Second Issue by ohdramatic

SODRAMATIC + MARCH 2016

LADIES IN CRIME TEAMS

actresses that deserve lead roles

WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN TO BE A STRONG CHARACTER?

r b e l Ce

â&#x20AC;&#x2122; n i t a

the

n e m wo

e v o l we

2016 the year of comebacks

MARCH 2016

3 4 5-6 7-11 12 13-14 15-16 17 18-19 20

Contents

ACTRESSES MEANT TO BE VILLAINS WHAT IF IT WAS ... DEAR KWON KI YOUNG GET TO KNOW US FEMALE RELATIONSHIPS WE ENVY RUNNING WOMAN STRONG CHARACTERS PT.1 STAR SWAP HIT OR MISS LADIES IN CRIME TEAMS

Message from the editor-in-chief: Given it was International Women’s Day earlier , it only seems fitting to make the theme of this issue one about celebrating the awesome ladies of k-drama. I hope that you enjoy this issue and by the end of it continue to show love to female characters, and think closely about how they are treated by the drama and the fandom as well.

21-24 25-27 28-29 30-31 32-34 35-36 37-38 THE TEAM Aisha @banghae Amelia @sleepingtide Belle @kdramafeed Amira @200watt Charlotte @favekdramas Evelyn @evelynlyx Fatima @jungeums Karisimas @karisimas Laurel @naaera Léa @brainlessoutofdate Luda @lucieburton

-Fatima

SECOND LEADS WHO WENT AGAINST THE GRAIN

Q&A WITH UNDERGROUNDKDRAMA KDRAMA SCREENWRITERS STRONG CHARACTERS PT.2 POSTER REMAKE THE QUEENS ARE COMING BACK 10 ACTRESSES THAT DESERVE LEAD ROLES HIT OR MISS

Lynsy @jjiyong Marlen @koreandramafeels Monisha @yooseunghos Nike @baggrabs [twitter] Öykü @akinobushu Sammy @krdramas Sheryn @ryn-s Sophie @belle-princess Stella @misenchant Tamara @bogummies Tiffany @chaejungan Yu Jie @astoldbyeugene

Get in touch with us via email kdramamag@hotmail.com and on our tumblr page sodramaticmagazine

S E S S E AC T R E B O T T N A E M S N I A L VIL Yoo In Young If I were to write a female villain in a drama, I would write that character with Yoo In Young in mind. She beautifully exudes villainous vibes. I first saw her in The Three Musketeers, and she killed it — literally. In this role, she really had me rooting for her to get a happy ending because of all of the pain she had gone through, even though she was a threat to the other characters’ happiness. What is especially great about her villainous characters is that they are complex, such as her role in Mask. Both of these characters are not purely evil; there is something more to them than that. Because of their circumstances, they made poor choices, which led to their antagonistic nature. Through her portrayal of these characters, you can understand their points of view and sometimes may begin to root for them instead of the protagonists.

LEE EL The minute Lee El came onto the screen in White Christmas, I k new she’d be trouble. Her facial expressions have a way of confusing the viewer. You never quite know what she’s thinking, and, thus, you can never tell which side she is on. In Liar Game, her character uses her wiles for her own gain at every chance she gets. Even so, she is a protagonist to herself, while she is an antagonist to the main characters. She is a character who is easy to hate, and yet, there is something about her that is so satisfying.

ntions: e M e l b a r o Hon

• • • •

Soo Ae in Queen of Ambition Wang Ji Hye in Birth of a Beauty Hong Soo Hyun Kim Yoo Ri

Written by Lynsy Designed By Amelia

What if it was...

Written By: Marlen designed by: Aisha

One of the most exciting aspects of a new drama is the cast lineup. The reports about who is being offered or considered for a main role and who has accepted or rejected it definitely build the excitement! In the end, only one person gets cast, but have you ever wondered, “what if it had been that other person who was rumored to take on the role?” LIM JI YEON AS OH RI JIN IN KILL ME, HEAL ME (MBC, 2015) Originally, Lim Ji Yeon was considered for role of Oh Ri Jin, but she had to reject it because she was filming a movie. From watching Lim Ji Yeon in High Society, I think she could have played the role as well as Hwang Jung Eum. Lim Ji Yeon’s ability to depict a supportive and understanding friend, who can be serious when necessary, would have made her an equally good fit for the role. SUZY AS HONG SEOL IN CHEESE IN THE TRAP (TVN, 2016) The role for Hong Seol was initially offered to Suzy, but she declined. While I think Suzy would have fit the college-campus atmosphere of the drama perfectly with her gentle looks, I don’t think she would have captured the emotions of Hong Seol quite like Kim Go Eun did. Kim Go Eun portrayed Hong Seol’s struggles with school and life so earnestly and realistically, that she made the character fully dimensional. JUN JI HYUN AS GU MI HO IN MY GIRLFRIEND IS A NINE TAILED FOX (SBS, 2010) Believe it or not, Jun Ji Hyun was offered the role for Gu Mi Ho before Shin Min Ah. I think it would have been interesting to see the character played by either actress. Shin Min Ah made audiences fall in love with Gi Mi Ho through her innocent, sweet and funny depiction of the character. But imagine if Jun Ji Hyun had played Gu Mi Ho in a similar way she played Cheon Song Yi – hilarious, strong and blunt. While it certainly would be different, it would have been fun to see the character portrayed either way. Each actress could have added her own charm to the role, but unfortunately we only got to see one do it in the end. Are you satisfied with the actress who was chosen, or do you wish it had been one of the initially considered actresses?

, g n u o Y i K n Dear Kwo

PROTECT THE BOSS

I wanted to write you a letter in appreciation of your writing of Protect the Boss. After an initial watch (and several subsequent re-watches), I must say that your show continues to stand out because of its female relationships. Your overall treatment of the ladies, characterization, unique leads and secondary characters, and breaking of stereotypical roles (especially that of rich man, poor woman), serves as both great entertainment and inspiration. Your main character, No Eun Sul, falls under the category “How to Be a Role Model: 101” for me. She’s the embodiment of a strong female lead, but it goes beyond physical strength, though that’s definitely still at play. She stands up for what she believes in, is honest with herself and others, and puts her happiness and success at the top of her priorities. Relationships are on her terms, and keeping her job (and stable income) that she worked so hard for takes precedence over dating. I really love that about her, because too often we see female characters PHYSICALLY STRONG HONEST WITH HERSELF

SMART PRIORITI

STANDS UP FOR HERSELF AND OTHERS

UNDERSTANDS

HER OWN FEEL

No Eun Sul

INGS

throwing opportunities or careers away for their love interest, which I think gives viewers a false sense of what healthy relationships look like. No Eun Sul becomes the strength for her love interest and pushes him to be better while maintaining her values and principles. She doesn’t take any bull from anyone, whether it’s in relationships or job interviews; she stands up for her coworkers after bosses make sexual advances, even if her own employment is put at risk; and she calls out her boss when he’s being childish or unreasonable. One of the most commendable aspects of No Eun Sul is that she takes the time to know her own feelings and doesn’t like the love triangle that puts her at risk of losing her hard-earned job. She is persistent, hardworking, and the mean looks from other secretaries don’t phase her. Her honesty and demand for honesty from others allow her to form some great relationships, with both women and men, because there is a glass ceiling that she refuses to let fog over. No Eun Sul trying to set Na Yoon back up with her ex and then discussing relationships was refreshing, because it is a much better example of what female relationships can be: healthy, supportive, and fun. I would also like to thank you for the gem that is Lee Myung Ran (Miss Wrestler). You wrote her as a stereotypical “tough woman” but gave her a soft, protective side, too. She’s hilarious and very real, flaws and all. Lee Myung Ran defends her friends with all she’s got and, at least, tries to be present when they need her. In line with this, Myung Ran takes Na Yoon

