My interested article for this week was all about the current trend of K-drama production and it's schedule due to this week's prime-time Kdrama schedule on TV/non-streaming format that was rarely, completely emptied the Wed.-Thurs. slot for the first time.
https://koalasplayground.com/2024/03/14/established-drama-lead-actors-and-actress-discuss-lack-of-script-offers-and-drastic-drop-off-in-k-dramas-being-produced-in-2024-so-far/
My interested detail was that during 2023/last year, there was 250 filmed Kdrama productions but there was unfortunate apparent backlog with only 100+ Kdramas that left to be unreleased or still shopping either to broadcasting TV networks or to streaming platforms (Netflix/Disney+/TVING/Prime Video/Coupang Play/Paramount+). By 2024, only about 40+ Kdramas on deck to be filming. I knew that the backlog also included the two highly anticipated Kdramas that still waited too long: Ask the Stars and Kdrama related to BTS, Youth, which was slated to be released on Web 3.0 only. The current Kdrama schedule for KBS was one Mon.-Tues. Kdrama, daily soap and the weekend drama, while the current Kdrama schedule for MBC was daily soap and the only one weekend Kdrama. The SBS current Kdrama schedule was only one weekend drama. The current ENA Kdrama schedule was only a Mon.-Tues. Kdrama slot. TVN already stopped producing Kdrama for Wed.-Thurs. slot last year, but the current Kdrama schedule was now only two Kdramas (one for Mon.-Tues. slot and the other one was for the weekend slot). JTBC's Kdrama schedule was only one weekend Kdrama. So waiting for next month on April 13 for only MBN's weekend drama was sageuk drama Missing Crown Prince starring Suho. So long, OCN and I don't think if Channel A will not produce Kdrama anymore after Man and Woman became one of the lowest-rated Kdramas ever.

The South Korean government’s decision to add 2,000 new openings in medical school admissions has caused chaos both in the medical and academic fields. It is not a solution to alleviate the immediate needs of medically underserved or specialty areas, claims policy protesters. Despite fierce opposition, South Korea’s 40 medical schools have collectively requested an increase in the annual student quota by 3,401 starting in 2025. This figure is 70 percent higher than the planned increase of 2,000 students.

The interns, residents and physicians walkout has entered its fourth week. Students are leaving classrooms, and medical professors are quitting in droves in a show of protest, which the Yoon Suk Yeol government sees as collective action that breaches medical law and holds people’s lives and health hostage. Many hospitals have stopped treating patients or sending them to other facilities to get urgent care, but care may not be available at that location. Medical care is now worse than during Covid.

As a consequence, authorities have started taking legal steps against trainee doctors who refused to heed return-to-work orders, such as by moving to suspend their licenses for at least three months. Police have also opened investigations against five former and incumbent Korean Medical Association executives for allegedly aiding and abetting junior doctors’ collective resignations. Public sentiment has not been supportive of the doctors’ actions, with some criticizing them for allegedly abandoning their Hippocratic oath.

The problem is that adding more students and new doctors does not mean that they will go to rural areas to practice medicine, or deal with declining practice areas such as pediatrics, emergency care and obstetrics. New doctors want to go where the money is: dermatology and plastic surgery. Further, professors are upset that the student work load would double - - - while they have their own full-time medical practices.

While South Korea provides universal healthcare through the national insurance service run by the health ministry, and service fees strictly regulated; more than 90 per cent of hospitals and clinics are privately owned so many doctors open their own practices that deal with non-state covered (PRIVATE PAY) procedures, which would include medical tourism.

I don't understand business so I really can't understand why the drama industry is shrinking due to streaming platforms or paid channels.

I thought in addition to original dramas, streaming platforms bought the rights or whatever to show old shows as well as currently airing shows. So wouldn't it make sense for there to be more dramas in the works to give more options amongst the different platforms and stations?

I saw an AllKPop post that was about actors feeling stressed because the drama industry is shrinking and they aren't being offered projects. One guy was like he would even take supporting role (or support to the support) as long as the project was good but he can't even get that. Another actor said they were going to school to certified so they could get a side job in skincare.

I think the acting industry is messed up around the world but I don't understand it.

So only the REALLY bankable actors can get acting jobs?

I wonder if drama actors would move into theater work but then that would push out theater actors. Ahh, I don't know! I don't understand.

I put together a file of churches, priests, shamans, exorcists, monks, etc.
if you have something to add tell me under this post

https://www.canva.com/design/DAF_lKnEqd4/S8lS4WloXCjvQVSBNvZa6g/edit?utm_content=DAF_lKnEqd4&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

happy open thread.

TALES FROM 9TAILEDVIXEN'S "BUSY BEE" WEEK:

1. Aerial Yoga Progress Report

I can now do my first beginner's Yoga pose (albeit shakily). HURRAH!

