Team Dramabeans AMA: All About Dramas (Part 1)
by DB Staff
You asked and we answered! Thanks to all the great questions you submitted, you can look forward to our responses in three separate posts over the next few weeks. Thanks again for participating, and we hope you have as much fun reading as we did writing.
Fine print: The idea behind this AMA post was for you to get to know the DB staff writers more, so we prioritized questions that leaned towards that. While we did our best to answer everything, similar questions were consolidated, and any of the more editorial questions were answered directly in the announcement post.
What’s your favorite classic K-drama?
missvictrix: It’s from 2003, but I think Summer Scent counts as a classic? It was one of the dramas that not only caused sleepless nights of binge-watching, but made me realize the beautiful gem that was Korean dramas. Summer Scent in particular is agonizingly slow, heavy on mood, melo, full of yearning, completely chaste, and utterly capable of capturing my entire heart.
lovepark: In terms of “classic,” probably Sandglass. I watched it years after it aired, and surprisingly, it lived up to its hype. Would I consider it one of my favorite dramas? Probably not, but it’s definitely worth a watch if you can find it.
tccolb: Having watched Into the Sunlight at an (ahem) impressionable age, I think it will always remain a favorite of mine. There are elements of the romance that didn’t land for me, but I love the story’s message of empowerment for the characters as they each learn to determine their own happiness in the world.
quirkycase: I’m going to go with Jewel in the Palace. Although it was a tad long – I rarely think a drama needs over 50 episodes – I stayed invested in Jang Geum’s journey as the first female royal physician. I think this was the first female-centered sageuk I watched, and it was nice to see a historical story where it wasn’t just men politicking.
DaebakGrits: I’m going to say Full House because it was my first K-drama, and I still have a lot of nostalgia for it. Plus, Rain is in it, and I adore him. ♥
Who’s your favorite K-drama actor/actress who disappeared from the spotlight (or retired)?
lovepark: This probably wasn’t the intention of the question, but I really miss Kim Joo-hyuk. May he rest in peace.
DaebakGrits: This one actually took a little bit of thought, so my answer isn’t so much my “favorite” as it’s the first actor I could remember. (Lol) But either way, I wish Kim Jae-won was still active. I can’t say that I enjoyed most of the dramas he starred in during the early-to-mid 2000s, but I always liked his acting and thought he had a very sweet smile. I’d love for him to make a comeback.
alathe: Kim Sang-joong absolutely blew me away in Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People! The number of tears that man made me cry was unreal – I had Spring in Ikhwari playing nonstop in my head for weeks after. He hasn’t been active for a few years now, but I should really watch more of his earlier stuff.
Do you have any favorite actors/actresses that haven’t quite made it big, but have tons of talent?
missvictrix: This is a slight permutation of the question, but I’ll argue Lee Chung-ah. Her claim to fame was the 2004 flick Temptation of Wolves, and though she had a few leading drama roles after that (like Flower Boy Ramyun Shop which is where she won me over forever), she never really “blew up” in terms of a leading lady. But I kind of love that? I don’t have any insight on her career, so I’m not sure if it was accidental, intentional, or unfortunate, but the result has been her taking on really interesting supporting roles. She’s fabulous in VIP.
lovepark: He isn’t an unknown actor by any means, but I wish Park Yong-woo would make it “bigger.” He’s super talented and consistently delivers phenomenal performances even if the material is lacking. His last drama was fun and I liked his recent movies, but overall, he picks a lot of mediocre projects. His most famous role was from a movie over a decade ago, so it’s about time he’s had a bigger break.
tccolb: I wish Yang Dong-geun was more popular, although he isn’t quite an unknown. He’s a phenomenal actor, but for various reasons his career took a dive after the acclaimed Ruler of Your Own World and he’s now mostly in supporting roles.
quirkycase: The first who comes to mind is Kim Seul-gi who I wish would get the chance for more leading roles. She’s one of those actresses who makes an impression, even in small roles. I’ve enjoyed her in everything I’ve seen her in, and I’d love to see more of her!
mistyisles: I feel like Im Joo-hwan keeps getting relegated to second lead or villain, other than a few leading roles early on. But I can definitely think of several supporting roles in which he outshined the actual leads, or could have if he’d been given more to work with. And then there’s Seo Ji-hoon, whose leading roles tend to be in dramas that just aren’t good…
solstices: Lee Jong-won! I used to watch a lot of web dramas, and it took me three different dramas before I realized that my favorite character in each one was played by the same actor, LOL. His versatility impressed me so much that I instantly became a fan, and I’m so proud to have watched him grow from web drama roles, to supporting roles in television dramas, to a second lead role in MBC’s Golden Spoon! His eyes are so emotive, and he portrays subtle vulnerability really well, such as his role of Hyo-seok in My Unfamiliar Family. (Also, honorable mentions to a few of my other favorites — Kim Sung-kyu, Choi Sung-eun, Seo Ji-hoon, and Shin Jae-ha!)
Unit: I don’t think Lee Jun-hyuk has made it “big” in dramaland yet. He is slightly underrated which is a shame because he’s really talented. And then there’s Kim Seul-gi who has been languishing in second lead and cameo territory for years now. She’s so, so good, and it has to be criminal that she hasn’t gotten her big break in lead roles yet. Sigh.
