Ask An Ahjumma ~ Spring Episode
It's that time of month again to Ask An Ajumma
Dearest MDL friends, we ajummas are here once again to answer your questions. Do you have a question for us? Send it to ask-an-ajumma, and we'll do our best to answer it.
And without further ado, on with the questions!
"Hi ajummas!
Do you know of any good dramas like Innocent Man or Secret Love?"
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Dear fellow addict,
Secret Love and Innocent Man are special melodramas. It’s bit hard to find recommendations that deal with the same exact themes, but I managed to gather a little list with some dramas that I personally believe would satisfy you.
Bad Guy: It’s a revenge melo just like the two titles above. It can be a bit edgy, but the general theme is present. It can also be addictive and quite absorbing on the emotional side.
Missing You: This one is a very emotional melodrama. It also deals with revenge, pain and the main characters struggle with love. It’s one of the teariest Melodramas out there so brace yourself.
Beyond the Clouds: Another revenge melo that stood out for me just like Secret Love and Innocent Man. It was attention-grabbing and especially easy to follow despite the emotional charge.
That Winter, The Wind Blows: This is some kind of a special mention. It’s not revenge themed, but it’s a melodrama alright – downright emotional and captivating.
Those would me my recommendations. I hope you would enjoy them just like Innocent Man and Secret Love.
-Romantic A.
"Dear Ajumma,
Well here is my question and thoughts to ponder.
Why do so many K actors male have such wonky, mis-shapen ears? Is it because in facial reconstruction they have used all or part of the ear membrane or were they dragged around as children or do they simply have wonky ears from birth? Or is it a result of an accident ? It seems that these “wonky ears” all occur in a specific generation. The older more mature actors have either hidden it well, surgically corrected them or they were ok to begin with.
Some examples are: Lee Min Ho, Lee Jun Ki (My Girl) and most recently the lead actor in Birth of a Beauty, Jung Gyu Woon.
In “My Girl” (Lee Jun Ki), for example his ears were like those of a North Pole Elf at times. And in Birth of a Beauty, (Gyu Woon) they resemble “Star Trek” ears to the point I find it distracting. Did Lee Min Ho lose a piece of his ear in that car accident in ’05?
This probably isn’t the typical question to “ask an ajumma” but I was curious, is all.
Many thanks for your input and research.
Kind regards,
An Inquiring Mind"
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Dear Inquiring Mind,
I was quite surprised by your question and at the same time I thought it was very realistic as I realized that subconsciously I had also noticed the strange ears of some Korean actors whilst watching dramas. Besides Lee Min Ho, Lee Jun Ki, and Jung Gyu Woon - whom you mentioned - I would also add Yoon Kye Sang (Beyond the Clouds, The Greatest Love) whose particular ears I found impossible not to notice. I personally don’t think it is a matter of age as Cha Seung Won’s ears, for example, are also rather impressive.
I did some quick research on the Web, and I couldn’t find a scientific explanation for this particular facial trait in relation to Korean actors. But I did find out that there is a specific plastic surgery procedure that allows ears to be rather pointed which is called Elfing. So who knows if some of the ear shapes that we see could be the work of art of a good plastic surgeon!
In any case in my research I also found out that according to Chinese face reading large ears are a sign of vitality, longevity and bravery and that those whose ears are more pointed are secretive, mysterious and good talkers. Therefore, it could also very well be that our beloved actors were born with these features and decided to keep them this way because they liked them.
I would say that these particular ear shapes are a unique trait of Korean actors, and I believe that whatever tiny imperfection helps to render them more human and real to our eyes
Chatty A
"Greetings, ahjummas!
Ahjummas are part of the salt and pepper of dramas, villainous, playful, quirky or on a rage mode, they always leave their impact! So, here's my rambling amidst questions(?). I don't know what are the South Korean percentages between men and women who watch dramas, but worldwide it's definitely a world owned by women whether they are kyaa fangirls, mission impossible sasaengs simply because they can't reach their South Korean idols and/or actors or the rest of the audience with their kyaa moments, obsessions, preferences, etc finding pleasure in watching dramas. The aforementioned thoughts were never meant to be offensive, they're more like "humorous" thoughts with portions of truth. My point is the role of women in South Korean dramas. Let's think of the world of dramas as a solar system, the main male lead is the sun, the main female lead is a planet and the second male lead a satellite of that planet, that's why he always loses, if it gets destroyed another one is launched. It's mostly a world of men and by that i mean that the world of dramas moves and evolves around the main male lead whose orbit pushes away or attracts the main female figure. Well, no matter how hard it pushes, the female figure is always attracted, but anyway, it's one of the cliches. The whole scenarios are based on the main male lead and all the figures, male or female, progress around him. Why is that? Could it be the patriarchal status of South Korean society depicted through the dramas? Could it be the fact that the productions lean towards the female audience? The truth lies somewhere in the middle? Why am i saying all these? Well, i personally want female figures to possess a strength of their own to a wider extent in the world of dramas, i want them more vibrant as characters taking the initiative more often. Of course, they have their own distinctive part in the the dramas, but it's something like "behind a great man there's a great woman". Well, i'd like "that" great woman more to the foreground rather than usually being the sparkle in the shadow that strengthens the flame of the main male figure. I hope i didn't tire you with my screed, but i'd love to see my thoughts being filtered through the ahjumma prism of wisdom!
