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A Koala's Playground

I'll talk about dramas if I want to

Young warrior with armor and intense expression.

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K-actor Gong Yoo Celebrates 40th Birthday on July 10, 2019

A Koala's Playground Posted on July 12, 2019 by ockoalaJuly 10, 2019
Smiling man leaning on a barrier outdoors.

Holy freaks where did the time go! I cannot CANNOT believe that Gong Yoo is now 40 years old. Like, seriously?!?? I remember when he was playing a high school student in Biscuit Teacher Star Candy, but granted he was already in his late twenties then and shouldn’t have played that character other than by sheer boyish charisma. Mr. Yoo … Continue reading →

Posted in My Loves | Tagged Gong Yoo

Ishihara Satomi and Fukushi Sota Team Up for TBS Summer J-dorama Heaven?: Gokuraku Resutoran

A Koala's Playground Posted on July 11, 2019 by ockoalaJuly 12, 2019
Three people dressed formally, smiling together.

I feel myself hungry for a new J-dorama and the dish I select is the manga adapted Heaven?:Gokuraku Resutoran (Heaven?: My Restaurant, My Life) thanks to the star casting of leads I love Ishihara Satomi and Fukushi Sota. She’s delightfully animated and he’s gorgeously deadpan, and in this story their character personalities even mirror their acting styles, lol. It’s about … Continue reading →

Posted in J-doramas | Tagged Fukushi Sota, Ishihara Satomi

Rainie Yang is Engaged to Long Time Boyfriend Chinese Singer Li Rong Hao

A Koala's Playground Posted on July 11, 2019 by ockoalaJuly 11, 2019
Portraits of two smiling individuals together.

Another one is off the market in TW-ent and it’s not a surprise other than happy news to share. Taiwanese singer-actress Rainie Yang is engaged to her long time boyfriend of four years Li Rong Hao. He shared the news on his SNS account that he proposed on his birthday today and she accepted. There’s a massive engagement ring on … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Li Rong Hao, Rainie Yang

Arthdal Chronicles Wraps Up First Two Seasons With Disappointing Ratings and Break Before Third Season Airs in September

A Koala's Playground Posted on July 11, 2019 by ockoalaJuly 10, 2019
Diverse group of people in dramatic settings.

Watching the first two seasons (12 episodes) of tvN fantasy saguek Arthdal Chronicles is like sticking with a whole lotta meh hoping for something drastic to happen to make it suddenly better. I stuck with it thinking perhaps the dull and lame stuff was just stage setting and the good stuff was imminent and I didn’t want to miss out … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Arthdal Chronicles, Jang Dong Gun, Kim Ji Won, Kim Ok Bin, Song Joong Ki

Police Request Pretrial Detention for Kang Ji Hwan in Sexual Assault Case and Drama Joseon Survival Looking for New Male Lead For Remaining Episodes

A Koala's Playground Posted on July 10, 2019 by ockoalaJuly 10, 2019
Man in glasses at press conference.

This is such a tragedy all around, and I say this even for Kang Ji Hwan. Unless he was a serial rapist and sexual assaulter, then one really stupid decision after drinking with two female agency coworkers has now likely ended his career. And deservingly so, there is no place in entertainment to have him back onscreen big or small … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Kang Ji Hwan

Ji Sung is Beautifully Pensive in New Poster and More Drama Stills from Doctor John

A Koala's Playground Posted on July 10, 2019 by ockoalaJuly 9, 2019
Close-up of a contemplative man's face.

Sometimes I complain that a drama is being stingy with its promos but upcoming SBS medical drama Doctor John is going the overboard route with good reason. It’s not getting the buzz from a high profile cast and honestly medical dramas are a dime-a-dozen these days so better to just whet everyone’s appetite to check it out and hope the … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Doctor John, Ji Sung, Lee Se Young

Johnny Kitagawa Passes Away at 87 After Founding Japan’s Most Successful Male Idol Agency Including SMAP and Arashi

A Koala's Playground Posted on July 10, 2019 by ockoalaJuly 10, 2019
Collage of various Japanese male idol groups.

It’s the end of an era, both with how entertainment now works and the fitting conclusion for a J-ent titan. Johnny Kitagawa passed away today at the age of 87, best known for the 1982 founding of agency Johnny’s Entertainment which went on to create Japan’s most incredible streak of hit male idol groups. Included are SMAP, Arashi, TOKIO, Tackey … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Arashi, SMAP

K-actor Kang Ji Hwan Arrested for Rape and Sexual Assault on Two Women and TV Chosun Stops Airing Drama

A Koala's Playground Posted on July 9, 2019 by ockoalaJuly 9, 2019
A man in historical attire displaying various expressions.

