[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the K-drama series Welcome to Samdal-ri (JTBC, 2023-2024) and what failure means in the context of this current economy as well as how the show conceptualizes failure at life. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available for pre-order with a 20% discount until…

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the K-drama series Be Melodramatic (JTBC, 2019) co-written and co-directed by filmmaker Lee Byeong-heon. The show is co-written by Kim Young-young and co-directed by Kim Hye-young. The series stars Han Gong-ju lead actress Chun Woo-hee, Vincenzo’s Jeon Yeo-been and Han Ji-eun alongside Reply 1988 series alum Ahn Jae-…

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the K-drama series Chicken Nugget (2024, Netflix) starring Ryu Seong-ryong, Ahn Jae-hong and Kim Yoo-jung with cameo appearances by Jung Ho-yeon and Park Jin-young. Grace comments on filmmaker Lee Byeong-hun’s absurdist style on the show. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean …

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the K-drama series You Raise Me Up (2021, Wavve) starring Yoon Shi-yoon and Hani of the K-pop girl group EXID. You Raise Me Up impresses Grace with its brilliant premise, hilarious title, and excellent performers. She also wonders why Yoon Shi-yoon's career didn't flourish as much after winning a Best Actor Award for…

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the K-drama series Doctor Slump (2024, JTBC) starring Park Shin-hye and Park Hyung-sik, written by Baek Sun-woo. Grace also notes a pattern of disillusionment among K-drama yuppies that all have a nostalgic longing for the slow life in a rural or agrarian environment with earthy neighbors and lifestyles. Grace’s new …

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the K-drama series She Would Never Know (2021, JTBC) starring Won Jin-ah and Rowoon, observing similarities between this show and One Spring Night directed by Ahn Pan-seok. Grace also notes a pattern in Korean male characters that she is attracted to, as well as She Would Never Know’s intense queerness, which she com…

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the K-drama series Captivating the King (2024, tvN) starring Jo Jung-seok and Shin Se-kyung. Grace asks the question why Korean period pieces tend to have so many gay kings, and what’s progressive and regressive about this narrative choice. Grace explores Captivating the King’s queerness in its defiance against statu…

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the K-drama series Mental Coach Jegal (2022, tvN) starring Jung Woo and Lee Yoo-mi. Grace talks about how she became her very own birthday clown on her own birthday by flopping, and dives into the show Mental Coach Jegal which includes messages of female empowerment without compromising herself to save her family’s f…

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the Netflix K-drama series The Bequeathed (2024, Netflix) starring Kim Hyun-joo, Ryu Kyung-soo, Park Hee-soon and Park Byung-eun. This is a show created by Yeon Sang-ho based on a webseries entitled The Bequeathed. Grace wonders what makes a TV show noir, how the series uses incest as a metaphor, and her love for act…

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the latest Netflix K-drama series A Killer Paradox (2024, Netflix) starring Choi Woo-shik, Son Suk-ku, Lee Hee-joon and Kim Yo-han. The show is based on a 2018 webtoon entitled Salinja Nangam written by Ggomabi and illustrated by Nomabi. Grace is surprised that this show is not a Netflix top 10. K-Drama School: A Pop…

K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available for pre-order and a 20% discount until April 23, 2024! Use code KDRAMA20 at the checkout on the Hachette Book Group webpage: ⁠https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/grace-jung/k-drama-school/9780762485727/⁠ Exclusions apply. This code only applies at the Hachett…

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show My Demon (SBS, 2023-2024) which stars Kim Yoo-jung and Song Kang. Grace takes issue with director Kim Jang-han who appears to have taken too many liberties ripping off the mise-en-scene from Goblin (2015-2016), but admires his earlier work for directing a K-drama about erectile dysfunction. Hell yeah! Grace’…

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses three shows at once to review Korea’s colonial history during Japanese occupation including Gyeongseong Creature, Mr. Sunshine and Snowdrop, and how they always include huge hallyu stars to promote Korean nationalism and to critique Japan’s imperialist history over Korea. Grace discusses what does the Gyeongseong cre…

No singular K-drama coverage today. Grace is watching three in a row and hasn't finished any of them yet as they are still releasing throughout the rest of the month. She has a quick chat about them and asks listeners to email suggestions on shows they've seen lately. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Te…

No K-drama today. Grace wonders what it takes to be a balanced artist while maintaining oneself and achieving their dreams. How can one be both a slacker and ambitious at the same time? Grace also discusses her latest clown workshop and how her body responded when she was moving freely at a dance studio over the weekend. Grace is almost alarmed at …

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Boyhood (2023, Coupang Play) starring Im Si-wan, Lee Sun-bin, Lee Si-woo and Kang Hye-won. Boyhood addresses the absurdity of bullying culture while exposing toxic behaviors found in every facet of patriarchal Korean society whether it’s in the underworld with gangs, political office, or a high school. Grace…

