#Sang chul kim

[kakashi-fangirl-ita-blog]

Bonjour guys, look at this beautiful family tree I made💅

The fact that Sang-Chul and Kousuke look almost identical except for the hair color has ALWAYS bothered me- like- WHY ARE THEIR EYES SO SIMILAR??? AND THEIR SKIN TONE?? AND ALSO THEIR EYEBROWS EXCEPT FOR THE COLOR?? The way their jaw is so morbid(??) compared to Nol and Rand's???

I can't think of Kousuke being the son of that🤢 man🤮 like- he's the son of both Yui and Young-Chul?? DUDE, HOW UNLUCKY CAN YOU BE.

Caption on the left: "I don't think that Sang-chul is Yui's son though"

Caption on the right: "The problem is that... It would make so muh sense"

[whatisonthemoon]

On David Kim in the Inter-War Periods

▲ Pictured: Michael Warder, Young Oon Kim, and David Kim

David Kim’s Background (according to UC sources)

Kim, David Sang Chul was born on November 9, 1915 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Came to the United States, 1959.

Education

Bachelor in English Literature, Chosen Christian College, Seoul, 1939. Postgraduate, University Wales, 1954—1955. Postgraduate, Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, 1959—1961. Postgraduate, University Oregon, 1962—1963. Master of Arts, University Oregon, 1965. Postgraduate, Pacific School Religion, Berkeley, California, 1965—1966. Doctor of Philosophy, Pacific Columbia University, 1988.

Career

Staff Chosen Rubber Industry Association, Seoul, 1939-1945. Fin assistant United States Military Government, Kunsan City, Republic of Korea, 1945-1948. Government official Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Government of Republic of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea, 1948-1959. Charter member Unification Church, Republic of Korea, since 1954, 1st missionary to England, 1954-1955, missionary, evangelist, 1959-1970. Counseling supervisor Clearfield Job Corps Center, Utah, 1966-1970. Founder, president, owner The Cornerstone Press (now Rose of Sharon Press), 1978-1985. Charter member, trustee World Relief Friendship Foundation, Inc. (now International Relief Friendship Foundation, Inc.), since 1974. President International One World Crusade Inc., since 1975. Founder, United Faith, Inc., Portland, Oregon, since 1970, Global Education Research and Development Fund, Inc., 1981-1996. President Unification Theological Seminary, 1974-1994. Charter member, trustee National Council Church and Social Action, 1976-1996. Advisory finance supporter Global Congress of World Religions, Inc., 1978-1996. Charter member International Religious Foundation, Inc., since 1982. Vice president Unification Thought Institute, 1989-1997. Founder, president Marriage and Family Institute American, since 1994. Chairman inauguration The Family Federation for Unification and World Peace, Netherlands, since 1996. President emeritus Unification Theological Seminary, since 2000.

David Kim's background consists of many of the UC's highest administrative, business, and evangelistic positions, as well as military and government positions, both prior to and after joining the Unification Church. 

David Kim (Sang Chul Kim) grew up descended from nobility, attending Chosen Christian College, run by western Presbyterian missionaries serving the children of Korea’s most elite families. According to David’s testimony,

I went to Chosen Christian College from 1935 to 1939. It was established by missionaries of the Presbyterian Church of America. I attended the College when I was 20 to 24 years of age, a pure virgin bachelor. I was the source of pride and envy of my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, because I was the sole heir of the entire Kim clan birthright and I was studying at an American missionary college. Even in Japanese colonial days, Chosen Christian College, along with Ewha Christian College (a women’s college established by the Methodist Church of America), were the most prestigious colleges amongst the educated Korean elite. This American missionary college produced many Korean leaders not only in the fight against Japanese domination, but also in the years following liberation from Japan in 1945.

It should be noted that it is known that this school had deep connections to the U.S. military. 

Horace Underwood II was the founding president of Yonsei University. At that time, Yonsei was called Yonhee College by Koreans and Chosun Christian College (CCC) by Americans. As the top adviser to the commander of the U.S. Forces in Korea (1945-48), he was the key person for Korea’s modernization.

From 1939-1945, he experienced relative privilege working for Chosen Rubber Industry Association. According to Kim, this was a Japanese-run company. In one account, he wrote that he was well-to-do in these years. He wrote in his testimony:

Even in Japanese colonial days, my wife and I lived well, since I was an employee of a government-controlled industrial organization. I had a good position and was well paid until the end of World War II in 1945, when Korea was liberated from Japanese domination.

Many Western-educated Japanese collaborators became U.S. assets following WWII, such as Helen Kim. 

In the 50s-70s, many of South Korea’s most wealthy and influential figures had been collaborators during the Japanese occupation, including much the political and military leadership. Many of them actively erased their past as a traitor from public memory, at times with the assistance and support of the U.S. government.

Many believe that it would be fair to describe David Kim as a Japanese collaborator during their occupation.

He, like other early Moonie missionaries, had a liaison position between the U.S. military and the South Korean government following World War II.

From 1948-1959, Kim worked for South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which undoubtedly would have had strong intelligence relations. 

When he met Moon in 1954, he wrote that he was a "third-tier rank official of the Korean national government." Kim joined the Unification Church February 1954, and the Unification Church was officially named and founded on May 1 (May Day), 1954.

Kim had even spent time in Europe after joining the church, having been sent there by his own government as a “UN scholar,” burdened with the mission of bringing the Divine Principle to European Christians:

Not long after the founding of HSA-UWC in Korea, I was selected by the Korean government to study in Britain for two years as a UN scholar, along with other under-developed nations’ representatives at Swansea College, Uni­versity of Wales. Externally I was a UN scholar, but internally I had a mission to spread True Father’s message to Chris­tians overseas and around the world.

While I was in Wales I never neglected my heavenly mission and duty. Whenever I had spare time, I vis­ited many churches and small groups to look for people, and spoke many times at churches as a guest speaker. On those occasions I would introduce our Korean group and preach based on the contents of Divine Principle, which was available only as handwritten notes exchanged among the early members. Near the end of my stay in England, I succeeded in contacting a conserva­tive Christian organization called the Apostolic Church International, which was holding a World Convention in South Wales at that time. I was allowed to speak for 30 minutes, appealing to 3,000 participants at the World Conven­tion about the situation of Teacher Sun Myung Moon, our movement and the Korean government persecution.

More articles on early UC history below

How Young Oon Kim Allegedly Recruited Bo Hi Pak

Young Oon Kim and Bo Hi Pak were both employed by the Korean Military Advisory Group (KMAG)

The Moon Organization and the KCIA – ‘Privatizing’ covert action

Thoughts on South Korea (R.O.K.) - United States (U.S.) Relations

The Unification Church and KCIA: Some Notes on Bud Han, Steve Kim, and Bo Hi Pak

On Young Oon Kim’s Relationship to Butterwick

Rev. Moon Aide Concedes KCIA Sent Him $3,000 (1978)

Bo Hi Pak - Did you join the Unification Church in February 1957 or February 1958?

