Childhood Romance: Sealed With a Kiss
I am a complete sucker for shows that stress the importance of childhood relationships — the kind that last from adolescence through adulthood. And K-Dramas are chock full of them.
Year: 2019
Go Away With … Harley Quinn Smith
Harley Quinn Smith made her acting debut at the ripe old age of one in “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,” which was written and directed by her father, Kevin Smith. She played the infant version of her dad’s character, Silent Bob. Since then, she has starred opposite Molly Ringwald in “All These Small Moments” and in the film “Yoga Hosers.” She’ll be seen next in Quentin Tarantino’s star-studded film “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” alongside Brat Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio and Margot Robbie.
Boys to Men: Hyun Bin and So Ji-Sub
There’s no doubt that actors and actresses in their 20s are wildly popular with K-Drama viewers. And as with actors worldwide, some will be offered less substantial roles as they age. But then you have Hyun Bin and So Ji-Sub, who have not only maintained their popularity, but thrived in a highly competitive market filled with young models and idols.
Go Away With … Gu is 9
Born in the United States, musician Gu is 9 (ne Brian Kim) spent the first six years of his life in Maryland, where his parents attended graduate school. When the family moved to his parents’ native South Korea, he was in for a culture shock. “I said, ‘Mom, everyone is Korean here!’” he said. “I remember in kindergarten, some kids made fun of me for my (poor) Korean speaking skills. I felt like an outcast whenever anyone asked me to speak English for them. Eventually, though, I assimilated to the point where English became my second language.”
From Models to Actors: Lee Jong-Suk, Woo Bin, Lee Sung-Kyung and Nam Joo-Hyuk
Just because you look good strutting down a runway doesn’t mean you have what it takes to be a good actor. But K-Dramas are full of models who have successfully navigated their way from the catwalk into television and films. Here’s a look at some of my favorites who made the transition look effortless.
Idolmakers: D.O., Suzy, Henry, Minho
One of the things that has impressed me about K-Pop’s idol system is that it has developed some truly talented actors. They remind me of performers during the Golden Age of Hollywood, when entertainers were trained to sing, dance and act. Two highly-acclaimed K-Dramas — “SKY Castle” and “Memories of the Alhambra” — featured young K-Pop stars in strong co-starring roles. In the former, SF9’s Chani (né Kang Chan-Hee) put in a stellar performance as a high school student framed for murder. In the latter, EXO’s Chanyeol (né Park Chan-Yeol) played a terrified teenage game developer.
Can FOX’s “The Masked Singer” Dethrone MBC’s “The King of Mask Singer”?
Four years after “The King Of Mask Singer” premiered on MBC in South Korea, “The Masked Singer” made its U.S. debut on FOX. The American remake — in all its gaudy splendor — is a bonafide hit.
Go Away With … Jaymes Young
“Growing up in Seattle was a wonderful experience,” says musician Jaymes Young. “It was a good environment to get creative.” Young says he is always creating, whether on the road or at his home in Los Angeles. His current album is “Feel Something.”
“Encounter” (남자친구)
“Encounter” is a treat for the eyes. Besides the obvious attractiveness of lead actors Song Hye-Kyo and Park Bo-Gum, the scenery — especially in Havana, Cuba — is a lush, welcome guest star. Unfortunately, by the time the credits have rolled, I realized that most of the series was much ado about nothing.
Go Away With … Christina Chang
“I experienced culture shock when I moved to the United States,” says Christina Chang, who portrays Dr. Audrey Lim on the popular ABC series “The Good Doctor.” “I was born and grew up in Taipei. When I came to the States for college, I sounded like everyone who grew up here — because I went to an international school with an American curriculum — but I was so new to a lot of the culture, specifically the Midwest. There weren’t many Asian Americans and I was challenged most by feeling like I needed to assimilate to the social culture of the students while trying to navigate being 10,000 miles away from home and family. With time, I’ve settled in and feel very at home here now.”