K-Drama School
By Grace Jung
K-Drama SchoolSep 06, 2021
K-Drama School – Ep 176: Lovestruck in the City and the LA Blues
[Spoiler Alert] Grace is leaving Los Angeles and feels a little blue but she is excited for the next chapter ahead. She discusses the show Lovestruck in the City (2020) and the mockumentary format’s advantages and disadvantages. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available everywhere now: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/grace-jung/k-drama-school/9780762485727/ Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School - Ep 175: Live at the Hollywood Improv with Ruby Bockmeier, Zack Chapaloni and Josh Edelman
[Spoiler Alert] Grace hosts a live recording of the K-Drama School podcast at the Hollywood Improv Comedy Club in Los Angeles to celebrate her new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television. She interviews her returning guests Ruby Bockmeier, Zack Chapaloni and Josh Edelman who play the flashcard game with her on shows like You Raise Me Up, Anna, and Queen of Tears. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available everywhere now: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/grace-jung/k-drama-school/9780762485727/ Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 174: Queen of Tears and Visible Class Discomforts
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the K-drama series Queen of Tears (Netflix, 2024) starring Kim Ji-won and Kim Soo-hyun. Grace applauds Kim Soo-hyun’s comedic performance and Kim Ji-won’s knack for melodrama. But there is the question of how shows like this tend to humanize and fetishize heteronormative chaebol families while vilifying those on the margins like orphans, single mothers, and those who come from poverty. Grace ties this into her critique of Korean chaebol groups and their economic, political and socio-cultural influence which never point a finger at themselves for their own scandals, corruption and crimes. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available everywhere now: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/grace-jung/k-drama-school/9780762485727/ Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 173: The Sound of Magic and Magical Thinking
[Spoiler Alert] Grace has a show at the Hollywood Improv on April 29th to celebrate her book launch and record K-Drama School podcast live with very special returning comedian guests Ruby Bockmeier, Zack Chapaloni and Josh Edelman. Grace discusses the K-drama series The Sound of Magic (Netflix, 2022) starring Ji Chang-wook, Choi Sung-eun and Hwang In-youp. Grace is impressed by the layers of its production background and the performance by the lead actors. Grace is also struggling with depression while at the cusp of her book launch and her renewed foray back into academic institutions. Grace got rejected by In-N-Out Burger, and she’s contributed work to AI industries despite her awareness that this very act will replace service industry jobs which she, in part, relies on today. The absurdity of her predicament is a queer existence. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available for pre-order with a 20% discount until April 23, 2024! Use code KDRAMA20 at checkout on the Hachette Book Group webpage: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/grace-jung/k-drama-school/9780762485727/ Exclusions apply. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 172: Welcome to Samdal-ri and Redefining Failure
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the K-drama series Welcome to Samdal-ri (JTBC, 2023-2024) and what failure means in the context of this current economy as well as how the show conceptualizes failure at life. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available for pre-order with a 20% discount until April 23, 2024! Use code KDRAMA20 at checkout on the Hachette Book Group webpage: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/grace-jung/k-drama-school/9780762485727/ Exclusions apply. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 171: Be Melodramatic and Spiraling Up
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the K-drama series Be Melodramatic (JTBC, 2019) co-written and co-directed by filmmaker Lee Byeong-heon. The show is co-written by Kim Young-young and co-directed by Kim Hye-young. The series stars Han Gong-ju lead actress Chun Woo-hee, Vincenzo’s Jeon Yeo-been and Han Ji-eun alongside Reply 1988 series alum Ahn Jae-hong and Gong Myung. Grace thanks a long-time listener for the show recommendation and praises Be Melodramatic’s story, production and brilliant performances. Grace is also spiraling again but spiraling back up. She’s reading Pat Rodegast/Emmanuel’s books and taking courage during these dark times. Grace also has the physical copies of her book finally! You can also sample the audiobook via Soundcloud now: https://soundcloud.com/hachetteaudio/k-drama-school-by-grace-jung. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available for pre-order with a 20% discount until April 23, 2024! Use code KDRAMA20 at checkout on the Hachette Book Group webpage: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/grace-jung/k-drama-school/9780762485727/ Exclusions apply. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 170: Chicken Nugget and Dogs Getting to the Bottom
