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A Koala's Playground

I'll talk about dramas if I want to

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Yunho Signs on as Leading Man in New Drama Melo Holic from PD of Another Oh Hae Young

A Koala's Playground Posted on May 25, 2017 by ockoalaMay 25, 2017
Magazine cover featuring a man in suit.

My timing now seems spot on when I covered Yunho‘s return from the military recently and first magazine spread in this month’s Arena Magazine. I mentioned that he’s likely going to return to his acting side job along with his idol day job as a member of the duo DBSK and mere days later it’s confirmed that he’s going to … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Melo Holic, Yunho

Nam Joo Hyuk and Shin Se Kyung Lead Cast Script Reading for Bride of the Water God

A Koala's Playground Posted on May 25, 2017 by ockoalaMay 26, 2017
Cast posing with script during table read

The upcoming K-drama adaptation of manhwa Bride of the Water God has many unknown elements from cast to narrative conversion from period fantasy to modern times. It’s the kind of unknowns that have sunk many a K-drama in the past but when everything clicks can create a wondrous and unexpected treat. I never warmed to the original source material the … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Bride of the Water God, Gong Myung, Im Joo Hwan, Krystal, Nam Joo Hyuk, Shin Se Kyung

Kim Ok Bin and the Cast of K-movie The Villainness Looking Fab at Cannes Film Festival

A Koala's Playground Posted on May 24, 2017 by ockoalaMay 23, 2017
Outdoor trio in coordinated white and blue

There weren’t many Korean stars on the red carpet on opening night of the Cannes Film Festival but the arrival of the bad girl contingent brought it big time the following day. K-actress Kim Ok Bin headlines action-packed thriller movie The Villainness which screened at Cannes this week to great fanfare, receiving a long standing ovation and getting picked up … Continue reading →

Posted in Musings | Tagged Kim Ok Bin, Kim Seo Hyung, Sung Joon, The Villainness

Whisper Breaks the 20% Ratings Mark in Final Episode and Successfully Continues SBS Mon-Tues Dominance

A Koala's Playground Posted on May 24, 2017 by ockoalaMay 24, 2017
Mixed genre Korean drama poster quartet

An achievement on the final day is still an achievement nevertheless so the cast and crew of Mon-Tues SBS drama Whisper can pat themselves on the back for finally crossing the 20% AGB nationwide ratings mark. The final episode 20 hit 20.3% ratings, well below it’s predecessor Defendant’s last episode ratings of 28.3% or even earlier with Romantic Teacher, Doctor … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Fight My Way, Lookout, Whisper

Kim Woo Bin Diagnosed with Nasopharyngeal Cancer and Starts Treatment

A Koala's Playground Posted on May 24, 2017 by ockoalaMay 24, 2017
Person sitting by a window with dog.

I don’t even have words for this surreal and truly upsetting K-ent breaking news story – Hallyu model-turned-actor Kim Woo Bin has been diagnosed with cancer and has halted his activities to start treatment. It’s shocking to hear that at 27 years old Kim Woo Bin is suffering from nasopharyngeal cancer, but luckily it’s just in the early stages which is … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Kim Woo Bin

Kim Tae Hee 15 Weeks Pregnant and Expecting Baby with Newlywed Husband Rain

A Koala's Playground Posted on May 23, 2017 by ockoalaMay 23, 2017
Couple lounging together on a bed.

The timing couldn’t be more perfect for newlywed A-list star couple Kim Tae Hee and Rain to announce they are expecting a baby. Rain just guest starred on Lee Bum Soo’s episode of Superman Returns and affirmed his excitement to one day have a cute baby with wifey Kim Tae Hee. Of course he must’ve know already that his wife … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Baby, Kim Tae Hee, Rain

Jung Woo Sung and Lee Jung Jae’s Artist Company Agency Celebrates First Anniversary with Vogue Korea Spread

A Koala's Playground Posted on May 23, 2017 by ockoalaMay 23, 2017
Three men relaxing together on patterned fabric.

