Nice Guy

   Oh, we know Song Junggi a.k.a. Ara's petto can be nice. This drama - not exactly. That would be a revenge drama, and let's hope a little bit more consistent that Bad Guy (I just have to mention that, right?). The drama is penned by Lee Kyeonghee who was also responsible for such tearjerkers and heartwrenchers like Thank You and Sorry I Love You (not to mention Love to Kill).

And since that would be Song's first leading role in a drama, let's wish him good luck with that.

Five Fingers

   This is all I need to grab this man. I hope this drama doesn't disappoint, I really do. Although, whatever, I'll stay with it till the bitter end even. It has Jihun.

He had to lose 6 kilos for the role, and let me clear one thing first - he was a stick even before, so I'm really not sure what to expect. A mummy has probably more meat than him.

Japanese Minotaur

   What do we remember about Minotaur myth? Minos, in order to get Poseidon's support in wars, pledged to sacrifice a splendid white bull to the god in case he wins. Poseidon helped, but the King decided to keep the divine bull for himself and offer some other, from his own cattle. Gods' revenge, as we know, is always heavy and merciless. This time, Aphrodite has made Pasiphaë fall in love with this bull. So Pasiphaë asked Dedalus to made a wooden cow for her so she could satisfy her needs. From this encounter a monster was born - Minotaur ("Bull of Minos").

Modern history of Japan is also this kind of monster, just when the country thought they tricked history - history payed back. And is paying still.

Music for a new week

   Some songs are known but in new versions (Immortal Song 2 strikes back!), some are purely insane.

Did I or did I not make a review on Ulala Session's album? Cause they're bunch of insanely talented freaks (and they are also on IS 2, muwahaha!). The song here starts (the song, not the MV which is a product of a wicked genius) with the piano as if taken directly from Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive, then we have a painful swing - and then the chaos starts. Yes, the music line may remind you all to Kenny Loggins' Footlose, but finding classical tropes in music is so much fun.

Some sad song

   I have the habit of creating my own OST while watching movies, series etc (and who doesn't?). And ever since episode 8 of Gaksital, one song has been obsessively stuck in my head when watching this series.

The Chaser

   Sometimes I don't post all what I'm watching in the sidebar, especially when I'm doing 16 episodes in a weekend (jeez, that sounds slutty, even as for me, ekhem). And I usually don't write posts about non-subbed dramas. But I decided to make a fuss about the one that ended today, so maybe more and more people would demand the subs.

The Chaser, be warned, is not a pleasant drama. 

According to asianwiki:

Detective Baek Hong-Suk (Son Hyeon-Ju) lost his 15-year-old daughter in a car accident and his wife died from shock shortly afterwards. Detective Baek Hong-Suk then searches for the truth related to his daughter's death and learns that her death is tied into a conspiracy.

Reporter Seo Ji-Won (Koh Joon-Hee) is the owner's daughter of a large corporation. She helps Detective Baek Hong-Suk to uncover the truth on his daughter's death. While covering the story, she finds out that her brother-in-law (Kim Sang-Jung), a top presidential candidate, is involved in corruption. Reporter Seo Ji-So comes into conflict between her family and the truth.

Shunji = Kangto

-To him while yet an infant Pallas gave- (…)

-Two drops of blood that from the Gorgon fell.

-And on the human frame what power have these?

-The one works death, the other heals disease.

(Ion by Euripides)

The last time any drama made me think of and dissect so much every second scene was The Princess’ Man. Both series are set in tumultuous and bloody times in Korean history, the former when Prince Suyang deposed his nephew and had hundreds of people slaughtered and the latter during Japanese occupation. Both series are tense and heavy. And both deal with treason.

Non-ending Asian War

Picture from KoreaBang

   

   History is a tricky little bastard. European people en masse don't care what happened outside of the continent border, hell, they don't even care what happened inside. And I'm saying this as a fellow European person. This is why for most people what is happening in Asia, especially Far East Asia is absolutely of no relevance. I can understand it - why bother about things that happened or are happening thousands of kilometres away? Due to the fact that I've been into Asia history for the half of my life, the first news I check everyday is actualy asian news. And thanks to Japan, I now understand turpistic fascination of the ugliness and carcass. 

Wave or Flood?

  

I've been thinking lately (yeah it happens, thankfully not that often) about the current situation in Kpop, and I wanted to write a separated post with my thoughts on one particular group that I think should disband ASAP. But since someone wrote an article about the oversaturation of the market with rookie groups, I decided to merge and post my thoughts nonetheless, since in the industry a new trend has emerged - leaving the group.

And coincidentally, all that discontent happens only after JYJ shook up the whole entertainment.

The post below expresses my and only my thoughts that may not be edible for fangirls.

