Here is your Open Thread, which is here for you to chat about anything you want, whether it be drama-related or not. Nothing’s off-topic here! Spoilers may be rife, so proceed accordingly.
A long recap on the state of the K-drama industry.
According to recent industry reports, Netflix has put a cap on actor's fees at a maximum of 400 million won ($293,000) per episode, signaling a major change in its production cost structure.
Since the rise of the OTTs, production costs for K-dramas have skyrocketed. Previously, the average production cost per episode of a Korean drama was around 300 to 400 million won ($220,000-293,000). However, after Netflix's entry into the market, this figure surged to 2 billion won ($1.5 M). It was reported that Squid Game actor Lee Jong Jae was paid $1 million per episode for the sequels. This Hollywood pay day set off the issues that have had consequences throughout Korean entertainment industry.
This sharp increase is largely due to star actors transitioning to OTT platforms, leading to a steep rise in cast fees. In fact, Netflix’s original series When Life Gives You Tangerines reportedly had a production budget of 60 billion won ($44M), while the upcoming Squid Game Season 3, set to premiere on June 27, is said to have a budget of around 100 billion won ($73.3M)
This sharp rise in production costs has become a significant challenge for local production companies. In the Korean model, actors salaries have been pegged at 45 to 55 percent of total production budget. The OTT budget model blows away any actor salary imitations in budgets. As a result, the number of K-dramas being produced is on the decline. 141 dramas were produced in 2022. The number fell to 123 in 2023 and to around 100 in 2024. This year, the figure is expected to remain at approximately 80.
Local independent production companies and networks have loathed the OTT model. Each project requires a net profit in order for a studio or network to survive. Local production still needs “star” power to attract viewers, but local revenue sources cannot make up for the huge OTT pay scales. Netflix is not an entertainment company but a tech company. It does not view each drama or film it invests in as a profit center, but an amortized content inventory. Its “profits” are its stock price gains and subscription increases.
For movie films, Netflix model is different. Netflix operates differently than studios tied to box office or traditional TV ratings. Since it doesn’t earn revenue per view, its compensation model offers large upfront actor fees but limits long-term royalties. Foreign actors often receive a flat, one-time payment—sometimes significantly higher than what network actors would earn in a first season—but without future earnings from reruns or syndication. That can be a win for major stars, but a downside for lesser-known performers hoping for residual checks. (Only SAG actors in new contract got residual rights). In addition, Netflix contracts require actors to be on-call for 18 months if it wants to do a second series. This can put an actor on a long involuntarily hiatus from taking other long term projects.
... Korean studios are trying to keep all the IP rights for their productions because OTT firms who “invest” want full ownership of the drama or film. The trap local Korean studios face is that if it produces a drama to keep the IP, the license fees paid by OTTs do not cover production costs. They often pre-produced a series without a distribution deal. Even if studios license to OTT and networks/cable channels the latter have their own ratings/advertising revenue issues. SBS’s production studio head lamented that if studios only become subcontractors for foreign OTTs the Korean Wave will be lost with the push to create global not Korean specific content. OTTs are pushing for certain genres and second seasons. For example, this year 14 dramas have been green lit for new seasons, including some old shows like Signal (2016).
Compared to foreign markets, Korean actors have higher compensation. In case of Japanese dramas, lead actors in Netflix originals receive an average of 10 million yen (approximately 93 million won) per episode, which is 3 to 10 times lower than what top Korean actors charge per episode.
Regarding the speculation about a 400 million won cap on actor fees, Netflix released an official statement: "We calculate budgets in proportion to the 'scale of ambition' of each project, and budgets vary depending on the genre and format," adding that it is making "responsible investments." However, it avoided commenting on specific standards for fees, implying that there is no fixed or uniform guideline. The big production budgets may refer to huge actor fees while operation costs (crew, extras, set-up, etc.) are cut back. Meanwhile, the issue has also expanded into concerns over the treatment of background actors and crews on sets.
According to testimonies recently shared in online communities about the working conditions on the set of When Life Gives You Tangerines, some background actors and crew members were mistreated and were forced to work under harsh conditions. Despite the project being a big-budget production with hundreds of billions of won invested, there has been growing criticism that background actors were treated significantly worse compared to the leads. This means producers are cutting back because leads are taking too much money from their hard dollar budgets.
What does it mean? The big picture is that the traditional Korean drama (format, casting, filming style, etc.) will become more diluted by global expansion and influence.
Quote from todays Korea Herald:
‚Stressing that Korean studios should become more than mere subcontractors, he likened the ideal relationship to that between a crocodile and a plover bird -- mutually beneficial.‘
"But in truth, there’s only one reason Hallyu (Korean Wave) has grown as it has: because we’ve consistently created content that resonates with Korean audiences. That’s what allowed our shows to gain popularity globally. If we had made dramas tailored to the tastes of global viewers from the start, I don’t believe Hallyu would have become what it is today," said Hong.
“This is something even global streaming services can’t help but acknowledge. We understand best what makes Korean content compelling, and that’s something they recognize as well. Moving forward, the ideal strategy is to establish a mutually respectful relationship -- like that of a crocodile and a plover bird.”
Minutes ago hubby is wanting to rewind from a day and is tuned into a footie (soccer) match on Mexican TV. It's Copa del Oro with all Spanish commentary. We do not have much Spanish but love footie.
Suddenly we both stop and stare at the screen which has a teaser for Goblin dubbed in Spanish.
Old content - new market.
Thanks, @welh640 for highlighting this article. The pressures that big streamers and their consolidation are putting on studios are universal, and extend far beyond Korea. There have been a number of articles in the U.S. about how Hollywood is dying as an industry location, especially with Netflix building a gigantic production studio in New Jersey.
BUT, one thing about the way this process is described that I look on with skepticism--the blame being put here on high "actor fees" rather than on maintaining high streamer profit margins. (Somewhat the same argument is being made by studios in Hollywood, which are blaming the impending "death" of the industry on the recent SAG-Aftra strike and contract.) This rhetoric and the attempt to turn to AI are all about removing any sort of employee power, even if the employees we are talking about are wealthy film and t.v. celebrities and therefore less than sympathetic to the average viewer.
As far as outside streamers destroying kdramas "unique" content, I'm a bit skeptical of that claim as well. There's no doubt that consolidation and a search for steady income leads to going with the tried and true. I was struck by how many 2nd and 3rd seasons there were appearing this year, not just Squid Games 3; Taxi Driver 3, Yumi's Cells 3, but also Crash 2, Flex X Cop 2, and Bloodhounds 2, then stories that to my mind required no followup, and the writers and actors would have been better served exploring similar themes with a different setup: Good Partner 2, Reborn Rich 2, and Not Others 2.
Obviously the multiple sequels are undermining any new directions in kdramas. But I don't think regard this repetition as a "dilution" of traditional kdrama content. Rather its just running kdrama concepts, themes and formats into the ground, making what was once fresh and original seem stale and cliched.
The problem, as I see it, is not holding on to old time kdrama formulas--in fact streamers are excellent at that--taking a familiar kdrama story/format, and slapping high production values on it. Instead the issue is generating NEW content, authentic to a CHANGING Korean culture. We'll see if, as the article quoted by Coninadisc suggests, studios under pressure from streamers can rise to that challenge.
Europe - less rain, less water - more heat - need more electricity - oh ho - AC stocks n sellers doing good - seems like pretty good future for d region.
Politics - fun n spicy week - proper good drama all around. It's all a fight 4 resources - well, better u hv as much possible. Because, future summers r ready to play fast n aggressive. Climate will decide where things wave to. Every1 playing their cards openly - still, it's not free for all - for that u need america either with status quo or losing power a lot - let's see
The aggressive summers will create beautiful opportunities for 3rd n 4th fronts to become mainstream. you need much more socio-economic and political ups n down as well as chaos.
If oppurtunity come - be selfish - catch it n surf d wave - u r d only 1 - no relationships no bonds, no feelings - only thing matter is achieving d goals
I am on Birthday leave this week, yesterday was the big day. It was the best of both worlds. On one hand, workers came to replace our interior doors so we often fled that chaos to run other errands and did a lot of thorough cleaning afterwards. Being productive was nice, but relaxing was even nicer. Sometimes I fled to the garden at the crack of dawn before the hot day and the workers started, to enjoy the cool, peaceful morning with books and other reading materials. I still have the weekend left to enjoy, but I feel refreshed already!
This week, I have enjoyed so much finally to have someone to talk to during a watch of Mr. Queen.
Also, since the Palestinian people are being starved on purpose while so many truckloads of food are just waiting to get in, I went to a demo, dressed in red, one of the Red Line demos happening in many countries, to ask my government to finally stop delivering arms ... or anything ... to the perpetrators of the catastrophe. (And also, I am hugely offended on behalf of most Jewish people at the suggestion that being against genocide should somehow equal being in opposition to them).
It's me next to the statue with my cousin and her friends, my daughter and my brother. https://www.instagram.com/p/DLDaU38sgsf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
And this is me by the statue, while the demo was ending.
Also my daughter and my cousin, but they don't like to be published. https://imgur.com/gdoANZZ
Also: I have been worrying a lot about The Birds, Musvit, Great Tits I saw the male stopped coming - but then I saw him sitting outside the box, like some kind of a woodpecker. My hopes are up that there will be some kids, thought probably not one from each of those six eggs. We'll see ... next week? I am not sure from when to count.
And the grass pollen is in the air [insert "The Popsinger's Fear of the Pollen Count" as a soundtrack], and the elder flower is blooming so beautifully.
Thank you, @kafiyah-bello !
Actually, here is the link I really wanted to share, because there's a bit of the song a singer performed live while we where there.
I am not sure the recording conveys how stunningly beautiful it was. I am picky, and there was another fairly famous singer there, too, and she sang well, but not something that made you stop and just drop your jaw. But this song ... Wauw. I didn't know we had someone who could sing like that at present in Denmark.