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the K-drama series Chicken Nugget (2024, Netflix) starring Ryu Seong-ryong, Ahn Jae-hong and Kim Yoo-jung with cameo appearances by Jung Ho-yeon and Park Jin-young. Grace comments on filmmaker Lee Byeong-hun’s absurdist style on the show. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available for pre-order with a 20% discount until April 23, 2024! Use code KDRAMA20 at checkout on the Hachette Book Group webpage: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/grace-jung/k-drama-school/9780762485727/ Exclusions apply. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 169: You Raise Me Up and Korean Broadcasters Unite
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the K-drama series You Raise Me Up (2021, Wavve) starring Yoon Shi-yoon and Hani of the K-pop girl group EXID. You Raise Me Up impresses Grace with its brilliant premise, hilarious title, and excellent performers. She also wonders why Yoon Shi-yoon's career didn't flourish as much after winning a Best Actor Award for his role as Kim Tak-gu. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available for pre-order with a 20% discount until April 23, 2024! Use code KDRAMA20 at checkout on the Hachette Book Group webpage: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/grace-jung/k-drama-school/9780762485727/ Exclusions apply. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 168: Doctor Slump and South Korean Disillusionment
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the K-drama series Doctor Slump (2024, JTBC) starring Park Shin-hye and Park Hyung-sik, written by Baek Sun-woo. Grace also notes a pattern of disillusionment among K-drama yuppies that all have a nostalgic longing for the slow life in a rural or agrarian environment with earthy neighbors and lifestyles. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available for pre-order with a 20% discount until April 23, 2024! Use code KDRAMA20 at checkout on the Hachette Book Group webpage: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/grace-jung/k-drama-school/9780762485727/ Exclusions apply. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 167: She Would Never Know and Grace’s Type
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the K-drama series She Would Never Know (2021, JTBC) starring Won Jin-ah and Rowoon, observing similarities between this show and One Spring Night directed by Ahn Pan-seok. Grace also notes a pattern in Korean male characters that she is attracted to, as well as She Would Never Know’s intense queerness, which she compares to Angels in America. Grace opens up about how the Pisces New Moon, the aftershock of the industry’s strike last year and her emotional overwhelm are currently affecting her. Grace offers supportive words to her fellow industry colleagues who may be going through what she’s going through: “You are not alone.” Grace celebrates Publisher Weekly’s positive review of her new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television. It is available for pre-order and a 20% discount until April 23, 2024! Use code KDRAMA20 at the checkout on the Hachette Book Group webpage: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/grace-jung/k-drama-school/9780762485727/ Exclusions apply. This code only applies at the Hachette checkout for hardcover copies of the book, and expires on April 23, 2024. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok.Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 166: Captivating the King and a Tom Cruise Sexuality
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the K-drama series Captivating the King (2024, tvN) starring Jo Jung-seok and Shin Se-kyung. Grace asks the question why Korean period pieces tend to have so many gay kings, and what’s progressive and regressive about this narrative choice. Grace explores Captivating the King’s queerness in its defiance against status quo and going against the typical choice for a hetero expectation in an ending, referencing Jack Halberstam’s book The Queer Art of Failure. Grace also admires Jo Jung-seok for being a queer icon like Tom Cruise. K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available for pre-order and a 20% discount until April 23, 2024! Use code KDRAMA20 at the checkout on the Hachette Book Group webpage: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/grace-jung/k-drama-school/9780762485727/ Exclusions apply. This code only applies at the Hachette checkout for hardcover copies of the book, and expires on April 23, 2024. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok.Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 165: Mental Coach Jegal and Grace’s Clown Flopped Birthday Flyer
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the K-drama series Mental Coach Jegal (2022, tvN) starring Jung Woo and Lee Yoo-mi. Grace talks about how she became her very own birthday clown on her own birthday by flopping, and dives into the show Mental Coach Jegal which includes messages of female empowerment without compromising herself to save her family’s face as well as mindfulness of the present moment over racing towards milestones. Grace questions the relationship between a sports psychologist and his client in the narrative then questions her own logic based on the boundary-less quality of love. K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available for pre-order and a 20% discount until April 23, 2024! Use code KDRAMA20 at the checkout on the Hachette Book Group webpage: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/grace-jung/k-drama-school/9780762485727/ Exclusions apply. This code only applies at the Hachette checkout for hardcover copies of the book, and expires on April 23, 2024. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok.Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School - Ep 164: The Bequeathed and ESL for Grace