TOUGH AND GENTLE HILARIOUS

GENUINE THE FRIEND WE ALL WISH WE HAD

Lee Myung Ran under her wing and has to give the OK on Eun Sul’s boyfriend. Although she wants a relationship as well, her friends still come first. But really, her defensive attitude and growth of affection toward Na Yoon is one of the best parts of your show. It’s not very often we are graced with a second female lead that is so fully fleshed out and demands our sympathy and affection so much as Seo Na Yoon. “Ice Cream” starts off falling into typical second-lead tropes, but most end up inverted or as jokes, because the sabotage backfires or falls flat. She is kind-hearted and wears her heart on her sleeve. Despite a complex history with the two male leads, she continues to fight for her happiness and love. One of my favorite Na Yoon plots is when she stands up in protest against her mom and the other “evil” (I use that term loosely with this drama) mom and tries to live on her own terms… and money. This doesn’t go quite as planned, since she is impul-

sive and privileged, but her attempts are what count. Though she ends up with her man, I still think she deserved so much more. Na Yoon is a great friend and loves with her whole heart. Arguably, the best parts of your show, at least for me, are the female relationships you wrote. When friendship trumps dating, it gives me hope in relationships and in the drama industry as a whole. There is more to life than dating: finding one’s happiness is the most important aspiration one can aim for. Additionally, when all the women end up moving in together, it created some of the funniest and most heartfelt situations. Other highlights: Seo Na Yoon rebelling; No Eun Sul whipping Cha Ji Hun into shape and a decent human being; the female lead “versus” second female lead was hilarious, and both were aware of how silly they were being; that ice cream scene; and the ladies asking for relationship advice. So, in closing, thank you again for writing such wonderful, complex, honest, and positive characters. They remind me constantly of how important my friendships are and that I should never lose sight of my long-term goals because of romance. Keep up the wonderful writing! (I loved I Remember You, too, but I’ll save that rave for another time.) Kind regards,

Charlotte Designed by Karisimas

IMPULSIVE

KIND-HEARTED LOVES WITH HER WHOLE HEART

Seo Na Yoon

Get to know us Fatima Who are your top 3 actresses ? The queen Hwang Jung Eum, Im Soo Hyang and Lee Yoon Ji. Who are top 3 female characters ? Seo In Ae from Endless love , Byun Ji Sook from Mask and Yeon Bi Soo from Empress Ki. If I had to pick , probably Maids! The dynamic in the drama was wonderful and all the ladies got to shine in their own ways. It’s definitely a drama I’d recommend to everyone. I actually cried when it ended. What is one thing you want to see more in dramas (in relation to women) ? I’d like to see more realistic depictions of women. Sometimes, the ladies in k-dramas are written as unrealistic human being who can’t cry, show any sort of emotion or get angry without getting called emotional or sensitive. I’d like to see more dramas that aren’t afraid to show female characters breaking down when something big happens or just getting frustrated when things go wrong.

Laurel Who are your top 3 actresses ? Gong Hyo Jin, Lee Min Jung, and Jang Nara. Who are top 3 female characters ? Kim Mi Young from Fated to Love You, Na Ae Ra from Cunning Single Lady, and Go Eun Chan from Coffee Prince. What’s your favorite female studded drama ? Seonam Girls High School Investigators ! Just started it, but I love the concept of an all-female Mystery Gang, and I’ve heard this show actually portrays a female-female relationship, which is pretty revolutionary. What is one thing you want to see more in dramas (in relation to women) ? Groups of female friends (such as those in One More Happy Ending and Seonam Girls) !

What’s your favorite female studded drama ?

Yu Jie Who are your top 3 actresses ? In no order of preference, Lee Bo Young, Jung Yoo Mi (Six Flying Dragons, Maids) and Seo Hyun Jin. Who are top 3 female characters ? Ah this one’s really hard. I would go with Hye Sung from I Hear Your Voice, In Yeob in Maids and Ra Mi Ran in Reply 1988. What’s your favorite female studded drama ? Maids. It was a breath of fresh air for a sageuk to focus so much on females, and in particular, those from a lower social status. What is one thing you want to see more in dramas (in relation to women) ? Definitely more awesome girl cliques!

Lea Karisimas Who are your top 3 actresses ? Shin Mina, Gong Hyo Jin, Lee El. Who are top 3 female characters ? Choi In Ha from Pinocchio, Oh Hye Won from Secret Love Affair and Seo Bom from Heard it through the Grapevine. What is one thing you want to see more in dramas (in relation to women) ? Female lead characters who call others out on their bullshit, particularly the male lead. I would love to see a woman flip a guy around on the ground for trying to do a wrist grab. I always want them to be allowed to show their physical and mental strength.

Who are your top 3 actresses ? Han Hyo Jo, Kim Yeo Jin, Yu In Young ! Who are top 3 female characters ? Seo Bom from Heard it Through the Grapevine, Go Dok Mi from Flower Boy Next Door, Sung Si Won from Reply 1997. What’s your favorite female studded drama ? Yoo Na’s street because the female characters were all so different from each others, and it talked about a style of life society usually frown upon. What is one thing you want to see more in dramas (in relation to women) ? Friendships that are more present on screen, discussions that are not related to men, and an understanding that friendship is every bit as important as romance.

Luda

Evelyn Who are your top 3 actresses ? Im Soo Hyang, Park Min Young, Jang Na Ra. Who are top 3 female characters ? Cha Ji-an in I Remember You and Kim Seonhwa in Iris. What’s your favorite female studded drama ? Don’t think there is one or I can’t recall which. What is one thing you want to see more in dramas (in relation to women) ? Just lesser weak women who gets pushed around by male leads. Or lesser of those who need men to save them.

Who are your top 3 actresses ? It’s very easy because I have only 3: Song Hye Kyo, Song Ji Hyo and Hwang Jung Eum (okay, and Lee Si Young too). Who are top 3 female characters ? Cheon Song Yi from My love from another star, Cindy from Producers and Kim Soo Jin from Ex-girlfriend club. What’s your favorite female studded drama ? I can only think about Ex-girlfriend club because all ex-girlfriends were great with their killing charisma, unique characters and personal stories. And together they set of an explosion. What is one thing you want to see more in dramas (in relation to women) ? Almost in every drama we see good bromance, but I can’t say the same about girls. That’s why I want to see more dramas about girl friendship.

