Maids deliberates over name change
by javabeans
With its cast in place — Sung Yuri, Jung Kyeo-woon, Kim Min-joon, and Min Hyo-rin — and its May premiere set, KBS’s rom-com series Maids held its first script rehearsals this week. But one lingering issue remains unresolved: the title, with which producers are wrestling after receiving complaints.
The problem? One national organization of housekeeping workers has argued that the title is belittling to their work, and announced their intention to campaign for a change. Starting in 2004, the organization made the formal choice to change the language used for their line of work, opting for words like 파출부 (housekeeper) and 가사도우미 (household assistant) rather than the word the drama uses, 식모. You can consider it a matter of cultural awareness and/or political correctness, akin to how English speakers may cringe to hear someone still using “stewardess” rather than “flight attendant.” A rep from the organization argued that the drama shouldn’t resurrect an outdated word that has been deemed dissatisfactory by society.
One source with the drama’s promotional department admitted, “We guessed from the outset that the title might attract criticism, so a month ago we began preparing to change it. There are about 20 possibilities that are being considered.”
The new candidates include Elegant World, Grand Women, Secret of 1st Street (1st Street being the locus of the chaebol families serviced by the maids), The Ladies’ Teatime, House Queen, and Suspicious Women.
The contenders all have a ring of awkwardness (not to mention overcompensation) to them, but I respect that they’re trying to resolve the issue amicably. Even so, let’s hope they hit upon something a bit smoother than The Ladies’ Teatime. Maybe Ladies Who Lunch would be a better option if you’re trying to evoke that elite, posh world of the upper-crust, though it’s not really a phrase that carries over into Korean.
The name change isn’t just a matter of picking a new selection out of a hat, though, since there is reportedly considerable difference of opinion within the production team. The director and writer in particular are attached to their original working title, and are loath to relinquish it.
One source with the production said, “The moment a drama’s title is changed, it has to be able to make an impression on the viewers. I think one of the chief reasons for the hesitation to change the name is the warm, friendly feeling you get from the title Maids.” Ah, the warm, friendly feeling of offending a large subgroup of your intended audience. Satisfying!
The drama is expected to make its final decision on the title this week. The drama soon-to-be-formerly-titled-Maids premieres on May 11.
Via Star News
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1 blueskye
March 30, 2011 at 5:52 AM
first?(:
yes i sure support the name change, and the cast looks so focused :D GO GO GO!
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2 Dara
March 30, 2011 at 5:55 AM
Sung Yuri cut her hair? Noooooooo.
Buahahaha over er...'Suspicious Women' what does she do?
Oh, the hawwwwttt guy in light blue suit!Eeep!
I think Korea should establish an organization that brainstorming the translation of the movie/drama title into English. I've tried to turn blind eye on the title until recently, it's getting really ridiculous!
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Rika
March 30, 2011 at 3:27 PM
Why do they always seem to portray the good and innocent leads with short bouncy hair while the seconds/supposedly evil have long and lustrious hair?
I actually cut my hair short over a year ago coz I was influenced lol... but now I want my long hair back...
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mooses
March 30, 2011 at 6:27 PM
uhhh it can go both way lol. an evil character is going to look evil regardless of her hair.
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guini
March 30, 2011 at 6:32 PM
…lol…really to that degree? But I kindda find short hair appealing, clean and classy.
Anyway, can I cast a vote for “secret of 1st street” it has no any element about the story and you need to watch to know about it, It has a ring of mystery; maid is so prehistoric to me, and yea in the new generation we need some changes not just in title but a little sophisticated word to befits people the new generation.
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Lilian
April 1, 2011 at 11:24 AM
Not necessarily. The most recent example would be the villainess in My Princess who had short hair too....but definitely not bouncy! haha...
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3 ar_arguably romantic
March 30, 2011 at 5:59 AM
Maids wasn't that great of a title in the first place...but i agree that the alternatives aren't sounding much better.
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buhdoop
March 30, 2011 at 10:46 AM
I kind of like House Queen.
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jose
March 30, 2011 at 1:04 PM
maids is better,i prefer short names or titles :p
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4 dee
March 30, 2011 at 6:08 AM
Mmhhh.. Why they didn't mind for Lee Jung Jae & Jeong Do Yeon's movie : Housemaid?
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lovepark
March 30, 2011 at 7:17 AM
I'm guessing it's because the group/organization specifically does not like the word 식모 (maid) whereas Jun Do-yeon's movie was titled 하녀 which still translates to maid/housemaid in english but is a different word in korean. It's like the example javabeans used in the article about stewardess and flight attendant. One is just politcally correct but both technically meant/means the same thing.
