Posts

KBS K-drama designer Minjung Lee helps bring characters to life [INTERVIEW]

/in /by

Minjung Lee Kdrama designer interview

Fashion plays an important part in Korean films and K-dramas—from the Joseon era girls who are free to roam in boy’s clothing to the newly rich women obsessed with name brand items—clothing defines and transforms characters. There may be a reason that so many K-drama plots, both contemporary and historical, feature makeovers. Nothing visually symbolizes change and new confidence quite like new and more flattering clothing. Costume designers know that costumes have a lot to say. According to designer Minjung Lee, no one should take costuming for granted.

The outfits are an essential part of historical Korean dramas, contributing to both character development and cinematography. Historically accurate costumes help recreate eras so vividly that viewers feel temporarily transported in time. Those are the clues that Lee seeks to express when she envisions drama costumes.

Currently a visiting scholar at UC Davis, Lee worked as a costume designer for KBS Artsvision for 10 years. She focused on costume design because of her interest in the history of Korean clothing, but also because she was fascinated by the psychology of fashion.

“I really wanted to read someone’s mind, to understand why they wore what they did,” Lee told KultScene.

Also on KultScene: Shopping for the K-obsessed: KultScene’s 2016 gift guide [GIVEAWAYS]

This vision to see clothing as a reflection of personality helped Lee create costumes for characters in a range of KBS historical dramas. From the royal robes created for Kim So Eun in Empress Cheonchu: The Iron Empress to Kim Hyun Joong‘s Inspiring Generation wardrobe, Lee researched and created authentic designs that helped bring the characters to life.

Lee’s first experience creating a costume did not live up to her expectations. It happened in middle school, when her class was planning a costume parade. She knew what she wanted to be but the costume did not exist, so she had to make it.

“I wanted to be a tree but then I thought, how do you make a tree? I had to figure it out, to find out where there were fabric stores in Seoul. My mother didn’t even know. It was my first costume and it was not very good.”

The tree costume, fashioned from nylon tent material, may have disappointed her but that did not discourage Lee from studying fashion for her undergraduate degree then going on to pursue a master’s degree in Korean costume and a PhD in the aesthetics of dress at Seoul National University.

“My mother wanted me to be a doctor, but my talents fell somewhere between the scientific and artistic,” said Lee. “I Ioved to draw but was not talented enough to be an artist. Nothing looked like I wanted it to. Textiles seemed like a good way to combine the scientific and artistic.”

Her university studies included dyeing, printing, design, illustration, and marketing. Lee became so interested in the psychology of clothing that she briefly considered a career in psychology. Then she received her first costume request: The priest at the church she attended asked her to make him an authentic Gogoryeo era (37 BC–668 AD) costume, because he was studying martial arts.

Fulfilling that request was a challenge for Lee, as much of the dress history she studied in the past had focused on Western fashion. So she took a class in Korean dress history but there were few illustrations of what Goryeo era clothing actually looked like. Descriptions of Goryeo period clothing was mostly gathered from tomb paintings and the rare intact clothes displayed in museums were those worn by nobles. Rare Goryeo-era artifacts were mostly stored in North Korea, and while Lee attended school even scholarly access was limited.
There was no way to know what colors people wore, or what patterns tailors used. Despite the challenges Lee was determined.

Also on KultScene: You too can be a k-pop producer thanks to Makestar [Interview]

She contacted the costume department at KBS and asked to visit their storehouse to see costumes of that period. They agreed. “They could have rejected me but they let me look at the clothes in their warehouse.”

Exploring the KBS warehouse was so much fun Lee decided not to major in psychology but take a course in 10th century history. She eventually she became a costume designer at KBS Artsvision.

“After I got acquainted with the people at KBS I knew I had to become a costume designer,” she said. “I didn’t know anything about being a costume designer, no idea what was involved, but I knew I had to do it. I thought if I can interpret raw data into costumes, it will be perfect.”

