Netflix: Squid Game 2

Releases 26 December, with ALL EPISODES AVAILABLE upon release

• Cast: Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun, Gong Yoo, Im Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-uk, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Choi Seung-hyun, Roh Jae-won, Jo Yu-ri, and Won Ji-an
• Synopsis: Three years after winning Squid Game, Player 456 gave up going to the States and comes back with a new resolution in his mind. Gi-hun once again dives into the mysterious survival game, starting another life-or-death game with new participants gathered to win the prize of 45.6 billion won.
• Director and Screenwriter: Hwang Dong-hyuk
• Teaser/Trailer: Main trailer
• Streaming: Netflix

ENA: Namib

Premieres 23 December. New episode every Monday and Tuesday

• Cast: Go Hyun Jung, Ryeo Un
• Synopsis: Kang Su Hyun is a star producer who trains idols with her own philosophy and intuition. For an unknown reason, she gets fired from Pandora Entertainment. At home, Kang Su Hyun is the breadwinner of her family. Her husband, Sim Jun Seok, is a full-time homemaker and takes care of their son, Sim Jin U. Before becoming a homemaker, Sim Jun Seok worked as a music producer, but after his son lost his hearing in a childhood car accident, he quit his job to take care of him and their home full time. To get back on her feet, Kang Su Hyun begins a new project to create a star. She picks Yoo Jin U as her trainee. Yoo Jin U has trained to become an idol for the past 10 years he carries all sorts of baggage with him, like his parents' debt and past career. When Yoo Jin U was about to give up on his dream, Kang Su Hyun selected him as her trainee. Yoo Jin U now restarts his training in earnest. Sim Jun Seok's desire to return to his job as a music producer grows and Kang Su Hyun tells him to work as Yoo Jin U's producer.
• Director: Jung Da Won, Han Sang Jae
• Teaser/Trailer: Main trailer
• Streaming: Viki

안녕하세요. r/KDRAMA Mod Team입니다.

As we approach the end of 2024 and prepare to welcome 2025, we are kicking off our special year-end discussions and activities! This post will outline upcoming plans and also serve as the first post in our 2024 Year In Review post collection.

The Plans

Our year-end discussions and activities will be comprised of three parts:

• Year in Review Posts -- A series of themed posts that ask users to reflect on the past year and their viewing experience. See detailed post schedule at end of this post.
• 2024 Drama Recommendations Presented by Mod Team and On-Air Hosts -- A collection of recommendations of 2023 kdramas written by mods and on-air hosts.
• Year End Survey -- A Google Form survey that focuses primarily on which 2024 dramas they have watched.

Please join us in these discussions as we say farewell to 2024 in kdramaland. Now without further ado, let's begin!

Looking Back on 2024 in Kdramaland

We invite all of you to look back upon 2024 with us at the many things that took place in kdramaland and Korea and share your thoughts and reflections on this past year. To get us started, we have curated a list of events and news from this past year. The following list of events and news has been curated with consideration of how the events/news affected kdramaland and our community. While we welcome input from the community in the comments, we do ask that community members do not make the curation of this list into a political or ideological issue. If there are any events or news that you feel should be remembered, please feel free to share in the comments!

In 2024

THE WORLD welcomed a new year amidst political turmoil in various parts around the globe and changing dynamics were anticipated as this year was one of important elections around the world. And with the turn of the year, it seemed that the COVID era was now truly part of the past as more things have returned to normalcy, like the summer Olympics in Paris where Korea eventually won 13 gold medals and increased attendance of performing art events.

In Korea, amongst the country’s new year resolutions seems to be one to reduce public alcohol consumption as drinking alcohol in most places designated as alcohol-free zones will be subject to fines. Will this be the beginning of the end of kdrama scenes of drowning one’s sorrows by the river or at the park? Meanwhile maekju’s (beer) best friend fried chicken was voted the most popular K-food overseas. And ramyeon, specifically the Bulduk brand, made news headlines for being too spicy. K-food is not the only thing receiving lots of interest and love overseas for data released later in the year showed that K-pop industry's overseas sales surpassed 1 trillion won (US$722.28 million) in 2023, marking the first time the revenue figure has exceeded 1 trillion won.

Nature also featured heavily in 2024 headlines starting with a 85 cm tsunami at the beginning of the year, marking the first time South Korea has experienced a tsunami on its coasts since July of 1993. Then there was the flock of about 200 mandarin ducks, a symbol of love and fidelity in Asia, spotted in Seoul. As the Han River froze later this year, it was an interesting chance to reminisce on how it used to be the heart of winter sports, especially as the Winter Youth Olympics was held in Gangwon this year. And then in summer, Korea experienced its hottest June ever and kept breaking records for the number of tropical nights.

Weather was not the only hot thing in Korea as the K-content industry remained a hot topic of interest and growth. This year saw Naver's Webtoon Entertainment make its hot debut on Wall Street with its IPO on Nasdaq while tvN’s broadcast ratings record was broken by “Queen of Tears”, which recorded 24.85% for its final episode. Also heating up is the war against illegal content distribution as the government teams up with Interpol for operations against K-content pirates. And while there are victories like this one and this one, the war is still ongoing as the mod team knows too well! Another war being fought in the content industry is one against rising costs and consumer dissatisfaction as “streamflation” has resulted in an exodus of subscribers.

Those needing a break from drama viewing can consider turning to reading as Koreans celebrated Han Kang becoming the first Korean winner of the Nobel Prize in literature. Her most recent works have addressed the historical traumas and wounds of modern Korean history, which is a topic also addressed by the historical film "12.12: The Day" that swept the grand prize, best film, and best actor in the film category at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards. Another trauma and wound in spotlight this year especially is that of the Sewol ferry sinking, which happened on April 16, 2014, making this year the tenth anniversary of the tragedy. May history teach all of us important lessons so that we can do better in the future.

As time passes, parting is inevitable and this year Korea said goodbye to giant panda Fu Bao as she returned to China and the country’s last Boeing 747-400 passenger aircraft, operated by Asiana Airlines, as it completed its final flight. A law was passed banning consumption of dog meat, paving the way for ending a practice that has fallen out of favor in recent decades. Korea also said hello to new things like seatless subway trains, a new Haechi, and a slightly increased new minimum wage. In sports, Major League Baseball came to South Korea for the first time and the Pikki Pikki dance went viral. Korea welcomed back a rare and culturally significant “sarira,” bead-shaped bodily relics of spiritual masters, from a Boston museum after 15 years of negotiations. This year also saw the return of K-pop legend Cho Yong-pil with his 20th studio album, marking the 74-year-old artist's first studio album in 11 years. If his name is unfamiliar to you, that does not mean his music is necessarily unfamiliar to you as his songs have made numerous ‘cameos’ in kdramas over the years. Meanwhile, have a peek at his latest title song’s MV and see which beloved actors you spot!

Speaking of achievements, this year Jamsil Station on Seoul's Subway Line No. 2 has replaced Gangnam Station of the same line as the capital's busiest station while Korean trot star Lim Young-woong's concert film became highest-grossing concert film of all time. On the business side, Hyundai Motor Group appointed its first non-Korean CEO, and Navar Papago, the Korean online portal operator's artificial intelligence-powered translation service, topped 20 million users. Many also rejoiced when, in a landmark ruling, South Korea’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of a same-sex couple, who sought to receive the same spousal coverage as heterosexual couples from the National Health Insurance Service. And Korea truly cemented its reputation as a country in love with coffee when the number of coffee shops surpassed 100,000 — which is nearly double the combined number of the four major convenience store chains in the country. So we know statistically, Seoul has way more than one coffee shop unlike how it may seem at times in the kdramas we watched.

To talk further of how kdramas and real life issues in Korea collide, as the country celebrated its decreased smoking rate, the issue of portrayal of smoking in OTT dramas have lighted up. Another issue the country struggles with and is often portrayed in kdramas is that of school violence. This year, the government announced that all 10 national universities of education have disqualified high school students with a history of violence from applying, therefore barring their paths to becoming teachers — an action that is part of government’s increasingly stronger response against bullying. Also in the spotlight in news headlines and kdramas are the issues of “safe breakups” and deepfake technology, especially deepfake sex crimes which is on the rise. In both instances, women are mainly the victims and the phenomenon have highlighted some deep-rooted social issues in Korea. Meanwhile, despite kdramas portraying hypothetical reunifications of Korea, in reality, skepticism toward unification with North Korea is rising in South Korea and support of reunification has fallen to an all-time low of 36.9%. And finally to give a shout out to all the chaebols in our kdramas, the real life drama of the "most expensive divorce suit" in South Korea's history between SK Chairman Chey Tae-won and his estranged wife is making our kdramas seem like child’s play.

