Spill the Beans: Mistaken names and life before internet dramas

by javabeans

Thanks to everyone who sent in addiction stories! To submit, email us your stories, and we’ll keep sharing them as long as you guys keep sending them in.

 
Jamie’s story made me laugh out loud. Those Korean names (and refusal to use names) can be tricky!

I came to love K-dramas 2 years ago. It all started with Faith, and then Boys Over Flowers and from there it has been a full-on weekly binge of dramas at least one night a week. I am an American mom and was in my thirties when I came to love K-dramas. My viewing became so intense that my 4-year-old told me that he wanted to speak Korean so he could know what I watch. This is despite the fact that he refuses to learn Spanish, a language his father and I both speak as does most of our community as we live in Miami.

For the past 2 years you guys have helped me understand so much. I was on my second watch of Boys Over Flowers when I found your blog and learned Ji-hoo’s name was not sunbae.

Thanks for your blog.

 
Dramas can spark consumerist tendencies (shopping binge danger!), which I can vouch for personally, as can dramadreamer:

Being born and bred in an Asian country with an appetite for all things Western and Hollywood, I grew up on Growing Pains, Disney, and then on to sitcoms like Friends, Charmed (3 gorgeous witches and one hot evil wizard — what’s not to like?!) etc,, and also Hollywood movies. By age 35, I finally had it with Hollywood and their blockbuster movies and okay, there is no Netflix and I really lost interest in sitcoms, movies and music from America. Yes, I did watch Hong Kong dramas, read Japanese novels (translated) and later, Scandinavian crime thrillers. So, after sampling this hodgepodge of pop culture, what was left, really?

Well, all my friends were raving about G-Dragon and Big Bang and Lee Min-ho and Hyun Bin and I was like, “What’s up with these pale skinned hairless pretty boys? Pfft…” But of course, what goes around comes around… and early this year, over the Chinese New Year long break, I finally broke out the You From Another Star box set which I bought at the DVD shop. Not sure why I did that — could be all the hype? Or Kim Soo-hyun’s drop-dead sexy glance and supermodel pose? And bam! I was hooked!

I watched it, rewound it, rewatched it, fell asleep watching it. I stalked everything online about it and bought YSL coral lipstick. I fell in love with Park Hae-jin and went on to watch Bad Guys out of undying love. And I am a 40-year-old ahjumma with 2 kids!!!

Next came Boys Over Flowers, Secret Garden, Master’s Sun, My Name Is Kim Sam-soon, , Rooftop Prince, Heirs, Healer, Kill Me Heal Me, Secret, Punch, Oh My Ghostess, Homicide Investigation Team, High Society, etc. I was surviving on 4 hours of sleep on top of a full-time job and a full household. My phone was bursting with pics of Lee Min-ho, Ji Sung, Ji Chang-wook, Park Hyung-shik, So Ji-sub, etc. I carried my tablet with me as I learnt to stream the dramas, even to the toilet!

And the OSTS — these Korean actors can sing and fight and kiss! Oh man, I even started dressing in long jackets, shirtdresses, plaid, and buying Korean cosmetics. then I noticed that earrings were a really big thing after watching Birth of a Beauty and Sweden Laundry — and I ended up with 8 newly minted ear holes at one sitting. Ouch! All to wear the gorgeous Korean earrings!

Now, I only watch Korean dramas/movies and play Korean music and surf Dramabeans, Soompi, Dramacool, Jcwkitchen, etc., and my instagram are all k-pop and drama accounts. Charlie x, who’s that?

I love how many stories, like Samoan_titan’s, start out with how ridiculous dramas are and then end in massive addiction. I’m pretty sure that’s the universal experience, actually!

I am from Samoa and the first drama I watched was Stairway to Heaven. It was the end of the year 2007 and Stairway to Heaven was on TV! I just finished watching this Philippine drama and when I saw the ad on TV I was thinking to myself, “So stupid.” But then one day as I was visiting my Aunty and I was hooked lol, seriously I LOVED the theme music for that show, the drumming. The whole of Samoa was talking about that show. It was the only kdrama that made me cry even when I rewatched it again in 2008 ahd then again in 2012. I was really considering in my head calling my future daughter (Choi Ji-woo’s goddess beautiful character) Han Jeong-seo. My love for the kdrama began for me and my older sister.

