Showing posts with label K-drama TV series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label K-drama TV series. Show all posts

01 November 2023

The Heavenly Idol (2023) : Korean Drama Based on a Webtoon

The Heavenly Idol (2023); 12 episodes

This Korean drama series is adapted from a webtoon, titled “Sungseureowoon Idol”, written by Shin Hwa-Jin. The spirit of a loyal and pure high priest who faithfully serves the god in the Other World is switched and he ends up in the body of a Korean idol in a K-pop boy band in modern-day Seoul. Never mind how it happened. How does he get back?

Heavenly Idol
Image credit: Kim Min Kyu Is A Priest-Turned-Idol Whose No. 1 Fan Go Bo Gyeol Becomes His Manager To Save Him In “The Heavenly Idol” | Soompi

Fortunately, in the modern world he still has his divine power, so he can continue to heal people and fight demons. It’s a good thing too because it seems that the devil has also switched and is in the body of a top executive in the entertainment industry. Furthermore, the devil is bringing in his minions from the Other World to serve him and to recruit new followers. The high priest meets an idol fan who thinks he is suffering from multiple personality disorder. She determines to help him get medical treatment for his mental health “illness”.

Eventually, she comes to recognize that the man she knows as a K-pop idol is not the same as the man she has befriended. He is not an alternate personality, he really is an entirely different person. She resolves to help him defeat the dark forces that have come over from the Other World, and in the process, falls in love with him. Their relationship gets sort of complicated. Not only are they from two (2) different worlds, but priests are supposed to be celibate. Will evil be defeated and true love find its own way? (Watch on Viki.)

REF:  My Korean Drama Reviews on Quora

20 September 2023

4 Epic Historical Period Korean Dramas to Binge-Watch on a Rainy or Snowy Day

A rainy or snowy day is the perfect time to binge-watch an epic Korean drama (i.e. a series with 50 or more episodes). Below is my watch list for the historical period K-dramas I deemed binge-worthy. (Let's just hope the rain does not cause a blackout and there is no Internet access. LOL.)


glitter-graphics.com

 1. Empress Ki (2013) ~ 51 episodes

This series is about a woman named Ki Seung-nyang, who was born into a family of low-ranking officials. At age 18, she was sent to the Yuan Empire in China as tribute. She became the emperor's preferred concubine and ultimately went from being a servant to becoming the Empress of Yuan.  It's about love, war, and betrayal. In other words, it's typical drama! Even though this epic is based on real historical figures, the relationships depicted are probably fictionalized.

Main Characters:

  • Ha Ji-won as Ki Seung-nyang

  • Joo Jin-mo as Wang Yoo, the King of Goryeo.

  • Ji Chang-wook as Toghon Temür, the last Emperor of the Yuan dynasty


2. Dong Yi (2010) ~ 60 episodes

This series is also titled “Jewel in the Crown” and it follows the life of Dong Yi from childhood to adulthood. It is based on a real historical figure and it is a true love story between Dong Yi and the King. According to the fortune tellers, her “light” would shine bright in the Joseon Kingdom. This prediction proved to be true. But it does not mean that she did not experience trouble and sorrow.  She was a lowborn commoner and worked as a watermaid in the palace. But she became the king's favorite concubine which made her a target of envy, jealousy, and treachery. One of the sons she bore the king, died at a very young age. She bore the king another son, Yeong Jo. He was the second son of King Sok Jong and the future king of Joseon. Her life story is one for the ages.

Main Characters:

  • Han Hyo Joo as Dong Yi

  • Ji Jin Hee as King Sukjong.

epic korean dramas

3. Jumong (2006-2007) ~ 60 episodes

This series is about the life of Jumong Taewang, founder of the kingdom of Goguryeo, set in 37 BC. Even though the details about Jumong in the historical records are scant, the scriptwriters pieced together what their research revealed and created this marvelous epic. “Described as the son of the heavens, Jumong was the founding king of Goguryeo, which eventually became the largest dynasty in Korean history. Also known as the Holy King of the East, mythological tales of his origins mostly follow the same basic story.” (Quote Source)

DID YOU KNOW? Jumong was believed to be the grandson of the water god Habaek.

Main Character:

  • Song Il-kook as Jumong


4. The Flower in Prison (2016) ~ 51 episodes

Set during the Joseon dynasty, this series follows the life of Ok-nyeo. She was born and raised in prison. Jeonokseo is one of the most horrifying prisons in Joseon. Her mother died in childbirth and the man who worked at the prison who adopted and raised her did not know her identity. She finds a secret prison cell with a mysterious prisoner. The prisoner teaches her martial arts and she becomes an intelligence agent. Martial arts is just one of her many talents. She is very intelligent and understands the law. She crusaded for the poor people who are unfairly accused under the litigation system. Her life is filled with danger and adventure. Eventually, she learns her true identity. She is s surprised as everyone else to learn that she is a princess. Her mother's enemies did not know she had been born. But when they found out, that's when Ok-nyeo faces true peril.