What absolutely is not child’s play are the events of December 3, 2024 when South Korean President declared emergency martial law (full translation of declaration here). Though he declared its end just six hours later, the chaos it caused and its reverberations are still felt today. For those that want a timeline, here is one^(Last accessed 2024DEC21). And this breakdown of the issue by is an informative read.

Unlike past years’ posts, this year’s post is ending on a rather somber note. At this point in time, we would like to remind our community that as much as we love kdramas, we have to also remember and recognize South Korea as a country and its people as fellow human beings. While our moderation approach means that our subreddit’s conversations are focused on the kdramas and not the politics of South Korea, that does not mean we, as a community and as individuals, should prioritize our need to watch kdramas above being empathetic to the current realities in South Korea. A small way to demonstrate that empathy for fellow beings is to not complain about broadcast delays during times like these. Broadcast delays are only a mere nuisance that can and will be rectified, it is nothing compared to the political turmoil experienced in South Korea earlier this month. In short, the world does not revolve around our need for kdramas.

So as we bid farewell to 2024 and welcome 2025, let us all appreciate that we have the privilege of watching kdramas and show more empathy and appreciation for the people and the country that have given all of us so much entertainment and joy.

Year in Review Post Schedule

Hello everyone! Have you been sleeping well or have you been up all night binging dramas?

Eun Sang's Sleepy Sunday Soliloquy (ESSSS) is a free for all thread, in which almost anything goes, don't diss The Heirs or break any of our other core rules. General discussion about anything and everything is allowed - including monologues!

Who is Eun Sang?! Good question. To the uninitiated among us who haven't watched the seminal masterpiece, The Heirs, she is r/KDRAMA's first lady, Kim Tan's main squeeze, Cha Eun Sang. She is a lady of few words, but many, many tears.

Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are using Markdown and not Fancy Pants Editor, the easiest way to create spoiler tags is to use > ! spoiler content ! < without spaces to get >!spoiler content!<. For more detailed guidance on spoiler tags and when to use them, check our Spoiler Tags Tutorial.

Just In Case Resources

FAQ and Netflix FAQ | Glossary | Latest On-Airs and On-Air Roster | Rules and Policies | Where To Watch aka Legal Sites | Everything In Our Wiki aka Wiki Homepage | Get Recommendations For Your Next Watch

#Buried Hearts

Cast: Park Hyung Sik, Heo Joon Ho, Hong Hwa Yeon, Gong Jiho

“Buried Hearts” will tell the story of a man who manages to hack a political slush fund account worth 2 trillion won (approximately $1.5 billion) and the man who kills him without knowing he’s been hacked—thus accidentally losing the entire 2 trillion won.

Source

#The Haunted Palace

“Haunted Palace” is a fantasy historical romantic comedy that delves into the tale of the Eight Feet Tall spirit that bears a grudge against the king, a female shaman who opposes it, and an Imugi.

Yoon Gap (Yook Sungjae) is the son of a concubine who rises to become the royal inspector at Gyujanggak (the royal library in the Joseon Dynasty), only to be possessed by the malevolent spirit Imugi.

Yeo Ri (Bona) is the only granddaughter of a revered shaman who grew up under immense expectations to follow in her ancestor’s footsteps. Although she has inherited shamanic powers, her destiny takes a twisted turn after becoming entangled with Imugi.

King Yi Sung (Kim Ji Hoon) seeks to reform the Joseon Dynasty for a stronger nation and confronts the Eight Feet Tall spirit. Alongside his loyal subject Yoon Gap and accompanying Yeo Ri, he tries to unravel the secrets surrounding the spirit.

Source

#Our Movie

Cast: Namgoong Min, Jeon Yeo Been

“Our Movie” follows the story of a film director experiencing a “sophomore slump,” losing momentum after a successful first project, and a terminally ill actress who finally tries to live as the main character at the end of her own life.

Source

#The Mantis: Original Sin

Based on the French thriller series “La Mante.”

Tells the story of a woman who has been imprisoned as a serial killer for a long time. As a series of murders that mirror her distinctive style unfolds, she is approached by the police to assist in solving the cases.

Jung Yi Shin (Go Hyun Jung) is a serial killer nicknamed Mantis who brutally murdered five men 20 years ago.

Cha Soo Yeol (Jang Dong Yoon) is Jung Yi Shin’s son and a police officer who is all in for solving the Mantis copycat murder case.

Source

#TRY: We Become Miracles

Cast: Yoon Kye Sang, Im Se Mi, Kim Yo Han

Set in a high school rugby club, “TRY: We Become Miracles” tells the story of young people, who are all in for playing rugby, facing the world and becoming miracles themselves.

Joo Ga Ram (Yoon Kye Sang) is the contract coach of Hanyang Physical Education High School’s rugby team. Joo Ga Ram, who was called the hope of Korean rugby, hits rock bottom due to a drug scandal and retires under the stigma of a drug addict. Three years later, he returns to his alma mater’s rugby team as a contract coach and becomes the center of a storm.

Source

#Human From Today

“Human From Today” is a fantasy rom-com drama that tells the story of gumiho (nine-tailed fox) Eun Ho who, unlike the traditional gumiho that bewitches men and eats their livers in hopes of becoming a human, lives a carefree life while avoiding good deeds and men for fear of becoming human. However, her life takes a turn when she unexpectedly becomes human after an unexpected accident involving a narcissistic star soccer player who suddenly enters her life.

Eun Ho (Kim Hye Yoon) is an eccentric Gen Z nine-tailed fox who has no interest in becoming human. Enjoying eternal youth and the fun parts of human life, Eun Ho avoids good deeds and prefers small mischiefs. However, an unexpected event disrupts Eun Ho’s otherwise predictable life.

Kang Si Yeol (Lomon) is a world-class soccer player known for his confidence and drive. As a top striker for a renowned international club, he has achieved every notable milestone in his career, making him a star who outshines his team. The ultimate narcissist, Kang Si Yeol fears only one thing: losing muscle. His seemingly perfect life is thrown into chaos when the nine-tailed fox Eun Ho arrives, bringing unexpected upheaval.

Source

• Drama: Squid Game

  • Korean Title: 오징어 게임

• Network: Netflix

• Originally aired: September 17, 2021, Friday at 17:00 KST

• Episodes: 9

• Director & Writer: Hwang Dong Hyuk

• Cast:

  • Lee Jung Jae as Seong Gi Hun / No. 456
  • Park Hae Soo as Cho Sang Woo / No. 218
  • Heo Sung Tae as Jang Deok Soo / No. 101
  • Wi Ha Joon as Hwang Joon Ho
  • Jung Ho Yeon as Kang Sae Byeok / No. 067

• Streaming Source: Netflix

• Drama Synopsis: Hundreds of cash-strapped players accept a strange invitation to compete in children's games. Inside, a tempting prize awaits — with deadly high stakes. (Source: Netflix)

Previous discussions:

• Original On-air Discussion

• Wrap-Up Discussion

• Squid Game Round Table Discussion - Part One: General Q&A

• Squid Game Round Table Discussion - Part 2: Drama Specific Q&A

• Conduct Reminder: We encourage our users to read the following before participating in any discussions on r/KDRAMA: (1) Reddiquette, (2) our Conduct Rules (3) our Policies, and (4) the When Discussions Get Personal Post. Any users who are displaying negative conduct (including but not limited to bullying, harassment, or personal attacks) will be given a warning, repeated behaviour will lead to increasing exclusions from our community. Any extreme cases of misconduct (such as racism or hate speech) will result in an immediate permanent ban from our community and a report to Reddit admin. Additionally, mentions of down-voting, unpopular opinions, and the use of profanity may see your comments locked or removed without notice.

• Spoiler Tag Reminder: Be mindful of others who may not have yet seen this drama, and use spoiler tags when discussing key plot developments or other important information. You can create a spoiler tag by writing > ! this spoiler ! < without the spaces in between to get >!this spoiler!<. For more information about when and how to use spoiler tags see our Spoiler Tag Wiki.

Thread Purpose: This thread is being posted in light of the premiere for the second season of Squid Game airing next week! The purpose of this thread is so that everyone has a place to talk about the first season of Squid Game from those who are watching it for the very first time or those who are doing a rewatch in preparation for the second season. This is also a place for those to talk about their theories/excitement before the season airs next week.

I've included some links to earlier discussions of the series that you may like to look through to see how our community reacted to the drama when it originally aired (note: our community was about a quarter of our current size back then ~250k subscribers).

