This is a rare genre in the world of Korean dramas, and so far, only three titles made the cut. They are “Resurrection” (KBS, 2005), “Green Rose” (SBS, 2005) and “Time Between Dog & Wolf” (MBC, 2007).  

All three share similar fates – less-than-ideal ratings, due to more or less to an action-centered plot where romance took a back seat.

Seoul has churned out numerous immensely popular dramas in the romantic-comedy genre in recent years. Though the Japanese are still more versatile in TV drama production, the work that the Koreans have produced proved they are catching up fast. And they may just have surpassed their neighbouring counterparts  in the romantic-comedy genre…. though some may disagree. Anyways, this is strictly a personal opinion.

Though all three dramas run on the same theme, they couldn’t have been more different in their execution. “Green Rose”and “Resurrection” came out in the same year, “Green Rose” first, and followed by “Resurrection”. The starking contrast between them is the way the story was told. We know who the murderer/baddie is in “Resurrection” right from the beginning, and the story follows the character’s vindinctive progress to seek out the killer. (There’s a nice twist at the end though.)

Green Rose

“Green Rose” on the other hand works like a mystery novel, keeping viewers in the dark as to who the killer might be, and it keeps you guessing right up to the final moments of the finale when the truth is unveiled. It’s like… when you think you know who the killer is, the next scene throws you off course and you wonder again if you made the wrong bet. 

Resurrection

The plot for “Resurrection” is complex and convoluted, with numerous threads and forking paths. And one of the reason for its success is the PD’s ability to tie all the loose ends to make the final closure. And by the end of it all, you realize that not a single plot or development was redundant; each scene and event served a purpose and it all came together at the end.

When watching “Time Between Dog & Wolf” two years later, I can’t help but notice that it shares a similiar opener with “Green Rose”. Both dramas start off with a scene (usually it’s about the main character caught in a dire situation) taken from the middle of a narrative, then takes viewers back to the beginning, where the story unfolds and we find out how and why the main character got himself in dire circumstances. 

Time Between Dog And Wolf

Initially, I was disappointed with the lack of originality with ”Time Between Dog & Wolf”. I thought perhaps they could have thought up a more original opening, than to rip off the introductory scene from “Green Rose”. But by the second episode, I knew “Time Between Dog & Wolf” is a worthy contender for one of the best thriller drama that ever came out of Korea.

The winning element for “Time Between Dog & Wolf” is its perfect pace and lean storyline. Not a single minute of reel time was wasted and everything was packed perfectly in 16 episodes. The story came to a full circle at the end when the ironic relationship between Lee Junki’s character and his syndicate boss, which gave the show one of the best closures in drama history.

All three dramas offer unpredictable twists and turns to keep you on the edge, and the acting from the lead characters right down to the extended cast were simply awesome. They just can’t get any better than this. 

Of the three, “Time Between Dog & Wolf” boasts the best pace and best OST music. ”Resurrection” gets top marks  for its ambitious and really smart plotline and “Green Rose” scores for keeping me in the dark on who the real killer is. It also features one of the best comeback/return-for-revenge scene.

After watching these Korean thrillers, I’d wish there were more such dramas for to showcase their acting chops. It’s such a waste of precious talent to keep featuring these actors in romantic dramas. They’ve got so much more to offer and have shown such depth and range in their acting, that it seemed a pity to repeatedly watch them romancing with their co-stars. At least, Lee Junki got to show off some high kicks and hard blows (he’s got a background in karate… or is it taekwondo?) in “Time Between Dog & Wolf”.  

Resurrection

This KBS drama aired between June and August in 2005,  but ratings suffered miserable as it had to contend with ratings champ “My Lovely Kim Sam Soon”.

Resurrection

The plot was convoluted and complex, with subplots interpersed all around. The story was about a pair of twin brothers – Yoo Gang Hyuk and Yoo Shin Hyuk – who were separated when young. Shin Hyuk was raised by his mother after the father and brother Gang Hyuk were in a car accident. Unknown to all, Gang Hyuk survived the crash but lost his memory. He was taken in by a Seo family, grew up as Seo Ha Eun and later became a detective at the police force.