Part of the motivation was the clothing, but also because Lee herself is a fan of Korean dramas. “I love every kind of TV,” she said. For a decade she worked on a variety of dramas, set in different centuries.

Once she starts working on a drama wardrobe, Lee says it is an all-consuming process and that she can think of nothing else. After she reads the script, Lee begins to research costumes of the period and create a wardrobe that best portrays the characters. She researches textiles and pays painstaking attention to the details–from hats to belts to jewelry– that make clothes seem authentic. Based on her research, she also has to create a budget and stay within it, oversee the production of all the drama’s clothes, manage fittings, and supervise alterations that might be required while filming. After the drama is over, the clothes must be collected and catalogued before storage.

Her roster of dramas includes Empress Cheonchu: The Iron Empress (2007), King Geunchogo: The King of Legend (2010), which she won an award for, The Princess’ Man (2011), Jeon Woo Chi (2013) and Inspiring Generation (2014).

Despite the rigorous research that goes into costume design, some historically accurate details may not be appreciated by a drama’s cast or crew. When Lee’s research led her to design clothing with sleeves that passed the fingertips, the crew was not pleased.

“The staff got mad at me because the sleeves dragged and ripped off, so I had to shorten them,” she said.“[And] sometimes the actors do not feel the clothes are flattering so they have to be altered.”

After years of designing costumes set further in the past, Minjung Lee designed clothes for the 20th century historical drama Inspiring Generation, set during the era of the Japanese Colonial Rule of Korea (1910 to 1945). “The clothes in such dramas are more realistic since they are well documented,” she said. “It makes it less of a challenge, but easier to replicate.”

Lee also hopes to design costumes for films, citing The Royal Tailor, starring Park Shin Hye, as an excellent example of faithful costume replication. “The costume designer was brilliant, one of the best. I actually made my dream come true by pursuing textiles, but I want to be a designer like her. That is my ideal.”

The costumer has written about dress aesthetics in the era represented in Inspiring Generation in her PhD dissertation, “Dress and Ideology during the 20th Century of Korea,” where she examined the clothes and ideology of that time. She presented a paper “Fashioning identity and Ideology in Inspiring Generation” for a Fashion in Fiction conference and recently also spoke about the era at a Fashion Institute of Technology conference in New York.

Minjung Lee is currently living in the U.S. and taking a sabbatical from her design work while serving as a visiting scholar at the University of California-Davis in the Textiles and Clothing/Women and Gender Studies departments. When she returns to Korea in February, she plans to write more about the significance of fashion. “Academia does not always respect dress,” she said. “They take dress for granted and fail to see it in the social context in which it originated.”

What do you think of Lee’s take on K-drama fashion? What’s your favorite historical drama fashion? Share your thoughts about this article in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

‘Splash Splash Love’ is a Refreshing Take on Fusion Sageuk

/in , /by

Splash Splash Love

MBC’s latest mini-series “Splash Splash Love” premiered this month and concluded after a course of two episodes. Though the drama was short, it garnered a lot of attention, both locally and internationally – and for good reason. There were several factors as to why this drama was so special, despite the fact that it was another fusion sageuk (a period drama with a modern touch, most of the time involving some form of time travel) and had a pretty predictable storyline.

[Disclaimer: There are some spoilers ahead!]

As alluded to in the title, this drama had a lot to do with rain. Heroine Jang Dan Bi (played by Kim Seulgi) is a modern day high school student who wanted to escape her college aptitude tests desperately. When she discovered a magical puddle on a rainy day she decided to jump through it and found herself in the Joseon period, right in the middle of a three year drought. Ruler at the time, Lee Do (played by Beast’s Yoon Dojoon) is an enthusiastic and curious learner who was immediately attracted to Dan Bi, not because of her physical appearance but because of her knowledge from the future. Right from the get-go, the chemistry between these two leads was natural and extremely adorable; I thoroughly enjoyed their progression from having a master-servant relationship to becoming firm friends and finally passionate lovers. It wasn’t rushed despite the fact that this drama was only two episodes long, rather it was fast paced and well-developed. Both actors also acted very well together which made the watch very enjoyable because of how believable their romance was.

