#but it also works for hae-kang and yoon-dam

[arakiincel]

blue beriod 🤝 racket boys

using character foils to discuss the overarching theme of talent vs. hard work

[malaysiankpopfans]

9 K-DRAMAS THAT’LL MOTIVATE YOU TO PURSUE YOUR DREAMS

You can do it!

Sometimes it’s difficult to find motivation to complete goals whether they are small or big. It’s easier to accept defeat or try to procrastinate. However, there’s nothing more satisfying than fulfilling your objectives and dreams. Be inspired and gain motivation from these characters who pursue their dreams despite various obstacles.

Start-Up

Start-Up features four, very driven, characters interested in start-ups and technology. Seo Dal-mi (Bae Suzy) and Won In-jae (Kang Han-na) are sisters who were separated after their parents’ divorce and develop a rivalry. Nam Do-san (Nam Joo-hyuk) was a math prodigy as a child, but hasn’t had much luck with his company Samsan Tech yet. Han Ji-pyeong (Kim Seon-ho) was a disadvantaged orphan, but transformed his life with the help of Dal-mi’s grandmother. The foursome learn and grow as they pursue their tech dreams.

Record of Youth

Record of Youth also centers on young people chasing after their dreams, but in the entertainment industry. Sa Hye-jun (Park Bo-gum) and Won Hae-hyo (Byeon Woo-seok) are both model-turned actors hoping to make it big. An Jeong-ha (Park So-dam) quits a secure office job at a conglomerate in order to take on her dream job of being a makeup artist. As they go after their dreams, there are people who block their paths. However, they strive to overcome setbacks as they further their careers.

Itaewon Class

Itaewon Class showcases the battle between Park Saeroyi (Park Seo-jun) and food conglomerate Jangga Group. Saeroyi gets expelled from school, loses his father, and becomes a convict because of Jangga Group’s CEO and his son. These unfair events are enough to anger anyone, but Saeroyi overcomes his anger and channels it into creating a bar-restaurant. The callous and intelligent Jo Yi-seo (Kim Da-mi) decides to help grow Saeroyi’s business. Along with the other DanBam crew, the pair fight back against Jangga Group.

Doctors

Doctors proves that anyone can turn their life around with determination and hard work. Yoo Hye-jeong (Park Shin-hye) had a tough childhood, and is a headstrong delinquent in high school. Due to her unruly behavior and her financial situation, Hye-jeong’s future does not look particularly promising. However, she is changed after meeting compassionate teacher Hong Ji-hong (Kim Rae-won) who inspires her to change her path and become a doctor. 13 years later, they reunite after Hye-jeong has become a neurosurgeon.

Fight for My Way

Fight for My Way shows four friends whose lives don’t go as they had initially planned. In particular, Ko Dong-man (Park Seo-jun), Choi Ae-ra (Kim Ji-won), and Baek Sul-hee (Song Ha-yoon) are not satisfied with their current job situations. Ae-ra hasn’t given up on her dream though, and pursues a new opportunity. This inspires Dong-man to find a career that makes him happy as well. Facing difficult people and circumstances, the four friends grow as they pursue their dreams and change their lives. You might be stuck in a situation, but you can still go after your goals.

The Producers

The Producers takes a look at four people behind the scenes of the broadcasting world. Baek Seung-chan (Kim Soo-hyun) becomes a rookie producer in order to work closely with his crush. However, he ends up joining Ra Joon-mo (Cha Tae-hyun)’s show instead. Joon-mo struggles to revive ratings for his show and seeks help from his friend and fellow producer Tak Ye-jin (Kong Hyo-jin). Lastly, Cindy (IU) is a famous singer who debuted at a young age. This drama shows how things won’t always be smooth sailing even when you get the job you aimed for. However, the characters work hard and with passion in order to protect their dreams.

Welcome to Waikiki

Welcome to Waikiki gathers three young men and women who run a guesthouse together while pursuing their dreams. At first, the guesthouse is managed by the three guys who individually aspire to be a successful director, actor, and screenwriter. The three girls who join them also have different career goals: pastry chef, journalist, and model. Many humorous, embarrassing situations befall the six characters as they are sometimes forced to do things they don’t want to do while they pursue better opportunities.

Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung

Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung centers around free-spirited Goo Hae-ryung who focuses on studying instead of romance unlike most of her peers. She works hard to become a historian while fighting gender stereotypes. Despite being looked down upon due to being a woman, Hae-ryung doesn’t hesitate to voice her opinions and defend people who have been wronged. She’s an admirable character who stands up for what she believes in even if it means going up against the king. Be motivated by her bravery to pursue your dreams as well!

Oh My Ghost

Oh My Ghost’s heroine, Na Bong-sun (Park Bo-young), is a timid assistant chef with low self-esteem. She’s not confident enough in her cooking skills and has a secret crush on her boss Kang Sun-woo (Cho Jung-seok). After getting possessed by the ghost of a lustful virgin Shin Soon-ae (Kim Seul-gi), she changes completely and catches the attention of Sun-woo. With Soon-ae’s help, Bong-sun gains the confidence to show her culinary skills and go after the man she’s interested in. Sometimes it’s hard to believe in yourself and external help can make all the difference. An encouraging friend can help you realize the potential you had inside of you all along.

Which of these motivational stories do you love the most? Be sure to watch all these shows and more, on Netflix!

[iyeolie]

kdrama recs!

although i already have a tag for my favorite asian dramas in general (check out here if you want) i wanted to make a post dedicated to the dramas i’ve watched that hit differently.... i’ll explain

these dramas aren’t necessarily my fave of all time or at the very top of my fave list, but i did enjoy all of them a lot. the dramas on this list are the ones i enjoyed from start to finish, every episode, practically every scene. the ones i did not want to end. they were easy to watch and the struggle to not click “next episode” was real. so if you’ve got nothing else to do maybe check one or two out!

          ‣  goblin

starring : gong yoo, kim go eun, lee dong wook, yoo in na, yook sungjae

plot : kim shin is turned into a goblin tasked with protecting certain people from the life of misery. the only way to end his immortal life is to find his bride that can set him free of his sword. kim shin accidentally becomes roommates with a grim reaper, wang yeo, and as natural enemies the two clash. ji eun tak is a high school student who is able to communicate with the dead. she gets involved with the goblin and grim reaper. could she be the goblin’s bride who holds the power to release him from his eternal misery and set his soul free?

thoughts : this is my number one (1) fave kdrama and drama over all! it has everything: unique plot, interesting characters, humor, drama, fantasy elements... this is the drama i’ll always recommend to anyone and everyone. there’s not a dull moment and there is always something that grabs your attention. the depth to each character is crazy and how they all connect is insane. you grow close to them all and end up routing for them with all your heart. couldn’t recommend it enough.

          ‣  high-end crush

starring : jung il woo, jin se yeon, yoon bora, lee si eon

plot : choi se hoon is the ceo of an entertainment company and knows his stuff well. he is very arrogant and doesn’t take no for an answer. yoo yi ryeong lives alone on a mountain and doesn’t have any desire for money and fame. the two cross paths and se hoon ends up offering yi ryeong a contract from his company, she rejects him. the determined businessman won’t give up on her and ends up developing feelings along the way. can two people from different worlds come together?

thoughts : the fact that i almost didn’t watch this drama will haunt me forever. i’m sO happY that i gave it a go. i expected nothing but ended up with so much. this mini drama made me laugh and cry, and took me on a hell of a ride. the story between the couple is hilariously sweet and melts my heart. jung il woo stole my heart with this drama, he did an excellent job as the lead and his character made the drama what it is. if you have 5 hours to spare i highly recommend this one, enjoyed every second.

          ‣  hospital ship

starring : ha ji won, kang min hyuk, lee seo won, kwon min ah

plot : song eun jae is a capable surgeon at a large hospital in seoul. due to circumstances she ends up quitting her job and boards a hospital ship that provides medical care for locals in rural villages. on board are army doctors who have unwillingly been assigned their posts, except for kwak hyun, who volunteered. although eun jae has a cold personality, she is perfectionist and very skilled. with her on board, the hospital ship is able to admit patients and help with the most critical medical problems, all while out at sea.

thoughts : honestly i didn’t have any expectations going into this one, but i was pleasantly surprised. all the different characters clashed together and made the story very interesting, everyone came together and became an unexpected family. all the cases they dealt with were just insaane and made the drama so entertaining to watch! they always had the odds against them but somehow made in through them. very addicting.