It's not one of those acrobatic moves but I am very proud of myself because it's not easy to push against the silks to open them up while my legs are screaming at the tremendous stretching to keep them straight while I hang off one end.

My arms hurt like the devil this week.

2. Getting "Itchy" Feet

It's been a hectic week as I countdown to my upcoming travels that will kick off at the end of this month. If it's not one thing, it's another.

PSA to anyone considering flying Emirates Airlines - They are the only full-service international airline that allows their Economy class passengers to only take ONE piece of carry-on luggage with them. No personal items allowed which means that you'll have to pack your laptop/handbag/umbrella/coat into your carry-on luggage or risk having to shell out a tidy sum for "Excess baggage".

I am NOT impressed, especially as this is the first time I am flying with them and most other airlines allow you one cabin luggage and one personal item. Packing my handbag into my cabin luggage makes no sense since I - like most women - carry my passport, purse and tickets in my handbag.

3. This week in Korean Women's News:

‘Not brainwashed robots’: North Korea’s ‘strong, creative and resilient’ women

A photo exhibition in Sydney depicts the changing roles of North Korean women. Academics trace how women in the authoritarian state transitioned from traditional roles to breadwinners spurred by the famine of the mid-1990s. More than 80 per cent of North Korean defectors are women.

https://www.sbs.com.au/language/korean/en/article/not-brainwashed-robots-north-koreas-strong-creative-and-resilient-women/c6qrnk9ws

b) Woman fled North Korea but was sold to a man in China. Her second escape came nearly 20 years later.

Chae-ran is among a number of women who fled North Korea – only to be trafficked and sexually exploited in China, where a gender imbalance has created a black market for brides.

She managed to stage a second escape nearly two decades later, through Laos and Thailand. But opportunities for others to take the same path have narrowed since the pandemic, experts say – leaving untold numbers of North Korean girls and women trapped in servitude.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/08/asia/north-korean-refugees-trafficked-china-intl-hnk-dst/index.html

Hi beanies, just dropping in to say hello . Between Him and Her - I have to say I’m a little disappointed because there aren’t many twists or surprises it’s rather predictable. I was hoping for a more indie type drama. And a once a week drop isn’t helping with the slower pace. My favorite drama right now is Wedding Impossible and I’m happy it’s a Monday/Tuesday drop. Reading jazz’s article here makes me worry for Kdrama future; seems like turning back to the days when Kdramas were plentiful and enough variety of genres is impossible with the big players like Netflix, Disney etc. changing the field as well as other external factors.
Have a happy weekend all, it’s almost spring here, so long winter 👋

I’ve tried multiple times to reply to one of the posts, but I my comment isn’t showing up, nor have I received a message that there’s a problem with it and it’s under review. I’m hoping this comment gets posted. 🤞🏼

Happy Friday, Beanies! Sadly I'm no less tired than I was last time, but that's no excuse to not share more fun stuff with you, right? Yesterday THE LEGEND OF JEWELRY successfully finished filming Youku, where is our wrap up video, hmm?!, which gave my awfully uninspired brain an idea – we all know TLB OST and surely LYN will sing something for their second drama together as well (my bet's on another sugary ballad lmao – gotta keep the tradition), but what other ZLS's dramas his voice was in? Well, apparently a few)))

Most famous one must be this kickass track from WHO RULES THE WORLD (the eagle cry in the intro lol – you can't get more wuxia than that!). You'll never hear about me actually watching the show, but it must be pretty at least... There is an official MV with subs, but again, it's not the full song – same crap Tencent did to HEROES opening btw. Do you have a secret beef with my boy, stupid penguin, or what? Also release TPOB, dammit!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1dYThphEdE

Full version with pinyin (feat YY's face as a bonus if you're into that):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7opZ7Tssm3E

And live from stream (I remember that hair, it's from THE TRUTH filming!) where he sounds a little weak – cold, perhaps? No eagle imitation either – missed opportunity for sure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNVUMq2epGk

OK, the beef thing must be real, because his next OST Tencent freaking cut IN HALF. Yeah, for real. I have no polite words rn. It's from A FEMALE STUDENT ARRIVES AT THE IMPERIAL COLLEGE (no words for this title either... it's cheap isekai web-novel level of bad omg) and the song is actually very fun. Idk if the drama is also funprobably not with such title, but here's a butchered official MV:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beEK8ccY2wA

Full version with subs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LoPtCetmzM

And omg, he must be obsessed with this track – he performed it on his streams more often than many of his legendary blockbusters! I feel like I'm missing some important context here... I was literally at loss which video to choose))) This one won because he was crazily hyper during the whole thing – who gave him sugar? - and I love that anime preppy boy look, blond hair (not wig for once!), glasses, giant smile and all, so adorable!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJFVWq2xdBQ

I saw that Robert Downey Jr won and an academy award and honestly, one of the first things that came to mind was that kind of story could NEVER happen in SK. RDJ did drugs AND he's been to jail.