While investigating a murder case, he uncovered clues that took him back to the case that his father was investigating before he died. Turned out his father death was not accidental, but a carefully planned murder. The case would also  lead him to his twin brother and mother.

But their happy reunion was shortlived. The men who plotted his father’s murder wanted Gang Hyuk dead as well, before he uncovers more dirt. Unfortunately, the baddies got the wrong guy and Shin Hyuk was  killed instead. A devastated Gang Hyuk vowed revenge. In order not let the baddies know they got the wrong guy, he pretended to be Shin Hyuk and returned home….

Despite the poor ratings, “Resurrection” garnered  a cult following online and die-hard fans were loyal right to the end. And for good reasons. This drama made no secret who the culprit was, and the entire show was a smart cat and mouse game which saw Gang Hyuk plotting to take down the bad guys.  

The secret to the show’s success was the well thought out game plan and a twist at the end. There’s a plot within a plot, and the ingenuity that each development in the story was not incidental, but a purposeful move that will make viewers go, ” … so that’s how he is related to him” at the end.  

Many times, a show tries to be too ambitious and caused its downfall. Not only did ”Resurrection” avoid falling prey to this trap, it managed to tie all the differing threads to give it a coherent ending.

The various actors performances added to the drama’s success.  Actor Uhm Tae Woong, who played Gang Hyuk/Shin Hyuk/Seo Ha Eun, was perfect for the part, and delivered a compelling and award-winning performance. One example was when he had to attend his own funeral where he portrayed convincingly the pain of witnessing the death of his brother, whom he’d just reunited with; the pain of being the only one who knew Shin Hyuk had died in his place, and yet not able to share this burden with anyone.  

Actress So Yi Hyun who played a crime reporter involved in the case was brilliant as well. By conparison, Han Ji Min, who was Gang Hyuk’s love interest, played second fiddle.  

The extended cast read like a list of who’s who of veteran actors. Actors Kim Gyu Chul (who played Choi Dong Chan) and Kim Yeon Suk (who played an ex-convict turned PI) were noteworthy and deserving of any supporting actors awards anytime.

Fans of this drama were captivated by the brilliant and complex plot, and that interest last till the final 24th episode, and it’s no easy task trying to guess the ending. Towards the concluding episodes, they even requested that the production team refrain from showing trailers at the ending credits, so as not to give the nail-biting ending away.

Green Rose

This drama was produced and aired months prior to “Resurrection”. The starkest difference, compared to ”Resurrection”, is that the two dramas are like mirror images – “Resurrection” lets viewers in on who’s the killer right from the beginning, “Green Rose” does the opposite and keeps viewers in suspense till the last, revealing who the bad guy was in the final episode.

Goo Soo in "Green Rose"

The show opened with Goo Soo, who plays the main character Lee Jung-hyun, breaking out of custody. A convicted criminal turned fugitive, he escaped to China in search for the answers to why he was framed for a murder he didn’t commit. The victim was the boss of the company he worked for and incidentally, the father of his girlfriend. 

“Green Rose” also features an affecting introductory episode which set the record straight on what Lee Jung-hyun lost when he was accusesed of a murder. An employee at a leading IT firm, Lee jung-hyun coundn’t have been more normal man on the street. He has a loving mother, a kind-hearted and pretty girlfriend, and good college pals who work in the same company. But all that dissipated after some guy got jealous and decides to make him the scapegoat in an attempted murder.

The drama then follows Lee Jung-hyun’s escape to China where he meets a wealthy businessman with mafia links, who gives him a new life. The drama then takes on an interesting turn when Lee Jung-hyun returns to Seoul with a new identity to seek justice. 

“Green Rose” become exciting hencewith because our protaganist is now shrewd, smart and rich, and he’s now ready to turn some tables on those people who destroyed his life. Vengeance is sweet, escpecially in this drama.  

The scene that showed him returning Seoul was particularly noteworthy, and was at this point on that the action took off.

Time Between Dog & Wolf

A younger and better-looking cast at the helm did not make this a lesser drama, compared to the two above. Credit goes to the strong script, pacy execcution and excellent performance by the actors.

