Kdrama - One Fine Day (2006)

Synopsis - Drama Wiki
Photos - Google

After Seo Haneul (Sung Yu Ri) lost her mother in a fire, she was later adopted by a wealthy family and experienced a life of many twists and turns. Seo Gun's (Gong Yoo) father had married an unwed mother, thus making Seo Haneul his sister in the eyes of the law. After their parents passed away, Seo Haneul was adopted by a wealthy chairman of a large organization who has also became a gangster. Upon using Haneul to extort money, Seo Gun and Haneul slowly fall in love with each other.



Wait a minute? Why did I watch One Fine Day? The next Kdrama I suppose to be watching was going to be Iljimae. Instead I chose to watch One Fine Day. Gong Yoo. That's the main reason. Since he's currently serving in the military right now, I was missing him for some reason. Plus I found him looking extra yummy from the movie stillls and YouTube links I saw before.



When watching the first episode, I was hooked. I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. However, I was let down with the middle episodes. Overall, the drama is worth watching. But -- a huuuuuge big but!!!! -- storylines of love triangles and "sibling" love are so overplayed in Kdramas. That's what made me say NO to watching them in the first place. Slowly but surely, my friends tried to get me to watch Kdramas. I need more Kdramas that is similar to A Time Between Dog and Wolf and My Name is Kim Sam Soon. Iljimae definitely fits that description. Instead I was too focused on Yoo Gun's good looks and overlooked it. Another drama that has been recommended to me is Green Rose.



Another problem I have with Kdramas is with so many episodes, there is some level of suspense built in. However, in the last episode -- it's alwayas the LAST episode -- I feel it's rushed. You'll see so many months or days that have passed, you see nothing. Then all of a sudden, that person is waiting for the other person all those years with NO contact.



Sung Yu Ri has natural beauty and is adorable. Her character highlights that and emphasizes her obedience and love for being adopted. She yearns for her real brother to find her as he promised. I have never seen her in any other movies or drama and was quite astonished to find out she was part of the once-then girl groupie, F.I.N.K.L -- Lee Hyori rocks!



Lee Yeon Hee is in love with Gong Yoo's character. He has been living with her family since he was a child. She has a heart condition and her heart only belongs to him. Never did I realize that Lee Yeon was the same girl in A Millionaire's First Love. She is too cute and I love her character.



Nam Goong Min plays Sung Yu Ri's boss, also known as "team leader." He is the kind of guy who you want to take home to your parents cause he's very understanding and loving. But for some reason, you just try to love him but you can't.



Yoo Ha Joon plays a creepy character. He is the "brother" of Sung Yu Ri and is obsess with her. Interesting enough, a tidbit - rumor that they are/or were actually a couple in real life.



Maybe I'm impatient and that's why I prefer movies over dramas anyday! For me, Korean movies are the best in the Asian industry. Nevertheless, One Fine Day is worth watching for the Gong Yoo's acting, hot bod, and loveable character. Everyone acts very natural in the drama. Just like friends and family members, as much as they will annoy you, you will still love them no matter what. That's how I felt with every character in the drama.

Kmovie - My Tutor Friend (2003)

Synopsis - Fandago
Pics - Soompi

Sophomore university student Su-weon (Kim Ha Neul) has been struggling with financing her education since she began her degree program, which has forced her to become a part-time tutor. In need of a new student since she was forced to quit her previous assignment with a group of sexually aggressive young men, Su-weon, with her mother's assistance, finds a new job working with the son of a rich acquaintance. The young man, Ji-hun (Kwon Sang Woo), has spent the last three years studying in the United States and -- due to his ambivalence toward his studies -- he has failed to graduate as a senior in each of those three years. For his part, Ji-hun would rather not have anything to do with his new tutor and attempts to scare her away. Meanwhile, Su-weon is just as determined to accomplish her objectives with Ji-hun, and as the two wage psychological warfare with one another, an unexpected friendship and romance begins to bloom. My Tutor Friend was a smash hit in South Korea upon its release in early 2003, topping the box-office charts for five weeks after its debut.

My friend sent me this movie a few years ago. At that time, I wasn't into Korean movies yet because all I hear from people are about Korean dramas. I refused to watch Kdramas at that time because I hate sappy, love story. I can deal with a movie. So My Tutor Friend was sent to me. Feeling hesitant at first, I almost didn't watch the movie. But when I finally did....I looooooooooooved it! Still till this day, I can rewatch it over and over. When people ask for Kmovie recommendations, I always tell them about this movie. I've had success stories every time. Because of this movie, I've been more open-minded to the Korean cinema.

Kwon Sang Woo is so freaking cute. His bad boy attitude is what made me like him. Funny but true. I don't like goody two shoes. He has a pretty boy look but was a bad ass in the movie which I loved! So cool. I was determine to watch all of his films (which I have only a few left) but his Kdrama don't interest me at all. :(

I still think he's very a good looking.

Kim Ha Neul is so funny! She has a natural beauty look. I hated her hair but her acting is awesome. Her character is hilarious and sassy.