• Drama: The Tale Of Lady Ok
  • Hangul: 옥씨부인전
• Network: JTBC
• Premiere Date: November 30, 2024
• Airing Schedule: Saturdays & Sundays @ 10:30 PM KST
• Episodes: 16
• Director: Jin Hyeok (The Legend of the Blue Sea, City Hunter)
• Writer: Park Ji Sook (Uncle)
• Starring:
  • Im Ji Yeon (The Glory) as Ok Tae Yeong/Gu Deok
  • Choo Young Woo (Oasis) as Cheon Seung Hwi
  • Yeonwoo (Call It Love) as Cha Mi Ryeong
  • Kim Jae Won (Hierarchy) as Sung Do Gyeom
• Plot Synopsis: Set during the Joseon period, Ok Tae Young is a legal expert. She is smart, has an excellent work ethic, and is athletic. Even in difficult situations, she doesn’t hesitate to help people. That is why she is loved by people around her, but she has a secret. Her secret is that her name, husband, and her status are all fake. She happens to meet Cheon Seung Whee. He is a story-teller and travels all around the country, reciting novels to people. He happens to meet Ok Tae Young and falls in love with her at first sight. He stays near her and helps her no matter what.
• Streaming Sources: KOCOWA, Viu, Amazon Prime, Netflix (in some areas)
• Conduct Reminder: We encourage our users to read the following before participating in any discussions on : (1) Reddiquette, (2) our Conduct Rules (3) our Policies, and (4) the When Discussions Get Personal Post.
  • Any users who are displaying negative conduct (including but not limited to bullying, harassment, or personal attacks) will be given a warning, repeated behavior will lead to increasing exclusions from our community. Any extreme cases of misconduct (such as racism or hate speech) will result in an immediate permanent ban from our community and a report to Reddit admin. Additionally, mentions of down-voting, unpopular opinions, and the use of profanity may see your comments locked or removed without notice.
• Spoiler Tag Reminder: Be mindful of others who may not have yet seen this drama, and use spoiler tags when discussing key plot developments or other important information. You can create a spoiler tag in Markdown by writing > ! this spoiler ! < without the spaces in between to get >!this spoiler!<. For more information about when and how to use spoiler tags see our Spoiler Tag Wiki.
• Previous Discussions: [Episodes 1 & 2] / [Episode 3] / [Episode 4]

• Drama: Love Your Enemy
  • Hangul: 사랑은 외나무다리에서
• Network: tvN
• Premiere Date: November 23, 2024
• Airing Schedule: Saturdays & Sundays @ 9:20 PM KST
• Episodes: 12
• Director: Park Joon Hwa (Alchemy of Souls, What's Wrong With Secretary Kim)
• Writer: Im Ye Jin (Love In The Moonlight)
• Starring:
  • Ju Ji Hoon (Kingdom, Hyena) as Seok Ji Won
  • Jung Yoo Mi (Live) as Yun Ji Won
  • Kim Ye Won (Call It Love) as Cha Ji Hye
  • Lee Si Woo (Boyhood) as Seo Jun Seo
• Plot Synopsis:

A single-log bridge romance that unfolds as Seok Ji Won and Yoon Ji Won, who were born on the same day and with the same name and have been enemies for generations, reunite after 18 years.

Seok Ji Won is the executive director of Seokban Construction and the new chairman of Dokmok High School. Seok Ji Won is a naturally cheerful guy who has been able to do anything since he was young, whether it be studying or exercising. Seok Ji Won left his hometown and school due to family circumstances, but after returning home in glory as the chairman of a foundation, he meets his 'great rival' Yoon Ji Won who used to growl at him just by making eye contact, again after 18 years.

Yoon Ji Won is a physical education teacher at Dokmok High School's Creative Experience Club. Yoon Ji Won is a girl who earned the nickname 'Dokmok High School Mad Dog' during her school days. She cannot tolerate injustice and must find and correct bad habits and unreasonableness to feel better. As she experiences the ups and downs of life on her way to adulthood, the 'Mad Dog' inside her that had been quietly sleeping begins to emerge again when she reunites with Seok Ji Won.

• Streaming Sources: Viki, Disney+ (in some areas)
• Conduct Reminder: We encourage our users to read the following before participating in any discussions on : (1) Reddiquette, (2) our Conduct Rules (3) our Policies, and (4) the When Discussions Get Personal Post.
  • Any users who are displaying negative conduct (including but not limited to bullying, harassment, or personal attacks) will be given a warning, repeated behavior will lead to increasing exclusions from our community. Any extreme cases of misconduct (such as racism or hate speech) will result in an immediate permanent ban from our community and a report to Reddit admin. Additionally, mentions of down-voting, unpopular opinions, and the use of profanity may see your comments locked or removed without notice.
• Spoiler Tag Reminder: Be mindful of others who may not have yet seen this drama, and use spoiler tags when discussing key plot developments or other important information. You can create a spoiler tag in Markdown by writing > ! this spoiler ! < without the spaces in between to get >!this spoiler!<. For more information about when and how to use spoiler tags see our Spoiler Tag Wiki.
• Previous Discussions: [Episodes 1 & 2] / [Episodes 3 & 4] / [Episodes 5 & 6] / [Episodes 7 & 8]

Gather around everyone and let's talk about the things you spotted this week while watching dramas! This is the place to share if you spotted any of the following:

• Truck of Doom^TM and other tropes you love/hate

• Easter eggs and notable references to other dramas, artwork, poems, books, etc.

• Fun or interesting background details in a scene (e.g. in the set, props, clothing, background music, location, etc.)

• Ramyeon, soju, fried chicken, and other foods/drinks

• Puns, idioms, and other interesting tidbits about culture

• Subway, Samsung, Swarovski, and other PPL

• A Kim Tan Worthy Sweater^(TM) and more!

Share your love or frustration or rage or annoyance or amusement at seeing these things. You are not limited currently airing Kdramas or even Kdramas at all but please be mindful of spoilers.

Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are using Markdown and not Fancy Pants Editor, the easiest way to create spoiler tags is to use > ! spoiler content ! < without spaces to get >!spoiler content!<. For more detailed guidance on spoiler tags and when to use them, check our Spoiler Tags Tutorial.

Just In Case Resources

FAQ and Netflix FAQ | Glossary | Latest On-Airs and On-Air Roster | Rules and Policies | Where To Watch aka Legal Sites | Everything In Our Wiki aka Wiki Homepage | Get Recommendations For Your Next Watch

• Drama: Iron Family
  • Korean Title: 다리미 패밀리
  • Revised Romanization: Darimi Family
• Network: KBS2
• Premiere Date: September 28^(th), 2024
• Airing Schedule: Saturdays & Sundays
• Episodes: 36 (1 hr. 6 min.)
• Screenwriter: Seo Sook Hyang (Jealousy Incarnate)
• Director: Sung Joon Hae (Bravo My Life)
• Cast:
  • Kim Jung Hyun (Mr. Queen, Crash Landing on You) as Seo Gang Ju
  • Geum Sae Rok (The Fiery Priest, Youth of May) as Lee Da Rim
  • Choi Tae Joon (Suspicious Partner, So I Married an Anti-Fan) as Cha Tae Ung
  • Yang Hye Ji (Nevertheless, Live On) as Lee Cha Rim
• Streaming Sources: Viki, Kocowa, Viu
• Plot Synopsis: Da Rim is the youngest child of a family that runs a laundry shop. She has a vibrant character, but she was diagnosed with a rare eye disease at 14 years old that would slowly narrow her vision. Time goes by, and Da Rim slowly begins to lose her vision. She attempts to do everything she can before she can't see anymore, like reading all the books and movies in the world and even more. Right before Da Rim loses her sight completely, Gang Ju, a college alumnus and the son of a conglomerate family, shows up before her. Their relationship becomes twisted due to a careless slip of the tongue, and Gang Ju becomes a hated man due to an unexpected accident.

One day, her family learns that she can regain her vision with an expensive surgery they could never afford. However, her grandmother, An Gil Rye, finds something unfathomable in the hills while picking wild herbs. Could this be something that lets Da Rim see the world again?

• Conduct Reminder: We encourage our users to read the following before participating in any discussions on : (1) Reddiquette, (2) our Conduct Rules (3) our Policies, and (4) the When Discussions Get Personal Post.

Any users who are displaying negative conduct (including but not limited to bullying, harassment, or personal attacks) will be given a warning, repeated behaviour will lead to increasing exclusions from our community. Any extreme cases of misconduct (such as racism or hate speech) will result in an immediate permanent ban from our community and a report to Reddit admin.

Additionally, mentions of down-voting, unpopular opinions, and the use of profanity may see your comments locked or removed without notice.

• Spoiler Tag Reminder: Be mindful of others who may not have yet seen this drama, and use spoiler tags when discussing key plot developments or other important information. You can create a spoiler tag by writing > ! this ! < without the spaces in between to get this. For more information about when and how to use spoiler tags see our Spoiler Tag Wiki.

• Previous Discussions: Episodes 1-8, Episodes 9 & 10, Episodes 11 & 12, Episodes 13 & 14, Episodes 15 & 16, Episodes 17 & 18, Episodes 19 & 20, Episodes 21 & 22, Episodes 23 & 24

Which dramas did you watch this month and would you recommend them to others?

