[MANNAM] Korean Drama "Heartstrings"

This drama's main leads, Jung Yong Hwa and Park Shin Hye, were originally paired from SBS's 2009 drama, You're Beautiful. Jung Yong Hwa's character in You're Beautiful, Shin Woo, was involved in a one-sided love relationship with Park Shin Hye's character, Mi Nam.

<Summary>

Lee Shin, (Jung Yong Hwa) is a university student majoring in Western Music. He is also the vocalist and guitarist of a band "The Stupid." Shin is known for his good looks, cocky personality, and strong passion for music. Everyone sees him as a cold-hearted and distant person, but he has a soft side inside him hidden away. He lacks interest in anything unrelated to music and has neither dreams nor plans for the future. He initially likes Jung Yoon Soo, a dance professor at the university, but this all changes when he meets Lee Gyu Won (Park Shin Hye).

Lee Gyu Won is a jolly, bright, and outgoing student who was born into a prestigious family and is majoring in Traditional Korean Music. She plays the gayageum. Gyu Won's grandfather, Lee Dong Gun, is one of the top 3 traditional musicians of his age and his biggest wish is to see his granddaughter become a traditional music prodigy. Trying to live up to her grandfather's expectations, Gyu Won immerses herself in practice and becomes a university student who knows nothing much outside of her studies. As her friends are fans of "The Stupid", she was forced to go to the band's concert with them. There she saw Lee Shin performing live, and is immediately captivated by him.

Yeo Joon Hee (Kang Min Hyuk) is a bumbling, shy, and ever hungry boy who doesn't act his age. He has a complete childlike personality, shaggy idiot by day, Stupid's lead drummer by night. During one of his shaggy phases during the day, he comes across University Princess and chairman's daughter, Han Hee Joo (Woori), who he immediately falls head over heels for, calling her his "Natasha." However, there are dark sides to Hee Joo's personality than his naïvety knows, and in the series, he fights between his ever-growing feelings for Hee Joo and helping his friends as she threatens their university lives.

The time when Lee Gyu Won decided to join the performance for the festival, every one sees her potential talent and this triggers Han Hee Joo's mother who plans together with Tae Joon, one of the school's administrators, to destroy Lee Gyu Won's and the Director's image for her to quit the upcoming festival in her fear that Lee Gyu Won might outshine her daughter Han Hee Joo.

<My comment>

This drama is fresh like lemon. It expressed university students' love. Although it's been a long time since it had been broadcasted, I still remember it.

[MANNAM] Korean Drama "Gu Family Book"

Gu Family Book is a 2013 South Korean television series starring Lee Seung-gi and Suzy. The fusion martial arts action historical drama is about a half man-half monster who is searching for a centuries-old book that according to gumiho legend, contains the secret to becoming human. It airs on Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 for 24 episodes beginning April 8, 2013.

< Plot >

 

The drama begins with a backstory: After their nobleman father is unfairly accused of being a traitor and killed, Yoon Seo-hwa (Lee Yeon-hee), her younger brother Yoon (Lee David) and their slave girl, Dam (Kim Bo-mi) are sent to a gisaeng house ("gibang"). Refusing to work as a gisaeng, Seo-hwa is stripped of her clothes and tied to a tree.

 

Gu Wol-ryung (Choi Jin-hyuk), a mystical forest protector and gumiho, watches from afar, disturbed at the injustice. His monk friend, Sojung, warns him not to interfere with human lives, but nevertheless he goes back to the tree only to find Seo-hwa gone. Seo-hwa, taken inside the gibang, finally agrees to be a gisaeng after witnessing the brutal beating of her brother. It is soon announced that her first "patron" will be none other than Jo Gwan-woong (Lee Sung-jae), the same man who betrayed and killed her father.

 

Just before meeting him, Yoon begs Dam to swap clothes with his sister so she can run away. Dam agrees, and the two siblings run away in the middle of night as Dam is raped by an unknowing Gwan-woong. As they run into the forest, Yoon and Seo-hwa split their ways, vowing to meet again in the future. Gwan-woong finally discovers that he had been tricked, and sends men to find Seo-hwa.