Nowadays, KHN can be seen with long hair which really brings out her beauty.

KHN and KSW have a lot of chemistry together, just for a movie. Most of the time, you see the chemistry develop in dramas. I even watched their other film together - Almost Love.

Gong Yoo - I didn't even know that was him! Such a dork!! hahaha. When I became a Gong Yoo fan, I was looking up his filmography. Where was he in My Tutor Friend?? Doing some research, I found out he was the dorky student who was jealous of KSW's character. Now Gong Yoo is just as charming as that character.

I'm still so in love with his characters in his other movies/dramas.

My Tutor Friend is a comedy, fun film to watch. It holds a special place in my heart since it's the first Korean film to get me to like Korean cinema.

Kdrama - The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince (2007)

Synopsis - DramaWiki
Photos - Soompi

The life of Go Eun Chan (Yoon Eung Hye) is not easy; she works many jobs to pay off debts and even gave up her feminine image. Choi Han Kyul (Gong Yoo) is the heir of a big food company, but his grandmother wants him to settle down, so she arranged many dates for him. After Eun Chan bumped into Han Kyul and was mistaken for a boy, Han Kyul decided to hire Eun Chan to be his gay lover in order to avoid the arranged dates. Desperately in need of money, Eun Chan had no choice but to accept. Han Kyul's grandmother also made Han Kyul in charge of a filthy coffee shop in danger of being bankrupt. Eun Chan begged to work at the coffee shop, and not long after, feelings start to spark, except, how would Han Kyul accept his "homosexuality"?

I heard a lot of positive reviews on this drama. My friends keep telling me that I will like it and it's "different" from a lot of Kdramas. So I figured, why not watch it, right? Plus it has Gong Yoo. I wasn't a fan of his when I first heard about Coffee Prince but after watching She's On Duty and S Diary. Hech yeah! I'll watch Coffee Prince!

Gong Yoo is just too adorable. He is definitely on my list of favorite Korean actor. His character is very likeable. I love the fact that his character Han Kyul accepts Eun Chan as she is. My only problem is his sexual preferences. Before you jump on me, let me explain. Sure Han Kyul doesn't know that Eun Chan is a girl but he has feeling for "him" - he thinks she's a guy. He kissed "him", held "his" hand, cuddled with "him." We all know that he's really a girl but if she really wasn't a girl, would you think differently? He was unsure of his own sexuality. Other than than, I do like the fact that he's sweet. Playing the guy who gets chosen to run the Coffee Shop and bring it back to business, Gong Yoo just melts my heart.

Yoon Eung Hye is just so cute. I couldn't believe that this former pop star from the group Baby VOX could pull off a tom boy! She reminds me a bit of Bhumika Chawla (Indian actress) - the big chubby cheeks, slim body and their big buck teeth. She kinda annoyed me a bit in the movie but I can see why she did what she did. She needed the money. (A lot of these girls in Kdrama need money, huh?) Pretending to be a boy, Eun Chan worked at Coffee Prince to make money for her mother and sister. I just wish she would've just told Han Kyul that she was a girl! It was driving me nuts! I guess she had to do what she had to.

I'm convinced Gong Yoo is a good kisser. That boy sure can kiss! Plus I'm liking him more and more each time I see him. I'm just sad that he's in the military right now. Come back soon! We won't see him until December 2009.

I want to see Yoon Eung Hye in Goong, Princess Hours because I read she did a good job and want to see her more girlie.

She really is sooo cute in real life.

There are two other main characters in the drama along with Gong Yoo and Yoon Eung Hye. Lee Sun Gyun plays Choi Han Sung, Han Kyul's friend/relative. Chae Jung Ahn plays Han Yoo Joo, Han Sung's girlfriend. To make things confusing, Eun Chan liked Han Sung from the beginning. Han Sung was heart broken when Yoo Joo left him. Han Kyul used to like Yoo Joo but never got the chance to tell her and it was too late for him and she hooked up with Han Sung. When Han Sung finally started to like Eun Chan, she ended liking Han Hyul. Confusing? Watch it!

There was a short story on each of the members of Coffee Shop. Kim Jae Wook plays No Sun Ki who is speaks Japanese when he's pissed and is looking for a mystery woman. Lee Un plays Hwang Min Yeop who is in love with Eun Chan's younger sister. Kim Dong Wook plays Jin Ha Rim plays Han Kyul's loyal friend.

Coffee Prince is definitely worth watching for laughs. It's not my favorite drama but made me love Gong Yoo even more.

Kmovie - S Diary (2004)

Synopsis - Wikipedia
Photos - HancinemaS Diary is a 2004 South Korean romantic comedy film about a woman who decides to interrogate her past lovers about why their relationships failed - then hatches a plot to take revenge on them.
On a dreary day Jini (Kim Sun-a) gets laid off by her boyfriend with the final note that he was only interested in making love to her but not in a lasting relationship. This triggers the girl’s curiosity about whether her past three lovers were also only after her favors. As a result Jini checks back on her previous boyfriends including Ku-hyeon (Lee hyun-woo), an advocate of strong religious beliefs, macho college lover Jeong-seok (Kim Su-ro) and inexperienced Yoo-in (Gong Yoo) who makes a living as wandering artist. Will Jini’s emotional journey be rewarded with sincere answers from her old admirers? Find out as S-Diary unveils its top secret material.

