ignite 'n inspire

          During every ceremony, couples will often exchange and say something along the lines of... "I take you...to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part." But what does it mean to put these vows into action, especially when familial pressure is suffocating, personal loss is unbearable and unexpected obstacles arise? A-list actors Kim Ji-won and Kim Soo-hyun have teamed up to create the tragically beautiful "Queen of Tears" world, a masterpiece that has left audience with tears welling in their eyes week after week. It's been a long time since I have written a kdrama review, but I felt a need to capture my thoughts as many (myself included) eagerly await for what I believe will be a record-breaking drama finale.  Why do I think "Queen of Tears" is "the drama:" (1) Kim Ji-won and Kim Soo-hyun are simply acting geniuses : As the fam...

When lovers are bounded by fate and meet again, are they going to grasp onto this opportunity and choose to love again ? Or are some relationships meant to be for specific seasons of our lives? Choi Woo-shik and Kim Da-mi's drama "Our Beloved Summer" explores second chances through the characters of Choi-Woong and Kook Yeon-Soo. Known as the worse and best student back in their school days, the protagonists had filmed a documentary that lead to the beginning of a five year romantic relationship. As they reunite for a marketing project and documentary sequel, the talented still life illustrator and marketing expert are driven to revisit their past. Ultimately, the encounters lead them to re-realize how much they still deeply love each other. Though coming-of-age dramas are common, "Our Beloved Summer" taps into how life struggles and character flaws often hinder us from being the best version of ourselves to the people around us. Perhaps in the loneliness of life...

What does it look like to live in the "penthouse" of society? Very few individuals get the opportunity to experience this type of lifestyle. Through  Penthouse: War in Life , viewers are invited into the world of the rich. As always, we quickly learn that this affluent community is plagued with jealousy, greed and dirty secrets. This multi-season Korean soap opera is about the lives of several wealthy families who live in Hera Palace, a glamorous, fictional apartment in the heart of Seoul, Korea. Hera Palace, the one-hundred level building, is a symbol of wealth and great reputation, but is ultimately a house of chaos. In the first scene of the drama, the Hera Club children's math tutor Min Seol-ah is mysteriously murdered at the palace and this event sets the drama into motion. As the palace residents attempt to cover up her death, her birth mother and stepbrother work to find the murderer and avenge for Seol-ah. The thriller is centered around three women: Cheon Seo-jin...

What is youth? We have been taught that "our youth" is the brightest and most important point in our lives...as we explore career pathways, find love and grow with our friends. Park Bo Gum and Park So Dam's drama is a cinematic illustration of youth in the entertainment and modelling industry. As Ahn Jeong-ha aspires to be an independent make-up artist and Sa Hye-jun hopes to make his mark in the acting world, the young adults cross paths and learn to survive in this stormy and turbulent society. The drama is a slice-of-life drama that explores the troubles of being raised in an Asian household and living with the pressure to find and define success. Although it was shot in the conservative country of South Korea, I believe it is a relatable drama for young adults all around the world. Throughout the drama, viewers are empathizing and rooting for the two protagonists who fight to achieve their dreams and love without despair. Here are my favourite things about this drama:...

       As an Asian-Canadian, I sincerely thank the producers, actors and writers of "It's Okay Not to Be Okay" for creating a drama that sheds light on mental illnesses and childhood trauma. While illustrating a beautiful love story, they have opened the door for viewers to discuss and reflect on our mental health and emotional burdens. By breaking the stigma around mental health issues, "It's Okay Not to Be Okay" is a healing television series that explores the life of an eccentric fairytale author (Moon-young) and psychiatric hospital nurse (Gang-tae). As we learn about their childhood hardships, viewers embark on a journey where both characters learn to unleash their shackles and live for themselves. We also meet Sang-tae, Gang-tae's autistic brother who struggles with being independent and post-traumatic stress. At the psychiatric hospital, viewers are also introduced to a group of patients who are battling their own demons- from alcoholism, depressi...

        When someone first enters into the dark hole of Korean dramas, they are often introduced to an abyss of phrases and expressions. Personally, OST was one of the first acronyms that I googled. OST is the abbreviation for "original sound track," a single or album of songs created for a particular drama. Just like Taiwanese, Japanese and Chinese dramas, these songs are intricately interwoven into the drama. The best OSTs are often associated with certain characters, romantic storylines and moods. What's the marker of a phenomenal soundtrack? To me...it must work hand in hand with the television show. Specifically, the mentioning of a drama should trigger a song to start playing in your head. Similarly, listening to an OST should prompt an individual to visualize significant scenes and dialogue.          In my opinion, I believe these original soundtracks have been an integral part of the Hallyu drama wave. Perhaps, these songs ...

        As a long-time asian drama viewer, my friends, family members and I always critique television shows for depicting unrealistic lifestyles and showcasing illogical love stories. Hospital Playlist is a clear exception, as it illustrates the life of five long-time friends who meet in medical school. They eventually wind up working as surgeons in Yulje Hospital. As they deal with the emotional roller coaster that comes with being a doctor, Professor Song-hwa, Ik-Joon, Jun-wan, Seok-Hyung and Jeong-Won also tackle normal life as a 40 year old. Just like ordinary humans, we often forget that doctors are also succumb to sickness, familial problems and career changes. The "slice of life" drama does not shy away from illustrating the two-fold life of a doctor- both as society's superheroes and ordinary individuals. Amidst their fast-paced work environment, viewers get a peek into doctors' lives, as they work tirelessly to maintain a sense of humanity in a highly ...

It all started with Jason Chen and Arden Cho’s cover of “Everytime” from “Descendants of the Sun”and now I’ve been drowning in something that I thought was too foreign and bizarre to me. I never thought I would be that Kpop fan girl, who spends money to buy tickets for their concert and wants to collect their CDs. Here are some reason why I fell in love with this world of entertainment: -           Power of music → Korean singers have showed me that music transcends language. Through their love for the art of creating/composing/producing/performing music, you don’t necessarily need to understand the language to enjoy it. Somehow, they are capable of showing their audience the emotions and present social issues through their artistic performances. -           The full package → undeniably, the entertainment industry has created people that are the perfect package. People can sing/dance/speak...