“Gyeongseong Creature” (경성크리처)

The gore in this K-drama is intense and unrelenting — so much so that it ironically begins to lose impact. But amidst all the violence are well-developed stories of families, love and patriotism — and that’s what prevents this series from being just another horror show.

“Midnight Runners” (청년경찰)

A thoroughly entertaining cop-buddy film, “Midnight Runners” does a great job of blending comedy with action, while delving into the world of human trafficking and organ harvesting. The film is driven by the camaraderie between musclehead Ki-joon (Park Seo-joon) and nerdy by-the-book Hee-yeol (Kan Ha-neul).

“Itaewon Class” (이태원 클라쓰)

“Itaewon Class” is one of those rare K-Dramas where I disliked both female leads for different reasons. But it just goes to show that a good series doesn’t need a loveline to hold the viewer’s interest.

“Parasite” and the K-Drama Connection

“Parasite” currently is one of the most-talked about films at the box office. Directed by Bong Joon-ho (“Snowpiercer,” “The Host, “Okja”), the international hit has already won the coveted Palme d’Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. There’s a strong Oscar buzz, too, with industry experts predicting that the movie may bypass a nomination for the Best Foreign Film for more prestigious nominations (Best Picture, Best Director etc.) at the 2020 Academy Awards.

Stay Cool This Summer with KOCOWA’s Rom-Coms!

If you’re like me, watching K-Dramas is a year-round event. But in the summertime when you’re tired of swimming and want reprieve from the sun, there’s nothing better than watching a fun rom-com, Korean-style. So grab a bowl of cup ramyun and some Pepero sticks and get started.

The Best of “Running Man”

Since it’s 2010 premiere in South Korea, “Running Man” has been a weekly favorite. Though the ratings aren’t as high as it was during its heyday, the show still has a strong following of Korean and international fans. It also survived the departures of original cast members Song Joong-Ki and Gary. Though it’s difficult to narrow it down to just a few favorites, here are 5 episodes that I enjoyed very much!

“Kill Me, Heal Me” (킬미, 힐미)

I finished watching the final episode of “Kill Me, Heal Me” early this morning, and I am left with a sense of melancholy — not because the ending was unhappy (it wasn’t), but because the series was so good I wanted to see more. This K-Drama unravels at a languid pace. As each new backstory is revealed, it felt like a jolt to my heart.

Revisiting “Hwarang” (V: It’s Definitely You)

Before I watched  “Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth,” I was looking forward to seeing how the romance between Dog Bird (Park Seo-Joon) and Ah-Ro (Go Ara) played out. But after the finale, I realized that what stuck with me wasn’t their tepid relationship, but that of the young men who formed a relationship — which at times was adversarial, but also based on friendship, honor and righteous morals. In other words, I was all about the poet warrior youth’s bromance.