Welcome to our monthly YES!, NO!, Maybe thread where you are invited to share short (or long) reviews of dramas you have watched this month and a final "verdict" of whether you would recommend the drama or not.

Our suggested format/structure for comments is:

Drama Name

• Good Things: about the drama

• Bad Things: about the drama

• Interesting Things: about the drama

• Verdict: of whether you would recommend the drama or not

You are not limited to Kdramas, feel free to discuss non-Kdramas or movies too. We strongly encourage you to share your MDL profile so that others can compare their tastes with yours to get a better understanding of preferences and dislikes, which will help in understanding if the feedback provided is applicable for them.

Please remember that every individual watching goes in with their own life experiences and biases so not everyone will see the drama in the same light or enjoy it in the same way.

Just because someone did not enjoy a drama that you loved is not a slight against you as a person.

When participating in this discussion please remember that whilst dramas do not have feelings, human beings do. Be kind to one another.

Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are using Markdown and not Fancy Pants Editor, the easiest way to create spoiler tags is to use > ! spoiler content ! < without spaces to get >!spoiler content!<. For more detailed guidance on spoiler tags and when to use them, check our Spoiler Tags Tutorial.

Just In Case Resources

FAQ and Netflix FAQ | Glossary | Latest On-Airs and On-Air Roster | Rules and Policies | Where To Watch aka Legal Sites | Everything In Our Wiki aka Wiki Homepage | Get Recommendations For Your Next Watch

https://preview.redd.it/qp7cyarf508e1.jpg?width=900&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=30d134990a852396b48efac105b65280bccba51d

• Drama: Check in Hanyang
  • Korean Title: 체크인 한양
• Director: Myung Hyun Woo (My Man is Cupid)
• Screen Writer: Park Hyun Jin (Love and Leashes, My Military Valentine)
• Starring:
  • Bae In Hyuk as Lee Eun Ho (The Story of Park's Marriage Contract, At a Distance Spring is Green)
  • Park Jae Chan as Go Soo Ra (DKZ, Semantic Error)
  • Kim Ji Eun as Hong Deok Su (Love Next Door, One Dollar Lawyer)
  • Jung Gun Joo Cheon Jun Hwa (Extraordinary You)
• Network: Channel A, TVING
• Premiere Date: December 21st 2024
• Airing Schedule: Saturday and Sunday AT 21:10 KST
  • Duration: 1 Hour 10 Minutes
• Episodes: 16
• Streaming Sources: Netflix, Viki
• Teaser/Trailer: Official Teaser
• Plot Summary: Yongcheonru is the grandest guesthouse in Joseon. Their motto is that the customer is the king. Yeongcheonru has four new interns and they have their own reasons why they work there. Lee Eun is actually a Joseon prince, but he hides his identity and begins to work at Yongcheonru as an intern using the alias Lee Eun Ho. Hong Deok Soo is a woman, but she disguises herself as a man. Her goal is to become the general manager of Yongcheonru and starts working there as an intern. Chun Jun Hwa is the successor of Yongcheonru. He doesn't have any interest in running Yongcheonru, but his father forces him to work as an intern there. Go Soo Ra’s family has been on the decline for a while now. In order to rebuild his family, he begins to work as an intern at Yongcheonru. His goal is to be promoted to an employee permanently. While working at Yongcheonru, these 4 interns share experiences and become friends.
• Major News Summary : Upcoming Drama "Check in Hanyang" Announces Broadcast Time Change And Unveils Charming Character Posters
• Conduct Reminder: We encourage our users to read the following before participating in any discussions on : (1) Reddiquette, (2) our Conduct Rules (3) our Policies, and (4) the When Discussions Get Personal Post.
  • Any users who are displaying negative conduct (including but not limited to bullying, harassment, or personal attacks) will be given a warning, repeated behaviour will lead to increasing exclusions from our community. Any extreme cases of misconduct (such as racism or hate speech) will result in an immediate permanent ban from our community and a report to Reddit admin.
  • Additionally, mentions of down-voting, unpopular opinions, and the use of profanity may see your comments locked or removed without notice.
• Spoiler Tag Reminder: Be mindful of others who may not have yet seen this drama, and use spoiler tags when discussing key plot developments or other important information. You can create a spoiler tag in Markdown by writing > ! this ! < without the spaces in between to get>!this!<For more information about when and how to use spoiler tags see our Spoiler Tag Wiki.

Did you finally get the chance to see that one drama? Want to rant/rave about it? Do it here and see who else is late to the party like you!

This is our weekend check-in to talk about what you have been watching lately.

As you are well aware it's easy to be late to the party so please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are using Markdown and not Fancy Pants Editor, the easiest way to create spoiler tags is to use > ! spoiler content ! < without spaces to get >!spoiler content!<. For more detailed guidance on spoiler tags and when to use them, check our Spoiler Tags Tutorial.

Just In Case Resources

FAQ and Netflix FAQ | Glossary | Latest On-Airs and On-Air Roster | Rules and Policies | Where To Watch aka Legal Sites | Everything In Our Wiki aka Wiki Homepage | Get Recommendations For Your Next Watch

• Drama: When the Phone Rings

  • Native Title: 지금 거신 전화는
  • Also called: The Number You Have Dialed, Jigeum Geosin Jeonhwaneun

• Director: Park Sang Woo (Terius Behind Me & The Forbidden Marriage)

• Screenwriter: Kim Ji Woon (Doctor John & Hyde, Jekyll, Me)

• Network: MBC

• Premiere Date: November 22, 2024

• Airing Schedule: Every Friday and Saturday

• Episodes: 12

• Duration: 60 minutes (per episode)

• Streaming Sources: Netflix

• Cast:

  • Yoo Yeon Seok (Dr. Romantic, Hospital Playlist) as Baek Sa Eon
  • Chae Soo Bin (A Piece of Your Mind, Rookie Cops) as Hong Hui Ju
  • Heo Nam Jun (Snowdrop, The Matchmakers) as Ji Jung U
  • Jang Gyu Ri (Cheer Up, The Player 2: Master of Swindlers) as Na Yu Ri

Summary:

Baek Sa Eon comes from a prestigious political family, and he became the youngest presidential spokesman in Korea. His background also includes time spent as a war correspondent, hostage negotiator, and main anchorman. He married Hong Hui Ju 3 years ago. She is the daughter of a newspaper proprietor. She has mutism due to an accident she had when she was little. She works as a sign language interpreter in court and on television.

Sa Eon and Hui Ju got married largely due to convenience. For the past 3 years, they haven't communicated with each other or have meals together. They pretend they are a happily married couple. One day, Hui Ju is kidnapped by an unidentified person. This changes their marriage life.

Adapted from the web novel “The Number You Have Dialed" (지금 거신 전화는) by Geon Eomul Nyeo (건어물녀)

Conduct Reminder: 

We encourage our users to read the following before participating in any discussions on : (1) Reddiquette, (2) our Conduct Rules, (3) our Policies, and (4) the When Discussions Get Personal Post. Any users who are displaying negative conduct (including but not limited to bullying, harassment, or personal attacks) will be given a warning, repeated behaviour will lead to increasing exclusions from our community. Any extreme cases of misconduct (such as racism or hate speech) will result in an immediate permanent ban from our community and a report to Reddit admin. Additionally, mentions of down-voting, unpopular opinions, and the use of profanity may see your comments locked or removed without notice.

Spoiler Tag Reminder:

Be mindful of others who may not have yet seen this drama, and use spoiler tags when discussing key plot developments or other important information. You can create a spoiler tag in Markdown by writing > ! this ! < without the spaces in between to get >!this!<. For more information about when and how to use spoiler tags see our Spoiler Tag Wiki. Please be reminded that spoiler tags must be used when discussing the original source material in consideration for those who haven't read it e.g. (novel) >!spoilers for novel!< (drama) >!spoilers for drama.!<

• Previous Discussions:
  • [Episodes 1 & 2]
  • [Episodes 3 & 4]
  • [Episode 5]
  • [Episode 6]

• Drama: The Fiery Priest Season 2

  • Native Title: 열혈사제2
  • Also called: Hot Blooded Priest 2, Passionate Priest 2, The Fiery Priest 2, Yeolhyeolsaje 2

• Director: Park Bo Ram (The Fiery Priest - Assistant Director, Through the Darkness)

• Screenwriter: Park Jae Bum (The Fiery Priest, Vincenzo)

• Network: SBS

• Premiere Date: November 8, 2024

• Airing Schedule: Every Friday and Saturday

• Episodes: 12

• Duration: 1 hour (per episode)

• Streaming Sources: Disney+

• Cast:

  • Kim Nam Gil (Island, Song of the Bandits) as Kim Hae Il/Michael
  • Lee Ha Nee (One the Woman, Knight Flower) as Park Kyung Sun
  • Kim Sung Kyun (D.P., Moving) as Gu Dae Young
  • BIBI (The Worst of Evil, Gangnam B-Side) as Gu Ja Young

Summary:

Kim Hae Il is a hot-tempered Catholic priest with a burning sense of justice. He heads to Busan to pursue a drug case which originated in Gudam-district, Seoul. Helping him in his pursuit are Prosecutor Park Kyung Sun, Detective Gu Dae Young from Gudam Police Station, and Detective Gu Ja Young from Busan.