taken from @uaena-vip from tumblr

This drama was aplenty with K-drama cliches, but that doesn’t mean that it was boring or typical. It turned out to be very refreshing, because the drama kept adding fun twists to each cliche that it utilized. For example, for a good part of the drama Dan Bi was cosplaying as a male eunuch. While this cliche can be seen in several other dramas, both modern and period ones, it was a slightly different situation here. She didn’t intend to disguise herself at the start, rather it was her use of the term “go-sam” (in modern day context it means a high school senior but in a historical context it actually refers to eunuchs) in her self-introduction that led to this whole misunderstanding. While she did continue the cosplay after realising its benefits, the continued use of this pun served to inject humor in the storyline and created some hilarious scenes, especially between Dan Bi and Lee Do.

Also on Kultscene: 8 Korean Shows To Cuddle Up With This Holiday Season

Another cliche that appears very often in time travel dramas is the use of reincarnated characters, especially for the two main leads (think “Rooftop Prince”). This drama was no exception, as each modern character had its historical counterpart. The adorable part of it was that the historical characters shared the same characteristics and personality as their future selves, like Queen Sohun’s (Jin Ki Joo) love for midnight snacking and instant food. Although I enjoyed the parallels and found myself laughing because of them, I did get worried that this drama would give the romance a trashy ending by letting Dan Bi meet and fall in love with future Lee Do, just because he was also played by Dojoon. I got even more worried when they did reunite at the end of the drama and he said (in a swoony way, admittedly): “We’ve met before, a long time ago.”

taken from @sufbb on tumblr

I assumed immediately (as did Dan Bi, I’m guessing) that he meant during the Joseon period, but thankfully he clarified that he had actually met her on her way to school, at the first part of the drama. It was a twist that I didn’t expect but loved, simply because it defied K-drama norms and was something new.

That leads me to another point that I loved about the show, every minute of the show, every scene, no matter how insignificant it seemed turned out to be useful in the end. When I finished it I felt like I had just watched a movie rather than a drama because of how all the plot points fitted together. The writing was so tight that there was purpose in every event that occurred. For instance, a simple scene showing Dan Bi lying on the couch and watching an episode of “Mask Singer” could be used later on as evidence of her ability to recognise voices. For such a short drama it sure made full use of its time.

At the core of the drama it was the strong message that no matter how insignificant we may feel because of our bad grades or lack of talent, we still have a part to play in this world. Dan Bi was such an underachiever at school that she lost confidence in herself and her worth, but going back to the Joseon times and being able to share her knowledge with the king helped her to realise that she was valuable after all. Even when she failed, Lee Do was there to encourage her and help her to carry on.

The struggles that Dan Bi faced were so relatable even to people who weren’t students that it made this message all the more encouraging and inspiring, a big reason why this drama succeeded.

That being said, this show wasn’t perfect and there were many illogical plot lines which led to some confusion for me as I watched the drama. Yes, the entire premise of the show was absurd but there has to be some logic, especially between scenes. For one thing, there never was a “big reveal” for Dan Bi who had been masquerading as a male eunuch but all of a sudden all the characters in the show (including the court ministers) knew that she was actually a female and she was nominated to be a concubine. I’m sorry but what? From other historical dramas and the scant information that I know about the Joseon dynasty I’m pretty sure that there’s a penalty for intentionally deceiving the court, let alone the King. Even if we ignore the legislature, I was surprised at the lack of reaction from the ministers because what is the point of cosplaying if there are no stakes involved?

Also on Kultscene: K-Drama’s Latest Trend: Alzheimer’s Disease

Another problem I had with the plot was what happened one particular day, when Dan Bi escaped the city after an attempt made at her life. She literally spent the whole night out with the king at a beach, while the queen spent her whole night out at her childhood friend’s house. Even better, when she tried to go back to the palace, the gates were locked. For the queen. It’s simply crazy to imagine that when both rulers are out of the palace no one would be looking for them or even be alarmed. I mean, what are all the servants and soldiers for if not to keep the rulers safe?

