KFilm to Miss: Innocent Steps (2005)

Innocent Steps (2005) 

Na Young-sae, an acclaimed professional dancer, loses his dance partner to a richer competitor who sabotages the competition and injures Young-sae's knee. Young-sae's manager ships over a Chinese girl as his new partner, but it turns out she's barely 19 and has zero dance experience. Young-sae then has 3 months to teach Jang Chae-ryn how to dance, and she falls in love with him, all while trying to dupe the government into making their green card marriage look real. At least half a dozen F-bombs, and some violence, but no sex or nudity. Some of the dancing was quite good, but it was very somber throughout, and the ending didn't quite make sense, even though it's “happy.”

*Will not watch again. The characters just aren't lovable enough, and nobody even kisses.*

KDrama to Watch: Pasta (2010)

Pasta (2010)

Grade: B-

20 Episodes 

Seo Yoo-kyung is an aspiring chef, working in an Italian restaurant in Korea as an assistant. After 3 years she finally gets to move up the line and hold a frying pan, but then her boss is fired. The new head chef is determined to fire all the women from the kitchen, but Yoo-kyung keeps coming back and eventually wins over the chef. It turns out that the head chef, Choi Hyun-wook, was betrayed by his former girlfriend, Oh Sae-young, when she sabotaged his ingredients during a cooking competition. The restaurant manager, Kim San, is friends with Oh Sae-young, however, and lets her in as a “co-head chef,” much to Hyun-wook's dismay. Sae-young wants to win back Hyun-wook, but he is developing feelings for the lowly Yoo-kyung, despite his decree that there would be no dating in his kitchen.

*I loved the chemistry between Chef and Yoo-kyung. It felt much more organic than most flirtations between drama couples. The anticipated rivalry between all the lovers, however, was much more civil than I expected, to the point of being boring. For a firmly reality-based drama, it was pretty good. I might watch it again.*

KDrama to Watch: Heartstrings (2011)

Heartstrings (2011)

Grade: A-

15 Episodes 

Lee Shin and Gyu Won are both students at a prominent music university. Shin is a western music major with a successful band on the side, and Gyu Won is a traditional music major who plays the gayageum (sort of like a large lap harp). Shin has an ego, and Gyu Won would rather have nothing to do with him, but when Shin insults traditional music, she and her group challenges Shin's band to a battle. The loser has to be the other leader's “slave” for a month. Of course, Gyu Won loses, and Shin abuses her at first, but deep down he's really not a mean-spirited person and it's easy to like him. 

This drama has a good pace and reminded me a lot of high school and college because of the musical productions and camaraderie that come from those experiences. Loved the music, both leads are very cute, although the ending did drag a bit and wasn't quite as satisfying as I would have liked, it was a great drama to watch. 

 

*Very cute series, will watch again, Top 5 for sure.*

KDrama Lingo: The Untranslated Words

I realized while describing Korean dramas to a friend today that there are some cultural aspects to these shows that might confuse the new (read: American) viewer. Most of the time the words in the subtitles are just not translated, so the only way you can figure it out is through inference or trying to look it up online.

Ajumma: Aunt
Used to address any middle-aged or older woman, relative or not

Ajusshi: Uncle 
Used to address any middle-aged or older man, relative or not

Hwa-ting: Fighting
Used as a word of encouragement. The English word itself is often used 

Hyung: Older Brother
Onni: Older Sister
Used among actual siblings, as well as friends who are close in age

Omo: Oh My Goodness
Used as an expression of surprise or shock, often repeated quickly in one breath

Oppa: Older brother 
Noona: Older Sister
Used literally or affectionately among couples
"Oppa" is most often used in a flirtatious manner by non-relative girls

Sunbae: Senior
Used as a term of familiarity, and most often used in a school setting

Wae: Why? (informal)
Used in an exaggerated manner to better express surprise 




Some other random tidbits: 
In Korean culture, it is important to know that hierarchy is a big deal. There are two ways of addressing a person: formal and informal. If you know you're older than someone, you can speak to them informally. On first introduction, however, it is good manners to speak formally, until the age or rank is known.
 
 In groups, people tend to say "I'm leaving first" before they leave a location. 

"Chaebol" refers to the privileged, rich upper-class who are due to inherit their family's business fortune. 

"Flower boys" are attractive, well-dressed Korean males, (who most often happen to also be chaebols).