Conduct Reminder: 

We encourage our users to read the following before participating in any discussions on : (1) Reddiquette, (2) our Conduct Rules, (3) our Policies, and (4) the When Discussions Get Personal Post.

Any users who are displaying negative conduct (including but not limited to bullying, harassment, or personal attacks) will be given a warning, repeated behaviour will lead to increasing exclusions from our community. Any extreme cases of misconduct (such as racism or hate speech) will result in an immediate permanent ban from our community and a report to Reddit admin.

Additionally, mentions of down-voting, unpopular opinions, and the use of profanity may see your comments locked or removed without notice.

Spoiler Tag Reminder:

Be mindful of others who may not have yet seen this drama, and use spoiler tags when discussing key plot developments or other important information. You can create a spoiler tag in Markdown by writing > ! this ! < without the spaces in between to get >!this!<. For more information about when and how to use spoiler tags see our Spoiler Tag Wiki.

• Previous Discussions:
  • [Episodes 1 & 2]
  • [Episodes 3 & 4]
  • [Episodes 5 & 6]
  • [Episodes 7 & 8]
  • [Episode 9]
  • [Episode 10]

Welcome to our series of posts highlighting information and resources available within our subreddit. In this post, we introduce our Glossary which contains some of the most commonly used terms in and about kdramas, and our KDRAMA 101 which has a section on honorifics and kinship terms.

Our Glossary wiki page has three parts:

• Drama Title Abbreviations -- A collection of abbreviations of drama titles that fans often use in discussions. The general convention is to take the first letter of each word in the title. The entries are arranged alphabetically.

• Fandom Terms & r/KDRAMA Terms This section includes (English) terms used to discuss different aspects of kdramas such as writing, production, characters, tropes, fandom terms, etc.. It also includes certain terms that refer to inside jokes within our subreddit community.

• Korean Terms and Concepts -- This section includes common Korean terms, phrases, and concepts that are often seen or heard in kdramas.

We tried to include explanations on usage and examples from popular dramas to help illustrate the terms when possible. You will find many links sprinkled through the definitions, these link to pictures or gifs illustrating the word being defined. Additionally, the Korean terms are linked to their Naver dictionary entry (has pronunciation) when possible. Disclaimer: We are not fluent or native speakers of Korean, this glossary is compiled based on years of experience watching kdramas (and maybe some lessons) do not use this as an official dictionary.

Below are a selection of the most commonly used terms, more terms are available in our full Glossary page.

Fandom Terms & r/KDRAMA Terms

BTS when used in reference to dramas stands for Behind The Scenes -- referring to clips that show what goes on behind the scenes of the drama. BTS material is often officially released by the production as promotional material for the drama, often showing funny interactions between cast members or bloopers during filming. If the reference is for kpop, then it stands for the boyband Bangtan Boys.

CRACK (alt. drama crack or crack drama) when you watch a drama so addicting you simply cannot quit it and instead let your life fall apart while you watch just one more episode.

FIL Father-in-law. Often portrayed in two extremes -- the doting fool or the abusive patriarch of the family.

FL Female Lead

KIM TAN is the lead male in r/KDRAMA’s favourite drama, The Heirs. He’s kind of the worst but he has great sweaters so it balances out. “Kim Tan” is used in three ways on r/KDRAMA; 1) when referring to Lee Min Ho’s seminal character in The Heirs, 2) when referring to Automod (alt. Tan Bot) - “Kim Tan is feeling very triggered by my post”, “S***! Tan Bot just ate my post”, 3) In place of “God” or other deities - “For the love of Kim Tan!”

KONGLISH Korean-style English, sometimes defined as English loanwords in Korean language which aren't easily understandable to native English speakers. They're commonly created because of mistranslations, non-standard abbreviations and word combinations and applying new meanings to English words. Common examples include "hand phone" (mobile phone), "rinse" (hair conditioner) and "webtoon" (webcomic)

MIL Mother-in-law. The richer she is, the more likely the poor FL will receive an envelope of money.

ML Male Lead

OST Original Sound Track -- refers to original soundtracks from a drama. See a more detailed explanation of What are OSTs and information on how to find them.

OTP Stands for one true pairing. The official couple so to speak. Can be used to refer to non-romantic couples or even between a character and a thing.

PPL or product placement is a way in which our beloved dramas are funded, often super in your face. Wonder why every character drives the same car? PPL. Wonder why our poor female lead inexplicably has a Dyson hairdryer, 44 jackets and the newest Samsung phone? PPL. Some dramas do it better than others and some are straight up hilarious.

QUALITY - when the Weekly Binge watched Drinking Solo in 2018, thanks to Ha Suk Jin’s skillful portrayal of the embodiment of High Quality Trash the crew became obsessed with using the term “quality” to describe anything and everything. This lead to a tongue in cheek look at the posts found on r/KDRAMA known as A Beginner's Guide to Quality and r/KDRAMA being released and changing our vocabulary forever.

SHIP - as in "I ship So and So together" - fandom speak for thinking two characters should be a couple (though not necessarily in the romantic sense).

SLS or Second Lead Syndrome is a term every romcom kdrama fan is familiar with, even if they don't know the exact term. It's the feeling you have when watching a romcom and rooting for the female lead to pick the second male lead (and she never does). You know the second male lead character type: he's not pushy, rude, obnoxious nor demanding, doesn't ignore the female lead's feelings and doesn't grab her hand and drag her around like a rag-doll. There are no forced kisses. He isn't trying to control her every movement and is not an entitled borderline psychopathic abusive little s***.

TRUCK OF DOOM is a kdrama trope in which a character is suddenly hit by a truck while crossing the road (or less commonly driving through an intersection). One second the plot is developing nicely and BOOM someone gets hit by a truck out of the blue causing widespread viewer rage. It's used to get rid of a minor character, help set up a revenge storyline or just add drama and sense of urgency (see kdrama rule no.6: "All kdramas need to have a hospital scene."). Also a neat way of introducing another famous kdrama trope: AMNESIA. It was ridiculously popular in the 2000s and early 2010s and seems to be making a comeback as "car of doom" in recent dramas.

TSUNDERE Japanese term which describes the process in which a character who is initially cold or hostile slowly warms up. In Korean dramas this process usually comes as a result of the tsundere character (generally the male lead) falling for the opposing lead and causing them to become a better person overall.

Korean Terms and Concepts

AEGYO (애교) Acting cute, usually refers to when adults (or at least teens) put on a cute act. Widely accepted thing in Asia that may feel off putting to others.

AIGOO (아이고) a sigh, used to express frustration and exasperation.

AJUMMA/AHJUMMA (아줌마) an older, married Korean woman, sometimes translated as "aunt". Generally nice but incredibly dangerous when angry. Can also be used as an insult for younger women.
Typical look: short and permed hair, wearing a head visor or hat outdoors, colorful top (mismatched patterns, sparkles, have a fondness for very ugly sweaters, never expose their skin) and either wide black pants or crazy flower-patterned ones. They're usually very short, but surprisingly strong.
Typical behavior: usually move in groups, often found sitting in random places and eating pre-sliced fruit while wearing garish pro-mountain climber ourfits.
Main attack patterns: forcing their daughter to marry any elgible bachelor taller than 175cm (5'9"), making sure you have "eaten enough", nagging about marriage to their sons, commenting on how vulgar modern clothing is, snarky comments.

AJEOSSI/AHJUSSI (아저씨) a middle aged man. Basically the equivalent of 'sir'. Can also be used as an insult for younger men. See our Kinship Terms explanation for more details on use of this word.

ALBA/PART TIME JOB/ARBEIT (알바 (shortened form) | 아르바이트 (full form)) means part time job and is a German loan word (arbeit).

APPLE/ APOLOGY (sagwa - Hangul 사과) - apples are often given in place of apologies in Korean dramas by immature characters to break the tension. This is done because the word for apple and apology (사과하다) are homonyms (same spelling and pronunciation, different meaning).

BANMAL (반말) -literally means half speech- familiar speech, used between good friends or when someone in a higher position is speaking down to someone in a lower position (position could depend on age/rank/power/etc.). Often translated as impolite speech. See our Honorifics Speech explanation for more details.

CALL (kol 콜) - is Konglish used when agreeing with something or accepting a challenge, often translated as "okay" or "deal".

