Rather than a recap, this is more of a first impressions/summary of the first two episodes. In fact, the first two episodes were short enough that I don’t think it merits a full recap. If you’re a fan of IRIS and ATHENA, you might enjoy this one. If you love Hwang Jung Min, you’re probably bound to watch this no matter what. I’m none of the above, but I sure am an action/political thriller junkie!!

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Read the rest of Hanbando / Korean Peninsula: Episodes 1-2 (3,022 words)

© kaedejun for Dramabeans, 2012. | Permalink | 18 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: cable programs, featured, first episodes, Hwang Jung-min, Kim Jung-eun

Well it looks like this project is finally getting off the ground, after more than a year of stalled casting rumors. With everyone from Jang Dong-gun and Ha Ji-won to Park Shin-yang and Han Ga-in attached to the project at one time or another, upcoming cable blockbuster drama Korean Peninsula is back on, with leads Hwang Jung-min (Accidental Couple / That Fool) and Kim Jung-eun (I Am Legend) set to star.

And while I love both actors, it’s the story that really excites me — it’s a re-imagining of contemporary Korean history, where North and South are reunited in the present day. A massive struggle for limited natural resources turns the country upside-down, and in the midst of that, two people fall in love.

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Read the rest of Hwang Jung-min and Kim Jung-eun to star in Peninsula (348 words)

© girlfriday for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 20 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Hwang Jung-min, Kim Jung-eun

Allure had the foresight to photograph a slew of actresses while they were getting ready for the end-of-year awards ceremonies, and they’ll be featured in an upcoming spread entitled “One Hour Before the Red Carpet.” I love moments like the one captured above, of Song Ji-hyo (Goong, Serious Crime Squad), which shows her goofy side, made popular this past year by her gregarious turn in variety programs like Running Man.

Kim So-yeon (Dr. Champ, Prosecutor Princess) looks RIDICULOUSLY stunning, as per usual. This woman has never met a red carpet dress she didn’t rock. It actually makes me laugh to think of all the crazy outfits she wore in Prosecutor Princess, when could have looked like this. Some actresses look better in everyday wear, while others, like Kim So-yeon, should really just spend all her days in red carpet gowns. Hell, I would, if I were her.

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Read the rest of Actresses captured pre-red carpet in Allure (114 words)

© girlfriday for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 32 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Kim Jung-eun, Kim So-yeon, Lee So-yeon, photo shoots, Song Ji-hyo

There are lots of awards handed out, for sure, but at least SBS has some strong shows this year, with great performances all around in the competition. Go Hyun-jung stacks up another Daesang for her turn as the first Korean female president in Daemul, which if I’m to go based on all the parodies, involved lots of shouting in the rain. There’s a performance by Noh Min-woo, a THREE-way tie for Best Couple, and of course, some red carpet hits and misses.

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Read the rest of 2010 SBS Drama Awards (1,983 words)

© girlfriday for Dramabeans, 2010. | Permalink | 187 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: awards, Choi Jin-hyuk, Go Hyun-jung, Ha Ji-won, Ham Eun-jung, Han Chae-ah, Han Hye-jin, Hong Ji-min, Hwang Jung-eum, Hyun Bin, Joo Sang-wook, Jung Bo-seok, Jung Seok-won, Kang Sung, Kim Jung-eun, Kim So-yeon, Kim Soo-hyun, Kwon Sang-woo, Lee Beom-soo, Lee Hee-jin, Lee Jong-seok, Lee Seung-gi, Lee Soo-kyung, Min Hyo-rin, Moon Chae-won, Park Jin-hee, Philip Lee, Shin Mina, Shin Sung-rok, Yoo Min

Aie, is it that time of year again? We’re heading into the holiday months, which also means that awards season is about to descend upon us. (It’s still early, but I bet you’ll tire of them soon enough!) Here we have the 47th Grand Bell (Daejong) Awards, which were held on the evening of October 29, giving out awards to films in 22 categories.