          ‣  extraordinary you

starring : kim hye yoon, rowoon, lee jae wook, lee naeun, kim young dae

plot : eun dan oh is a student at a prestigious academy. one day she discovers that the world she’s living in is a fantasy world of comics, and she isn’t even the main character! she is only an extra and the writer has set her up with a lame story line that she doesn’t want to follow. dan oh realizes she is one of the few characters that are aware and tries to change the story to free herself from the writer’s grip. she meets a nameless student, number 13, who dan oh thinks can be the key. they work together to try and change their fates, but this comes with a price to pay.

thoughts : this drama was almost impossible not to watch one episode right after another! suuch a cool plot and it was hard to try and predict what was going to happen next. the drama kept its secrets very well and dragged it out, making you as a viewer really miserable wanting to know more, but this is what made it so good. things uncovered slowly but surely and you changed your mind about things over and over. big brain energy on this one!

          ‣  cinderella and four knights

starring : jung il woo, park so dam, ahn jae hyun, lee jung shin, son naeun

plot : eun ha won feels alone in the world and has poor contact with her father and stepmother. she lives a hard life trying to find ways to pay for her education. she gets involved with the three famous and rich cousins : kang ji woon ; a rebel-minded loner, kang hyun min ; a playboy money machine and kang seo woo, a sweet singer-songwriter. because of ha won’s non-nonsense personality, the cousins grandfather thinks she’s the perfect person to discipline his spoiled grandsons to get along with each other. however in the process ha won finds herself in the middle of a quadrangle love story.

thoughts : man, honestly this drama is THE reason why i’m even making this list. i was hooked from the start and STAYED hooked the entire drama. park so dam being the queen she is played her character so fantastically, i love how powerful and confident her character is. how different the cousins personalities were made it hilariously interesting to watch. i myself fell in love with each guy and had the hardest time picking who to root for! second and third lead syndrome is real. this is the one drama that i can honestly say i did not want to end, i’d watch this forever if i could lmfao

          ‣  falling for innocence

starring : jung kyung ho, kim so yeon, yoon hyun min

plot : kang min ho is a cold-blooded corporate raider who treats his workers and people ruthlessly. he is self-defensive and a suspicious sociopath, but he suffers from heart problems and is expected to die in the near future. unless he gets a heart transplant from a suitable donor, he is done for. kim soon jung’s fiancé gets into a car “accident” which ends in fatality. luckily for min ho, the fiancé is a match and min ho gets another shot at life. after the heart transplant, min ho starts to notice changes in his behavior : a rare result of heart transplants. he ends up falling for soon jung and she teaches him the meaning of true happiness and what love is. are his feelings really his, or the memories from the previous owner of his heart?

thoughts : i thought this drama wasn’t gonna be anything out of the ordinary going into it, but i was wrong. the character development the main character went through is one of the best ones i’ve seen and very inspiring at that. how he went from night to day because of his transplant was really something to witness. jung kyung ho killed it obviously and made his character believable. seeing how the characters deal with the situation made me not being able to stop watching.

          ‣  one spring night

starring : jung hae in, han ji min, kim jun han, joo min kyung, lim sung eon

plot : lee jeong in decides to prioritize happiness in her life. she has a long time boyfriend who wants to marry her but she’s not so sure what she feels. to treat her hangover one spring night, she goes to the pharmacy. yoo ji ho is the pharmacist who ends up helping her. ji ho is a single dad and unsure whether a woman could want a man like him. he however immediately becomes interested in jeong in and does whatever he can to meet her in person. the two fall in love despite their situations. the two however now have to deal with the obstacles that family, friends and society sets for them.

thoughts : this drama is like a warm safety blanket for me. i started it on a whim, skimming through netflix just wanting to watch something before bed. i ended up clicking on this and booy am i happy i did. it’s a nicely slow-paced, sweet and romantic love story which touches your heart in the best way. the whole vibe of the drama is just... i don’t know how to describe it’s just... chill?? and nice?? and comfortable?? it was my night time drama before bed, so i have nice memories from watching it. loved their love story. also a+++ for the osts!!!