Unfortunately, I don't know what the lyrics are. "Palestinian Folk Song." https://fb.watch/AlrLH099Oc/
The fact of not understanding the lyrics for such a sincere, passionate song reminds me, of when I heard that song with Elis Regina, in Cesar Camargo Mariano's arrangement, and was sure it was a very beautiful love song, since it was called "Menino" (Boy).
Then I learned the lyrics and found out it was about someone murdered during the Brazilian military Regime. The whole song suddenly was very much heavier, in a sad and beautiful way.
"Quem cala morre contigo, quem grita vive contigo" (S/he who stays silent, dies along with you, s/he who screams lives with you).
Happy Friday, Beanies! We're just one week away from ADWAD and finally getting closer to long awaited LYN's concert tour. Like really closer this time around – there is a poster now with first stops, leaning VERY hard into cosmic theme, probably in tune with performer himself (FIY, his name literally means “tranquil universe”). Btw, it's not edit, that coat indeed looks like that, fantasy spikes? crystals? and all: https://x.com/liu_yuning08/status/1934799767655116802
Very first stop – Shenzhen (symbolic, as it is the city he got his first ever job in restaurant right after school) – with dates and poster. Mad Hatter vibes, no? In other hand, that means he'll start touring right after or maybe still during ADWAD's run... What a busy summer for both himself and me))) https://x.com/Y446834Yoshi/status/1935628284135682547
Guess his humbly named “LYN's 2nd” tour will feature just as much crazy fashion as the first one, if not more. Can't wait))) Someone pls remind him he needs to release an album first Fashion gangsta in question is still busy frolicking under Italian sun, currently enjoying shopping, local food (that lemon gelato altered his brain chemistry, man is now OBSESSED), posing for selfies with local fans (somehow more often fanboys lol – are girls too shy to approach him, perhaps?) and dancing conga on streets somewhere in Sicily.
What he won't attend for sure is Tencent's Conference on Monday, but TPOB's success still made platform pay increased attention to him these days – including horny posts by Weibo/Douyin mods and his maaany OSTs for their dramas reuploaded for emphasis (upd.: OK, their mod must be a new fan – they went on with non-Tencent drama OSTs too now lol). We don't have time to go through all of them, ofc, but I noticed Beanies discussing GRANDMASTER OF DEMONIC CULTIVATION novel(s) lately, and guess what? He sang once for its anime version (not sure if it was before or after THE UNTAMED since he wasn't in that OST lineup), and yep, “Blessing” is yet another banger in his huge collection of larger than life epics. Look, they bothered with a full MV this time, not just 2 minutes cut, how far we've come! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0_2ni5wN0k
Time to finally be done with Carnation 5.0, starting with Penny Tai's “One person's luggage”. Very ironic title for the occasion, but the song itself is light and fun. There's like one line in lyrics hinting at post-breakup mood, but just ignore it and feel the joy of living one's life to the fullest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzuMb08osbI
Next one is his OST from “deadly hard to sing” collection – “Fade death bravely” (BURNING FLAMES OST) - I think this is the track he repeatedly failed the most times out of all his 2024 lineup lol. Not that it stopped him from doing it twice for Carnations – remember how I told ya this man is super stubborn and lives for challenge?))) I liked OG sound well enough, but MD's arrangement made it even better, imo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFrfsAB5Ggg
Another from standard livestream repertoire – Yu Erqi's “Collide with Earth” should've added tinfoil hat to tinfoil abs for this one , ever so hype and pure serotonin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9bU886zQFA
Sentimental mood time with Faye Wong's “What the world gifted me” - heard people praising his particular take a lot since her songs are apparently super hard to cover... Well, he sure worked hard, even if that's a given in his case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl29o8BJLIU
We've made it to the end, yay! He usually ends Carnations with latest drama's OST, but since he forgot to extract file with “Blazing moon” instrumentals/notes from his emails in time, something else had to be the closing number. And he prefers to end on high energy note, hence “All answers C”, rock along with it! Something tells me it won't be too long before Carnation 6, heh... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWl4kfWLBgM
2 parts interview/reaction of TPOB 4 leads subbed – mortification galore! Dying from cringe got literally redefined by certain two lol: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omY7dZ7t-oI
I'll probably do ADWAD materials coverage elsewhere, there's too much of everything and I was NOT ready! My drafts are pretty messed up already, ge, chill a little, can ya? Of course he won't
I suspect his obsession with DETECTIVE CONAN led to a huge bowtie fetish, he wears them (the cuter, the better! and mostly with 3 piece suits ofc) pretty often. This was the most extra one to date, I believe)))
Idk if it was his own or stylists idea, but I really hope he'll recreate this look during tour. Coat might be too much for performing in scorching summer, but hair/makeup? Pretty please, Ning-ge!
Thank you, what an insightful read! Your feed is far more cerebral than mine I liked scriptwriters answers, esp about focus on soul/spirit of source material instead of its form, importance of "soft power" (something often lacking in cdrama portrayal of women these days) and praising both leads' hard work equally unlike articles about that other drama that were all pointedly ignoring ML's existence.
My favorite part of that interview?
"The night before each shoot, he memorized all his lines—and even those of his scene partners."
You don't see that very often. Some old school Hollywood stars would memorize their lines and their costars lines too. I've read that Elizabeth Taylor was gifted in this area.
@cliosservant1846 He says reading makes him drowsy, so no printed texts around when he's working))) And not just that - I've read many accounts that he's always practicing his lines/scenes between takes, either by himself or with his personal acting teacher.
One of such moments made headlines during ADWAD: he was practicing "tending to his own injury" scene and looked so convincingly in pain (plus makeup team did a scarily great job with that bruise) that people thought he hurt himself for real again. Lemme see if I can find the footage rn... Yep, here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XnCGIs8lm4
Regarding the memorization of lines/the scripts of dramas (and even the lines of one’s acting partner in a scene)— I’m so glad that this new and younger generation of actors/actress talent have taken it upon themselves to do such a thing:
1. It cultivates skills which are good for their careers long-term.
2. It shows the naysayers (some, even their own veteran costars) that this younger generation isn’t in showbiz simply for the fame, glam, and money. This younger generation also is working and putting in real effort for their own careers 😊
3. It builds rapport with costars and good professional habits
Many have witnessed and testified that C-actress, Yang Zi, hardly brings her script to the filming set of her dramas— if ever— because she’s basically memorized an entire week’s worth of her own lines and the lines of her costars whenever she films her dramas.
Everyone that C-actor, Xiao Zhan, works with has witnessed and testified that he basically knows the script—his own lines, and the lines of his costars— backwards and forwards like the back of his hand and never needs cues whenever he films, nor does he have any bad (“NG” scenes) takes and never has to reshoot scenes unless production wants another angle of the same scene— contrary, he usually finishes all of his scenes in a single take. I’ve actually seen behind-the-scenes footage wherein he’s the one giving cues to his costars for the their lines. He never sits around on set but prefers to stand, and whenever people choose to go back to their own trailers to rest (which I don’t blame them, filming dramas are taxing and brutal), Xiao Zhan chooses to “rest” (a.k.a. Finally take a seat) on the filming set instead of going back to his own trailer— he chooses to always be “on” and ready at a moment’s notice all the time and it is only when filming for the day has ended does he go back to his own hotel room. The only time the script is in his hand is whenever he’s discussing with the production crew about how he can film the scene to make it better and he’s jotting down notes, since a drama character is what the actor/actress makes it, and not just what the script says it is— the cast brings it to life. I honestly think he cultivated his good memory from participating in a theatrical play from 2021 to 2023, wherein hours upon hours —upwards of 10-12 hours— of practice and rehearsals and memorizing of lines is a requirement, since, like musicals, theatrical plays are live and are performed on the spot, no chances for retakes/reshoots 😅
Coincidentally, while I'm away from home visiting family, I'm kinda sorta watching OATH OF LOVE because now that I have UNTAMED and half of ZANG HAI under my belt, I get Xiao Zhan a little better and I'm actually enjoying Yang Zi in OATH very much -- she's a great counterpoint in this role. (sorry run on sentence).
re: XZ, this as you describe is exactly how Clint Eastwood morphed from old Hollywood "beefcake" to a great film director. He never missed a thing on set, and was always wanting to know more about what was going on behind the camera then in front of the camera. So, perhaps, that's where XZ is headed.
Any of these performers who show dedication to the production by consuming the scripts and thereby understanding the story -- they are the real deal. Competence in any field is admirable.
THE OATH OF LOVE is a fun one!! 🤩 On the surface, it seems very “typical modern C-drama loves story”, but the deeper it goes into the drama, there’s so much more to discover— about family, about friendships, about how to be a human being, about adversity, etc.
Fun facts:
1. About 80% of what the drama is actually scenes that Xiao Zhan and Yang Zi have improvised. I was quite mind blown when I first learned this fact 🤯 As it turns out, the director of this drama was so into their acting, that he hardly ever said “Cut!” whenever they finished filming what’s on the script, so the 2 of them just kept going and and going and improvised what to do next until the director finally said “Cut!” 😅
2. All of the outfits you see Xiao Zhan wearing are actually his own personal items/clothes, except for his scrubs. When he was doing his costume fitting for the drama during pre-production, both he and the director felt something was “off” and didn’t feel like whatever the costume department prepared felt right for XZ’s character, so XZ suggested his own personal style/clothes/wardrobe, and the rest is history 😊
3. The final day of filming— a scene that takes place at a fast food restaurant (that’s all I’ll say, lest you’re not there yet)— was actually a scene filmed near the first 1/3 of the drama, but despite how everyone was dressed in that scene that day, it was actually early November and also Yang Zi’s birthday 🎂
As it turns out, he actually performed 70+ showings of the theatrical play he was in. It’s no wonder that his memory is so sharp! All of that in addition to drama filming, ad/endorsement filming, attending events (even some international events, like Milan Fashion Week), continuously planning the next steps for his career (i.e. new offers, new scripts, new endorsement deals, etc.) 🤯 He’s my bias so I have an idea of what he’s like, his work ethics, patterns, schedules, etc., but he still continues to surprise me with all that he actually does!
I only heard her in LBFAD OST, I think, but what a beautiful voice! Dang, c-ent is too huge, still so many talents to discover... I need way more hours in a day than 24, I think^^
Wong Faye is not a young singer anymore, but she's still awesome. I feel the same way about my favorite Japanese singer, Mizuki Nana, who isn't young anymore either.
The boy sure knows how to keep things interesting - be it singing, acting or fashion. I really like the poster art.
He is perfectly named. LYN is indeed a universe - not sure about the tranquil bit though. 😂 Or maybe it is the fangirls' hearts which are not so tranquil. 🙈
Guess Italy and lemon gelato really suit him. He's looking really relaxed and happy. 😊❤
Vlog of shooting posters just dropped, and my jaw along with it - the hair, the purple asymmetric eyeshadow, the pose, the expressions?! This is not even visual-key level of glam, that's full Bowie right here! Thank heavens he's not a woman - too much of favored evil concubine energy for our dull modern times lol https://x.com/Just_Lice0304/status/1936312859623116908
His name is extremely beautiful, you can feel his parents love in it. Also I believe it's more on the girlish side? He said there was a female TV anchor with same full name when he was a kid and poor thing got teased about it lol Popular fan explanation is that "once he sings, the universe falls silent to listen", seems pretty spot on.
Already flying back, but we can say for sure he had a great time in Italy. Maybe it'll soften him to idea of coming to Europe again, this time with concert or something...
He was ran into quite a few Italian fans this time, so that has to ring the bell at least. Maybe it's time to dust off that idea about opening insta account he gave up on halfway?
NOTES FROM 9TAILEDVIXEN'S THIRD WEEK OF JUNE 2025:
1. LIFE NOTES
Muscle memory is something wondrous - after a rough first week back from 5 weeks away travelling, I'm back to being able to complete my flows in class. YES!
Work has been killer with June being Father's Day month and so my anti-violence against women nonprofit has been busy with a campaign to galvanise more men to step up to take action to address sexism, misogyny, and violence against women wherever they are.
And as Beanies who are ARMY knows - the final BTS member Suga (also known as Pookie Yoongi by fans who bias him) has been discharged from his military service today. OT7 are back and the next few months should be interesting.
2. THIS WEEK IN KOREAN WOMEN'S NEWS
(a) Comfort Women, Democratization and Womens’ Rights in Korea and Taiwan
Check out this long article about the issue of comfort women in Korea and Taiwan and the different challenges the women of each country faces in terms of fighting for their human rights.
(b) Korea’s gender pay gap is the world’s worst. Will transparency fix it?
Since joining the OECD in 1996, South Korea has consistently ranked first among member nations for its gender pay gap.
Despite public awareness, the root causes of the gap remain difficult to trace. There is no clear statistical framework or government data to accurately identify them. Currently, public disclosures include only the number of male and female employees and the average compensation per person by gender.
It’s amazing that you have got to this level of expertise after such a short time training. Has it been a year? A few weeks off will have an impact on anyone, even Olympic specialist if they had no training were out of their normal routine their performance would suffer too.
It's been 18 months-ish. I also had a month's break last year (for my trip to the UK) at the beginning of my Aerial journey but the reconditioning/recovery period this year is far more brutal than last year.
I think it's because I just jumped in the deep end and pushed myself to do the intermediate moves that I was doing.
Anyway, after the first class back (the most brutal after which my muscles were sore for 48 hours), everything's back to normal post-class (no aches and pains) but I feel it when attempting inversions and with moves that require lots of flexibility.
Ah well - as my teachers (all of them) said to me: just keep coming to class and keep going with the re-conditioning.
Has anyone here ever purchased a "script book" for a k-drama?
I finally gave into my secret craving and ordered the script book for The Art of Negotiation. Partly to decipher some of the dialogue (Viki translation didn't make sense to me in some scenes) and partly to read the script instructions/direction. Of course, if the actors ad-libbed, the script won't be much help.
I had never heard of script books until I looked up the drama on Amazon.
It is rare that drama scripts reach public hands. Hollywood studios and others have anyone with access to their acquired stories to sign non-disclosure agreements to review them. All scripts are copyrighted and registered with screenwriter guild in order to protect rights. (FYI, less than 0.3 percent of annual registered scripts actually get filmed.) Actors get watermarked and personalized copies of scripts to trace if it is copied or leaked ( a breach of their NDA).
I am aware that some actors keep their series shooting scripts in their personal libraries. But I am not aware of a current secondary market for drama scripts.
These script books are actually officially released. I believe I first read about this one on Namu-wiki, but it said sales would only be in Korean bookstores. The book for this drama is available on both Amazon and E-bay - probably by vendors that import to the US from Korea and re-sale.
Here's what I discovered: "Korean drama script books are published collections of scripts for popular Korean TV dramas (K-dramas). They typically include the complete dialogue, stage directions, and sometimes additional content like behind-the-scenes notes, character descriptions, or commentary from the writers or directors."
It hasn't been translated so I'm going to do it on my own (with a scanner/translator) to see there are any insights on the confusing scenes I mentioned.
Looking forward to hearing your discoveries. I wonder if you drop it into AI and ask it to translate it from the perspective of an experienced Korean literature professor or screenwriter!
It's more and more popular, so they publish some now. I have older kdrama screenplays, original from the writer, so format .hwp. Then I could tranform it into .docx, then translate some of them in a .txt file. (thanks GrokAI).
I'd like to ask you: I guess the script book is in korean. But what is the format you bought? Electronic? Do you think there is a way to copy the text (let's say in a text file), so it's then possible to do a translation of it?
The product description says paperback, 1000 pages and it appears to be in two volumes. It's in Korean so I will need to scan pages that are of interest and then use some sort of translation program or as you did, convert to docx.
It's why I never bought them. But thinking about it now. Yes! You can scan it. Then use OCR soft to make the scans a comprehensive file, then use translate on this.
Hello Beanies! I have been away for awhile. I was haunting England for few weeks but I'm back to my normal haunting territory now. I am currently busy catching up on my drama viewing.
I am fixated to Our Unwritten Seaul and am currently convinced it is the best Kdrama I've seen this year. Park Bo-young is just awesome in the dual roles. If it remains my favorite of the year is yet to be seen, but currently it has the top spot.
Now here is a viewing tip from my eccentric side. If you have Netflix, I really recommend watching Is Love Sustainable?. Yes, it's a Jdrama, but it's really, really good. It has a huge plot twist in the last two episodes that throws focus on the characters' final decisions. It's powerful and hopeful!
I am just chipping in to say something that's been on my mind ever since dropping Our Movie at episode 1. JYB's childish mannerisms do stand out starkly, but personally, I found NGM's "coolly cold" act equally rehearsed! And what's more, his mannerism made less sense for his character than JYB's did for hers. I thought.... Okay, this guy is a bit aloof and cynical. But what are those 'sexy guy head tilts' he is doing? Why is he doing that? I was so irritated by those head tilts!
I am not targeting either artist - I have liked both JYB and NGM in past roles, but this drama is just not bringing out the best in them. The thin, clichéd backstories didn't convince me, so I found it hard to understand the exaggerated mannerisms of both leads. And the direction makes the exaggeration worse! Why does the camera linger on them for so long? I caught the ending of ep 3 somewhere, and.... what was that zoom in on JYB , and that lingering on NGM and his ex's fish lips? 🙄. I am sorry, but I HAVE to rant. Because when a drama describes itself as an "emotional slow burn", I expect more subtlety in acting and direction, and more detailed writing and characterisation.
And I am not done yet... Just two more things.. but these are probably the biggest bombs I am going to drop on this drama, so if you are loving it, please don't read further...
1. Just the overall theme of this drama, as I perceived from episode 1, seems to be this clichéd scenario of a cheerful sick girl "curing" a depressed, cynical man. Which just doesn't make sense. We have a girl D-Y-I-N-G here! Could you please give her some more attention, writernim? ... Like the details of her illness, her struggles, etc. Coz all I got was someone looking at her from a very self-centered, and... *cough* if may I use the dreaded phrase .... from a very male gaze.
2. Also, the way the characters have been written, (especially their ages and situations in life) opens up an uncomfortable (but conveniently overlooked by the writer here) power dynamic between the couple. I so agreed with @dramaddictally on that point!
The casting has been criticised, but if you think, in a way, it was the RIGHT thing to cast JYB. So now at least we don't have dual power dynamics at play here (between the actors, in addition to what's already there between the characters). I am glad that they cast JYB, no matter if she seems to "try hard" to be a 25 y.o. (IMO, NGM is also a 50 y.o. "trying hard" to be a 30 something character). She is more of an industry "equivalent" to NGM, compared to some actress in her 20s.
What are watching for joy these days? If I remember rightly you like the slice of life dramas with depth and there are very few of those around these days. Are you reading instead?
Thanks for checking up on me Reply! I am a little stressed, preparing to attend a family function (I struggle with those). From the bottom of my heart, I wish joy for the people involved, but I feel no "joy" in attending such functions. It seems like a task! Ugh! Sorry for being a killjoy here on DB too! 😞
No worries at all. It sounds tough I hope you have some self care lined up to keep you going during the event and to treat yourself afterwards. Adult expectations and responsibilities are not all they are cracked up to be😢
Thanks Reply! Expectations are really way too high here. But time and age have taught me to prioritise myself, so I am confident I can always come back to being myself after feeling lost for some time 🙂
The New York Times just posted an article "K-Dramas are a Cry for Help" (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/19/opinion/k-drama-birthrate-crisis.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Qk8.5qAT.K_7rxJkKdaf0&smid=url-share) - I hope the link works! - which is quite intriguing. The author identifies several factors for south Koreas birthrate crisis (which is a problem für most of the western world as well), the patriarchal nature of the society, the striving for perfection which will get you in the best university (or to the edge of a high building) and … Kdramas.
