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A Koala's Playground

I'll talk about dramas if I want to

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K-drama Producers Prepping for Second Season of Winter Sonata with Same Screenwriters

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 26, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 26, 2019
Four friends smiling in a snowy landscape.

I think this is a terrible idea unless it’s a reboot set in an alternative universe. K-drama gods have apparently decided to kick into gear the long percolating project for a second season of the mega hit 2002 drama Winter Sonata. Starring Bae Yong Joon, Choi Ji Woo, the late Park Yong Ha, and Park Sol Mi, the drama is … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Winter Sonata | 12 Replies

Encounter Cast Celebrates Drama Wrap and Ends with Slightly Higher Average Ratings than Same Network Memories of Alhambra

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 26, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 25, 2019
Two people near a festive cake display.

It’s clear the screenwriter of Encounter (Boyfriend) took her writing classes seriously because there were no bad/poorly written characters in the drama. Every single role was three dimensional, and fleshed out despite limited screen time for the supporting cast. I’ll remember that fondly like I’ll miss Driving Miss Soo Hyun ahjusshi Manager Nam, good friend til the end Hye In, … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Boyfriend, Encounter, Park Bo Gum, Song Hye Kyo | 164 Replies

K-ent’s First Couple of 2019 Jennie and Kai Breakup After Less than a Month

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 25, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 25, 2019
Two South Korean celebrities posing side by side.

In what is the fastest dating-to-breakup turnaround in K-ent in like, ever, 2019’s first couple as outed by Dispatch has gone kaput. At least officially, who knows what’s going on behind the scenes. Blackpink‘s Jennie and EXO‘s Kai teased the possibility of a SM Entertainment and YG power couple after confirming their nascent relationship this January 1, but before the … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Breakup, Dating, Jennie, Kai | 8 Replies

Lee Jong Seok and Lee Na Young Put on their Rom-com Hats as tvN Romance is a Bonus Book Premieres this Weekend

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 25, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 25, 2019
Two characters in a cozy library setting.

When I watched the long 5-minute preview for tvN Sat-Sun drama Romance is a Bonus Book (Romance Supplement), I got a weird sense of deja vu that I’ve seen this all before. It’s a bit like male lead Lee Jong Seok encountered in his last drama While You Were Sleeping, trying to place all the where did I see it … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Lee Jong Seok, Lee Na Young, Romance is a Bonus Book | 14 Replies

Happily Married K-stars Eugene and Ki Tae Young Showcase Bestie Romance in New Grazia Pictorial

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 25, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 22, 2019
Couple sharing a warm moment outdoors.

With Christmas and now New Year’s over, the next big Western holiday is Valentine’s Day in mid-February and with it comes the barrage if couples pictorials. Married for 7 years K-star couple Eugene and Ki Tae Young dropped a lovely pictorial this week to kick off the romantic festivities, being one of the reel-to-real couples that played a drama OTP … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Eugene, Ki Tae Young | 4 Replies

Jang Hyuk Adds Veteran Gravitas to Sageuk Drama My Country with Young Leads Yang Se Jong, Seolhyun, and Woo Do Hwan

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 24, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 24, 2019
Man in suit waving at an event.

Being a veteran K-actor or actress has the additional perk of picking even supporting roles that can end up more critical to the narrative. One needn’t always be the lead to scene steal and my gut tells me Jang Hyuk is going to hold down the fort in upcoming sageuk My Country. He’s joining the cast of young leads Yang … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Jang Hyun, My Country, Seolhyun, Woo Do Hwan, Yang Se Jong | 17 Replies

tvN Drama Encounter Concludes with a Well-earned Happy Ending and the Best Episode Since the Strong Premiere

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 24, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 24, 2019
Collage of joyful interactions among diverse characters.

I’m super stoked to write about the final episode 16 of tvN Wed-Thurs drama Encounter (Boyfriend), a drama that I followed closely for 9 weeks and am thrilled I loved it so much from the start because the conclusion didn’t disappoint me. Of course it was a happy ending, the relationship of older, richer Soo Hyun and young, idealistic Jin … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Encounter | 45 Replies

Kang Sora is Pretty as a Flower for Marie Claire February Pictorial

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 24, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 22, 2019
Woman with flowers, soft makeup, serene expression.