At the end of it all however, “Splash Splash” Love never took itself seriously and this helped viewers to focus more on the heartfelt storyline rather than the sometimes gaping plot holes as we watched the drama. There were so many adorable moments that I enjoyed from this show (Lee Do reciting the times table was fantastic) that made me forget the parts I disliked about it and this makes it a winning drama in my books. I would tell you more, but I hope you’ll watch it yourself. I won’t spoil the magic for you!

taken from @uaena-vip

Did you watch Splash Splash Love? Share your thoughts on the drama in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

K-Drama’s Latest Trend: Alzheimer’s Disease

/in , /by

Alzheimer's

Memory loss is a pretty common K-drama trope that has been used many times over the years. It’s used to create some emotional angst for the drama’s plot, but it’s also been widely recognised as a very cliché and boring plot device, resulting in its lessened use in the past few years. Memory loss is slowly making its way back into dramas nowadays however, as evidenced by a few dramas that are currently airing in Korea, namely the new SBS drama “Remember – War Of The Son” and tvN’s melodrama “Bubblegum,” albeit in a different manner than it was normally used in the past. Instead of having a main character suffer amnesia to create a star-crossed romance, Alzheimer’s Disease is the medical condition that the drama characters are diagnosed with.

As the most common form of dementia, many people suffer this condition as they grow older. In fact, in 2012, around 9 percent of Koreans over the age of 65 were found to be suffering from this disease. Since then, Korea has been taking active action to counter this problem, with measures such as training children to recognise dementia symptoms and to learn how to take care of the afflicted elderly. Yes characters having Alzheimer’s would make for really good drama conflict and angst, but if there was a greater purpose for the use of this disease I believe that these K-dramas are possibly being used as tools to spread awareness about Alzheimer’s. But first, let us take a look at how it is being shown in the dramas.

Also on Kultscene: 6 K-Drama Girl Friendship Goals

[Disclaimer: Article contains minor spoilers]

In “Remember,” this memory loss is a matter of life and death. The main conflict of the drama thus far has been about Seo Jin Woo’s (Yoo Seung Ho) struggle to save his father, Seo Jae Hyuk (Jun Kwang Ryul) who has been falsely accused of murder. To make things worse, Seo Jae Hyuk has gradually lost his memory due to him having Alzheimer’s and he is no longer able to remember whether or not he actually committed the crime, let alone be able to defend himself. As a lawyer with a perfect memory, Jin Woo took on the task of defending his father but it is an uphill battle, with rotten villains such as Nam Gyu Man (Nam Goong Min) placing obstacles in his way at every juncture.

While the premise of the drama is interesting, as a viewer, I was more drawn to the tragic relationship between Jin Woo and his father. From the start, they were a duo that I rooted for because of how much they loved each other, and it shattered my heart to pieces when four years down the road Jae Hyuk no longer remembered the face of his own son. This is perhaps the most common symptom of Alzheimer’s, a sign that shows that a patient is at a moderate stage of the disease. This is because there is greater damage occurring in the areas of the brain that control a person’s reasoning and conscious thought, affecting their ability to recognise even their closest friends and family.

Also on Kultscene: 5 Reasons Why ‘Bubblegum’ Is Addictive

On the other hand, the loss of memory in “Bubblegum” doesn’t cause anyone to be at risk of losing their lives, but it is no less impactful and devastating. What used to be a drama about a sweet romance between childhood friends morphed into a realistic portrayal of how life changes when a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Park Ri Hwan’s (Lee Dong Wook) mother Park Sun Young (Bae Jong Ok) suffered early onset Alzheimer’s Disease and started to lose her memory progressively in the drama. From forgetting to put the yoghurt in her smoothie to wandering around and getting lost, Sun Young showcased the various stages of Alzheimer’s throughout the show. In a particularly heart-wrenching scene, she woke up from a sleep and even forgot that she ever had a son, despite the fact that she shared a very close bond with Ri Hwan.