Charlotte Who are your top 3 actresses ? Kim Seul Gi, Gong Hyo Jin, and Lee Min Jung. Who are top 3 female characters ? No Eun Sul from Protect the Boss, Ha No Ra from Twenty Again, and Sung Shi Won from Reply 1997. What’s your favorite female studded drama ? Ho Goo’s Love wasn’t female studded per say, but there were a lot of well-developed, unique, strong, and easy to relate to ladies. Ho Goo’s sister called her love interest as well as her brother out on their bs. That’s always refreshing. They also all had “weaknesses” but they were handled well and realistically. What is one thing you want to see more in dramas (in relation to women) ? More friendships, fewer love triangles. There’s more to life than men, ladies (and throwing in more diverse characters in terms of sexuality and gender - like in Coffee Prince... sorta - would be awesome, however unlikely...)!

Amira Who are your top 3 actresses ? Choi Gang Hee as my #1. No competition, she’s been at the top for me for a while. I also really like Go Ara and Han Groo! Who are top 3 female characters ? I become attached to female characters really easily but if I had to pick then in no order; Ha No Ra from Twenty Again, Eun Sul from Protect the Boss and Kang Yoo Na from Yoona’s Street. What’s your favorite female studded drama ? Ex-Girlfriend Club ! Because it surprised me so much in a great way and I adored every single female character such as the sister as well as the four (amazing) leads and all the variety of women characters interacting was awesome. What is one thing you want to see more in dramas (in relation to women) ? More focus on friendships between ladies- I would really love more attention and development given to this.

Stella Who are your top 3 actresses ? Gong Hyo Jin because she is so versatile and talented, Kim Go Eun because I find myself watching anything she’s in and Yoon Eun Hye because she I started off with her in Goong and Coffee Prince. Who are top 3 female characters ? Ji Hae Soo from It’s Okay, That’s Love, Kim Sam Soon from My Lovely Kim Sam Soon, Seo Yi Soo from A Gentleman’s Dignity, and Sung Shi Won from Reply 1997. What’s your favorite female studded drama ? I only know of one truly female studded drama (I haven’t watched it) and that’s the real problem. What is one thing you want to see more in dramas (in relation to women) ? I would love to see more female camaraderie. Females always seem to be pitted against each other, and if there is friendship it never quite gets the same development as male friendship. Bromance is great, but how about some more womance!

Sammy

Sheryn

Who are your top 3 actresses ?

Who are your top 3 actresses ? Gong Hyo Jin, Lee Bo Young and Hwang Jung Eum.

Who are top 3 female characters ?

Who are top 3 female characters ? Seo Yoo Kyung from Pasta, Na Bong Sun from Oh My Ghost and Oh Ri Jin from Kill Me Heal Me. What’s your favorite female studded drama ? God’s Gift 14 Days because of Lee Bo Young’s acting in that one emotional scene in ep2. Also, mom FTW!. What is one thing you want to see more in dramas (in relation to women) ? The typical romantic OTP scenes were never enough for me! I’d love to see more, especially when the female character takes the initiative of skinship in the relationship >w<.

Sophie

Song Ji Hyo, Kim Seul Gi, and Jang Na Ra. Ban Ji Yeon from Witch’s Romance, Go Hye Rim from Madame Antoine, and Baek In Ha from Cheese in the Trap. What’s your favorite female studded drama ? (I have no idea what studded means I’m sorry ahhh). What is one thing you want to see more in dramas (in relation to women) ? I’d like to see female characters who are wellwritten and complex, rather than just being defined by one trait. This I aim particularly at the writers of second female leads who like to portray them as either evil or angelic, with no other characteristics.

Who are your top 3 actresses ? Gong Hyo Jin, Kim Seul Gi and Song Ji Hyo in no particular order. Who are top 3 female characters ? Tae Gong Shil from Master’s Sun, Jo Kang Ja from Angry Mom and Shi Won from Reply 1997 also in no particular order. What’s your favorite female studded drama ? I haven’t seen many dramas with an almost all female cast, but I did enjoy I Need Romance. A movie studded with awesome women I loved, is The Huntresses (Joseon Charlie’s Angels minus the Charlie). What is one thing you want to see more in dramas (in relation to women) ? Just like there are action dramas about two guys, I’d love more action movies or dramas that focus on women kicking ass. I liked Cruel City and Lee Jin Sook was a great character (Kim Yoomi) for instance. Also women like Lee Boyoung in God’s Gift. Strong but not unbreakable.

Lynsy Who are your top 3 actresses ? “Queen of My Heart” Park Min Young, Park Shin Hye, and Lee Bo Young. Who are top 3 female characters ? Chae Young Shin from Healer, Go Dok Mi from Flower Boy Next Door, and Ahn Young Yi from Misaeng. What’s your favorite female studded drama ? I’ll go with What’s with This Family?. It’s not exactly femalecentered; however, it gets into the lives of at least four different women and really explores the difficulties they face and their character development and growth. What is one thing you want to see more in dramas (in relation to women) ? Well, what I want to see fewer of is damsels in distress. There is nothing wrong with being rescued if you need to be, but sometimes girls need to rescue themselves (Ahem. I’m looking at you, writers.). So I’d like to see more women who can fend for themselves.

Shi Won & Yoo Jung

Reply 1997

female relationships we envy.

Here’s another friendship that I really adore. Shi Won and Yoo Jung are younger, so their friendship has some ups and downs, but that makes it realistic. They are there for each other through thick and thin, but there’s also the envy all of us have felt back in high school. In high school, we are still trying to shape our identities and figure out who we are, and that almost always causes insecurities and annoyance that we inadverdently direct towards our closest friends. But what matters the most is that our love for our friends wins out in the end and that our friends will always be there to catch us when we fall, just like Yoo Jung who cut her own hair to support Shi Won when Shi Won’s hair was cut as punishment.

Hye Mi & Baek Hee Dream High

Oftentimes, female relationships are portrayed in a negative light in media. They either fight for a love interest, for career, or for both. We know well that those relationships are far from realistic. Most of the time, the most important relationships women have in their life are with other women: their mom, sisters, best friends... Those are the relationships that matter the most, and it is disheartening to see those relationships underrepresented in the media. Thankfully, when we look at Korean dramas, we can find many examples of well-written female relationships that we can relate to or even envy.

Hye Jin & Ha Ri She Was Pretty

This friendship is everything. From their first scene together, I fell in love with their relationship. They are childhood friends who are now living together. What I really love in this friendship is that, when they look at each other, they don’t see what society sees. Ha Ri never tells Hye Jin to dress up or apply make up. She never comments on her physical appearance. Ha Ri is always there to help her friend get back up, but she also doesn’t stop from criticizing her when Hye Jin is acting irrationally. Hye Jin, too, is greatly understanding of Ha Ri. When Ha Ri goes behind Hye Jin’s back to spend time with Sung Joon, the drama chooses friendship. It could easily go down the road of fighting and hurting each other, but that’s not the case in real life. In real life, if you have a friend as close as Ha Ri, you know that they don’t act out of malice, and you wait for them to be ready to approach you. I loved every second of their character arcs. I loved that the show respected both women and their friendship.