1964-1965: Young Oon Kim’s Missing Year

More Questions about Young Oon Kim, and What is Clear

Young-oon Kim joined, but it ended in tears and flames

Programmed to Chill - Bonus Episode 07 - the Korean War, Biological Warfare, COMINT, and MKULTRA, feat. Jeff Kaye

[hiraharahararara]

Talking bout him

[stuff-diary]

D.P. (Season 2)

TV Shows/Dramas watched in 2023

D.P. (Season 2, 2023, South Korea)

Director: Han Jun Hee

Writers: Kim Bo Tong & Han Jun Hee

Mini-review:

The moment has finally come: Netflix's best Korean Original has made its return with a second season. And these two years of waiting have been more than worth it. It seemed impossible but, somehow, this new season is even better than the first one. It preserves all of its many strengths, and then it takes them to the next level. Both the directing and the writing are amazingly intense. I spent six whole hours on the edge of my seat, biting my nails to the quick, and the last two episodes left me breathless. I also loved the show's attempts at experimenting, like the musicality in episode 3 or the horror undertones in episode 4. As for the acting, is there anything left to say? This is a cast full of incredible actors, and all of them give career-best performances. This time round, Jung Hae In and Son Suk Ku are probably the MVPs, but everyone does a flawless job. To sum up, this second season blew away my sky-high expectations, and I really hope we get a third one, cause TV shows don't get better than this.

P.S. There's a lot of triggering content here, so please be careful with that. Those of you who watched the first season already know this, but I'm saying it just in case.

[thenoonachronicles]

Duty After School squad.

Did you like the ending?

[binging-asian-dramas]

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. 8

Story: 8

Acting: 10

Chemistry: 9

Comparable to: When the Weather is Fine (kdrama) ; When the Camille Blooms (kdama) Thank You (kdrama)

This is a huge fan favorite among kdrama fans. I can see where it does deserve it’s title being on top in some points. The whole storyline really isn’t anything new to the romance genre, big uptown girl falls for hometown boy with a twist. It is executed flawlessly and what makes it more entertaining and worthy of its title is the whole ensemble of the cast. They turn the whole series into something special. Don’t get me wrong Im a big fan of both Shin Min Ah and Kim Seon Ho works too, it’s just that they were sort of meh for me sometimes, not so much in the beginning where they were perfect, but definitely in the middle and the later half. If it wasn’t for the rest of the cast i would’ve probably abandoned the drama unfortunately, which goes to show you it’s not always just about the main leads.

[kactors-kpop-kdrama]

[k-star-holic]

My Little Old Boy' Likes Sangmin, Kim Hee-chul 'My Style' on AI Profile Photography

[junkobato]

Upcoming Kdrama August 2024 🌈

2/8: Bad Memory Eraser with Kim Jae Joong, Jin Se Yeon, Lee jong Won. 16 episodes; rom-com.

10/8: Romance in the House with Ji Jin Hee, Son Na Eun, Choi Minho. 12 episodes; melodrama, romance.

12/8: Your Honor with Son Hyun Joo, Kim Myung Min, Kim Do Hoon. 10 episodes; thriller, law, crime.

14/8: Perfect Family with Park Ju Hyun, Yoon Se Ah, Kim Byung Chul. 12 episodes; thriller, family.

14/8: the Tyrant with Cho Seung Won, Kim Seon Ho. 4 episodes; sci-fi, fantasy.

16/8: Black Out with Byun Yo Han, Go Jun, Kim Bora. 14 episodes; thriller, mystery.

17/8: Love Next Door with Jung So Min, Jung Hae In, Yun Ji On. 16 episodes; rom-com.

17/8: DNA Lover with Choi Siwon, Jung In Sun, Lee Tae Hwan. 16 episodes; melodrama, rom-com.

23/8: Pachinko 2 with Lee Minho, Kim Min Ha, Noh Sang Hyun. 8 episodes; historical, melodrama.

23/8: The Frog with Go Min Si, Yoon Kye Sang. 8 episodes; thriller, mystery.

24/8: Cinderella at 2 AM with Shin Hyun Been, Moon Sang Min, Yoon Park. 10 episodes; rom-com.

26/8: No Gain, No Love with Shin Min Ah, Kim Young Dae, Lee Sang Yi. 12 episodes; rom-com.

Many new shows coming up just in time for my vacation!!!

[trashlie]

I saw a theory about Mr. Kim being Kousuke's real father. Makes me want to throw up. And then I saw another comment on that thread how the real thing that would break Kou is realizing that Nol is no longer his brother.

And omg ew? Sang Chul would be??

And I'm never getting over Nol's plastered smile. The sneer. The humans suck line.

The "Convince Me" line.

Girl I'm going thru it.

You totally called it on the theories.

The WORST kind of "OH GOD I KNEW IT" weeks have been happening for me when it comes to ILY lmaoooo and I NEED QUIMCHEE TO GIVE ME A BREAK AND LET ME CATCH MY BREATH!!!!!!!!!!!

Gonna drop my thoughts below the read more! Spoilers spoilers spoilers!!!!!!!!!!

When Elle and I talked about the "Rand isn't Kousuke's father" theory on the fourth episode of our podcast I even talked about how as much as I don't want the theory to be true for Kousuke's sake, narratively it's SO compelling and it just makes SO MUCH SENSE. I remember the first time I read the theory, too, how initially I was like "no way, this feels really out there" but it just stuck with me. I couldn't let it go, I kept going back to that panel, the "you're the sole heir" speech bubble over Nol's face and I think I've just always felt that it meant something, you know? That quimchee would NOT have done that if it didn't mean something, if we weren't supposed to read into it, if it wasn't meant to be the earliest of foreshadowing of this theory.

And to have it actually confirmed!!!!! Just has me SCREAMING but absolutely anticipating what it means for everyone!!!! Because not only does it mean everything Kousuke has ever worked for - the only thing he's ever had to his name, the only career option he's ever had - is taken away from him and thrust to someone who may not even want it, someone who wants to be as far away from this family and this coldblooded, bloodthirsty rivalry as he can get.

Neither of them get any reprieve.

Kousuke never had any other option, and is left with nothing.

Nol will likely be thrust into the heart of everything he wants to excuse himself from, everything he's come to resent and loathe and GOD it's insane to see how it's all unfolding, after all this time!!!!!!!!

I think, too, in thinking about the fact that Nol isn't even Kousuke's brother is that it means re-examining the rawness of 212 and what it means for Kousuke, who believes that he got none of the good traits of Rand that he sees in Nol, the good parts that he's never been privileged enough to see in Rand himself, and that he was left with only the worst parts of him - the cold man with his back turned to him. But it's worse, because none of that was his.

(Please know that I am saying this SO VERY LOOSELY, in the sense of how I imagine Kousuke is thinking this. I'm not a fan of the "Rand suspected Kousuke wasn't his son and that's why he was so cold with him" theories. Frankly, I think they're disgusting and it shows an interesting bias in people in how they perceive biological family to be more worthy over, say, adopted family. I think it's very evident that Rand loves both of his sons and has done the best within his means, but has been dealing with an incredibly controlling tyrant of a wife who has ensured that he had little chance to provide the nurturing he wanted to, who ensured that there was a gap between him and Kousuke so that Kousuke would be forever chasing after him, because she needed him to stay focused on her goal. I refuse to humor conversation that implies Rand loves or favors Nol more because that's his biological son and because Kousuke is, currently suspected to be, the son of a Kim, he has less love for him. That's a disgusting mindset. Biological love does not make someone inherently love their child more. Yui herself proves this. And in that same vein, not being Kousuke's biological father does not excuse Rand's part in Kousuke's neglect and that it was the commodification of his love that has factored into how Kousuke has come to view love in this transactional manner and why he struggles to see his father's true love for what it is. Regardless of whose genetic material fathered him, Rand is the man who raised Kousuke as his son, the man Kousuke saw as his father, and therefore he is Kousuke's father.)