I’ve never had experience dealing with patients who have Alzheimer’s, so I don’t know for a fact that this is a realistic portrayal. But in any case, it helps viewers to get an idea of what goes on in the patients’ heads and how their memories are lost or distorted. The physical and emotional pain that the family members go through is also poignantly displayed through these dramas. While it is something scary to think about, both dramas definitely empathize the value of our memories and how they are the basis for our identity. For now, it’s an interesting trend for K-dramas to take on, and I’m excited to see how these dramas will turn out, especially in a country with a rapidly aging population.

Have you watched any of these dramas? What are your thoughts on K-dramas using Alzheimer’s as a plot device? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

5 Reasons Why ‘Bubblegum’ Is Addictive

/in , /by

Bubblegum cover

tvN’s latest drama “Bubblegum” premiered two weeks ago and has gained many fans since then. Although it seems to be a standard romantic comedy about two best friends who fall in love with one another, its plot definitely stands out among other such dramas and there is just a certain charm about it that I can barely put into words. It may not be suspenseful or full of plot twists, but what is it about this drama that keeps fans hooked onto it? Here are the five reasons why “Bubblegum” is so addictive.

1. The Chemistry between the Two Leads

It’s a given that the two main characters, Haeng Ah (Jung Ryeo Won) and Ri Hwan (Lee Dong Wook), are bound to have a special chemistry, since they have spent most of their lives together since childhood. They know each other so well that they can even identify on one glance which items belong to each other. Not to mention that they hang out in an adorable playground a lot and when they are around each other they suddenly revert back to their child-like selves, complete with a lot of headlocking and playing catch. The two actors pull off this relationship very believably and this allows fans to become engaged in their relationship as well. This couple is truly adorable to watch and their romantic scenes are just sizzling with chemistry, so much so that they really make me want to watch all the episodes at one go.

2. Park Ri Hwan

I had never watched a Lee Dong Wook show before this drama but him as Park Ri Hwan is literally perfection, both because of his ability as an actor and also because of how Ri Hwan was written. Granted, he may not be very realistic because of how perfect he is but he has all the character traits that could seriously make him the best male lead in K-dramaland. He has a goofy and childish side, especially in front of his bestie Haeng Ah and his mother, but as an Oriental Medicine doctor he also has a serious one as well. He knows what he is doing and is professional when he treats patients but at the same time he utilizes his friendly nature to better communicate with the patient and sometimes even ends up solving more underlying problems for them. He is also a cute and filial son to his mother, Sun Young (Bae Jong Ok), and they share a sweet relationship. Perhaps it is because he is familiar with the actress, having previously lived with her during the second season of “Roommate,” but he enjoys a comfortable chemistry with Bae Jong Ok and I look forward to their scenes as well.

Above all, Ri Hwan’s best trait is that he is a very straightforward and direct person. He isn’t blunt, but he knows clearly what he wants, especially in regards to his feelings for Haeng Ah. To me, there’s nothing more annoying than a male/female lead who is always wishy-washy about their feelings (sadly this appears in almost every drama), and his directness felt like a breath of much needed fresh air. Even if Haeng Ah is going to be more hesitant about her feelings in the future, at least he will be around to push for their relationship and they will not be going around in circles getting confused about their own feelings (think “The Time We Were Not In Love”). He’s even direct towards the second female lead for this drama, a dentist named Hong Yi Seul (Park Hee Bon). She’s a pitiful character who falls for Ri Hwan after meeting him on a blind date because of his sensitive nature, and I actually enjoyed watching their developing relationship even though I knew that it probably would not end well. It’s just amazing to watch Ri Hwan help Yi Seul gain some self-confidence, especially because she definitely deserves it, and his thoughtful actions just make me love him as a character so much more.

bubblegum screen cap

Also on Kultscene: What We’re Watching This November From Korea

3. Kim Haeng Ah

At first glance, Haeng Ah definitely seems like a typical “Candy” girl. You know, those girls who are poor, who don’t have parents, and who are always smiling even if they are sad. “Candies” are also pushovers, and they tend to get bullied by everyone else in the show. That was my initial opinion of Haeng Ah, to be perfectly honest, because she was such a smiley person even while going through a breakup and having lots of negative emotions pent up within her.