Sometimes envy and pride can hurt friendships so much that it could take more than cutting your hair to make amends. Hye Mi and Baek Hee’s friendship crumbles at the first episode because of Hye Mi’s pride, and it drives Baek Hee, who always felt second next to Hye Mi, away. When Baek Hee finds herself in an empowered situation, she does anything not to lose it. Hye Mi, too, is too stubborn to see when she is wrong, so their relationship turns antagonistic. However, these two girls grow a lot during the show, and, in the end, when it matters the most, Hye Mi and Baek Hee find their way back to each other, because nothing matters more than their love for each other. We all cried when Hye Mi sang for Baek Hee in the end. It was a poignant moment that I’ll never forget.

Hye Sung & Do Yeon I Can Hear Your Voice

Sometimes friendships don’t always start the same way. Sometimes, it takes years and years of petty rivalry and grudges to get to that point. Even though Hye Sung and Do Yeon had known each other since childhood, it was really difficult to call them friends. Of course, Do Yeon’s parents played a huge part in this rivalry, but those two girls really didn’t get along well despite being really similar in nature (or maybe because of it). Therefore, it was really fitting that they found each other at opposite sides of the courtroom when they grew up. Their banter and their pettiness were a delight to watch, but they grew and learned to respect each other until, in the end, they finally managed to become good friends.

Written by Öykü Designed by Amelia

Running Woman Written by Luda Designed by Karisimas

(continued on the next page)

Photo: Koreaboo

Since the second episode, SONG JI HYO has been the only female member in Running Man. We love her for being such an adorable being with natural beauty, sleepy eyes, and messy hair. It has been a long time since she became “one of the lads” for other Running Man members, but, in reality, Song Ji Hyo is one of the most beautiful woman in South Korea. And, of course, it’s not so easy to be Snow White with six dwarfs!

THEY ALWAYS IGNORE HER BEAUTY AND TREAT HER POORLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN OTHER FEMALE GUESTS COME.

Running Man members adore when young and beautiful girls become guests for episode. They pay a lot of compliments to these girls and dispute over who will couple up with these beauties. On the other hand, the male members oftentimes tease Song Ji Hyo’s tomboyish qualities (all because of her comfortable outfits and personality). So, of course, in Running Man, Ji Hyo became the “loser”! Although it’s unfair, it’s all part of the show. After all, Song Ji Hyo is a sister to the male cast of Running Man. As the saying goes, #ItsAFamilyThing! THE TOP 10 MUST-SEE

P.S.: To be fair, we have to remember that, occasionally, the male members of Running Man appear to be stunned by Song Ji Hyo’s beauty. For example, if they don’t like the other female guests, the male members start to apologize for their past behavior and compliment her in order to be partnered with her. In one episode, Yoo Jae Suk said, “Ji Hyo, if I have done anything to offend you in the past, I apologize!”

SONG JI HYO EPISODES Episode 21 - Ji Hyo and Jong Kook’s team work Episode 52 - Ji Hyo against Choi Min Soo Episode 48 - Ji Hyo’s first individual victory

“YOU CAN CALL ME ACE!”

Yes, they call her Ace and with good reason. Let’s be honest: except for Kim Jong Kook, all of the Running Man members are cowards, afraid of almost everything in this world. That’s why all the missions related to height, animals, and other scary things fall into Ji Hyo’s hands. Let’s remember the bungee jumping episode in Macao: she was so brave the male members felt ashamed. SCARY THINGS

It’s undeniable our Ace is extremely brave. But, we must remember that she is a woman with her own fears. Some episodes of Running Man even made Song Ji Hyo cry. However, she has six knights to call her own who are always ready to cheer her up with help or a bad joke. As Ji Hyo said in one of the episodes, “There are just three things in the world I’m scared of: bugs, zombies and my mom.” We have already seen bugs and zombies, so maybe, one day, we’ll see Song Ji Hyo confront her biggest fear—her mom!

Episode 73 - Ji Hyo wins a gold for the first time Episode 133 - Ji Hyo bungee jumping Episode 150 - Ji Hyo against Choo Sung Hoon Episode 163 - How to do nothing and get the gold Episode 173 - Ji Hyo sleeps on top of the tower Episode 196 - Too much of Ji Hyo Episode 204 - Song “Snow White” Ji Hyo and the Seven Dwarfs

SLEEPING BEAUTY

Another charm of Song Ji Hyo’s—she loves sleeping. She can do it anytime and anywhere. She falls asleep immediately, not even needing a bed or pillow. Running Man shootings are exhausting, so it’s understandable to feel tired, but she has made sleep her own. In episode 178, she fell asleep on top of a massive Jenga tower, and her sleep was surprisingly peaceful considering the height! Being a Running Man member is very difficult, especially if you’re the only woman! Our Ji Hyo does such a great job, which is why we love her so much.

What exactly is a strong character? Written by Laurel Designed by Fatima There are certain characteristics that immediately come to mind when describing a strong character: brave, confident, assertive, and independent, and the list goes on. There are characters who possess these traits from the get-go and who we, the audience, immediately identify as “strong”. For example, Cha Soo Hyun (Kim Hye Soo) from Signal and Ji Hae Soo (Gong Hyo Jin) from It’s Okay, That’s Love are both excellent examples of strong characters. But what about the characters that don’t explicitly display the attributes associated with strength? Can they still be considered strong?

YES!

Kim Mi Young (Jang Na Ra) from Fated to Love You perfectly illustrates how a gentle personality can be just as strong. In the beginning, Mi Young is seen as a pushover, and it can be frustrating to wait for her to stand up for herself. Most of her life she has been concerned with pleasing others, which leads to her being a human “post-it.” But, as events unfold, so does Mi Young. We see that her sympathetic nature is an asset, and through tragedies, she remains hopeful while focusing on her own healing. With all the different things happening around her, she could shut herself away and become bitter, but she doesn’t. Kim Mi Young learns from her experiences and uses them to propel herself and others forward. While first glance, Kim Mi Young may seem weak, she is simply a different brand of strong; the kind that blossoms throughout the course of her journey. The same could be said for a number of other characters, such as Go Dok Mi (Park Shin Hye) from Flower Boys Next Door, Park Ha (Han Ji Min) from Rooftop Prince, Cha Eun Sang (Park Shin Hye) from The Heirs, and Na Bong Sun (Park Bo Young) from Oh My Ghostess. Their strength doesn’t slap you in the face, but it subtly builds over time, similar to the strength that can be identified in some of our every day lives.

“

Strong is soft, daring, determined, compassionate, vulnerable, and so much more

What does it really mean to be a strong female character anyways? The term “strong female character” is a hot topic recently. Many say it is cringe-worthy due to its implication that women need a separate category to be strong. The term “strong male character” is hardly used, if ever, so why should it be used for women? I think the term should be reclaimed by being awarded to both the kickass characters and the characters that are strong, not just in the typical notion, but also in every sense of the word. Strong is soft, daring, determined, compassionate, vulnerable, and so much more. What links all these characters together is their persistence. Despite their circumstances, these characters preserve, which is what makes them so powerful and inspiring. Strong female characters are found in k-dramas more now than ever before – it’s just a matter of widening our perspective of what “strong” really means.