No K-drama today. Grace has a heartfelt message to all K-Drama Schoolers. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available now for pre-order on Amazon. Release date is April 23, 2024: https://shorturl.at/fAFY1. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.…

No K-drama today. Grace discusses the push and pull process of creativity and intention. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available now for pre-order on Amazon. Release date is April 23, 2024: ⁠https://shorturl.at/fAFY1⁠. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at ⁠h…

No K-drama today. Grace discusses her recent manic-depressive episode and her coping mechanisms. This episode is dedicated to mental health awareness for those who feel isolated and are hunting for more coping tips. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available now for pre-order on Amazon. Re…

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Castaway Diva (2023, tvN) written by Park Hye-ryun starring Park Eun-bin, Kim Hyo-jin, Chae Jong-hyeop, Cha Hak-yeon of VIXX and Kim Joo-hun. Grace admires actress Park Eun-bin and her extraordinary acting abilities where she shines playing weirdo characters. Grace critiques the ridiculous ageism and sexism …

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses an old school K-drama called Into the Sunlight (1999, MBC) starring Kim Hyun-joo, Kim Ha-neul, Cha Tae-hyun and Jang Hyuk. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available now for pre-order on Amazon. Release date is April 23, 2024: https://shorturl.at/fAFY1. Plea…

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Destined with You (2023, Netflix) starring Rowoon and Jo Bo-ah. Grace is disappointed by K-dramas’ boring trope of past lives coming back to haunt couples in the present life. She wants to see something new. Grace discusses Jo Bo-ah’s co-hosting gig on Baek Jong-won’s Back Alley with chef and restauranteur B…

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Daily Dose of Sunshine (2023, Netflix). The show stars actress Park Bo-young and tackles mental illness stigma, socio-cultural factors that contribute to mental illness, and the helplessness that people feel. Grace is still battling a cold, and her psychologist is telling her to quit therapy because she’s al…

No K-drama today. School is closed because the host is ill. Get your flu shots!

No K-drama coverage today. Grace is home visiting her parents for the first time in 7 years and is having mystical encounters with friends, animals, and family. It’s a wild time. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available now for pre-order on Amazon. Release date is April 23, 2024: https:/…

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Doona! (2023, Netflix) starring K-pop star Bae Suzy formerly of Miss A and actor Yang Se-jong. Grace borrows a concept called the “superfemale” named in Richard Dyer’s 1979 star studies text Stars to analyze Doona’s K-pop star figure as a superfemale archetype. Grace is also humbled by the show’s ending and …

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show The Light in Your Eyes (2019, JTBC) starring veteran K-drama actress Kim Hye-ja. Kim Hye-ja’s first Korean TV series entitled Frog Husband (1969) which was controversial but showed MBC and its competitors that TV viewers want scandal. Kim Hye-ja is also famous for speaking up on her frustration for being old…

Grace reviews a few shows from the past that are ideal for autumn viewing to chase those fall blues away such as Autumn in My Heart, Something in the Rain, and Now, We Are Breaking Up. All three shows are romantic K-dramas with a depressive tone that captures the seasonal changes that people feel around this time of the year. Grace recommends watch…

[Spoiler Alert] K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television now has a pre-order link available on Amazon! Release date has been updated to April 23, 2024. Grace discusses the show Behind Your Touch (2023, JTBC) written by Lee Nam-kyu and directed by Kim Suk-yoon who also directed My Liberation Notes. Grace brings up the…

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Miraculous Brothers (2023, JTBC). The show is written by Kim Ji-woo whose TV screenwriting days date back to 2001 with Stock Flower. The show stars Jung Woo, Bae Hyun-sung, Park Yu-rim, Oh Man-seok and Lee Ki-woo. Themes include rationalizing one’s personal shame and the importance of tending to one’s own pa…

No K-drama today. Grace’s SoCal comedian buddy Viet Nguyen returns as a guest. They chat outside a coffee house in Long Beach. Viet teaches Grace how to say “cheers” in Vietnamese and drops knowledge on the Vietcong’s history. They talk about bulldogs, Japanese dogs, Asian aliens, Transformers, Shia Labeouf, parents, war, independence from authorit…

No K-drama today. Grace discusses how long it took her to go completely blonde, and her experience drinking cacao. Grace recommends that you visit K-Drama School’s Patron page: http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. She'll upload weekly posts covering all shows and movies that are not K-dramas. Grace also recommends that you visit the K-Drama School …