Then Only You came along and then others followed behind. The feeling of happiness I get from watching it. Then Brilliant Legacy was the first show I really wanted to kill someone (figure of speech), the stepmum. But in Samoa that time everything was DVDs lol. But then one day at school in 2011, one girl at school gave me this website and thus falling in love with the recaps ’cause you guys added your humor to it. It’s thanks to Dramabeans, I pick my shows to watch from here ? and in 2012 we didn’t have any fast internet, it was thanks to Dramabeans I was able to catch up with the shows, especially The Moon That Embraces the Sun. Number 1 show to me. I couldn’t wait for the next week to read the two episode recaps. And next thing you know I bookmarked this on my web browser on my laptop, phone and work computer lol. Waiting for the next recapped drama even now.

I’m a drama addict and Dramabeans addict and I’m proud of being one.

I also love stories like Anna’s where the person who introduced the addiction has moved on, while the friend/sister/spouse they’ve hooked has had their lives flipped upside-down by the drama craze.

My addiction started when my cousin was visiting me from the US (I live in the UK). She had been visiting France before arriving in the UK, and said that one of her friends there had suggested something for her to watch. She asked me if I could try and find it on the net for her. I asked what it was and she said that it’s a Korean drama. I was a bit taken aback. Now, I knew a bit about Korea because I am a bit of a history buff, but never in a million years had I even considered watching a Korean drama. It just wasn’t on my radar.

In those dark days of 4 years ago, it was very difficult to find good websites for downloading or streaming, especially when you are totally unfamiliar with the genre, and my cousin had returned to the US by the time I had been able to obtain any of the episodes of the drama she wanted (it was Dae Jang Geum). So I thought to myself that as I had gone to all that bother to download it, I may as well watch it. Found the first episode a bit strange what with the odd clothes and hearing a language I had never encountered before, but by the end of the second episode I was totally hooked. Immediately tarted searching on the net for other Korean dramas. Heard great reviews for Coffee Prince so planned to get that, but by mistake ended up watching Coffee House, which was the first Korean drama I completed. Coffee Prince was second, and it just spiralled on from there.

So, these days what form does my addiction take? Hmm, I have about 400 unwatched Korean dramas in reserve (I have watched about 100 dramas to completion), around 100 Korean films, I have been studying Korean for 4 years and am currently at Intermediate level, in the last 2 years I have travelled to Korea 4 times (already booked my next trip), and have numerous Korean friends (6 in Korea and 1 in the UK). My cousin no longer watches Korean dramas but I am still well and truly hooked. It’s all her fault!

just_eonni writes, “No time to date because of k-drama :D.” Who needs dates when you have flower boys?

I really don’t know where to begin… but, okay let me start with this —

I lived in a country (Philippines) where Korean drama is telecast as prime time in different big networks dubbed in Tagalog/Filipino (our local language) around year 2000. I had just graduated from college and started to work then. I know what you’re thinking… DON’T compute my age! :p Autumn in my Heart, Winter Sonata, Lovers in Paris, My Girl, Memories of Bali, Winter Sonata and Love Story in Harvard and Save the Last Dance, they were shown in different time and year. I remember watching Love Letter, Attic Cat, All about Eve and Sassy Girl Chun-hyang when I got home from work because it played in the evening and they were my favorites back then. Then came Jewel in the Palace and Boys Over Flowers, they’re so phenomenal and Full House is everyone’s favorite, including me — maybe because of the “Gom Se Mari” three bears song.