CHAEBOL/CHAEBEOL/JAEBEOL (재벌) generally refers to (extremely) rich people in dramas. More accurately, it refers to family owned or controlled conglomerates (think Samsung). See this article for more information.

CHEMI/KEMI (shortened form of chemistry - 케미) - chemistry between people. Can be used for flirting or team building.

CHIMAEK (치맥) is a combination of chicken (치킨) and beer (맥주), ordered together as a set, for further information, please refer to this drool-inducing post.

CIDER (Soda - 사이다) general name for soda but can be used to describe a situation that feels good and fresh. Sometimes used in response when a person makes a refreshing comment or says something that everyone was thinking but was afraid of verbalizing. Opposite is "goguma" - sweet potato.

DAEBAK (대박) used to express amazement and happiness when something unexpected happens. Translated as "amazing" or "jackpot".

FIGHTING/PAITING/HWAITING (파이팅 romanized as pa-i-ting | 화이팅) is Konglish which is often translated as "You can do it!" or "Come on!". It's used to boost someone else's morale, primarily during sports events and when the other person is facing a difficult challenge (an important test, a scary boss male lead etc). Can also be used as self-encouragement and then it's translated as "I can do it!" or "Let's go".

GEONBAE (건배) means "cheers!" when drinking. Can be seen in dramas used when consuming non-alcoholic drinks or even food too.

GOGUMA (고구마) literally means sweet potato but can be used to describe feelings of frustration. Often accompanied by the motion of hitting one's chest while lamenting a frustrating situation.

GO STOP (고스톱) is a Korean card game played with hwatu cards -- the little red rectangle cards with pictures on them. See this blog post for a bit more information.

HAGWON/HAKWON (학원) generally refers to educational academies where students attend to receive extra lessons -- akin to after school tutoring services. Can also refer to specialized academies that prepare its (adult) students for certain professional tests such as the civil service exam, the bar exam (lawyer), the police exam, etc..

HANGEUL (alt. Hangul) (한글) the written Korean alphabet or in classier jargon: the Korean phonemic writing system. See our Introduction to Hangeul and the Korean Language for more information.

HANJA (한자 漢字) the Chinese characters Koreans used to either denote the meaning or to represent the sound of the Korean words; widely used pre-invention of Hangeul, still used today for names and in advertisements, trademarks, and signboards. Additionally, Hanja are sometimes used in writing when the author wants to clarify the meaning or to avoid potential confusion or vagueness in understanding the meaning of the words. See our Introduction to Hangeul and the Korean Language for more information.

HEOL (헐) another expression of surprise and shock, used when you can't believe what's happening. Not necessarily for a good surprise, is often translated as "wow" and accompanied by a frozen facial expression.

HOESIK/COMPANY DINNER (회식) is a common facet of Korean office work life where coworkers will go out together and eat dinner and drink alcohol. Sometimes, a second round of karaoke follows.

HUBAE/HOOBAE (후배) a person who is more junior or younger in an organization, usually school. See our explanation of Addressing Others for more detailed explanation.

JONDAEMAL (존댓말) is honorific speech (also called polite speech), which includes both the deferential and the polite speech levels, and indicates that the speaker views the listener with respect and is honoring the listener. 존대 (jondae) literally means respect. See our Honorifics Speech explanation for more details.

MAEKJU/BEER (맥주) is beer. See our Alcohol in Korea introduction for more details.

MAKGEOLLI (alt. makkoli 막걸리) is a traditional Korean alcoholic drink made by fermenting rice (or wheat) that is unfiltered. It has a milky, opaque color and a low alcohol content of 6%-13%. See our Alcohol in Korea introduction for more details.

MAKJANG DRAMA (막장 드라마) is a genre of drama which features outrageously ridiculous plots that can't possibly happen in real life - it's just one crazy plot after another. There's birth secrets, evil mother-in-laws, cheating husbands, revenge, social injustice, kimchi slapping, fake identities, trucks of doom, miraculous rebirths, screaming, crying and hair-pulling. Over-the-top is the name of the game and suspension of disbelief is sorely needed if you want to enjoy this type of kdrama. See this post for more detailed explanation. The term makjang itself is often used to describe a certain narrative element or tone of a drama as extreme. As in "The twist in ep. 12 is so makjang!" or "Kim Tan is such a makjang character!"

MAKNAE (막내) is a term used to refer to the youngest person in a family or any other grouping of people.

MUKBANG (먹방) Food porn/shows about people eating. Full term eating (먹는) broadcast (방송). Basically the entire Let's Eat series.

NUNA/NOONA (누나) Korean term that means older sister, used by men. Today it also applies to women you admire/respect and love interests. A romance kdrama sub-genre called "noona romance" is focused on storylines between a young man and an older woman. See our Kinship Terms explanation for more details about its use.

OMO/OMONA (어머 alt. "omona" 어머나) is an expression of surprise (usually pleasant) when seeing someone you didn't expect, receiving something or hearing unexpected news. Most commonly used by kdrama Ahjummas.

ONE SHOT (원샷) -- drinking up the entire (shot) glass/bowl of alcohol in one go.

OPPA (오빠) Korean term that means older brother, used when women refer to a man older than themselves. Traditionally it was used only between actual relatives, however currently it is also used between romantic couples or when talking about a man you admire/respect. See our Kinship Terms explanation for more details about its use.

Orabeoni (오라버니) An older way of saying the same word. It is a lot more formal and most often seen in sageuks (historical dramas).

POJANGMACHA (포장마차) refers to the street stalls that sell food and alcohol. Sometimes translated as "pop up bar".

RAMYEON/RAMYUN (라면) is ramen...is instant noodles...is cup noodles.

라면 먹고 갈래? (ra-myeon meok-go gal-lae?) Want to have ramen before you go? Korean version of "Netflix and chill?" AKA asking the person to stay the night for some good times.

ROCK PAPER SCISSORS in Korea is 가위바위보 -- 가위 scissors -- 바위 rock -- 보 cloth = paper (the Hanja is 褓)

SAGEUK/SAGUK (사극) are historical dramas, that is dramas set in historical periods.

SELKA/SELCA (셀카) - selfie. Full term 셀프 카메라 (self camera).

SKINSHIP (스킨십) - literally physical contact (skin to skin contact). Can be in a romantic context but can also be between friends. See this Hanmadi Korean Language blog post for more detailed explanation.

SOJU (소주) is a distilled alcoholic drink most commonly packaged in green glass bottles or sometimes in paper juiceboxes. Most soju has an alcohol content of 16% but soju with alcohol content as high as 50% can be found. See our Alcohol in Korea introduction for more details.

SOME/SSEOM (썸) is shortened from something and is used to describe a flirtatious relationship where there is clearly something between the two people but no clear romantic relationship has been established. A period where a couple is not officially dating yet but they’re almost there. Can also be used to describe a fling. This concept is captured in the kpop song Some by Soyou and Junggigo (sometimes used as BGM in dramas).

SOMAEK (소맥) is a mixed alcoholic drink created by mixing soju (소주) and beer (맥주) together.

SEONBAE/SUNBAE (선배) a person who is more senior or older in an organization, usually school. Upperclassman. See our explanation of Addressing Others for more detailed explanation.

YEOBO (여보) is a term of endearment used most often by married couples to address each other. See our Kinship Terms explanation for more details about its use.

EONNI/UNNI (언니) Korean term that means older sister, used by women addressing another woman. Today, besides siblings, it's most commonly used when trying to butter up a senior woman. See our Kinship Terms explanation for more details about its use.

DRAMA TITLE ABBREVIATIONS

APOYM A Piece of Your Mind | BOF Boys Over Flowers | BTIMFL Because This is my First Life

CLOY Crash Landing On You | DDSSLLSS Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol Sol | DOTS Descendants of the Sun

FFMW Fight for My Way | FOE Flower of Evil | HDL Hotel Del Luna

HPL Her Private Life | IC Itaewon Class | IOTL It's Okay, That's Love

IOTNBO It's Okay To Not Be Okay (Also titled It's Okay to be Psycho) |LOTBS Legend of the Blue Sea

MLFTS My Love from the Star | ROY Record of Youth | SFD Six Flying Dragons | SITR Something In The Rain

SWDBS Strong Woman Do Bong Soon (Also titled Strong Girl Bong-Soon) | TKEM The King: Eternal Monarch

TOTNT Tale of the Nine Tailed | TWDR Tree With Deep Roots | WFKBJ Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo

WOTM World of the Married | WTCB When the Camellia Blooms | WWWSK What's Wrong With Secretary Kim?

WYWS While You Were Sleeping

See a commonly used term or drama title abbreviation missing from our Glossary page? Drop a comment below.

If you have any additional questions about the information in this post or our Glossary, feel free to leave a comment with your question/feedback.

