Tuesday, August 21, 2007

   Korean Dramas
So, I figured since I was getting back into the swing of updating this thing, I might as well talk about some of the dramas I've been watching lately. I've been spending some time watching Korean dramas, mainly just getting into the language and getting use to how it sounds and whatnot. I'll split it up into Korean dramas, Japanese dramas and Taiwanese dramas. First post, Korean dramas...

Full House
Full House is a very humorous KDrama. It centers around Han Ji-Eun, a happy-go-lucky internet novelist who is trying to become a famous author (AKA a normal girl), and Lee Young-Jae, a famous actor.

Ji-Eun lives alone in a beautiful house built by her father. It was left to her by her parents, who have passed away. Her two friends trick her into going on a trip to Shang-Hai and while she is gone sell her house and empty her bank account, thus leaving her stranded in Shang-hai.

With no one left to turn to, Ji-Eun runs to Young-Jae, whom she met on the plane ride there (more like threw up on him), and tricks him into giving her money to get home by pretending to be the long lost lover of his best friend, Min-Hyuk.

Upon returning home, the two discover that it is Lee-Young who has bought Ji-Eun's house. It quickly becomes apparent that she has no money and no where to go.

The two cannot stand each other, he is nit-picky and clean while she is laid-back and messy, but decide to live in the house together, with Ji-Eun acting as the maid in order to buy her house back. In an impulsive move to make the love of his life jealous, Young-Jae asks Ji-Eun to marry him and the two enter into a contract marriage to fool the paparazzi and Young-jae's love that will last for 6 months, with the end result that Ji-Eun gets her house back when they divorce.

As you can tell, the two start to feel some attraction towards each other, but face their many ups and downs. It's a very cute show so far and very funny. I haven't finished it yet (I keep getting distracted), but from what I've seen thus far, I recommend it.

Goong or Princess Hours
This one takes place in a sort of alternate Korea where it is ruled by a Royal family. This drama centers around the crown prince of Korea, Lee Shin, and his new bride, Chae-kyeong.

The drama opens with the news that the King is very ill, so there is a mad dash to find the Crown Prince a bride before anything should happen to the king. Enter Chae-kyeong. She is a quirky, bright common girl who attends the same prestigous art school as the prince. The two are married to fulfill a promise made between their grandfathers.

Unfortunately, marrying a Prince is no bowl of cherries, especially when it is an arranged marriage between two 19-year-olds, and controversy begins almost immediately involving the prince and Min Hyorin, an ex who rejected the Prince's first proposal. It's almost as if someone is trying to de-throne the prince. Enter Lee Yul and his mother Lady Hwa-Young, the former crown princess and prince who were kicked out of the palace after the death of Yul's father, the late crown prince. At first it is said they were kicked out because of traditions, but the real reason is, of course, unearthed later in the series.

Lady Hwa-Young dreams of making her son king, Yul dreams of having Chae-kyeoung. And through out it all Lee Shin and Chae-kyeoung find themselves falling in love with each other, but unable to admit it because of the interference from Yul and Min Hyorin.

This is a very involved show. Lots of drama, lots of sweet moments and lots of frustration. It is funny and completely addictive. I lived, ate and breathed Goong for an entire week while I watched all 24 episodes. And though you may want to give up watching the show and points, don't give in. The ending makes all the frustration worth it.

The Devil
This drama stars Ju Ji Hoon, the actor who played Lee Shin in Goong. This one is a little different than the other two. It is a thriller/suspense drama that centers around three characters, Dectective Kang Oh Soo, lawyer Oh Seung Ha, and a librarian Seo Hae In.

When Homicide Detective Kang Oh Soo hits a dead end in his investigation of two seemly unrelated murders, except for the Tarot cards left behind at both crime scenes, he sought help from Seo Hae In, a woman with psychometry ability. She revealed that the killers were different in each murder, but the victims were chosen for their connection to a death of a high school boy. Later, the cases proved to have one more thing in common: the suspects have the same defense attorney, Oh Seung Ha.

Seung Ha's defense for his clients severely shaken Oh Soo’s conviction to catch the Tarot Card mastermind. Oh Soo was reminded that years ago he had killed a high school classmate in a fight. He was acquitted of all charges and began his life anew. Now, someone has came back to revenge the boy’s wrongful death by killing those who got him off.
Provided by Dramawiki.

Again, I'm only into the fifth episode on this series, but it is very interesting. It is kind of like CSI meets Medium. A weird love triangle starts up, though it is appearing as though poor Kang Oh Soo is going to be left out of this one.

Shin Min Ah, who plays Hae In, is a fabulous actress. I love her in this role. I really recommend this one, especially if you're not really into the whole drama-drama, lovey-dovey shows.

And that's all for now. Next post shall feature JDramas. Ciao.
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