Kousuke has modeled himself after his father in every way, tried so hard to emulate him, to be someone who will make his father proud, who can earn his affection and feels like he hasn't succeeded at that yet - and to find out that the man he has spent his entire life emulating is not, in fact, his father? Is going to CRUSH him. Not because it changes the fact that it was Rand who raised him and Rand to whom Kousuke looked up, but because it's yet another lie in a series of Yui's lies, yet another lie that she has used to manipulate him, to mold him into her pawn, to create him into a likeness of something of her own desire, rather than ever allow him to be his own person.

She lied to him about his father. She whispered paranoia to him about his brother his brother's mother. She made him believe that everyone is out to get them, to tear them down, that because they are better than everyone else he can trust no one. She used these tactics to isolate him and played upon the paranoia and fear that she created and instilled upon him so that when he did rebel and stray from her, when he did try to be his own person and have friends and a life of his own, she could pull him back to where she felt he belonged, at her side. She smothered and suffocated him and manipulated and lied to him and nothing she has done to or for him has ever been honest and even his father is a lie. Even his goals and motivation is a lie.

I know a lot of people still hate Kousuke but it fucks me up. It has me choked up, to think of what it must be like to be him, and to have this bombshell thrust upon you, that everything you believed has been a lie, that your mother has been manipulating you for your whole life, she's been drugging you, you have finally grasped the gravity of the harm you have caused using the justification she has equipped you with. To come to the realization that everything you ever justified was never truly justifiable, that you caused harm that cannot be undone.

How do you come back from that?

How do you deal with that?

And then, to find out that the man you've believed was your father isn't. That the only person who ever offered you unconditional love, whose relationship you've destroyed isn't even your brother, and has no reason to ever turn to look your way ever again.

Kousuke was right. He has no brother.

And it devastates me lmao ;____________;

And I do really think that it means his father is Gun Kim. All of the comparisons to Sangchul and Kousuke have haunted me as much as this theory.

BUT MAN IT'S JUST SO MUCH QUIMCHEE IS JUST OUT HERE WITH A BODY COUNT. MA'AM. SLOW DOWN I CAN'T KEEP UP. Nol is on a warpath and I need him to CHILL.

Actually no you know what was the FUNNIEST thing to me about Nol and his humans suck line? THE FACT THAT MY GIRL SHINAE IS OUT HERE BLUSHING.

GIRL. /GIRL/

She is DOWN BAD. SO FUCKING BAD. LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO i can't stand her I love her she's a whole hot mess express I really need to gather myself and drop some thought dump posts over here finally because generally my reaction to all of these episodes lately has been [SCREAMING CAT]

i'm two for two on "dark theories i didn't want to be true but knew in my gut are" and listen. I DON'T KNOW IF I LIKE IT ;_______; HOWLING

[whatisonthemoon]

The following post came directly from the FFWPU and their research. That said, there’s a lot of interesting information on the formal connections between the early Unification Church and western Pentecostalism. The Apostolic Church International was known to have been affected by the William Branham-associated “Latter Rain Revival,” where a number of doctrines were pushed, including the British Israelism-influenced “serpent seed” doctrine (which claims the fall of Adam and Eve was sexual, and was also racialized). The early practices of the Unification Church were also much more openly pentecostal, with tongues and interpretation, prophecy, etc.

A Man with a Mission – Part 3

▲ Pictured: Pastor Joshua McCabe (seated, center) with True Father (left) and Young Oon Kim. Behind ar Church President Hyo Won Eu (light-colored suit) and Hyo Min Eu (hands on his belt), among others; Pastor McCabe recorded his impressions of Father and the early church in an article that was published in his own church’s magazine, and reproduced here.

In 1954, the year our church was formally registered in Seoul, David S. C. Kim traveled to Britain to study on a UN scholarship at the age of 38. Even though True Father did not personally assign him to do so at that time, David Kim took every opportunity to reach out to other churches and witness to the truth. The following account records a remarkable and little-known result of that investment. (click here if you wish to read Part 1 or Part 2)

David Sang Chul Kim’s Testimony:

Not long after the founding of HSA-UWC in Korea, I was selected by the Korean government to study in Britain for two years as a UN scholar, along with other under-developed nations’ representatives at Swansea College, Uni­versity of Wales. Externally I was a UN scholar, but internally I had a mission to spread True Father’s message to Chris­tians overseas and around the world.

While I was in Wales I never neglected my heavenly mission and duty. Whenever I had spare time, I vis­ited many churches and small groups to look for people, and spoke many times at churches as a guest speaker. On those occasions I would introduce our Korean group and preach based on the contents of Divine Principle, which was available only as handwritten notes exchanged among the early members. Near the end of my stay in England, I succeeded in contacting a conserva­tive Christian organization called the Apostolic Church International, which was holding a World Convention in South Wales at that time. I was allowed to speak for 30 minutes, appealing to 3,000 participants at the World Conven­tion about the situation of Teacher Sun Myung Moon, our movement and the Korean government persecution.

In 1956, the Apostolic Church Inter­national’s Australian mission headquar­ters sent one Pastor Joshua McCabe to our group in Seoul, Korea. He studied the Principle for eighty days and helped with Professor Young Oon Kim’s English translation of Divine Principle. Seven hundred copies were completed and distributed throughout the world even before the Korean edition was published. Mrs. Won Pok Choi, Miss Young Oon Kim and I, as a trinity, worked together to teach the depth of Divine Principle and take care of Pastor McCabe as a special guest of the church.

From our own research into Pastor McCabe:

One day, after speaking to a group at a Baptist church in a small town thirty kilometers from Swansea, a couple who attended the Apostolic Church (a Pentecostal denomination) met and befriended David Kim. This led to his appearance at their annual church convention. In a letter to his flock that was read out in churches a few weeks later, then president of the Apostolic Church, Hugh Dawson, mentioned “a Korean brother by the name of Sang-chul Kim,” whom he said, “made a strong appeal to us in the Convention to send a missionary to his land.”

In June 1956, the Apostolic Church dispatched Pastor Joshua McCabe in response to David Kim’s expressions of affinity between our church and theirs. McCabe was a Scotsman who had been sent by his church to Australia in 1932. He had been at the convention in Wales and remembered that while there David Kim had “received the Gift of the Holy Spirit.” Pastor McCabe flew from Melbourne and arrived in Seoul, a city that “still had lots of buildings reduced to rubble.” He stayed for nearly eighty days, lodging in the home of a member. He interacted with the English- speaking members, especially David Kim (1915-2011), Choi Won-pok (1916–2006) and Kim Young-oon (1915–1989). And he met and conversed with True Father. It has to be said that over time, Pastor McCabe found that our beliefs did not coincide with those of the Apostolic Church – though there were interesting parallels. For example, the Apostolic Church had a strong tradition of revelation plus a firm belied in the reality of Satan. Pastor McCabe returned to Australia with an early English translation of at least some of what would later be published as an early version of Divine Principle. However, it appears that no further contact between the Apostolic Church organization and our church ensued.