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5 Fasiris Fay
March 30, 2011 at 6:09 AM
LOL over the proposed title changes!
I do agree that the title before wasn't exactly politically correct, but please don't change it to 'suspicious women'!!
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6 nozomi
March 30, 2011 at 6:19 AM
i don't like "maids" too.
i prefer using the title "helper"
someone who helps around the house, helps take care of our family.
thats what i call our help at home rather than the archaic term "maid". i cringe everytime i hear someone use that word
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7 come2noona
March 30, 2011 at 6:22 AM
"Ah, the warm, friendly feeling of offending a large subgroup of your intended audience. Satisfying!"
LOL
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8 angelpur
March 30, 2011 at 6:36 AM
I think my fave out of that lot are "Elegant World" and "Secret of 1st Street". To me, S01S feels more like an original title...but I honestly didn't mind "Maids" either.
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Selli
March 30, 2011 at 8:03 AM
Yeah, but So1S kind of sounds like a conspiracy-themed drama (all chaebols actually actually made a deal with the devil, or something equally ridiculous XDD), or a mystery one :o
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9 Y
March 30, 2011 at 6:41 AM
how about " House managers " , " Caretakers "...
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10 dramaville
March 30, 2011 at 6:42 AM
where's park shi hoo?
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mary
March 30, 2011 at 6:52 AM
LOL
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GrandmaFran
March 30, 2011 at 1:16 PM
ahahahahahahah
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11 ahjummabunny
March 30, 2011 at 6:51 AM
It's probably going to be suspicious woman. It's usually bad or suspicious. I always wonder if there's a joke I'm missing. I don't really care what they call it just make the drama good!
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12 Ahjummoni
March 30, 2011 at 6:51 AM
Maids - why not abigail, subreta, or whatever term
Maid is also a shortened form of "maiden", an archaic word for an unmarried woman or a virgin.
if the main char should be an innocent girl this was meant to be a pun about the main char ...ohh well klala land and its titles
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buhdoop
March 30, 2011 at 10:50 AM
I don't think the English word isn't the problem, the Korean one is. I like were you are going with this though, a pun on the word would be really cute.
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buhdoop
March 30, 2011 at 10:51 AM
so many typos, my apologies.
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Ahjummoni
March 30, 2011 at 2:32 PM
np I have the same problem and I wish soooo bad an EDIT button
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13 Ahjummoni
March 30, 2011 at 6:58 AM
skivvy would be errrm more appropriate?
enjoy the reading:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maid
there are some definitions for maids
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14 Jean Grey
March 30, 2011 at 7:01 AM
I suggest the following alternatives for the title:
1) Tea time Tai Tai's
2) First Help ( ers)
3) Views from 1st Street
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15 Revy
March 30, 2011 at 7:35 AM
The candidates for the name change sucks.
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16 ivy_factiva
March 30, 2011 at 7:39 AM
"Ah, the warm, friendly feeling of offending a large subgroup of your intended audience. Satisfying!"
LMAO, snarky JB.
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17 Bluefyre
March 30, 2011 at 7:44 AM
Haha! Of the alternate titles I only like "House Queen"
Hope they can come up with something better than those though. Just make it an English title only already. Tired of drama title changes.
And I wonder...will the mannies of Korea campaign to change "Manny" 's title too? :D
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18 Venus
March 30, 2011 at 7:51 AM
What with all this Dramas and Title changes!!! jeeezzzz this is like the 3 drama that is having Identity Crisis...
heck why don't they go with "Maids in Seoul".. or "Pretty Maids", or "Maids Hunters" or "Maids of Love".....
If the writers are having a hissy fit about the title, can't blaimed them, they are writers that what they do...why doesn't the production ask the fans to submit their fave title for the drama and then select the title...... just a though here.. :D
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19 Alyssia
March 30, 2011 at 8:14 AM
no park shi hoo!!!!:( my yuri so cute though!!!!!!!!looking forward to the main couple. Maybe it'll be a good thing that i will not have 2nd lead syndrome.
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20 Dav
March 30, 2011 at 8:36 AM
Heh heh. I love you, JB.
"Suspicious Women" is the name of my imaginary stereotypical melodrama, which contains every Kdrama trope ever, so I hope they pick something a little better.
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jomo143
March 30, 2011 at 10:32 AM
My melodrama will be entitled "Just Tell Her!"
Other options
"Don't Believe a Word She Says"
"Lying B#tch" "She's Lying"
"Ignoble Sacrifice"
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annie
March 30, 2011 at 12:27 PM
LOL.
