Top STORY
ARMY Dances Along on Twitter With 68M Tweets as BTS Returns to the Live Stage in LA
21st century pop icons BTS’ “BTS Permission to Dance on Stage – LA” tour was celebrated by fans all over the world with a whopping 68M tweets globally throughout the tour from November 27 to December 2.
USAPANG HALLYU
In our latest episode:
Television reporter Victoria Tulad joins Myla and Hannah in “Usapang Hallyu” to talk about the Kapuso TV personality’s favorite K-dramas. Watch this episode to know if your favorite is also on Victoria’s list.
FEATURED
‘Secret Royal Inspector Joy’: 3 Things We Liked About This Quirky Historical Drama
“Secret Royal Inspector Joy,” the historical drama starring Ok Taec-yeon and Kim Hye-yoon, features quirky and flawed characters. It’s atypical of this genre dominated by swoon-worthy princes and female leads. Here are some things we liked about this drama.
‘Happiness’: Zombie Apocalypse K-Drama in the Time of Pandemic
“Happiness” may be the first K-drama that alludes to the ongoing health crisis while hinting that another pandemic is just in our midst. While we’ve seen the zombie apocalypse scenario in various productions before, “Happiness” interjects social commentary on inequality that makes for a more interesting watch.
‘IDOL: The Coup’: Real-Life Idols Star in K-Drama on K-Pop Industry
iQiyi K-original “IDOL: The Coup” revolves around a passé idol group struggling to find success to avoid being disbanded.
SHOWS & MOVIES
‘Inspector Koo’: 3 Things We Liked So Far About This Lee Young-ae Drama
“Inspector Koo” marks Lee Young-ae’s official return to the drama world after four years. To say that we have high expectations is an understatement. But so far, we are loving how we’re seeing a different side to the actress who will always be Jang Geum in our hearts. Here’s what we loved about the first two episodes of “Inspector Koo.”
CELEBRITIES
Gianna Jun Dazzles as Jirisan’s Star Park Ranger
“Jirisan,” an iQiyi Original Korean drama series, opened to record ratings as mind-boggling mysteries across realms drove buzz. Lead actress Gianna Jun’s age-defying beauty and various stylish looks have also been the focus of many fans’ discussions.
MUSIC
Twitter Brings Resounding Cheers of K-Pop Fans to the 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards (2021 MAMA)
Twitter and CJ ENM’s Mnet are partnering again for the 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards (2021 MAMA), or #2021MAMA, the world’s No. 1 K-pop music awards ceremony to be hosted on December 11.
MORE
‘Still’: Viu Original Brings Theater, OPM and Film in Streaming Platform
“Still,” described as a “musical narrative series,” is Viu Philippines’ first original offering, headlined by some of the best names in Philippine entertainment. The 8-episode series will have an exclusive preview on November 12 with tickets available via Ticket-2-Me. “Still” will also be available on Viu starting November 26. Here’s what to expect from this one-of-a-kind collaboration.
K-DRAMAS WE’RE CURRENTLY WATCHING
‘Jirisan’
Mystery, suspense, action, and fantasy are all the elements that make new episodes of this K-drama worth the wait. Jirisan’s park rangers are like your average superheroes with mountain climbing gear instead of capes. Watch them save lives and solve the mysteries behind the deaths in Jirisan.
‘Now, We Are Breaking Up’
Jang Ki-yong proves that noona love does work with his sexy on-screen chemistry with Song Hye-kyo. Despite the circumstances, the force of attraction is strong in this one. It’s a modern romance drama set in the fashion world.
‘Happiness’
Set post pandemic, “Happiness” foretells that another health crisis is just around the corner. There’s a “human rabies” virus spreading that makes one thirst for human blood and flesh. Han Hyo-joo and Park Hyung-sik play cops who investigate the source of the zombie-like disease.
‘Inspector Koo’
Koo Kyung-yi is a former police officer turned private investigator. She’s also an alcohol and video game addict who’s only redeeming factor is her amazing deductive skills. Watch Lee Young-ae play cat and mouse with a young serial killer in “Inspector Koo.”
‘Secret Royal Inspector Joy’
Combine historical drama, comedy, and mystery and you got “Secret Royal Inspector Joy.” Ok Taec-yeon plays a secret royal inspector who’s more interested in making food than doing his job. He meets the divorcee Kim Joy who helps him uncover corrupt practices in Joseon.
‘Hellbound
The concept of eternal condemnation and hell is the main focus of “Hellbound.” People are getting brutally killed by monster-like creatures after getting a prophecy of their time of death. Meanwhile, a cult gains popularity after tagging the victims as sinners condemned to hell.
‘The King’s Affection’
Can a woman become a king? “The King’s Affection” toys with the idea as Park Eun-bin plays the role of the crown prince’s twin sister forced to take over his role. The story gets heartbreakingly sweet as she falls for her royal tutor and eventually becomes a king.
‘The Red Sleeve’
Red refers to the color of the sleeves of robes worn by the court ladies, signifying that they belong to the king. However, Seong Deok-im would rather live her life than become one of the king’s women. This love story between a crown prince and a court lady will surely tickle your fantasy.
‘Reflection of You’
Deception, infidelity, jealousy, and betrayal are the overarching themes of this drama, delving on the dark side of love. Go Hyun-jung plays Hee-joo, a successful artist with a dark secret while Shin Hyun-been is a woman with a deep grudge.
K-DRAMA RECOMMENDATIONS
Hallyudorama’s List of Best K-dramas of 2020 (Part 1)
Last year, K-dramas took us to new adventures — from North Korea to the fictional world of startups — without leaving the safety and comfort of our homes. Here’s the first part of our list of the best K-dramas 2020 had to offer.
See our List of Best Korean Dramas in 2020 (Part 2)
2020 will go down in history as a year of tragedies, joblessness, and uncertainty. Lockdowns would have been more unbearable without the comfort of a K-drama marathon. Here’s the second part of our best K-dramas of 2020 list.
K-Dramas to Binge-Watch During the Lockdown
Check out our list of recommended Korean dramas to watch while parts of the Philippines and the rest of the world remain in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic season.
K-DRAMA QUOTE
You’re bound to meet unexpected situations in life. Even if you use an umbrella, you’ll end up getting drenched. Just put your hands up and welcome the rain.
Hong Du-sik
“Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha”