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3.3 - Episodes 3 and 4 of Mr. Sunshine
23 december 2022 · 36 min
In this episode, we recap and analyze Episodes 3 and 4 of Mr. Sunshine, the hit K Drama on Netflix. Ae-shin and Eugene are trying to figure out if they are comrades, allies or enemies. They keep running into each other: at the riverbank on the way to see Potter Eun-san, at the tailor, and at the train station. Lees meer
When an American rifle is stolen, Ae-shin is suspected, but turns out it was Gunner Jang who stole the gun. Eugene suspects her, but says he will protect her. We also learn the origin story of Goo Dong-mae. He was the son of butchers, the lowest of the commoners and reviled. His mother forced him to run away from home, to avoid the life of a butcher’s son. When his parents are beaten, Ae-shin saves Yu-jin. We also meet Ae-shin’s fiance, Kim Hui-seung, who has finally come home from Japan. He’s a gambling, good for nothing and Ae-shin does not seem happy to see him.
We talk about how both Eugene and Dong-mae were victims of abuse, left Joseon and are now back in Joseon, but with loyalties to another country. We also talk about how the mothers of Ae-shin, Yu-ji and Dong-mae all sacrificed themselves to save their child. We also talk about the complicated relationship between Ae-shin and Eugene.
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3.2 - Episodes 1 and 2 of Mr. Sunshine
16 december 2022 · 44 min
In this episode, we recap and analyze Episodes 1 and 2 of Mr. Sunshine, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Lee Byung-hun as Eugene Choi, Kim Tae-ri as Go Ae-shin, Yoo Yeon-Seok as Goo Dong-mae, Kim Min-jung as Kudo Hina, and Byun Yo-han as Kim Hee-sung. Lees meer
We learn the story of Eugene Choi, a slave from Joseon who stows away to the United States. Even though he is no longer a slave, he has a hard life in New York, getting beat up by bullies and having his money taken away. He decides to join the US military, and becomes a Captain in the US Marines. After the Spanish-American War, he is sent to Joseon with Major Kyle Moore, to work at the US legation and deal with a former US diplomat who is selling secrets to the Japanese.
We spend time talking about the historical context for Mr. Sunshine, including the story of how Korea has struggled for independence as a small country caught between multiple superpowers and the establishment of the Korean Empire. We also talk about how deeply hierarchical Korean society is at the time.
The first two episodes introduce us to so many characters, so we spend time introducing the primary and secondary characters. We spend time talking about Yu-jin’s journey to becoming an American and what he left behind in Joseon.
We explore the K Drama elements that we saw in the first two episodes. We also decide not to discuss our favorite outfits since the costumes are not about fashion. We will, however, talk about the dresses and outfits: what they were, what they signify, how they change over time.
References:
Exhibit about the Emperor of Korea’s yellow robe
Introduction to the Spanish-American War
Cast of Mr. Sunshine
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3.1 - Joanna, Sung Hee and Jeanie Share Their Top 3 K Dramas
9 december 2022 · 34 min
We’re getting ready for Season 3 where we will recap and analyze Mr. Sunshine, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Lee Byung-hun as Eugene Choi, Kim Tae-ri as Go Ae-shin from 2018. Lees meer
Before we dive into Mr. Sunshine, we did a fun episode with Sung Hee’s sister Jeanie. Jeanie shares her K Drama and Korean language journey. Then Joanna, Sung Hee and Jeanie share their Top 3 K Dramas. Actually, we end up sharing our Top 5 and cousin Linda (through Joanna) shares her Top 9 K Dramas.
Listeners, we will be recapping and analyzing Episodes 1 nd 2 of Mr. Sunshine next week, so get ready!
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3.0 - Introducing Season 3 of K Drama Chat
2 december 2022 · 20 min
Joanna and Sung Hee introduce the show that K Drama Chat will cover during Season 3 - Mr. Sunshine. Mr. Sunshine is a hit show on Netflix from 2018. The show is about Eugene Choi (Lee Byung-hun), who was born into slavery in Joseon. After escaping to the United States at the time of the 1871 Shinmiyangyo, he becomes a Captain in the US Marine Corps. He gets sent to Joseon by President Roosevelt, under the guide of “taking care” of an American allegedly selling secrets to the Japanese. Captain Choi meets and falls in love with Go Ae-shin (Kim Tae-ri), an aristocrat’s granddaughter who refuses to sit quietly, marry, have children and embroider butterflies all day. Lees meer
Jen is taking a couple of months off from the show so Joanna and Sung Hee are taking this opportunity to recap and review a historical (saeguk) K Drama, which Jen is not a fan of. Before diving into Mr. Sunshine, Joanna and Sung Hee are taking it easy for a couple of weeks. In this episode, they talk about Mr. Sunshine, and the shows they are currently watching.
Listeners, start watching or rewatching Mr. Sunshine now so you’re ready when we start analyzing the first two episodes in a couple of weeks!
References:
Mr. Sunshine on Netfllix
Korean History series on YouTube from LoonyTricky
The 2 Koreas according to Crash Landing On You (CLOY)
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2.16 - Episode 16 of It's Okay To Not Be Okay
23 november 2022 · 54 min
In this episode, we recap and analyze Episode 16, the final episode of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, the hit K Drama on Netflix. In this episode, the story is Find the Real, Real Faces by Meun Young. Sang Tae convinces Meun Young to publish her final book, which is about three friends (an emotionless princess, a boxed man, and a masked man) whose faces were stolen by an evil shadow witch. After a long journey and meeting many characters, the friends realize that what the shadow witch had stolen from them was not their real, real faces but their courage to find happiness. Lees meer
This episode was ultimately about Gang Tae, Sang Tae and Meun Young finding the courage to be happy. Gang Tae learned to be vulnerable, to ask for help, to love and be loved, and to believe that he wasn’t born to take care of Sang Tae because Moon Gang Tae belongs to Moon Gang Tae. Meun Young was able to shed the narrative that she is an empty can, unable to care about others’ feelings. Meun Young came to care about the brothers, rejoin the community, love, be loved, and write again. Sang Tae was able to overcome his trauma, paint over the murderous butterfly and paint his own butterflies, and leave Gang Tae to pursue a career as an illustrator.
This episode also revisited the stories of some of the patients at the hospital, including A-reum and Jung-tae, who are finally together; the assemblyman’s song, Kwon Ki-do, who is studying for the national civil service exam; Pil won, who has a new pair of shoes and the courage to leave the hospital for good; and Eun-ja, who has accepted her daughter’s death and has opened up her own restaurant.
Even the second and third couples look like they’re going to make it. The publisher is opening up his new office in Seongjin City to be closer to Ju-ri, and Jae-soo appears to be getting closer to the art director.
At the end of the episode, Joanna, Jen and Sung Hee reveal the show they are going to recap and analyze in Season 3 of K Drama Chat – Mr. Sunshine! We w…
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2.15 - Episode 15 of It's Okay To Not Be Okay
13 november 2022 · 44 min
Jen is back, yay! In this episode, we recap and analyze Episode 15 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, the hit K Drama on Netflix. In this episode, the story is The Tale of the Two Brothers. We think this story is about how Gang Tae, Sang Tae and Meun Young all love each other and they just need to stop bickering, stop wasting time trying to stay apart, and decide to stay together. Lees meer
This episode answers questions about Nurse Park and why she killed the Moon brothers’ mom and how she manipulated Park Ok-ran. Nurse Park tries to hurt Sang Tae, Gang Tae and Meun Young, but Sang Tae hits her over the head with a book. The police finally come and take Meun Young away.
