Drama - Princess Hours

Alternate Names: Goong / Imperial Household / Palace
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Episodes: 24
Network: MBC
Broadcasted: 2006-Jan-11 to 2006-Mar-30
Lead Actors: Yoon Eun Hye, Joo Ji Hoon, Kim Jung Hoon, Song Ji Hyo

My Rating: ♥♥♥.5/5













Happy Halloween everyone! I just wanted to say that since tomorrow I will not be posting. I have a love/hate relationship with Halloween...things always seem to go very well or very bad around this time of year and I am just sick of it. I just want good things from now on! Everyone be safe and enjoy all the yum yums!

This week's Korean drama is Goong! Yay! It's an older drama based off the manhwa (Korean comic) Goong by Park So Hee. I think I actually starting reading that manhwa a long time ago, but could not get through it (the drawing style wasn't really to my liking). Anyways the manhwa is a long read but the drama is very good and true to the original story. I always tend to watch things that the actress Yoon Eun Hye has been in (Coffee Prince, Little Black Dress). It can get a little slow and frustrating in some parts but it makes up for it in the ending.

It has the classic female protagonist falls in love with mean guy with a couple different love triangles and scandals thrown in... And it deals heavily on the themes of tradition and responsibility of royalty to the people. I really do not envy royalty, it's got to be hard. I'm rooting for you Kate Middleton! Like I said earlier, it can get really slow in the middle but just barrel through and the ending will make it all worth it. Also, they've adapted this to be a musical. Korea's first original musical that debuted in 2010.

Basic Synopsis: This takes place in a fictional world where Korea has an established constitutional monarchy. The old king has died and has arranged the crown prince, Joo Ji Hoon, to marry a commoner. That commoner turns out to be Shin Chae Kyung, who initially marries to save her family from loan sharks. Shin Chae Kyung deals with the social, political, and traditional trials of being Korean. Both the crown prince and princess start to fall in love despite their past loves and regrets.

Join the Club - SHINee World

This week SHINee (Shiny!!!!) fans take over as SHINee World. SHINee fans also refer to themselves as Shawols, a combination of their first hit album "SHINee World" Shya + Wol = Shawols. I personally love SHINee's Ring Ding Dong (it's my ringtone) and Lucifer. Their dancing in phenomenal (especially in Lucifer), but I cannot forgive them for wearing pastel skinny jeans so much. Why Minho?! Why must you make me cry?! T^T This group has tons of fan girls...more recently the member Jong Hyun got a girlfriend and it caused quite a scandal and heartache. This group is also known for their fashion sense. The Korean media dubbed it the "SHINee Trend" among students; consisting of colorful hightop sneakers, skinny jeans and bright sweaters. They are also known and photographed for their airport fashion.

Fanclub Name: SHINee World
Official Site: http://fanclub.smtown.com/
Company: SM Entertainment
Origin: Named after their first hit album. Fans also call themselves Shawols.
Color: Sky Blue
Fee: 15,000 won (Koreans, Foreigners living in Korea), $43 USD (Out of Country)













Benefits:

♥ Membership card with new visual picture of ARTIST
♥ Invitation for grand opening party with ARTIST (1 time)
♥ Subscription to S.M. ARTIST Official Global Fanclub Magazine
♥ One time ARTIST Official Global Fanclub Special Goods
♥ ARTIST Official Global Fanclub Community information service (Coming soon)
♥ Mobile Global Fanclub Service (Coming soon)
♥ Invitation to participate in public broadcasts and events (Determined before the performance)
♥ Invitation to participate in ARTIST Official Global Fanclub tour live taping events (Price details available at the time of the event. Tickets will be first come first served.)
♥ Special benefits when purchasing merchandising at the S.M. online mall (Coming soon)
♥ Invitation to participate in ARTIST Official Global Fanclub international concert tour of ARTIST (Tickets will be first come first serve. While membership benefits provide you with a ticket to the concert, you must still pay for transportation to and from the concert, as well as accomodation and other personal expenses except the concert ticket.)