Return of the KiNG

Bow down before his glory (and derpiness) you unworthy peasants! I'm already there.

I will get high on Jonghyeon's and Mr. Hong's voices today. A good day^^

Ju Jihun is a (moron) King

   It's funny to see Kdramas as the reason of poor netizens' pride being hurt, yet trying to do something more competitive and awesome than usual sappy comedies. And on the other hand we have movies that can ridicule even the most esteemed figures. Like in upcoming movie I Am the King - King Sejong. Great King, inventor of Hangeul, the Father of Nation. This time - a moron. Played by Jihun. With an awesome cast, to just add.

And this is something I'd like to see Namgil-nim in. In comical role, making retarded faces (like he can), just for fun and not for fanning the national pride. Plus, that would spare his character from dying. Again.

Gaksital annoys k-netizens

You know I don't hold 95% of netizens in high esteem anyway, but what lately was provided by Hancinema article is just plain idiocy at its finest.

First, the article and my ramblings later.

The appearance of Kimigayo and the Japanese rising sun on the KBS 2TV drama "Bridal Mask" is in the heat right now. There was a scene where Chae Hong-joo (Han Chae-ah) sang a Kimigayo in front of the rising sun in celebration of the Japan-Korea Annexation on the episode on the 11th.

Mok-dam Sa-ri (Jeon Noh-min) planned to start a bomb while Chae Hong-joo was singing but failed when Kimura Shunji (Park Ki-woong) got a hold of it. The appearance of the Bridal Mask ruined the Annexation. Netizens say, "This is appalling, in public too", "Was it necessary?", "There would've been other ways to do this but this is provoking" and most are very criticizing about this.

Some say, "There probably wasn't another choice if they wanted to go with the flow" and more.

And now, let me feed on this amount of nonsense.

SM’s lawyers applied for arbitration on July 11

All that is written below is NOT mine.

*Arbitration in Korea may defer to your own country’s law system, so it’d be great if you could  accept as it says and try not to compare/adjust with your law system.

Arbitration refers : In order to solve an argument, the court intervenes in the parties involved by drawing agreements with mutual concessions so that the court can build bridges to the both parties.

- When one party applies for arbitration, the court can accept if it’s decided to be necessary, or reject it.
- If both parties have successful agreements by arbitration, the case can be concluded as a mutual settlement.
- If agreements are failed, hearings/trial begins again in order to make the judge’s ruling.

Cause you gotta have "Faith"

   George Michael sang this in 1987, long before it was cool to accuse this-and-this drama of stealing ideas. I could stay still, but since my bitchy nature is more prevalent - I'm writing.

Some birdbrained fans are writing their discontent that this is another drama with time travel motif. Uh-oh, a big trouble, right? It eludes them that internet is not only for writing senseless things, but also a source of information. Are they in kdrama fandom for 2 months? Even if, ignorance cannot and will not be accepted (at least for me). I remember when I was a newbie in this world. Instead of pestering everyone around and writing idiotic comments, I looked around, was patient and didn't mind reading articles.

Yucheon's sasaengs strike again

The article is below.

We have to hate sasaengs, we really do, our Lord and Savior, that is Heechul, closed his account on Twitter. World is coming to an end...

King Gongmin

Tombs of King Gongmin and his wife, Queen Noguk in Gaesong, N. Korea. Picture from here

   Since the new drama is approaching and the action takes place during the last, tumultous years of Goryeo Dynasty, it's time to introduce King Gongmin, one of those unfortunate souls that were born in the wrong time and place. While reading about this period, I couldn't stop thinking about the curse of being ahead of one's own times. King Gongmin was painfully aware of the political situation both in Goryeo and outside of it (waning of Yuan Dynasty and emerging of Ming), yet he was alone and without any real help.

The bureaucracy of Goryeo never forgave Gongmin his pro-Ming stance. They clinged to Yuans and found his moves as the direct threat to their status, and the political war turned bloody in 1374 when one man Yi In-im staged the rebellion and killed the King.

Jang Dongwoo

a.k.a. ball of sunshine. This is a personal post, expressing my admiration for this perfect namja.

Han Yeseul and actors' workload

Han Yeseul might be the beacon of hope afterall. This will be hard, because the law needs to uproot the whole sick system of shooting the drama, treating the actors like acting (or not) hens laying golden eggs, and introducing a little bit of the pre-production.

That's a heavy load and bumpy road. Let's hope another actor/actress will be taken to the hospital from overworking so no one could be at ease.