I wasn’t an addict back then or I was just in denial? Untiiiiil Queen Seon-deok and Baker Kim Kim Tak-gu, still dubbed in our language (and a very personal favorite <3), started to play on our local channel. After I’d seen a few episodes, I got so hooked in the story and the pacing was fast that I couldn't even wait for the next night to see what’s going to happen next. That morning I raided a DVD store just to find a copy of Baker King, got lucky and ended up with almost 20 K-DVDs and even movies in my hand. Since then, I never watch k-drama dubbed in our language, I’d rather watch it with English subtitle, to hear the original voice and to feel more their emotions. ^^

Days, weeks, months and obviously YEARS have passed [STOP computing my age!], I didn’t realize my precious time is dedicated to watching k-drama. I did give up my time to date (as if! LOL!). I even marathoned Summer Scent, Snow Queen, A Love to Kill, Brilliant Legacy, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, Dream High, City Hunter and 49 Days. And just when Secret Garden was about to show in our television, I said to myself I need to finish it first before anyone else can see it. I even watched it twice in a row just to memorize the story and feel every scene, who wouldn’t love the sit-ups and cuddling scenes while Kim Joo-won is chanting kimsuwamoo because his back aches? ^^

Well, k-drama makes our hearts flutter and makes us feel like we’re on cloud ninety-nine, right?! I’ll settle for Hyun Bin and So Ji-sub and Ha Ji-won is my first ever favorite Korean actress. I watched Hwang Jin-yi till dawn with just crackers, noodles and water beside me. That’s when I realized I’m a C.K.D.A. – certified Korean drama addict — and the rest is history. 😉 Did I mention I studied their language? I studied Basics and the next level at the Korean Cultural Center here and am still eager to learn, and luckily I get to visit the country… KORE-YEAHHH!!! [I’m not bragging here, just sharing and I so love Running Man! ^——^] <3<3<3

Hachiko’s drama routine sounds pretty familiar to many of us, no?

Hi Beans, I am from Tamilnadu, India. To start my story, I travel 4 years back when I was in my final year. That semester was for project and including my 3 other friends, we were happily having our lunch when it happened.

A couple of other girls went for a symposium outside our university and got the drama and were watching them when called us to show how bad the hero looked — they were watching the 1st episode only. We went out of curiosity and he looked like a Bharatanatiyam dancer — our local dance form — with all the eyeliner, the way of walking — at least for the first time when you watch him.

We, friends, got it and started watching it as a relaxation. When I came home, I ate the dinner and here goes my routine after that:

• continued the episodes till morning
• went to college and watched the same episodes with my friends. (Drama was in my laptop)
• repeat the above two steps till the end for one more day
• then came the Saturday and Sunday — my mother saw me that way for the first time, as it was unlike my TV addiction — marathon till the end of the drama!

You want to know what the drama was? It’s our beloved You Are Beautiful!!

Till now I’ve watched more than 60 dramas — my list is short because I choose them so as not to get bored and have them stored in my external hard drive purchased solely for that purpose. I can vouch that the dramas in that drive won’t ever bore anyone.

Not only that, I can also proudly say that if I go to Korea now, I’ll survive!! Hahaha…

And yes, I am the proud distributor of Korean dramas to other girls…:-) and a person who keeps up-to-date knowledge of the world!!

camvan has a pretty long history of watching K-dramas, but it sounds like the actual addiction didn’t come on till much later — a case of Delayed Onset K-Drama Addiction, as it were.

I used to watch K-drama on TV when I was a teenager. In the 1990s, in my country there were just a few channels available nationwide, and almost every household watched K-drama at 5 or 6 pm during dinner, or at 9 pm before going to bed which were the time slot for K-drama. I myself was a fan, too. But when I found that “cancer” materials were overused here and there, I gradually stopped watching.

Even though I became close friends with a Korean girl who is a diehard fan of K-drama when I studied abroad in Japan, the word K-drama was not even in my book from my college days until fairly recently. It was a night in the Lunar New Year 2015 vacation. The vacation was long and boring. I had nothing to do but lazing around the house all day. I unintentionally turned the TV set on and saw two female designers quarreling about some fashion show and one slapped the other accross the face.