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the Netflix K-drama series The Bequeathed (2024, Netflix) starring Kim Hyun-joo, Ryu Kyung-soo, Park Hee-soon and Park Byung-eun. This is a show created by Yeon Sang-ho based on a webseries entitled The Bequeathed. Grace wonders what makes a TV show noir, how the series uses incest as a metaphor, and her love for actor Park Sung-hoon and his hysteria. K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available for pre-order and a 20% discount until April 23, 2024! Use code KDRAMA20 at the checkout on the Hachette Book Group webpage: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/grace-jung/k-drama-school/9780762485727/ Exclusions apply. This code only applies at the Hachette checkout for hardcover copies of the book, and expires on April 23, 2024. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok.Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 163: A Killer Paradox and Crime and Punishment
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the latest Netflix K-drama series A Killer Paradox (2024, Netflix) starring Choi Woo-shik, Son Suk-ku, Lee Hee-joon and Kim Yo-han. The show is based on a 2018 webtoon entitled Salinja Nangam written by Ggomabi and illustrated by Nomabi. Grace is surprised that this show is not a Netflix top 10. K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available for pre-order and a 20% discount until April 23, 2024! Use code KDRAMA20 at the checkout on the Hachette Book Group webpage: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/grace-jung/k-drama-school/9780762485727/ Exclusions apply. This code only applies at the Hachette checkout for hardcover copies of the book, and expires on April 23, 2024. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 162: Like Flowers in Sand and Discount Code for K-Drama School the Book!
K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available for pre-order and a 20% discount until April 23, 2024! Use code KDRAMA20 at the checkout on the Hachette Book Group webpage: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/grace-jung/k-drama-school/9780762485727/ Exclusions apply. This code only applies at the Hachette checkout for hardcover copies of the book, and expires on April 23, 2024.
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the series Like Flowers Over Sand (2023-2024) starring Jang Dong-yoon, Lee Joo-myung and Kim Bora written by Won Yoo-jung and directed by Kim Jin-woo. Grace appreciates the show’s balanced tone and especially the brilliant performance of Jang Young-nam who also appears in Captivating the King. Grace notices a pattern of K-dramas showcasing slower-paced rural living favored over the fast-paced, ambitious and anxiety-inducing city life of Seoulites among young people lately, and takes it as a sign of health in South Korea’s socio-cultural collective psyche. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 161: My Demon and Ally McBeal with Tobias Hauser
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show My Demon (SBS, 2023-2024) which stars Kim Yoo-jung and Song Kang. Grace takes issue with director Kim Jang-han who appears to have taken too many liberties ripping off the mise-en-scene from Goblin (2015-2016), but admires his earlier work for directing a K-drama about erectile dysfunction. Hell yeah! Grace’s returning guest is Berlin-based comedian Tobias Hauser (@hahahouser on Instagram) and they discuss working in America, German Nazi landlords, Tina Turner as an idol, Cher as an alien, Dolly Parton’s massive heart and boobs, feelings of inadequacy, and Ally McBeal. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available now for pre-order on Amazon. Release date is April 23, 2024: https://shorturl.at/fAFY1. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School - Ep 160: Gyeongseong Creature, Mr Sunshine and Snowdrop and Grace's Powerwalk with Jojoba the Squirrel
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses three shows at once to review Korea’s colonial history during Japanese occupation including Gyeongseong Creature, Mr. Sunshine and Snowdrop, and how they always include huge hallyu stars to promote Korean nationalism and to critique Japan’s imperialist history over Korea. Grace discusses what does the Gyeongseong creature represents, and how K-dramas on globalized streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+ can work as a means of decolonization. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available now for pre-order on Amazon. Release date is April 23, 2024: https://shorturl.at/fAFY1. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School - Ep 159: Grace Juggles Three K-Dramas in a Row
No singular K-drama coverage today. Grace is watching three in a row and hasn't finished any of them yet as they are still releasing throughout the rest of the month. She has a quick chat about them and asks listeners to email suggestions on shows they've seen lately. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available now for pre-order on Amazon. Release date is April 23, 2024: https://shorturl.at/fAFY1. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 158: Grace the Clown Moves Slowly at a Time