Star Swap Have you ever watched a drama and thought “______ would be perfect for this role!” Because I have, many times. In honor of this female-exclusive volume, I’m going to share some of the actresses I would have loved to see in certain roles. I enjoyed watching these dramas with their original actresses, but if I could choose who would play the role next, these would be my top choices. LEE SUNG KYUNG AS LEE JUNG JOO IN WARM AND COZY Lee Sung Kyung probably caught your attention in It’s Okay, That’s Love, where she portrayed a rebellious and bold high school student. Her characters are often sassy to the point of being hilarious. So if she could be cast for a remake of Warm and Cozy, she would add a bit more excitement to the drama, and to the chemistry of the leads. SHIN MIN AH AS HAN SO YOON IN THE VILLAGE: ACHIARA’S SECRET Shin Min Ah recently impressed the audience again through her kind and assertive character in Oh My Venus. I found the female lead of The Village: Achiara’s Secret – portrayed by Moon Geun Young – to be lacking in personality, though the writers might be the ones to blame for that. But if Shin Min Ah could play the role, she might be able to portray a character with more pronounced emotions of fear and curiosity. KIM SO EUN AS GO DOK MI IN FLOWER BOY NEXT DOOR After watching Flower Boy Next Door, I immediately thought Kim So Eun could play Go Dok Mi. Her soft, yet tough personality would blend well with Go Dok Mi who is introverted, but strong. As a fan of Kim So Eun, I would love to see her bring a new face to the story of Go Dok Mi. KIM SEUL GI AS TAE GONG SHIL IN MASTER’S SUN Kim Seul Gi is an actress on the rise, gaining attention for her unique acting style. The traits she expresses through her characters are always dynamic and her emotions are always strongly felt. Certain roles she’s played, such as Shin Sun Ae in Oh My Ghost, make me certain she could play an unforgettable Tae Gong Shil. Written by Sammy Designed by Aisha

HIT

MISS

Some dramas are huge in Korea, but a flop internationally, and vice versa. However, there are dramas that are either a hit, or a miss everywhere. I’ll be focusing on three different dramas, how they weren’t only popular in Korea, but with the international community too, and a plus on how they were received in the country where I live (Brazil). I would also like to show how various communities of people (i.e. the Tumblr Community, Koreans and Brazilians) perceive on the same drama. The availability of subtitles is one of the factors that determine a drama’s popularity in Korea and/ or internationally. The fact that not all dramas are English-subbed, and even rarer to find Portuguese-subbed dramas, definitely affects the percentage of international viewership. The dramas that get popular here are usually the ones that are already a hit (note: as it usually provides the subtitle of choice). I’m going to analyse three different dramas, followed by the results and conclusion.

WHAT’S WITH THIS FAMILY? KBS2 (2014)

hit ok miss REPLY 1988 TVN (2015)

hit hit hit 18

BLOOD

KBS2 (2015)

miss miss hit I am shocked with Blood’s popularity and I still don’t understand how did it become so popular here in Brazil. I would guess it’s because we love Gu Hye Sun and Ahn Jae Hyun is a handsome man. Blood got so popular among the teens here it almost made me watch it. On the other hand, the actors were criticised by their acting skills in Korea. Thus, only very few people watch it in both Korea and internationally. ‘What’s With This Family?’ is a family drama aired on KBS. KBS’s weekend dramas do very well, whereas SBS has probably been cursed on its weekend time-slot. Family dramas are not everyone’s cup of tea, so it is understandable why it did “ok” overseas. Why is it not a hit here? That’s because dramas with 50+ episodes are not normally subbed. Reply 1988 is a trap. I believe the writer had made a pact with someone powerful, because it is a hit drama everywhere. Everyone watches and rants about it. In Korea, the rating for the last episode was 19%. The Tumblr Community wouldn’t stop talking about it and here, too. Every popular blog has made a review, while almost all fan subs have worked on it. So, what’s the conclusion here, Tamara? Besides the fact that Brazilians are weird (for example, School 2013 isn’t popular, but we liked Dream High 2), I can’t tell since this is not a serious research. What we can observe is that there are dramas that get popular everywhere (BOF, Coffee Prince) and some that are popular internationally (Healer, School 2015). Also not forgetting, Koreans love their weekend dramas. WRITTEN BY TAMARA DESIGNED BY SOPHIE

Ladies in Crime Teams WRITTEN BY AMIRA DESIGNED BY AMELIA The usual formula when it comes to a crime team consists of a few men and just a single woman character thrown into the mix – a few culprits of this being Ghost (2012), Special Affairs Team: TEN (2011), Missing Noir M (2015) and Hidden Identity (2015). As much as I love crime dramas, the lack of ladies and the handling of the ones that are present can get frustrating and repetitive, making me wonder if there’s some annual screenwriter meeting where they dole out the limited quota of female characters involved in law enforcement. The ladies in these teams, however, do their best with what little they are given. For instance, despite Ye Ri in TEN, Gang Mi in Ghost, and Min Joo in Hidden Identity not being used to their full potentials compared to their male counterparts, they were still shown to be capable, bright, and with skills necessary for the team. Yet one thing that bothered me a lot is that, at some point in the drama, all three were subject to the ‘Let’s have our only female cop be in peril as the guy(s) rush to her rescue’ scene. Luckily, some crime dramas realize it is possible to have more than one women on set, and the results, although not perfect, are much better. Both You’re All Surrounded and Mrs. Cop are shows that, as well as having more than the usual solo lady present, give us great ladies in senior positions within law enforcement. It’s already bad that there aren’t enough women present, but the fact that most end up at the bottom of the hierarchy in these teams is just salt to the wound. YAS and Mrs. Cop, however, went against the usual grain when it comes to this cliché and gave us the wonderful Kang Seok Soon and Choi Young Jin. Chief of Police and Lead Detective tend to be roles reserved for a male character, so seeing these lovely women step into them and completely make it their own was satisfying. They showed us the potential for ladies to step into a variety of roles in crime dramas, and I hope they aren’t the last.

Unfortunately, even when there are two or more ladies present, they don’t end up with as much interaction with each other as the men do. Sometimes, this comes as a result of adding extra female characters into roles far away from the core team, such as into the position of the medical examiner. This results in very limited contact between the women despite technically working together; examples of this are found in TEN, Missing Noir M, and the currently ongoing Signal. When crime/action dramas do give the chance of interaction between these great ladies, however, we get a small look into what could be. Dramas that allowed us this include YAS, where we see Seok Soon offer support to Sa Kyung when she needed it and the attention fell on the relationship between these ladies for a small amount of time. However, they could have gone much further with it, and it shouldn’t feel like we’re asking too much to have this happen more often. Even though it might be a while before my wish of a lady-studded crime team (maybe with the exception of their straight-out-of-the-academy junior male character) comes to execution, I’ll still be gladly watching all the future ladies in upcoming crime dramas, and I hope you will be too!

