K Drama Chat Weekly

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...

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 7 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 featured in this episode: Match by Lim Ha Young and Understand by Lim Seung Bum Na Hee-do’s origin story, how she got introduced to fencing, and why her dad means so much to her How Na Hee-do’s dad taught her that skills don’t improve in a straight line, but rather in a stair step fashion Na Hee-do’s gold medal win against Ko Yu-rim at the Asian Game How both Na Hee-do and Ko Yu-rim both feel like they were robbed at the Asian Games How the press takes advantage of the controversy and fans the flames of public opinion against Na Hee-do How and why Baek Yi-jin tracks down Alan Smith to get an interview about his call that gave Na Hee-do the gold medal How Ko Yu-rim now has a rival in Na Hee-do The strained relationship between Na Hee-do and her mom The K Drama elements we saw in this episode: food, alcohol, clothing and tri...

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 6 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 funny this episode how was How we loved the forward momentum of both Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin’s characters Why Baek Yi-jin decided to go back to Seoul, apply to become a reporter, and not sell Na Hee-do that he’s back in Seoul How Na Hee-do got a boyfriend and then broke up with him as a sort of experiment in love How Baek Yi-jin came to Na Hee-do’s rescue once again when he picked her up at the train station, got her to the tournament on time, and helped her get her confidence back The massive worker demonstrations in South Korea in 1999 The prominence of the chaebol companies in South Korea The history of the game rock, paper and scissors How we finally learn the story behind the break in friendship between Coach Yang and Na Hee-do’s mom The amazing cinematography in this episode The amazing Nam Joo-hyuk: his background, early s...

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: How Baek Yi-jin has left town without a trace, to the angst and sadness of Na Hee-do and Ko Yu-rim. How Baek Yi-jin and Na Hee-do manage to communicate with each via messages left on each other’s pager voice mail. The contrast between Na Hee-do, who is confident and gets what she wants, while Baek Yi-jin has lost all of his confidence, he leaves town, and he can’t find a job. How Baek Yi-jin’s mom doesn’t know how to support her sons, while Na Hee-do’s mom can’t find it within herself to support and believe in her daughter. When Na Hee-do tells Ko Yu-rim that she didn’t want to be on the national team, but be Ko Yu-rim’s rival, it feels like a threat. Na Hee-do has secured a spot on the national fencing team, but her happiness is tempered by Baek Yi-jin’s disappearance, Ko Yu-rim’s coldness, and her mother’s indifference. Our surprise ...