Meun Young tells Gang Tae and Sang Tae to move out of the house because she doesn’t think any of them can get over her mom killing the brothers’ mom. But Sang Tae and Gang Tae are determined to stay. The show comes full circle when Gang Tae’s hand is cut again, and this time, it’s Gang Tae who tells Meun Young that he loves her, but she just walks away.
At the end of the episode, Joanna and Jen talk about the three shows they’re considering for Season 3 of K Drama Chat.
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2.14 - Episode 14 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay
6 november 2022 · 48 min
Jen is sick, so Sung Hee is filling in. In this episode, we recap and analyze Episode 14 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, the hit K Drama on Netflix. In this episode, the story is The Hand, The Monkfish. We think this story is autobiographical for Meun Young, whose mom thought she was perfect and protected her and kept her in the cursed castle. Lees meer
We learn that Nurse Park is Meun Young’s mom and turns out that she killed the Moon brothers’ mom. It also appears that she killed Meun Young’s dad by pulling the plug on the machines keeping him alive. Meun Young runs away when she learns who her mom is. We learn more about Meun Young’s mom, including her medical background and how she stayed at the hospital for 20 years to watch her husband suffer. At the end of the show, Do Hui Jae convinces Sang Tae to go with her and they end up at the cursed castle, with Sang Tae unconscious or dead.
We talk about how Gang Tae, Sang Tae and Meun Young are processing the fact that Nurse Park is Meun Young’s mom and how they are protecting each other. The publisher and Ju-ri are starting to show their feelings toward each other. We also get an update on some of the patients at the OK Hospital.
At the end of the show, Joanna and Jen discuss the shows they are considering for Season 3 of K Drama Chat.
References:
Butterfly by BTS
What is makgeolli?
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2.13 - Episode 13 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay
29 oktober 2022 · 56 min
In this episode, we recap and analyze Episode 13 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, the hit K Drama on Netflix. In this episode, the story is The Father of the Two Sisters. There are parallel stories here involving an abuser and someone who allowed the abuse to happen. Lees meer
We learn that Meun Young’s dad knew that his wife was cruel to Meun Young, but he tolerated it, only reading a single book to Meun Young. There is also a side story about patient Sun-hae. Sun-hae was abused by her mother and her father stood by and did nothing, despite pleas from Sun-hae. We also learn that Meun Young witnessed her father throw her mother over the staircase and then dump her mother’s body in the lake. Similarly, Sang Tae witnessed the murder of his mother.
Meun Young’s dad dies. Before he died, he confessed that he killed his wife and tried to kill Meun Young because he worried that Meun Young would turn into a monster like his wife. At the end of the episode, we have a huge surprise: Nurse Park is Meun Young’s and the murderer of the Moon brothers’ mom.
In addition to analyzing this episode, Joanna, Jen and Sung Hee also talk about common and useful phrases to use when traveling in Korea or eating at a Korean restaurant.
References:
Korean Braised Quail Eggs
Shamanism in Korean
Book Series from It’s Okay to Not Be Okay on Amazon
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2.12 - Episode 12 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay
20 oktober 2022 · 38 min
In this episode, we recap and analyze Episode 12 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, the hit K Drama on Netflix. In this episode, the story is Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Are Gang Tae and Meun Young fated for each other? Are they in an ill-fated relationship? Lees meer
In this episode, Gang Tae and Meun Young get closers. Meun Young is happy to have the brothers in the house and she likes her house again. She and Sang Tae are working on her new book. But the episode turns dark when Gang Tae finds a family photo in Meun Young’s room. Meun Young’s mother is obscured in the photo, but Gang Tae realizes she is wearing a butterfly pin.
Later, when Sang Tae recounts to Gang Tae and the directory the story of how their mom died, Gang Tae realizes that Meun Young’s mom is very likely their mom’s murderer. He feels like he was just starting to live a normal life and now he just wants to run away. Worse, he found an envelope on Sang Tae’s desk with a butterfly and a note saying, “I’ll come for you soon.”
There are side stories involving a PTSD patient, Ju-ri and the publisher, Jae soo and Sang Tae, and Meun Young’s dad. We also talk about the low birthrate in Korea, the two numbering systems in Korea, and the BTS members going into the military.
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2.11 - Episode 11 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay
13 oktober 2022 · 41 min
In this episode, we recap and analyze Episode 11 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, the hit K Drama on Netflix. In this episode, the children’s story is The Ugly Duckling. Family comes up a lot in this episode. Jae-soo is upset that Sang Tae doesn’t consider him family, even though he’s been following the brothers around for ten years. Gang Tae wants Sang Tae to be the adult in the family, able to accept others, including and especially Meun Young, who he says is the loneliest person he’s ever known. Lees meer
This episode opens with Park Ok-ran visiting Meun Young and the two of them getting into a confrontation, which leaves Meun Young with a cut on her hand. Gang Tae rushes to the cursed castle and is relieved to find that Meun Young is okay. When he tries to go after Park Ok-ran, Meun Young gets upset. Gang Tang tries to calm her down, tells her to count to three, then gives her a long, passionate kiss.
Gang Tae tells Meun Young the story of Sang Tae’s traumatic memory, tells her that he must stay by Sang Tae’s side, and she must stay by his side. Meung Young tries talking to Sang Tae, urges him to come home and be her illustrator, threatens him with breach of contract for moving out, and ultimately asks him to be her older brother. In the end, Sang Tae becomes the older brother to both Gang Tae and Meun Young.
At the end of this episode, a dark figure enters the cursed castle, sits at Meun Young’s dresser in the basement, and looms over the sleeping figures of Meun Young, Gang Tae and Sang Tae. Who is she? What is the butterfly pin that she pulled out of the dresser? Is it related to the butterfly that Sang Tae is so afraid of?
In this episode, we also talk about the Korean family register and the multi-balms that Korean women put on their faces and necks to make themselves look dewey and glow.
Reference:
How multi balms became Korea's biggest beauty trend in 2022
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2.10 - Episode 10 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay
3 oktober 2022 · 40 min
In this episode, we recap and analyze Episode 10 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, the hit K Drama on Netflix. In this episode, the children’s story is The Girl Who Cried Wolf, based on The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Meun Young says the boy was lonely up on the mountain, which is why he kept crying wolf. When the wolf did come, nobody believed him. Meun Young believes that if even one person had believed him, he would not have died. Lees meer
The episode opens with Sang Tae announcing to the hospital that Gang Tae wanted him dead and that he pushed him (Sang Tae) into the river. He is eventually given sedatives and put into an isolation room. A devastated Gang Tae pushes Meun Young away, telling her that he has woken from a dream and he should have focused instead on his brother. Sang Tae eventually goes home with Ju-ri’s mom. Whe Gang Tae comes home, he apologizes for lying to Sang Tae, for saying that he wanted him dead, for wishing his brother was normal. Sang Tae comes out of his wardrobe and comforts a sobbing Gang Tae.
Meanwhile, Meun Young threatens Gang Tae, who has rejected him. She goes to Ju-ri’s house, asks Ju-ri’s mom for seaweed soup because it’s her birthday, and then gives the doll Mang Tae back to Sang Tae.
The episode also featured:
Ju-ri and Meun Young drinking together, and Ju-ri slapping Meun Young in a drunken state
The publisher and Jae-soo fighting over who is to blame for the debacle between Sang Tang, Gang Tae and Meun Young.