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Glitch (2022, Netflix) directed by filmmaker Roh Deok and written by Jin Han-sae who also wrote Extracurricular and. It stars Jeon Yeo-been and Nana from the K-pop group After School and the series Mask Girl. Grace observes the show’s exploration of UFOs, aliens, queerness, and objective/subjective reality. …

[Spoiler Alert] Grace celebrates the early phase of the full moon in Pisces—this month’s second Super Moon, and it is blue! She also celebrates finding a hat she loved and lost from five years ago. This week, Grace covers the show Mask Girl (2023, Netflix) which stars Lee Han-byul, Nana, Go Hyun-jung, Ahn Jae-hong and Yeom Hye-ran and explores look…

[Spoiler Alert] Grace is obsessed with a new Korean sparkling water called Cloop which is grape flavored and comes with a plastic cap to keep the water carbonated longer. Hell yeah. (Not a sponsored ad!) She also plays the xylophone a bit as promised. This week, Grace discusses season 2 of DP and male Korean filmmakers’ infernal cynicism which she …

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the director’s cut version of Anna (Coupang Play, 2022) based on the novel Intimate Stranger by Chung Han-ah, adapted for the screen by female writer/director Lee Zoo-young. The show stars Bae Suzy, Jung Eun-chae, Kim Jung-han and Park Ye-young. Anna was marred in controversy because the executives of Coupang Play re…

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show King the Land (JTBC, 2023) written by Choi Rom starring Im Yoon-ah of Girls Generation and Lee Jun-ho of 2PM. Grace analyzes the show’s politicized recognition of emotional labor jobs like hospitality, retail and flight attendance occupied by women. Grace dedicates this episode to her late friend Tuim Kim We…

No K-drama coverage today. Grace is on a saga. She goes to the ER after carbon monoxide exposure in her home. She records the podcast in real time with the event as it unfolds. She apologizes for the poor quality of the recording. She promises to cover King the Land next week. She also appreciates her beloved listeners. 🫰 Follow @KDramaSchool on In…

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show See You in My 19th Life (tvN, 2023) based on a webtoon by Lee Hye, written by Choi Young-rim and directed by Lee Na-jeong. The show explores the theme of past lives which Grace sees as a metaphor for negative flashbacks. How to let go of past memories that feel so real? Grace also discusses her experience of…

No K-drama. Grace talks about World of the Married and why the ending of the pilot was so appealing to her. She also talks about Fight Club and the ending of that film, and what it means in terms of her mental/emotional/physical health journey up until now. Grace mentions that she is watching See You in My 19th Life and King the Land so those are t…

No K-drama today. Grace repaints a self-portrait she painted back in July 2013. What did she paint ten years later? Who is she today? Grace offers a few pointers for you to carry in your back pocket this week.

Grace plays with her caterpillar xylophone to honor her inner joy and talks about a baby pet pig neighbor she sees every week. She discusses the past week’s journey to taking care of her physical, mental and emotional well-being and what that’s triggered for her. Grace shows her appreciation for her friends, doctors, and figures like Tara Brach. [S…

No K-drama this week. Grace has decided to continue dropping new episodes every Monday regardless of whether or not she has a show to discuss. Sans make-up, Grace celebrates meeting her weight loss goal, running into angelic saviors in the most unexpected places and finally understanding what all her defensive mental dialoguing means. This episode …

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Lost (2021, JTBC) which stars Jeon Do-yeon and Ryu Jun-yeol. The show dwells on themes of existential loneliness, hitting rock bottom, and seeking a way to love freely. The show is directed by Hur Jin-ho and written by Kim Ji-hye. Grace discusses the culture of South Korean host bars that cater to women with…

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show The Good Bad Mother (2023, JTBC). Grace’s screen addiction is starting to improve while her tolerance for other people’s dramas is reducing, and she’s wondering aloud (again) how this might impact her podcasting in the future. Grace finally understands the significance of positive affirmations. Grace analyze…

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Chocolate (2019, JTBC). The show is written by Lee Kyung-hee who also wrote Sang-doo! Let’s Go to School and I’m Sorry, I Love You. Chocolate is Lee Kyung-hee’s second collaboration with director Lee Hyung-min who directed I’m Sorry, I Love You. Grace mentions her impression of the second male lead actor Teo…

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Black Knight (2023, Netflix) based on a webtoon by cartoonist Lee Yoon-kyoon, adapted for TV and directed by Cho Ui-seok—a former assistant director to Oscar winner Bong Joon-ho in his film Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000). Black Knight raises awareness around the plight of working-class laborers like delivery…

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Birthcare Center (2020, tvN) written by Kim Ji-soo. The show satirizes new parents’ anxiety over being the best parent ever, and putting all their money into proving it so, when really, it’s unknowable. Grace analyzes the show’s exploration of maternal guilt over wanting to be a working mom, and how women ex…