▲ Pictured: The cover of the November 1956 edition of the Apostolic Herald in which Pastor McCabe’s testimony appeared, which pictures David S. C. Kim with Pastor McCabe

Although Pastor McCabe’s later letters indicate slightly more jaded memories of his experience, he was certainly the first foreign observer of our church, and he witnessed the early, spirit-filled services that we have heard testimony of by our own elders.

The following is the major portion of the article Pastor McCabe wrote for the Apostolic Church’s own magazine some two and a half weeks after his arrival in Korea in 1956 (printed some months later):

From the Apostolic Church’s magazine Apostolic Herald, November 1956 Edition

Many of you will remember meeting Mr. Sang Chul Kim, who studied at Swansea University as a United Nations student and attended the Ammanford1 Assembly of the Church, later coming to the Penygroes Convention in August 1955.2 He sent an invitation for a representative of the Church to go and visit the group of Christians to whom he was attached and the invitation was passed on to the Australian Missionary Advisory Board. At our Quadrennial Council at Easter I was chosen to make the journey of 8,000 miles from Headquarters in Melbourne, Australia, to Seoul in Korea. I arrived here on June 22nd after three days’ journey by air…

On the following Tuesday I was warmly welcomed at a representative party, when leaders of the group, Mr. Moon and Mr. Yoo [Church president Rev. Hyo Won Eu], together with others arranged a Korean welcome and meal in honor of their Western visitor. Among the members who attended were two college professors, two doctors of medicine and lecturers, an ex-Minister of Labor, a colonel of the Korean Air Force, and a number of businessmen who are all members of the group. Speeches of welcome from various members were delivered, and Mr. Kim made the speech of the evening in English. Others welcomed me in Korean, and I spoke on behalf of the Apostolic Church in the Motherland and Australia. The group of Christians to whom I have come are not Pentecostal or Apostolic as we know it, and yet the Spirit of the Lord is manifest among them, as some have visions, others have tongues and interpretations, while a spirit of prophecy is exercised by others in private….

The fervor and sincerity of the worship, the soul stirring preaching of Mr. Moon, a born orator who stirs his congregation to response both in praying and preaching is wonderful. Almost without exception the members are there because they longed for something deeper.… To this hall come between 300 and 400 people. There are no seats as in other churches; everyone sits on the floor. Half an hour before the service is due to begin we have a time of singing, and the place is packed. Many parts of Seoul are bomb damaged and there is not sufficient money to repair the city. The result is that accommodation is at a premium, and the group here is glad to have their hall.

It is a hive of spiritual activity. Mr. Yoo, the lecturer, gives lectures on the “Principles,” as they term their beliefs, for four to five hours a day. He covers their doctrine in two lectures, and this he does three times a week to enquirers who number as many as thirty to forty, and sometimes as few as five or six. At the end of each half year an examination is held. One hundred and thirteen from four different centers sat the examination on Sunday, 1st July. Of these twenty-eight passed with 80% or more marks. Seventeen diplomas and eleven certificates were presented to successful students who ranged from High School students to older people about fifty years of age, and including a professor from a college and a medical doctor. This week a lady doctor and a congressman attended the lectures. There are eight centers stretching over the three hundred miles from Seoul to Busan in the south, and the total membership is variously quoted at 600 to 1,200. There are always about 300 at the Seoul service on Wednesday and between 300 and 400 on Sundays.

Their doctrines are divergent from ours on several points. I am studying their principles, and though I have been here for eighteen days I have only given one address, due to having met with a slight accident when returning from the welcome party. I have now recovered and hope to give other talks on our teaching. One thing is evident—the condition for salvation is receiving Christ through faith in Him. Satan is a real foe who has to be fought and overcome. They do not baptize in water or break bread on the Lord’s Day as we do. I solicit prayers of all your readers and the Apostolic friends in Great Britain that the Lord’s purpose may be wrought out between our groups in Australia, Great Britain and Korea. The people here are very kind and gracious and the personal stories of how they were led to come to the church are wonderful. Like the Apostolic Church in Great Britain they are sacrificing to make the building of a meeting place possible. There are difficulties, but God specializes in the impossible, so remember to pray.

https://familyfedihq.org/2017/06/a-man-with-a-mission-part-3/

[ohplagg]

I Love Yoo Timeline Part 4/4

The Timeline

This is part 4 of 4 of my I Love Yoo Timeline as of Episode 241.

Part 1 and 2 consists of laying out all the detailed evidence with descriptions, screenshots and episode number.

Part 3 consists of explaining the evidence, connecting the dates and some math because the I Love Yoo universe (the Yooniverse, if you will) uses letters instead of numbers to represent official years.

Part 4 is the I Love Yoo Timeline.

---------

If you havent read the previous 3 parts of this mega post I highly encourage you to go check them out before continuing since up ahead I will be writing and explaining under the assumption that you have read the previous 3 parts.

All the events are placed where they are according to the evidence. I will not be providing much explanation in this post as to why things are placed where they are in the timeline so if you need explanation go back to the previous parts.

I also won't be adding most of Shin-Ae focused events otherwise the timeline becomes unnecessarily messy.

And lastly, I won't be mentioning every single event that has happened in current year of the story (20XX), only major events. If you want a more detailed timeline for present year this old reddit post that goes up to episode 146 has more details.

While I was finishing writing this timeline AugmentedElle from reddit published her own version of the timeline (Elle, if you see this, big fan. I don't have reddit but big fan) which has some parts I disagree with based on my interpretation of the evidence but her timeline is so well written and easy to follow + it's more detailed than mine that I honestly do recommend checking it out as well because Elle did a way better job than me in that regard.

Without further ado..

Cheat sheet

Because the Yooniverse uses the alphabet instead of numbers to keep track of years, it's hard to really grasp how much time has really passed. This is why I created this little chart where it lays down the year with the number equivalent and the age each character had in each specific year.

Dieter, Soushi, Maya and Rika were born the same year as Shin-Ae.

Sang-Chul and Alyssa were born the same year.

Meg was born the same year as Kousuke.

Yui's age is not exact. We only know she is in her 40s meaning she can be either 40 or 49. Meaning she was pregnant with Kousuke between 16-25. I chose 20 for no other reason than it's right in the middle.

I have no idea of anyone else's age (Rand, Hansuke, YuJing, etc) so I didn't even add my guesses to not confuse the timeline. If you know any clue about someone's age I would love to know!

The Timeline

I'll start with the earliest date and move forward from there.

Italic means that it's not known when exactly in the year that specific event took place. I still placed the event where it makes most sense.

January 20WA === 50 years ago

Young-Chul Kim become Chairman of Hirahara Corp.

