Ask javabeans…
by javabeans
Um. So I’ve been really bad with emails lately, folks. Well, I’m always prone to being bad with emails, but lately stuff is taking over my offline life and I’ve been really awful, and my inbox is overflowing, and I feel stressed out about that and guilty, but most emails ask for stuff and responding to requests for stuff takes time and I don’t have a lot of time these days and OMG did I mention the stress? I do have a job and a life (sometimes) and also a pretty busy blog and somehow I woke up and it was already June. June 2009. (Anyone who’s spent a number of years in the dreaded Real World knows the horror of realizing one day that not mere weeks but months or even years have slipped by, and boy isn’t that depressing.)
Also, I get a lot of repeat questions, and maybe I should just update that durned About page or make another FAQ but like I said, have! no! time! and also this site is also overflowing with too many pages and subpages already.
So anyway, I figured, I’d make a post where you could just ask me questions and I’d answer them as they came and maybe then I could alleviate some of that email-backlog burden, because face it, that backlog is more of a wasteland about now.
Let me answer a few off the bat:
- Are you Korean? I am ethnically Korean, but am also 100% American. I speak English. I speak Korean with the parents, but they’re fluent in English so I switch back and forth.
- Will you feature other writers? Maybe. Got a review/rant/recap you’d like featured here? I’m open to it! Email me and let me know what you wanna write. I’ve considered expanding this site in the past more than a few times but always ultimately ruled against it, deciding I’d rather post fewer things and be more in-depth than try to be comprehensive. Being comprehensive is a lot of work, yo! But I love guest bloggers, and if you’re a pretty good writer with something to say about dramas or cinema or pop culture, hit me up.
- Will you link to my site? Maybe. I hate being asked for links because it makes me feel guilty when I don’t. But I’m also pretty picky so I’ll usually watch a site for a while and if it’s cool, I’ll link it. A lot of really great sites I have linked or wanted to link have died out after a month or two. Of course, if I’m really missing out on a fabulous link — by which I mean well-written, interesting, relevant, and generates their own content — I’m always happy to be informed about it.
- You’re kinda pretentious, aren’t you? Yeah, well, whatchoo gonna do… I have strong opinions and the opinionator inside my brain usually works with the wordiness-multiplyer to equal very long-winded thoughts. But you know this.
- Can you send me the OST of __ movie/drama? If I have it, I’ll sometimes send it along. If I don’t, I won’t go digging around for it, sorry! I’d honestly like to give everyone what they ask for, but it’s that pesky time issue again.
- In a similar vein, What’s the name of __ guy in __ movie? Here, let me google that for you.
- Will you be watching/recapping [upcoming drama name]? I don’t know. I don’t ever decide until I’ve actually watched the first episode, or sometimes first two. If I say yes and I hate it, I don’t want to find myself stuck having committed, which either means (a) I’m stuck watching something I hate, or (b) I reneged on a promise to recap something. Easier just to say “I’ll wait and see.”
- Will you recap City Hall? No.
- Pretty please? It’s really good! I’ve heard that. Still no.
- But… No.
- Why not? Here’s the thing. I watched the first episode and part of the subsequent one, and was bored to tears. I know that it gets better and people are raving about it, which means maybe I’ll come back to watch it later. But in my mind the recapping boat has pretty much sailed. I never close the door to doing a “classic” recap, but thus far I haven’t had time to do any of the series I wanted to do after the fact. (Attic Cat, Alone in Love, Delightful Girl Chun-hyang…)
- If you won’t do it, can I? Really? Would you? Because if you can and are willing, I am open to guest recappers! (For instance, I know I won’t have time to watch The Man Who Can’t Get Married for a while…) What you need is access to the videos, decent ability to write recaps, and the desire and commitment to stick with a series. You don’t have to be Korean, you just have to be motivated.
- That’s kind of a big commitment. Maybe just a review then? That’s good too.
- I read your review of __ series. You’re sooo wrong. I’m just expressing an opinion, so I’ll stand by my review/praise/mockery. On the other hand, if you want to write a rebuttal… (refer to item above)
- When is the next recap coming of [pending drama]? When I have time. If I’m recapping a drama, trust me, I haven’t forgotten. Chances are I might even be more aware of the late recap than you! Again, there’s this thing called time, and it’s a limited entity… (I know and I’m sorry, Return of Iljimae!) If ever I actually decide to drop recaps, I’ll let you know.
And so on. Ask away!
![[Rate and Review] The Winning Try](https://dramabeans.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/TheWinningTry_reviewb.jpg)
![[Drama Chat] Same drama, different timelines](https://dramabeans.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/dramachat_august302025.jpg)
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151 thunderbolt
June 25, 2009 at 7:24 AM
Hi sarah, thanks for that detailed response. *muahhh*
No, the honor is all mine. Had to pinch myself that I wasn't dreaming when I got your invite to be a guest blogger. Still one of my proudest moments.