Dramaddictally: This doesn’t exactly fit the question, but I’m thinking of Park Jin-joo. It’s not that she hasn’t made it big — obviously she’s a known name — but she always plays a supporting role. I’d love to see her as a (very funny) leading lady.
alathe: I’m keeping an eye on Seo Hye-won – her work in Alchemy of Souls has been a joy to watch. That sunny smile! That wholly believable deviousness! Seeing her crop up unexpectedly in Extraordinary Attorney Woo was a delight: it was such a minor role, but she can really act. I would give a great deal to see her as a lead, or perhaps a main villain; I bet she’d absolutely nail it, especially if she were playing someone morally ambiguous.
Do you watch content from the smaller cable channels (OCN, Channel A, TV Chosun)? If so, what are some of your favorite dramas?
missvictrix: I don’t watch much from these networks, admittedly. I don’t think OCN has made anything I could get all the way through (too dark and gory), but I do enjoy the fare from Channel A, etc. I think Lies of Lies was my most recent watch, and I loved that thing straight through.
quirkycase: I’m a fan of darker, grittier fare, so it’s probably not surprising that I’ve watched a good amount of OCN dramas over the years. A few of my OCN favorites are Life on Mars, The Guest, and Save Me. I honestly don’t watch a ton of smaller cable channel dramas otherwise, but I did realize that I’ve seen a couple of MBN dramas that I enjoyed: Graceful Family and the 2011 musical drama What’s Up?.
mistyisles: I don’t pay a lot of attention to which dramas are from which network, but OCN is the exception, just because they have such a consistent type (and it’s one I tend to like!). Some of my favorites of theirs include Rescue Me, Life on Mars, Tunnel, and the multi-season God’s Quiz.
DaebakGrits: To be honest, I watch most of my dramas via streaming services, so I don’t pay close attention to the original network. If the story or cast interests me, I’ll check it out, and there have been quite a few dramas that I’ve enjoyed that originated on smaller networks, such as The Uncanny Counter, Tunnel, Bride of the Century, and Lies of Lies.
solstices: Yes, definitely! My favorite genre is crime mystery, so I end up watching a lot of OCN’s fare. My all-time favorite has to be The Guest, alongside Class of Lies, Strangers from Hell, and Tunnel. I also don’t pay that much attention to the broadcast network, so there are probably many more dramas that aren’t coming to mind right now!
Unit: Not really. But I did enjoy OCN’s Life on Mars and The Uncanny Counter.
alathe: Gotta say, I haven’t watched much from the above channels, which is a shame. However, my favorite recent small drama was Scripting Your Destiny on TVING – it was cute beyond words! Granted, it could have used a little more time to develop, but the concept was really evocative and the main couple had great chemistry.
Which drama do you wish didn’t exist?
missvictrix: Zero hesitation: Nevertheless.
tccolb: Melting Me Softly
quirkycase: Abyss. Park Bo-young is so much better than that mess of a drama that I regret finishing.
mistyisles: I still get angry when I see or hear any reference to The Crowned Clown.
DaebakGrits: Is it too soon to say Why Her? Haha. I’m sure there are probably worse offenders in dramaland, but I haven’t had enough time to purge Why Her? from my memory. It’s still a fresh wound.
solstices: I tend to drop dramas quite ruthlessly if they start spiraling into a trainwreck, so nothing immediately comes to mind, but I’m angry at all the dramas that wasted excellent actors in the lead role. Dark Hole? Oh! Master? *shakes fists*
Unit: Artificial City. I want my hours back!
Dramaddictally: There are a lot of bad dramas out there. But to say I wish a drama didn’t exist would have to be because it had some larger effect on dramaland, maybe changing the direction of the form. So, with that caveat in mind, I’m thinking Squid Game. Granted, I haven’t watched Squid Game. But it strikes me as having more in common with Korean films than with dramas. The popularity of the show worldwide has meant that more dramas are now being made in the same direction (violent, dark, gritty, allegorical). Its popularity has also meant it’s the first exposure many people had to K-dramas — and is sometimes the only entry point for a conversation about them — but it’s not representative of what I mean or what I want to talk about when I say Korean drama.
alathe: Again My Life feels almost like it was designed to irritate me, specifically. It had such potential – and yet!
What is the one drama that you LOVE, even with all its faults, and will still fight for?
missvictrix: There are so many! Some recent ones that come to mind: Secret Boutique (moody, longing, revenge!); Sunbae, Don’t Put on That Lipstick (this OTP didn’t get the love they deserved!); Imitation (my favorite crack drama of the decade); Sell Your Haunted House (just plain fun); and Graceful Friends (why will no one watch this fantastic thing!).
lovepark: There’s so many! I could talk about the criminally underrated Mixed-Up Investigative Agency or the equally overlooked Life Special Investigation Team. There’s also Kimchi Cheese Smile which isn’t objectively good but holds a special place in my heart alongside the other forgotten sitcom Elephant (if you want to see young Kim Soo-hyun with his naturally curly hair, go check out the former).
tccolb: People with Flaws wasn’t very popular for good reason. But in my head, it’s a story about family rather than romance and the relationship between the four siblings is what makes it a win for me.
mistyisles: City Hunter will probably always hold the honorary title of my favorite K-drama, even though I’m terrified to re-watch it for fear its flaws will stick out way more now that I have a much wider basis for comparison.