Another Friday, another weekend -- welcome to the Weekend Wrap-Up! This is a free-for-all (FFA) discussion post in which almost anything goes, just remember to be kind to each other and don't break any of our core rules. Talk about your week, talk about your weekend, talk about your pet (remember the pet tax!). Of course, you can also talk about the dramas and shows you have been watching.

This is also the space to share content that would otherwise not qualify as self-posts under our rules -- like rumored casting news and discussions about non-kdramas.

Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are using Markdown and not Fancy Pants Editor, the easiest way to create spoiler tags is to use > ! spoiler content ! < without spaces to get >!spoiler content!<. For more detailed guidance on spoiler tags and when to use them, check our Spoiler Tags Tutorial.

Just In Case Resources

FAQ and Netflix FAQ | Glossary | Latest On-Airs and On-Air Roster | Rules and Policies | Where To Watch aka Legal Sites | Everything In Our Wiki aka Wiki Homepage | Get Recommendations For Your Next Watch

Welcome to r/KDRAMA, a community where kdrama watchers gather to discuss their favorite dramas!

This r/KDRAMA Guide is an automated weekly post that introduces our community features, resources, rules, and answers some FAQs. Use this guide to help you navigate around our community and find resources easily!

Full Rules and Policies

We are an actively moderated community, please review our full Rules and Policies before participating in our community. Content and conduct that violates our Rules and Policies will be removed.

Note that the sidebar rules widget in New Reddit contains only a very abbreviated version of our full rules, please do not rely on them to contest any moderation actions, use our full Rules and Policies.

Browsing the Subreddit

Our subreddit is most optimized for browsing on desktop in New Reddit where we make maximize use of the sidebar to share the most updated information and resources (eg. schedule of On-Air discussions, links to most commonly used resources and featured posts), we encourage newcomers to view our subreddit on desktop to see all the information. Additionally, due to problems with official Reddit mobile apps, some of the links we have in the sidebar or posts do not work on mobile. If you are having trouble accessing links, please switch to desktop access.

We strongly recommend browsing our community feed sorted by new to see the latest discussion posts.

To view all resources in and information about our subreddit, see our wiki.

Note: /r/KDRAMA measures time in KST - Korean Standard Time (UTC +9) so all references to time or date relate to that time-zone.

##Participating & Posting In Our Subreddit

###Participating

Our community strives to be a friendly and safe space where our community members can participate and enjoy discussions about kdramas. To that end, we ask participants to be kind to each other, by remembering the human both behind and on the screen -- including the actors and actresses and staff members that makes the drama. Harassment, threats, bullying, personal attacks, racism, hate speech, and other similar negative behaviors are prohibited in this subreddit.

There are consequences for what you post. Remember that others do not have to tolerate insults, harassment, racism, sexism, or any other types of negative behavior. While we are not a support subreddit, we aim to be supportive of each other in our love for kdramas.

Before participating within our subreddit, please read our conduct Policies, Rules, and Reddiquette to understand what type of civil behavior and discourse is expected in our community. Also read our When Discussions Get Personal for explanations and tips to maintain civil discourse within our community and elsewhere in life.

Let's all live by the Korean proverb 가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다 -- If the outgoing words are beautiful, then the incoming words will be beautiful, too.

###Posting

New to our community and daunted by our Rules and Policies for posting? The best way to start your interaction with our community is by participating in our scheduled posts or On-Air Discussions. There's at least one per day of the week so that there is always a post you can participate in. These posts are very friendly and community-oriented -- a great way to dip your toe into conversations without the pressure of making a post. This will help newcomers to our subreddit get a better feel for the style and type of discourse in our community, which may be much more actively moderated in comparison to other spaces.

Scheduled Recurring Discussions

Our scheduled posts consists of two types: themed and free-for-all. Themed discussions cover a variety of topics frequently discussed by kdrama watchers. Free-for-all (FFA) discussion posts are our general chat discussion posts where as long as you abide by our conduct rules and Reddiquette, you can share whatever you like, including content completely unrelated to kdramas. See full detailed explanations of our scheduled posts.

On-Air Discussions

On-Air Discussions are dedicated weekly discussion posts for currently airing dramas. They are hosted by volunteers from the community to create a dedicated space each week to discuss what has happened in that drama for that week. On-Air drama discussions reduce clutter on the front page of the subreddit by centralizing discussion and all related content, such as news updates, previews, interviews, behind the scenes videos, etc.. For currently airing dramas with On-Air discussions, no other discussion posts are allowed, see our full Rules for details.

A schedule of current On-Airs can be seen in our sidebar. See the latest On-Air discussions and here is our On-Air Discussions Roster, which links all our previous On-Air discussions.

Want to learn more about our On-Air Discussions system? Feel passionately about an upcoming drama and want to host its weekly On-Air Discussions? See our full explanation, guidelines and policies on On-Air Discussions here.

Drama Reviews

We welcome well-written detailed drama reviews. Reviews should be for completed series only -- that is the series has finished airing all of its episodes and the reviewer has watched the entire drama. Reviews where the reviewer has not fully completed the drama will be removed. For those that just want to write a short blurb about a drama, feel free to share in any of our weekly discussion threads instead. See our tips on how to write a helpful review.

Reviews are moderated according to our moderation guidelines for reviews for content. Other rules and policies, such as On-Air or review megathread rules, still apply. Notably, reviews are subject to moderation for frequency under our Rehashed Discussions rule.

Fanart And Memes

We have a Designated Day, currently every Tuesday from 00:00-23:59 KST (UTC +9), on which we allow our members to attempt to share one (1) self posts of either qualified Fanart or Memes on r/KDRAMA. Fanart and meme posts are not permitted outside of Designated Days. Please review our Designated Day rules fully before submission.

News

We are not a news oriented subreddit though they are permitted as posts with restrictions on type of and source of news. Please fully review our Rules and Polices on news items before submission. If you are seeking to be kept updated with any entertainment news other than official casting news, we strongly recommend you seek out other sources beyond our subreddit such as Soompi.

OST And Promotional Material

We only allow official OSTs and promotional material (previews, teasers, posters) in our subreddit with restrictions on frequency and airing status of dramas. Please fully review our Rules on OSTs and promotional material before submission. There are post title requirements, please follow them.

##FAQs

###About Subreddit

Why Is My Post Not Showing Up?

Our subreddit has certain filters in place to identify submissions that potentially require moderation action.

If you have made a post and it does not immediately show up in the community feed, it is possible that the post has been filtered out. Please DO NOT make reposts or immediately contact the moderation team for review of your post. Filtered posts automatically enter our moderation queue and will be reviewed by a moderator. Please allow at least 24 hours for moderation action to be taken. If no further moderation action has been taken on your post (either approval or removal with notice) after 24 hours, please contact the moderation team via Modmail for assistance.

How Do I Seek Clarification About Or Contest A Moderation Action?

If you have received a removal comment from a human moderator (not AutoModerator) and wish to seek clarification or contest the removal, reply to the comment left by the moderator. Do not send private messages or chats to individual moderators about moderation actions, we consider such behavior moderator harassment. See our Policies for more information.

Note, do not reply to AutoModerator comments, the moderation team does not receive notifications for replies to comments left by the Automoderator.

What Are Moderators And What Do They Do?

Moderators are users that help manage a subreddit community by moderating the content that is allowed in the community, establishing and communicating relevant rules and policies, and engaging with other community members. More Detailed Explanation

How Do I Customize My User Flair?

Customizable user flairs are enabled in our community (the little banner following usernames). User flairs are subreddit-specific and can be used to show off your personality or favorite dramas. Our User Flair Guide shows you how to set your user flair on desktop in both Old and New Reddit.

How Do I Make Spoiler Tags?

Hate being spoiled? So do we, which is why we ask our community to use spoiler tags abundantly in order to prevent this. Reddit formatting allows for a few different ways to create spoilers. See our Spoiler Tag Tutorial to learn how do make them.

How Do I Format Things In Markdown?

Need help formatting? Want to know how to do italics and super^scripts and bold things? Check our Formatting and Markdown Guide.

What Are The Dramas In The Banner?

Info here.

Where Can I Find All Subreddit Resources?

On New Reddit sidebar, we have linked the most used resources. Otherwise our wiki landing page has links to and brief explanations of all the resources in our community.

Is There A Subreddit Discord?

Yes, here.

###About Kdramas

Where Can I Watch Kdramas?

See our non-exhaustive list of legal streaming sources from around the world where you can watch kdramas. We also have a list of popular official Youtube channels for webdramas.

Please note that linking, mentioning, or promotion of any illegal sources (eg. non-licensed streaming sites, torrent sites, personally uploaded videos, download links, etc.) is strictly prohibited and will result in an immediate ban. Promotion includes soliciting users to PM for links to illegal sources.

What Dramas Should I Watch?