         ‣  madame antoine : the love therapist

starring : sung joon, han ye seul, jeong jinwoon, hwang seung un, lee joo hyung

plot : go hye rim is a famous fortune-teller known as “madame antoine” and insist she is spiritually connected to the late french queen marie antoinette. choi soo hyun is a highly awarded therapist specialising in women’s psychology. coincidentally, his psychological treatment center is also called “madame antoine”. soo hyun develops an experiment with the hypothesis that love does not exist. he tricks hye rim into participating in the experiment to study her behavior when approached by three different men. however, hye rim isn’t told what the experiment is about and doesn’t know that the men’s feelings for her are fake, or are they?

thoughts : a fortune teller and therapist love story?? sign me the f up!!! i loved seeing these two bicker every other second but overcoming their differences to be with each other. this couple is really what they mean by “you’re hot then you’re cold”, it was on, off, on, off all the time, but i also couldn’t be mad at it. the drama was easy to watch and i couldn’t not click the next episode. all characters were extremely likeable and made me wanna be friends with them too rip. after finishing this one i kinda wanna learn some psychology tricks..... they were both really cool ><

[thebirdandhersong]

It’s objectively impossible to have one (1) favourite kid in Racket Boys but my favourite is In-sol because I feel a gut-wrenching connection to his loneliness and a heart-wrenching happiness whenever I think about the fact that his loneliness ENDS and also because he’s just so happy to be here, and also Hae-kang because he is Annoying in the way sixteen-year-old boys are Annoying and Yet is at the same time the loveliest older brother and such an energetic and exuberant and passionate person, and also Woo-chan because he has a kind heart and a warm disposition and loves his friends a LOT and always makes sure to take care of and have fun with Yong-tae, and also Yong-tae because he is the Most Darling (I’m kidding, they’re ALL the Most Darling) and is very sweet and thoughtful and mischievous and the CUTEST little bean, and also Se-yoon because she’s just so hard-working and practical and yet soft-hearted and for whatever reason (sdlfksj k;fls) enjoys spending her time with these chaotic boys, and also Han-sol because of how much she loves Se-yoon and Yoon-dam and is just this bright and optimistic and sassy and adorable ray of sunshine, and also Yoon-dam, who would be my favourite if I had a favourite, because I just love that he’s the eldest in his family and the captain of his team and is reliable and fun-loving and occupies a special corner in my heart for his special brand of kindness...... yeah anyway it’s objectively impossible to have one (1) favourite kid in Racket Boys because they’re all the Best

[kpopotd2]

November Wrap Up

Friends, we are about to go into the last month of the year and your K-Pop Sunbaes can’t even believe it. To all our American followers we hope you had a very happy Thanksgiving! We just wanted to remind all of you that once December is over this blog will no longer be active, but it will stay up as an archive!

Also, we have been posting podcast episodes for two months now! You can listen to it on all the major listening platforms including Spotify, iTunes, and Google Play Music (if you want us on any other platforms, let us know!). Two more episodes are coming up in December so keep your eye out for that. 

Another thing coming in December is our “Twelve Days of K-Pop”! Follow us at @kpopsunbae​ for those posts (also follow us on there in general because we will continue to post there even after this year is up)!

We are so thankful for all of you and we hope you all finish up your semesters and work well for the upcoming holidays!

-- JR, Min, & Onyx

NEWS:

November 18, 2000: SM Entertainment & Avex Trax come together with a contract that would become the first licensing deal between a South Korean and Japanese record label.   November 19, 2009: Model Daul Kim passes away at 20 by suicide.