K-Pop Obsession: Girl's Day Twinkle Twinkle

This weeks obsession is Girl's Day, "Twinkle Twinkle." Now there are two reasons why this particular music video is stuck in my head. It's not that I think Girl's Day is particulary special or talented, they have their own talents, but I don't believe they are more talented than say...After School. Number one, their video is funny and has a cutesy dance with memorable moves. I think I might actually try to learn this dance, haha! And number two, the chorus get's in your brain and stays there!

hajima hajima ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma
kajima kajima ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma
I love you

With that said, I also have to say this is some of the worst English grammar I have ever heard. "Hey Boy, You make me feel like weak girl. Don’t worry baby Now I’m falling love. With you." And for some reason, "Love Love in sweety mind." Okay, I have no idea what a sweety mind is...but I guess it matches that sweet, innocent image. I actually liked their concept for this video. This slapstick comedy is really funny and the main character, Min Ah, is suuuuper cute. I don't get why they're suddenly in baseball uniforms but the rest of the concept matches the lyrics pretty well.



Visual Concept: ♥♥♥/5 Video Concept: ♥♥♥/5 Singing Talent: ♥♥♥.5/5 Music/Sound: ♥♥♥♥/5 Dancing: ♥♥♥♥/5 English Usage: ♥.5/5

Overall Rating: ♥♥♥.5/5

Let's Learn Korean!

This weeks lesson is focused on the website: TALKTOMEinKOREAN. It's a wonderful site that helps people who speak all different languages learn Korean! The site is wonderful (it is designed well), there are lessons that include text and audio, a community, and teachers you can talk to. You can also buy learning materials for a decent price. Check it out and start studying!!!

Drama - The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry

Alternate Names: Still, Marry Me / City Lovers / The Marrying Type / I Still Want to Get Married
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Episodes: 16
Network: MBC
Broadcasted: 2010-Jan-20 to 2010-Mar-11
Lead Actors: Park Jin Hee, Kim Bum, Uhm Ji Won, Wang Bit Na, Lee Pil Mo

My Rating: ♥♥♥/5





Ok, sorry about now posting yesterday (talking to the two followers who actually might read every single post). I was busy yesterday and didn't have time to just sit down and write. So today's drama is The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry.

This drama is generally a really funny comedy. Yes, it is about 30 year old women wanting to find love and that generally tends to have a largely 25+ women viewers. There are some things that need to be discussed...Number one, the theme of women getting married over 30 is a huge and growing subject; no matter if it's in the US or Korea. Modern women are career women and have different goals than those of the past generations, but they are still women. Like the women in the drama, most of their lives revolve around their careers but they want love too. Number two, there is the theme of older women and younger man relationships combined with divorce and the strange entanglement of all the characters. And number three, probably the most shocking to me, they actually show a "sex" scene, they just don't imply it. Very scandalous compared to the kissing and hugging scenes...haha! This drama must be 19+.

Another thing, one of the main characters is the actor Kim Bum from Boys Over Flowers. That alone is draw enough fan girls to get good ratings.

Basic Synopsis: The drama is about three single women in their 30's who have lost a chance to get married earlier in life because of a career. Park Shin Young is a dedicated reporter/newscaster who starts a romantic relationship with a younger man. Jung Da Jung is a professional English/Korean interpreter who is desperate to find a husband, no matter what. And Kim Boo Ki is an attractive business owner who has sworn to give up getting married and instead focus on herself and her martial arts. All are given a fresh start at finding a new relationship, along with the drama and consequences of their actions.

Hello Kitty Chainsaw

Halloween is coming up and that can only mean one thing...thanks to Ningin and the blog Hello Kitty Hell I have seen this: a Hello Kitty Chainsaw. And yes, it works. I mean it's perfect for my Hello Kitty chainsaw massacre outfit I have for Halloween!

Be sure check out the blog Hello Kitty Hell. It's a hilarious blog about a man and his wife's obsession with Hello Kitty. Amazing.

Join the Club - S♥NES

In the spirit of the week, this Thursday's club is SNSD's S♥NE. The club's name is pronounced "so-one" and implies SNSD will always be one with their fans. With such a large group of cute girls (9 to be exact) there's got to be thousands and thousands of fans. SNSD is making way for US exposure seeing as Girl's Generation is listed under Interscope Records.

