Move over, Moon Geun Young. Korea has a new “Little Sister.”

It’s Shim Eun Kyung, the bubbly, lovable budding actress who already has a noted resume despite her tender years (she’s a 1994-er). Not only has she played the children’s role for major characters in well-known and well-received dramas (she was Ha Jiwon’s counterpart as young Hwang Jini and Lee Jia’s as young Sujini in Legend), she’s also a scene-stealer.

Shim Eun Kyung, joining the ranks of Korea’s Little Sisters

In the twisted fairy tale Hansel and Gretel, young actress Shin Eun Kyung displays a remarkable charm that’s grabbing people’s attention as she grows from child to woman. …

SONG OF THE DAY

Rhyme Bus - “Charming Girl” [ zShare download ]

Read on about Korea’s new Little Sister >>

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Yoo Seung Ho, Shim Eun Kyung (both from “Legend”)

 
Longtime kdrama lovers have noted for a while now that Korea’s got some serious talent in the child-acting department. Ever since young Moon Geun Young stole the show in Autumn Love Story, perhaps even eclipsing her adult counterpart Song Hye Gyo (one of Korea’s most famous natural beauties, but never noted for her acting skills), lots of child actors have gained notice not just as props in a series but as legitimate, moving characters.

There’s been a boom lately, too, one of the reasons being the recent crowd of sageuk dramas, which tend to span more of a character’s life, often including his/her childhood.

According to Star News:

Child actors’ contributions to dramas are growing larger, to the extent that some say they influence one’s success or failure. The actors portraying the childhood roles of the adult actors in dramas like MBC’s Legend, SBS’s King and I, MBC’s Yi San etc. are garnering attention with their roles. …

(Random) SONG OF THE DAY

Maybee - “Day dream” [ zShare download ]

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Don’t worry, that’s just the first scene of the episode. I’d have picked a more cheerful one, but I didn’t want to spoil anything. Even if it is the last episode so there’s not a whole lot I can spoil at this point.

(Random) SONG OF THE DAY

Sol Flower - “Kiss the Kids,” a 25-year-old singer whose real name is Min Hana. She may be described as R&B, but that (to me) suggests a pop sensibiilty, and this is more… indie-soul? [ zShare download ]

BAD COUPLE Episode 16 (Final) >>

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So here’s the thing. I liked how Bad Couple ended in their last two episodes (15 & 16). I liked the resolutions and the character wrap-up. What I didn’t like, then, was how these resolutions were presented. Story = decent. Execution = hated.

I kinda hesitate to give my full honest opinion on the ending because I don’t want to ruin the satisfaction others may get from what is, in the end, a nicely wrapped-up story. It’s just that as I was watching the last two episodes, everything felt really weirdly off-balance. The editing felt slapdash, the music cues were off, the scenes went on a little too long, the dialogue tended to meander. I wonder if the production was really pressed for time — I know that final weeks are tough in kdrama production, as you can read for yourself here. Personally, I think they ran out of story, and what could’ve been one episode was stretched into two.

(Random) SONG OF THE DAY

Tei - “나무” (namu / tree) [ zShare download ]

BAD COUPLE Episode 15 >>

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Ryu Su Young (Gi Chan) is really good this episode. Really good. Nobody does heartfelt cornball adoration as believably and adorably as him.

(Random) SONG OF THE DAY

Biuret - “사랑해요” (I Love You). I really like the chorus and its intense overlapping harmonies from this song by all-female rock band Biuret. [ zShare download ]

BAD COUPLE Episode 14 >>

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