DaebakGrits: Hands down, The King: Eternal Monarch. Yeah, I know. I’m aware of allllllll its faults, but after you strip away the meh romance, the bad acting (Woo Do-hwan excluded), the weird Iron Man face mask PPL, the plot holes, and the bland ending, there’s an interesting story underneath. A better version of this drama that lives in my head, and maybe one day I’ll find the time to take the parts I enjoyed and turn it into a fanfiction. Of course, I’ll have to strip away so much that it might be an original at that point…
solstices: 365: Repeat the Year! It had such a strong ensemble cast, and I absolutely loved the camaraderie between Lee Jun-hyuk and Nam Ji-hyun. The mystery was so compelling, and I love how its layers were slowly peeled back to reveal the ugly — yet utterly human — sides to the characters. In the same vein, United Effort to Accomplish One Thing is a drama I have a soft spot for. I enjoyed the Agatha Christie feel to the mystery, and each character had their own distinct and compelling motivations. (Also, Kim Hye-joon and Choi Kyu-jin were so good in it!)
Unit: Boys Before Flowers, because it was my first official K-drama. I cringe and abuse the fast-forward button on my yearly rewatch, but the drama will always have a special place in my heart – spaghetti plate of tropes and all.
Dramaddictally: Flower Boy Ramyun Shop. This is a tough one because I tried to re-watch this recently and I was kind of ashamed of myself for continuing to have this on my favorite dramas list. The way the females (professional, educated, adult women) are treated in this show is… awful. And yet, friggin’ Cha Chi-soo! I can’t help but love the OTP (and Jung Il-woo) and how the ML ultimately sacrifices it all to go run a ramyun shop with the FL. She doesn’t need to be pulled up to his social status or forego her background like in so many dramas (of then or now). He’s crazy about her (in the boyish, high school way that makes sense for a high school boy). And then, he mans up to be with her.
alathe: I might as well reveal myself to be a Hong sisters apologist to the bone. I’ll defend A Korean Odyssey to death and back, uneven ending and all. The entire cast was just so endearing! I was on board with its hauntingly beautiful love story every step of the way – not to mention, thoroughly charmed by the standout supporting performance from Lee Se-young. And the soundtrack…! To this day, those songs have the ability to scoop out my heart like an avocado pit. (A weird simile that I also stand by!)
Do you dabble in Asian dramas outside of Korea? If so, what are your favorites?
missvictrix: Taiwanese dramas, YES, because I have an incurable Marcus Chang crush. See: Behind Your Smile. Ridiculous, frustrating, full of endless squees.
lovepark: Unfortunately, I haven’t seen that many Asian dramas outside of Korea (I could probably count the number on one hand). I have, though, watched quite a few Asian movies and have consumed way too much anime.
quirkycase: I actually watch a lot, so I’ll try to keep it to my top pick for each country. My top Taiwanese drama has to be Someday or One Day. I don’t watch a lot of Thai dramas but I’ve seen a handful, and I Told Sunset About You is a great one. As for Chinese dramas, it’s a tie between The Bad Kids because it’s freaking fantastic and The Untamed because, yes, I got swept up into the madness and do not regret it. I watch a fair amount of Japanese dramas, and one of my all-time favorite rom-coms is the ‘90s gem Long Vacation which has one of my favorite meet-cutes ever. On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, I loved Saka no Tochu no Ie which is a powerful exploration of societal acts of violence against women.
DaebakGrits: I actually discovered K-dramas by way of Japanese and Chinese dramas! I’ll go into more detail about my origin story in Part 2 of the AMA, but for now, some of my favorites are: Someday or One Day (Taiwan), It Started with a Kiss (Taiwan), Smiling Pasta (Taiwan), Love O2O (China, and prefer the movie version over the drama), Le Coup de Foudre (China), Maiden Holms (China), Hana-Kimi (Japan, 2007 version), and H2 (Japan).
solstices: I’ve watched a fair bit of anime and donghua, but I haven’t ventured that far into other Asian dramas yet. So I don’t particularly have any favorites, but I’m currently watching the Japanese drama Gokusen with a friend, and we’re planning on watching the xianxia novel adaptation Word of Honor next!
Unit: I enjoy watching Chinese dramas, as they make for a good binge since they release so many episodes at once. The Story of Yanxi Palace is my all time favorite C-drama. One and Only, Arsenal Military Academy and The Day of Becoming You are some other favs of mine.
Dramaddictally: I am mostly passionate about Korean dramas. But I have dabbled in Japanese dramas. The latest one I liked was Three Star Bar in Nishi Ogikubo, a quiet show about three friends running a bar who give life advice to a new customer each episode. It had a surprising number of deep one-liners for being kind of cheesy overall. Also, I learned that you can get Wagyu in a can! Who wouldn’t want their expensive beef ready-to-eat and on the go?
alathe: So, I have watched plenty of anime, but not so many (non-Korean) dramas! That said, earlier this year, the Chinese drama The Untamed completely stole my heart. Those characters and their gorgeous moral turmoil left such an impression on me. I’m very keen to learn more about the xianxia genre!
What do you enjoy the most from the current K-drama offerings?
missvictrix: Dramaland is losing a lot of its old flavor (more on that in the following question) but what we are gaining — more and more — is just amazing production quality. There are some recent dramas that are just so masterfully made, directed, edited… they’re a feast for the eyes from an aesthetic perspective, and I love it. But also… choppy cuts and bad sound editing and redundant scenes are my friend.
lovepark: Movie-exclusive actors debuting/returning to the small screen. It’s given a chance for some of my favorite actors to shine, even though I do miss seeing them in movies. Specifically, I never thought I would see Jung Jae-young in a drama, but lo and behold, he has already starred in five of them.
tccolb: From a practical standpoint, I like that K-dramas are now easily accessible on streaming platforms and we don’t have to spend as much time and effort securing a source. At least, for the most part because why Disney, why.
quirkycase: The variety – there’s just so much content and more experimentation. I can usually find something for whatever mood I’m in, and since I’m a mood watcher, that’s a big plus. I’m also a huge fan of the short drama, so I appreciate that not all dramas are locked into a 16-episode minimum these days.
mistyisles: The production quality really has gotten so good. I feel like “Wow, it’s so pretty!” is one of my first impressions for almost every new show I start, which definitely wasn’t always the case before (speaking of the cinematography, not the cast, of course!).