I think she doesn't go far enough, though - Kdramas and their mostly female writers created men who are to good to be true, perfect princes with perfect visuals who embody everything a woman could ever want.
They just don't exist in reality.
So Kdramas are basically a blueprint for what women want in a man, but men don't care and stick to the old ways, which women just don't find attractive (to put it mildly). And that's the crisis in a nutshell.
Which is so true - women and men stand on opposite sides (sometimes literally, as the Anti-Yoon demos showed) and yell at each other: "I cannot stand your bullshit any longer!!!"
Can I just say, without fear of returbution, that KANG MIN HYUK IS SMOKIN'' HAAAAWWWWWTTT, and I'd like to see more of him ... no, I mean literally see more of him .... his chest, his back his biceps, his abs, his neck, et al.! Just finished Celebrity ... again ... and now I'm obsessed,
This week I've discovered that actor Lee Jun-young is a truly remarkable talented young idol turned actor.
I've seen him in 4 projects and he took on very different roles (i.e., Love and Leashes, Weak Hero Class2, Tangerines, Melo Movie). Not easy to get so diverse roles like that within a span of 2-3 years. He's a great actor in making, and I truly hope he takes his sweet time to rise in fame as skyrocket ing into fame right away has more cons and pros imho.
Anneyong dear M. Good that you have discovered Jun and enjoyed his different roles. He is truly amazing in all the dramas you mentioned.
While Jun has been acting (and acing pretty diverse roles) for a while now, he can play Prince Charming and also be quite scary when he puts his mind to it. So if you want to check out any of his other works, remember to do your research first so as to not be blindsided. 😅 Here is his mdl entry listing his works.
I've actually been thinking about what to write as a reply to M's comment since I read it, because I know I won't be able to stop! 🙈 Sorry in advance for the word-eplosion that is going to follow! 🙈
Jun, in my humble opinion, is truly an acting genius.
I have a rule of not watching more than 2 dramas by the same actor back to back, because it makes me desensitized towards them, if that makes sense. And I don't want to ruin a good show for myself just because I saw too much of the actor. But with Jun, I watched FIVE of his dramas back to back, and he still amazed me every second of them. He just transforms into a new person for every role.
I first saw him in Class of Lies, which I started because I love Yoon Kyun Sang, and I was immediately fascinated by Jun, although I almost never feel drawn to the villain, especially the school bully type.
I have seen him 10 of his works, but I skipped D.P. and Weak Hero Class as I can't sit through those types of violence in dramas.
What Cera is referring to is the movie Brave Citizen, which I started knowing nothing about (the poster looks deceptively fun!😶), got immediately blindsided by the brutal violence, and would have dropped if it had been a drama. But I was practically transfixed by Shin Hae Sun's and Jun's acting, and it was only 2 hours, so I bit the bullet and watched till the end. Both actors were spectacular, and gave me nightmares for weeks! 🥴🥴
Watching him in interviews can be a shock at first as he is extremely (and I mean extremely) shy. He sometimes looks physically in pain poor boy. In a recent interview he was asked how he can act when he is so shy, and he answered: Being in front of a camera is the only way I can express myself freely.
Thank you Midnight!! 🥰❤ I knew you can exposite on Jun much better than me. 😂 Indeed there are not many artists whose dramas can be watched back-to-back but Jun makes it easy.
Thanks to both Cera and Midnight I got to know your Jun better!!! 😆 I have to admit I didn’t know who he was before: I was watching Melo Movie but I didn’t think anything much about his role as the character was borderline annoying to me. He acted well, but I didn’t like his character that much. I did watch Love and Leashes and, while thinking that the show had such a strange yet revolutionary concept, I focused more on the FL as she did pretty well in that one. But while I was watching Weak Hero Class2 I became so mesmerized by a greyish villain!!! And I discovered that it was this actor. And because I just finished watching Tangerines, I saw that these were so different roles and I was mindblown !
He reminds me of Nam Goong-min. NGM also plays both good guy and villainous roles extremely well. In fact, this man here didn’t just play these roles well, he, as you guys said, transformed into different people completely. Even his looks completely changed in some roles (e.g., Weak Hero).
I’m afraid to watch shows that he’s a villain now because of Weak Hero I knew then and there that he would be a really good villain. Reminds me of when I first looked up NGM after watching him in Remember: War of the Son.
![[Rate and Review] Hunter with a Scalpel](https://d263ao8qih4miy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/HunterWithAScalpel_reviewb.jpg)
![[Drama Chat] Dramas that should have stopped at one season](https://d263ao8qih4miy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/dc_squidgame3.jpg)
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1 welh
June 20, 2025 at 5:04 AM
A long recap on the state of the K-drama industry.
According to recent industry reports, Netflix has put a cap on actor's fees at a maximum of 400 million won ($293,000) per episode, signaling a major change in its production cost structure.
Since the rise of the OTTs, production costs for K-dramas have skyrocketed. Previously, the average production cost per episode of a Korean drama was around 300 to 400 million won ($220,000-293,000). However, after Netflix's entry into the market, this figure surged to 2 billion won ($1.5 M). It was reported that Squid Game actor Lee Jong Jae was paid $1 million per episode for the sequels. This Hollywood pay day set off the issues that have had consequences throughout Korean entertainment industry.
This sharp increase is largely due to star actors transitioning to OTT platforms, leading to a steep rise in cast fees. In fact, Netflix’s original series When Life Gives You Tangerines reportedly had a production budget of 60 billion won ($44M), while the upcoming Squid Game Season 3, set to premiere on June 27, is said to have a budget of around 100 billion won ($73.3M)
This sharp rise in production costs has become a significant challenge for local production companies. In the Korean model, actors salaries have been pegged at 45 to 55 percent of total production budget. The OTT budget model blows away any actor salary imitations in budgets. As a result, the number of K-dramas being produced is on the decline. 141 dramas were produced in 2022. The number fell to 123 in 2023 and to around 100 in 2024. This year, the figure is expected to remain at approximately 80.
Local independent production companies and networks have loathed the OTT model. Each project requires a net profit in order for a studio or network to survive. Local production still needs “star” power to attract viewers, but local revenue sources cannot make up for the huge OTT pay scales. Netflix is not an entertainment company but a tech company. It does not view each drama or film it invests in as a profit center, but an amortized content inventory. Its “profits” are its stock price gains and subscription increases.
For movie films, Netflix model is different. Netflix operates differently than studios tied to box office or traditional TV ratings. Since it doesn’t earn revenue per view, its compensation model offers large upfront actor fees but limits long-term royalties. Foreign actors often receive a flat, one-time payment—sometimes significantly higher than what network actors would earn in a first season—but without future earnings from reruns or syndication. That can be a win for major stars, but a downside for lesser-known performers hoping for residual checks. (Only SAG actors in new contract got residual rights). In addition, Netflix contracts require actors to be on-call for 18 months if it wants to do a second series. This can put an actor on a long involuntarily hiatus from taking other long term projects.
Local...
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welh
June 20, 2025 at 5:07 AM
... Korean studios are trying to keep all the IP rights for their productions because OTT firms who “invest” want full ownership of the drama or film. The trap local Korean studios face is that if it produces a drama to keep the IP, the license fees paid by OTTs do not cover production costs. They often pre-produced a series without a distribution deal. Even if studios license to OTT and networks/cable channels the latter have their own ratings/advertising revenue issues. SBS’s production studio head lamented that if studios only become subcontractors for foreign OTTs the Korean Wave will be lost with the push to create global not Korean specific content. OTTs are pushing for certain genres and second seasons. For example, this year 14 dramas have been green lit for new seasons, including some old shows like Signal (2016).
Compared to foreign markets, Korean actors have higher compensation. In case of Japanese dramas, lead actors in Netflix originals receive an average of 10 million yen (approximately 93 million won) per episode, which is 3 to 10 times lower than what top Korean actors charge per episode.
Regarding the speculation about a 400 million won cap on actor fees, Netflix released an official statement: "We calculate budgets in proportion to the 'scale of ambition' of each project, and budgets vary depending on the genre and format," adding that it is making "responsible investments." However, it avoided commenting on specific standards for fees, implying that there is no fixed or uniform guideline. The big production budgets may refer to huge actor fees while operation costs (crew, extras, set-up, etc.) are cut back. Meanwhile, the issue has also expanded into concerns over the treatment of background actors and crews on sets.
According to testimonies recently shared in online communities about the working conditions on the set of When Life Gives You Tangerines, some background actors and crew members were mistreated and were forced to work under harsh conditions. Despite the project being a big-budget production with hundreds of billions of won invested, there has been growing criticism that background actors were treated significantly worse compared to the leads. This means producers are cutting back because leads are taking too much money from their hard dollar budgets.
What does it mean? The big picture is that the traditional Korean drama (format, casting, filming style, etc.) will become more diluted by global expansion and influence.
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Coninadisc
June 20, 2025 at 9:24 AM
There is hope according to Little Birds dealing with Crocodiles:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wUYoS-z0aKA
Quote from todays Korea Herald:
‚Stressing that Korean studios should become more than mere subcontractors, he likened the ideal relationship to that between a crocodile and a plover bird -- mutually beneficial.‘
"But in truth, there’s only one reason Hallyu (Korean Wave) has grown as it has: because we’ve consistently created content that resonates with Korean audiences. That’s what allowed our shows to gain popularity globally. If we had made dramas tailored to the tastes of global viewers from the start, I don’t believe Hallyu would have become what it is today," said Hong.
“This is something even global streaming services can’t help but acknowledge. We understand best what makes Korean content compelling, and that’s something they recognize as well. Moving forward, the ideal strategy is to establish a mutually respectful relationship -- like that of a crocodile and a plover bird.”
https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10513306
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Alluvial_Fan
June 20, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Minutes ago hubby is wanting to rewind from a day and is tuned into a footie (soccer) match on Mexican TV. It's Copa del Oro with all Spanish commentary. We do not have much Spanish but love footie.