Meun Young’s dad tried to choke Park Ok-ran, whom he heard singing “Oh my darling Clementine” and reading The Murder of the Witch of the West
At the end of the episode, Park Ok-ran hits a caregiver on the head with a rock and then escapes from the hospital. Gang Tae figures out that she is headed to the cursed castle, so he races to Meun Young. Meun Young answers a knock on the door and finds Park Ok-ran standing on her front step, wishing her a happy birthday.
References:
How seaweed soup became Korea’s traditional birthday dish
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2.9 - Episode 9 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay
27 september 2022 · 53 min
In this episode, we recap and analyze Episode 9 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, the hit K Drama on Netflix. In this episode, the children’s story is King Donkey Ears, the story about the King who had donkey ears and told his hairdresser to keep it a secret. After many years, the hairdresser could no longer hold the secret in, so he shouted to the forest that the king had donkey ears. Lees meer
The show opens with Gang Tae and Meun Young arguing over going on a trip; they clearly have different ideas for this trip. They ultimately go up to the mountains, visit a spectacular suspension bridge, and spend the night at a guesthouse. They even run into A-reum and Jeoung-Tae, who have run away together, but ultimately decide to separate until they are both recovered enough to be together successfully. Before leaving the guesthouse, Gang Tae gives Meun Young a bouquet of flowers, the flowers he was never able to give her when they were kids.
So much happened in this episode, but the most important scene is when Sang Tae confronts Gang Tae and accuses him of lying because Gang Tae and Meun Young went away together without telling Sang Tae the truth. Sang Tae asks Gang Tae who likes more, him or Meun Young, and then shouts that Gang Tae told their mother every day that he wanted Sang Tae to die, and Gang Tae pushed him into the frozen river and left him to die.
This episode also featured:
The growing relationship between the publisher and Ju-ri
Meun Young’s dad saying Meung Young’s just like “that woman,” who was a monster who killed someone and whom he killed.
The mysterious patient Park Ok-ran taking her book “The Muder of the Witch of the West” from Nurse ParkReferences:
Filming locations for It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
What do chrysanthemums mean?
What do chrysanthemums means?
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2.8 - Episode 8 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay
17 september 2022 · 48 min
Jen is on vacation, so this episode has Joanna and Sung Hee. Lees meer
In this episode, we recap and analyze Episode 8 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, the hit K Drama on Netflix. In this episode, the children’s story is Beauty and the Beast. Joanna and Sung Hee disagree on the overall theme of this episode: Is it Stockholm Syndrome, where Gang Tae has become enamored of his captor, Meun Young? Or is it a story about how Gang Tae’s love is healing the monstrous Meun Young? We also argue that neither Meun Young nor Gang Tae can be the beast, since they are both so gorgeous!
We talk about how Meun Young and Gang Tae are loosening up, learning to smile, and starting to enjoy each other’s company. But trouble is brewing between Sang Tae and Meun Young. Sang Tae doesn’t like Meun Young’s shorter hair, he is angry that Gang Tae gave the nightmare catcher Mang Tae to Meun Young, and he doesn’t want to share Gang Tae. Meun Young, meanwhile, knows that Gang Tae and Sang Tae will never be separated and she wants to join the brothers under the metaphorical umbrella.
The poor publisher has become enamored of Ju-ri and he’s now living in Ju-ri’s house, in a bid to win back Meun Young’s favor, save his company, and win Ju-ri’s heart. We meet a mysterious patient at the hospital, who walks the halls at night, singing Oh My Darling Clementine. Finally, when a patient’s ex-husband punches Meun-Young, Gang Tae punches him back and is suspended without pay. He leaves the house, seemingly not upset, but smiling, as he runs to Meun Young and asks her to go on a trip. “Let’s go,” he says!
References:
Little by Little on YouTube, with English and Hangeul lyrics
Jhoon Rhi, the father of American Taekwondo, dies -
Quora discussion on the popularity of Taekwondo in the US
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2.7 - Episode 7 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay
10 september 2022 · 57 min
In this episode, we recap and analyze Episode 7 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, the hit K Drama on Netflix. In this episode, the children’s story is The Cheerful Dog. Gang Tae takes care of Meun Young after her nightmare, then takes the day off to spend the day with her. Later, Meun Young’s class at the hospital is canceled and she decides to take Eun-ja’s mink wrap as compensation. When Gang Tae objects, Eun-ja lets Meun Young have it, saying her burden has finally lifted. Gang Tae drinks with Jae-soo and when he comes home to Sang Tae, he has a realization that his mother did love him after all, remembering times when his mother bought him jjampong and invited him under the umbrella with her and Sang Tae. Lees meer
The publisher gets drunk at a convenience store and sees an equally drunk Ju-ri, who lashes out at the publisher and then ends up getting a piggyback ride home from him. At the end of the episode, Meun Young’s dad tells Meun Young that she is just like her mom, but Meun Young says no. At home, she cuts off hair, her burden, the hair that her mom would never let her cut. Gang Tae fixes her haircut and then tells her she’s pretty.
References:
Mang Tae Doll on Etsy
Oh My Darling Clementine on Wikipedia
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2.6 - Episode 6 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay
3 september 2022 · 42 min
In this episode, we recap and analyze Episode 6 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, the hit K Drama on Netflix. In this episode Gang Tae and Meun Young admit to each other that they knew each other in childhood, Sang Tae moves in with Meun Young and becomes her exclusive illustrator, Gang Tae eventually moves in to the cursed castle as well, we learn more about the incident where Gang Tae and Sang Tae fell through the ice in the frozen lake, a hospital patient thinks she’s Meun Young’s mom and greatly upsets Meun Young, the hospital director has a clandestine meeting with one of his patients in a linen closet, the publisher and art director try unsuccessfully to convince Meun Young to come back to her old life, and Gang Tae promises Meun Young that he won’t leave her after witnessing her have a terrible nightmare. Lees meer
Joanna and Jen recap the episode, discuss the show, and then talk about Korean BBQ.
