[Best Friends Forever] How a revenge club equals a newfound family
by Guest Beanie
By @xhuizini
In K-dramas, where love is the end-all and be-all of the story, sometimes seeing a tale about true friendship is a breath of fresh air. One such friendship that I utterly adore is the ajumma trio and their adoptive duckling in Buam-dong Revenge Club.
When I first saw the trailer and posters for Buam-dong Revenge Club, I thought, “I hate it, looks gloomy. I’ve had enough drama in life, thanks.” I had enough of revenge stories, more so if it’s the melo type, and most especially if it involves snooty-ass ladies, even if it’s Lee Yo-won. But watching the first episode encouraged me to check out the next, and by the end of Episode 2, I was crying my heart out on the Beanie fan wall, waiting two weeks for an episode to get subbed when other dramas got subbed on time. (The injustice, I know!) The gods probably heard my wish or got irritated with my complaints every single day and a subbing team later picked up the show.
I don’t know if I can relay in under a thousand words how I freaking adored the friendship in this show.
The three women in Buam-dong Revenge Club all had their own circumstances where they were taken advantage of. Normally, these three would never meet, let alone talk to each other. Jung-hye is an isolated elite madam encased in her mansion who is naïve enough to think that she can win everyone with money. Mi-sook is a meek mother and politician’s trophy wife who endures domestic violence to preserve her family’s reputation. And last but not the least is Do-hee, the most awesome fish vendor and mother of two who is willing to do anything for the sake of her children.
Of course our main trio didn’t get off to a good start. They were wary of each other. Do-hee thinks Jung-hye is a privileged young woman. Mi-sook wants nothing to do with Jung-hye’s crazy idea. And Jung-hye cannot absolutely comprehend what is holding these two back from getting their revenge.
Who knew that Jung-hye’s invitation for revenge could lead to being part of the most awesome club in a K-drama? It’s like a book club, but instead of discussing favorite books, they’re simulating revenge pranks that would be totally legal and ten times more hilarious!
Whatever the reason, the club that Jung-hye formed for the three of them provided a necessary avenue for them to talk about their frustration regarding each other’s lives. Do-hee’s willingness to share her home made Mi-sook feel like she discovered a long-lost sister, while at the same time, the two discover that Jung-hye is not a rich robot after all.
Of course, a friendship is not without its fair share of misunderstandings. But what keeps this friendship even stronger than their little fights is their openness with each other. The Revenge Club is actually their very own haven where they can say anything without being judged. In the late-night meeting where Jung-hye rented the entire cafe, Mi-sook found the courage to apologize for offending Do-hee.
And in the scene that followed, Jung-hye openly admited to being envious of the two despite their family situation. In a sense she is just like Soo-gyum, both abandoned by their real parents, and that’s why she can understand the most where Soo-gyum’s desire to join their club comes from.
My favorite scene was when Jung-hye asked them to decide whether they should call off their revenge. At that very moment, Mi-sook and Do-hee ceased to become merely members of the Revenge Club, and became a support system—true friends and sisters to Jung-hye.
What they have is ten times better than any ordinary friendship, as Jung-hye so eloquently put it, “We’re no longer exchanging services, we’re a family. We live together, we die together. Your revenge is my revenge.”
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1 blnmom
March 8, 2018 at 8:46 PM
Thanks for this write-up! I loved this drama. The friendship between the four was awesome. And if any of the subbers read Dramabeans, I just want to say a huge thank you! You made a lot of people happy 😃
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Sisyphus
March 9, 2018 at 10:27 AM
My friend was one of the subbers and was happy that more folks were able to watch the show because of the subs. And my friend want to thanks all the fans who patiently waited for the subs. It was a labor-intensive, time-consuming effort.
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KSKalways
March 12, 2018 at 8:38 AM
*standing ovation for the Friend Subber*
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2 greenfields
March 8, 2018 at 8:56 PM
Oh! Thank you for writing about this! I'd say Buam-dong Revenge Club was the best drama of 2017 and is one of the best dramas to ever air on television anywhere! :) Agreed that the trio of ahjummas and their adoptive duckling (har! that's hilariusly appropriate) were true #friendshipgoals.