DaebakGrits: The cinematography. It’s almost physically painful on the eyes to go back and watch some of the older dramas for the Friday Flashback feature. The camera angles and lighting were atrocious, and many dramas went through this awkward phase of zooming in super-duper close to actors’ faces. Nowadays, though, not only has the equipment and technology gotten better, but there is more artistry in the shots. Even a small little series like Dear X Who Doesn’t Love Me had some gorgeous camera angles and framing.
solstices: Apart from the shorter episode counts and gorgeous cinematography, which my fellow recappers have already mentioned, I like that the growing popularity of K-dramas opens up new doors. Numerous musical actors have dabbled in K-dramas to expand their repertoire, and as an avid K-musical fan, I love that I can see a different aspect to their acting. Some of my favorite musical actors have already made a name for themselves in the drama realm, such as Lee Kyu-hyung, Shin Sung-rok, Jo Seung-woo, and Cha Ji-yeon. And others are slowly but steadily gaining more recognition through the small screen, such as Choi Jae-woong, Kang Young-seok, and the stunningly charismatic Kim Hieora.
Unit: For one, I like that a number of dramas these days are adopting a shorter episode count. There’s less time for fillers and derailment of the plot. Also, with the new players coming onboard the streaming scene, writers and directors are free to experiment with different genres and storylines without the rigidness of traditional broadcasting rules.
Dramaddictally: Gender norms have changed quite a bit in the last few years. I mostly watch romance dramas and relationships are feeling more balanced with each new crop. In 2021, it was really notable to me — there were a slew of agentic female characters written with nuance who pursued their sense of self as they pursued what they were looking for in love. And the male characters have changed even more than the women. They’ve come a long way from dragging their romantic interests around by the wrist and yelling to show affection. They’re no longer the only ones initiating intimacy (and I can’t remember the last time I saw a dead-fish kiss). My favorite thing about this shift is not just that the traditional roles have changed, it’s also that the problems have become more complicated and thus more relatable. K-dramas still give me the escapism I’m looking for, but the realistic relationship highs and lows make the unrealistic endings even more satisfying.
alathe: Okay, so I’ll admit, I’m not hugely familiar with classic K-drama, so I probably have less basis for comparison. However, the one thing that drew me to K-drama in the first place was its focus on characterization. I adore a complex, in-depth romance story spanning epic proportions! Meanwhile, there’s some wonderfully creative experimentation with fantasy genres going on right now.
What do you miss the most from the good old days of dramas?
missvictrix: My favorite thing about old/classic dramas is that they move slow and don’t care if you get bored. They have a story to tell, and you will sit there and watch it. Also, I sometimes miss the super family-friendly dramas that left most everything up to your imagination. That kiss was better in your head, anyway.
tccolb: I miss the sitcoms. The formulaic stories, the cringe and camp — I lapped that stuff up. Although we still get the odd sitcom here and there, now, they used to have a regular timeslot with major broadcasters back in ye olde days.
quirkycase: There’s a certain winsome charm to old-school dramas that rarely comes along these days. And that crack factor – there are so many old-school dramas I binged in a worryingly short time, and half the time I didn’t even know if I liked the drama! I’m not totally sure what makes a drama addictive, but I feel like that special sauce is in shorter supply.
mistyisles: Maybe it’s just the way I interact with K-dramas that has changed, but these days it’s rare for me to be so wholly invested in a drama that I just can’t wait for the next episode and am constantly thinking about it throughout the week. Now, even ones that I LOVE don’t often give me that sense of urgency to binge watch or devour the next episode as soon as it’s available.
Unit: I miss the good old days of pure innocence when I had to wait about 12 episodes for the leads to kiss. Lol. Deer-in-the-headlights kinda kisses were pretty much the standard back then, but they were so rewarding to watch. Admittedly, I never want those kisses to return, but it was good while it lasted.
Dramaddictally: Predictability. It’s true that many dramas are still predictable — we’ve seen enough to know the tropes and hang-ups and where a drama is about to go wrong. But a certain kind of cozy predictability is missing from newer shows. My answer above about gender norms is a good example. As much as I like the new cohort of female characters and the way their arcs play out against the new male archetypes, I also miss knowing exactly how a happy ending will unfold.
Also: dramas without crime plots or serial killers. What is going on.
Do you have a wishlist of drama pairings that you’d like to see onscreen? In which genre?
missvictrix: I don’t have a dream pairing, actually, but I’m very good at “replacement” casting – i.e., when a drama’s lead has been miscast, and in your head you know exactly the actor they should have chosen instead. (Recent example: I wanted to see Shin Hye-sun in Oh Yeon-seo’s Cafe Minamdang role. Then maybe I coulda finished it.)
lovepark: Where do I start? My number one dream pair is Park Hee-soon and Jung Jae-young playing friends or family members — they can’t be enemies (I want a bromance). Everyone keeps confusing the two of them in real life, so the meta-jokes just write themselves at this point. While they have acted together before, it was earlier in their careers (i.e., less famous), and the movie wasn’t their best to put it mildly.
tccolb: I don’t have a list, so I’ve been scrolling through the celeb page and have been wondering about a Park Eun-bin and D.O. pairing? Other interesting possibilities are Han Ye-ri with Lee Soo-hyuk, and Seo Hyun-jin with Lee Jun-hyuk.
mistyisles: I don’t have a running list at the moment, but any time I’ve thought about dream pairings in the past, it’s always been non-romantic — just actors I’d enjoy watching interact onscreen as friends or enemies (or frenemies, or family). For example, it’s a repeat pairing, but Jung-Kyung-ho and Park Sung-woong are so much fun together. Additionally, I always enjoy seeing real-life friends act together, like Song Joong-ki and Lee Kwang-soo or the cast of Coffee Friends.