References:
The Story of Bluebeard
Korean BBQ vs. American BBQ
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2.5 - Episode 5 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay
23 augustus 2022 · 40 min
In this episode, we recap and analyze Episode 5 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, the hit K Drama on Netflix. In this episode, Gang Tae searches for Meun Young in the pouring rain and finds her. He tries to take her to a motel, but neither has any money, so they end up at Gang Tae’s apartment. Meun Young ends up staying the night, so Gang Tae has to fabricate an excuse to keep Sang Tae and Jae-soo away. When Joo-ri comes home the next day, she confronts Meun Young, who tells Joo-ri that she confessed her feelings to Gang Tae and he is her. They end up fighting and Gang Tae throws Meun Young out. Sang Tae realizes that Gang Tae lied to him to keep him out of the apartment and is once again upset with his brother. We learn more about Meun Young’s dad and Meun Young’s relationship with Joo-ri when they were kids. At the end of the episode, Meun Young convinces Sang Tae to live with her and be her illustrator. When Gang Tae goes looking for his brother, Meung Young invites him to come to the cursed castle. The episode ends with Gang Tae looking up at Meun Young, who is standing on her balcony, echoing the time when she was younger and Gang Tae came to her home’s gate to deliver her flowers, only to be rejected by Meun Young. Lees meer
References:
The Story of Rapunzel
Filming locations
Moon Gang Tae’s house filming location
Meun Young’s cursed castle filming location
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2.4 - Episode 4 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay
13 augustus 2022 · 50 min
Jen is on vacation, so Sung Hee is filling in. In this episode, we recap and analyze episode 4 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, the hit K Drama on Netflix. The children’s story from this episode is Zombie Kid, the boy who couldn’t feel emotion and was only interested in eating. The assemblyman’s son causes havoc at his father’s political rally; he is chastised by his mom and his father tells the hospital director that his son will forever stay in psychiatric hospitals. Meun Young upsets Gang Tae with her talk of parents abandoning useless children, and children pushing away demented parents. But when her father tries to choke her, Gang Tae has a change of heart and goes to look for Meun Young in the rain. We have an important flashback of Meun Young as a young girl, her mom brushing her hair, and her mother lying face down in a pool of blood. Lees meer
We do a recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:
The song Hallelujah by Kim Feel
The Zombie Kid story and how we think this story is about a boy who ultimately was looking for warmth and love from his mom
How Gang Tae is going through a transformation; he’s showing more emotion
How Gang Tae and Meun Young are both childlike and childish in this episode
Gang Tae’s flashbacks of his mom prioritizing Sang Tae when the boys were younger
How Sang Tae is infatuated with Meun Young and he has another episode when Gang Tae yells at him
How this episode is about each character’s need to be seen
Our thoughts re: why Meun Young’s dad said “die” and “why are you still alive?” when he saw Meun Young
How we need to know more about Meun Young’s mother, the circumstances of her death, and her relationship with her daughter
Two characters who we think will become really important: Nurse Park and Ju-ri’s mom
The K Drama elements we see in this episode, namely:
Flowers
Food
Wrist grabs
Umbrellas
Lots of crying, especially by Gang Tae
How in Korean slang, telling someone “do you want to come over to my …
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2.3 - Episode 3 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay
6 augustus 2022 · 38 min
In this episode, we recap and analyze episode 3 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, the hit K Drama on Netflix from 2020. Meun Young shows up at OK Hospital because she misses Gang Tae. Her father is at the hospital, but she doesn’t seem to care about him. The hospital director asks Meun Young to teach a literature class and Sang Tae to paint a mural at the hospital. Meun Young kidnaps a manic patient at the hospital, who turns out to be the son of a famous assemblyman. They stop at a campaign event for the assemblyman. The son gets up on stage and tells the residents that he is the assemblyman's son, that he is mentally ill, and the ugly duckling of the family. Lees meer
We do a recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:
The song My Tale by Park Won
Our impressions of episode 3
How it’s clear that Meun Young and Gang Tae have known each other since they were kids
This episode’s children’s story of Sleeping Beauty and the theme of destiny
The many times that Gang Tae seems to have changed his mind about Meun Young and being with her
How we see another side of Meun Young, the vulnerable side
What we think of the OK Hospital Director
The story of the assemblyman’s son, Min-seok
Mental illness in South Korea and the US
The K Drama elements in this episode
Our favorite Meun Young outfit
Our favorite lines from the show
Brene Brown’s work on fitting in and belonging
Seo yea-ji’s background and acting career
References:
Brene Brown on True Belonging
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2.2 - Episode 2 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay
30 juli 2022 · 55 min
In this episode, we recap and analyze episode 2 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, the hit K Drama on Netflix from 2020. Sang Tae attends a book signing by Meun Young and gets in trouble when he touches a kid wearing a dinosaur costume. Gang Tae comes to his rescue and Meun Young intervenes, causing a huge scene when she gets mad at the child’s parents. While waiting for Sang Tae to calm down, Meun Young asks Gang Tae to be her safety pin. She ends up pushing a book critic, further jeopardizing her career. We also find out that Gang Tae and Sang Tae’s mother was murdered and Sang Tae says it was the butterfly that killer her. Jae-soo and Gang Tae realize it’s time to move again, before the butterflies appear. Sung Hee comes back as our guest! Lees meer
We do a recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We talk about our first impressions of the show and what we loved about the first episode. We discuss:
The song Breathe by Sam Kim, a Korean-American singer, songwriter, producer and guitarist.
What we thought of this episode.
The children’s story in this episode, namely the Girl with the Red Shoes by Hans Christian Anderson.
Obsession and what things in the show cannot be separated.
How we see the world through San Tae’s eyes as he is walking toward the book signing.
How Gang Tae, Sang Tae and Mun Yeoung are all distorted in their emotional reactions to the world around them.
What we think the butterflies mean.
What we know about the Moon brothers’ mom being murdered.
How we learn more about Meun Young, specifically about her parents.
How Meun Young seems to get herself in trouble when Gang Tae is around.
How Meun Young debated whether or not to help Gang Tae when they were little kids, and at the book signing.
The triangles forming between the characters.
The K Drama elements we see in this episode, and there are a lot of them.
Our favorite Meun Young outfit.
Our favorite lines from the episode.
Kim Soo Hyun, his career, his military service, and h…
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2.1 - Episode 1 of It's Okay to Not Be Okay
24 juli 2022 · 41 min
In this episode, we recap and analyze episode 1 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, the hit K Drama on Netflix from 2020. In this first episode, we get introduced to celebrity children’s book author Koo Meun Young (Seo Yea-ji), compassionate caregiver Moon Gang Tae (Kim Soo Hyun), the talented, autistic Moon Sang Tae (Oh Jung-se), and the long suffering nurse Nam Joo-ri (Park Gyu-young). The characters intersect when Meun Young does a book reading at the hospital where Moon Gang Tae works, and when Joo-ri travels to Seoul to get Meun Young’s signature for surgery that her father needs. Lees meer
We do a recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We talk about our first impressions of the show and what we loved about the first episode. We discuss:
You’re Cold by Heize, one of the songs from the OST
The 18 elements that seem to exist in most K Dramas, specifically:
Beautiful actors
Crying, by both women and men
Gorgeous OSTs (original sound tracks)
Food; there's lot of eating in K Dramas
Alcohol; drinking by both men and women
The trip and catch
Piggyback rides
The back hug
Product placements
Holding hands
The wrist grab
Flowers
Love triangles
Umbrella scene
The quirky best friend
The Deep Lean
Beautiful or arresting clothing
The Arm Rest
Other possible K Drama elements, specifically:
A singing or karaoke scene
A gazing at some scenery standing side by side scene
A conversation about whether it’s okay to talk casually with each other
A grandfather or chairman character
The opening stop motion animation about the girl with no friends
What we know about Koo Meun Young
What we know about Moon Gang Tae
What we know about Moon Sang Tae
The K Drama Elements that show up in this episode
Our favorite Meun Young outfit
We close with a discussion about how to refer to older brother or older sister in Korean.
References:
How to refer to older brother or sister in Korean
You’re Cold by Heize on YouTube
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1.19 - Conversation with Professor Ernabel Demillo
16 juli 2022 · 1 uur 2 min
We’re still on break after wrapping up with Hotel Del Luna. In this episode, Joanna and Jen have a conversation with Professor Professor Ernabel Demillo, Department Chair of the Communication and Media Culture Department at Saint Peter's University and host of the Emmy-award winning "Asian American Life" show on CUNY-TV. Ernabel talks about: Lees meer
Her K Drama journey
Why she thinks K Dramas are so addicting
Whether and how the popularity of K Dramas and KPop are affecting American perceptions Asian Americans and Asian culture
How Asian culture is not monolithic
How the colorful outfits in K Dramas make her think of bouquets of flowers
The high production value in K Dramas and how filmmakers and actors in Korea take their crafts very seriously
How Jokoy is about to release his new movie, “Easter Sunday”
The newly-designated Little Manila in Queens
The recurring theme of identity in her show Asian American Life, and so much more.
