K Drama Chat Weekly

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 16 of 25, 21, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Kim Tae-ri as Na Hee-do and Nam Joo-hyuk as Baek Yi-jin. Ernabel Demillo is back as our special guest! She was a reporter and news anchor in New York, AND a reporter in New York during 9/11. This is a long episode, so we hope you stick with us and enjoy this long discussion. We promise some laugh-out-loud moments! We discuss: The beautiful songs we hear in this episode: Starlight by O Dong Jun and New Beginnings by Jin Myoung Yong Baek Yi-jin’s applying for, and accepting, the correspondent job in New York. What was his motivation for going to New York and staying? Ernabel’s experience during 9/11. She was trapped in Italy at first. When she got back to New York, it was chaos and Ernabel and her co-workers worked really long days. The crushingly sad scenes between Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin: outside Na Hee-do’s house after the luggage mix-up, at the cell phone store, at the tunnel, and then at the bus s...

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 15 of 25, 21, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Kim Tae-ri as Na Hee-do and Nam Joo-hyuk as Baek Yi-jin. We discuss: The songs we feature in this episode: Dreaming Day by Kim Ji Young and Propose by Lim Ha Young. How Ko Yu-rim asked Baek Yi-jin to break the story of her move to Russia, and she wants him to say that she is doing it just for money. How Baek Yi-jin always hides his pain, something that makes Na Hee-do really unhappy; this echoes episode 2, when Ko Yu-rim complains that Baek Yi-jin hid his family’s financial troubles. How Baek Yi-jin ultimately couldn’t manage the distance between himself and his friends, and himself and the victims’ families in New York. He is getting lost in his reporting and suffering as a result. How Na Hee-do’s mom lets Baek Yi-jin move to the newsroom after Baek Yi-jin admits to having lost all objectivity when it comes to Na Hee-do. How Na Hee-do is the one who always seems to know how to comfort Baek Yi-jin, but...

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 5 of 25, 21, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Kim Tae-ri as Na Hee-do and Nam Joo Hyuk as Baek Yi-jin. We discuss: The songs we heard during the recap: Their Friendship by Yoo Jong Hyun and Will by Byon Dong Wook. Ko Yu-rim’s decision to switch her nationality and fence for Russia because of her family’s financial troubles. Coach Yang’s efforts to secure the best deal for Ko Yu-rim and how devoted she is to Na Hee-do and Ko Yu-rim. How Sung Hee blames Baek Yi-jin for not managing the distance between himself and his friends. Now that he’s broken the story of Ko Yu-rim’s move to Russian, he is deeply unhappy and regretful. How the two most important people in Na Hee-do’s life, her mom and Baek Yi-jin, have hurt the third most important person in her life, Ko Yu-rim. We wonder if it would have made a difference if Baek Yi-jin had NOT been the first to break the story; what if he were second or third? How Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-ji as a couple are so di...

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 12 of 25, 21, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Kim Tae-ri as Na Hee-do and Nam Joo-hyuk as Baek Yi-jin. We discuss: The songs we heard during the recap: Missing you by Byon Dong Wook and Whispers of Love by Lim Ha Young. How Baek Yi-jin is sending Na Hee-do mixed signals. He’s declared his love for her, he’s affectionate around her, he is very solicitous, and he wants to spend time with her. But when she gives him a kiss, he pulls away from her! How Baek Yi-jin is conflicted about his relationship with Na Hee-do, probably because of his job, which lets him make money and gives him a path toward bringing his family back together. Na Hee-do is really confused, she’s losing her self-respect, and she wants Baek Yi-jin to try a different type of love with her, or let her go. How Baek Yi-jin finally gives Na Hee-do a kiss at the end of the episode; he finally gives in to his love and his longing. How Na Hee-do and Ko Yu-rim lose their individual matches ...

