Open Thread #751

1 welh

March 11, 2022 at 6:03 AM

Early 2022 has had a surge of Asian celebrity marriage news. One reason may be the result of two years of secret pandemic dating. Another could be that it was hard to hold a wedding during past lock down restrictions. In Korea, daily COVID positive tests top 300,000. To hold an outdoor wedding today, the ceremony is restricted to 99 people (only 49 if there is food service).

While celebrity marriages may be a positive sign for SK government’s fear of a plunging national birth rate, the statistics still show 46.8% of SK current marriages end in divorce. The ages with the highest divorce rate is men (45-50) and women (40-45). 38% of divorces are from couples who have been married for more than 20 years. 20% of divorcees have been married less than 4 years. The reasons are not economic: most cite personality conflicts, alcoholism or in the older couples, one who does not want to become an end-of-life caregiver.
In the past 20 years, the average age of the groom went from 26 to 32 years old. The bride went from 23 to 30. More Korean women (51%) do not believe marriage is a priority for them. Part of the reason is that more women value their career over traditional role of a housewife and mother. 44% of women under 40 stated they had no plans to marry.

These trends have been slowly being incorporated in k-dramas, especially single, female centric dramas that try to tackle ageism, sexism, and careers versus traditional roles. “Work Later, Drink Now” or “Thirty, Nine” were promoted as examples of this trend. But only network weekenders can guarantee fairy tale “happily ever after” endings. Or do they?

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hacja

March 11, 2022 at 8:25 AM

Very interesting. But its hard not to see why, as women gain more economic clout, birth rates fall and divorce rates rise--women have for centuries been constrained by marriages that are oppressive and not companionate, as well as having to raise children in an environment that makes childcare an overwhelming burden falling on women alone.
In the U.S., divorce rates have been declining, and women HAD been gradually equalizing their position in the workforce. Unfortunately, the last decade has slowed this progress, and then the pandemic really had a differential impact on women, as the closing of schools forced women to again take disproportionate responsibility for childcare.
I feel VERY strongly it is up to men to adjust and then the happily ever after will come. But--and there is no other way of saying this--even in the 21st century too many men around the world are stupid in that way, trapped in a culture of masculinity that can't admit female equality, not realizing that they are repressed themselves, when they force a repressive system on women.
I hope k-dramas continue to focus on career women, and use their narratives to teach the lesson of gender equality, by showing that it really can and should lead to happily ever after endings!

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Alluvial_Fan

March 11, 2022 at 9:06 AM

Fascinating stats, thanks welh and interesting reflection on the real world vs Kdramas. It is true that many cultures around the world have a patriarchal core value set. Perhaps if women in S Korea walk away from the task of raising the next generation, it may nudge the collective mindset toward more modern relationships.
With the recent election of a Prime Minister who pandered to misogynists, we shouldn't expect a happy ending for at least a few more generations. Although he won by the slenderest of margins, so maybe mild optimism?

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Ally

March 11, 2022 at 9:13 AM

Well-stated! As a very independent person (woman or man) in a marriage where my husband definitely does more of the domestic work, most of my friends are just like I am. And in US medicine, there are more women in medical schools than men now, and the power balance is shifting. Most people (men or women) also prefer women physicians who (stereotypically) are seen to be better listeners and empathizers. All of my physician friends have one to three children. No more are the days of 5+ kids in a family for most Asian families and so we see the birth rate declining that way as well. My dad is one of 7 and my mom is one of 4 (and would have been more if her dad didn't die when she was only 9 years old). I have 2 kids, my sister has 1, and my brother has 1 on the way (yay!). But none of us are planning on having more than 3. My sister is a busy specialty pharmacist and only wants one child. (And if you knew her son, you'd know why, LOL). I search narratives with strong independent women (as I have an independent daughter as well) because you really need a team approach to all modern family relationships to make them sustainable. I'm lucky to be in a profession that I feel values me as a woman minority and that with hard work and some intelligence you can go as far as you want in terms of power, respect and money. I'm as happy as I can be and very lucky to have a supportive husband (I'm on more committees that I really should be on and it's all thanks to him) and great kids. I just hope everyone can have some degree of what I have been blessed with. Kdramas give us that hope, especially in countries that are not as gender-equal (I say as because it still isn't equal in western countries either). Kdramas are in that unique space where they are in the middle of finding equality for many minority persons, not just women, that countries who are more paternalistic can see and grow. They are all exploring this at the same time. And their popularity will only help all international women, I believe.