No K-drama today. Grace wonders what it takes to be a balanced artist while maintaining oneself and achieving their dreams. How can one be both a slacker and ambitious at the same time? Grace also discusses her latest clown workshop and how her body responded when she was moving freely at a dance studio over the weekend. Grace is almost alarmed at how much she is at peace with her life. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available now for pre-order on Amazon. Release date is April 23, 2024: https://shorturl.at/fAFY1. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 157: Boyhood and the Top 5 K-Dramas of 2023
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Boyhood (2023, Coupang Play) starring Im Si-wan, Lee Sun-bin, Lee Si-woo and Kang Hye-won. Boyhood addresses the absurdity of bullying culture while exposing toxic behaviors found in every facet of patriarchal Korean society whether it’s in the underworld with gangs, political office, or a high school. Grace declares Im Si-wan the greatest living actor of this era not just in Korea but in the world. Grace also lists her top five favorite K-dramas of 2023. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available now for pre-order on Amazon. Release date is April 23, 2024: https://shorturl.at/fAFY1. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 156: Grace’s Christmas Gram to All K-Drama Schoolers
No K-drama today. Grace has a heartfelt message to all K-Drama Schoolers. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available now for pre-order on Amazon. Release date is April 23, 2024: https://shorturl.at/fAFY1. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School - Ep 155: Grace and the Coital Dance of Creativity
No K-drama today. Grace discusses the push and pull process of creativity and intention. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available now for pre-order on Amazon. Release date is April 23, 2024: https://shorturl.at/fAFY1. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School - Ep 154: Grace Pierces Through the Clouds and How to Cope with Manic Depressive Episodes
No K-drama today. Grace discusses her recent manic-depressive episode and her coping mechanisms. This episode is dedicated to mental health awareness for those who feel isolated and are hunting for more coping tips. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available now for pre-order on Amazon. Release date is April 23, 2024: https://shorturl.at/fAFY1. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 153: Castaway Diva and Don’t Give Up on What You Love
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Castaway Diva (2023, tvN) written by Park Hye-ryun starring Park Eun-bin, Kim Hyo-jin, Chae Jong-hyeop, Cha Hak-yeon of VIXX and Kim Joo-hun. Grace admires actress Park Eun-bin and her extraordinary acting abilities where she shines playing weirdo characters. Grace critiques the ridiculous ageism and sexism of the Korean entertainment industry by treating a woman in her late 30s as washed up. Grace highlights the relationship between two singers Ran-joo and Mok-ha, and how they lift each other up. Grace encourages everyone to ask themselves, “Why give up on the thing you love?” Grace discusses the SAG strike and how it affected the entire town and hurt artists and local businesses financially. If there is artwork you love, go and treat yourself so that you and the artist may connect cosmically. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available now for pre-order on Amazon. Release date is April 23, 2024: https://shorturl.at/fAFY1. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 152: Into the Sunlight and Goofy K-Drama Endings
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses an old school K-drama called Into the Sunlight (1999, MBC) starring Kim Hyun-joo, Kim Ha-neul, Cha Tae-hyun and Jang Hyuk. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available now for pre-order on Amazon. Release date is April 23, 2024: https://shorturl.at/fAFY1. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 151: Destined with You and Art for Love
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Destined with You (2023, Netflix) starring Rowoon and Jo Bo-ah. Grace is disappointed by K-dramas’ boring trope of past lives coming back to haunt couples in the present life. She wants to see something new. Grace discusses Jo Bo-ah’s co-hosting gig on Baek Jong-won’s Back Alley with chef and restauranteur Baek Jong-won and Kim Sung-joo. Grace also admires Rowoon’s charm. Grace also discusses how art is given to loved ones as a gift and wonders what the function of these artworks are. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available now for pre-order on Amazon. Release date is April 23, 2024: https://shorturl.at/fAFY1. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 150: Daily Dose of Sunshine and the Cat’s Pajamas
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Daily Dose of Sunshine (2023, Netflix). The show stars actress Park Bo-young and tackles mental illness stigma, socio-cultural factors that contribute to mental illness, and the helplessness that people feel. Grace is still battling a cold, and her psychologist is telling her to quit therapy because she’s all better. Grace also discusses her first sangha experience at the Won Buddhist Center with a Korean monk. Grace also talks about the Korean Friendship Bell park in San Pedro. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available now for pre-order on Amazon. Release date is April 23, 2024: https://shorturl.at/fAFY1. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School - Ep 149: Grace is Sick and School is Closed
No K-drama today. School is closed because the host is ill. Get your flu shots!