A second shout out to the people that subbed this one. Thank you so much for bringing this gem to us! ^^
A second shout-out
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Orl
March 9, 2018 at 2:16 AM
I also think Buamdong was the best drama of 2017. Script, directing and acting were perfect. There was also something deeply satisfying with the way they achieved to go though their respective hardships and bond together.
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goldenaddiction
March 9, 2018 at 6:42 AM
Me too!! When I finally got around to watching it was like hitting the motherlode of the best television evarr!!
Thank you @xhuizini for writing this beautiful post!!
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xhuizini
March 9, 2018 at 6:58 AM
welcome, been wanting to try writing for theme of the month for months XD luckily this month's theme is something that I can relate so much too.
had problems writing about themes about love since almost all love related things i know comes from dramas and books
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greenfields
March 9, 2018 at 7:03 AM
Hahahaha - that's why I went with destroying the OTPs instead. They're a work of fiction, non-existent in real life in my opinion. But friendship isn't (though it can be rare) - and you chose the best dramaland friendship to talk about.
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xhuizini
March 9, 2018 at 7:13 AM
your write-up had me laughing loudly at night my dad told me to stop browsing the net at 1 in the morning XD
also i said it to my mom before, when it comes to something I like, writing about it is not a chore
greenfields
March 9, 2018 at 10:11 AM
Hahaha thank you for enjoying what I wrote. :) I really loved reading this post too. Must say I agree - it's not a chore if you love it! ^^ I tried to do this for a job though and that failed haha >.<
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3 luzitania
March 8, 2018 at 9:58 PM
That drama was amazing and made me wish for friendships like those.
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4 javinne
March 8, 2018 at 10:03 PM
When I heard about this drama in the section "what we're watching", I thought I would have never watch it. I hate revenge plots, I don't need that. When I saw the poster, I thought exactly the same you did, @xhuizini: gloomy, melo.. no way. But something caught my attention in the comments some beanies made once it ended. It must have been also the words friendship or family. So I checked it out at the end of the year and what a treat!!!😍😍😍 Already full subbed, I could binge it being on vacation for new years eve (I don't celebrate it, so for me those are simply free days at home when outside is cold). I enjoyed it with jummy warm food and tee 😊... super cozy in my bed!!!! Ohh how happy! 😊😍😜
This drama is a gem! It was not free from disappointments or relatively domestic scary situations, but it was also hilarious, warm, funny, wholehearted and somehow simple. I loved the growing affection between the characters and the willingness to sacrifice themselves for the other, mostly from our madman Jung-hye and his adoptive ducking. ****Next is a small spoiler**** I even loved they forgave the crazy mother and have her some space in their story at the end.
Sometimes "revenge" is about becoming a better person! The Bible even says it: "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing this you will heap fiery coals on his head"
Anyway, thank you for your article. You made me want to watch this show again. Ottoke? I was already kind of scanning through the Chief kim while I cook because @superwhopotterlock wrote about the accounting gang!!! (And I still don't have time!!!!! 😩)
But thank you so much for sharing!!!
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eandusmon
March 9, 2018 at 12:54 PM
Chief Kim is awesome, please watch when you have time
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javinne
March 9, 2018 at 1:27 PM
I did!!!! Long ago. But what I meant, I would watch it again, because it is really very fun. Thank you!!!
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5 keiru
March 8, 2018 at 10:26 PM
I just hope there will be a second season for them ! 😁
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⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐
March 8, 2018 at 11:42 PM
Me too!
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6 gadis
March 8, 2018 at 10:27 PM
I watched this drama after it finished airing because, just as you said, the poster and the synopsis didn't excite me much. But thanks to the beanies who showered so much love for this little gem on fan wall, I finally decides to pick it up. I adore their friendship and how they turned into a happy, supportive makeshift family by the end of the drama. Which I think is the truest revenge for all of them.
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goldenaddiction
March 9, 2018 at 8:20 AM
Well said: the best revenge was how happy and empowered they were as women at the end and how they became independent from the people who tied them down :D :D
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7 acacia
March 8, 2018 at 10:32 PM
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
All the hearts in the world to express my love for the Buamdong Revenge Social Club. I love kdrama romance but I’ll take friendships like this quad squad (including Soogyum of course) over any romance!