Some actors or actresses never have a single hit so Kang Sora having a massive hit in both drama and movie is already an achievement. But she’s sitting on five years since Misaeng and eight years since Sunny, with so many disappointing projects since especially in the drama space with Warm and Cozy and Revolutionary Love. She’s due for another … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion | Tagged Kang Sora | 15 Replies

Byun Yo Han Confirmed as Male Lead for Sci-fi Space Drama City of Stars

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 23, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 23, 2019
Man in checkered blazer, black turtleneck.

The City of Stars has a male lead and during the nearly one year development lag it’s not the star first offered the role last year. Byun Yo Han will get his first male lead role after confirming City of Stars, which I remember being the sci-fi space travel themed drama that was courting Hyun Bin. Binnie ultimately went with … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Byun Yo Han, City of Stars | 9 Replies

Tears Flow as Everyone Tries to Clean House in Penultimate Episode 15 of Encounter

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 23, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 23, 2019
Emotional interactions between two main characters.

I find tvN Wed-Thurs drama Encounter (Boyfriend) petering out for me emotionally, and without even the how will it end curiosity that sustained me into the black abyss that was the end of Memories of Alhambra. Encounter actually makes a lot of narrative, too much so that it’s in dullsville territory because we know Soo Hyun and Jin Hyuk need … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | 20 Replies

Jin Goo and Seo Eun Soo Take on the Law in New Poster and Stills for jTBC Drama Legal High

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 23, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 22, 2019
Law-themed comedy with two dynamic characters.

While current jTBC Fri-Sat night drama Sky Castle is rightfully dominating the air waves, it’ll soon wrap up in the first weekend of February and new arrival Legal High will air just after lunar new year. If Sky Castle hits a little too close to home on the competitive nature of South Korean parents and their progeny with respect to … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Chae Jung Ahn, Jin Goo, Legal High, Seo Eun Soo, Yoon Park | 6 Replies

Noble Idiot Breakup Tears Flow in Teaser Pictures for Episode 15 of Encounter

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 22, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 22, 2019
Dramatic emotional expressions from multiple characters.

Call me a masochist but I’m actually looking forward to the impending breakup of the leads in Encounter (Boyfriend). While Soo Hyun has led an emotionally difficult life, Jin Hyun has grown up in love and safety and truly doesn’t comprehend how badly Soo Hyun’s enemies could hurt her and his friends/family. I need them to solve problems first before … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Boyfriend, Encounter | 6 Replies

Yeom Jung Ah, Hyun Bin, and Song Hye Kyo Top the January 2019 Drama Actor Buzz Rankings

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 22, 2019 by ockoalaJanuary 22, 2019
Three South Korean celebrities smiling together.

It’s January of a new year and time to check out who is starting off the year on top of the drama K-actor and actress buzz rankings. Veteran leading lady Yeom Jung Ah takes the win thanks to the record breaking success of Sky Castle. Following right behind is Hyun Bin for Memories of Alhambra in second place, and coming … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Hyun Bin, Park Bo Gum, Park Shin Hye, Song Hye Kyo, UEE, Yeom Jung Ah | 11 Replies

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  • Ophelia on Crystal Liu and Chen Xiao Set to Reunite for Big Budget Youku Qing Dynasty Period Drama Tearless Snow
  • HL on Four Consecutive Day C-drama Premieres Starting June 17th with Created in China with Zhang Xin Cheng and Song Zu Er and Ending with The Princess’s Gambit with Liu Xue Yi and Meng Zi Yi on June 20th
  • Sheila on Ahn Hyo Seob, Lee Min Ho, Chae Soo Bin, and Nana Gear Up for Part 1 of the Live Action Movie Adaptation of Omniscient Reader Viewpoint Releasing July 2025
  • Somebody on Gong Jun in Talks for Wuxia and Politics Period C-drama Bai Yi Gong Qing
  • Somebody on Crystal Liu and Chen Xiao Set to Reunite for Big Budget Youku Qing Dynasty Period Drama Tearless Snow
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