Suddenly we both stop and stare at the screen which has a teaser for Goblin dubbed in Spanish.
Old content - new market.
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kellie
June 20, 2025 at 11:08 AM
When you invite King Kong into the village, what could go wrong?
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Ghost of Tim (eccentric observations from a male perspective)
June 20, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Bingo!
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hacja
June 20, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Thanks, @welh640 for highlighting this article. The pressures that big streamers and their consolidation are putting on studios are universal, and extend far beyond Korea. There have been a number of articles in the U.S. about how Hollywood is dying as an industry location, especially with Netflix building a gigantic production studio in New Jersey.
BUT, one thing about the way this process is described that I look on with skepticism--the blame being put here on high "actor fees" rather than on maintaining high streamer profit margins. (Somewhat the same argument is being made by studios in Hollywood, which are blaming the impending "death" of the industry on the recent SAG-Aftra strike and contract.) This rhetoric and the attempt to turn to AI are all about removing any sort of employee power, even if the employees we are talking about are wealthy film and t.v. celebrities and therefore less than sympathetic to the average viewer.
As far as outside streamers destroying kdramas "unique" content, I'm a bit skeptical of that claim as well. There's no doubt that consolidation and a search for steady income leads to going with the tried and true. I was struck by how many 2nd and 3rd seasons there were appearing this year, not just Squid Games 3; Taxi Driver 3, Yumi's Cells 3, but also Crash 2, Flex X Cop 2, and Bloodhounds 2, then stories that to my mind required no followup, and the writers and actors would have been better served exploring similar themes with a different setup: Good Partner 2, Reborn Rich 2, and Not Others 2.
Obviously the multiple sequels are undermining any new directions in kdramas. But I don't think regard this repetition as a "dilution" of traditional kdrama content. Rather its just running kdrama concepts, themes and formats into the ground, making what was once fresh and original seem stale and cliched.
The problem, as I see it, is not holding on to old time kdrama formulas--in fact streamers are excellent at that--taking a familiar kdrama story/format, and slapping high production values on it. Instead the issue is generating NEW content, authentic to a CHANGING Korean culture. We'll see if, as the article quoted by Coninadisc suggests, studios under pressure from streamers can rise to that challenge.
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Ghost of Tim (eccentric observations from a male perspective)
June 20, 2025 at 4:35 PM
"Success has its price."
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2 cat-cric-kat
June 20, 2025 at 5:36 AM
Weather - heat - hot - wave - ahhhhh - oh ho
Monsoon - rain - Asia - good - boost in next few weeks
Asia - hot - needs lots of rain - in proper timely manner -
300mm - rain - in less than 20 hours is big oh ho ho
Europe - heat - hot - wave - summer showing boost - big oh ho
storms - thunderstorms - are for next month - oh ho
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cat-cric-kat
June 20, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Europe - less rain, less water - more heat - need more electricity - oh ho - AC stocks n sellers doing good - seems like pretty good future for d region.
Politics - fun n spicy week - proper good drama all around. It's all a fight 4 resources - well, better u hv as much possible. Because, future summers r ready to play fast n aggressive. Climate will decide where things wave to. Every1 playing their cards openly - still, it's not free for all - for that u need america either with status quo or losing power a lot - let's see
The aggressive summers will create beautiful opportunities for 3rd n 4th fronts to become mainstream. you need much more socio-economic and political ups n down as well as chaos.
If oppurtunity come - be selfish - catch it n surf d wave - u r d only 1 - no relationships no bonds, no feelings - only thing matter is achieving d goals
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3 TurtuallySarcastic
June 20, 2025 at 5:39 AM
Happy weekend Beanies and keep Beaning On!
I am on Birthday leave this week, yesterday was the big day. It was the best of both worlds. On one hand, workers came to replace our interior doors so we often fled that chaos to run other errands and did a lot of thorough cleaning afterwards. Being productive was nice, but relaxing was even nicer. Sometimes I fled to the garden at the crack of dawn before the hot day and the workers started, to enjoy the cool, peaceful morning with books and other reading materials. I still have the weekend left to enjoy, but I feel refreshed already!
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
June 20, 2025 at 12:34 PM
🧁🥂Happy Birthday I am glad to hear you enjoyed the day and took the whole week off. Enjoy the weekend ahead.
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TurtuallySarcastic
June 21, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Thank you!
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Ghost of Tim (eccentric observations from a male perspective)
June 20, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Happy birthday!
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TurtuallySarcastic
June 21, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Thank you!
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
June 22, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Happy Birthday my friend!! 🎂🎊🎶
Wish you a happy, peaceful and productive year ahead. 😊❤
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TurtuallySarcastic
June 23, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Thank you my friend!
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4 DK-Drama 🍉🚑🌎 Space Cadetting and Nest Boxing 🗽🍉
June 20, 2025 at 6:46 AM
This week, I have enjoyed so much finally to have someone to talk to during a watch of Mr. Queen.
Also, since the Palestinian people are being starved on purpose while so many truckloads of food are just waiting to get in, I went to a demo, dressed in red, one of the Red Line demos happening in many countries, to ask my government to finally stop delivering arms ... or anything ... to the perpetrators of the catastrophe. (And also, I am hugely offended on behalf of most Jewish people at the suggestion that being against genocide should somehow equal being in opposition to them).
It's me next to the statue with my cousin and her friends, my daughter and my brother.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DLDaU38sgsf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
And this is me by the statue, while the demo was ending.
Also my daughter and my cousin, but they don't like to be published.
https://imgur.com/gdoANZZ
Also: I have been worrying a lot about The Birds, Musvit, Great Tits I saw the male stopped coming - but then I saw him sitting outside the box, like some kind of a woodpecker. My hopes are up that there will be some kids, thought probably not one from each of those six eggs. We'll see ... next week? I am not sure from when to count.
And the grass pollen is in the air [insert "The Popsinger's Fear of the Pollen Count" as a soundtrack], and the elder flower is blooming so beautifully.
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Kafiyah Bello
June 20, 2025 at 10:12 AM
That is awesome and important.
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DK-Drama 🍉🚑🌎 Space Cadetting and Nest Boxing 🗽🍉
June 20, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Thank you, @kafiyah-bello !
Actually, here is the link I really wanted to share, because there's a bit of the song a singer performed live while we where there.
I am not sure the recording conveys how stunningly beautiful it was. I am picky, and there was another fairly famous singer there, too, and she sang well, but not something that made you stop and just drop your jaw. But this song ... Wauw. I didn't know we had someone who could sing like that at present in Denmark.
Unfortunately, I don't know what the lyrics are. "Palestinian Folk Song."
https://fb.watch/AlrLH099Oc/
The fact of not understanding the lyrics for such a sincere, passionate song reminds me, of when I heard that song with Elis Regina, in Cesar Camargo Mariano's arrangement, and was sure it was a very beautiful love song, since it was called "Menino" (Boy).
Then I learned the lyrics and found out it was about someone murdered during the Brazilian military Regime. The whole song suddenly was very much heavier, in a sad and beautiful way.
"Quem cala morre contigo, quem grita vive contigo" (S/he who stays silent, dies along with you, s/he who screams lives with you).
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5 Gikata
June 20, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Happy Friday, Beanies! We're just one week away from ADWAD and finally getting closer to long awaited LYN's concert tour. Like really closer this time around – there is a poster now with first stops, leaning VERY hard into cosmic theme, probably in tune with performer himself (FIY, his name literally means “tranquil universe”). Btw, it's not edit, that coat indeed looks like that, fantasy spikes? crystals? and all:
https://x.com/liu_yuning08/status/1934799767655116802
And another one, that's rather MATRIX-coded, but with a pop-idol spin:
https://x.com/liu_yuning08/status/1935173395265556822
Very first stop – Shenzhen (symbolic, as it is the city he got his first ever job in restaurant right after school) – with dates and poster. Mad Hatter vibes, no? In other hand, that means he'll start touring right after or maybe still during ADWAD's run... What a busy summer for both himself and me)))
https://x.com/Y446834Yoshi/status/1935628284135682547
Guess his humbly named “LYN's 2nd” tour will feature just as much crazy fashion as the first one, if not more. Can't wait)))
Someone pls remind him he needs to release an album firstFashion gangsta in question is still busy frolicking under Italian sun, currently enjoying shopping, local food (that lemon gelato altered his brain chemistry, man is now OBSESSED), posing for selfies with local fans (somehow more often fanboys lol – are girls too shy to approach him, perhaps?) and dancing conga on streets somewhere in Sicily.What he won't attend for sure is Tencent's Conference on Monday, but TPOB's success still made platform pay increased attention to him these days – including horny posts by Weibo/Douyin mods and his maaany OSTs for their dramas reuploaded for emphasis (upd.: OK, their mod must be a new fan – they went on with non-Tencent drama OSTs too now lol). We don't have time to go through all of them, ofc, but I noticed Beanies discussing GRANDMASTER OF DEMONIC CULTIVATION novel(s) lately, and guess what? He sang once for its anime version (not sure if it was before or after THE UNTAMED since he wasn't in that OST lineup), and yep, “Blessing” is yet another banger in his huge collection of larger than life epics. Look, they bothered with a full MV this time, not just 2 minutes cut, how far we've come!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0_2ni5wN0k
Subbed lyrics too – yep, very much a love song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOvIKTwSolU
Time to finally be done with Carnation 5.0, starting with Penny Tai's “One person's luggage”. Very ironic title for the occasion, but the song itself is light and fun. There's like one line in lyrics hinting at post-breakup mood, but just ignore it and feel the joy of living one's life to the fullest:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzuMb08osbI
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Gikata
June 20, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Next one is his OST from “deadly hard to sing” collection – “Fade death bravely” (BURNING FLAMES OST) - I think this is the track he repeatedly failed the most times out of all his 2024 lineup lol. Not that it stopped him from doing it twice for Carnations – remember how I told ya this man is super stubborn and lives for challenge?))) I liked OG sound well enough, but MD's arrangement made it even better, imo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFrfsAB5Ggg
Another from standard livestream repertoire – Yu Erqi's “Collide with Earth”
should've added tinfoil hat to tinfoil abs for this one, ever so hype and pure serotonin:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9bU886zQFA
Sentimental mood time with Faye Wong's “What the world gifted me” - heard people praising his particular take a lot since her songs are apparently super hard to cover... Well, he sure worked hard, even if that's a given in his case:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl29o8BJLIU
But since “Boys don't cry” - yeah, that one once again! I'm never tired from it)))
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyvirvV1INM
We've made it to the end, yay! He usually ends Carnations with latest drama's OST, but since he forgot to extract file with “Blazing moon” instrumentals/notes from his emails in time, something else had to be the closing number. And he prefers to end on high energy note, hence “All answers C”, rock along with it! Something tells me it won't be too long before Carnation 6, heh...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWl4kfWLBgM
Bonuses: tour poster zoomed in and turned into wallpapers – this is so... SANDMAN:
https://www.tumblr.com/heymeowmao/786573662785601536/%E5%88%98%E5%AE%87%E5%AE%81%E7%9A%84-liu-yunings-concert-tour-2025
Tour promo clip, shot like a suspense movie lol
feels a lot like my life lately – LYN's content everywhere:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTwlUd2vHDM
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Gikata
June 20, 2025 at 7:21 AM
2 parts interview/reaction of TPOB 4 leads subbed – mortification galore! Dying from cringe got literally redefined by certain two lol:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omY7dZ7t-oI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpzgRmPrRg0
THE TRUTH S3 newest episode (about cursed painting something). The kick is his character being 60 y.o. clan head – grandpa be looking good lol)))
https://x.com/YuningSync/status/1935705711201472853
Shorts from poster photoshoot – so! adorable!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaJFUjTj4dQ
The bowtie lol. Man can be blamed for plenty of things, but boring fashion? Never!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFHtfAWB9z0
Just him enjoying himself in Italy – dancing (he's trying his best, OK?) and singing along despite knowing no language, bless:
https://x.com/Bigsislilred/status/1935506958527906130
I'll probably do ADWAD materials coverage elsewhere, there's too much of everything and I was NOT ready! My drafts are pretty messed up already, ge, chill a little, can ya?