P.S. Upcoming Crime Fighting Ladies to Keep an Eye out For! MRS. COP 2: Sung Ryoung will be taking on the title role of the F.B.I.-trained Detective Chief Ko Yoon Jung. Her crime team, just like the first season, will have another female character present, Shin Yeo Ok played by Do Ra Mi. Let’s hope the show does these two ladies right. PIED PIPER: Jo Yoon Hee will be playing Yeo Myung Ha in a crisis negotiation team and, disappointingly, it looks she’ll be the only lady present, but we’ll still be anticipating how her role is handled.

Photo: Dramafever

Photo: Dramabeans

Photo: obsessivedilettante

SECOND LEADS WHO WENT AGAINST THE GRAIN Written by Yu Jie / Designed by Karisimas

Photo: hitomiakiko

Photo: Soompi

DAN JI / MAIDS PORTRAYED BY JEON SO MIN If second male leads have cornered

“It’s so unfair! We were all in this

the market for heartbreak and undying

together, but only the maids’ lives get

affection, then second female leads

ruined.”

excel at inspiring us to throw things at our screen. Scheming, antagonistic and hateful are just some of the adjectives many of us have associated with second female leads over the years. However, no one can blame us when they are often written in such a static and flat way. The most memorable bits of them are usually how horrible they generally are. No matter how bleak it looks, though, do not lose hope, my fine friends. All is not lost in drama land, for we still have some awesomely complex second female leads who may be antagonistic but whose actions are relatable and occasionally swoon-worthy.

UENO RIE / GAKSITAL

Maids is one of the rare female-centric

PORTRAYED BY HAN CHAE AH

acters. Dan Ji is a maid who always aspired

“My name… is Choi Hong Joo.” For a drama set in the turbulent times of warring nations, you would think Ueno Rie would be a solid villain considering she worked for the enemy camp. Instead, we were shown a girl who lost both parents and walked into a gisaeng house at the age of nine; a woman who, despite her true heritage, became the daughter of Ueno Hideki; a woman who sacrificed almost everything for a man who didn’t love her back; and, lastly, a woman who found herself. The moment when Rie told her bodyguard, Katsuyama, her real name was such a powerful moment of acceptance for her. From then onwards, you could sense that it was the turn of a new page, the beginning of a future she now dictated. Sure, a large part of Rie’s story was how she much she loved the hero, but she had the courage to acknowledge that her love wasn’t all-encompassing (*gasps* a second female lead being gracious!). Even when they were on opposing sides

sageuks filled with wonderful female charfor a position above her own station. That tempted her to try on the shoes of our heroine, In Yeob (another great character!) when she was still a noble. Little did she know, In Yeob would pitch such a fit about her actions that Dan Ji was severely punished for her impudence. When In Yeob literally fell from grace and became a fellow maid, Dan Ji made In Yeob’s initiation that much more challenging for her, that, at times, it was a bit difficult to watch. However, the spitefulness she displayed wasn’t entirely unfounded. Isn’t it natural to not want to treat a person who has humiliated you well? I liked that Dan Ji was able to be a little extreme in her vindictiveness and that she was given a chance to view In Yeob in a new light and influence each other positively. Dan Ji started off being a character you would instinctively dislike. However, over the course of the drama, as her prickly edges smoothed out (but not too much though—it wouldn’t be Dan Ji then), you found you cared and wished for her happiness.

and when she couldn’t understand, she did her best to protect the pair of lovers in the only way she could. Plus, the lady who has the undying love of her bodyguard must be pretty damn awesome, no?

SEO DO YEON / I HEAR YOUR VOICE WEE SEON JOO / DAL JA’S SPRING PORTRAYED BY LEE HYE YOUNG

“Do you think women’s rivals

PORTRAYED BY LEE DA HEE “A joke should not be for the person

THE LADIES OF PUNCH

are women?” How awesome were the ladies of Punch?

receiving it”. From Day 1, Do Yeon seemed like a formidable antagonist, falsely accusing the protagonist, Hye Sung, of causing a stray firework to hit her eye. However, it was the day when both Do Yeon and Hye Sung

Seon Joo was first introduced to us as a glamorous and haughty show host at a

saying it but rather for the person

“The law is equal, to me… and to you.”

witnessed a murder that left their lives inexplicitly intertwined. The decisions both

home shopping channel that occasionally made life difficult for the heroine, Dal Ja.

Minister of Justice, Yoon Ji Sook (played

parties chose on that fateful night would

The man Dal Ja had a crush on for eight

by Choi Myung Gil) was initially portrayed

eventually shape their future behavior. Do

years and briefly dated also preferred

as a woman with honorable intentions,

Yeon was given a lot of great material to

Seon Joo, and this was an initial main point

as someone who despised and strove to

work with. Being the only other witness to

of antagonism. In a lesser drama, Seon Joo

rid the system of corruption. However, it

the murder meant she could relate to Hye

would have been relegated to a one-di-

was this chase to exorcise evil that awak-

Sung when others couldn’t. Despite her

mensional character who often taunted

ened the evil that lay inside of her. Minister

terrible behavior when she was young,

and schemed against the female lead.

Yoon’s descent from an individual who

the adult Do Yeon had proven herself fair

wanted to do the right thing to a person

and as someone who always valued the

Except, that didn’t happen, and I am

who would stop at nothing to protect

truth multiple times.

infinitely glad of it! Seon Joo often trades

her own interests was so fascinating.

barbs with Dal Ja, but the battle is not

The justifications she would give as she

One of the greatest things is that Do Yeon

wholly one-sided as they both get in their

proceeded to deliberately harm others

did not grow up to be exactly the same

fair share of hits. Even with her haughty

were frankly chilling, and she truly made

as her younger self. She was allowed to

self, she comes to Dal Ja’s aid when

for a wonderfully complex villain.

change and let her regrets influence her choices. For the most part, she was still

needed, and the begrudging affection and respect they have for each other

“What about your promise? The

very proud, but the same can be said of

which slowly blossoms into true friendship

promise that you’d give me a great

Hye Sung. Do Yeon’s endearing mix of

is absolutely glorious to watch. In addi-

chance to enter Yeoido.”

personality traits also becomes more prominent whenever she is with Hye

tion, the show also brings out Seon Joo’s struggles when she finds herself pregnant

Choi Yoon Jin (played by Seo Ji Hye) is

Sung. The banter is so entertaining to

with her boyfriend’s child. She is such a

also a character to watch out for. She is

watch, and this should always be how

multi-faceted character who has vulnera-

ambitious, and, although it was hinted

snipes are done. Two words: Awesome

bilities while still is proud and straight-for-

that she holds a torch for the hero, Jung

possum.

ward. Seon Joo is always unapologeti-

Hwan (played by Kim Rae Won), she still

cally herself and, wow, it was such a joy

provided assistance while making sure

to watch.

she would not emerge a loser from the dangerous political battle of wits. Now there’s a lady who can protect herself and gets what she wants. *swoons*

THERE YOU HAVE IT! Six awesome ladies (or dragons *laughs*) who have changed the way I have traditionally viewed second female leads. But, we all know thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hardly enough. Over the past few years, we have made significant strides in the range our second female leads are now displaying. Photo: @audreymgonzalez

Even though many are still tragically subjected to our clenched fists and screams directed at our screens, drama land is, slowly but surely, being populated by strong female characters. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all pray for the days where we no longer have to pop so many of our veins raging at horrid

Photo: Dramabeans

Photo: Dramafever

second female leads.