We laughed nearly the entire episode; come laugh with us! After this episode with Professor Demillo, we will begin Season 2 of K Drama Chat by recapping and analyzing Episode 1 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay. If you haven’t started watching, please start now!
References:
Asian American Life on YouTube
Asian American Life Website
On Demand Korea
Top 10 Korean Variety Shows
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1.18 - Conversation with Friends About K Dramas
9 juli 2022 · 1 uur 6 min
We’re taking a short break between seasons after wrapping up with Hotel Del Luna. In this episode, we have a conversation with a couple of friends: Sung Hee, who was our guest in Episode 6, and cousin Linda, who we have mentioned so many times! Be prepared to laugh with us as we discuss our love of K Dramas! We cover: Lees meer
Our individual K Drama journeys
What makes K Dramas so addicting
How K Dramas are so wholesome
The invention of the Korean language, Hangeul, and our own languages journeys with Hangeul
Our favorite shows and actors
Our favorite K Drama OSTs
Are Korean really that wonderful?
What it’s like to be Asian-American and Korean-American at a time when KPop, K Dramas and Korean culture are so popular
What we thought about Hotel Del Luna
What we think about our choice of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay as the next K Drama that we will recap and analyze
Listeners, next week, we will have another special guest: Professor Ernabel Demillo is Department Chair of the Communication and Media Culture Department at Saint Peter's University and host of the Emmy-award winning "Asian American Life" show on CUNY-TV.
After the episode with Professor Demillo, we will begin Season 2 of K Drama Chat by recapping and analyzing Episode 1 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay. If you haven’t started watching, please start now!
References:
History of Hangeul
Korean tofu soup or Sundubu-jjigae
DramaCool
King Sejong from the Joseon Dynasty
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1.17 - Episode 16 of Hotel Del Luna
2 juli 2022 · 59 min
In this episode, we recap and analyze Episode 16, the finale, of Hotel Del Luna. In this episode, all of the staff resolve their grudges and move on to the afterlife. Bartender Kim overcomes his shame over being labeled a lewd scholar when Man Wol and Koo Chan Sung convince the author to write a novel about a fictional, but honorable, Kim Si-ik. Guest manager Seo hee learns that the daughter of the eldest grandson in her husband’s family will carry the mother’s name, thus ending the family line. Hyun joong’s sister dies and is reunited with her beloved brother. Lees meer
Man Wol and Koo Chan Sung realize that they met nearly 1,300 years ago, when Man Wol became an orphan and Koo Chan Sung and his dad found her and adopted her into their family. Man Wol is able to muster her courage to go into the tunnel to the afterlife, but only after Mago grants their wish of seeing winter together. We see Man Wol, Chan Sung, Bartender Kim, Seo hee and Hyun joong reunite in what might have been a dream or the future. The final scene shows Mago introducing the new owner of the hotel to her sisters; Kim Soo Hyun makes an unforgettable cameo as the owner of Hotel Blue Moon.
We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:
Another song from the OST - Happy Ending, written and performed by IU herself!
Bartender Kim’s story and how he might have been the Shakespeare of Joseon.
How Man Wol showed her love for Bartender Kim in her actions, but not when he was leaving for the afterlife.
What cranes represent in Korean culture and how Joanna is obsessed with them.
The scholar Brene Brown and her work on shame.
Hyeon mi’s death and her reunion with Hyun joong.
How forlorn Yuna became at the thought of Hyun joong leaving and the hotel .disappeared, but how she overcame her grief to give Hyun joong a proper sendoff and flowers from Mago.
How Seo hee overcame her grudge when she learned that her husband’s family line would come to an end.
How Seo hee came t…
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1.16 - Episode 15 of Hotel Del Luna
17 juni 2022 · 52 min
In this episode, we recap and analyze episode 15 of Hotel Del Luna. While Man Wol was gone, Mago gives Chan Sung a task: go back in time to 200 years ago to pick some moon flowers needed to make the wine that will make someone the next owner of the hotel. Chan Sung meets Man Wol, who asks him to stay and become her 85th human manager, but he declines. When he comes back, Mago tells him that Man Wol has come back from the afterlife. Man Wol has a joyful reunion with Chan Sung and her staff. We finally learn Hyun Jung’s back story. He finally confronts Tae sok, who shot him and led his life as Hyun Jung. He also gets to graduate from school. We also learn just a little bit about Bartender Kim’s life. At the end, Man Wol refuses the wine that Yuna has stolen from potion Mago. Chan Sung and Man Wol declare their love for each other. Lees meer
We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:
Another song from the OST - Say Goodbye by Song Haye.
Mago asking Chan Sung to go back in time to retrieve the moon flowers
The mind-bending aspects of time travel.
How Mago has been engineering the whole story of Man Wol and Chan Sung, starting 1,300 years ago.
How we meet a new Mago, poverty Mago.
The Korean board game of baduk, or Go in Japan.
Why Chan Sung didn’t take the medicine that would remove his ability to see ghosts.
The story of Hyun Jung and how he was shot by his friend Tae sok, who then took Hyun Jung’s name and cared for Hyeon mi his whole life.
The confrontation between Hyun Jung and Tae sok.
How we learn a little about bartender Kim’s story.
How Man Wol decided not to drink the wine that Yuna stole, in effect rejecting the opportunity to remain the hotel manager and stay with Chan Sung.
The K Drama elements in this episode:
Flowers
Alcohol
The quirky best friend Sanchez
The umbrella scenes
Our favorite Man Wol outfits.
Our favorite lines from the episode.
Second lead syndrome in K Dramas.
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1.15 - Episode 14 of Hotel Del Luna
4 juni 2022 · 43 min
In this episode, we recap and analyze episode 14 of Hotel Del Luna. Man Wol is convinced that Koo Chan Sung is a reincarnated Chyung Myung. She knows she can’t kill Koo Chan Sung, so she gives the moon ornament to Ji-won to make him stronger, knowing Ji-won will try to kill Koo Chan Sung. Koo Chan Sung battles and tricks Ji-won and is saved by the hotel staff and the grim reaper. As a result, Koo Chan Sung saves Man Wol from being turned to ashes. Chyung Myung finally appears to Man Wol in human form, but instead of bringing him to hell and then vanishing, Man Wol is finally empty and will allow Chyung Myung to go to the afterlife. As a final punishment, Man Wol must accompany Chyung Myung to the bridge to the afterlife. At the end of the episode, Man Wol and Chyung Myung are on the bridge. Man stops, turns around and walks back to Koo Chan Sung. Lees meer
We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:
This week’s featured song from the Hotel Del Luna OST -Can You Hear Me by Ben.
How Man Wol is convinced that Koo Chan Sung is a reincarnated Chyung Myung because of things he’s done and said, including holding her head a certain way when Koo Chan Sung exited the tunnel.
How Man Wol betrayed Koo Chan Sung by giving Ji-won the moon ornament so that he would become stronger and be able to kill Koo Chan Sung.
How Koo Chan Sung battled and vanquished Ji-won by tricking him about the full moon; he was saved by the bartender, bellman, guest manager and grim reaper.
How Koon Chan Sung saved Man Wol from being turned to ashes by Mago.
How Joanna is Team Koo Chan Sung and Jen is Team Chyung Myung.
What it meant when Mago told Man Wol to empty herself
The meaning of 666 (the room where Seo-hee brought Ji-won) to Catholics; it’s from the book of Revelation.
Hyung Jun’s story and how he is waiting for his sister to die. He finally tells Yuna that he will be leaving the hotel soon.
