Tourism, dating violence, and the glass ceiling are all alive and well in today’s link roundup. I’ve also found an interview with W: Two Worlds writer Song Jae-jung, plus some casting news for upcoming dramas. So far the 2017 offerings are looking like they could be a lot of fun.
- “Korean Tourism Ad in New York Features Song Joong-ki.” If you’re in NYC, you can go see a billboard plastered with Song Joong-ki’s face. The ad will run for seven weeks, so you’ve got plenty of time to hunt it down.
- “Romanticized depictions of dating violence in Korean dramas.” Netizens chime in about dating violence portrayed as “romantic” in scenes from Uncontrollably Fond, Our Gap-soon, Lucky Romance, and Another Oh Hae-young. Most of the translated netizen comments won’t raise your blood pressure; wade into the English comments beneath them at your own risk.
- “Women absent at executive positions of public firms.” Inequality in the workplace, particularly at upper management levels, continues to plague Korean companies. None of the top 30 public companies have women in executive level positions this year (139 positions, for the record). Right below the executive level, AKA those who have a shot at being promoted to executives, women are only 1.9% of the staff. (And seven of those top 30 companies have no women at that level.)
- “Living In a Society That Demands Sex Appeal.” This personal essay explores a university student’s introduction to university festivals, the male gaze, and sexual commodification versus expression.
- “Update on Ji Soo’s health condition.” The surgery went well, and his agency and the production team behind Fantastic are looking forward to, but apparently not pressuring, his return. I hope he is allowed whatever time he needs to recover.
- “Looking for answers from W writer Song Jae-jung.” There are some interesting things in here, but I’m absolutely baffled at some of it. You didn’t put much thought into W’s ending? IT SHOWED. *screams into the void*
- “Siwan and Yoona confirmed for new drama.” I was never able to finish Misaeng, but I heard Im Siwan was great in it. It’ll be interesting to see a show set during the Goryeo dynasty–I haven’t watched that many.
- “School violence and mystery galore in new JTBC drama Solomon’s Perjury.” To say I am excited about this show is an understatement. Murder mystery set at a school? Students taking matters into their own hands? And the poster has a girl on it! This sounds like White Christmas–and if it has more than two ladies in it, I’ll be over the moon. *crosses fingers*
- “Missing 9 courts Jung Kyung-ho as male lead, releases character descriptions.” What kind of behind-the-scenes nonsense is going on with the show that used to be called Gaia? I don’t know, but I hope that it will figure out what the hell it is between now and whenever it gets picked up.
I think it’s really illuminating that people are commenting the script differs from how it was filmed. She’s not saying something very loudly in there about not commenting.
At least she knows Yeon Joo was shafted by the ending?
It would be interesting to see the differences if the scripts were every translated into English (or if someone else read them and summarized the differences). But right now, I’m still kind of meh, even if the director went in behind her and changed some things. Like…these problems began manifesting themselves from when Chul shot Yeon-joo in the chest. That’s not a directorial decision, that was her storytelling. A lot of it just felt flat.
Yeah, at least she knows that. But it’s way too late to fix it now.
I’m definitely ready to be all about other dramas at this point. I don’t resent the show, but I also know we won’t be smiling fondly over .gifs of it down the line…
Yeah, I think I’m mostly just sad that it didn’t turn out to be what I was hoping it would be. Oh well. On to the next dramas!