Prestigious Prep School starts mishandling reports of SA

+ 25 Year

October 31st, 20WY === 25 years ago

Young-Chul Kim steps down as Chairman after SA accusations

Hirahara Corp CFO of several years, Randulph Hannesson is a witness against Young-Chul Kim

Next year

January 20WZ === 24 years ago

Yui and Rand get married without the public's knowledge

Yui and Rand have their honeymoon in February

Kousuke is conceived in February

Rand gets announced as temporary chairman of Hirahara Corp on March 27th

As of March 27th, the press and public only know that Yui and Rand relationship goes as far as "seeing each other in public"

Kousuke is born November 8th

+ 5 Years

January 20XE ==== 19 years ago

Nol is conceived around March

Kousuke has his 5th birthday

Nol is born December 21st

+ 6 Years

January 20XJ ==== 13 Years ago

Nol and Nessa move to USAsia

Nol and Kousuke meet for the first time

Kousuke has his 11th birthday

Nol has his 6th birthday

+ 4 Years

January 20XO ==== 9 years ago

Kousuke Graduates High School (Nessa is at the park the same day)

Yui and Rand's public marriage reconciliation

Kousuke starts college

Kousuke gets a college friend group

Kousuke has his 15th birthday

Nol has his 10th birthday

Next Year

January 20XP ==== 8 years ago

Kousuke has his 16th birthday

Nol has his 11th birthday

Nessa is found dead December 21st

The brother incident happens

Nol is taken to the Mental Facility

+ 2 Years

January 20XR ==== 6 years ago

Nol gets out of the Mental Facility

Nol get's officially introduced as Rand's bastard son

Kousuke has his 18th birthday

Nol has his 13th birthday

Next Year

January 20XS ==== 5 years ago

Nana moves to US Asia*

Nol moves in with Nana*

Shin-Aer starts going to Min-Hyuk's middle school

Shin-Ae has her 12th birthday

Alyssa has her 13th birthday

Shin-Ae and Alyssa meet

Kousuke has his 19th birthday

Alyssa pushes Shin-Ae

Shin-Ae gets out of the hospital

Nol has his 14th birthday

*This could have happened in late 20XR. It all depends on how exact "5 years" ago was.

Next Year

January 20XT ==== 4 years ago

Shin-Ae has her 13th birthday

Alyssa has her 14th birthday

Min-Hyuk graduates middle school and starts high schools

Meg has her 20th birthday

Kousuke has his 20th birthday

Nol has his 15th birthday

For the past 2 years Nol has had no friends (ever since he got out of the mental facility) and Kousuke has been acting like his "guardian" (during which Kousuke has been constantly badmouthing Nol to everyone)

Next Year

January 20XU ==== 3 years ago

Shinae graduates Middle School

Shinae, Dieter and Soushi have their 14th birthday

Alyssa has her 15th birthday

Nol and Dieter meet while running during "summer before year 1 of high school"

Dieter, Shinae, Soushi and Nol (and the rest) start high school

Nol starts trying to befriend Soushi*

During a very rainy period Nol tries to meet his mom after 5 years of not seeing her*

Kousuke talks to Soushi*

Nol becomes friends with Dieter and Soushi*

Nol hangs out with Dieter and shortly after Soushi joins the group.*

Kousuke takes a break from babysitting Nol*

Nol, Dieter and Soushi meet Alyssa*

Nol and Alyssa start dating*

Alyssa starts the path of becoming a Kpop idol*

Kousuke and his college friends have the fallout**

Meg meets Kousuke*

Meg has her 21st birthday

Kousuke has his 21st birthday

Nol has his 16th birthday

(*All these events need to happen in that order, the placement on the timeline in relation with the other events depend on when Nessa's birthday was or when exactly Nol tried to "see" his mom)

(**I've decided to assume Hansuke doesn't really remember the exact facts of how, what and when Kousuke lost his college friends since he was in a different college, he would only occationally tag along and he was very busy with his doctor exams at the time)

Note: Whatever happened with Kousuke's friends, the fallout could perfectly have dragged throughout a couple of weeks/months. It doesn't necesarily need to have happened in a one day event.

Pretty eventful year

Next Year

January 20XV ==== 2 years ago

Kousuke graduates from his master's degree at 21 years old*

Dieter and Soushi have their 15th birthday

Alyssa has her 16th birthday

Kousuke has his 22nd birthday

Nol has his 17th birthday

(*I've decided to take Meg's flashback gossip about Kousuke with a grain of salt. This could have happened at the end of year 20XU instead of the beginning of this year.)

Next Year

January 20XW ==== Last year

In March a SA investigation in prestigious prep school (the one where Kim Sang-Chul is the Student Council President) gets launch

Min-Hyuk graduates high school

Kousuke has his 23rd birthday

Nol has his 18th birthday

Next Year

January 20XX ==== this year

Min-Hyuk goes to USA for college

Dieter, Soushi, Shin-Ae have their 17th birthday

Alyssa has her 18th birthday

In July the SA investigation in the prestigious preschool ends with nothing found and nothing done.

Dieter confesses to Shin-Ae

Saturday September 17th is the party where Shin-Ae meets the brothers

Thursday November 8th: Kousuke has his 24th birthday

Between Friday 9th and Saturday November 10th Shin-Ae's dad goes into a coma

Wednesday November 14th is the Gala. (That same night Shin-Ae was supposed to get evicted)

December 1st Min-Hyuk returns

Monday December 16th Nol has his trial (and he's sentenced for 120 days starting December 22nd)

Tuesday December 17th: Shin-Ae and Nol meet in the rain, Nol blocks everyone.

Saturday December 21st: Hirahara's Chirstmas party, Min-Hyuk's welcome home party, Nol turns 19 year's old

Sunday December 22nd: Nol is at the hospital (his sentence is pushed to start December 25th)

Personal Thoughts

This timeline broke my brain more times than I can remember. Whenever I thought I was close to being done with it I would remember something new or come across new information that would force me to rethink almost everything.

When I first started writing this timeline it was only going to be 2 parts, the evidence with the explanation and the timeline layout, but it kept getting bigger and bigger. It was supposed to be released the first week of October. We are in November. I've been writing this for 2 months.

I almost wrote this timeline in a manner that I would drag you all along through the same path of insanity that I went through but I decided against it not because I felt compassion for you all but because I plan to come back to these posts in the future for when I want to refresh my memory and I didn't want future me to go through that confusion again. I've suffered enough.

Shout out to my friend who lend me her DMs whenever I was going crazy and let me rant myself into sanity every time.

Conclusion

The timeline is not perfect, specially the events that happen between 20XS (5 years ago) and 20XV (2 years ago), but I'm satisfied with how it turned out considering the information we have so far.

Please don't take this timeline as the one that rules them all. If you have a suggestion on the order of events or theories on what could have happened I would more than love to read about them, so please do share your thoughts!

--------

This is part 4 of 4. In case you missed it, go read the previous parts:

Part 1: The Evidence Part 1

Part 2: The Evidence Part 2

Part 3: Math and connecting the dots

[manawari]

Count On Me

two.

            "Can't you heal a little faster?!"

            "I'm trying!"

            "Hurry up!"

            Ju-hee gritted her teeth as she pushed more of her mana into healing the hunter's severe wound on his leg. The others were already fighting the boss. She could see some of them had been wounded too, yet kept on fighting instead of seeking for her aid, which made her feel useless on her role as a healer. Most of the hunters were way too stubborn and viewed her as a hindrance, and only then to mmon her for help was when they got hurt in a vital part.