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Gikata
June 20, 2025 at 7:22 AM
@kiara, @jillian, @zindigo, @isagc, @wonhwa, @seeker, @mochakat9, @wishfultoki, @cliosservant1846
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Procrasti-NationFirstCitizen
June 20, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Too cute... I'm still on a Prisoner of Beauty adrenaline rush, as I'm rewatching it from the beginning ☺️
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Gikata
June 20, 2025 at 8:10 AM
It does have good rewatch value indeed, so much sweetness)))
jillian
June 20, 2025 at 5:28 PM
That bowtie is really something. It makes him look like a present that you need to open. 😻🙈🙊😅
Only one week to ho for ADWAD.... oh no... now I need to watch the last 4 episodes of TPOB.
Thanks for all the Ning- er goodies! 😍🤩😊
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Gikata
June 21, 2025 at 10:12 AM
I suspect his obsession with DETECTIVE CONAN led to a huge bowtie fetish, he wears them (the cuter, the better! and mostly with 3 piece suits ofc) pretty often. This was the most extra one to date, I believe)))
Clios Servant
June 21, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Daimi sighting ... mini-roar. Thank you "Blessing" is beautiful.
Lordy, who knew "Sandman" was universal? It's so unique.
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Gikata
June 21, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Idk if it was his own or stylists idea, but I really hope he'll recreate this look during tour. Coat might be too much for performing in scorching summer, but hair/makeup? Pretty please, Ning-ge!
Clios Servant
June 23, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Sorry slightly off topic here but thought you would find this interesting. Have no idea how this story made my feed but here it is:
https://www.newhanfu.com/66864.html
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Gikata
June 23, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Thank you, what an insightful read!
Your feed is far more cerebral than mineI liked scriptwriters answers, esp about focus on soul/spirit of source material instead of its form, importance of "soft power" (something often lacking in cdrama portrayal of women these days) and praising both leads' hard work equallyunlike articles about that other drama that were all pointedly ignoring ML's existence.Clios Servant
June 23, 2025 at 5:49 PM
My favorite part of that interview?
"The night before each shoot, he memorized all his lines—and even those of his scene partners."
You don't see that very often. Some old school Hollywood stars would memorize their lines and their costars lines too. I've read that Elizabeth Taylor was gifted in this area.
DK-Drama 🍉🚑🌎 Space Cadetting and Nest Boxing 🗽🍉
June 23, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Emma Watson did.
And whenever I have been on stage in school drama or whatever, I did it too. Just happened by itself, while I practiced.
DK-Drama 🍉🚑🌎 Space Cadetting and Nest Boxing 🗽🍉
June 23, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Emma Watson Mouthing all the lines.
https://youtu.be/SO4Gaxnt49s?si=2Zc2N7bLj5te-avi
Gikata
June 23, 2025 at 6:43 PM
@cliosservant1846 He says reading makes him drowsy, so no printed texts around when he's working))) And not just that - I've read many accounts that he's always practicing his lines/scenes between takes, either by himself or with his personal acting teacher.
One of such moments made headlines during ADWAD: he was practicing "tending to his own injury" scene and looked so convincingly in pain (plus makeup team did a scarily great job with that bruise) that people thought he hurt himself for real again. Lemme see if I can find the footage rn... Yep, here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XnCGIs8lm4
Nessa🌹
June 23, 2025 at 7:07 PM
@cliosservsnt
Regarding the memorization of lines/the scripts of dramas (and even the lines of one’s acting partner in a scene)— I’m so glad that this new and younger generation of actors/actress talent have taken it upon themselves to do such a thing:
1. It cultivates skills which are good for their careers long-term.
2. It shows the naysayers (some, even their own veteran costars) that this younger generation isn’t in showbiz simply for the fame, glam, and money. This younger generation also is working and putting in real effort for their own careers 😊
3. It builds rapport with costars and good professional habits
Many have witnessed and testified that C-actress, Yang Zi, hardly brings her script to the filming set of her dramas— if ever— because she’s basically memorized an entire week’s worth of her own lines and the lines of her costars whenever she films her dramas.
Everyone that C-actor, Xiao Zhan, works with has witnessed and testified that he basically knows the script—his own lines, and the lines of his costars— backwards and forwards like the back of his hand and never needs cues whenever he films, nor does he have any bad (“NG” scenes) takes and never has to reshoot scenes unless production wants another angle of the same scene— contrary, he usually finishes all of his scenes in a single take. I’ve actually seen behind-the-scenes footage wherein he’s the one giving cues to his costars for the their lines. He never sits around on set but prefers to stand, and whenever people choose to go back to their own trailers to rest (which I don’t blame them, filming dramas are taxing and brutal), Xiao Zhan chooses to “rest” (a.k.a. Finally take a seat) on the filming set instead of going back to his own trailer— he chooses to always be “on” and ready at a moment’s notice all the time and it is only when filming for the day has ended does he go back to his own hotel room. The only time the script is in his hand is whenever he’s discussing with the production crew about how he can film the scene to make it better and he’s jotting down notes, since a drama character is what the actor/actress makes it, and not just what the script says it is— the cast brings it to life. I honestly think he cultivated his good memory from participating in a theatrical play from 2021 to 2023, wherein hours upon hours —upwards of 10-12 hours— of practice and rehearsals and memorizing of lines is a requirement, since, like musicals, theatrical plays are live and are performed on the spot, no chances for retakes/reshoots 😅
Clios Servant
June 24, 2025 at 6:29 AM
@nessa
Coincidentally, while I'm away from home visiting family, I'm kinda sorta watching OATH OF LOVE because now that I have UNTAMED and half of ZANG HAI under my belt, I get Xiao Zhan a little better and I'm actually enjoying Yang Zi in OATH very much -- she's a great counterpoint in this role. (sorry run on sentence).
re: XZ, this as you describe is exactly how Clint Eastwood morphed from old Hollywood "beefcake" to a great film director. He never missed a thing on set, and was always wanting to know more about what was going on behind the camera then in front of the camera. So, perhaps, that's where XZ is headed.
Any of these performers who show dedication to the production by consuming the scripts and thereby understanding the story -- they are the real deal. Competence in any field is admirable.
Nessa🌹
June 24, 2025 at 8:14 AM
@cliosservant1846
THE OATH OF LOVE is a fun one!! 🤩 On the surface, it seems very “typical modern C-drama loves story”, but the deeper it goes into the drama, there’s so much more to discover— about family, about friendships, about how to be a human being, about adversity, etc.
Fun facts:
1. About 80% of what the drama is actually scenes that Xiao Zhan and Yang Zi have improvised. I was quite mind blown when I first learned this fact 🤯 As it turns out, the director of this drama was so into their acting, that he hardly ever said “Cut!” whenever they finished filming what’s on the script, so the 2 of them just kept going and and going and improvised what to do next until the director finally said “Cut!” 😅
2. All of the outfits you see Xiao Zhan wearing are actually his own personal items/clothes, except for his scrubs. When he was doing his costume fitting for the drama during pre-production, both he and the director felt something was “off” and didn’t feel like whatever the costume department prepared felt right for XZ’s character, so XZ suggested his own personal style/clothes/wardrobe, and the rest is history 😊
3. The final day of filming— a scene that takes place at a fast food restaurant (that’s all I’ll say, lest you’re not there yet)— was actually a scene filmed near the first 1/3 of the drama, but despite how everyone was dressed in that scene that day, it was actually early November and also Yang Zi’s birthday 🎂
Nessa🌹
June 27, 2025 at 12:18 PM
As it turns out, he actually performed 70+ showings of the theatrical play he was in. It’s no wonder that his memory is so sharp! All of that in addition to drama filming, ad/endorsement filming, attending events (even some international events, like Milan Fashion Week), continuously planning the next steps for his career (i.e. new offers, new scripts, new endorsement deals, etc.) 🤯 He’s my bias so I have an idea of what he’s like, his work ethics, patterns, schedules, etc., but he still continues to surprise me with all that he actually does!
https://youtu.be/t3CWGrFZD3w?si=6EKG410_Bn7xYSBd
Ghost of Tim (eccentric observations from a male perspective)
June 20, 2025 at 4:47 PM
You had me at "Faye Wong". Her version of "Lotus in the Snow" is my all-time favorite Mandarin song.