“Another shallow K-drama, right?” I thought. When this scary girl started crawling around the room when she heard some sound knocking on the floor, I was about to turn off the TV set. But… wait a second! Suddenly a guy came in… He was so damn beautiful that I decided to continue watching. She threw herself at him with a warm big hug and they went out of the room bantering with each other while walking across a hotel lobby. Finally, he bumped his head into hers adorably.

What a cute couple! I just couldn’t take my eyes off them and kept on watching until the end of that episode. With my heart racing with excitement, I searched this drama on the internet and finished watching 21 epidodes in 2 days with no fast forward. I was on cloud nine thanks to a surprisingly potential plot that anyone would be easily addicted to in the first day, and then fell into the pits of hell the day after because of the way that how this show ended. My favorite character tuned out to be a psycho serial killer, to make it reasonable for the girl to end up with another guy. This ridiculous way of writing makes no sense to me at all and almost drove me crazy.

It was I Miss You, starring Yoon Eun Hye and Yoo Seung Ho and Park Yoo Chun. This drama went wrong in the end because of bad writing but it kept on lingering in my mind with impressive acting skills of all the three leads, especially Yoo Seung-ho’s eye acting. Has Korean actors been this good before? They made me smile, feel being loved and want to love, even made me feel the pain… They did pull my heartstrings and also made me feel depressed. I was really touched.

That is that. It’s Yoo Seung-ho and Yoon Eun-hye who activated my love for K-drama again with their incredibly great chemistry. I checked out their other dramas, watched one by one and has become a rabid fan of these two. I often watch K-drama every weekend now. I even teach myself Korean in case if I bump into any of them when I travel to Korea by the end of this year to visit my friend, I can greet them with best wishes.

 
What would we all do without the internet? Maybe have more productive lives without a constant diet of K-drama at our fingertips? But who’d want that? I bet FeelingLikeAphrodite wouldn’t:

I had already seen Lovers in Paris, Full House, My Name Is Kim Sam-soon, Sweet 18 and bits and pieces of other shows on TV (dubbed in our language) when DVD shops started to pop up within 5 minutes from my place. I was perfectly fine watching the shows on TV until I bought my first K-drama DVD, Princess Hours. I was hooked. To this day, I watch this series at least once every year, going on 8-9 years. After Princess Hours, I bought at least 3 DVDs every Sunday. I would watch dramas at least 12 hours straight, even zipping through scenes that don’t involve characters I care about, just so that I could finish more episodes in a short amount of time. I also realized how I could feel the emotions so much better when it is not dubbed. One time, I decided to watch Coffee Prince while waiting for the New Year and ended up missing the fireworks. If my DVD player could talk, it would speak of the abuse it endured for almost 4 years.

Then Boys Over Flowers happened. I kept begging my sister for 2 weeks to buy me the DVD for the show because the shops near my place have closed down. Finally, I looked it up online and realized I could watch it from there! Even youtube has it! I wouldn’t dare before because of our horrible internet connection then but I just had to see that drama. So the buffering won’t drive me insane, I would load up at least 4 episodes at a time, go to sleep then watch them in the morning. I load up another episode after I finish one so it will be ready by the time I get to it. After I learned how to watch dramas online, my laptop rarely got shut off!

Then I moved abroad and got very lonely. This made me even more obsessed because these k-dramas became my friend and my refuge and that the country I moved to had 10 times faster internet speed. By this time, I have started to watch variety shows like Running Man, Return of Superman, etc., and read Dramabeans every day as I need something to stop me from obsessing over the next episodes that haven’t been uploaded yet.

Ten years after I have started, I have probably seen thousands of episodes of dramas (which I re-watch), movies, variety shows, music videos, fan-made videos and etc; learned some Korean (can watch raw videos now); know more about Korean actors than those in Hollywood; learned Korean recipes and lastly, sold an arm and a leg to buy tickets to see Big Bang in 3 weeks and fangirl all I want!

Side note: I really love your website especially recaps! Whenever I don’t understand or can’t relate to a scene, I’ll find the answer in your recaps! Great job you guys! Keep it up!

 
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