            Ju-hee never understood them. In her first raids, the hunters never treated her like she was a hindrance. At this point, she would've handed over her resignation to Baek Yoon-ho, but since her payroll was bigger than the ones she had received, Ju-hee decided to endure it for a little longer.

            And besides, her family was also satisfied with the amount she had sent them.

            Ju-hee drew her arm across her forehead as she got up while the hunter joined the battle for the finishing blow, judging how the monster had gotten less powerful than the first time she had seen it. This time, Hee-jin was the one who took the wheel and while the hunters were holding the monster down, she drew her staff in front of the face and blasted a deep hole through the skull.

            Green ichor splattered on the ground and even landed upon some of the hunters' bodies. Hee-jin panted. Ju-hee sighed in relief, yet held herself back from rushing to the hunters — the sight was a bit disturbing for her and a small part of her feared that it might get back up.

            *slash!*

            Or not.

            Kim Chul shouted in victory as he proped his foot on the decapitated head of the beast, raising his sword. The rest of the hunters, including the healer, just stared at him deadpanned.

            "Why is that lunatic not fired?" Ju-hee heard Hee-jin mutter.

            Once the dungeon was cleared, the hunting party left the mining team to bring the deceased monsters from the dungeon and returned to the building. The hunters celebrated with yet another successful raid as Ahn Sang-min began to hand each of them an envelope that contained today's payment. Baek Yoon-ho was off to spar with the other guild masters at the gym, thus leaving the chief of the 2nd Division Management Department in his stead.

            Ju-hee opened her envelope to take a peek on her salary. Her eyes lit up. Next to her, Hee-jin was giggling at the amount she got, along with the rest, who rejoiced at their money.

            "Hey, Ju-hee! Let's go somewhere!" Hee-jin beamed.

            "Go where?" Ju-hee raised an eyebrow.

            "Eat! I know a place around the block. It's been quite some time since I've last gone there." The mage tugged her arm. "Come on!"

            Ju-hee let out a chuckle. "Okay!"

            Despite the age difference, Hee-jin acted as if she was around Ju-hee's age, or Ju-hee acting like she was in the same age as Hee-jin. The B-Rank mage still remained the only person Ju-hee had gotten along in the guild other than Yoon-ho, who made sure to check on her as long as he was around.

            Ju-hee wondered if her skills as a healer were truly that effective to make the guild master want her officially recruited in his guild.

            However, she still hadn't made her decision. It had been a week since she made an agreement with Yoon-ho. If she got herself almost killed or found herself in an imminent danger, she'd retire for good — Ju-hee reminded herself of that every morning and every night.

            "Dear? How are you doing?"

            Ju-hee smiled at her mother's voice. "I'm doing great, mom! It feels relieving to hear your voice."

            "Well, you can always come home once you get the chance. I assume that everything is treating you well?"

            "Yes, mom. Guild Master Baek is very kind to me. He's not as intimidating as you see in the television, he is a great man."

            "If that's the case, I am happy that you're working in a healthy environment. I tried not to worry too much since I know you are working hard as a healer and still won't quit."

            Ju-hee bit her bottom lip. She hadn't told her mother that she was supposed to retire. "Y— yes. And I don't think I can quit yet. I like to help people and keep them alive as much as I can."

            Something inside of her pinched.

            Keep people alive? Many had already died in front of her eyes. . .

            "Alright. Take care, okay? Love you, sweetheart!"

            "I love you too, mom."

            Once the line was cut, Ju-hee let out a deep sigh. She tucked her phone to her chest. No one in her family knew about the most traumatic thing had happened to her, but it wasn't as if Ju-hee was going to tell them. They were already worried about her well-being. And she didn't wish to get them worry more, knowing that she almost lost her life.

            She promised them that she'd be fine.

            And besides, Ju-hee still wanted to help the hunters regardless of her desire to retire. She believed all of them had families to reach out to just like hers.

            The door clacked open.

            Hee-jin stepped out, now clad in her casual attire of a white blouse and black skinny jeans with a pair of leather brown boots. Her mage uniform was kept inside of the paper bag she held in her wrist. "Ready to go?" She asked the healer.

            Ju-hee nodded her head and smiled.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

            Byung-gyu shoved his hooded armor into his rucksack. Sirens blared in the background as some miners barked out commands to the others before entering the dungeon. The rest of the hunters had gotten out and were regaining their strength after a strenuous battle with the monsters. As he drank on his water bottle, a finger tapped his shoulder.

            "As promised, Min."

            Byung-gyu looked over and saw a brown envelope. His lips curled into a broad grin. "Thanks, hyung!"

            Choi Jong-in nudged his glasses on his temple with his finger and cleared his throat. "You know. . . If you joined my guild, you'll get a higher income since you're an S-Rank. The spot is always open." His lips was curved into a grin.

            "Is this about your goal on having two S-Ranks under your guild? Sorry, hyung, but you know that I don't like being officially involved in a guild." Byung-gyu shrugged.

            "But if you changed your mind—"

            "Nope!"

            "Oh, come on—"

            Byung-gyu laughed. "You really want to make things go in your way, huh? No wonder why you and Yoon-ho are always at each other's throats."

            "Not always," scoffed Jong-in. "Anyways, I'll call you again or tell me if you're free for our next raid."

            "Yes, sir!" 

            The hunter rolled his eyes and went away. Jong-in had been frequently asking him to join the Hunters Guild due to Byung-gyu's skills as an S-Rank healer, as well as the only one in the country, but Byung-gyu refused like he usually did when he got similar offers. Min Byung-gyu knew the risks if he pursued being a healer in a guild: the fame, the attention, the possibility of no longer taking a break, having to witness hunters die, and the potential call of death.

            He didn't want that.

            Sure, he wanted to help and protect people, but in his own way.

            Yoon-ho understood his reasons, which was why he was the only guild master who never offered him to join. Byung-gyu still wanted to live a normal life amidst getting himself involved with gates.

            Byung-gyu placed his money inside of his bag and zipped it closed. Several of the corpses had been brought out and miners carried out bags of diamonds taken from the inside of the gate. Such things always cost an immense fortune, not even an average person would be able to afford products from magical beasts. Byung-gyu threw his backpack over his shoulder and began to walk away.

            "H— Healer Min!"

            He stopped on his tracks. Byung-gyu diverted his gaze to his back and saw one of the Hunters Guild members running toward him. "Healer Han?" He said.

            Han Se-mi panted for a little before she fixed her posture and cleared her throat. "Are you, uh, going home already?"

            "I guess so," Byung-gyu shrugged. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

            "Uhm— no! Not really!" Se-mi's cheeks flushed. "It's just, uh. . . Are you free for today? I was hoping that you could join us for dinner."

            Byung-gyu let out a smile. "I'm afraid I can't. I have a show to catch up on and I can't miss another episode."

            "Oh, I see," Se-mi nodded. Though, she seemed she was trying to restrain her frown.

            "Maybe next time? I will try to allot some of my time for you guys." Byung-gyu suggested.

            It made the healer's eyes lit up. "Okay!"