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8 Cloggie
March 8, 2018 at 11:39 PM
I loved this drama so much. That friendship was just the best.
Thanks @xhuizini for a great write-up.
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9 ⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐
March 8, 2018 at 11:46 PM
I miss my Bokja Club!!! Thanks for this write up! One of those drama that I will keep re-watching! Season 2 for the same casts please!
On aside note, Lee Yo-won should consider noona romance in the future. I had her on my mind as Park Seo-joon's partner for his new drama though but seems like it wasn't meant to be LOL 😅
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Cloggie
March 9, 2018 at 12:07 AM
Oh, she would have been great in Park Seo-joon's new drama. Can you imagine Lee Yo-won as a frighteningly efficient & experienced secretary? Totally shifts the power balance - in a much more interesting way.
What I loved about her in this drama is that she had that cool-crazy vibe. Drunk Jung-hye was just the best. That would works so well for a noona romance.
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⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐
March 9, 2018 at 12:32 AM
She always has that cool-charismatic vibe that it's good to see another side, cool-crazy vibe.
Her chemistry with Jun in this drama was so good, that it would be great to see her in some noona romance.
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Cloggie
March 9, 2018 at 12:37 AM
I thought she was great with both the boys. Seafood ramen competition.
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🍙 kimbap noona
March 9, 2018 at 5:11 AM
OMG her drunk scene in Seafood Ramen's home had me shipped them for a few minutes. Her character's naïveté just meshes well with either of these two mature young guys. So much credit to her acting!
xiao jingyan
March 11, 2018 at 4:47 AM
the sentences I never thought about but I agree,
it just so apparent to me that the scene has chemistry to both boys,
I said to myself that the drama doesn't go for that and it's true but the chemistry is inviting me.
Orl
March 9, 2018 at 2:06 AM
I was shipping them so bad despite knowing nothing would happen lol.
Jun had good chemistry with all the characters, I would love to see him in a noona romance too! (or at least in an other drama for now)
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🍙 kimbap noona
March 9, 2018 at 5:07 AM
Their amazing chemistry makes me really want a second season with a significant time jump, which allows time for him to become a man and both away from her ex/his father for years.
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xhuizini
March 9, 2018 at 12:12 AM
good to know, I wasn't the only one waiting for LYW to pick a noona romance :)
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⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐
March 9, 2018 at 12:33 AM
We should let her know! 😆Probably with an actor in the mid to late 20s.
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Orl
March 9, 2018 at 2:11 AM
Yes! It would suit Lee Yo-won so well. She's such a good actress anyway.
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10 lemoncello
March 9, 2018 at 1:06 AM
Thank you for writing this! I love this drama so much. I watched it raw because it was too long to wait it getting subbed, then re-watched it after it's subbed! I recommended a friend to watch it, then we ended up to watch all the episodes during our vacation in Malacca. It's weird. We would stroll along the city during the days, and watched this serial at night in the hotel.
Aside from the ladies & Soo-gyum friendship, I also like how Soo-gyum became a best support and Hyung for Hee-soo at school.
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xhuizini
March 9, 2018 at 6:55 AM
wanted to write that too but then this would exceed a thousand characters haha :)
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11 jaderjylsk
March 9, 2018 at 5:28 AM
Bokja Club! I love this drama! Jung-hye was such an endearing character cos it was so rare (for me) to see a chaebol's daughter be so innocent and kind-hearted. I love when she uses her wealth to get what she wants BUT she doesn't come across as arrogant or privileged - she's just used to having a lot of money. Well-acted by LYW too. And Do-Hee's relationship with her children is #goals
This was such a gem that it's on my list of all-time favorite dramas. Like you I loved the unlikely friendship that blossomed from our 3 ahjummas + Soo Gyum. I was also wary of watching this because I had thought having the drama description of "revenge" would mean it was gonna be melodramatic and it turned out sooo far from being so. Funny and full of heart.