K-Drama School – Ep 148: Grace Goes Home and Gets Visited by Ladybugs and Deer
No K-drama coverage today. Grace is home visiting her parents for the first time in 7 years and is having mystical encounters with friends, animals, and family. It’s a wild time. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available now for pre-order on Amazon. Release date is April 23, 2024: https://shorturl.at/fAFY1. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 147: Doona! and a K-pop “Superfemale”
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Doona! (2023, Netflix) starring K-pop star Bae Suzy formerly of Miss A and actor Yang Se-jong. Grace borrows a concept called the “superfemale” named in Richard Dyer’s 1979 star studies text Stars to analyze Doona’s K-pop star figure as a superfemale archetype. Grace is also humbled by the show’s ending and pleasantly surprised by its maturity. Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available now for pre-order on Amazon. Release date is April 23, 2024: https://shorturl.at/fAFY1. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 146: The Light in Your Eyes and Breast Implants with Julieta Degese
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show The Light in Your Eyes (2019, JTBC) starring veteran K-drama actress Kim Hye-ja. Kim Hye-ja’s first Korean TV series entitled Frog Husband (1969) which was controversial but showed MBC and its competitors that TV viewers want scandal. Kim Hye-ja is also famous for speaking up on her frustration for being older and more experienced and a better actress in her older age and yet having less and less roles written for her. Grace gets into the significance of fishcakes in kimchi jjigae in The Light in Your Eyes as well as the appreciation for Son Ho-jun’s comedic brilliance on this show. Grace’s guest is Berlin-based comedian Julieta Degese (@dcgjulieta on Instagram). Grace’s new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television is available now for pre-order on Amazon. Release date is April 23, 2024: https://shorturl.at/fAFY1. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 145: Grace Recommends K-Dramas for the Autumn Blues
Grace reviews a few shows from the past that are ideal for autumn viewing to chase those fall blues away such as Autumn in My Heart, Something in the Rain, and Now, We Are Breaking Up. All three shows are romantic K-dramas with a depressive tone that captures the seasonal changes that people feel around this time of the year. Grace recommends watching Autumn in My Heart to compare against Now, We Are Breaking Up even just to track Song Hye-kyo’s acting improvement jump between two decades. Grace also asks all artists never to discount the small steps they take towards the bigger execution of their project ideas. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Please visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 144: Behind Your Touch and Country Girl Fall Sweaters
K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television now has a pre-order link available on Amazon! Release date has been updated to April 23, 2024. [Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Behind Your Touch (2023, JTBC) written by Lee Nam-kyu and directed by Kim Suk-yoon who also directed My Liberation Notes. Grace brings up the concept of the gireogi dad, dabang, and rural villages with serial killers. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Please visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 143: Miraculous Brothers and Pumpkin Streusel Muffins
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Miraculous Brothers (2023, JTBC). The show is written by Kim Ji-woo whose TV screenwriting days date back to 2001 with Stock Flower. The show stars Jung Woo, Bae Hyun-sung, Park Yu-rim, Oh Man-seok and Lee Ki-woo. Themes include rationalizing one’s personal shame and the importance of tending to one’s own pain rather than only externalizing through action in the name of “justice.” Grace discusses modernist Korean poet Yoon Dong-ju and the Woody Allen film You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010) in relation to Miraculous Brothers. Please visit K-Drama School’s Patreon page to support the show at http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. Please visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 142: Grace Goes to Long Beach and Talks Aliens and Vietcong with Viet Nguyen
No K-drama today. Grace’s SoCal comedian buddy Viet Nguyen returns as a guest. They chat outside a coffee house in Long Beach. Viet teaches Grace how to say “cheers” in Vietnamese and drops knowledge on the Vietcong’s history. They talk about bulldogs, Japanese dogs, Asian aliens, Transformers, Shia Labeouf, parents, war, independence from authoritative influence, and autonomy. Grace recommends that you visit K-Drama School’s Patron page: http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. She'll upload weekly posts covering all shows and movies that are not K-dramas. Grace also recommends that you visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. She is selling mugs and notebooks that she designed personally. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 141: Grace Goes Blonde and Drinks Cacao
No K-drama today. Grace discusses how long it took her to go completely blonde, and her experience drinking cacao. Grace recommends that you visit K-Drama School’s Patron page: http://www.patreon.com/kdramaschool. She'll upload weekly posts covering all shows and movies that are not K-dramas. Grace also recommends that you visit the K-Drama School Store at http://www.kdramaschool/com/store. She is selling mugs and notebooks that she designed personally. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School - Ep 140: Glitch and Queer Aliens Questioning Reality