Ju Jihun and his drama

   Both in real life and on screen. Look what I found in my email box. So, he's banned by KBS and MBC now? Korea, Y U so double-standard-ed? I wrote this hundreds of times, especially when the hell broke lose 3 years ago - a man pays for his mistakes - which he has done. Now, move on and give this man a chance. OK, what I'm about to write isn't nice. I like Big Bang, I do, I'm not the huge fan, but I like (OK, I like Dae). Last year GD was caught with marijuana in the club. Huge shitstorm followed, yet BB weren't banned from music shows, concerts, their activity wasn't halted to that extent what is now happening to Jihun. Despite all, he didn't deserve such treatment.

Gaksital location

Picture from here

   If anyone is interested in visiting the site where almost all pre-modern movies and dramas are filmed: Hapcheon, Yeongsang Theme Park (합천영상테마파크). It's the same where Capital Scandal was filmed and since the buildings were somehow familiar to my eyes, I went to look for the place. 

I know it's probably some unhealthy obsession to check filming sites of every period movie/drama and events, characters, but maybe I was born with it, maybe it's Maybelline?

New Music

   LedApple released their mini album, I Do I Do released OST and... and Deli Spice came back with a song for the drama. First thing first - I Do I Do OST is great. For some time no one cared to include instrumentals in OSTs, so we got only main songs and sometimes one instrumental version of one of those songs. The most recent would be History of the Salaryman that had nice music but not included in the official soundtrack. 

South Korean dictator's daughter to launch presidential bid

   Found this interesting article on Reuters and I thought it would be good to share it. The lady is pretty impressive, and even if I don't believe she can win in such a country like Korea, it would be awesome. Single, well-educated woman in politics. If there were more women in active politics there, maybe the social changes would be easier? Just look at Jasmine Lee, she's not that vocal yet, but she has different perspectives to Korean society and she knows what needs to be changed.

But still, she is a daughter of the dictator and some say she's far from usual people. Let's see.

Kim Namgil in "Secret Liasons"? Nope.

According to MyDaily, at least, he will not appear in it. But since everyday there is another rumor about another drama, I have my doubts still. This was meant to be the drama version of "My Girlfriend is an Agent" movie with some nice Kang Jihwan. 

김남길의 소속사 스타제이엔터테인먼트 관계자 역시 "'비밀남녀'에 김남길은 출연하지 않는다"

OK, so one drama off the list. According to the article, he will be reviewing few works. Let's hope someone else decides on a good drama this time for him.

Teuroteu

   That is trot, my lovely ladies and gentlemen. I know it's not everyone's cup of green tea, but I like trot, it relaxes me and brings back those weird memories of something distant, of something that is long gone. Yes, there is a longing in trot, there is love and solitude. Trot was born during Japanese occupation in Korea, but it's more complex than enka (or min'yo) that influenced it. Because trot uses also elements of european music of the twenties (the name trot derives from foxtrot, hello), and it's musical tempo is for 2 beat, also it uses pansori technique of singing. But to not be all unicorns and rainbows - trot was used politically as well - as the means of propaganda. Both North and South engaged since 60's in radio wars, and they used songs. This could happen again with Kpop - imagine now South uses in the radio MBLAQ's "It's War" song... now that would be some heavy statement...

If you don't like this type of music - this is not the post you are looking for, move along.

Kim Namgil ^^

   8 gifs I just made from one scene in Bad Guy. Because of reasons. And derpiness. Since the man was in the army, I was also laying low... uhm.. bad wording, OK. I was inactive on his... uhm... also bad.

Whatever.

Gaksital

   I had my reasons I didn't want to start this drama. Park Giwung scares the living crap out of me and I knew they casted him for a reason. A good, scary reason. Nevertheless, since it's a period drama, I had to check even the first episode, and I sinked. Sinked so deep that I can say hello to Satan himself through his roof.

There is one distinctive trait that separates certain dramas from the rest, some are based on written text preceding the screenplay. This way, a drama usually avoids plotholes, sudden losing of substance or sudden changes that disrupt the flow. I wrote "usually", because sometimes this happens also to said series. And some original works can keep pace and idea clear.

Hong Kwangho in July

It's already 30+ degrees here, yet it's steaming in my room already...
I know I make no sense.

Musical La Cage

   Korea is a strange country. The gay population is (est.) 0%, foreigners are the source of abysmal depravation, yet the best musicals are precisely about those issues that can't be expressed  directly. It may be there are few reasons - because it's "just a play", contestation of the official trend, curiosity and maybe even a rebellion.

Whatever the reason, let's just say that in this little world of our musicals, nothing's impossible. The most famous Rent is about homosexuality, performed tremendously well in Korea, with fearless actors and directors. Now La Cage aux Folles. Here is the official website of the musical.

Mentioning this because Lee Minho (younger) tweeted this. And this musical has fabulous list of actors! Cheon Hojin is a busy one, playing that mofo bastard from hell that needs to be killed in Gaksital, and now musical^^