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Doppelganger

March 11, 2022 at 12:15 PM

Korean society is still so patriarchal and misogynistic that it's no surprise that as Korean women become more and more educated, the appeal of entering into marriage is less and less appealing. The expectations of daughter-in-laws are stifling and not with modern times.

Kdramas still have a lot of catching up to do to reflect actual societal reality.

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2 Soyesterday

March 11, 2022 at 6:21 AM

The running Archaeopteryx joke on "A Business Proposal" cracks me up. I hope they run with it till the end.

That and Granpa's favorite romance drama with a ratings share of 27%

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3 MMkitty

March 11, 2022 at 6:32 AM

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4 cat-cric-kat

March 11, 2022 at 6:43 AM

I became active in february and at that time event turned -

Someone in 2021 had shared a view and a question - stock market a gamble.
I'll a simple answer here - Have a portfolio - invest and enjoy.
I have shares of specific stocks chosen from particular sectors.
ONE such company is having annual general meeting in APRIL.
I received OFFICIAL email from company notifying me date,time of said meeting and what's the agenda - ofcourse some resolutions gonna be taken and clear and i can participate in voting.

See. The system. regulations. rights. This is just the beginning - i can go on and on.
Yes - stock market is unfair. Huge manipulation happens. Small traders aka common man mostly losses their investment and many other wrong acts are carried out by big players - still the number legal rights provided and to secure the interests of people as well as keeping the credibility of whole system remains utmost important for the governments.

1st line - portfolio was green - saw on 15 Feb - green then event happens and portfolio turns deep red. Market runs on human sentiments - greed, fear, opportunity and security. All are important factors. That's why i always say - those who do good in market do good in politics.

I don't get upset over such small things. It's human life - +ve -ve, green red, ups down all come and go - You see, you smile, you enjoy and fight. That's popcorn is your one true fellow.

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cat-cric-kat

March 11, 2022 at 7:09 AM

I'm planning to open my 1st social media profile.
1st April - Cato Cat live on twitter n maybe youtube.

I never use smilies emoji emoticon meme - It's 2022 - I should try them.

As i always - change to quote

CLIMATE - haha. more popcorn. Mother earth surely gonna teach a good lesson to everyone.

South Korea - business as usual. Only i talked about it in 2021. 1 comment from our guest - If you scroll 2021's open posts then you see how empowerment was turning into -ve because woke damage done by new age feminists. yup. game won.

Politics is a business - you have to be cruel - Ideology is just a shinny suit you wear. good makeup - real battle takes place in completely different world.
THose who use phony words play this out in society and surely manage well - I like to keep distance from such identities.

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5 MMkitty

March 11, 2022 at 6:44 AM

I actually realized GOT 7 Jinyoung ( Devil's Judge ) ‌and B1A4 Jinyoung ( Police University ) are different earlier today.

South Korea has a lot of celebrities who have similar faces.

If I am not a big fan of Junho ( 2pm ) right now, I may not differentiate him from Jung Hae In either.

A few years ago , I always mistook Park So Dam as Kim Go Eun.

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Ally

March 11, 2022 at 8:41 AM

I see that! And also similar names. Lee Se Young vs Lee Si Young for instance. I never know who an article is referring to.

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spazmo

March 11, 2022 at 1:12 PM

i think you might try watching Red Sleeve Cuff and your impression of Junho will change... he can smolder....

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Ally

March 11, 2022 at 4:35 PM

I think she is a big fan, which is why she can tell the difference between him and Jung Hae In. 😆

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MMkitty

March 11, 2022 at 10:37 PM

Became his fan after Red Sleeve.
His acting is actually better than some actors, can be said on par with some A list star.

Yeah he is also a great idol.

I am totally surprised by his talents.
Total waste of the years I haven't known him. 😅😅

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6 hacja

March 11, 2022 at 7:25 AM

My wife and I graduated from (My Roommate is a) Gumiho university early this week, by pulling a couple of late night episode study sessions. Even though both the history and the communication departments of that academic institution should be facing sexual harassment lawsuits, at least the show didn’t take itself too seriously, and overall we enjoyed it. So thanks to the @missvictrix for her recommendation in the article on fantasy romance.

In turn I started making wisecracking references to Gumihos, blue beads, stealing energy, etc. etc. until my wife grew a little irritated and said “That’s enough joking about Gumihos,” which might be the first time in U.S. history that any woman said that to her husband.

But as I was chuckling about that epochal event, in Japan, apparently another person/creature didn’t find it too funny, and THE VERY NEXT DAY, March 6th, I saw this on twitter: https://twitter.com/nick_kapur/status/1500482391395254276?s=20&t=7zGvOQgn1oOjqgrx6-YAiA

For those of you who don’t want to click on the link, in Japan the rock imprisoning the nine-tailed fox demoness Tamamo-No-Mae was found BROKEN OPEN AND EMPTY.