DaebakGrits: Weirdly, I’ve never actually thought about this before, but I’d like to see Yoo Yeon-seok (my favorite actor) with Choi Soo-young, who I really liked in Run On. I feel like the two of them could vibe well together… assuming it wouldn’t be awkward for Yeon-seok to be paired up with the girlfriend of his former co-star/friend Jung Kyung-ho. Heh.
solstices: Kim Nam-gil and Kim Jae-wook, since both possess a natural gravitas that lends itself well to the crime genre — I want to see them play a detective-prosecutor pair like in Forest of Secrets. Alternatively, Jo Seung-woo and Shin Sung-rok, because it’d be fascinating to watch two acting powerhouses go head-to-head, especially with their subtle microexpressions and theatrical flair. I’m curious to see how they’d do in a sageuk epic, or in a morally complex thriller like Beyond Evil. Also, I want a drama centered around Bae Doo-na, Kim Hye-soo, Shin Hye-sun, and Han Ye-ri, because they’re all absolutely phenomenal at conveying nuanced portrayals, and I think it’d be interesting to see them in a slice-of-life or an artistic indie film.
Unit:
Kim Soo-hyun × Shin Hye-sun in a rom-com
Kim Soo-hyun × Kim Tae-ri in a melo (bring on those tearsss!!!)
Kim Soo-hyun × IU in anything. It’s about time these two reunite as the OTP in a drama.
Kim Min-jae × Kim So-hyun in a college themed drama
Dramaddictally: I pretty much want to see Junho on my screen every second of every day, so this is really a question of who do I want to see him onscreen with. After the rapport between him and Kang Hanna in Just Between Lovers, I’ve always wanted to watch them together as an OTP. Also, anyone who’s ever seen Junho and Suzy dance together has probably thought about how they’d do as a drama couple. I’d definitely watch their rom-com.
alathe: Okay, so, here’s my thinking. After seeing him act his socks off in so many supporting roles, I would love to see Kang Ki-young as the lead in pretty much anything. Can you imagine what a great comedy duo he and Shin Hye-sun would make? That said, looking at some of the other answers, her schedule might be a little packed…! (And no wonder; she’s incredible.) In the event of availability issues, let’s bring in Hwang Jung-eum and pair them in a light fantasy rom-com – see if we can get more of that Mystic Pop-Up Bar energy going.
RELATED POSTS
- Team Dramabeans: Staff AMA – Submit your questions!
- [Staff Spotlight] Get to know alathe
- [Staff Spotlight] Get to know Dramaddictally
- [Staff Spotlight] Get to know Unit
- [Staff Spotlight] Get to know solstices
- [Staff Spotlight] Get to know DaebakGrits
- [Staff Spotlight] Get to know mistyisles
- [Staff Spotlight] Get to know quirkycase
- [Staff Spotlight] Get to know tccolb
- [Staff Spotlight] Get to know missvictrix
Tags: featured2, Staff Spotlight
Required fields are marked *
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
1 Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️ Underpants buddies for life. 😎
August 30, 2022 at 10:39 AM
Thanks for this great response to our questions. It gave me ideas of dramas to watch and actors to look out for. Loving Unit’s answer to pairings with one male lead being linked to the different actresses I wonder who her favourite male lead might be 🤣
Required fields are marked *
Unit
August 30, 2022 at 1:50 PM
I wonder too.😉
Required fields are marked *
2 halofan68
August 30, 2022 at 10:40 AM
I just finished re-watching Hur Jun and Hur Jun, The Original Story back-to-back; RIP, Kim Joo-hyuk, indeed.
As for unloved gems, no Kdrama fits this description more aptly than A Piece of Your Mind -- to me, this one deserves pantheon status.
Dream casting: Kim Myung-Min and Sang Kang-Ho in a Trading Places type of class satire; Bae Doona and Han Ye-Ri as rival scheming queens/consorts; and please, please, please a new bio-series about Admiral Yi Sun-Sin, preferably with Ji Jin-Hee.
Required fields are marked *
jerrykuvira
August 30, 2022 at 10:52 AM
Ji Jin Hee as Yi Sun-sin. Oh no! I don't want him running around in his next project. His muscles needs some needed rest.
Required fields are marked *
3 jerrykuvira
August 30, 2022 at 10:49 AM
Kang Ki-young and Shin Hye-sun in a fantasy rom-com. Laughter will never leave the building. That's a sure thing.
Are the casting directors looking at the pairings we have up here. I'd like to watch all of solstices pairings.
Who doesn't like The Crowned Clown? 😅. It was so good.
Dropping Artificial City is something I'll not regret despite waiting for Soo Ae's comeback.
Reading through all your answers was fun and insightful db staff.
Required fields are marked *
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
August 30, 2022 at 2:34 PM
Who doesn't like The Crowned Clown? 😅. It was so good.
