Stories without Borders
Sorry for being away from the site for so long! I’ve been busy: Since February I’ve changed jobs, moved twice to two different cities and studied Korean full-time in Seoul for a couple months. I’ve also been putting a lot of time and energy into the essays and poetry I publish under my real name … Read more
I wrote in part 1 about video editing—how Korean TV tends to use relatively lengthy scenes and shots. This is one reason K-dramas sometimes recall Hollywood movies of the thirties and forties. (K-dramas also resemble Asian movies, but non-Asians like me are usually struck first by the resemblance to old Hollywood flicks.) But I felt … Read more
My brother-in-law recently had his first encounter with a K-drama. And it was a certain rom com about a woman weightlifter. I want to share his reaction with you. But first, a question that haunts many K-drama fans—and every K-drama producer looking for a big ratings hit: What are good K-dramas for men? Now and … Read more
The first time I watched a K-drama, something just felt different. Besides obvious stuff like the language and culture, there is something else, a difference in the rhythm of the shows. A rhythm that draws us into the everyday lives of the characters and leaves us refreshed afterwards. This is partly because the K-drama style … Read more
I’m grateful to everyone who reads this blog. To all my readers: Happy Valentine’s Day! Also, Happy V-Day to everyone who put in the time and effort to make some amazing 2016 K-dramas. I love you! 사랑해요! When I finish watching an interesting show, I want to write a full essay, but I usually don’t have … Read more
Dear readers, I’m sorry! I haven’t written for many months, while I’ve been tending to real life. But nothing brings me back to the world of K-dramas faster than Ji Sung. My heart beats for you, oppa. Ji Sung’s new 16-episode legal thriller, Defendant, is getting great ratings in Korea right now. Perhaps President Park’s … Read more