            Byung-gyu nodded and continued his way, unaware of the wave Se-mi had given him when he had his back turned to her. Even though he only joined occasionally, the whole guild was fond of him as much as how Jong-in constantly asked him to be a healer in his guild.

            Turning on the ignition in his motorcycle, Byung-gyu placed his helmet over his head and drove away from the area. The lights reflected across the clear window of his helmet in a flickering speed. Unlike most riders, Byung-gyu preferred not to dash between two vehicles, only then if there was a wide space between them for him to come through. He was not in a hurry to come home anyway. Just because he was a healer and could heal himself didn't mean he must be reckless.

            The traffic light turned red and Byung-gyu pressed the clutch to reduce his motorcycle's speed and maneuvered his foot on the ground to halt the vehicle in the middle of the road. The car behind him stopped as well. As he waited for the pedestrians to cross the lane, he looked at the buildings on each side of the road.

            Seeing the vendors and restaurants reminded him that he hadn't bought any dinner yet. Byung-gyu knew he still had some ingredients in his fridge, but then he remembered that he had some money from the raid, he thought that he should treat himself.

            When the signal turned green, Byung-gyu activated the engines again and this time, he took a turn instead of going straight. He drove his motorcycle to the front of the ramen restaurant and parked it next to the pavement. He turned it off and removed his keys to walk toward the door, pushing it with extra strength to allow himself inside.

            Smells of fresh seafood and vegetables danced in the air. Customers dined in the tables around the area, each having indulging in various noodles from the menu. Byung-gyu made his way to one of the three lines and ended up standing behind a young woman, whom he suddenly sensed something about her. She looked rather familiar. Craning his head to the side, Byung-gyu received the sideview of the woman's face.

            "Ms. Lee?"

            She met his gaze with her blue eyes and instantly drew a sharp gasp in surprise. Byung-gyu laughed.

            "Nice to see you here," he said.

            "Er, same here? I mean—" Ju-hee cleared her throat to speak properly. "Likewise, Mr. Min. It's been quite a while since I've seen you in the guild."

            "I'm a freelancer, remember? I don't work in one guild for too long." Byung-gyu replied. "For instance, I just came from raiding a dungeon with the Hunters Guild. You know that guild, right?"

            She nodded. "It's known as the most powerful guild in the country."

            "Exactly. The guild master had already paid me for my service, so I thought I should buy something." Byung-gyu shrugged. "So, how are you doing at the White Tiger Guild?"

            "I'm fine, thank you," said Ju-hee. Then, she took a step forward when the customer in the front left the counter. "The hunters are still stubborn though. They refuse to be healed unless they feel like they're going to die from their wound."

            Byung-gyu scoffed. "They must be forgetting that you are a healer, not a necromancer. You won't be able to help them anymore if they die."

            Suddenly, Ju-hee fell silent. The S-Rank's heart clenched at his choice of words.

            "Oh, sorry! I must've said something bad." Byung-gyu apologized. "I just—"

            "Don't worry about it!" Ju-hee cut him off. "You are right, Mr. Min. A healer's job is to help someone as long as they're still alive."

            "Are you sure? My words might've hit a certain spot."

            She chuckled. "You don't have to be concerned any longer. If anything, you had just given me a reality check since I got too deep on the problem I have with some of the hunters."

            "Is it always like this? You know, I can just talk to hyu—"

            "No!" Ju-hee exclaimed. Then, she flushed at the volume of her voice. "Y— you don't have to. Really. I can just learn how to deal with them."

            Byung-gyu nodded. "If you say so. . . "

            "Next please!"

            Ju-hee noticed the other people in front of her had disappeared, which meant it was her turn. She took several steps forward and met the cashier, she looked down on the menu plastered on the counter and began to scroll through her options.

            "I'll have the crab and seaweed one but with less onions. And oh! The ramyeon too with tofu instead of kimchi." Ju-hee said as she moved her finger across the surface to point her desired food.

            Byung-gyu whistled in amusement. "Wow! Today's raid must've stressed you hard that made you order two noodles. I didn't know you have a large appetite, Ms. Lee."

            "I have someone with me."

            "Oh."

            The cashier snorted before clearing her throat. "Which drinks shall I add, ma'am?"

            "Just iced tea, please," Ju-hee nodded.

            Byung-gyu watched her walk away and his gaze followed her until he spotted her return to the table she shared with none other than Park Hee-jin, who was also a member in the White Tiger Guild. The two immediately got into a conversation which Byung-gyu was unable to make out of.

            It appeared that the B-Rank healer was not entirely alone after all.

            Hee-jin was one of the friendliest people he knew. She joked and bickered around her fellow hunters, yet was soft and kind to those whom she believed to deserve it. It was expected that the new healer would get along with her.

            "Sir?"

            "Hm? Ah, yes!" Byung-gyu snapped back to reality and glanced down on the menu. "I will have—"

            The next day, he showed up at the White Tiger Guild. Byung-gyu had received a call from Yoon-ho that his powers as an S-Rank healer was needed for the guild's raid in the A-Rank gate. It had exploded next to a hospital where the association sent a couple of healers to the check on the amount of people who got hurt, especially the patients. Fortunately, the dungeon hadn't wrecked half of the building, only a portion that destroyed six floors, but everyone were still told to leave.

            A few people had their lives taken away during the explosion. They were set down on the parking lot, covered in blankets. The sight was aching to the heart, it almost made him not want to continue joining the raid. Byung-gyu hated it when gates appeared in such populous places.

            It was the reason why he sent his family away from Seoul and bought a house in a safer location far from the city where dungeons wouldn't appear.

            He couldn't bear having them to become victims of a dungeon break.

            After parking his motorcycle in the corner of the lot, Byung-gyu rushed to the A-Rank gate where the hunters must've been waiting for him. This time, he wore his silver armor underneath a red hooded jacket, topped with a brown one for extra protection against whichever climate kept within the gate. His mace clung on the strap on his back. He also had on a pair of brown pants with black combat boots. The S-Rank healer pushed through the crowd, evading the urge to glance at the victims, until he saw Yoon-ho.

            "Byung-gyu! Just in time." The hunter said. "I apologize if I might have disturbed you."

            "No worries, hyung. You guys needed my help." Byung-gyu said. He glanced up to the gate, it was tremendous and had a thick black outline, radiating a strong mana. It sent shivers on his spine. "So. . . Shall we go in?"

            Yoon-ho nodded, and shouted at the hunters in front of him. "Let's move!"

            The guild began to step through the portal. Passing through it brought prinkles on his bare hands. A-Rank gates were different than other dungeons, Byung-gyu had encountered them a lot, but it didn't stop him from feeling a tinge of uneasiness in his veins.

            The portal disappeared the moment the last hunter set foot in the dungeon. The twigs crunched beneath their feet. Tall trees towered over them, branches whispering through the wind, and the atmosphere was subtly cold in their fingertips. Byung-gyu inhaled the air and smelled a petrichor scent, figuring it must've rained in the dungeon or they were perhaps in a rainforest.

            Forest.

            There could be many potential enemies the hunters might encounter. Gigantic lizards, hybrid serpents, furry beasts alike, and monsters that have wings. Usually, only S-Rank hunters and stronger guilds were able to take on A-Rank gates, and sometimes the Knights Guild too. It must take a lot of manpower to conquer the dungeon. And by this, many would summon the S-Rank healer, considering how his buff skills were needed more than anything.