I'm an edit monkey, too. Can't write a new sentence without having edited the previous one (to death). By the time I write the last line, I'm ready to hit publish!
About not taking notes, I guess I watch a drama the same way I read a book: right through to the end the first time without stopping to analyze it. It's just more pleasurable that way (and suits the lazy bum in me just fine!). The noteless way has worked well so far when I'm reviewing a movie or drama, or when I'm recapping several episodes together. But since I started recapping single episodes recently, I find that I can't rely on my memory alone because such recaps need to be a lot more detailed. So I've been doing what you used to do, that is, watch an episode twice. Still without notes! But I'm going to try your (streamlined) method if it means it will save me a lot of time. Like you, I've been feeling really swamped. I don't know how you do it, updating your blog daily. You're truly my blogging guru!
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152 Andromytta
June 25, 2009 at 7:45 PM
OK, I have tried, but I absolutely, positively cannot help myself, I have to ask this question. If you choose not to answer it, that's cool, but seriously, I can't keep it in any longer! :D
If you could date any one of the F4, who would it be, and why?
(I seriously think I should change my screen name to "WAY too obsessed with F4" or something like that!)
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153 Kdramalovers
June 25, 2009 at 8:56 PM
If you could marry any kdrama actors you want, which one would it be and why? (Easy questions eh? Unless of course if you want to marry more than one...)
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154 Andromytta
June 25, 2009 at 9:32 PM
OK, now I have a somewhat more serious question. I am now on my fourth KDrama, and it seems like in every show I've seen, there is quite a bit of girls brushing their teeth. Is there a reason for this?
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155 rikufallon
June 25, 2009 at 11:12 PM
@125 samsooki- I'm glad I'm not the only one who sees the similarity in the music styles. I suppose the gayageum (가야금) could be a factor, but even the music which focused more on a woodwinds sound held the same feel for me. I watched this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwa5XoEdC98&feature=related
The woodwind instrument certainly looks like a recorder to me, but I don't have enough music background knowledge to be sure.
@135 javabeans- I would like to participate in the guest speaker recapping project that seems to be developing. It'd be a good way to start being more critical of what I'm watching, and I would love to give it a try. Please let me know if I can help.
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156 Charlo
June 25, 2009 at 11:25 PM
I recommend Book Thief highly. So~ good. I've heard some complaints about the first 30 pages or so, but the more you read, the better it gets. It's just so amazing. On that note, any books that you would recommend to a teen who's sick of (even seeing) trashy teen novels (coughtwilightcough)?
Pbth, for kicks, any dating tips?
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157 jessica
June 30, 2009 at 6:21 AM
@111 rikufallon
I think I can answer your first question. I'm not 100% sure but I believe keeping your palm up signifies accepting/feeling the power and presence of the buddha's. I'm pretty sure its a buddhist thing. I went on a temple stay in korea last summer and did a similar prayer. Not only do Korean buddhists do it but all buddhists. Me being Chinese, I used to pray when I was younger and although the whole ritual is a bit different than I've experienced in Korea, both involved the whole palm up stance.
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158 rikufallon
July 6, 2009 at 6:41 AM
@157 jessica- Sorry for responding only now, but thanks for the info!
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159 twylah
November 23, 2009 at 7:20 AM
and i just missed my chance to ask dramabeans some serious questions. still i'm happy i stumbled on his post. i have been asking the questions you've answered here...and reading the answers are just enlightening. it just may be me, but i feel that i've gotten to know you better after reading the post. all the while, i'm you're fan and always will be....hong gil dong brought me to you and because of you, i get to watch and appreciate more quality dramas than ever.......thank you. your cause is a great cause
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160 Neimat Ilyas
January 28, 2011 at 9:34 AM
I WANNA DO RECAPS~!!!!!!!!!!!
Im studying at the moment but 6 months of every year i am free and really really JOBLESS~!!!!! And i watch almost every other drama that gets aired in Korea.
I am not Korean, Im Indian. I can read and write Hangul. My Korean speaking skills are fair.Im gonna be honest...i started watching drama very recently. My first Korean drama was Boys Before Flowers... But i have intensely researched and watched QUITE a lot of dramas to understand and completely soak up Korean Popular Culture and I LOVE TO WRITE!!!!!
If at all there is a drama thats open and free for me to recap....PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me do one!
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161 keyboards
January 31, 2011 at 7:37 PM
do you have a pet?
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162 iloveyou
February 28, 2011 at 4:59 AM
are you going to recap Midas?
THe new drama ?
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163 yellowplum
April 8, 2011 at 11:29 PM
Why "-beans"?