She also seemed to lack confidence and treated everyone around her amiably. The only time she seemed to come alive was when she was bickering with Ri Hwan, and through the flashbacks the show provided at the end of the first three episodes which showed her lively nature. I was even more impressed when she grew a spine and told her ex boyfriend firmly that she really wanted a breakup. She still spoke docilely but I could tell that she meant it, and for someone to have so much courage to reject empty promises she was a person with a strong spirit. Haeng Ah is a character with many layers and I’m really looking forward to see those layers being peeled back as this drama progresses.

4. “Family” Relations

For a girl who has lost both her parents and has no siblings, Haeng Ah really does have a lot of “family” members who love her and care for her like their own. Of course there is Ri Hwan, who was somewhat like a brother to her since young, then there is the “Secret Garden” family who runs a restaurant by the same name and feeds Haeng Ah daily, there even is a sister in the form of her close friend Tae Hee (Kim Ri Na) who houses her whenever necessary and is always there to help her. Ri Hwan also has a fantastic relationship with his mother and their interactions are always touching because they are acted in such a heartfelt manner. These relationships are built upon years of experiences and they make this drama really heartwarming to watch.

Also on Kultscene: 4 K-Dramas That Need To Be On Your ‘To-Watch’ List Right Now

5. OST

This seems like a weird reason for a show to be addictive but the OST for this drama is really stellar. As this drama has an overarching theme of a radio show (Haeng Ah is a radio program PD) soothing music and songs are always played throughout the episode. The songs will all be relevant to the storyline at hand and it just gives off such a nice and relaxing vibe that will allow viewers to just enjoy watching the drama. The meaningful lyrics of the songs being played sometimes also brings more insight to the situation being played out and I appreciate the space that the drama gives viewers with these subtle moments. It is because of these songs that viewers are able to better empathize with the emotions of the characters, and this keeps us more invested in the show.

All in all, this is really a romantic comedy done right, and it touches my heart in all the right places. Even though it’s still early into the drama, I’m very excited to see how it will turn out and I trust that I will not be disappointed. I can’t wait to watch how the relationship between Haeng Ah and Ri Hwan will be developed and I really need more episodes right now.

Are you watching this drama? What is your take on the romantic K-dramas nowadays? Share your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to keep up with all of our posts.

5 Reasons to Watch “Marriage, Not Dating”

/in /by

Marriage, Not Dating may almost be over, but it is worth your while to binge watch the 10 episodes currently available and fall in love with the drama like the rest of us! I stumbled upon this drama randomly about a week ago and decided to watch the first episode. I’m glad I did because I was hooked after that and ended watching the rest of the available episodes that weekend. I did pick it initially for the title, I’m all for long term love and commitment, not for hookups and constant flings. That’s why I value marriage such a great deal, whether its atheist marriage, christian marriage, muslim marriage, it doesn’t matter because to me the qualities and morals of the pairing are all the same no matter what belief you have. So when I saw this, I thought wow this will take my fancy! And I was right, but not entirely for those reasons I had thought in the beginning.

There are a lot of factors as to why I enjoy this drama so much. I would say most of them are subtle reasons that cater to my personality. I love sarcasm, wit, one-liners, comedy, and romance. Marriage, Not dating has all of that and more. So I decided to highlight the 5 biggest reasons (according to me) why you should start watching this great drama (they are in no particular order).

