Year: 2019

Go Away With … ATEEZ

Jae-Ha Kim

ATEEZ is embarking on a sold-out tour of the United States (including dates in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York), which will be followed by a European leg. “I want to take in the sights of many cities,” says group leader Hongjoong, 20. “I want to visit the various landmarks in each city (like) Times Square in New York. If there’s time, I’d also like to attend other artists’ concerts.” Though the South Korean band is less than half a year old, their enthusiastic fan base initiated this tour via MyMusicTaste (https://www.mymusictaste.com), an online service that allows fans to request shows in their area.

“The Crowned Clown” (왕이 된 남자)

Jae-Ha Kim

A serialized remake of the 2012 film “Masquerade” (광해: 왕이 된 남자), “The Crowned Clown” stars Yeo Jin-goo as young, immoral king Yi Heon, whose crown is constantly under threat. Drugged out on opium (initially unknowingly, and later willingly), he eagerly agrees to allow a lookalike jester, Ha Seon, to impersonate him until things are under control. In other words, let the clown be assassinated in his place.

I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar

Jae-Ha Kim

We all know that in a perfect world, everyone would be equal. But in the real world, we’re still working towards that goal. This got me thinking about some K-Dramas that featured strong women who were trying to assert their independence. Did they succeed? Sometimes, with different degrees of success. But the important thing is that these characters didn’t give up.

Goodbye, Lee Jong-Suk!

Jae-Ha Kim

It’s a fact of life that all able-bodied South Korean men have to fulfill their mandatory military duties for their country. Top stars aren’t exempt from this, either. Due to a severe injury he suffered during his teenage years, Lee will be enlisting as a public service worker — rather than active duty — according to his A-MAN Project. As actor Lee Jong-Suk gets ready to begin his 22-month enrollment on Friday, March 8, let’s take a look at his life … and some of his most iconic work.

Why are Western Audiences Falling Head Over Heels for K-Dramas?

Jae-Ha Kim

Recognizing these cultural differences and relating to even the most unrelatable stories are all part of what makes watching Korean dramas so satisfying. Where else can you experience second lead syndrome (where you’re actually rooting for the other guy to get the girl and not the main guy), eat instant ramen along with the characters, and learn a few foreign words in the process? Daebak! Read more in my article for MTV News.

“My ID Is Gangnam Beauty” (내 아이디는 강남미인)

Jae-Ha Kim

“My ID is Gangnam Beauty” specifically tackles South Korea’s obsession with physical looks, but the storyline carries over to many cultures, where the standards of beautiful — especially for girls and women — is unrealistic.

Go Away With … Harley Quinn Smith

Jae-Ha Kim

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.

Go Away With … Gu is 9

Jae-Ha Kim

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

Jae-Ha Kim

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

Jae-Ha Kim

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.

“Encounter” (남자친구)

Jae-Ha Kim

“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

Jae-Ha Kim

“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.”

“Memories of the Alhambra” (알함브라 궁전의 추억)

Jae-Ha Kim

A unique series that kept me guessing until the end, “Memories of the Alhambra” starts off with a strong, intriguing premise: A teenage videogame developer has created an addictive world of augmented reality (AR), where players interact seamlessly with medieval warriors. Gamers go to real-life places (e.g. restrooms in neighborhood bars) to acquire weapons, which are only visible to people wearing special optical lenses.

“SKY Castle” (SKY 캐슬)

Jae-Ha Kim

Having just finished “Sky Castle,” I am left with a little lump in my throat, not because it’s over, but because I know there are so many children out there who are at the mercy of a brutal educational system — where you are told your life means nothing if you don’t get into Seoul National University, Korea University or Yonsei University.

The Big Three: Ji Chang-Wook, Lee Min-Ho, Kim Soo-Hyun

Jae-Ha Kim

Hallelujah! Kim Soo-Hyun, Ji Chang-Wook and Lee Min-Ho will be discharged from their mandatory military duties in South Korea later this year. As fans anxiously await their comebacks, let’s head back in time to revisit some of the actors’ most iconic work.