K Drama Chat Weekly

In this episode, we recap and analyze Episodes 3 and 4 of Mr. Sunshine, the hit K Drama on Netflix. Ae-shin and Eugene are trying to figure out if they are comrades, allies or enemies. They keep running into each other: at the riverbank on the way to see Potter Eun-san, at the tailor, and at the train station. When an American rifle is stolen, Ae-shin is suspected, but turns out it was Gunner Jang who stole the gun. Eugene suspects her, but says he will protect her. We also learn the origin story of Goo Dong-mae. He was the son of butchers, the lowest of the commoners and reviled. His mother forced him to run away from home, to avoid the life of a butcher’s son. When his parents are beaten, Ae-shin saves Yu-jin. We also meet Ae-shin’s fiance, Kim Hui-seung, who has finally come home from Japan. He’s a gambling, good for nothing and Ae-shin does not seem happy to see him.  We talk about how both Eugene and Dong-mae were victims of abuse, left Joseon and are now back in Joseon, but with

In this episode, we recap and analyze Episodes 1 and 2 of Mr. Sunshine, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Lee Byung-hun as Eugene Choi, Kim Tae-ri as Go Ae-shin, Yoo Yeon-Seok as Goo Dong-mae, Kim Min-jung as Kudo Hina, and Byun Yo-han as Kim Hee-sung.  We learn the story of Eugene Choi, a slave from Joseon who stows away to the United States. Even though he is no longer a slave, he has a hard life in New York, getting beat up by bullies and having his money taken away. He decides to join the US military, and becomes a Captain in the US Marines. After the Spanish-American War, he is sent to Joseon with Major Kyle Moore, to work at the US legation and deal with a former US diplomat who is selling secrets to the Japanese. We spend time talking about the historical context for Mr. Sunshine, including the story of how Korea has struggled for independence as a small country caught between multiple superpowers and the establishment of the Korean Empire. We also talk about how deeply hierar

We’re getting ready for Season 3 where we will recap and analyze Mr. Sunshine, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring  Lee Byung-hun as Eugene Choi, Kim Tae-ri as Go Ae-shin from 2018. Before we dive into Mr. Sunshine, we did a fun episode with Sung Hee’s sister Jeanie. Jeanie shares her K Drama and Korean language journey. Then Joanna, Sung Hee and Jeanie share their Top 3 K Dramas. Actually, we end up sharing our Top 5 and cousin Linda (through Joanna) shares her Top 9 K Dramas. Listeners, we will be recapping and analyzing Episodes 1 nd 2 of Mr. Sunshine next week, so get ready!

Joanna and Sung Hee introduce the show that K Drama Chat will cover during Season 3 - Mr. Sunshine. Mr. Sunshine is a hit show on Netflix from 2018. The show is about Eugene Choi (Lee Byung-hun), who was born into slavery in Joseon. After escaping to the United States at the time of the 1871 Shinmiyangyo, he becomes a Captain in the US Marine Corps. He gets sent to Joseon by President Roosevelt, under the guide of “taking care” of an American allegedly selling secrets to the Japanese. Captain Choi meets and falls in love with Go Ae-shin (Kim Tae-ri), an aristocrat’s granddaughter who refuses to sit quietly, marry, have children and embroider butterflies all day. Jen is taking a couple of months off from the show so Joanna and Sung Hee are taking this opportunity to recap and review a historical (saeguk) K Drama, which Jen is not a fan of. Before diving into Mr. Sunshine, Joanna and Sung Hee are taking it easy for a couple of weeks. In this episode, they talk about Mr. Sunshine, and the