November 10, 2009: South and North Korea engage in naval skirmish that would go on to be called the Battle of Daecheong. November 14, 2009: A fire broke out in a Busan shooting range, killing at least 8 people and injuring three others. November 21, 2009: Jeong Nam-gyu, one of South Korea's most prolific serial killers, commits suicide in his cell while waiting for execution. November 6, 2010: A fire broke out in a Busan shooting range, killing at least 8 people and injuring three others. November 11, 2010: Lotte Corporation receives approval from the government to start construction on Lotte World in Seoul.

November 23, 2010: South and North Korea exchange fire after North Korea shelled PyeongYeong Island. Two marines and two civilians were killed and fifteen more troops were also injured.

Album of the Month 2010-2015:

2010 - The Beginning by JYJ

2011 - The Boys by Girls’ Generation

2012 - Another Me by Kim Sung Kyu

2013 - Voodoo by VIXX

2014 - At Gwanghwamun by Kyuhyun

2015 - The Most Beautiful Moment in Life Pt. 2 by BTS

DRAMAS:

November 2009: Invincible Lee Pyung Kang (This drama stars Nam Sang Mi and former The Nuts’s lead guitarist Ji Hyun Woo. It averaged around 6% viewership ratings.) November 2010: Mary Stayed Out All Night/Marry Me, Marry! (This drama, based on the webtoon of the same name by Won Soo yeon, stars Moon Geun young, Jang Geun Suk, Kim Jae Wook, Kim Hyo Jin. The show’s writer left midway through the show due to conflicts and low ratings. It won a couple of awards, and was a hit in japan even though it received low ratings in Korea.) November 2010: All My Love For You (This show stars Kim Kap Soo, Park Mi Sun, 2AM’s Jo Kwon, Brown Eyed Girl’s Ga In, Highlight’s Yoon Doo Joon, former After School member Lizzy, and Apink’s Park Chorong. Cameos include Nine Muses, 2PM’s Nickhun, former Secret member Han Sun Hwa, Super Junior’s Shindong and Leeteuk, and former Boyfriend members Youngmin, Kwangmin, and Minwoo.) November 2010: Secret Garden (This hit drama stars Ha Ji Won, Hyun Bin, Lee Jong Suk, Yoo In Ah. It did incredibly well averaging over 20% viewership ratings. It went on to win multiple awards at various award shows, and aired in over five countries. The show is often parodied, with the most notable being BigBang’s Secret BigBang.) 

November 2011: Light and Shadows (This show stars Ahn Jae-wook, Nam Sang-mi, Lee Pil-mo and singer Son Dam-bi. It was originally a fifty episode show, but was extended to 64 episodes due to high ratings.)  November 2011: Me Too, Flower! (This show stars Lee Ji Ah and Yoon Si Yoon. Yoon was added only a few weeks before the premier as the original lead injured himself while filming. It later ended up airing in Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia. )

November 2012: Cheer Up, Mr. Kim! (This show stars Shinhwa member Kim Dong Wan.) November 2012: Jeon Woo Chi (Cha Tae Hyun and former After School member Uee star in this fantasy, period drama.)  November 2012: The King of Dramas (Kim Myung Min, Jung Ryeo Won, and Super Junior’s Siwon star in this comedy show. It was extended from 16 episodes to 18 due to its popularity, and eventually aired in four other countries.)

November 2013: Melody of Love (Former SISTAR member Kim Da Som, Baek Sung-hyun, Hwang Sun-hee, SS501 member Kim Hyung-jun and E.D.E.N. member Kwak Hee-sung star in this show.)  November 2013: Pretty Man (This drama stars IU, Jang Geun Suk. IU won KBS’s best new actress award for her role.)  November 2013: Golden Rainbow (Former After School member Uee, Jung Il Woo star in this romance drama. It went on to air in many other countries.)  November 2013: Let’s Eat (This show stars Lee Soo Kyung and Highlight’s Yoon Doo Joon. A second season aired in 2015.) 