Because of my hangover of She's On Duty with Kim Sun Ah and Gong Yoo, I had to watch S diary. I'm so glad I did! These two are so hot together! Gong Yoo makes it hard for me to focus on the movie.

What I love about the movie - Kim Sun Ah's different looks in each of her lives with the four guys. I love how her character Jini went from grieving girl who just got her heart broken to I'm getting my revenge on my exes! Why did they break up with me? Gotta love it. Still the sassy and tough girl that I love about Kim Sun Ah's roles in her previous works that I've seen. S Diary shows her curvy figure to the maximum. Even if I saw S Diary before Kim Sam Soon, I will still love her as an actress. She portrays her emotions throughout the movie.

Gong Yoo. I thought he was hot in She's On Duty. Man, was I wrong! He is just too freaking irresitable in S Diary. I wish he had a longer role but man, this dude's gotta be a good lover. He's so sexy with his love scenes with Sun Ah. Showing off his nice abs and kissing skills, you just don't care if he was the "bad" guy. You just want to see more of him. He turns from sweet guy to player.

Lee Hyun Woo. Although my mind was on Gong Yoo, I do have to give Hyun Woo credit for his role as the loverboy turn religious man. His short role was definitely something to remember especially the scene where he confronts Sun Ah about her mischievious acts.

Kim Su Ro. His is probably the most hilarious to watch! The wannabe stud in college who has an obsession of being clean cracked me up. His silliness just made the movie worth it.

Each story was memorable and hilarious but my eyes were glued to Gong Yoo. Sorry! Storyline wise - some critics may say that it's not the best way to find out why you got dump. But….it's okay, it was a good comedy worth watching. Go watch it! I'm determine to watch all of Kim Sun Ah's films.

Kmovie - She's On Duty (2005)

Synopsis - YesAsia

Take Stephen Chow's Fight Back to School, reset it in an all-girl's school in South Korea, and add a plucky female protagonist, and you'll have some idea of what writer/director Park Kwang Choon (Madeleine) has in store for you in his entertaining action comedy, She's On Duty! After bungling an important sting operation involving a Yakuza-run sex slavery ring, Detective Chun Jae In (Kim Seon A, from S Diary and Wet Dreams) must make amends by going deep undercover as a high school student! Her mission is to make friends with Seung Hee (Nam Sang Mi, from (Too Beautiful to Lie), the daughter of Cha Young Jae (Kim Kap Soo), a reformed crook who holds the key to prosecuting a notorious mob boss, but who is impossible to track down. With constant exams, school bullies, and a budding crush on a handsome, but mysterious high schooler (Gong Yoo, from My Tutor Friend), to deal with, can Jae-In find Mr. Cha before the mob does?

After Kim Sun Ah high, I decided to give She's A Duty a watch. Plus I love a girl who kicks ass in movies! Judging from the poster, I was shocked that the girl was Kim Sun Ah. I saw the poster before but it didn't hit me it was Kim Sun Ah. I didn't want to be disappointed in the movie cause I really like Kim Sun Ah and I hated another movie that had a similar theme - Spy Girl. I thought that movie was crappy. Coincidently, Gong Yoo is also in She's On Duty as well as in Spy Girl.

I loooooved this movie! Kim Sun Ah is officially my favorite Korean actress. After My Name is Kim Sam Soon and She's On Duty, I'm more impress with Kim Sun Ah. She has such a nice figure! I never thought she was overweight in My Name is Kim Sam Soon but she's slim in She's On Duty,. Her legs are so slim and looks great - one of the best figures I've seen in the Korean cinema. Her character Jae In has the tough girl image which I love! Similiar to Kim Sam Soon but different. Still the tough girl who don't give a crap but Jae In is more confident and is an undercover cop.

I've seen Gong Yoo before in Spy Girl and even My Tutor Friend (he's the dorky guy who's jealous of Kwon Sang Woo). He didn't impress me and during that time, I haven't seen Coffee Prince yet. It was this movie that made me think Gong Yoo is so hot! Love him in it! Sun Ah and Yoo are so hot together. They sizzle on screen. Yoo looks like he's a good kisser. I officially have a crush on him and am a fangirl.

I didn't realize that Nam Sang Mi was in this movie but she's so cute. She looks different every time I've seen her on screen. From Too Beautiful to Lie to Spy Girl to She's on Duty to Time Between Wolf and Dog, she knows how to pull off each look - little did I know it was her in each film until I did more reach.

She's on Duty is definitely a film I could watch over and over. Kim Sun Ah and Gong Yoo are only in movies and yet, they are so hot together! I can not wait to watch Kim Sun Ah on the big screen again. Gong Yoo, I'm going to miss you!