Main Character:

  • Jin Se-yeon as Ok-nyeo



If You Don't Agree With My Suggestions, Check Out These Lists:

10 Korean Dramas Based on True Stories | MovieWeb

Top 25 Historical Korean Dramas You Will Love | KdramaPlanet

Original source

14 April 2023

K-Drama Review: Under the Queen's Umbrella (2022)

Under the Queen's Umbrella is a Korean historical period drama series, released in 2022, that is currently streaming on Netflix

16 intense episodes. Viewers gave this series 4.9 out of 5 stars. I totally agree.  Kim Hye-Soo's performance as Queen Im Hwa-Ryeong is award-worthy. But giving credit where credit is due, quite frankly, all of the actors and actresses in this series gave exemplary performances. They played their roles as if they were real historical figures in the Joseon Era.

The worth of the flowers in the palace, i.e. the king's women, is judged by how many sons they bare the king. Queen Im Hwa-Ryeong (played by Kim Hye-Soo) has been very fortunate. She bore five (5) sons for the king. Her oldest son is the crown prince, but he is suffering from a life-threatening illness. He could die any day! If he were to die, who would take his place? The crown prince already has a son of his own, so according to the line of succession, his son, her grandson, should be heir to the throne. Then as alternatives, one of his brothers, her four other sons who are grand princes, could be chosen. But her sons are perfectly content to never be king. She would have been content to allow them not to pursue the throne EXCEPT … the deposed queen (i.e. the queen before her) also had many sons.  When she realized the lives of her sons were in jeopardy, she immediately made up her mind that her sons would not suffer the same fate as Queen Yoon and her sons.

Queen Im Hwa-Ryeong now understands that THIS IS WAR!

Under the Queen's Umbrella

Read full review at My Sageuk Addiction on Medium.com.




Similar Content on My Blogs Stop!

Boys Over Flowers (2009 Korean TV series) Gets My Five Stars

Review : K-Drama TV Series : Dong Yi (2010)




13 March 2023

K-Drama: Boys Over Flowers (2009 Korean TV series) Gets My Five Stars

K-drama television series are addictive. Why? Because of their special ingredient called “adorable cuteness”.

Example and Recommendation:

Boys Over Flowers (2009 Korean TV series)


Image credit: viki.com

It’s official! My kids have decided that their mother has lost all the marbles in her head. Why? K-drama television series. Very pleased with the business decision by Netflix to add such programs into their database. Even more pleased that many of the programs are available for viewing online free at various websites.


Can’t explain my reactions. Grew up on American television. My husband got me started watching foreign films. Once my kids began subscribing to Netflix and other similar video streaming services noticed that some of them were into binge-watching. One particularly boring day at home decided to binge-watch a BBC mystery because BBC television mysteries are my favorite. From that point, binge-watching became my way of treating myself to a healthy dose of doing … The Nothing! You know. Those days when you just decide you have earned your “Goof Off All Day” reward and no serious work will be done on that day!



However, even when indulging myself in binge-watching, never lost sleep over a TV show; and certainly never really thought any series was worth watching more than once. Might watch a few particular episodes a few times more. But never the whole series!

Did I say BBC mysteries “are” my favorite? Sorry. Meant to say “were”.

Huh?? Duh??!!
That was how my children reacted.
– (???) What could possibly make mom choose an alternative for the BBC?

Answer. Those silly cute adorable Korean drama television series that have incredibly simple yet intricate, seemingly never-ending storylines with each episode, that leave with the thought”: ‘Gotta find out how this ends!!’


 My first taste of K-drama was a movie called “Commitment”. It was intense!!


Then my husband found a more light-hearted TV series called “Tamra the Island” It’s a romantic dramedy (drama and comedy blend) that was “Inspired by the real story of a Dutch explorer, a young Englishman discovers Kdrama in the 17th century Joseon Era”. (Quote source: dramafever)

Tamra the Island
One of the main characters was played by this tall handsome guy with the “skinny little body” whose name in the series was Park Gue, whose real name is Im Ju Hwan. I was impressed with him so search for more programs where he was playing a character.


This is where “Boys Over Flowers” comes in.


My research indicated that Hwan (Park Gue) had made an appearance in this show. Started watching the program only looking for him. Got stuck on it!! Got so stuck one night and didn’t go to sleep until about 4:30 in the morning!! Hwan did make an extremely brief appearance, after about 20 episodes. Talk about an Easter egg hunt! Anyway … glad someone realized this young man’s acting abilities and gave him the lead role in “Tamra the Island”.

Disappointed at only catching a tiny glimpse of Hwan in this TV show. However, my decision to view the entire series was filed under “Happy R&R Time Well Spent”.   Took me a few days to finish all the episodes. Will say no more because people hate spoilers. But if you like romantic dramedy, you’ll like “Boys Over Flowers”. Wonderful love story. It’s so cute!! 


Content previously published at BlogJob.com

Boys Over Flowers Funny Moments Part 1








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