Fanclub Name: S♥NE
Official Site: http://fanclub.smtown.com/
Company: SM Entertainment
Origin: Pronounced "so-one" and when written in Hangul (소원) means "Wish" which is also a recorded song on their first album.
Color: Pastel Rose
Fee: 15,000 won (Koreans, Foreigners living in Korea), $43 USD (Out of Country)

Benefits:

♥ Membership card with new visual picture of ARTIST
♥ Invitation for grand opening party with ARTIST (1 time)
♥ Subscription to S.M. ARTIST Official Global Fanclub Magazine
♥ One time ARTIST Official Global Fanclub Special Goods
♥ ARTIST Official Global Fanclub Community information service (Coming soon)
♥ Mobile Global Fanclub Service (Coming soon)
♥ Invitation to participate in public broadcasts and events (Determined before the performance)
♥ Invitation to participate in ARTIST Official Global Fanclub tour live taping events (Price details available at the time of the event. Tickets will be first come first served.)
♥ Special benefits when purchasing merchandising at the S.M. online mall (Coming soon)
♥ Invitation to participate in ARTIST Official Global Fanclub international concert tour of ARTIST (Tickets will be first come first serve. While membership benefits provide you with a ticket to the concert, you must still pay for transportation to and from the concert, as well as accomodation and other personal expenses except the concert ticket.)

Fan Support: Pink Glowsticks

K-Pop Obsession: SNSD's The Boys

This weeks music video is none other than Girl's Generation (SNSD) "The Boys" freshly released yesterday October 18, 2011. Now unlike all the other music videos I have featured so far, this song is actually not stuck in my head. I love SNSD, but I was not really in love with the song. There has been a lot of hype and teasing for the release of this music video that also coincided with their return to Korea and the release their third album "The Boys." SONe's have been waiting patiently a whole year for their comeback, but maybe that's why it was a little bit of a let down?

Don't get me wrong, these ladies are as beautiful and talented as they've always been and their English pronunciation is spot on, but the concept for the video was...weird...It didn't make sense to me. Why are they in a diamond world and then in rose petal world? Why is Jessica throwing a dove? What does this have to do with boys? Why? The girls certainly had a different vibe in this video, gone were the "cutsey" innocent looks and replaced it were more alluring and mature style...in that sense, it was refreshing and followed their overall concept of their 3rd album. SNSD will most likely be going worldwide, Interscope Records in the US have listed them as one of their artists and they have billboards up in New York! Can't wait to see if they will debut in the US!

English Version


Korean Version


Visual Concept: ♥♥♥♥/5
Video Concept: ♥♥.5/5
Singing Talent: ♥♥♥♥♥/5
Music/Sound: ♥♥♥/5
Dancing: ♥♥♥♥/5
English Usage: ♥♥♥♥/5

Overall Rating: ♥♥♥♥/5

Let's Learn Korean!

It's the second official day of Let's Learn Korean!!!!! And I brought with me the helpful guidance Professor Oh from the YouTube channel sweetandtasty. The following video is part of her KWOW series focusing on one word a week, check out the rest of her videos for in-depth lessons. In the first video, let's learn how to say and write "Love" or "I love you" in Korean!

Drama - Secret Garden

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Fantasy
Episodes: 20
Network: SBS
Broadcasted: 2010-Nov-13 to 2011-Jan-16
Lead Actors: Hyun Bin, Ha Ji Won, Yoon Sang Hyun, Kim Sa Rang, Lee Phillip

My Rating: ♥♥♥♥/5

This has got to be one the most popular dramas in South Korea. There have been so many parody's and references to this drama that it is insane. If you are ever bored, you should check out BigBang's parody, Big Bang Secret Garden. It is actually done very well and is hilarious!
Even though the female lead is a kick-ass stuntwoman, she still falls into the category of "helpless girl falls in love with mean rich guy." For some reason, she can't seem to beat up this arrogant jerk. Add in social status obstacles and a unrequited love on the side and this drama follows all the other romance comedy dramas. There is one variable that's not as commonly done and that is the theme of homosexuality. Now it's just a small theme and it's not so happy of an ending for the character, Han Tae Sun, but it's none-the-less a beginning of awareness for South Korea. This is one of those dramas that made me giggle hysterically at some parts and ball my eyes out the next. It has a fantasy element that involves an amount of understanding, but not all dramas are based in "reality." Somethings you can take away with this drama: ugly tracksuits, foam kiss scene, sit up scene and the understanding of what the sacrifice of love is! ToT