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Glitch (2022, Netflix) directed by filmmaker Roh Deok and written by Jin Han-sae who also wrote Extracurricular and. It stars Jeon Yeo-been and Nana from the K-pop group After School and the series Mask Girl. Grace observes the show’s exploration of UFOs, aliens, queerness, and objective/subjective reality. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 139: Mask Girl and Complex Feminist TV
[Spoiler Alert] Grace celebrates the early phase of the full moon in Pisces—this month’s second Super Moon, and it is blue! She also celebrates finding a hat she loved and lost from five years ago. This week, Grace covers the show Mask Girl (2023, Netflix) which stars Lee Han-byul, Nana, Go Hyun-jung, Ahn Jae-hong and Yeom Hye-ran and explores lookism through black comedy and psychological thrill. Grace also notes a wonderful trend of complex feminist discourses on television that take inspiration from art house and indie cinema through shows like Anna, School Nurse Files, Somebody and Mask Girl that blend idiosyncratic voices with wild female radicality on TV shows for streaming platforms that would never be invited onto mainstream broadcasting spaces. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 138: DP Season 2 and Male Korean Cynicism
[Spoiler Alert] Grace is obsessed with a new Korean sparkling water called Cloop which is grape flavored and comes with a plastic cap to keep the water carbonated longer. Hell yeah. (Not a sponsored ad!) She also plays the xylophone a bit as promised. This week, Grace discusses season 2 of DP and male Korean filmmakers’ infernal cynicism which she is tired of. She also sees the goodness of show’s characters who are brave enough to stand up for what they believe in and fight the system. Grace announces that Barnes and Noble has a pre-order link for her new book K-Drama School: A Pop Culture Inquiry into Why We Love Korean Television. More pre-order links will become available in the following months. Please stay tuned. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 137: Anna (Director’s Cut) and Fearless Women with Intention
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the director’s cut version of Anna (Coupang Play, 2022) based on the novel Intimate Stranger by Chung Han-ah, adapted for the screen by female writer/director Lee Zoo-young. The show stars Bae Suzy, Jung Eun-chae, Kim Jung-han and Park Ye-young. Anna was marred in controversy because the executives of Coupang Play recut the show without the director’s consent or approval down to 6 episodes from the original 8 episodes. Grace recommends everyone to watch the director’s cut which is available on Amazon Prime in the US. Anna is both a fetishization and critique of wealth, power, and South Korean elite society. The show explores fearlessness, feminism, wealth critique, education critique, and how a person’s shame can imprison one. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 136: King the Land and Recognizing Emotional Labor
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show King the Land (JTBC, 2023) written by Choi Rom starring Im Yoon-ah of Girls Generation and Lee Jun-ho of 2PM. Grace analyzes the show’s politicized recognition of emotional labor jobs like hospitality, retail and flight attendance occupied by women. Grace dedicates this episode to her late friend Tuim Kim Weaver who survived Japanese occupation, the Korean War, and immigration to the States. May she rest in peace. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School - Ep 135: Grace Gets Exposed to Carbon Monoxide
K-Drama School – Ep 134: See You in My 19th Life and South Korean Animators
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show See You in My 19th Life (tvN, 2023) based on a webtoon by Lee Hye, written by Choi Young-rim and directed by Lee Na-jeong. The show explores the theme of past lives which Grace sees as a metaphor for negative flashbacks. How to let go of past memories that feel so real? Grace also discusses her experience of seeing Barbie (2023) in theaters, and her fantasy of working on a show for Cartoon Network. Grace talks about the history of South Korean animators (e.g., Nelson Shin) who hand drew the majority of hit animated shows in the US like The Simpsons, Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers, Spongebob Squarepants, Adventure Time and King of the Hill. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 133: Grace Stops Defending Herself to Herself
No K-drama. Grace talks about World of the Married and why the ending of the pilot was so appealing to her. She also talks about Fight Club and the ending of that film, and what it means in terms of her mental/emotional/physical health journey up until now. Grace mentions that she is watching See You in My 19th Life and King the Land so those are two shows you can keep up with her until she discusses them in future podcast episodes. Stay tuned! Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 132: Grace Repaints Her Self Portrait From 10 Years Ago
No K-drama today. Grace repaints a self-portrait she painted back in July 2013. What did she paint ten years later? Who is she today? Grace offers a few pointers for you to carry in your back pocket this week.