November 2014: Pinocchio (This drama stars Park Shin Hye, Lee Jong Suk, Kim Young Kwang, and Lee Yu Bi. It went over 10% viewership ratings, won a lot of awards at various award shows, and was broadcast in over 10 countries.)  November 2015: Oh My Venus (Stars Shin Min Ah, So Ji Sub, Henry Lau, and Sung Hoon. SHINee’s Jonghyun, g.o.d. Member Kim Tae Woo, Snuper, and Lovelyz’s Kei (among others) participated in the OSTs.) November 2015: Sweet, Savage Family (This show stars Jung Joon Ho, Moon Jung Hee, with BtoB’s Lee Min Hyuk and Girl’s Day Minah as supporting characters. It originally was a 20 episode drama, but when the ratings continued to be low for it’s duration it was cut down to 16.)  November 2015: Reply 1988 (This hit third instalment in the Reply series, stars Girl’s Day Lee Hye Ri, Park Bo Gum, Ryu Jun Reol, and Lee Dong Hwi. It hit over 18% viewership ratings which made it the second highest rated drama in Korean cable history. Sung Dong Il and Lee Il Hwa reprise their roles as the parents of the show, although they are not the same characters. It won many awards at various award shows.)  

FILMS:

November 12, 2009: 19-Nineteen (This South Korean and Japanese co-produced film stars current and former BigBang members respectively, TOP, Seungri, and actress Huh EJae. The theme song was sung by TOP and Seungri in a song called “Because”.) November 12, 2009: Heaven’s Postman (This South Korean and Japanese co-produced film stars JYJ’s Kim Jaejoong and Han Hyo Joo.)

November 10, 2010: Haunters (This film stars Gang Dong Won and Go Soo. Before it was even released it received the highest advance ticket sales for a Korean film for that year. It opened no. 1 one at the box office collecting over 600,000 admissions. It went on to have a Japanese remake.) November 8, 2012: Confession of Murder (This movie tars Jung Jae Young, Park Si Hoo. It sold over 1 million tickets during the first week of its release. It eventually went on to receive Japanese and South Indian remakes.)  November 15, 2012: Code Name: Jackal (This movie stars Song Ji Hyo and JYJ’s Kim Jae Joong (it is also Kim’s first starring film role). Kim also participated in the movie’s soundtrack.) November 22, 2012: Don’t Cry Mommy (This movie stars Yoo Sun, Nam Bo Ra, and former U-KISS member Shin Dong Ho. It was inspired by a true story based on the Kim Boo Nam case.) 

November 6, 2013: Commitment (This action film stars BigBang’s TOP, Han Ye Ri, and Kim Yoo Jung. It opened at the box office at no. 2. and made over $6 million.)  November 14, 2013: Friend II: The Great Legacy (This noir sequel to Friend stars Kim Woo Bin, Yoo Oh Seong, and Joo Jin Mo. It had one million admissions on the first weekend, and made over $20 million.)  November 21, 2013: The Fake (This animation stars the voices of Yang Ik June, Oh Jung Se, Kwon Hae Hyo, and Park Hee Von. The K-drama Save Me was based on this movie. It won various awards and was screened at many film festivals.) 

November 6, 2014: Fashion King (This movie based on the webtoon of the same name by Kian84 stars Joo Won, former f(x) member Sulli, Ahn Jae Hyun, and Park Se Young. Model Han Hye Jin, Hong Seok Cheon, and After School’s Nana (among many others) make cameos.)  November 13, 2014: Cart (This movie stars Yum Jung Ah, Kim Jae Bum, and EXO’s D.O (Do Kyung Soo). It is based on a true story of the 2007 Homever retail store incident where many female workers were dismissed and their jobs were given to outsourced workers in order to bypass a law in which workers would receive official employee status after a certain amount of time.)   November 27, 2014: Big Match (Stars Lee Jung Jae, Shin Ha Kyun, Lee Sung Min, and BoA.)  November 5, 2015: The Priests (This supernatural mystery thriller stars Kim Yoon Seok and Gang Dong Won. It grossed over $35 million and won many awards at various award shows.) 

HAPPY STUFF:

November 2009: Raina and Nana were added to the line up of After School.  

SAD STUFF:

November 2014: Semi and Baby J announce their departure from Jewelry.

POST OF THE MONTH:

Kim Sung Kyu - 60 Seconds!!