Lee Junki as Agent Lee Soo Hyun

The drama tells the story of Lee Soo Hyun, whose parents (Dad was a secret agent and Mom a prosecutor) were killed by a Thai criminal syndicate.  He was adopted by a friend of his parent - also an intelligence agent – and when he grew up, he too joined the same profession. But he has a hidden agenda - he wants to find out who killed his parents.

Truth is, Soo Hyun had a difficult childhood. Though he was surrounded by a loving foster family, he didn’t recover from witnessing his mother being shot to death before his eyes. When the opportunity came for him to infiltrate the criminal syndicate as an undercover, he couldn’t really pass that up. Faking his own death (as planned by the Korean intelligence that he worked for), he gave up his identity, family and girlfriend (played by Nam Sang Mi) and went to Thailand with a new name – Kay. 

Gaining the trust of Mao, head of the thai syndicate and alleged killer of his mom), his investigation finally got headway after two years but  tragedy struck when he lost his memory during a car accident (he was set up by rivals in the Thai syndicate). And this is when the real action begins. He forgot his undercover cop identity and believed that he’s a thug, and acted like one.  Herein, it was fun to watch Lee Junki play Kay like Kay should be – slightly arrogant, smart, sometimes a jerk,mischievous, but at the same time, a loyal thug.

This drama has lots going for it – it’s pacy, full of unpredictable twists and a credible cast. Just when you think you know where the plot is headed, it throws you a curve ball from nowhere.  

I knew lead Lee Junki is an extremely well known actor across Asia, but couldn’t really understand why. I did see him in ”King  and Clown” (he did a good job playing an effiminate playactor) and “My Girl”, and thought to myself… “where lies his appeal”. I found the answer in ”Time Between Dog & Wolf”, which I think is his vehicle.

Second lead actor Jung Kyung Ho and lead actress Nam Sang Mi were awesome as well, especially the former. the lanky actor may seem thin on character and built, but he delivered some noteworthy performances that were quite on the mark.

Press conference (Time Between Dog & Wolf)

His character is extremely likeable as well. He is the one who brought Lee Soo Hyun (Lee Junki’s character) out of his shell and pain), is supportive of his friend and adopted brother, and finally, the one who wants to avenge his death (though the death was staged).

Korean drama-makers may be masters at the romatic comedy genre, they are equally apt in the thriller genre as well. If the ratings had been more encouraging, it just might have spurred them onto more productions of this kind.

안녕하세요~

Exactly one week has passed since holidays started!! ㅠㅠ I haven’t been doing anything productive, except watching korean dramas

Dramas that I’m enjoying these days:

1. 아이리스 (IRIS)

2. 인연만들기 (Creating Destiny)

3. 크리스마스에 눈이 올까요? (Will it snow on Christmas?)

I’m totally in love with IRIS right now, the cast is awesome! (TOP!!!) nah, he’s not the reason I watched this drama!

———–

Anw, I’ve been watching them with subs. It’ easier to watch 미남이시네요 without subs as the context is more ‘general’ and there aren’t any special vocabulary required to understand the show. My current vocabulary doesn’t involve words like ‘assassination’, ‘secret agent’ or any political terms, so it’s impossible to watch 아이리스 raw. ^^ But I’ve learned quite alot of specialised vocab from the show~

인연만들기 is easier to understand, but somehow I still can’t catch what the 할아버지 (grandfather) and 할머니 (grandmother) are saying. ><

As the story of 크리스마스에 눈이 올까요? takes place in rural S.Korea (at least for the 1st few ep), there are alot of slang words being used, which I don’t understand. ㅠㅠ

Hopefully all this drama-watching can improve my listening skills!

다음에 또 봐요! ^^ 감기 조심하세요~

Been watching IRIS these past 2 days (playing L4D2 with the usual siao kias as well), and glad that i continued watching it. I stopped at episode 6 previously cause of viikii unable to upload the drama to their site because of legal issues, and thus there’s no subtitles. But there’s lots of other sites that have the subs ready, so i had continued to watch it.