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Ambie AKA AmbieH
March 30, 2011 at 8:05 PM
I vote for Just Tell Her.. or
Just say it!...Damn < ---- that's my phrase de madness when watching melodramas...
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ar_arguably romantic
March 30, 2011 at 8:23 PM
LOL!!
"Don’t Believe a Word She Says” --- Actually, the rom-com movie, Too Beautiful to Lie, is alternatively called "Don't Believe Her" =D
But yeah, we really do need more on-point titles.
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jomo143
March 31, 2011 at 6:52 AM
Hee hee!
I want to watch that one for the sake of truth in advertising.
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Ayumi
March 31, 2011 at 3:00 AM
Lol. I love this sooooo much.
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21 samgetang
March 30, 2011 at 8:38 AM
Does the title have to refer to their job or place of occupation? Cant they use the essence of the story as the title?
More inane suggestions:
Work at Home
Me and My Mistress
The Chaebol Wives
Arggghhhh! ;-)
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jomo143
March 30, 2011 at 10:35 AM
Or, as someone says, use the main character's name.
Julie's World
Julie's House
It works in English; I don't know how it translates, though.
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22 Jay
March 30, 2011 at 8:49 AM
They should steal from the best, and go with "Upstairs, Downstairs"! To be honest, Maids is not a great title, but it's hard to think of one that isn't worse...
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23 YY
March 30, 2011 at 8:52 AM
Agree with you, Sam! Where's the subtlety? How about
Love Scrubs
Red Palms
Aching Muscles
No Pain No Gain
Love At First Wash
Love and Suds
Double Double Toil and Trouble
Handy Hands
Chlorox Love
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jomo143
March 30, 2011 at 10:40 AM
With the OST songs
Walking on Laundry
All you need is Bleach
Drive Your Car
Happiness is a Warm Lunch
I Saw Her Cleaning There
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nozomi
March 30, 2011 at 3:18 PM
LOL :)
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jyyjc
March 30, 2011 at 7:21 PM
HAHAHA
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YY
March 30, 2011 at 9:13 PM
I'm on a roll here guys, how about taking a leaf from the classics?
Casableacha
The Sound of Mosaic
To Kill A Mocking Roach
Moppin' in the Rain
My Sweaty Lady
Gone with the Flush
Grease
The Silence of the Lamps
Star Wash
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Ayumi
March 31, 2011 at 3:01 AM
This thread is amazingly hilarious.
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jomo143
March 31, 2011 at 8:53 AM
Who wouldn't want to kill a mocking roach?
I know I would.
jomo143
March 31, 2011 at 5:32 AM
YY - These are PURE GOLD, I tell yas.
More OST
Like A Rolling Pin
I Believe I Can Cook
Smells Like (I finally Got that) Teen Spirit (Out of the Carpet)
Born to Mop
People Get Supper Ready
(The) Help
You've Lost that Laundry Feeling
No Woman No Sandwich
Light My Pilot Fire
When Dough Cries
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YY
March 31, 2011 at 6:17 AM
HAHAHAHAHAHA
dramalatte
March 30, 2011 at 11:04 AM
LOL
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autumnscribbles
March 30, 2011 at 10:05 PM
LOL. you ppls are terrible, making me laugh like a mad woman in the middle of the library.
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Selcaqueen
March 31, 2011 at 8:46 AM
Love at first Wash!
Oh my god, I love that! I swear commenters here are hilarious! XDDD
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samgetang
March 31, 2011 at 7:38 PM
YY, Jomo....I truly miss you, guys!!!!! :-)
This thread's utterly hilarious! I was clapping my hands the whole time in glee. Laughed out so loud!!!! Hahahaha!
YY, Love at First Wash, hahaha! Gone with the Flush...waahhh! But I think I love Chlorox Love -- something so dangerous there and extremely sexy, hahaha!
And Grease? Hahaha! Will it evolve into a musical? Yey!
And I think Jomo's All You Need is Bleach will be the perfect OST for that, hahahaha!
I Saw Her Cleaning There...nice...isnt it kinda voyeur? hehehe...
More more suggestions, please!
What are they saying they are having probs with the title? They just have to peek in here to get loads of ideas LOL!
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24 Deeliteful
March 30, 2011 at 8:55 AM
Why dont they just use the politucally correct word then?
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25 MelMel13
March 30, 2011 at 9:00 AM
I think Maids is just too simple of a title and the writers should consider something more clever and attention grabbing.
Out of the ones listed House Queen seems like it's the one to be pick. It kind takes in the connotation of a female cleaning staff ruling over a bachelor household by keeping it functioning and then moving into a position where they're visibly the Queen (Lady) of the House by marrying him. still as sticky as Maids but doesn't use the word Maids.
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