Oh man, Kang Ji Hwan is going to cancelled so hard by me if this is all true. Police arrested Kang Ji Hwan this morning at his Seoul apartment for allegations of rape and sexual assault. The incident happened just yesterday on July 9th, with the actor drinking with two women with the acronym A and B who were employees … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Kang Ji Hwan

Jung Hae In and Kim Go Eun Reunite After Goblin for Feel Good Music Movie Tune in For Love

A Koala's Playground Posted on July 9, 2019 by ockoalaJuly 9, 2019
Young couple smiling outside a shop.

This looks like a sweet harmless movie if I ever saw one and funnily enough stars two stars that K-netizens are prickly towards. Jung Hae In and Kim Go Eun put on their late ’90s gear to star in the K-movie Tune in for Love (Yoo Yeol’s Music Album) set during the IMF crisis where two people share love stories … Continue reading →

Posted in Films | Tagged Jung Hae In, Kim Go Eun, Tune in for Love

Crystal Liu Transforms into Disney’s Version of Mulan in First Wuxia Tinged Movie Teaser

A Koala's Playground Posted on July 9, 2019 by ockoalaJuly 9, 2019
Live-action and animated depictions of Mulan.

The first teaser trailer is out for the Disney live action movie adaptation of the animated movie Mulan based on the Chinese folklore story of Hua Mulan. Normally I don’t cover Hollywood but the live action movie stars popular Chinese actress Crystal Liu (Liu Yi Fei) as the titular Mulan along with veterans Gong Li, Donnie Yen, and Jet Li. … Continue reading →

Posted in Musings | Tagged Crystal Liu

Taecyeon Cast as Male Lead in MBC Thriller Drama The Game

A Koala's Playground Posted on July 8, 2019 by ockoalaJuly 8, 2019
Smiling person in white shirt portrait.

Recently discharged idol-actor Taecyeon has his first post-military role selected and it’s a fantasy tinged one. He’s going to be the leading man in upcoming MBC drama The Game, playing a prophet or soothsayer who can see peoples demise. He encounters a police detective which is the only person he cannot see the how the cop dies and after their … Continue reading →

Posted in Musings | Tagged Taecyeon

Temptation Becomes Real Emotional Attachment in Episodes 5-6 of TW-drama Before We Get Married

A Koala's Playground Posted on July 8, 2019 by ockoalaJuly 8, 2019
Two people in a karaoke booth setting.

Sorry for skipping out last week on my commentary for currently airing Friday night TW-drama Before We Get Married. It’s my crackiest of crack dramas going on right now but the last two episodes were slower and denser than usual so I’m glad my busy life delay led to reviewing it together because it feels like a 1-2 punch. Ke … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Before We Get Married, Jasper Liu, Puff Guo

Ji Chang Wook Celebrates July 5th Birthday and Attends Lamborghini Event

A Koala's Playground Posted on July 7, 2019 by ockoalaJuly 7, 2019
Man in black suit and striped tie waving

K-actor Ji Chang Wook is one of those ’87ers that all pushed their enlistment to the end and recently they all were successively discharged after serving 2 years. He turned 32 years old (33 in Korean age) this past July 5th and looks ready for his acting return in the romantic sci-fi drama Melt Me where he plays a man … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion | Tagged Ji Chang Wook

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Recent Posts

  • 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
  • C-actor Song Zu Er to Ditch Her Stage Name and Go By Birth Name Sun Fan Qing Going Forward as Confirmed by Promos for New Dramas The Palace Stewardess and Wish You All the Best
  • Wuxia C-drama The One with Wu Lei Releases Insanely High Budget Looking First Official Trailer
  • Song Wei Long and Tian Xi Wei Cast in Tencent 2027 Big Budget Period Drama Da Tang Pi Zhu Ji
  • Where the Mask Ends with Tian Xi Wei Remains Hot in Viewership and Buzz Heading into Final Third of Airing and Douban Ratings Open with 7.0
  • Doctor X: Mafia in White Hits 19.5% Ratings But Episode 6 Plotline About Gwangju Uprising Leads to K-netizens Calling for Drama to be Pulled From Broadcast




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  • Annette on 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
  • wapz on 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
  • Dakchigo 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
  • Dakchigo 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
  • Carla Zhao on Tencent Period Drama The Road to Splendor with Ding Yu Xi and Deng En Xi Gets More Good Reviews than Viewership with Solid 7.1 Douban Ratings
  • Xoxo on 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
  • Smh on 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
  • Rero on 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
  • Royal We on 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
  • Suey on 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
  • Jeannie on 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
  • Smh on 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

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