And it’s exciting for sure! Tons of actions going on, and some heart breaking moments as well. Most important is every episode is better than the previous one, which makes it really exciting. I had never watched a Korean Drama this exciting before, well maybe because i prefer romance genre for Korean dramas, since most Korean dramas’ theme are romance

It’s a drama for all to watch, cause it’s action packed and it’s exciting, so if you don’t mind the Korean language, be sure to watch it, there are many parts that has nerve wrecking moments ^^

If you’re looking websites to watch IRIS or download sites to download it, i had prepared some links

Links after the break

Download @ aja-aja , subs for downloaded videos can be downloaded here (subbed up to the 10th episode atm) WithS2

Streaming site to watch IRIS @ Dramacrazy (Up to 16 episodes atm, final episode at 20)

[Fall For You - Secondhand Serenade]

This is Day 3 of Sorrento.

Alright, so my feet were in pretty bad shape, so Spanna, Tiff and I decided not to go out anywhere. We had pancakes and fruit salad for breakfast. Spanna cut the melons, and left a very thick layer of crunchy skin on it, so everyone sounded like they were breaking their jaw. After breakfast, we fired up the Korean version of Hana Yori Dango, and we literally sat there for the entire day eating and watching Korean guys, making remarks like “OMG SHE’S SUCH A BITCH!” whenever the lead girl was a bitch towards the curly haired guy (who, by the way, Vania called dibs on), or screaming, “HE’S SO CUTE!” whenever Ji Hoo (or Hanazawa Rui, in the Jap version) smiled. That, actually, was only done by Tiff.

We ate shit loads. We had a huge box of junk food on top of all the other supplies, like bread and meat etc, so Julia and Bel urged us to pig out, as we couldn’t and wouldn’t take all that stuff back. So, for the whole day, we watched HYD and ate and ate and ate. Jen was unfortunately given a pack of chips, from which she ate and ate and ate. She couldn’t stop!

Then, at around lunchtime, we hear a car horn outside. I  look through the blinds and who do I see but SonJ! She got driven up by her mate Dan, and it was a surprise! Forgetting the immense pain on my feet, I ran out to give her a hug. She came in, and then after a while went to the beach with Bel and Julia to join April, Jen and Lily who were there already (alright so not all 12 of us are reclusive losers). We kept watching HYD.

Then later on nearing dinner time, Bel, SonJ and Jen wanted to watch Sweeney Todd. So we put that on, and seeing as I’ve seen it already, I went to the kitchen where Shar- and Suse were just sitting around. They had a candle lit, and Suse was using a charred skewer to write stuff on the paper towel. I had an idea to write “LET ME OUT” in creepy handwriting with the charred skewer, so I was letting the skewer burn in the candle, then using the embers to write the words. Unfortunately I got as far as “LET ME OU” before I forgot to blow out the small flame on the skewer, and so when it was held to the paper towel the entire thing caught on fire! Shar- had some lemon-lime bitters and I swear she was going to through the slightly alcoholic drink onto the fire, so I quickly grabbed the towel, ran to the sink and slammed the tap on.

For the next ten minutes we continued burning small bits of paper towel in the sink. Come on! It was bloody fun. It also smelled quite bad. And we left a small char mark in the sink which we maintain is “sauce stain”.

Then Bel started preparing dinner, making pizzas! I went into the lounge room to watch Get Smart (because I haven’t seen it 3 times already). Then around the end of it I went into the kitchen were a small drinking party had started. Watched Tiff try to do a tequila shot. She actually spat some of it back out, but that was because she dumb enough to hold it on her mouth and not swallow.

Ah I just got distracted by Spanna’s upload of photos.

Anyway that night we played “I Never”, but with actual alcohol this time. Sure I targeted April. She held her booze fine. I got a bit tipsy (found it hard to walk like a normal person). We started watching The Grudge but that sucked, so instead we changed to watch One Missed Call Final but without English subtitles. We made up dialogue, which probably had nothing to do or everything to do with the movie. Went to sleep at around 1 in April’s bunk. Halfway through the night, she flipped over, squished my cheeks, patted my face, then I realized she was still asleep. I don’t know what she was doing. She snored. It was funny.