The event was emceed by comedian Shin Dong-yub and actress Kim Jung-eun (I Am Legend), and big winners included Poetry, which notably won the best screenplay prize at Cannes; Moss, the dark thriller from the director of Silmido; Ajusshi, the dark thriller starring Won Bin, who picked up two awards; and Lee Min-jung, who likewise took home two trophies.

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Read the rest of 47th Grand Bell Awards (1,045 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2010. | Permalink | 97 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: awards, Cha Ye-ryun, Chu Ja-hyun, Daniel Choi, Eom Ki-joon, Hwang Jung-eum, Jeon Do-yeon, Jin Gu, Jung Jae-young, Kim Heung-soo, Kim Jung-eun, Kim Sae-ron, Kim Yun-jin, Lee Min-jung, Min Hyo-rin, Oh Ji-ho, Park Hee-soon, Seo Young-hee, Shim Eun-kyung, Song Seung-heon, TOP, Won Bin, Yoon Yeo-jung

Thanks so much to javabeans and girlfriday for letting me write up the recaps to I Am Legend. It was a fun ride – and I hope you all enjoyed it too! I apologize for the lateness of this recap, so, on to the final episode!

[And a big thanks to you, kaedejun, for stepping up to battle Legend. I would send you a million roses in tribute, but I'm not proposing or anything, so I didn't want you to get the wrong idea. Upping your general awesomeness quotient will have to suffice. I've already filed the paperwork. -GF]

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Read the rest of I Am Legend: Episode 16 (Final) (3,842 words)

© kaedejun for Dramabeans, 2010. | Permalink | 115 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: featured, I Am Legend, Kim Jung-eun, Lee Jun-hyuk

WHEEEE! This series reminds me of Stars Falling From the Sky, where the cute and happy parts were winning, the melodrama kind of odd, the story meandering, and the drama overall a fun roller coaster ride. I know there’s still one more episode left, so for now I’ll just keep my judgments to: WHEEEE!!!!

SONG OF THE DAY

I Am Legend OST – “I Love the Rain Like You Always Do” by Kim Jung Eun [download]

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Read the rest of I Am Legend: Episode 15 (2,807 words)

© kaedejun for Dramabeans, 2010. | Permalink | 34 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: featured, I Am Legend, Kim Jung-eun, Lee Jun-hyuk

Ah – much better. I don’t know about the rest of you, but this episode was like a breath of fresh air for me, just as music was a place for the girls to “breathe” outside of their socially-accepted-other lives. Maybe my standards for “good” is a little low (and it has been in the last few weeks) but I am much relieved that we are moving forward.

Plus – Hwa Ja has a solo! What more can you ask for?

SONG OF THE DAY

I Am Legend OST – “Musical” by Hong Ji Min [download]

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Read the rest of I Am Legend: Episode 14 (3,278 words)

© kaedejun for Dramabeans, 2010. | Permalink | 36 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: featured, I Am Legend, Kim Jung-eun, Lee Jun-hyuk

I would name this episode ‘The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again) of Jun Seol Hee.’ More push-and-pull between Seol Hee and her ex-Ji Wook. As others have mentioned in the comments, I do think that I Am Legend is trying to do a lot of things at once. But more on that later.

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Read the rest of I Am Legend: Episode 13 (3,032 words)

© kaedejun for Dramabeans, 2010. | Permalink | 33 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: featured, I Am Legend, Kim Jung-eun, Lee Jun-hyuk

After the epic-ness that was the MoaE vs. Seol Hee face-off, I felt that this episode was on the boring side. There were too much Seung Hye, MoaE, and law-jingo that I was craving for more performances and more music. And yes – I am nearly bald after all the hair pulling. There was only one highlight though, which is also the song of the day:

I Am Legend OST – “You” Duet by Lee Joon Hyuk and Kim Jung Eun [download]

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Read the rest of I Am Legend: Episode 12 (2,827 words)

© kaedejun for Dramabeans, 2010. | Permalink | 33 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: featured, I Am Legend, Kim Jung-eun, Lee Jun-hyuk