            "Let's start walking. We don't have to wait for the enemies to attack us first." Yoon-ho commanded. He went forward and led his group deeper into the wilderness. His black clothing embraced his frame firmly, showing his built physique — it was suitable for someone like him to survive in such a place.

            "Be sure to watch out for the trees!" The guild master exclaimed. "Someone could shoot from any hiding places. Protect the healers too."

            "I'll be fine, hyung. I will just heal myself if anything." Byung-gyu shrugged.

            Yoon-ho flashed him a disapproving glare. "Real funny, Byung-gyu."

            "What? I'm just trying to ease the pressure here. You guys don't have to protect me!"

            "Ha ha," Yoon-ho rolled his eyes. "Anyways, I need two A-Ranks with me."

            "Me!"

            "I am, Mr. Baek!"

            "Pick me!"

            "Not you, Kim Chul. You'll be the one in charge here." Yoon-ho said. "Moon! Kim! You two are with me."

            Kim Chul frowned and grumbled under his breath. The chosen hunters stepped forward and made their way on each side of their guild leader.

            "We'll search for the boss monster while the rest of you can stay here, fight if the monsters attack, and once we found the boss, we'll alert you as possible as we can." Yoon-ho explained.

            "Good luck out there, hyung!" Byung-gyu said.

            Yoon-ho grinned. "You too, Healer Min."

            Byung-gyu rolled his eyes at the formality, yet nodded and watched them disappear into the woods.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

            Ju-hee was feeling anxious.

            It was her first time entering an A-Rank gate. Hee-jin had told her about her experiences with such a high-ranked gate; it was terrifying and dangerous, and nobody was able to get out unless the boss monster had been defeated. A lot of hunters, even healers, had died in A-Rank gates. Upon hearing the last statement, shivers clawed the underneath of Ju-hee's skin, not because of the climate in the dungeon.

After Yoon-ho declared his commands, the hunters were left in their circle. Kim Chul was in charge. And a few moments later, the assigned leader ordered the group to start walking instead of waiting for Yoon-ho's return. Ju-hee found herself close to Hee-jin as usual. The mage reassured her that she wouldn't be severely harmed, though Ju-hee reckoned otherwise.

Luck was never in her favor.

If fate was going to be cruel, she'd find herself in the midst of excruciating pain for not being careful. Or worse, having a lack of awareness in her surroundings. Ju-hee would have to spend her own mana into herself rather than others.

"Seems like we're not in the enemy's territory yet," said Hee-jin. "If the night falls, we'll have to find somewhere safe to rest. Time works differently in A-Rank gates than the real world."

"What if we take more than two days here?" Ju-hee asked.

Hee-jin huffed. "Trust our guild master! He can transform into his white tiger form and blend into the wild. It's like he's in his own environment. Mr. Baek will return soon."

"Okay," Ju-hee nodded. "But I do hope we—"

*thud!*

The group stopped their feet. The air collapsed in a deafening silence. Ju-hee glanced over and suddenly. . . Something gripped the air in her lungs tight. And her hands grew pale.

On the ground was a hunter. He was laying on his pool of blood and his arm was detached from his body.

She first let out a piercing shriek.

[world-smitten]

What I'm watching

Summer Strike 1-5: I went into Summer Strike to compare it with Welcome to Samdal-ri, and found it so contrasting it borders on symmetry. Unlike Samdal, Yeo-reum, our heroine, is so anonymous that her mother's death feels like it never happened, this catastrophe barely puncturing the routine of her corporate grind. And Yeo-reum is a stranger to Andok, the sleepy seaside town she retires to as she tries to cherish time in her life again. There's fun perspective switching in the early episodes. Yeo-reum wanders through Andok with hazy whimsy, blossoms in the air, the sea; but the townsfolk are grounded in very specific interiors as they discuss and negotiate her place in their town. Already, without her even knowing, they've fitted her into the politics of their small world. Yeo-reum runs away to Andok to get her time back and she's very lucky that she can do that, because others are desperate to leave for Seoul. The synergy between Seoul and Andok is very real, and more nuanced than anything WTS tried to pull. Success isn't guaranteed in Seoul, peace isn't guaranteed in Andok, & happiness isn't guaranteed in either. Bom, the high-schooler she meets, needs an escape - her poverty and dysfunctional family feel magnified by Andok's smallness and the intense judgement of its people. Bom and Yeo-reum's sisterhood is so touching, and it wouldn't happen if Yeo-reum wasn't an outsider, wasn't presenting a vision of an adulthood not defined by desperation. I love them so much 🥹 The direction and performances are brilliant, especially Shin Eun-soo (Bom) and Park Ye-young (Ji-young).

No Gain No Love 1-4: Cannot believe how fun this show is. It hits its emotional beats with surprising effectiveness - I was seriously moved by the wedding, where Hae-young's foster siblings visit (and mourn) her mom, who can't remember them. And I vibe with its humour so much its almost embarrassing. Hae-young and her sisters are the perfect trio. People were lamenting pairing The Shin Min-ah with Kim Young-dae (very valid), & I was sure I'd enjoy the secondary couple more (with my fav Lee Sang-yi) - but that has not been the case! Kim Young-dae has outgrown the stiltedness that plagues these pretty boy actors, and his chemistry with Shin Min-ah is palpable. It helps that the show isn't afraid of sex and Hae-young is an assertive adult woman who knows exactly what she wants. NGNL isnt deep but its very honest and true to itself. I'd forgotten that you could write a romcom with characters that felt "real".

Perfect Family 1-6: My Sky Castle parents are back!! Kim Byung-chul & Yoon Se-ah have the most striking, photographable faces, which makes them the perfect pair for a gorgeously directed slow-burn thriller about two parents nestled in secrets, a mystery to their increasingly paranoid daughter. It's very slow moving so far, building up tension + expectations - I'm hoping what it's building up to is worth it. But I'm enjoying the slow-burn so far.

Beauty and Mr Romantic 1-40:

loll but in all seriousness, I've enjoyed my (re)discovery of charming Im Soo-hyang (which led me to check out My ID, one of the best things I've watched this year); I've enjoyed chatting abt it w/ the lovely people on Dramabeans, I've enjoyed the weekend check-in on this show's insanity. So it's not like I'm not having fun, but this show really, really, really doesn't want to be liked. I'm sure writer-nim is doing this on purpose - psychos outnumber sensible characters 6:1, and the writing goes out of its way to be as mean and low as possible. I never expected much from it, but there was a point where it was cute, and now it just seems determined to sink itself on its own aimless cynicism.

[binging-asian-dramas]

Ghost Doctor. 8

Story: 9

Acting: 10

Chemistry: 10

Comparable to: Bad and Crazy (kdrama) ; Two Cops (kdrama)

A highly rated bromance kdrama. The chemistry between the two male leads, Rain and Kim Bum are excellent. It’s kooky, funny, and hilariously entertaining. It does though unfortunately get that middle half doom of gloom (stuck with filler disjointed uneven episodes) Luckily it picks back up in the ending making a successful finale. For those seeking the romance though I probably would look elsewhere but this is overall a really great supernatural fantasy drama.