S O D R A M AT I C Q&A Corner with undergroundkdrama

WHAT IS #KDRAMAWOMENSWEEK? (SBRS) Someone on tumblr was doing a fandom related thing because of IWD

and I decided to do a little spin-off for kdramas. It’s just a week with themed prompts where you can discuss them in whatever way you want to.

WHAT MOTIVATED YOU GUYS TO START THIS INITIATIVE? (SBRS) Normally we just do them for fun, there’s not really some deeper motive. I

like talking about drama ladies and reading about them too.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PROMPT FOR THIS YEAR? (SBRS) Favourite Overseas Returnee because it’s one of the most aggravating

tropes but it’s also one of my favourites. I’ve been really torn up about whom to choose.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE MORE IN K-DRAMAS ESPECIALLY IN RELATION TO WOMEN?

(Admin) I’d love to see a greater diversity in “strong/dynamic female characters”; we have a lot of

tropes floating around, and while that’s not bad (I mean—who doesn’t like watching our favourite actresses be “awesome” and “bad*ss”? I certainly do) there’s this freedom of personality that male characters are afforded that I don’t see happen for female characters. There are only two kinds of female villains—the femme fatale and the annoying girl. The mothers are totally evil or the mothers are totally nice; she doesn’t exist unless she’s also drop-dead gorgeous; she’s strong and she’s cool and she can only have one female friend tops; if she’s the main character, she has no faults/is hardworking/makes no questionable decisions/never gets under your skin… Honestly, I don’t know whether this kind of outcome is any better than the “submissive” character type that turns the girl into an object. Both sides of the coin never escape “the box.” I think it’s important to recognize that gun-ho, kick*ss characters are not the epitome of female characters, nor are these types of characters the way to check off those boxes in the feminist checklist. I find it far more important to give female characters an organic humanity and a concrete existence without making characters merely a means to some end. If “organic humanity” means that she’s kick*ss, gorgeous and has no faults, that’s fine. If she’s a complicated mess, that’s also fine. No one set of character traits is inherently any better than an other; again, what matters is that the possibilities are not artificially limited.

WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE CHARACTERS?

(Admin) I struggle a lot with talking about my favourite characters—the

ones I really love— because I find their context matters as much as the character traits themselves. If their story or potential story (sometimes I like the character in my imagined drama more than the drama I saw) captivates me, then I’ll like them. I don’t think I can claim that these are the best characters ever or that they stand out in some defined way (though many do); rather it’s my own personality and life that somehow resonated with who those characters might be. Like I alluded to earlier, there’s a good chance I could have misinterpreted them or pulled them out into a head-canon that isn’t compatible with the drama on screen. Putting that disclaimer aside, my go-to group includes Choi Seo-yoon from Empire of Gold, Han Yeo-reum from Discovery of Romance, and Lady Hyegyeong from Secret Door.

IS THERE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SAY TO KDRAMA VIEWERS EVERYWHERE? (Admin) Three pieces of “advice” I’ve found important in my

drama-watching experience:

1. Embrace your drama preferences, but don’t forget to assess what you watch. Just because a drama resorts to tired tropes and cardboard characters, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it. That said, be cognizant of the fact that the drama resorts to tired tropes and cardboard characters! Enjoying a work and understanding its implications are two different things—you really can have your cake and eat it too. 2. Pay attention to the people who write and direct dramas. Actors are definitely a reason to watch or not watch shows, but they’re not the ones writing it, are they? 3. Learn how to drop shows. Seriously. Your time is precious, and your eyes are currency. Watch what really interests you and be vocal about quality works.

Follow undergroundkdrama on tumblr for more info on #kdramawomensweek and other kdrama related posts.

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#kdramawomensweek day1 - favourite fridged mother day 2 - most vilified teenage girl day 3 - favourite body of work day 4 - favourite overseas returnee day 5 - LGBTQ character of choice day 6 - most likely to escape an abusive relationship day 7 - favourite token detective day 8 - favourite matriarch

Kdrama Screenwriters

the true masterminds behind a drama WRITTEN AND DESIGNED BY FATIMA

The Hong Sisters

Name Hong Jung-eun and Hong Mi-ran First drama Sassy girl ChunHyang Most recent drama Warm and Cozy Genre Rom-Com Other well know dramas Master’s Sun and Greatest love

Kim Eun Sook

First drama South of the Sun Most recent drama The Heirs Other well know dramas Secret garden and Lovers trilogy Fun Fact She’s worked solely with SBS since debut , Descendants of the Sun is going to be Kim’s first project with KBS Currently working on Descendants of the Sun (KBS 2016)

Park Hye Ryun

First drama Not Alone Most recent drama Pinocchio Other well know dramas I Hear Your Voice and Dream High Currently working on Page Turner (KBS 2016)

Park Ji Eun

First drama: Life isn’t stop Most recent drama: The Producers Other well know dramas You Who Came From The Stars and My husband’s Got A Family Fun Fact She’s collaborated three different times with actress Kim Nam Joo

Hwang Eun Kyung

First drama New Heart Most recent drama D-Day Other well know dramas Dae Mul and City hunter 29

WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN TO BE

A STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER The call for a strong female character is somewhat difficult to escape; it is in the comment sections of your favourite drama blog, at the top of Viki comments, in the drama tags of whatever social media you use, it is loud and it is persistent. Who qualifies? A quick Google search of “strong female character kdrama” lead to compiling this short list: • Not Nice • Not Stupid • Not Candy • Not Weak • Not Cinderella • Competent • Capable • Rich Does every single person who watches kdramas and wants strong female characters qualify them in this particular way? Probably not. So, is this a checklist? Must a female character be all of these or just one. Can she be none? A weak, stupid, candy-like, incompetent, incapable, poor Cinderella strolls into your highly anticipated drama, is she automatically disqualified for Strong Female Character™? It appears from this (highly generalised for the sake of discussion) approach that a strong female character is really just as boxed in and paint by numbers as the Candy Heroines so many claim to be tired of. The strong female character exists as a response to Candy. If both were characters in a drama, one would be the second lead with the pixie cut 70%* of viewers can’t stand depending on what team you’re on. The strong female lead emerges as Player 2 in a game of Street Fighter, where one female lead is deemed worthy and the other unworthy.

could be arrived at through more of a “what can this mean” and not “this is”, perhaps she would not appear as hollow and as suspicious. What is strong? Strength; not as a checklist but in ‘force’, bear with me. In a character’s actions, in their existence, in their stories characters embody strength. The strong female character is not strong because of __ but because she exists. She’s strong because she opens her eyes and exists within a narrative, valued or not, well-written or not, likeable or not. The trouble here of course is that it’s not extremely convincing, although I tend to subscribe to this line of thought and champion it. Can anyone be a strong female character? Should anyone qualify? There are reasons people call for strong female characters that can’t be erased in a quick everyone should be a strong female character sweep, with all collecting a participation award. Is it an option? Maybe. Consider it, toss it aside, critique it.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER? ANSWER: CANDY’S NEMESIS. Honestly, the idea of the strong female character solely as competitor and an equally narrow representation of female characters is not something that this article can co-sign completely, it’s just that it’s so often represented that way. Only one can survive! If the list is erased, the strength defined not by the assumed weakness of another female character, if the idea of a strong female character