How heartbreaking it was to see Koo Chan Sung sobbing at the …
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1.14 - Episode 13 of Hotel Del Luna
28 mei 2022 · 46 min
In this episode, we recap and analyze episode 13 of Hotel Del Luna. We learn the story of guest manager Seo-hee. 200 years ago, her husband’s family let her baby daughter die, in order to make room for a son to be born. At her death, Seo hee curses the family. When the eldest grandson of the family dies a bachelor and without children, Seo hee is happy. Her happiness is short lived when she finds out the grandson had a pregnant girlfriend. When the girlfriend and her baby are close to death, Seon hee cannot bring herself to let them die, even at the expense of her grudge. The ghost of serial killer Ji won is back and this time, he’s after Chan Sung’s friends: Sanchez, Lee Mi-ra and Yeon-soo. We also finally learn the story of the fateful night when Chyung Myung and Man Wol battle. Chyung Myung stabs himself with Man Wol’s sword and says that he will keep her in his heart and watch her from afar. At the end of the episode, Chan Sung runs into the tunnel to the afterlife (while looking for a lost boy), and is guided by the firefly who has been hanging out in the moon tree for 1,300 years! Lees meer
We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:
This week’s featured song from the Hotel Del Luna OST - Remember Me by Gummy.
How K Drama Chat has gone up in rank on Feedspot’s list of Top K Drama Podcasts!
We learn more about what happened between Man Wol and Chyung Myung on the wedding night of Chyung Myung and Song Hwa.
How Chyung Myung killed himself with Man Wo’s sword and pledged to watch her from afar.
How Chyung Myung is the firefly that has been hanging out in the moon tree for 1,300 years!
Mago #5 or wealth Mago who brings luck and fortune to people and businesses.
How we learn about Seo-hee and her backstory from 200 years ago. How her husband’s family left her baby girl to die and in her death, Seo hee cursed her husband’s death.
How Seo hee couldn’t let the pregnant girlfriend of the eldest grandson, and her baby, die.
The …
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1.13 - Episode 12 of Hotel Del Luna
20 mei 2022 · 44 min
In this episode, we recap and analyze episode 12 of Hotel Del Luna. The story of the serial killer plays out as Koo Chan Sung meets Ji-won at the wine bar and confirms that he is the murderer. They fight and Koo Chan Sung is saved by Detective Yeong-soo. An injured Ji-won later confronts Koo Chan Sung on the roof of the hospital and then jumps off the building. Man Wol meets Ji-won, who is now a vengeful ghost who is out to get Koo Chan Sung. There is a side story about a doctor and his wife who have been buying lifelines in order to save their sick son. We also see Sanchez, who has come home because he believes Veronica is still at the hotel. Man Wol tells Koo Chan Sung to let her go and not be sad, but Koo Chan Sung says he doesn’t want to let her go. The episode ends with a passionate kiss! Lees meer
We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:
This week’s featured song from the Hotel Del Luna OST - See the Stars by Red Velvet.
How we’re teaching our kids to be more formal with adults until given permission to speak more casually
How Man Wol is showing true vulnerability for the first time in 1,300 years
How to love is to be vulnerable
How we learn more about Man Wol’s life, including her love with Yeon-u, her love for Chyung Myung, and Yeon-u’s death
How Chyung Myung is the firefly that has been haunting the Moon Tree for 1,300 years!
How grudges are so damaging to your health
The side story with the doctor and his wife who are using their lifelines and purchasing lifelines from other people to keep their son alive
The themes of forgetting and not wanting to be forgotten in Hotel Del Luna
The K Drama elements in this episode:
Wrist grab
Flowers
Alcohol
Triangles
Our favorite Man Wol outfits
How most K Dramas just one season
The male physique aesthetic in K Dramas
References:
C.S. Lewis quote on vulnerability
Gong Yoo photo shoot for Monster magazine
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1.11 - Episode 11 of Hotel Del Luna
13 mei 2022 · 47 min
In this episode, we recap and analyze episode 11 of Hotel Del Luna. We see the relationship between Man Wol and Chan Sung deepen, take a romantic turn, and become even playful. We revisit the story of the serial killer; Yuna is on Ji-won’s trail. We meet Hwang Moon-Suk, who was the human manager at Hotel Del Luna 30 years ago; she wants to ask Man Wol a favor for her son, who was conceived in Room 404 of Hotel Del Luna. We have the tragic story between Sanchez and Veronica. Veronica dies in a tragic car accident. Thankfully, she is able to say good-bye to Sanchez through the lunar eclipse and Hotel Del Luna. At the end of the episode, Mago visits Man Wol to tell her that her time to leave is coming near and the flowers of the tree will fail when she starts to be afraid. Lees meer
We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:
This week’s featured song from the Hotel Del Luna OST - Only You by Yang Da-il, singer-songwriter and producer,
How the relationship between Man Wol and Chan Sung is changing.
How individuals by default speak formally to each other in South Korea. It’s the protocol to ask to speak informally before actually doing so.
The story with the serial killer and how Yuna is on his tail.
How Mago #4 tells Man Wol that the flowers on the tree will fall once she becomes afraid. Man Wol ends up realizing she is afraid because Chan Sung is in danger.
The story of the human manager, Hwang Moon-Suk. She wants Man Wol to allow her daughter and son-in-law to spend the night at Hotel Del Luna and hopefully conceive a child there.
The tragic story of Sanchez and Veronica.
How Hotel Del Luna has three couples that are not destined to work out: Man Wol and Chan Sung; Hyung Jung and Yuna; Sanchez and Veronica.
The sad and moving story of the father and son who were killed by the truck driver and how the father used his one dream call to contact the truck driver and ask for forgiveness.
How we learn a little more about the guest…
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1.10 - Episode 10 of Hotel Del Luna
7 mei 2022 · 51 min
Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 10 of Hotel Del Luna. The main storyline is about the hotel Chairman and the bartender trying to set up Koo Chan Sung with the Chairman’s granddaughter. While the granddaughter is interested, Koo Chan Sung says that his heart is already taken. And even though Man Wol tells him to leave the hotel, Koo Chan Sung decides to stay by her side. In the end, Man Wol allows Koo Chan Sung to take care of her and guide her to the afterlife., causing the Moon Tree to burst with flowers. The hotel moves back to the city, and Koo Chan Sung is reinstated as the manager. There are three important side stories: Yeon-wu has come back as a reincarnated Yeong-su. Yeong-su meets Lee Mi-ra and they start to date. Koo Chan Sung meets his mother, who is a ghost trapped in a library. And we see the serial killer set up a man for his many murders. Lees meer
We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:
This week’s featured song from the Hotel Del Luna OST - So Long by Paul Kim, a South Korean singer and songwriter.
The firefly and the green, shadowy character from last week’s episode.
Whether or not we would make the choice to eat the medicine that would allow us to stop seeing ghosts.
The love triangle between Man Wol, Koo Chan Sung and the Chairman’s granddaughter.
Joanna’s grandmother’s visit to her in a dream when she was little.
The cameo by Sulli, the famous singer/actress and IU’s best friend; she committed suicie in 2019 after filming the cameo.
How Man Wol accepts that Chan Sung is there to take care of her, and that she will bloom beautifully and then die, like the Moon Tree.
The side story with Koo Chan Sung’s mom and how we both felt shortchanged by this story, we wanted to know more about his mom and the relationship to develop between them more.
The side story with the serial killer, and how he knows Sanchez and Koo Chan Sung.