Wol-ryung notices a disturbance in the forest and finds her unconscious. He falls in love with her and protects her from Gwan-woong's men by revealing his mystical powers. When Seo-hwa wakes up, she too falls in love with him and marries him after being told that both Dam and Yoon ran away and are safe. In actuality, Yoon had been found by bounty hunters and hanged, whereas Dam had committed suicide. Wol-ryung, unable to tell her the truth, had lied to her and did not tell her that he was a gumiho.

 

Wol-ryung decides to become a human in order to be with Seo-hwa, and must live 100 days without showing his true form to human, taking their lives and helping anyone that needs aid. Wol-ryung successfully lives most of these days following these rules, but one fateful day, Gwan-woong's men find Seo-hwa alone in the forest. Wol-ryung rushes to help her, and reveals his true form, massacring the soldiers.

 

Seo-hwa, horrified, leaves Wol-ryung and turns herself in. She is furious when they tell her that Yoon and Dam are dead, and leads them back to Wol-ryung's home. After tearfully telling her that he truly loved her, he is killed. Seo-hwa soon discovers that she is pregnant with his child - she later gives birth to a son. Realizing that the baby isn't a monster as she had feared and truly regretting her betrayal to Wol-ryung, Seo-hwa entrusts the baby in Sojung's care. She returns to the village to confront Gwan-woong, and attempts to kill him. He's protected by his soldiers and Seo-hwa is killed.

 

So ends the tragic love story between Wol-Ryung and Seo-Hwa, and a new legend begins with their son. The infant is found in a basket by the river, and adopted by nobleman Park Mu-sol (Uhm Hyo-sup). He grows up as "Choi Kang-chi" (Lee Seung-gi), a curious, outspoken character. He realizes that he's a half-human-half-beast through a certain incident and starts living his second life.

 

Dam Yeo-wool (Suzy) is a master of martial arts and archery. Yeo-wool is an upright character who really values the Three Bonds and Five Relationships in Confucianism, and becomes an instructor at a martial arts center at a young age.

 

From WIKIPEDIA

< My Opinion >

I love Lee Seung-gi, because he is really good at acting. So I am interested in this drama. It is so interesting, fun and fantastic. I am a big fan of this drama!

[MANNAM] Korean Drama “Dream high”

Dream High (Korean: 드림하이) is a South Korean television series broadcast by KBS in 2011. It features Suzy, Taecyeon, IU, Wooyoung, Ham Eun-jeong and Kim Soo-hyun.

 

The drama was popular among teenagers, and brought in viewership ratings in the 18 to 20 percent range during its two-month run. A special episode, where the cast of the show performed the Dream High Special Concert on a stage near Seoul, was aired on March 1, 2011, the day after the series ended.

 

Its sequel Dream High Season 2 aired a year later with a different cast.

 

Plot

Six students at Kirin High School have the dream of becoming K-pop idols. During their school years, they learn how to develop their singing, songwriting and dancing skills while undergoing personal growth. They also go through their love life and start to develop feelings for each other. Each one of the students has his or her own strengths and weaknesses, but they strive to debut with the support and guidance of each other.

 

Cast - Main

Suzy as Go Hye-mi (Kelly)

Kim Soo-hyun as Song Sam-dong (Marco)

Taecyeon as Jin-gook/Hyun Shi-hyuk (Gino)

Eunjung as Yoon Baek-hee (Angeli)

Wooyoung as Jason

IU as Kim Pil-sook (Gelou)

 

 

This is a Korean drama which got a lot of attention.

Famous actors appeared in this drama. Regardless of age and gender, everyone enjoyed watching it. I recommend you to watch it in your free time!

 

[MANNAM] Korean Drama "Sungkyunkwan Scandal"

K-pop music has lead the Korean Wave, but now, the Korean Wave, Hallyu even includes Korean dramas! 

'Sungkyunkwan Scandal' helped make the Korean Wave, Hallyu.

"Sungkyunkwan Scandal is a 2010 South Korean fusion historical drama about a girl who disguises herself as a boy while attending Sungkyunkwan, the Joseon Dynasty's highest educational institute, where no women were allowed. Directed by Kim Won-seok and written by Kim Tae-hee based on Jung Eun-gwol's bestselling 2007 novel The Lives of Sungkyunkwan Confucian Scholars, it stars Park Min-young, Park Yuchun of JYJ, Yoo Ah-in, and Song Joong-ki. It aired on Korean Broadcasting System (KBS2) from August 30 to November 2, 2010 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 for 20 episodes."