👀👀👀
Guess who! Yeah it's me again... :P "Doesn't like" is tame compared to my feelings toward that drama 😆
Required fields are marked *
jerrykuvira
August 30, 2022 at 2:53 PM
You say what? Tame. Oh no! No no no. Be gone! Please😆.
Required fields are marked *
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
August 30, 2022 at 3:20 PM
🤭🤭 It may be my most hated drama...
but don't worry, I will begone now; Birthday Shenanigans await, none of which need any more attention spent on that curséd thing more than necessary :P
Required fields are marked *
4 FiyaShady
August 30, 2022 at 11:06 AM
Nice reading about team DB. Totally can relate and agree with many of you.
Dream casting for me (for this, I will just focus on my recent bae):
- Lee Jae Wook x Moon Ga Young (not sure which genre as I never watch any of her work): Gummy Smile couple
- Lee Jae Wook x Seo Ye Ji (need another taller actress apart from Lee Sung Kyung): Smiling Eyes couple
-Lee Jae Wook x Kim Se Jeong (or any brilliantly-acting idol actress) for dark theme.
Required fields are marked *
sunnysaturdays
August 30, 2022 at 2:09 PM
I am so down for a LJW and MGY team up.
Required fields are marked *
5 miso
August 30, 2022 at 11:11 AM
This was a lot of fun to read. Feels like we're getting to be (online) friends with the DB staff!
Loved the answers to the underrated actors and dream pairings in particular. I feel like we often are blown away by some performances and then can't understand why everyone else doesn't feel the same way. That said, Kim Nam-gil and Kim Jae-wook together would blow me away - truly a dream pairing @solstices!
Required fields are marked *
FiyaShady
August 30, 2022 at 12:02 PM
Yeah for both Kims. If not in dramaland, let's hope they can meet in Chungmuro!
Required fields are marked *
miso
August 30, 2022 at 12:19 PM
Fingers crossed 🤞
Required fields are marked *
solstices
August 31, 2022 at 5:37 AM
Truly! May the casting gods please grant our wish~😆
Required fields are marked *
Diana Hansen
August 31, 2022 at 9:27 AM
i'll vote as many times as i can get away with for Kim Nam-gil and KIm Jae-wook! and all of units pairings and i won't go on cause there are too many needing to be produced.
Required fields are marked *
I ♥️ bad dramas
October 6, 2022 at 6:45 AM
They acted together in the 2010 drama Bad Guy.
Required fields are marked *
6 Nefret
August 30, 2022 at 11:31 AM
@dramaddictally
Interesting point about SQUID GAME, as it was this series that led me to KDramas. Not because I loved SQUID GAME so much that I wanted more, but because Netflix's algorithm struck and suggested several Korean dramas to me. I was bored and OH, MY VENUS sounded interesting. After that, I was interested in watching more. That's why when I'm asked what my first KDrama was, I don't answer SQUID GAME, but OH, MY VENUS.
Required fields are marked *
Ally
August 30, 2022 at 4:32 PM
Lol. My PA asked me if I’d seen Squid game today because he knows I watch kdramas. And I said no. He loved it too.
Required fields are marked *
Dramaddictally
August 30, 2022 at 11:04 PM
Oh interesting. In that case, it might be having better effects than I imagined. (I love Oh My Venus, BTW)
Required fields are marked *
OldLawyer
September 1, 2022 at 10:33 AM
OH MY VENUS was really good.
Required fields are marked *
7 Midnight
August 30, 2022 at 11:45 AM
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE CLASSIC K-DRAMA?
Dae Jang Geum
WHO’S YOUR FAVORITE K-DRAMA ACTOR/ACTRESS WHO DISAPPEARED FROM THE SPOTLIGHT (OR RETIRED)?
Jae Hee
DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVORITE ACTORS/ACTRESSES THAT HAVEN’T QUITE MADE IT BIG, BUT HAVE TONS OF TALENT?
Agree very much with @mistyisles Im Ju Hwan
DO YOU WATCH CONTENT FROM THE SMALLER CABLE CHANNELS (OCN, CHANNEL A, TV CHOSUN)? IF SO, WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE DRAMAS?
I do, though I usually don't notice the channel, except when it is OCN.
WHICH DRAMA DO YOU WISH DIDN’T EXIST?
@dramaddictally agree with every word you've written on Squid Game.
WHAT IS THE ONE DRAMA THAT YOU LOVE, EVEN WITH ALL ITS FAULTS, AND WILL STILL FIGHT FOR?
Wild Romance
Also @solstices I LOVE 365 Days, and LOVED what you wrote about it!
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST FROM THE CURRENT K-DRAMA OFFERINGS?
The thrill, the cinematography, the acting
WHAT DO YOU MISS THE MOST FROM THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF DRAMAS?
Young actors and actresses looked different from each other and each had unique memorable facial features that you could easily remember when they started to make it big. Nowadays they all look the same.
Required fields are marked *
Midnight
August 30, 2022 at 11:49 AM
Also, I loved reading this post. Thank you @db-staff
Required fields are marked *
solstices
August 31, 2022 at 5:38 AM
Yay, more love for 365!🥰
Required fields are marked *
8 owl 🦉 🫰
August 30, 2022 at 11:52 AM
Wow, that was really fun to read! I agree with quiekycase about the crack factor of some drama past is missing these days. (Or is it because we’ve changed in how dramas affect us?) For example, I can remember rewatching eps 1 and 2 of Faith while waiting for ep 3, then rewatching eps 1, 2, and 3 while waiting for ep 4, and so on. I don’t find myself doing that these days because that same feeling of anticipation isn’t as strong. Is is me or is it the dramas?