Our favorite Man Wol outfits.
How food comes up a lot in this episode, espec…
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1.09 - Episode 9 of Hotel Del Luna
29 april 2022 · 39 min
Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 9 of Hotel Del Luna. At the beginning of the episode, Koo Chan Sung finds that he has been abandoned by Man Wol and her staff. The hotel has moved to the countryside. A good portion of the episode is devoted to Koo Chan Sung trying to get back to the hotel, which he does, after a visit to see Mago, and by accompanying the recently deceased hotel Chairman. There is a side story with a Guardian of the Well, who abandoned his well because he was drying out, and wanted to leave the villagers while they would still miss him. The second side story involves Yoona and Hyeung Jun, who unwittingly discover the mass grave of six victims. At the end of the episode, we see a reincarnated Yeon-woo, who turns out to be the detective in charge of the murders. Lees meer
We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:
Another beautiful song from the Hotel Del Luna OST. This time it’s “At the End” by Kim Chung Ha.
How Man Wol abandoned Koo Chan Sung because she didn’t want him to put him in any more danger.
Koo Chan Sung’s visit to Mago, where they argue about his role in Man Wol’s life.
How both Koo Chan Sung and Jang Man Wol are in conflict with themselves and their emotions.
How we learn a little more about Mr. Kim, the bartender.
Dan Pink’s World Regret Survey, where you can take the survey and read regrets from around the world.
How regrets and grudges are so bad for you because they consume you and keep you from moving on with your life.
How we weren’t crazy about the story about the Guardian of the Well.
The K Drama elements of the wrist grab and lots of alcohol.
Our favorite Man Wol outfits.
The gorgeous cinematography of Hotel Del Luna.
The shows we’re watching now, specifically Selling Sunset and Memories of the Alhambra.
References:
Comprehensive analysis of Hotel Del Luna’s gorgeous cinematography
Gif of some of the Dutch angle shots in Hotel Del Luna
Dan Pink’s World Regret Survey
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1.08 - Episode 8 of Hotel Del Luna
22 april 2022 · 46 min
Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 8 of Hotel Del Luna. This pivotal episode is devoted to the relationship between Man Wol and Lee Mi-ra. We learn through flashbacks that Lee Mi-ra is Princess Song Hwa from Man Wol’s past. Princess Song Hwa is the person who ordered all of Man Wol’s gang members killed. In retaliation, Man Wol kills Princess Song Hwa on her wedding night. In modern times, Lee Mi-ra is Koo Chan Sung’s ex-girlfriend from the US. Man Wol invites Lee Mi-ra to the carnival at Hotel Del Luna and tries to ruin Lee Mi-ra’s life through an evil grudge, which Koo Chan Sung blocks. There is also a side story about an old woman who has recently died and an imaginary ghost created by a lonely woman in a loveless marriage. Lees meer
We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:
Another beautiful song from the Hotel Del Luna OST. This time it’s “Can You See My Heart” by Heize.
What we loved about this episode.
How Man Wol forced Mago #1 to appear by stopping an old lady from going to the afterlife.
Man Wol’s grudges against Chyung Mung and Princess Song Hwa, who is Lee Mi-ra in modern times.
The show’s themes of grudges, regret and forgiveness.
How we are finally starting to realize the depth of Man Wol’s grudges and regrets.
The Power of Regret, the new book by Dan Pink, which explores our most common regrets and what we can learn from them.
Our favorite lines from the episode. Joanna’s favorite is from Mago: For a flower to blossom, she needs to feel the wind and face the rain, too. Jen’s favorite line is from Koo Chan Sung to Man Wol: I don’t care if this is your prison or your fence. I will stay here with you.
How Hotel Del Luna is both a prison and a fence for Man Wol. It both locks her in and keeps her safe.
Why Koo Chan Sung took the evil grudge intended for Lee Mi-ra.
How Man Wol decided to move the hotel and not tell Koo Chan Sung.
The side story with Gyeong-a, the made up ghost.
Our favorite Man Wol outfits.
…
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1.07 - Episode 7 of Hotel Del Luna
15 april 2022 · 32 min
Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 7 of Hotel Del Luna. The bulk of this episode is devoted to the story of the ghost from Room 13, who has escaped the hotel and is killing people. Mago 4 and the Grim Reaper ultimately deal with this ghost, but in the meantime, Man Wol, Koo Chan Sung and Yuna all get involved. There is also a side story about a husband and wife who find themselves at the hotel and discover they had different first loves. Finally, we see more flashbacks from Man Wol’s life and we now know that Lee Mi-ra, Koo Chan Sung’s ex-girlfriend, was the princess from Man Wol’s past. Lees meer
We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:
Another beautiful song from the Hotel Del Luna OST. This time it’s Lean On My Shoulder by 10cm.
The deepening relationship between Man Wol and Koo Chan Sung. One again, Man Wol saves Koo Chan Sung, this time from a grudge by the unhappy husband. Man Wol also seems to increasingly accept that her time at the hotel is coming to an end.
How Karma ultimately came back around for the men who circulated the illegal video of the ghost from Room 13.
How Man Wol tricked the CEO and showed the deities how evil he was. As a result, Mago 4 came for the ghost from Room 13 and the CEO.
The theme of forgiveness, especially in the story between the husband and wife.
How Man Wol is referred to as a thief several times in the episode.
How Man Wol and Koo Chan Sung now realize that Lee Mi-ra is the princess from Man Wol’s past.
The K Drama elements: Flowers, alcohol, the piggyback ride, and the wrist grab.
Our favorite Man Wol outfits.
The Korean hanbok, or traditional Korean dress for women and men.
The Filipiniana and the Barong Tagalog, the traditional dress for women and men in the Philippines.
References:
Hanbok in Wikipedia
Modern Filipiniana on Pinterest
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1.06 - Episode 6 of Hotel Del Luna
8 april 2022 · 49 min
We apologize for the echo issues in this episode. Jen was on vacation and not in her normal setup. In fact, she was in a gym in the Outer Banks because the beach house her family was renting was too noisy! So sorry! We will do better next week! Lees meer
Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 6 of Hotel Del Luna. In this episode, the relationship between Man Wol and Chan Sung is further developing. Man Wol tells Chan Sung that her time to leave is coming but that Chan Sung should not be sad. When Chan Sung’s ex-girlfriend shows up, Man Wol abandons her plans to go eat webfoot octopus with Chan Sung and sits at the hotel beach by herself. We have two side stories. The first is about an actor who died while playing a king. He arrives at Hotel Del Luna, thinking he is still a king and it’s up to the staff to help fulfill his wishes. The second is about the ghost from Room 13 who is now killing men. Finally, we see three flashbacks from Man Wol’s life.
We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:
Sung Hee, our guest on this show. Sung Hee went to college with Joanna and they studied in Paris during their junior year.
The growing friendship between Yuna and Hyeon-jung. We also learn more about Hyeon-jung’s life and little sister.
What hangover soup and webfoot octopus are.
The baby that brought the restaurant luck and Joanna’s son, who brought their favorite Japanese restaurant luck.
The K Drama elements in this episode: the back hug, food, alcohol, the wrist grab, flowers.
The side story with the actor who believed he was a Joseon king.
The side story with the ghost from Room 13 and how she’s now on a killing spree. Her victims get tricked into clicking a video of what they think will be a beautiful woman in her bedroom, but instead, they get murdered.
The Korean obsession with perfect skin.
Man Wol’s outfits and which ones we like best.
The actor Yeo Jin-goo: his background, his acting, and why we love him.