Check out these cool articles around the web

      1. The concept
      The storyline of Marriage, Not Dating is somewhat complicated and most likely unrealistic, but who cares? Gong Gi Tae wants to stay a bachelor, but his nagging mother wants him to get married. She tells him that she will set him up with a bride of her choice if he doesn’t get his act together. Gi Tae and Joo Jang Mi cross paths, and they end up starting a fake relationship. A concept that’s similar to how someone in real life might hire a london escort to be their “partner” at an event. So it’s not too far-fetched that they do this in the hopes that it will get Gi Tae’s mother off of his back. The end goals are so Gi Tae can live alone as a bachelor, while Jang Mi aims to get revenge on her ex-boyfriend, who happens to be Gi Tae’s best friend.

      Meanwhile, Jang Mi’s coworker (and friend), Gi Tae’s friend Hong Doon, Hoon Dong’s employee Yeo Reum, and Gi Tae’s ex-fiance, along with Jang Mi and Gi Tae, all end up mixed together in a mess of relationships and pheromones (look here if you’re asking what are pheromones?). It’s not the greatest description of the show, but trust me when I say that it is an entertaining drama that will keep you begging for more.

      2. Jinwoon of 2AM
      2AM’s maknae, Jinwoon, has a fairly prominent role in this drama. He is Hong Doon’s employee and Jang Mi’s potential love interest. He doesn’t have very many lines in the first ten episodes, but he has plenty of screen time, and his smile will seriously make you melt.

      I see why Jang Mi falls for him: he’s tall, handsome, has a great smile, he can cook, and he shows off his fit body while at the beach! From that description alone, he seems like the perfect man. But there are few things that have happened so far that may make you wary of him. And I have a feeling something more may happen in the later episodes. It seems like he has a lot of secrets, and it’s almost impossible to get them out of him.

      3. The adult content (don’t worry it’s all PG-13)
      There are a lot of dramas that don’t talk about kissing, boyfriends, girlfriends, sex, and things like that. Then again, there are a few that do. I’ve noticed that tvN’s dramas tend to talk more openly about relationships and what goes on while two people are in a relationship.

      There are a lot of not-so-subtle moments where Gi Tae implies that he and Jang Mi are always sleeping together. He mostly says things like that to his mother, so she won’t keep barging in at his house. It’s refreshing to watch dramas that don’t shy away from all aspects of relationships (even if this relationship is fake). It makes the scenarios seem more realistic, and they are more relatable for mature audiences.

      4. The comedy
      Another thing I love about tvN’s dramas is the comedy. Every drama I have watched on tvN has been more mature, with great comedic scenes, one-liners, and characters. Marriage, Not Dating is no exception! Since there are already 10 episodes that have aired, it’s hard to pick out a single funny moment.

      However, there is one episode in which the Gi Tae’s mother visits Jang Mi in her workplace, and she desperately needs to use the bathroom. The whole episode shows Jang Mi’s struggle with trying to get to the bathroom before she explodes. In a way it’s a metaphor of her current position in life, where she’s constantly put into uncomfortable positions because of her fake relationship. But the acting throughout the episode really makes you feel for her. That is only one example among many throughout the series so far.

      5. The REAL kisses
      I know I’m not the only one out there who gets so frustrated whenever there is a kiss in a K-Drama. More times than not, the kiss consists of the male character placing his lips on top of the female character’s lips. There is no passion, no movement… nothing. It’s awkward and sometimes cringeworthy to watch. Already in 10 episodes of Marriage, Not Dating we have seen two REAL kisses with two different men. You go, Joo Jang Mi!

      It’s obvious when two characters are about to kiss. The way the director sets up the scene tells you something is about to happen. Most of the time the two characters look into each other’s eyes, and then the slow motion and repetition of scenes sets in. Other times, one character is rapidly talking about something while the other character stares lovingly at them. Then BAM, the kiss. And in this drama, we get real kisses with mouths open, reciprocal kissing, and most of all, passion.

      There are still six episodes remaining, which I patiently await. I hope Marriage, Not Dating continues to impress me with the remaining episodes. SO many times a drama loses its initial spark toward the end of the series. But, I have high hopes for this one.

      Are you guys watching Marriage, Not Dating, what do you think of it so far? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below and be sure to subscribe to the site and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Bloglovin’ so you can keep up with all our posts.