From Wikipedia

"Set during an era when society does not allow females to be educated nor employed, Kim Yoon-hee (Park Min-young) disguises herself as her brother, Kim Yoon-shik, in order to make ends meet for her family. She goes through a series of odd jobs, mainly at a local bookstore, before she gets offered a chance to increase her earnings by becoming a substitute test-taker (an illegal act) for the upcoming entrance examination in the prestigious Sungkyunkwan. She gets caught by the upright Lee Sun-joon (Park Yoochun), who later acknowledges Yoon-hee's talents, and even encourages her to enroll in the university. There, she must bear with the endless mischief of upperclassman Gu Yong-ha (Song Joong-ki), put up with the constant mood swings of roommate Moon Jae-shin (Yoo Ah-in), avoid getting in trouble with the strict, student body president Ha In-soo (Jun Tae-soo), keep her secret from being discovered, all the while trying to hold her growing feelings for Lee Sun-joon at bay

Together, the four form the "Jalgeum Quartet" (sometimes affectionately called the "Joseon F4" by fans)"

From Wikipedia

<My Comment>

 

This drama has beautiful things in Korea, the landscape of the Joseon Dynasty, valuable friendships and sweet love. It caught many audience's attention, including me.

 

During these warm spring days, I miss this drama.

[MANNAM] The Soap Opera 'A Gentleman's Dignity'

 

Director: Shin Wucheol, Kwon Hyukchan

 Screenwriter: Kim eunsook

 

Main Cast : Kim sooro, Kim Minjong, Jang donggeon, Lee Jonghyuk

 

Billed as a male version of Sex and the City, A Gentleman's Dignity is about the careers and love lives of urban professionals. It tells the story of four men in their forties who have been friends since they were eighteen, as they go through love, breakup, success and failure.

 

Kim Do-jin is a confident playboy who meets Seo Yi-soo and falls for her. To his surprise, she doesnt give him the time of day and he discovers that she has a crush on his best friend Im Tae-san. He begins a one-sided love for the first time in his life and tries to win her heart.

 

Im Tae-san is dating Hong Se-ra, Yi-soo's roommate, but troubles arise when Yisoo's crush is revealed and when Sera tells him she doesn't want to get married.

 

Choi Yoon is a lawyer who is still recovering from his wife's death four years ago but begins to have feelings for Tae-sans much younger sister, Im Meari. Meari has always had a crush on Yoon however he refuses to give into his feelings and jeopardize his friendship with Tae-san.

 

Lee Jung-rok is married to a rich woman, Park Min-sook, but constantly flirts with other women which causes problems and trust issues in their marriage.

 

Meanwhile a teenager named Colin comes to Korea looking for the four men and claims one of them is his biological father.

[From Wikipedia]

 

A Gentleman's Dignity, its running time was Saturdays and Sundays. It won popular acclaim and high ratings.

There were 4 couples in it, each love story made me more interesting.

 

It was about a love story in their 40s and showed their deep friendship as well.

 MANNAM K-pop recommeds this soap opera!

It is quite fun and makes you excited for sure! 

  

 

[MANNAM] he Soap Opera that J recommends, "The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince"

The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince is a 2007 South Korean television drama starring Yoon Eun-hye, Gong Yoo, Lee Sun-gyun and Chae Jung-an. Based on the novel of the same name written by Lee Sun-mi, the hit series aired in South Korea on MBC.

 

 

Choi Han-gyul (Gong Yoo) is a third generation son of a food chaebol. He has never had a job and does not care for responsibility. Han-gyul is hung up on his first love, Han Yoo-joo (Chae Jung-an), and certainly doesn't want to get married despite his family's requests. On the other hand, Go Eun-chan (Yoon Eun-hye) is a 24-year-old tomboy who is often mistaken for a guy. She takes up every job possible: Taekwondo teacher, waitress, food delivery, and has the responsibility of taking care of her childish, spendthrift mother and trouble-making younger sister. When Han-gyul and Eun-chan meet, he, not knowing that she is a girl, decides to hire her to pretend to be his gay lover so that he can escape the blind dates arranged by his grandmother. 