K-Drama School – Ep 131: Bloodhounds and Queer-Eyeing Sweaty Buff Korean Boys in Shorts
Grace plays with her caterpillar xylophone to honor her inner joy and talks about a baby pet pig neighbor she sees every week. She discusses the past week’s journey to taking care of her physical, mental and emotional well-being and what that’s triggered for her. Grace shows her appreciation for her friends, doctors, and figures like Tara Brach. [Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Bloodhounds (2023, Netflix) written and directed by Kim Ju-hwan AKA Jason Kim, which Grace considers the best show she’s seen in 2023. The series is based on a webtoon of the same title by Jeong Chan. Grace loves how gay this show is especially the opening of episode seven. Grace also appreciates the chemistry between Woo Do-hwan and Lee Sang-yi. Despite the hypermasculine action-packed violence and thrill on this show, Bloodhounds is full of heart which Grace observes as the only successful way to achieve cohesive balance on a show. Grace also feels differently about Super Junior’s Si-won and how he’s finally found the perfect role to play as an actor. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 130: Grace Achieves Self-Worth
No K-drama this week. Grace has decided to continue dropping new episodes every Monday regardless of whether or not she has a show to discuss. Sans make-up, Grace celebrates meeting her weight loss goal, running into angelic saviors in the most unexpected places and finally understanding what all her defensive mental dialoguing means. This episode is dedicated to Minnie and K-Drama School fans who voted for weekly updates every Monday. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 129: Lost and Winds of Change for K-Drama School Podcast
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Lost (2021, JTBC) which stars Jeon Do-yeon and Ryu Jun-yeol. The show dwells on themes of existential loneliness, hitting rock bottom, and seeking a way to love freely. The show is directed by Hur Jin-ho and written by Kim Ji-hye. Grace discusses the culture of South Korean host bars that cater to women with money and stand-in services where sex workers and entertainers pretend to be a client’s acquaintance or friend at weddings and funerals. Grace wonders whether or not she will continue K-Drama School podcast on a weekly basis to discuss just her personal life if there are no shows to discuss or more sporadically when she has shows to discuss. We’ll find out by next week on what her decision is. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 128: The Good Bad Mother and Shadow Work
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show The Good Bad Mother (2023, JTBC). Grace’s screen addiction is starting to improve while her tolerance for other people’s dramas is reducing, and she’s wondering aloud (again) how this might impact her podcasting in the future. Grace finally understands the significance of positive affirmations. Grace analyzes The Good Bad Mother and Ra Mi-ran’s character who faces her shadows and confronts them bravely. Grace also highlights Ra Mi-ran’s lead performance in the Korean indie/art house film Dance Town (2010). Grace is finally impressed by actor Lee Do-hyun’s performance and range. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 127: Chocolate and Exhausted Tears
[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Chocolate (2019, JTBC). The show is written by Lee Kyung-hee who also wrote Sang-doo! Let’s Go to School and I’m Sorry, I Love You. Chocolate is Lee Kyung-hee’s second collaboration with director Lee Hyung-min who directed I’m Sorry, I Love You. Grace mentions her impression of the second male lead actor Teo Yoo, and his performance in the new film Past Lives (2023). Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.