Required fields are marked *
anniemo
August 30, 2022 at 3:11 PM
It's the dramas. Sadly, I think the feeling is too universal for it to be us. I don't think I've watched obsessively like that since 2016 or 17... sigh, I miss it.
Required fields are marked *
owl 🦉 🫰
August 30, 2022 at 3:50 PM
You’re right. It is an oft heard comment, it’s true.
Required fields are marked *
9 Kurama
August 30, 2022 at 12:32 PM
Thank you for your answers! It was really fun and interesting to read!
@missvictrix Sunbae, Don’t Put on That Lipstick (this OTP didn’t get the love they deserved!) I loved reading your weecap for this drama. It was really fun!
Required fields are marked *
missvictrix
August 30, 2022 at 1:35 PM
IT WAS! Dang that Rowoon
Required fields are marked *
Ally
August 30, 2022 at 4:34 PM
My facebook kdrama group loved SDPOTL. Rowoon was so adorable.
Required fields are marked *
owl 🦉 🫰
August 30, 2022 at 9:26 PM
Rowoon is swoony!
Required fields are marked *
10 💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
August 30, 2022 at 2:30 PM
You are my soulmate LMAO.
Required fields are marked *
mistyisles
August 30, 2022 at 5:06 PM
Lol I’m glad I’m not alone. 🖤
Required fields are marked *
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
August 31, 2022 at 1:31 AM
We stand firm and strong!
Required fields are marked *
11 anniemo
August 30, 2022 at 2:32 PM
Me too on City Hunter, mistyisles, me too. In my heart of hearts, I think I love Healer more now, but I avoid watching City Hunter to allow myself to believe that I still love my early favorite *nearly* as much. I'm perfectly happy with that bubble never being burst...
Required fields are marked *
mistyisles
August 30, 2022 at 5:07 PM
Exactly! Right there with you on Healer, too.
Required fields are marked *
owl 🦉 🫰
August 30, 2022 at 9:33 PM
I really think if Netflix picked up City Hunter it would be a bigger hit than Squid Game.
Required fields are marked *
12 Tizzy
August 30, 2022 at 4:20 PM
Really enjoyed this! But next time can you tackle just a couple of questions at a time? It’s easier for us to comment and we will stay on topic. We want more…
Required fields are marked *
13 Ally
August 30, 2022 at 4:31 PM
I learned a lot here! Me thinks I should pick up an early 2000’s drama! And the actor actress pairings were also nice! I think YYS and Soo-young would be great too! Just not in something like Warm and Cozy. Something more chaotic— like Goob Job! A mystery caper! I’d watch the heck out of them in that. 😆
Required fields are marked *
beffels
August 30, 2022 at 9:53 PM
No one should ever be in anything like Warm and Cozy 😅
Required fields are marked *
Ally
August 30, 2022 at 9:59 PM
Truth
Required fields are marked *
abalyn
August 31, 2022 at 9:37 PM
The best part of the show was the how-to-recipe cooking at the end. It was the only part that was actually Warm and Cozy.
Required fields are marked *
14 bbstl 🧹
August 30, 2022 at 4:51 PM
What fun! I laughed, I sighed, I pounded the table in agreement! Thanks to you all 💐💐💐 for this and for keeping Beaniedom fun!
Required fields are marked *
15 panshel
August 30, 2022 at 8:01 PM
Always. That's why you should never have expectations because you'll be disappointed every time.
Required fields are marked *
Midnight
August 30, 2022 at 8:19 PM
Exactly.
Required fields are marked *
16 loveblossom🌸
August 30, 2022 at 9:14 PM
This was a cool read, thanks for sharing!
I have similar feelings as mistyisles and quirkycase about old dramas and the lack of a crack factor or urgency with some dramas nowadays.
I haven't binge-watched in a while.... like I can only do 1-2 episodes a day instead of several hours in one night. There's also SO many dramas available now. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed about what to watch and sometimes I'm distracted with other hobbies. XD
Required fields are marked *
17 emsel
August 31, 2022 at 12:52 AM
@daebakgrits Lol at the tremendous annoyance we have for "Why Her?"
@dramaddictally you very well summed up the dislike for "Squid Game" by long term Kdrama fans.
@solstices Many of the beanies loved "365: Repeat the Year!" and "United Effort to Accomplish One Thing (or Chip In)" so, I don't think you would have to fight for it ;)
@unit I see, you are not being subtle with your love for Kim Soo Hyun and this makes me wonder why your profile pic is Shin Min Ah ( I know you explained about your profile pic in Spotlight, but was there no similar KSH pics :p )
Required fields are marked *
solstices
August 31, 2022 at 5:45 AM
Haha, that's true! ;) I just think they deserve more love😛
Required fields are marked *
Unit
August 31, 2022 at 6:16 AM
I'm actually trying to be subtle (and failing miserably at it) about my love for KSH. Hehe.
Btw, my profile pic is Ok Ja-yeon's character in Mine, not SMA.
Required fields are marked *
18 mmmmm
August 31, 2022 at 2:05 AM
Dear DB staff, thank you so much for such a fun post! I feel like I'm getting to know some of you more (the way I get to know more about each Beanie's preferences and takes on things).