Two K-ent titans forming an agency is more than enough  to garner interest and  anticipation that the effort would be a success. Best friends and top Korean actors Lee Jung Jae and Jung Woo Sung left their agencies after their contracts were up and teamed to form The Artist Company, following in the footsteps of top actors like Lee Byun … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Go Ara, Ha Jung Woo, Jung Woo Sung, Kim Eui Sung, Lee Jung Jae, Nam Ji Hyun, Yum Jung Ah

Ha Ji Won Voted Worst Onscreen Kisser in Hilarious K-netizen Poll

A Koala's Playground Posted on May 23, 2017 by ockoalaMay 23, 2017
Ranking information and voting results chart.

This is a rather ignominious list to win but it’s a pretty funny worst list to be on and also plenty of opportunity to improve. K-actress Ha Ji Won was voted the worst onscreen kisser but a huge margin, with second place going to Kim Tae Hee, Kang Dong Won coming in third, and a gaggle of straggling kissers in 4th … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Ha Ji Won

Gritty Movie Posters for Real Showcase Darker Kim Soo Hyun

A Koala's Playground Posted on May 23, 2017 by ockoalaMay 23, 2017
Close-up portrait poster with moody lighting

I have yet to see Kim Soo Hyun get dark and dirty in any role but this may be the turning point in upcoming summer movie Real. He’s done action in Secretly, Greatly, and even in Thieves or You From Another Star there was physicality involved. But he’s always been the good guy or the underdog we root for, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Films | Tagged Kim Soo Hyun, Real

Whisper Nearly Breaks 20% in Final Week as Lookout and Fight My Way Premieres to Low Ratings Start

A Koala's Playground Posted on May 23, 2017 by ockoalaMay 22, 2017
Three Korean drama posters featuring various actors.

Three new K-dramas premiered this Monday and it wasn’t even a close shot for the direct competitors in the prime time slot. SBS is airing the final week of legal thriller Whisper and nearly broke 20% ratings in this second to last episode, garnering 19.2% AGB nationwide viewership to set itself up nicely to maybe break the barrier tomorrow with … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Circle, Fight My Way, Lookout, Whisper

Oh Yeon Seo Beautifully Pulls off the Cheese in the Trap Hong Seol Hairstyle

A Koala's Playground Posted on May 22, 2017 by ockoalaMay 22, 2017
Young woman with laptop in cozy caf.

The movie version of Cheese in the Trap attempts to rectify the sidelining of Park Hae Jin‘s male lead character and propel the story forward into the college years beyond. Too bad movie productions take time because a year ago this release would have scratched the itch and mollified many frustrated Cheese fans. With that said, the time gap calms … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Cheese in the Trap, Oh Yeon Seo

Gong Yoo Oozes Sun Drenched Charm for Esquire Korea Magazine

A Koala's Playground Posted on May 22, 2017 by ockoalaMay 20, 2017
Magazine cover featuring man with tousled hair.

Every magazine has it’s unique demographic and K-actor Gong Yoo is exactly how I picture an Esquire man. He’s too rugged and offbeat at times to be full on GQ nor is he overly worked out and fit to personify the fitness rags. For the June 2017 issue of Esquire Korea, Gong Yoo is bathed in the overexposed light of … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion | Tagged Gong Yoo

Tan Yan Ambitiously Pulls Off Striking One Shoulder Black Dress at Awards Ceremony in Beijing

A Koala's Playground Posted on May 22, 2017 by ockoalaMay 19, 2017
One-shoulder black dress with clutch on blue backdrop

My celeb fashion critiques are always about the outfit vis-a-vis the wearer, sometimes one side is lacking, doesn’t fit well, or simply doesn’t mesh. But when one is a star, looking awful one day could very well turn into looking ravishing the next, it’s not hard when the raw material is tall, lithe, good looks. C-actress Tang Yan struck out … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion | Tagged Tang Yan

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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




Latest Comments

  • lev 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
  • Somebody 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
  • Somebody on CCTV and iQiyi Medical Drama Small Town Remedy with Xiao Zhan is the Most Well Received C-drama of October 2026
  • Somebody on Meng Zi Yi Reportedly Selects Republic Era Revenge Drama Jing Gui as Next Project and Male Lead Rumored to be Cheng Lei
  • Rero on Meng Zi Yi Reportedly Selects Republic Era Revenge Drama Jing Gui as Next Project and Male Lead Rumored to be Cheng Lei
  • Lmao on Meng Zi Yi Reportedly Selects Republic Era Revenge Drama Jing Gui as Next Project and Male Lead Rumored to be Cheng Lei
  • Simon Johansen 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

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