 - From Wikipedia 

 

The place 'The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince' that you can see in this drama is a real place which is in Hongdae. It becomes known and one of the tourist attractions. Have you ever been there?

 

 

Soon, feelings start to develop between Eun-chan and Han-gyul. Because he's unaware that she is a woman, he starts to question his sexuality and is thrown into turmoil. When he discovers her secret, he feels hurt and betrayed. However, he eventually forgives her and they begin to date. They face strong opposition from his family due to her family’s lower status, but when Han-gyul's grandmother meets Eun-chan, she is impressed by her independence and ambition. She helps pay for Eun-chan to study in Italy to become a barista. After two years of a long-distance relationship, a more stylish Eun-chan returns to Korea and Han-gyul. - From Wikipedia

 

I recommend you to watch this drama! It is pretty interesting! You might be hooked on this drama! And all actors are so good at acting.

[MANNAM] Korean Movie "Miracle in Cell No.7"

Miracle in Cell No.7 

< Chil-beon-bang-ui Seon-mul >

 

Genres : Comedy, Drama

Running Time : 127min

Country : South Korea

Production Status : Released

Release Date : Jan 23, 2013

Synopsis

Yong-gu who has 6-year-old intelligences comes in cell No.7 of prison that the worst brutal criminals gathered. He tries to bring his daughter into the prison and other people of cell No.7 decide to help him.

Director & Producer

LEE Hwan-kyung - Director

LIM Min-sub – Producer

 

Production & Sales Company

FineWorks - Production

FINECUT - International Sales

 

<Cast>

RYU Seung-ryong

PARK Shin-hye

GAL So-won

JUNG Jin-young

OH Dal-soo

PARK Won-sang

KIM Jung-tae

JUNG Man-sik

KIM Ki-chun

 

<My Comment>

The movie 'Gift From Room 7',  made the audience happy and cry. It was impressive.

As all actors were good at acting, they made people laugh.

Especially, Seungryong Ryu, one of actors, was good at  acting. He was cool and fun.

The love between a father and his daughter moved people.

I felt the power of love regardless of the lack of money and wanted to watch it again.

"MIRACLE IN CELL NO. 7 Is 5th Most Popular Korean Film"

★★★★★

 

[MANNAM] Korean Movie "NEW WORLD"

New World (2013)

< Sin-se-gye >

Genres : Crime, Action

Running Time : 134min

Country : South Korea

Language : Korean

Production Status : Released

Release Date : Feb 21, 2013

Synopsis

Goldmoon, the biggest crime organization in Korea, is suddenly in chaos when its leader Chairman Seok is killed in a mysterious car accident. Top-level police officials initiate project “New World“ to intervene in Goldmoon’s election process for the next leader, and to use Chairman Seok’s death to their advantage in controlling the crime organization.

The project leader detective Kang calls upon Goldmoon executive Ja-sung, an undercover cop who he planted deep within the organization 8 years ago. But Ja-sung, who had been waiting long for the day he is reinstated into the police, is conflicted by Detective Kang ’s contradictory mission.

 

<Director & Producer>

PARK Hoon-jung - Director

PARK Min-jeong – Producer

 

<Production & Sales Company>

PEPPERMINT&COMPANY Co., Ltd. - Production

FINECUT - International Sales

<Cast>

LEE Jung-jae - LEE Ja-sung

CHOI Min-shik - Detective KANG

HWANG Jung-min - JUNG Chung

PARK Sung-woong

SONG Ji-hyo

JEONG Young-ki

LEE Geung-young

<My Comment>

Like the title of the movie, it is a real 'New World'.

Because Gansters came up in the movie, there are many scenes that they fight fiercely.

This is the movie which has the most bleeding scenes I've ever watched. 

Betrayal and betrayal, and in friendship and reversal...

 

Actors' great acting make audience be focused on the movie. 

Some comical scenes make audience feel free from tension, and the most memorable thing is Hwang Jeongmin's swear word. He is an real actor like chameleon. 

Lee Jeongjae caught all women's heart. He is handsome along with good at acting. 

I recommend this movie to those who like violent movies. 

But! if you are squeamish, or under 19 years old, it is little hard for you.

★★★★☆