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xhuizini
March 9, 2018 at 7:26 AM
BMC actually exceeded my expectations, and got me thinking that I'm gonna like everything tvn puts out from now on XD
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12 rinny
March 9, 2018 at 7:17 AM
This is a really great write up that gets to the core of what made this show magical! Thanks for doing the show justice @xhuizini!
I started the show because I liked the idea of a 'revenge club', but wasn't sure if it would be any good. But the show was so much better than I could have dreamt. Waiting for subtitles was torture that was worth every second. And now after reading this, I miss the club so much! I really want a season 2, but a rewatch is likely in my future!
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xhuizini
March 9, 2018 at 7:24 AM
glad you liked it! BMC was such a surprise at the time, I can't help but praise it to anyone who would listen :)
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Sisyphus
March 9, 2018 at 10:15 AM
Well, it was torture for my friend to sub it. I don't know what it was like for the other Avengers subbers, but there were weeks when my buddy only had time to sub (and didn't finish watching the series until after it finished). Talk about irony. Anyway my friend is glad that folks enjoyed it.
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rinny
March 9, 2018 at 11:35 AM
Well, if I could, I would give your friend a thank you hug! I am always super grateful that there are people who are willing to take the time to help others enjoy good shows.
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Sisyphus
March 9, 2018 at 2:33 PM
My friend says thanks for the virtual hugs. She's glad that folks were able to enjoy, because she was fan of the show and was disappointed when no one was recapping or subtitling it. Also, she (and I) now have a great appreciation for the volunteers who subtitle and time the shows. It's quite an undertaking and involves a lot of steps.
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rinny
March 9, 2018 at 7:37 PM
I have a family member who is hearing impaired. So, I occasionally add captioning to things to help them enjoy what is less accessible. That alone takes three times longer (at minimum) than the video to complete. I cannot even imagine the extra work that goes into translating things so they can be appreciated in languages that may have a different structure.
Giegie
March 9, 2018 at 11:44 AM
Please give your friend a thank you hug for me. ^^
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Sisyphus
March 9, 2018 at 2:57 PM
Like I wrote to Rinny above, my buddy says thanks for the virtual hug.
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ianrfan
March 11, 2018 at 6:39 AM
Hugssss to your friend! Thanks for sharing the joy of watching this show!
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13 Giegie
March 9, 2018 at 9:59 AM
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for the write-up about BRC gang, @xhuizini 😘
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xhuizini
March 9, 2018 at 8:18 PM
you're welcome :)
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14 Sisyphus
March 9, 2018 at 10:23 AM
@xhuizini: I just want to correct you on the length of time it took for the subs to be released. The first 2 episodes did take about two weeks but that's because people were waiting to see if anyone was going to sub and then the volunteer subbing team was formed during the second week. After that it took about 2-5 days for subtitles to appear. And towards the end, the turnaround was about 2-3 days. That's pretty impressive for a bunch of unpaid volunteers, many of whom were first-time subbers.
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xhuizini
March 9, 2018 at 8:16 PM
thanks for correcting me, don't get me wrong I really, really appreciate the work that other fans put into translating the dramas that we all watch.
I do know that the turn around time for the subbing had become very quick after the first two episodes and I'm so happy that someone finally took the drama and subbed it. :)
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15 buckdawna
March 9, 2018 at 12:03 PM
Thanks for the recommendation! Where is everyone watching this? KissAsian?
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16 ar_arguably romantic
March 10, 2018 at 12:13 PM
I love the Bokja club members so much! Thank you for writing about them! I remember, at the beginning, I was thinking about how odd it was that there wasn't so much revenge-ing going on as there was hanging out... Then I realized, that was the point! It's about a group of wonderful people needing friends and finding those friends. I remember this drama getting really good ratings, so I hope this helps facilitate more dramas about friendships. The word, "healing", has been used a lot recently in describe dramas, and I do think this was a healing drama
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17 Gigi
March 11, 2018 at 8:00 PM
This really makes me want to check this out soon. I love friendships in dramas.
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18 KSKalways
March 12, 2018 at 8:37 AM
it waaaaas such a cute show !!
thanks for the post, @xhuizini !!
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