Basic Synopsis: Gil Ra Im is a poor stuntwoman who is trying to make it big in the movie industry. She meets Kim Joo Won, a rich and arrogant CEO when he mistakes her for the lead actress in a movie. Slowly, Kim Joo Won starts to fall in love with Gil Ra Im, despite her status and the growing confusion within him. Their bickering relationship is put into further turmoil (and hilariousness) when they drink a magic potion that switches their souls when it rains.

Join the Club - Blackjacks

I'm just now starting to structure my posting so on Sundays I will be reviewing Korean/Japanese dramas. If there is a drama you'd like me to review all you have to do is send me an email and request it! On Tuesdays it's Let's Learn Korean!, basically small tid-bits of language learning. K-Pop Obsession music videos will be the main focus on Wednesdays. I hope to eventually refine a simple way to also review it as much as dork out about it. And today is the first Thursday of Join the Club! This topic will be focusing on one K-Pop fan club each week, if you have additional information to the posts I have here, drop me line or leave a comment in the post. ^^

So along with every Group/Band/Solo etc. comes a major fanbase. These fans obsess and love their idols no matter what. What happens is an official club is formed and managed by the groups' managing companies. Members of these clubs have a specific deadline in which to apply and are rewarded with special priviledges, benefits, and priorities. Each club and managing company is different, but to become a member you might have to pay a fee and it only lasts for one year. Now joining a fanclub seems a little different, especially in the States. I guess I didn't really think to check if idols in the US had official fanclubs, are there? (Someone please tell me T^T)

Batters up! First to the plate is none other than the fabulous 2NE1! Yay, I love them! Not only are these four girls rockin' the charts in Korea, they are starting to get some major exposure in the US. I couldn't find specific numbers on how many members their club actually has, but I bet there is a lot and not just in Korea, internationally as well. It's rumored that Will.I.Am wants to produce them in the US. It would be great if they could at least have a concert over here!!! Fanclub Name: Blackjack
Official Site: http://blackjack.yg-2ne1.com/
Company: YG Entertainment
Origin: 2NE1 is pronounced '21' and like the card game, their fanclub is similarily named Blackjack where the highest hand you can get is 21.
Colors: Hot Pink and Black
Fee: 25,000 won or 25 USD

Benefits:
♠ You will receive/be issued a BLACKJACK membership card
♠ Welcoming card (handwritten by 2NE1 members)
♠ Fanclub official GOODS GIFT BOX
♠ Can participate in events such as (fan meeting, (video) conference, etc)
♠ Participate in live stages that are broadcasted such as Music Core, SBS Inkigayo, and Music Bank
♠ During domestic and overseas concerts you will have a chance to get priority seats.
♠ Usage of the BLACKZONE that is only available to fanclub members
♠ Send SMS, receive newsletters by email

Fan Support: Members sport poker-card shaped lightsticks.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED.

K-Pop Obsession: Infinite's Be Mine

This weeks obsession is Infinite's Be Mine. Infinite doesn't seem to be as popular as other boy groups, but I really like listening to their songs, they have a nice sound. I actually think they are some of the best dancers in the K-Pop world. Another song to check out is their newest single, Paradise.

Let's Learn Korean!!!

This is a new ongoing segment that will feature, well, learning Korean! Yayyyy! First up, let's learn how to sing Happy Birthday. Down below is a helpful video with romanized lyrics! Be careful, the little kid singing it is cute the first 30 seconds but I wouldn't play it around someone who's sensitive to annoying, repetitive tracks (ex. Nyan cat). Let's learn!