Is it from coffee beans?
Or green beans.. or long beans.. or soybeans.. or..
Which beans you like best?
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164 appreciate
May 19, 2011 at 10:08 PM
Lets make it complete: why 'javabeans'? Is there any connection with some bean from Java Island in Indonesia?
Interesting name really:)
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165 Molly~ my heart is burned by the Phoenixes #ningyizhiweiforever
June 6, 2011 at 1:37 PM
Im gonna ask you question that has been eating away at my insides for about a week now. It is linked with my ridiculous need to compare dramas- even though they may be totally different. The reason I compare these two dramas is because I ADORE both male leads, and both dramas are kind of actiony-for-the-greater-good drama's.
Question the first- Return of Iljimae (sigh) upto episode 4 or City Hunter uptil episode 4?
Question the second- Who's a better actor (both are hot -I know) Lee min Ho or Jung Il Woo overall? I just love them both. Sometimes its one or the other.
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166 Jasmin Rice
July 29, 2011 at 3:32 AM
After reading some of your post, I am pretty sure that you like Kang Ji Hwan
We have some small KJW fanclub in pantip.com.
http://www.pantip.com/cafe/chalermthai/topic/A10773460/A10773460.html
I actually just lurk there since I like the people that post their interest not only KJW in that post.
Question: Why didn't you recapped Lie To Me.?
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167 Em
July 30, 2011 at 6:14 AM
This is an awesome website! I'm a relatively new k-drama viewer, so when I watch a k-drama, my first question is "has it been recapped by dramabeans?" If not, then I watch the ones that have been recapped first! :) I like to watch the ep then read the recap in case I missed anything. And of course, to cheat and pre-read so I know when the lead couple get together. lol.
Just wondering, having watched Secret Garden and a few other k-dramas, do koreans really speak english in that awful over-accentuated way? Even my beloved Binny (Hyun of course) who can usually do no wrong, I don't like hearing him speak/sing english :(
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168 Lidy Wilks
August 24, 2011 at 12:41 PM
Have you gotten around to watching "Protect The Boss"? It plays on City Hunter's timeslot, on wednedays and thursdays.
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169 tiny
May 16, 2012 at 12:46 AM
Hi javabeans!
Not too sure if you still visit this part of your site but I'm posting anyway.
First off, thank you for maintaining this site. I love that you don't mince words, are straightforwardly honest, and are terribly dedicated the 'blog my kdrama addiction".
I am from the Philippines. At the moment, I am still in grad school. But aside from that, I am juggling between learning Greek and Korean. Which brings me to my question, if ever my Korean is decent already, can I write reviews for you? I know I still have a long way to go but I'm just so excited to see more movie reviews in your site :)
Thanks heaps.
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170 shinkai.rn
October 26, 2012 at 5:36 AM
ive been visiting dramabeans for some months now and your recaps are the best! you probably receive this kind of comments a lot still i just want to let you know that what you're doing is much appreciated (especially for non-korean kdrama addict like me). keep up!
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171 rogue88nami
November 2, 2012 at 7:23 AM
First of all Thank you!! I absolutely love ur blog.I m an Indian whose only knowledge of Korean comes from kdramas...so ur blog really helps understanding all that " deeper meaning " n stuff.
Second ,my question is this - it's abt the drama awards for best couple - can frenemies also b nominated? For eg. - Lee kang to n kimura shunji? I saw that sungkyukwan scandal it was the best friend couple that won not the central romantic one, so I wonderd how it works.
Also is it significant that some Koreans have 2 names while some have 3?
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172 Yumi
December 16, 2013 at 4:32 PM
Hey, Javabeans!~ Just out of curiosity, who's your fave actor and actress?
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173 mary
September 15, 2016 at 4:41 AM
I wanted to ask you this since last month... are you feeling better now? (I hope you are!)
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174 Flin
October 29, 2016 at 11:48 PM
@javabean,
I came here after frustration of watching (or deciding not to watch JCW latest flop, doh!)
I figured if I browse your site I would eventually find something interesting and indeed I did.
I find it interesting that I get to read a lot of your actual reply to us commenter, and get insight into your world before Dramabeans got this big. Thing is I read and comment on this site using my phone. And it is kinda hard to keep track of what I have commented (and wonder if anyone replied to it) on such a small screen.
So perhaps, you could talk to your IT guy and add that useful option box/check box to give commenter a notice via email if their comments are being replied to?
Would you please consider it? Pretty please...?
Well, it is almost end of October now, and I surely hope that you are recovering well.
I love DB community and wish to interact more ?
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175 bert
November 29, 2016 at 1:04 AM
Hey Java,
I was wondering who your main audience is. Do you think they're mostly Korean or weebo white guys with yellow fever? Thanks for such a great website.
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