Now, sadly, there are a lot of bad things happening in the world right now that suggest a demoness at work. But just in case she carries a personal grudge, I’m letting anybody who reads this know that if I stop posting suddenly and you see a headline “MAN FOUND DRAINED OF ENERGY WITH GNAWED LIVER—NINE TAILED FOX DEMONESS SUSPECTED” that I’ll be back as soon as I can activate my bead.

(In an ominous sign, I’m already feeling drained of energy in a way that I’m sure has absolutely nothing to do with the tedious assessment report I’m writing for work.)

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Ally

March 11, 2022 at 8:44 AM

I loved MRISAG. I thought it was fun too and l liked her friends and secondary characters. My favorite part was the whole comedy sketch/ misunderstanding about her being pregnant. So funny.

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missvictrix

March 11, 2022 at 4:47 PM

Glad you enjoyed it, and lol on the wisecracks!

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dramalover4ever

March 11, 2022 at 5:06 PM

Beware The Demon Vixen 😈

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7 Ally

March 11, 2022 at 7:26 AM

Hi Open Threaders! Remember me? I haven’t had a true open thread in months! But guess what? I’m sitting at work in a snow storm and my last patient’s car door froze and so she couldn’t get here. Lucky you! What is everyone enjoying?
I’m watching 25-21, and enjoying every second. I’m riveted to the screen. I’m a huge Kim Tae Ri fan, and she is doing a bang up job playing a teenager. I love coming of age shows, and this one does not disappoint. I also love shows that have very strong female characters, and she’s all that and more. So, yeah, this one is perfect for me.
Also watching Business Proposal. I had to see my adopted son in a chaebol role, doncha know? I’m rooting for him to come out of his shell and banter a bit more with Kim Se-jeong’s character. But I’m all in for Lee Deeok-hwa as Tae-mu’s grandfather. I could watch him watch dramas, do face masks, and eat snacks ALL. DAY. LONG.
I started and dropped 39—moving too slow for me, and not in the mood for all depressing, all the time right now.
Then there is Snowdrop. I don’t know if I’m in the mood for this either. I’m watching because it’s pretty, and Jung Hae In is pretty, but I’m really sad knowing that someone from the show is not on earth anymore and that makes me sad when I see her on screen. So, this might be on the ever growing “in process” box. I’m on episode 4.
I just finished Moonshine and it was very lackluster by the end. Red Sleeve is probably the best sageuk I’ve seen this year.
Story time! Geez, I have so many, I don’t even know which one is more entertaining.

We found out this week that one of our Korean friend’s daughters just got into Yale on a D1 tennis scholarship. She’s a genius too, so that’s nice. And another Korean friend’s son just got into Johns Hopkins.

Set: I’m in my office in my bedroom, and he’s around the corner in his office.

Me: *Yelling-so he can hear me* Hubby, did you see D got into Yale through tennis?

Hubby: …

Me: *Still voice raised* Yeah. I’m happy for them…You should text [her dad]. I’ll text L [her mom].

Hubby: *Now yelling down the hall from his office* Didn’t T just get into Johns Hopkins too?

Me: …
*texting L* “Give D a big hug from all of us! We’re so proud of her and all her hard work. Congrats!”

Hubby: *Screaming* I FEEL LIKE I’M IN SKYCASTLE!

Me: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! ROTFL!

PS. My domain name expired and I’m still trying to figure out how to reinstate it. So my blog that I hardly ever post anything on is: http://www.freethekimchi.wordpress.com for now. You will not be able to get to it just using the other domain name. I do put all my OT posts/stories there for posterity. LOL.

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Ally

March 11, 2022 at 7:29 AM

Moral of the Story: You see the reason I never finished Sky Castle, right? It's too real.
2nd Moral: My daughter and the math genius did win their Science Olympiad competition this past week.
3rd Moral: Be safe and calm out there Beanies!

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Tizzy

March 11, 2022 at 9:33 AM

Glad to see you back! And Congrats to your daughter!

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Ally

March 11, 2022 at 10:45 AM

Thank you!

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bbstl 🧹

March 11, 2022 at 6:35 PM

Just, ❤️

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8 Lord Cobol (Kdramas, like water, flow downhill)

March 11, 2022 at 8:18 AM

Do acting schools in South Korea have special classes in spitting in people's faces? Kicking shins? What are team projects and final exams like? Or does it all just come naturally?

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