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER? ANSWER: BE FEMALE AND EXIST IN A NARRATIVE. Do we even need strong female characters? Scrap it all. Reboot. A quick search of “strong male characters kdrama” brings up completely different results, instead results for strong female characters take up near half the page. Are male characters in kdramas written in a different way from female characters, full of these qualities that make them strong? Do they have all the qualities which are required in the checklist to be a strong female character? Are they mean, smart, not Candies, not Cinderellas, strong, competent, capable and rich? Is the strong female character of your dreams actually the average male lead in disguise? Are these qualities that you’d like to be replicated? Yes? Brilliant! There’s a set of mostly hated female characters that tends to fit these boxes as well a good 60%* of the time. Why are second lead female characters almost never considered strong female characters if they have a higher probability of possessing these particular qualities? Should we approach female characters as just that sans the strong? Discuss them as they are; make it a point of duty to give them that average male lead dedication and treatment.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER? ANSWER: BE A MALE LEAD. Even though it can be argued that I’ve done mostly that, I can’t really dictate to you on how you should define a strong female character or highlight the “right” way. All that can be done is to ask for a reconsideration on how the strong female character is defined and used by fandom. Why do you call for a strong female character? When do you mention a strong female character? How do you talk about your favourite strong female character? Is she always defined in opposition to another type of female character? Is your strong female character competing for space, or is she existing within it? Do female characters who are not your strong female character have worth? Are they important? In addition to this, I would also like to look at the alternatives. Can the list of strong female characters be more than a list of women who fit certain criteria, can we widen the box and acknowledge the strength in existence? Can any woman be a strong female character because of their unique perspective and the space they inhabit in these fictional worlds no matter what? Or do we really have no use for the strong female character? Something about the rejection of characters who fit this checklist leads to the conclusion that viewers and fandom don’t truly want the strong female characters they ask for, nor do they give them the level of consideration other characters exhibiting similar qualities get.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER? ANSWER: ???

WRITTEN BY NIKE DESIGNED BY SOPHIE

READER: ARE ALL THESE STATS MADE UP?? ME:

POSTER REMAKE by Sophie

There are a few movies revolving around women, be it their love lives or their badassery, that have a special place in my heart. To honour them in the spirit of #kdramawomenweek I decided to transform a popular female centered movieposter with a few of my favourite asian stars. I hope you enjoy the â&#x20AC;&#x153;what could beâ&#x20AC;? of it ! 32

The queens are coming back Actresses who are making a television comeback Lee Young Ae

Known as one of the most beloved actresses in Korea, Lee Young Ae has made a name for herself in dramaland. She starred in a slew of popular dramas and movies but it was with her last drama, Jewel in the Palace, that she rose to fame. News broke out in 2015 that Lee Young Ae will be starring in another drama Saimdang, the Herstory alongside Song Seung Heon which plans to air in the second half of 2016. This is going to be her first project since her last movie which was released back in 2005. Lee Young Ae’s comeback definitely created a huge buzz and we are all anticipating her return.

Song Hye Kyo

Remember the blind girl from That Winter, the Wind Blows back in 2013? To be honest, I have not watched the drama yet, but I plan to. Anyway, it has been almost three years since Song Hye Kyo was in a Korean drama. Through KBS’s blockbuster human melodrama Descendants of the Sun which will be airing in the same prime time as Lee Min Jung’s Come Back Ahjussi, Song Hye Kyo is finally making a return to the television. Her role, Kang Mo-yeon, is a doctor who will eventually fall in love with Song Joong Ki’s soldier role.

Im Soo Hyang

This elegant actress who rose to fame playing a leading role in New Tales of Gisaeng in 2011 is making a return to television after her last drama Inspiring Generation, which aired two years ago. I have to admit that I have watched almost all of her dramas except Inspiring Generation which I have been putting on hold for almost a year now. I personally loved her role in Iris II: New Generation (2013) as Kim Yeon-hwa, younger sister of Kim Seon-hwa (Kim So Yeon) from Iris (2009). New KBS weekend drama Five Children will be Im Soo Hyang’s comeback drama where she will be playing Jang Jin-joo, one of the main cast members.

Lee Min Jung

Wife of Korean Hollywood actor Lee Byung Hun, Lee Min Jung gave birth to their first child, a boy, last year in March. She must have been busy taking care of her son that we have missed her on television, her last drama was a divorcee rom-com Cunning Single Lady which aired 2014. Well, fear not! Lee Min Jung is making a comeback in new SBS Wednesday-Thursday afterlife comedy Come Back Ahjussi in which she will be portraying a beautiful housewife, Shin Da-hae, whose husband suddenly dies because of overworking.

Moon Chae Won

Once known as villainous woman from Brilliant Legacy, Moon Chae Won started playing “nicer” roles and one of which was her role in Good Doctor, a hit medical drama back in 2013 starring Joo Won. The upcoming drama based on the manhwa of the same title, Goodbye Mr. Black, will be her newest addition to her acting portfolio, aside from the movies she has been doing for past two years. Personally, I have not read the manhwa and I literally have no idea what will the drama be about except it is a revenge-romance-melodrama.

Actresses we want to see back on our screens Lee Bo Young Now a mother of a daughter she gave birth to last year in July, marking the best year for her as her husband Ji Sung who won Grand Prize at MBC Drama Awards for his role in Kill Me, Heal Me. I personally want to see Lee Bo Young back on television soon after her maternity period! Lee Bo Young has been successful in SBS’s I Can Hear Your Voice in 2013 and took on her first role as a mother in SBS’s God’s Gift – 14 Days (2014) which was her last drama before her hiatus. Since then, she becomes a supporting wife and a mother. I hope she and her family are doing well now and for her to take on a project soon.

Lee Da Hae Always remembered for her hit drama My Girl (2005), Lee Da Hae hasn’t been doing projects (except a Chinese TV series) since Hotel King in 2014 where she was reunited with My Girl co-star Lee Dong Wook. I actually dropped Hotel King though, and have only seen her in Iris II: New Generation (2013) and My Girl. Despite that, I would like to see her take on another drama soon.

Written by Evelyn Designed by Belle

ACTRESSES THAT DESERVE LEAD ROLES written and designed by Fatima

With the crazy amount of dramas coming out every year you would think we would get the chance to see fresh faces, however casting directors seem to be recycling their leading ladies. It’s almost always the same group of actresses that seem to be getting lead roles , and I don’t have anything against that , but it would be really nice to see other deserving actresses get the same opportunities. Here’s my list of ten actresses that I think would make lovely leading ladies. All these actresses have put on stellar performances, and have showed they’ve got the acting chops for the extra screentime.

Lee Mi Sook

Kim Yoo Ri

Yoo In Young

Lee Yoon Ji

Wang Ji Won

Kim Min Seo

Jeon Hye Bin

Seo Hyo Rim

Wang Ji Hye

Lee Cho Hee

see you next month.