Lyrics in romanization :

saeng-il chu-ka ham-ni-da
saeng-il chu-ka ham-ni-da
ji-gu-e-seo u-ju-e-seo
je-il sa-rang-ham-ni-da

kkot-ppo-da deo gop-kke
byeol-bo-da deo bal-kke
sa-ja-bo-da yong-gam-ha-ge
happy birthday to you

saeng-il chu-ka ham-ni-da
saeng-il chu-ka ham-ni-da
kkot-tta-un nae-chin-gu-ya

gul-go-git-kke sa-ra-yo

saeng-il chu-ka ham-ni-da
saeng-il chu-ka ham-ni-da

ji-gu-e-seo u-ju-e-seo
je-il sa-rang-ham-ni-da

kkot-ppo-da deo gop-kke
byeol-bo-da deo bal-kke
sa-ja-bo-da yong-gam-ha-ge
happy birthday to you

saeng-il chu-ka ham-ni-da
saeng-il chu-ka ham-ni-da
kal-kka-teun nae-chin-gu-ya
pom-na-ge sa-se-yo
beol-ga-teun nae-chin-gu-ya
tok-sso-myeo sa-ra-yo

chu-ka hae-yo
chu-ka hae-yo
saeng-il chu-ka hae

High Fashion & Pokemon

Another Pokemon post, but this is suuuuuuuuuuuuuper cooooooooooool. Combine high quality fashion magazine scans, Photoshop, and Pokemon and it is awesome!! Via Pokemon&Fashion tumbler, check it out! There were so many good ones to choose from, I just had to post at least 6! I wish I'd thought of this... -_-

Drama - Protect the Boss

Genre: Comedy Romance
Episodes: 18
Network: SBS
Broadcasted: Aug-3-2011 to Sept-29-2011
Lead Actors: Choi Kang Hee, Ji Sung, Hero Kim Jaejoong(JYJ), and Wang Ji Hye

My Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥/5

Ok, so I'm crazy about Korean dramas! I spend a lot of time watching them and talking about them to my uncaring brother and sister (listen to me!!!). Any one of you who wants to make fun of me for it, beware...I might beat you up (when I say "might" I mean "I will"). I just finished the SBS drama Protect the Boss and let me tell you, it is AMAZING! It's one of the best dramas I've ever seen; it doesn't follow the typical girly-drama story line and it is as much romance as it is comedy.

The basic story line of the heroine falling in love with the rich guy is still there, but the lead character No Eun Sol, is no ordinary girl. She doesn't take crap from anyone and will hand out butt kickings to anyone deserving of it! And the male lead isn't the cold-hearted, cool guy that wins the girl (despite the nice guy watching over her!). It's so refreshing to have such a strong woman protagonist that it makes me so happppppyyyyy!

Basic Synopsis: No Eun Sol is a hard working woman who has tried her best to gain a legitimate job despite her gangster background. She gets a break when she's hired to be the secretary of a difficult and spoiled chaebol son, Cha Ji Heon. While working together, they fall in love and encounter many difficulties and circumstances of social status and business corruption.

Adventures of Pickapew

To wash out that awful taste left in my mouth from yesterday (a lá Heart2Heart), here is a light hearted animation featuring Pokemon's Pikachu and Ash by animator's Pen and Nat. It's really cute for being about farts...

The Horror that is Heart2Heart

So this is what happens when you take Americans and mix them with Korean Pop groups. You get the boy group, Heart2Heart and it is not good. I mean, they just debuted October 3 and their debut song is called "Facebook Official"?!? Is this some sort of plug, Is Facebook sponsoring this group?! I have to be embarassed for them since none of their producers are doing their job (someone needs to get fired). These boys aren't even attractive, maybe it would help if their hair wasn't styled in the early 90's. I swear, if it wasn't for the Jeremy Scott Addias shoes, this was made in the 90's. Even the dancing is lacking, go back to the studio and spend another week in practice. The "dance breakdown" made my jaw drop, not from the raw talent of their dance skills but from the pure awfulness of it all. Here is a snippet of the lyrics:

"All I wanna do is put a heart on your page (heart on your page).
Let's make it official.
Baby you and me (You and Me) Facebook official."

I thought this was some sort of joke, but oh the horror it is real. Five guys in a boy band apparently mentored by Lance Bass?? There are so many question marks here, ugh. Even worse, they tagged their video with some actual talented KPop groups like, BigBang, 2NE1 and SHINee!!! Awwwww! Nooooooo! Not even close.

Japanese Synchronized Gymnastics

Resurfacing on the internet is this video of lyrical Japanese gymnastics. It is utterly amazing. Damn...