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 12 of 25, 21, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Kim Tae-ri as Na Hee-do and Nam Joo-hyuk as Baek Yi-jin. We discuss: The two songs we discuss: Free by Xydo and Free (guitar version) by Jeong Gu Hyun. How Koreans believe that blood types are associated with specific personality characteristics. How Baek Yi-jin is seeing Na Hee-do in a new light: first, when he sees her speaking French, and later being fierce at the restaurant. The French terms we keep hearing during the fencing matches. The scene between Baek Ji-jin and Jung Ho-jin, Na Hee-do’s ex-boyfriend. Baek Yi-jin makes it very clear that Jung Ho-jin and Na Hee-do are never getting back together again. Na Hee-do hears everything. How we finally get a kiss between Baek Yi-jin and Na Hee-do - finally! Ji Seung-wan’s courage in standing up to the abusive teacher and her beliefs that ultimately led her to leave school. Y-ji’s decision to leave fencing, but how Coach Yang taught her how to create a ...

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 11 of 25, 21, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Kim Tae-ri as Na Hee-do. We discuss: The beautiful songs during our recap: Your World by Hoseung and When We Was Young by Byeon Dong Wook. How the relationship between Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin is getting deeper. How Na Hee-do is seeing different sides of Baek Yi-jin, including his life as a student during the concert at the school when Baek Yi-jin wore the school uniform and played Starlight on stage. How Baek Yi-jin is doing the goofy things you do when you’re in love, including lying to Coach Yang to bring Na Hee-do and Ko Yu-rim to the concert, playing game at the stationery store, and using a pink pencil case at work. How this was a great episode for Na Hee-do: she’s in love, she’s got a best friend, and she reconciles with her mom. How Baek Yi-jn is now a full-time sports reporter, covering fencing. How Na Hee-do and Shin Jae-kyung start to reconcile during the death ceremony for Na Hee-do’s dad....

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 10 of 25, 21, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Kim Tae-ri as Na Hee-do and Nam Joo Hyuk as Baek Yi-jin. We discuss: The song With, which is sung by all five stars of the show; how are these actors so talented? How Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin’s relationship is continuing to evolve now that Baek Yi-jin has confessed his love to Na Hee-do. How Na Hee-do’s life has been transformed by Ko Yu-rim’s friendship and Baek Yi-jin’s love. How Ko Yu-rim is less lonely, now that she has Na Hee-do and Moon Ji-woong, but she still carries a sadness that comes from her family’s financial hardships. How Baek Yi-jin is still burdened at work and by his promise to bring his family back together. How it’s probably not realistic that Baek Yi-jin would take four minors on a work trip, without a crew, and without chaperones. How important it is to know how to make rice properly. How adult Na Hee-do tells Min-chae that she doesn’t remember the beach trip, remarking that some...

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 9 of 25, 21, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Kim Tae-ri as Na Hee-do and Nam Joo Hyuk as Baek Yi-jin. This is a special episode. Ernabel Demillo is back! Ernabel is Department Chair of the Communication and Media Culture Department at Saint Peter's University and host of the Emmy-award winning "Asian American Life" show on CUNY-TV. Ernabel shares her experience being a reporter and news anchor, and provides amazing insight into this episode, including: How networks decide to do special shows How stories are assigned to reporters, and special projects usually go to special teams, not the day to day reporters The journalist code of ethics How journalists should recuse themselves from stories when they have a connection to the subjects How journalists actually do have editorial differences with their photographers and videographers How networks and newspapers don’t allow their subjects to see stories before they are published or aired H...

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 8 of 25, 21, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Kim Tae-ri as Na Hee-do and Nam Joo Hyuk as Baek Yi-jin. We discuss: How Na Hee-do is rescued by Baek Yi-jin again How Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin’s relationship is changing and unnerving Na Hee-do How Na Hee-do is starting to develop feelings for Baek Yi-jin but he treats her like a kid How Na Hee-do is the most honest of all the characters with their feelings How Baek Yi-jin goes to see the creditor to whom he promised he would never be happy again; the creditor asked him to take  back that promise and do his  best to be happy How Baek Yi-jin and Ko Yu-rim are both full of sadness How Na Hee-do is confused by Ko Yu-rim’s diving incident; she wonders what terrible thing happened in Ko Yu-rim’s life to make her this sad How Na Hee-do and Ko Yu-rim decide to meet at a square in town, each of them carrying a yellow rose How Ko Yu-rim panics when she sees Na Hee-carrying a yellow rose, and gives HER...