First and foremost, I so agree with @dramaddictally on Squid Game. I have never watched it either, but I always feel like it has something to do with so many violent and gore Kdramas that we have these days. I miss the old days when I could watch plenty of light and fluff, light-hearted fun Kdramas without thinking much about who is going to kill who, and how will a detective find out who is the murderer after all. I can't quite believe people enjoy watching these dramas to be completely honest. Moreover, I WONDER how writers come up with these violent and scary plots..
And I agree that TKEM will be one among many (e.g., Chocolate, Start-Up) that I will fight for despite all its faults. I just LOVED it. It was the right time, right thing thing. And yes I'm a mood watcher, so nothing can strip away my undying love for The King Eternal PPL, not even, as you called it, the Iron Man face mask.
And @missvictrix nailed it when she said she missed how slow-paced dramas were.. and yes they didn't really care how you felt and you would have to wait for them anyway! 😂 I guess competition wasn't so high those days, and things moved in a much slower pace. I, personally, think that that is the way to go; nowadays, things move TOO fast and that's not good for anyone. I miss the slowness.. and how funny.. I miss the time when there weren't so many dramas to choose from. I think I enjoyed each more and for a longer time than the numerous amount of Kdramas we have today. I think there is a word for this - being exhausted from having too many options to choose from. Anyway, I don't remember what it's called.
Required fields are marked *
mmmmm
August 31, 2022 at 2:08 AM
I forgot to tag @daebakgrits for her undying love for TKEM.
Required fields are marked *
Diana Hansen
August 31, 2022 at 9:34 AM
boy do i agree with you! thanks for your opinion. it hits home to me
Required fields are marked *
Dramaddictally
August 31, 2022 at 11:09 AM
I also feel burned out from too many dramas to choose from. I agree with you so much about enjoying them more when there were less options.
Required fields are marked *
19 PYC
August 31, 2022 at 7:33 AM
A big shout out to the DB team!! I read and nod throughout - thankyou and thankyou.
Required fields are marked *
20 Healer’s
August 31, 2022 at 10:32 PM
Thanks DB team for an interesting post. Loved to read your responses.
My fav classic K-drama will always be "All about Eve".
I don't watch many Asian dramas outside Korean ones, but recently I have a crush on Zhang Han and his expressive eyes.
Required fields are marked *
21 merry
September 1, 2022 at 1:34 AM
it is so nice knowing our staff writers through these questions. Yay, missvictrix on Imitation. The actors I'm missing aside from Kim Seul-gi are Jung Eun-ji (she was good in Reply 1997) and Shim Eun Kyung (Ms Granny; forgettable in Naeil Cantabile; last seen in Money Game). Classic for me would be aside from Dae Jang Geum and Jumong. I watched them much later than when they first showed.
Required fields are marked *
22 BedeliaJane
September 1, 2022 at 8:34 AM
Kang Ki-young and Shin Hye-sun! Yeah, that'd be a great pairing! The only drama which I know offhand that they were in together is High School King Of Savvy!
Look, they're in the same frame here!
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/uu26/dramabeans/drama/2014/Savvy/Savvy_17/savvy17-00157.jpg
(From dramabeans' ep 17 recap)
Required fields are marked *
23 OldLawyer
September 1, 2022 at 10:48 AM
Dramaddictally's point about SQUID GAME having been an unfortunate introduction of K-dramas for the rest of the world was spot on. Fortunately. EXTRAORDINARY ATTORNEY WOO was an extraordinary second act to follow it: On Netflix its final episode was watched by 77,480,000 people. To put this into perspective- that is 1 and a half times the population of the ROK. It is also represents 1% of every living person on the planet. So the original misimpression given by SQUID GAME has now probably been overcome.
I also have a retired actress who is deeply missed- Han Groo, whose final lead role was the FL in MARRIAGE, NOT DATING. She is only 30 or 31 years old and her twins are now five years old- surely, she could come back. Please. She was a comic genius.
And I have a show I love despite its one totally unnecessary flaw: BACKSTREET ROOKIE. The annoying side character was absolutely not needed for the story- and was obviously kept in order to be faithful to the Manwha. But what works in a Manwha does not necessarily work in a drama. A little pruning was in order here- and this gem of a drama would have been perfect with a little editing up front. But flaw aside, this was a great story about family and the ethics of dating.
Required fields are marked *
24 knewbie
September 3, 2022 at 4:01 AM
@lovepark I couldn't agree more about Park Yong-woo. Is Blood Rain the film you're referring to, by any chance? Such a strange and tortured film, like a Joseon-era cross between Fincher's Seven and Scorsese's Silence. But I think his extraordinary supporting performance in that film might have been eclipsed by his lead role in the much more successful dark rom-com My Scary Girl, leading to more lightweight parts.
@tccolb My mum hates pretty boys, so she thought Yang Dong-geun in Ruler of Your Own World was the absolute bee's knees. Can I recommend the film The Wolf Returns, in which YDG, Hwang Jung-min, a wild boar, a pretty white dog and the eponymous wolf get up to all kinds of hilarious hi-jinks in Gangwon-do.
Required fields are marked *
lovepark
September 4, 2022 at 3:16 AM
I think both movies are pretty integral to his career, though as you mentioned, My Scary Girl is definitely more his remembered role. I actually like him in comedies and think some of his lightweight parts were fun, but didn't help his career. My guess is that his biggest detractor is simply box office success. He lacks pull with the audiences, and even as a fan, I think a lot of the movies he chose range from average to bad. (He does have a few gems though!)
Required fields are marked *
25 kiara
September 27, 2022 at 11:39 AM
Comment was deleted
Required fields are marked *