Jen and Sung Hee’s wed…
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1.05 - Episode 5 of Hotel Del Luna
1 april 2022 · 39 min
Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 5 of Hotel Del Luna. At the end of Episode 4, Jang Man Wol has saved Koo Chan-Sung from the ghost in Room 13. In this episode, the hotel staff look for other ways to get rid of Koo Chan-Sung, but Man Wol says he’s staying by her side. We see two flashbacks from Man Wol’s earlier life: Man Wol and Yeon-wu under the big tree, and Man Wol in a wedding gown in a large bedchamber. We also have a side story with a ghost bride who doesn’t want to get married but an elderly couple has other plans for her. Lees meer
We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:
How our podcast made FeedSpot’s list of Top 40 Korean Drama podcasts
Our new website at https://www.KDramaChat.com
What Korean brides and grooms wear during weddings.
The significance of the red string ceremony in Korean weddings.
The flashback of Man Wol and Yeon-woo at the big tree and how Yeon-woo wants to take care of Man Wol in her old age.
The flashback of Man Wol in the bedchamber, and the mysterious person in white who enters the room.
The story of the ghost bride and who is ultimately responsible for trying to marry her to another man.
The K Drama elements that we see in this show: the Trip and Catch, the Swarovski product placement, and the triangle between Man Wol, Koo Chan-sung and the ghost bride.
We also talk about other potential K Drama elements: the Quirky Friend, the Deep Lean, and the Arm Rest.
Our favorite Man Wol outfits from this show.
Our favorite Korean dishes and where to get them in the DC area.
References:
Top 40 Korean Drama Podcasts
Red String Ceremony
Why Wasn’t Chocolate Popular in Korea?
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1.04 - Episode 4 of Hotel Del Luna
25 maart 2022 · 38 min
In Episode 4 of Hotel Del Luna, things are getting complicated between Man Wol and Koo Chan Sung. Chan Sung continues to dream about Man Wol, who is upset that Koo Chan Sung is learning about her past life. Through flashbacks, we learn more about Man Wol’s life and we have two side stories. We also learn that the hotel staff are plotting to have Koo Chan Sung removed as manager because they fear his arrival is making the tree come back to life and make time start flowing again for Man Wol. Lees meer
We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:
How Man Wol and Koo Chan Sung’s relationship is changing as he learns more about her past.
We see that Chung Myung once again saves Man Wol and is true to his word when he promises to save Yeon-wu.
How the side story with the blind ghost is not what we expected
The unexpectedly sweet story of the old man and his dog
The appearance of the grim reaper
How Mago is a deity in Korean, Chinese and Japanese mythology, especially as a protector of women
How the hotel staff try to trick Koo Chan Sung into losing his mind by visiting the ghost in Room 13
Man Wol’s many outfits and which ones are our favorites
The famous Korean skin care routine with its 10 steps
The latest K dramas we’re watching
Show references:
Magu in Wikipedia
Grim Reaper in Korean Culture
Korean Skin Care Routine
Techie Helmet for Skin Care
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1.03 - Episode 3 of Hotel Del Luna
18 maart 2022 · 24 min
In Episode 3 of Hotel Del Luna, we learn more about Man Wol’s past life, we meet Mago, we learn more about the hotel’s main staff, and we meet Yoona. Through several flashbacks, we learn about two important men in her life, Yeon-Woo, a fellow gang member, and Go Chung Myung, the Captain of the Princess’ Guard. Mago tell Man Wol that she is tied to the tree but she must move on. After putting a blossom on Koo Chan Sung’s heart, Koo Chan Sung starts having dreams of Man Wol’s past life. We also have a new character: Yoona, whose body is inhabited by Soo-Jung, whom Yoona pushed off a bridge. Lees meer
We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:
The triangle between Man Wol, Yeon-Woo and Go Chung Myung, as well as the triangle between Man Wol, Koo Chan Sung and Go Chung Myung.
The potential for romance between Man Wol and Koo Chan Sung, whose dreams are now filled with Man Wol and her past life.
The flower element again
The amazing cameo by Lee Goon-Ji
How the hotel staff refer to Man Wol as Jang Man Wol and sajangnim.
Show references:
Lee Goon-Ji makes a cameo on Hotel Del Luna and send a snack cart to the Hotel Del Luna set - https://www.hellokpop.com/kdrama/lee-joon-gi-surprise-cameo-hotel-del-luna-sweet-snack-cart-iu/
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1.02- Episode 2 of Hotel Del Luna
11 maart 2022 · 28 min
In Episode 2 of Hotel Del Luna. we follow Koo Chan Sung as he navigates between his job at the fancy hotel and his (offered) job at Hotel Del Luna. Koo Chan Sung and Jan Man Wol work together to help a ghost tiger find peace and once again, they go out to eat. We learn that Manager Noh is ready to retire and he pays a visit to Koo Chan Sung, to try and convince the younger man to take his job. We also see the guest manager, Seo-hee, fulfilling the wishes of several guests, demonstrating that the hotel helps ghosts fulfill their wishes and overcome their grudges. Lees meer
We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We discuss:
The ghosts who overcome their grudges or fulfill their wishes in order to move on to heaven
How ghosts travel to heaven via the bridge over the Samdo River
How Jang Man Wol is misunderstood; she comes across as materialistic and aloof, but she can also be very perceptive and caring
The food in this episode, namely red bean porridge and sashimi
The Baekdu mountain range and its connection to feng shui
Formal and informal greetings in the Korean language
Show reference:
Korean Version of Feng Shui
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1.01- Episode 1 of Hotel Del Luna
4 maart 2022 · 27 min
Episode 1 of Hotel Del Luna introduces the main characters, Jang Man Wol and Koo Chan Sung, as well as some of the hotel staff, mainly the bellman, the guest manager, and the bartender. The episode flips back and forth between the past and the present, and between the main storyline and the side stories. Lees meer
We do a short recap of the show, and then we dive deep into the episode. We talk about our first impressions of the show and what we loved about the first episode. We discuss:
What we know about Jang Man Wol
What we know about Koo Chan Sung
What we know about the hotel
How 3 of 14 K Drama Elements show up in this episode, mainly: flowers, alcohol and food.
We close with a few words about Korean names, including how you address someone formally, informally, and our new Korean nicknames.
Here are some of the websites we referenced:
What do flowers mean in K Dramas?
Primrose flowers in a witch’s garden
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Pilot: 14 Elements of Every K Drama
25 februari 2022 · 30 min
This is the pilot episode for K Drama Chat. In this episode, we introduce ourselves, Joanna Pineda and Jen McWhorter, and talk about why we love K Dramas and why we decided to create this podcast. Lees meer
Rather than just review our favorite K Dramas, we want to go deep and analyze each episode of our favorite series. For our first season, we have chosen Hotel Del Luna. This series is on Netflix, so it's easy for everyone to watch. This series features amazing actors, an amazing storyline, gorgeous cinematography, layers of myth and symbolism, and plenty of side stories and surprises.
But before delving in Hotel Del Luna, we talked about the 14 elements that, our experience, exist in every K Drama series. Some of our favorites are:
Gorgeous OSTs (original sound tracks)
Food; there's lot of eating in K Dramas
Crying; there's lots of crying, by both women and men
Love triangles
Umbrella scene
K Drama Chat is a weekly series, with new episodes dropping every Friday.
We welcome your comments about our shows, what we got right, what we got wrong, and what we missed. We also want to hear your insights into the episodes that we cover, and your suggestions for shows to cover in future seasons.