If you are looking for your next drama, check out our sister sub r/kdramarecommends, the single best place to ask for kdrama recommendations. You can ask for recommendations based on your preferences or you can ask if a drama you are considering is worth watching. Check their Getting Started Guide before you post to familiarize yourself with that sub, and their Recommendations 101 to help you craft the perfect recommendation request post. If you don't know where to start or want to browse past recommendations, check out the awesome What to Watch Next wiki for our complete archive of recommendations gathered over the past years.

Note, drama recommendation requests are not permitted as self-posts in r/KDRAMA. Posts will be removed and redirected to r/kdramarecommends.

Is There A Site For Tracking Dramas?

A popular site used by many kdrama watchers for tracking dramas is MyDramaList -- the site has profiles of dramas, actors/actresses, and drama reviews/ratings.

I'm New To Kdramas, What Basics Should I Know?

For new watchers of kdramas, we strongly recommend taking a read through our basic FAQ, our KDRAMAS 101, and our Glossary as a starting point to get to know and understand kdramas better.

Hello and welcome to Kim Tan's Talk Time (Thursday)!

This is a free-for-all discussion in which almost anything goes, don't diss The Heirs or break any of our other core rules. General discussion about anything and everything is allowed.

This post is mysteriously sponsored by California Almonds and Mango Six's Mango Coconut. Take a moment to appreciate our main man Tan before the week is over and get your talk time on.

Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are using Markdown and not Fancy Pants Editor, the easiest way to create spoiler tags is to use > ! spoiler content ! < without spaces to get >!spoiler content!<. For more detailed guidance on spoiler tags and when to use them, check our Spoiler Tags Tutorial.

Just In Case Resources

FAQ and Netflix FAQ | Glossary | Latest On-Airs and On-Air Roster | Rules and Policies | Where To Watch aka Legal Sites | Everything In Our Wiki aka Wiki Homepage | Get Recommendations For Your Next Watch

Welcome to our Spotlight On post series where you can share your picks of dramas that deserve the spotlight! Each Spotlight On post is focused on a genre or theme, as you can see in the post title. Based on this genre/theme, you are welcome to share your views about dramas you have watched that fit the topic of this post, which is:

Netflix Productions

Dramas exclusively produced by and for Netflix.

What is the difference between "Netflix Original" and "produced by Netflix”?

Netflix Original: Netflix will label any drama they have exclusive streaming rights to in a certain region as an Netflix Original in that region even if Netflix is only licensing the content and was not part of the production process.

Produced by Netflix: these are dramas that Netflix financed and produced (examples include Kingdom, Love Alarm, My Holo Love, Extracurricular).

Quick tip to distinguish between a licensed Netflix Original and Netflix production:

All episodes released on the same day worldwide = Netflix production (the topic of this post)

vs.

Episodes released weekly concurrent with its airing schedule in Korea OR the drama finished airing in Korea but is still unavailable on Netflix = a licensed Netflix Original

For more info, check out Netflix’s Help page on licensing and the article The Four Types of Netflix Originals.

You are invited to share short (or long) reviews of dramas you have watched that fit the topic of this post and an explanation of why you think the drama deserves the spotlight, including whether you would recommend the drama or not.

Our suggested format/structure for comments is:

Drama Name

• Good Things: about the drama,

• Bad Things: about the drama

• Interesting Things: about the drama

• Spotlight On Because: explain why you think the drama deserves the spotlight, including whether you would recommend the drama or not.

We strongly encourage you to share your MDL profile so that others can compare their tastes with yours to get a better understanding of preferences and dislikes, which will help in understanding if the feedback provided is applicable for them.

Please remember that every individual watching goes in with their own life experiences and biases so not everyone will see the drama in the same light or enjoy it in the same way.

Just because someone did not enjoy a drama that you loved is not a slight against you as a person.

When participating in this discussion please remember that whilst dramas do not have feelings, human beings do. Be kind to one another.

Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are using Markdown and not Fancy Pants Editor, the easiest way to create spoiler tags is to use > ! spoiler content ! < without spaces to get >!spoiler content!<. For more detailed guidance on spoiler tags and when to use them, check our Spoiler Tags Tutorial.

Grab yourself a knee rug and a mug of hot chocolate, it's time to reminisce those old time dramas from days gone by of pre-2019. Maybe you were around when they aired for the first time and want to take a trip down memory lane by watching them on the box. Maybe it's your first time through.

This is our weekly discussion exclusively for those older Korean dramas on your currently watching list. We don't want to hear about the currently hyped dramas here, so please keep it to the older stuff on your watch list.

Reminder, we advocate the use of legal streaming sources wherever possible. Any comments mentioning illegal sources will be removed and links will lead to bans as per our rules. As it is very hard to find many of the really old dramas rather than asking users "where are you watching?", we suggest you instead ask "did you find a legal source?". See our policies on streaming sites and VPNs here.

Crazily enough not everyone has watched these classics yet so please remember your spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are using Markdown and not Fancy Pants Editor, the easiest way to create spoiler tags is to use > ! spoiler content ! < without spaces to get >!spoiler content!<. For more detailed guidance on spoiler tags and when to use them, check our Spoiler Tags Tutorial.

Just In Case Resources

FAQ and Netflix FAQ | Glossary | Latest On-Airs and On-Air Roster | Rules and Policies | Where To Watch aka Legal Sites | Everything In Our Wiki aka Wiki Homepage | Get Recommendations For Your Next Watch

• Drama: Light Shop
  • Hangul: 조명가게
• Network: Disney+
• Premiere Date: December 4, 2024
• Airing Schedule: Wednesdays @ 5:00 PM KST
• Episodes: 8
• Director: Kim Hee Won (actor in Moving, Misaeng)
• Writer: Kang Full (Moving)
• Starring:
  • Ju Ji Hoon (Kingdom, Jirisan) as Jung Won Yeong
  • Park Bo Young (Strong Woman Do Bong Soon, Daily Dose of Sunshine) as Kwon Yeong Ji
  • Kim Seol Hyun (My Country: The New Age, Summer Strike) as Ji Yeong
  • Bae Sung Woo (The 8 Show, Live) as Yang Sung Sik
  • Uhm Tae Goo (My Sweet Mobster) as Hyun Min
  • Lee Jung Eun (The Frog, Our Blues) as Jung Yu Hui
  • Kim Min Ha (Pachinko, School 2017) as Yun Seon Hae
  • Park Hyeok Kwon (Six Flying Dragons, Reborn Rich) as Seung Won
  • Kim Dae Myung (Hospital Playlist, Misaeng) as Hwang Jung Seok
  • Shin Eun Soo (Twinkling Watermelon, Summer Strike) as Hyun Ju
  • Kim Sun Hwa (Big Mouth) as Hye Won
  • Kim Ki Hae (Duty After School) as Ji Ung
• Plot Synopsis: The series follows the story of a group of strangers who are all having a hard time processing a horrible experience from their past. Each of them is going about their normal lives when they are all strangely pulled to a light shop located at the end of a dubious alleyway. A cautious shopkeeper guards the light shop, which may contain the key to the strangers' pasts, present, and futures.
• Streaming Sources: Disney+, Hulu
• Conduct Reminder: We encourage our users to read the following before participating in any discussions on : (1) Reddiquette, (2) our Conduct Rules (3) our Policies, and (4) the When Discussions Get Personal Post.
  • Any users who are displaying negative conduct (including but not limited to bullying, harassment, or personal attacks) will be given a warning, repeated behavior will lead to increasing exclusions from our community. Any extreme cases of misconduct (such as racism or hate speech) will result in an immediate permanent ban from our community and a report to Reddit admin. Additionally, mentions of down-voting, unpopular opinions, and the use of profanity may see your comments locked or removed without notice.
• Spoiler Tag Reminder: Be mindful of others who may not have yet seen this drama, and use spoiler tags when discussing key plot developments or other important information. You can create a spoiler tag in Markdown by writing > ! this spoiler ! < without the spaces in between to get >!this spoiler!< . For more information about when and how to use spoiler tags see our Spoiler Tag Wiki.
• Previous Episodes: [Episodes 1-4] / [Episodes 5 & 6]

A weekly thread to talk about all the things that we are watching! You are not limited to Korean things, feel free to talk about other dramas/shows you are watching.

Find all the latest What Are You Watching posts here.

Here are the latest On-Air Discussions.

Find a list of our related sub-reddits for more in-depth discussions of non K-drama content here.

Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are using Markdown and not Fancy Pants Editor, the easiest way to create spoiler tags is to use > ! spoiler content ! < without spaces to get >!spoiler content!<. For more detailed guidance on spoiler tags and when to use them, check our Spoiler Tags Tutorial.

Just In Case Resources

FAQ and Netflix FAQ | Glossary | Latest On-Airs and On-Air Roster | Rules and Policies | Where To Watch aka Legal Sites | Everything In Our Wiki aka Wiki Homepage | Get Recommendations For Your Next Watch