In SK, just dating gets you cancelled and heavens forbid you did drugs. Well then you just aren't deserving of life.

I'm not saying drug use is good or bad and this post isn't even about that specifically. It's about the way people are treated when they're shown to be flawed people or people who aren't clean cut is just crazy.

On one hand, I kinda get: celebrities are held to a higher standard and people idolize & emulate them so folks don't want their celebrities to do things that might seem like condoning "bad" things.
However! Celebrities are also just human beings too and yet there's never supposed to be "off"

If they become an idol trainee as a kid/teen or if they were child actors, when exactly would they have the time or space to make the screw ups that most people make growing up? When do they get to have learning experiences that form their personal identities outside of the entertainment industry? And then with all the pressures they're constantly facing, some of them turn to "bad" things and once it's discovered, everything about them is just filtered through that. It's so disheartening to me.

Like I saw some post that said Ji Chang Wook was one of the rudest celebrities because he vaped during rehearsal. I'm not sure what exactly vaping is but I think it's like smoking. None of the cast or crew seemed particularly bothered but when netizens found out, it became a thing. I get that it might not be a considerate thing but to include him as one of "THE" rudest seems excessive.

We already know Yoo Ah In's treatment was ridiculously excessive so no need for me to rehash that.

I know some actors/entertainers have come back after scandals but still, people like constantly bring it up as if that's apart of their permanent identity and there's even those who feel they should never have been allowed to come back.

Happy weekend Beanies and keep Beaning On!

I have been absent because I kept postponing an announcement until I felt ready:

I finally have a job! 😢🎉

The veterans among you are familiar with my weekly unemployment woes on OT before COVID, so this one is for the newbies. I started an internship to become appointed as a civil servant, disappointed my boss and burnt out, became depressed because it was the last straw rather than a mere burnout, suffered panic attacks whenever I had to deal with my boss during sick leave…

The last straw turned out to be autistic burnout. Ever since that diagnosis it has been way easier to get things done. I was able to request my employer to look for another job for me on medical grounds, which is way less stressful and way more efficient than the standard job seeking hurdles you face by yourself.

So, I get to finish the second half of my internship followed by the civil servant appointment after all. But in another department, closer to home, parttime on medical grounds for at least a year. My new boss also seems to take my situation seriously and has been busy trying to accommodate me as much as possible. In short: the social service coworkers I often consult with all have a good feeling about this working out.

Why I was not ready to announce this as soon as I got the news early February?

It is just a job offer. It is just people doing their job properly. It is just people showing decency and respect to a newcomer...

Because I am still stuck in the past. A past filled with classmates, teachers, employers, colleagues, relatives. A past filled with mockery, rejection, reprimanding. A present still filled with hurt and fear.

There, I announced it. Now I cannot deny this great news any longer. I have to welcome it and believe that this time, it really, finally will all work out.

Take that, inner demons.

hyeri "unfollowed" ryu joon yeol after a tourist said he was in hawaii flirting with han so hee??

please say it isn't so!!!!!
*heartbroken*

I know celebrity dating news is a "big thing" worldwide (wae ... mwoya) but first with Lee Jae-wook and now Han So-hee really guys what is happening.

This has been bothering me. So I went hunting. And found this:
Recent studies have shown that Koreans drink the largest amount of alcohol in the world.[14] In the past, people drank on specific days like New Year's, but presently alcohol can be consumed regardless of the occasion. The goal of drinking parties is to promote good fellowship and opening one's heart to socializing.
According to a 2018 WHO report, citizens of the Republic of Korea drink 10 litres (2.2 imp gal; 2.6 US gal) of alcohol per capita per year.[17]
https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/274603/9789241565639-eng.pdf
The most eye-popping part:
Drinking plays an important role in workplace socialization in Korean culture. One of the most important forms of socialization in Korean organizations is hoesik or "dining together".[22] Hoesik and "bottoms-up sessions" are time for employees to gather and encourage each other to consume alcohol. These drinking sessions help promote and influence idea sharing and building of social networks. It has been reported that a typical job application form will even ask applicants to reveal whether or not they drink alcohol and if so, how much do they consume.[22] Also part of the application process is the so-called "alcohol interview", where the applicant is given several shots of alcohol to consume. This will determine their alcohol tolerance and if they are someone who will work well with the organization.
NO wonder ALL k-drama characters drink like fish. Even the TV interview has people opening drink bottles.....no wonder one character asks another character right after surgery - 'Will you be able to drink?'
A great article: https://www.nhis.or.kr/magazin/mobile/201612/c01.html