ahn, Kim Jae Wook, and Kim Dong Wook haven’t meaningfully aged but have … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Chae Jung Ahn, Coffee Prince, Gong Yoo, Kim Dong Wook, Kim Jae Wook, Lee Seon Kyun, Yoon Eun Hye

Production on jTBC Drama Run On Halted Again Due to COVID Positive Crew Member, Leads Im Shi Wan, Shin Se Kyung, Sooyoung, and Kang Tae Oh Go Back to Two Week Quarantine

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 28, 2020 by ockoalaSeptember 28, 2020
Four stylish portraits of young adults.

Well this certainly will delay yet again the premiere of a drama I’ve been highly anticipating. Again, not complaining, safety above all, but it’s got to be hard for the entire cast and crew to go back to two week quarantine yet again. A month after production was first halted on jTBC winter 2020 drama Run On, along with other … Continue reading →

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

Seo Hyun Jin Makes Cameo Appearance in Episode 7 of Record of Youth and Drop Chemistry Laden Scene Stills with Park Bo Gum

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 27, 2020 by ockoalaSeptember 27, 2020
Two people in a serious conversation indoors.

K-actress Seo Hyun Jin toiled for over ten years as supporting leads and the unenviable second female lead that rarely gets a considerate characterization. But her dues paid off and she earned her female lead ascension around 7 years ago first through sageuks (her diction is impeccable) and then through the popular hit Another Oh Hae Young followed by Romantic … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Park Bo Gum, Record of Youth, Seo Hyun Jin

Confidence Man JP: Episode of the Princess Becomes One of Takeuchi Yuko and Miura Haruma Last Movies

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 27, 2020 by ockoalaSeptember 27, 2020
Portrait and beach photo of a young man.

Allow me some space to grieve folks, even if its posting old pictures. These filming and promotional stills with Takeuchi Yuko and Miura Haruma are from two years ago in 2018 when the two filmed the movie Confidence Man JP: The Movie, which takes the popular dorama starring Nagasawa Masami and moved it to the big screen. They were back … Continue reading →

Posted in J-doramas | Tagged Miura Haruma, Takeuchi Yuko

Ha Ji Won Promotes K-Movie Pawn with Sung Dong Il, Kim Hee Won and Child Actress Park So Yi

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 27, 2020 by ockoalaSeptember 26, 2020
Family-style cast posing at film premiere

I believe South Korean movie theaters are open and still following the every other seat blocked out method of social distancing. The summer movie season is over and school is back so we’re going to see more serious and feel good movies now and the first up premiering next week is Pawn (Korean title Collateral). Starring Sung Dong Il, Ha … Continue reading →

Posted in Films | Tagged Collateral, Ha Ji Won, Kim Hee Won, Park So Yi, Pawn, Sung Dong Il

Alice Ke and TW-drama Someday or One Day Wins at the 2020 Golden Bell Awards as Costar Greg Hsu Garners Fan Attention for His Handsome Suited Presence

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 27, 2020 by ockoalaSeptember 26, 2020
Couple posing on the red carpet.

Last year’s 2019 Golden Bell Awards (Taiwan’s television top awards) were all about the exceptional and very serious The World Between Us dealing with mass shooting and the aftermath. This year the high profile winner comes from the very popular Someday or One Day, with female lead Alice Ke winning Best Actress and the drama taking home Best Drama. I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Awards | Tagged Aaron Yan, Alice Ke, Cheryl Yang, Greg Hsu, Janel Tsai, Joseph Chang, Someday or One Day

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Recent Posts

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  • 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
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  • 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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