I suppose I’ll write Day 4 in here as well seeing as it was mostly just packing. Jen got bitten by a mozzie on one eyelid. Like. One eyelid. It was hugely swollen. She got bitten everywhere else too. Packed, went to the bus stop, and took the bus trip back. It wasn’t as long, and I went on MSN and etc on my phone, so it passed the time. Trained back to Richmond from Frankston, and then went home. The moment I sat down in front of the computer, I swear any motor mechanism in my body just stopped.

Well, that was Sorrento! Partied, rested, burned, walked, laughed, sang, screamed, and ate. God did we eat.

Alex.

“Just like how you love your job, I like mine too. It has nothing to do with how much we love each other.”

- Ji Sung / Air City [kdrama]

“You’re such a simpleton. Why is everything black or white with you? It’s not as simple as like or dislike. It could be kind of like or kind of dislike. There’s plenty of gray areas.”

- Chun-hyang / Delightful Girl Choon Hyang [kdrama]

“When someone dies, the world continues spinning but there’s one person less…”

- Yu-jin / Winter Sonata [kdrama]

Green Rose is a drama about family, forbidden love, revenge and sorrow. Go Soo is the protaganist Lee Jung Hyun. The talented Lee Da Hae is Oh Soo Ah. This drama is very unique since it does not resemble any other drama I have watched so far. The two leading characthers are portrayed by two talented actors. . Almost everyone seems to have a hidden agenda and a secret motiv behind every action or decision they make. If you watch it bring some tissues. Despite this fact this drama manages to give me hope.

TVXQ Hero Jaejoong dan aktri Han Hyo Joo akhirnya bertemu kembali dalam konferensi pers telesinema ‘Heaven Postman’ yang diadakan malam ini di CGV, Seoul.

Telesinema ‘Heaven Postman’ bercerita tentang orang yang sudah meninggal dan membawa surat ke surga adalah drama romantis fantasi.

telesinema ini akan dibuat dalam 7 buah, termasuk ‘19′ yang dibintangi oleh TOP, serta telesinema lain yang dibintangi oleh Kim Hyo Jin, Cha In Pyo, dan Kang Ji Hwan , dan akan ditayangkan di Korea oleh stasiun televisi SBS dan di Jepang oleh Asahi TV 11 November 2009 selama 120 menit dalam 2 episode.

Source: newsen, starnews, KoreanIndo

cek pic lainnya under the cut. ini adalah untuk pertama kali nya Jaejoong tampil lg dihadapan umum sejak kasus nya dengan SM.

Posted by eka on November 23, 2009

menjadi salah satu pemeran drama sejarah spt ‘Queen Seonduk’ sangat melelahkan, daya tahan tubuh pun menurun. pada awal minggu kmrn, dilaporkan Kim Nam Gil yang berperan sebagai Bidam terkena swine flu dan pernah jatuh dari kuda ketika syuting drama ini.

Lee Seung Hyo yang menjadi hwarang Alcheon

walaupun Kim Nam Gil sudah kembali sehat dan syuting pada 22 November kmrn, hari ini dilaporkan bahwa Lee Seung Hyo yang memerankan Alcheon, kepala Hwarang Kuning, juga terkena swine flu, dan skrg kondisi kesehatan nya sangat buruk sehingga sehingga langsung dibawa ke rawat darurat, penulis pun harus memodifikasi skrip drama yang tinggal 10 episode ini.

Lee Yo Won yang menjadi Queen Seonduk a.k.a Deok Man

sang ratu seonduk yang diperankan oleh Lee Yeo Won pun mengalami keluhan syuting drama ini, dimana dia harus membawa aksesoris ratu yang dia pake dikepala seberat 2-3 kg. dia pun juga terkena penyakit kulit ketika harus terkena lumpur ketika menjadi hwarang.

Source: newsen, newsen, KoreanIndo

Kim Nam Gil yang memerankan Bidam, anak yang dibuah oleh Mishil, akan muncul diepisode 21, dia akan menjadi cinta segitiga antara Deok Man dan Kim Yoo Shin.