Drama-tically yours,
Dear Kwon Sang Seung,
I really liked your planetary description of kdrama characters! Honestly, to the extent of my knowledge, you pretty much answered your own question. I’m not well versed in Korean culture, but from what I do know, they are still a predominantly patriarchal society. It’s changing, but things have just recently started progressing in other directions, so it may take time. I will say that I have recently watched two different dramas that had female leads that weren’t COMPLETELY stereotypical kdrama female leads.
One was Modern Farmer. Admittedly, it was campy and full of fluff, but the female lead was a single mother who was also the head of her village. She had her weak spot for the male lead, but she still took care of what needed to be taken care of.
The other drama was Best Wedding (or The Greatest Wedding). That drama was particularly frustrating being an American and watching it, because of cultural differences. Things that she went through just don’t really happen here. We have TONS of single mothers or moms who chose to take care of a child without a man to help. There were other reasons that show was frustrating, but the main point is that she didn’t fit the “mold” of a typical Korean drama female lead.
I’m going to say that I’m with you on the females becoming a bit stronger in these dramas, but sometimes, I like the formula and it works. I don’t know if I’d be so in love with a bunch of the shows that I’ve seen if they were too much like the ones I can watch on basic cable in the states, you know?
The Obsessive Ajumma
"Dear Ajumma,
I wanted to ask if there are any good dark Korean dramas you would recommend? Japanese dramas have plenty of really good dark and twisted dramas like A Million Stars Falling from the Sky or Koori no Sekai but I always have trouble finding a dark, mysterious, or twisted Korean drama. I know Heartless City, Gap-dong, God's Gift-14 days, and Bittersweet Life are considered dark dramas but I've either already seen those or have not liked them enough to finish them. Can you recommend any others to me? Bonus points if it's a dark romance!"
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Oooh! I love dark and twisted dramas. Most of the J-dramas I've seen fit in this category. This is probably the reason I have seen more J-drama than K-drama. :But you bring up a really good question. It does seem difficult to find really good dark, mysterious, or twisted Korean dramas!
To answer your question: In all honesty, I haven't found many Korean dramas in this genre that caught my interest. However, here are a few that I have seen: White Christmas - a psychological thriller which asks whether monsters are born or made; Freeze - a vampire mini-series with just 5 episodes; Que Sera, Sera - not really twisted, but it is gritty; and Once Upon a Time in Saengchori - I would actually classify this one under dark comedy. I like all but one of these mentioned - Freeze was just not my cup of tea. But who knows, you may like it. Romance can be found in all but White Christmas (well it's hinted at but it's not a part of the story). One K-drama that is on my PTW list is The Suspicious Housekeeper, which is a remake of the Japanese drama Kaseifu no Mita. I loved the Japanese version so I'm curious about the Korean version as well. There's no romance in it, but I think it fits the dark/twisted category.
One thing more I'd like to add: there are a few Taiwanese dramas that fit this category as well. Consider watching MARS or The Rose. Both deal with sensitive issues and have an atmosphere of darkness about them (of the two, MARS is the one I highly recommend).
I really do wish you luck in your search for dark and twisted dramas worth watching.
Introspective A
"What's in a name?"
Shakespeare truly gave us this dilemma in Romeo & Juliet and still today we are grappling with the same issue.
"would you name your child after a favorite character in a drama as a secondary name or just use it as a nickname or a middle name."
-- anonymous
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Darling Anonymous -
As a person who does not have children, I am fascinated by the process people use in the naming of their children. Frankly, naming a child after anything in drama world, cars, perfume, shoes, brands etc. is perplexing and trendy. Ponder this, your child is now applying for a ‘real’ job and this name will be their calling card to the world. What impression does the name have on a CV or resume? Can it fit on business card? How does it translate in a global workforce? What does that name say to the world about your family and family’s thinking?
Imagine this conversation, your child and their future love, starring in their drama episode.
Future Love: ”Why did your parents name you…?”
Your Child: “Back in the day, Moms loved this one drama especially the lead character who was…”
Future Love: “Oh, okay but what does your name mean?”
Your Child: “No idea. My mom told me lead character was really good-looking & smart and she loved the name.”
Future Love: “What was the name of the drama?”
Your Child: ” Sorry love, she nor Dad can remember now.”
A better question to ponder: How does a name influence a person’s character?
Names tell the world how you look at yourself, the way others perceive and treat you, your level of confidence, your energy, creativity and self-esteem. Darlings, before your decided to use drama or other material objects to name you kids, consider above points and remember, “Dick Tracy will always be called Dick not Richard Tracy.”
Bookish A