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Gikata
June 20, 2025 at 5:21 PM
I only heard her in LBFAD OST, I think, but what a beautiful voice! Dang, c-ent is too huge, still so many talents to discover... I need way more hours in a day than 24, I think^^
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Ghost of Tim (eccentric observations from a male perspective)
June 20, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Wong Faye is not a young singer anymore, but she's still awesome. I feel the same way about my favorite Japanese singer, Mizuki Nana, who isn't young anymore either.
Gikata
June 21, 2025 at 5:35 AM
@ghostoftim now Mizuki-san I'm quite familiar with - both as a singer and anime VA)))
🌸 Seeker 🌸
June 20, 2025 at 10:08 PM
The boy sure knows how to keep things interesting - be it singing, acting or fashion. I really like the poster art.
He is perfectly named. LYN is indeed a universe - not sure about the tranquil bit though. 😂 Or maybe it is the fangirls' hearts which are not so tranquil. 🙈
Guess Italy and lemon gelato really suit him. He's looking really relaxed and happy. 😊❤
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Gikata
June 21, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Vlog of shooting posters just dropped, and my jaw along with it - the hair, the purple asymmetric eyeshadow, the pose, the expressions?! This is not even visual-key level of glam, that's full Bowie right here!
Thank heavens he's not a woman - too much of favored evil concubine energy for our dull modern times lolhttps://x.com/Just_Lice0304/status/1936312859623116908
His name is extremely beautiful, you can feel his parents love in it.
Also I believe it's more on the girlish side? He said there was a female TV anchor with same full name when he was a kid and poor thing got teased about it lolPopular fan explanation is that "once he sings, the universe falls silent to listen", seems pretty spot on.Already flying back, but we can say for sure he had a great time in Italy. Maybe it'll soften him to idea of coming to Europe again, this time with concert or something...
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
June 21, 2025 at 7:40 AM
The pictures are indeed 💯 jaw droppingly good. 🥰
Oh! I love the fan explanation for his name. Spot on.
Yes, I hope he gets "some" idea about his international fans. Surely post TPOB there is a whole new wave which is likely to increase with ADWAD.
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Gikata
June 21, 2025 at 8:00 AM
He was ran into quite a few Italian fans this time, so that has to ring the bell at least. Maybe it's time to dust off that idea about opening insta account he gave up on halfway?
🌸 Seeker 🌸
June 21, 2025 at 9:20 AM
All I can say is if LYN makes up his mind to be on insta - it will be an insta account like no other in the world er, universe.
6 9TailedVixen Loves Hanging Upside Down
June 20, 2025 at 7:47 AM
NOTES FROM 9TAILEDVIXEN'S THIRD WEEK OF JUNE 2025:
1. LIFE NOTES
Muscle memory is something wondrous - after a rough first week back from 5 weeks away travelling, I'm back to being able to complete my flows in class. YES!
Work has been killer with June being Father's Day month and so my anti-violence against women nonprofit has been busy with a campaign to galvanise more men to step up to take action to address sexism, misogyny, and violence against women wherever they are.
And as Beanies who are ARMY knows - the final BTS member Suga (also known as Pookie Yoongi by fans who bias him) has been discharged from his military service today. OT7 are back and the next few months should be interesting.
2. THIS WEEK IN KOREAN WOMEN'S NEWS
(a) Comfort Women, Democratization and Womens’ Rights in Korea and Taiwan
Check out this long article about the issue of comfort women in Korea and Taiwan and the different challenges the women of each country faces in terms of fighting for their human rights.
https://globaltaiwan.org/2025/06/comfort-women-democratization-and-women-rights-in-korea-and-taiwan/
(b) Korea’s gender pay gap is the world’s worst. Will transparency fix it?
Since joining the OECD in 1996, South Korea has consistently ranked first among member nations for its gender pay gap.
Despite public awareness, the root causes of the gap remain difficult to trace. There is no clear statistical framework or government data to accurately identify them. Currently, public disclosures include only the number of male and female employees and the average compensation per person by gender.
https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/amp/economy/20250619/koreas-gender-pay-gap-is-the-worlds-worst-will-transparency-fix-it
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
June 20, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Muscle memory is our secret human super power once we remember to tap into it.
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9TailedVixen Loves Hanging Upside Down
June 22, 2025 at 1:34 AM
I still struggled with the more difficult flow today.
Teacher just patted me and said: "You need to re-condition your body".
Ah well. Hopefully I'll be back in full form within the next few weeks.
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
June 22, 2025 at 3:30 AM
It’s amazing that you have got to this level of expertise after such a short time training. Has it been a year? A few weeks off will have an impact on anyone, even Olympic specialist if they had no training were out of their normal routine their performance would suffer too.
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9TailedVixen Loves Hanging Upside Down
June 22, 2025 at 7:30 PM
It's been 18 months-ish. I also had a month's break last year (for my trip to the UK) at the beginning of my Aerial journey but the reconditioning/recovery period this year is far more brutal than last year.
I think it's because I just jumped in the deep end and pushed myself to do the intermediate moves that I was doing.
Anyway, after the first class back (the most brutal after which my muscles were sore for 48 hours), everything's back to normal post-class (no aches and pains) but I feel it when attempting inversions and with moves that require lots of flexibility.
Ah well - as my teachers (all of them) said to me: just keep coming to class and keep going with the re-conditioning.
Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
June 22, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Gosh 18 months! I remember when you first mentioned it and look how we got to meet in person because of those conversations😊
7 Kathryn51
June 20, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Has anyone here ever purchased a "script book" for a k-drama?
I finally gave into my secret craving and ordered the script book for The Art of Negotiation. Partly to decipher some of the dialogue (Viki translation didn't make sense to me in some scenes) and partly to read the script instructions/direction. Of course, if the actors ad-libbed, the script won't be much help.
I had never heard of script books until I looked up the drama on Amazon.
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welh
June 20, 2025 at 8:41 AM
It is rare that drama scripts reach public hands. Hollywood studios and others have anyone with access to their acquired stories to sign non-disclosure agreements to review them. All scripts are copyrighted and registered with screenwriter guild in order to protect rights. (FYI, less than 0.3 percent of annual registered scripts actually get filmed.) Actors get watermarked and personalized copies of scripts to trace if it is copied or leaked ( a breach of their NDA).
I am aware that some actors keep their series shooting scripts in their personal libraries. But I am not aware of a current secondary market for drama scripts.
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Kathryn51
June 20, 2025 at 6:47 PM
These script books are actually officially released. I believe I first read about this one on Namu-wiki, but it said sales would only be in Korean bookstores. The book for this drama is available on both Amazon and E-bay - probably by vendors that import to the US from Korea and re-sale.
Here's what I discovered: "Korean drama script books are published collections of scripts for popular Korean TV dramas (K-dramas). They typically include the complete dialogue, stage directions, and sometimes additional content like behind-the-scenes notes, character descriptions, or commentary from the writers or directors."
It hasn't been translated so I'm going to do it on my own (with a scanner/translator) to see there are any insights on the confusing scenes I mentioned.
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
June 20, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Looking forward to hearing your discoveries. I wonder if you drop it into AI and ask it to translate it from the perspective of an experienced Korean literature professor or screenwriter!
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welh
June 21, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Interesting. It seems the production company is trying to squeeze more revenue out of its show.
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Kurama
June 20, 2025 at 8:48 AM
No, usually, it's in Korean and I don't read it.
I only got some Bluray coffret of making-of.
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WEnchanteur
June 22, 2025 at 12:42 AM
It's more and more popular, so they publish some now. I have older kdrama screenplays, original from the writer, so format .hwp. Then I could tranform it into .docx, then translate some of them in a .txt file. (thanks GrokAI).
I'd like to ask you: I guess the script book is in korean. But what is the format you bought? Electronic? Do you think there is a way to copy the text (let's say in a text file), so it's then possible to do a translation of it?
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Kathryn51
June 22, 2025 at 9:13 AM
The product description says paperback, 1000 pages and it appears to be in two volumes. It's in Korean so I will need to scan pages that are of interest and then use some sort of translation program or as you did, convert to docx.
Here's a link to the Amazon page (my search was Art of Negotiation kdrama - otherwise you will get lots of US authors books regarding negotiation): https://www.amazon.com/K-Drama-Art-Negotiation-Script-Book/dp/B0F5SDTTM9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3CSNZJ2SE8GC8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gxfRJEwQmj0CsHCfJPxjmjUlTH7KZy_JzrlvLl0wvvjHy9ieshJ1pXF7y2VvJvqrLKG_NwLgnO5lqem5nUmlFg.uDYozDZTLioUm9XhsqfuRYamC_d-VUho-sCBV6cF5Zk&dib_tag=se&keywords=The+Art+of+Negotiation+kdrama&qid=1750608454&sprefix=the+art+of+negotiation+kdrama%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-1
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WEnchanteur
June 22, 2025 at 10:09 AM
It's why I never bought them. But thinking about it now. Yes! You can scan it. Then use OCR soft to make the scans a comprehensive file, then use translate on this.
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8 Ghost of Tim (eccentric observations from a male perspective)
June 20, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Hello Beanies! I have been away for awhile. I was haunting England for few weeks but I'm back to my normal haunting territory now. I am currently busy catching up on my drama viewing.
I am fixated to Our Unwritten Seaul and am currently convinced it is the best Kdrama I've seen this year. Park Bo-young is just awesome in the dual roles. If it remains my favorite of the year is yet to be seen, but currently it has the top spot.
Now here is a viewing tip from my eccentric side. If you have Netflix, I really recommend watching Is Love Sustainable?. Yes, it's a Jdrama, but it's really, really good. It has a huge plot twist in the last two episodes that throws focus on the characters' final decisions. It's powerful and hopeful!
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
June 20, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Shame you didn’t reach out as we could have had an English beanie meet up. Hope you enjoyed the scenery and the unexpected decent weather.
I quite liked Is love sustainable? too.
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9 Anne18
June 20, 2025 at 10:45 PM
I am just chipping in to say something that's been on my mind ever since dropping Our Movie at episode 1. JYB's childish mannerisms do stand out starkly, but personally, I found NGM's "coolly cold" act equally rehearsed! And what's more, his mannerism made less sense for his character than JYB's did for hers. I thought.... Okay, this guy is a bit aloof and cynical. But what are those 'sexy guy head tilts' he is doing? Why is he doing that? I was so irritated by those head tilts!
I am not targeting either artist - I have liked both JYB and NGM in past roles, but this drama is just not bringing out the best in them. The thin, clichéd backstories didn't convince me, so I found it hard to understand the exaggerated mannerisms of both leads. And the direction makes the exaggeration worse! Why does the camera linger on them for so long? I caught the ending of ep 3 somewhere, and.... what was that zoom in on JYB , and that lingering on NGM and his ex's fish lips? 🙄. I am sorry, but I HAVE to rant. Because when a drama describes itself as an "emotional slow burn", I expect more subtlety in acting and direction, and more detailed writing and characterisation.
And I am not done yet... Just two more things.. but these are probably the biggest bombs I am going to drop on this drama, so if you are loving it, please don't read further...
1. Just the overall theme of this drama, as I perceived from episode 1, seems to be this clichéd scenario of a cheerful sick girl "curing" a depressed, cynical man. Which just doesn't make sense. We have a girl D-Y-I-N-G here! Could you please give her some more attention, writernim? ... Like the details of her illness, her struggles, etc. Coz all I got was someone looking at her from a very self-centered, and... *cough* if may I use the dreaded phrase .... from a very male gaze.
2. Also, the way the characters have been written, (especially their ages and situations in life) opens up an uncomfortable (but conveniently overlooked by the writer here) power dynamic between the couple. I so agreed with @dramaddictally on that point!
The casting has been criticised, but if you think, in a way, it was the RIGHT thing to cast JYB. So now at least we don't have dual power dynamics at play here (between the actors, in addition to what's already there between the characters). I am glad that they cast JYB, no matter if she seems to "try hard" to be a 25 y.o. (IMO, NGM is also a 50 y.o. "trying hard" to be a 30 something character). She is more of an industry "equivalent" to NGM, compared to some actress in her 20s.
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
June 20, 2025 at 11:34 PM
What are watching for joy these days? If I remember rightly you like the slice of life dramas with depth and there are very few of those around these days. Are you reading instead?
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Anne18
June 20, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Thanks for checking up on me Reply! I am a little stressed, preparing to attend a family function (I struggle with those). From the bottom of my heart, I wish joy for the people involved, but I feel no "joy" in attending such functions. It seems like a task! Ugh! Sorry for being a killjoy here on DB too! 😞
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
June 20, 2025 at 11:49 PM
No worries at all. It sounds tough I hope you have some self care lined up to keep you going during the event and to treat yourself afterwards. Adult expectations and responsibilities are not all they are cracked up to be😢
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Anne18
June 20, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Thanks Reply! Expectations are really way too high here. But time and age have taught me to prioritise myself, so I am confident I can always come back to being myself after feeling lost for some time 🙂
Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
June 21, 2025 at 12:05 AM
That’s good to hear☺️
10 AmnesiaYawns
June 21, 2025 at 7:27 AM
The New York Times just posted an article "K-Dramas are a Cry for Help" (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/19/opinion/k-drama-birthrate-crisis.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Qk8.5qAT.K_7rxJkKdaf0&smid=url-share) - I hope the link works! - which is quite intriguing. The author identifies several factors for south Koreas birthrate crisis (which is a problem für most of the western world as well), the patriarchal nature of the society, the striving for perfection which will get you in the best university (or to the edge of a high building) and … Kdramas.
I think she doesn't go far enough, though - Kdramas and their mostly female writers created men who are to good to be true, perfect princes with perfect visuals who embody everything a woman could ever want.
They just don't exist in reality.
So Kdramas are basically a blueprint for what women want in a man, but men don't care and stick to the old ways, which women just don't find attractive (to put it mildly). And that's the crisis in a nutshell.
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lulu88
June 21, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Thank you for sharing the article. Appreciated reading it.
Struck by this quote:
Culturally, South Korea has achieved the paradoxical status of unassailable cool with absolutely no chill.
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AmnesiaYawns
June 22, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Which is so true - women and men stand on opposite sides (sometimes literally, as the Anti-Yoon demos showed) and yell at each other: "I cannot stand your bullshit any longer!!!"
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11 Babylilo
June 21, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Comment was deleted
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12 mom2kidsdog
June 22, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Can I just say, without fear of returbution, that KANG MIN HYUK IS SMOKIN'' HAAAAWWWWWTTT, and I'd like to see more of him ... no, I mean literally see more of him .... his chest, his back his biceps, his abs, his neck, et al.! Just finished Celebrity ... again ... and now I'm obsessed,
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mom2kidsdog
June 22, 2025 at 7:33 PM
I watched it again in light of the Kim Soo Hyun situation. Truly sad.
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13 mmmmm
June 22, 2025 at 9:17 PM
This week I've discovered that actor Lee Jun-young is a truly remarkable talented young idol turned actor.
I've seen him in 4 projects and he took on very different roles (i.e., Love and Leashes, Weak Hero Class2, Tangerines, Melo Movie). Not easy to get so diverse roles like that within a span of 2-3 years. He's a great actor in making, and I truly hope he takes his sweet time to rise in fame as skyrocket ing into fame right away has more cons and pros imho.
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
June 23, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Anneyong dear M. Good that you have discovered Jun and enjoyed his different roles. He is truly amazing in all the dramas you mentioned.
While Jun has been acting (and acing pretty diverse roles) for a while now, he can play Prince Charming and also be quite scary when he puts his mind to it. So if you want to check out any of his other works, remember to do your research first so as to not be blindsided. 😅 Here is his mdl entry listing his works.
https://mydramalist.com/people/15847-jun
I guess he would be enlisting in a year or so. You can slowly enjoy his roles as and when you want.
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
June 23, 2025 at 6:26 AM
^^ Also our other M i.e. @Midnight can vouch for how very terrifying Jun can be when he decides to play a villain. 😱
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Midnight
June 23, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Thanks for the mention, Cera-ya 🫰
I've actually been thinking about what to write as a reply to M's comment since I read it, because I know I won't be able to stop! 🙈 Sorry in advance for the word-eplosion that is going to follow! 🙈
Jun, in my humble opinion, is truly an acting genius.
I have a rule of not watching more than 2 dramas by the same actor back to back, because it makes me desensitized towards them, if that makes sense. And I don't want to ruin a good show for myself just because I saw too much of the actor. But with Jun, I watched FIVE of his dramas back to back, and he still amazed me every second of them. He just transforms into a new person for every role.
I first saw him in Class of Lies, which I started because I love Yoon Kyun Sang, and I was immediately fascinated by Jun, although I almost never feel drawn to the villain, especially the school bully type.
I have seen him 10 of his works, but I skipped D.P. and Weak Hero Class as I can't sit through those types of violence in dramas.
What Cera is referring to is the movie Brave Citizen, which I started knowing nothing about (the poster looks deceptively fun!😶), got immediately blindsided by the brutal violence, and would have dropped if it had been a drama. But I was practically transfixed by Shin Hae Sun's and Jun's acting, and it was only 2 hours, so I bit the bullet and watched till the end. Both actors were spectacular, and gave me nightmares for weeks! 🥴🥴
Watching him in interviews can be a shock at first as he is extremely (and I mean extremely) shy. He sometimes looks physically in pain poor boy. In a recent interview he was asked how he can act when he is so shy, and he answered: Being in front of a camera is the only way I can express myself freely.
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
June 23, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Thank you Midnight!! 🥰❤ I knew you can exposite on Jun much better than me. 😂 Indeed there are not many artists whose dramas can be watched back-to-back but Jun makes it easy.
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Midnight
June 23, 2025 at 9:59 AM
😅🙈🫰
mmmmm
June 24, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Thanks to both Cera and Midnight I got to know your Jun better!!! 😆 I have to admit I didn’t know who he was before: I was watching Melo Movie but I didn’t think anything much about his role as the character was borderline annoying to me. He acted well, but I didn’t like his character that much. I did watch Love and Leashes and, while thinking that the show had such a strange yet revolutionary concept, I focused more on the FL as she did pretty well in that one. But while I was watching Weak Hero Class2 I became so mesmerized by a greyish villain!!! And I discovered that it was this actor. And because I just finished watching Tangerines, I saw that these were so different roles and I was mindblown !
He reminds me of Nam Goong-min. NGM also plays both good guy and villainous roles extremely well. In fact, this man here didn’t just play these roles well, he, as you guys said, transformed into different people completely. Even his looks completely changed in some roles (e.g., Weak Hero).
I’m afraid to watch shows that he’s a villain now because of Weak Hero I knew then and there that he would be a really good villain. Reminds me of when I first looked up NGM after watching him in Remember: War of the Son.
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🌸 Seeker 🌸
June 24, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Ha, ha, ha ... you are right!! When Jun is good, he is good, but when he is bad, he's the worst. 😱🙈
Anyway whenever you watch a drama featuring him just don't go in without your research. 😅💪