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#alchemyofsouls #kdramareview #환혼 A fun romantic fantasy drama with lots of action! A very good-looking cast with some quirky entertaining scenes! *Contains spoilers. 4.7/5 Stars (So far!) tvN's new drama series features a dangerous assassin, Naksu (Ko Yoon Jung Law School 2021), whose soul gets accidentally trapped inside the body of a physically weak Mu Deok (Jung So Min My Roomates Is A Gumiho 2021). Mu Deok is sold to servitude to the noble Jang household where she meets Jang Wook (Lee Jae Wook Move To Heaven 2021) as his servant. Eventually, Mu Deok teaches Jang Wook how to fight. A drama about soul switching and mages based in a fictional country, Daeho, Alchemy of Souls is a fun-filled, action-packed drama that has us sitting on the edge of our seats. After the first episode, we are already obsessed with Jung So Min's charismatic acting and the amount of K-pop-looking actors have got us hooked! Check out the trailer! Alchemy of Souls clinched the top spot nationwide after its first episode dropped on Saturday, June 18 with a 5.205% rating according to Nielsen Korea. You can catch new episodes every Saturday and Sunday on tvN or on Netflix. Let us know if this drama has you excited! What do you think?

#antidiscrimination #lgbtq #kdrama South Korean direct-to-consumer online streaming platform Wavve will be launching the country's first-ever LGBTQ+ romance reality show in July. According to a press release to Newsen, they will be launching two reality programs centered around the LGBTQ+ community starting in July. The two shows, titled Merry Queer and Stranger’s Love, will both show relationships of those who do not identify as heterosexual. Merry Queer will focus on coming-out individuals and the challenges that they have to face as they publicly announce their relationships to the community. Stranger's Love will be the first reality show for men seeking other men. These men will move into the homes of other men to find a relationship. We will introduce Merry Queer, the first coming-out romance reality in Korea, and Stranger’s Love, a reality for male relationships, in July. It will not only be fresh but also be extremely fun, we are going to discuss and showcase social issues that we want the viewers to seriously think about and sympathize with. - Wavve Wavve was first launched on September 18, 2019. The company was founded as a joint venture between South Korea's telecommunications giant SK Telecom and Korea's top three broadcast networks: KBS, MBC, and SBS. South Korea has been under scrutiny for the enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act which is still under review. The UN and global community have been recommending repeatedly that South Korea enact a comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Act to end all forms of discrimination for over a decade. Unfortunately, currently, South Korea still does not have an anti-discrimination act for marginalized communities which are constantly exposed to various forms of hatred and discrimination. The South Korean National Assembly keeps on delaying the enactment of the law. Four drafts have already been submitted during the Moon Jae In administration. According to a survey by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea in 2020, 82% of respondents acknowledged that discrimination in South Korean society was serious and 88.5% were in favor of enacting a comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Act as a way to resolve this problem. Another survey of November 2021 showed that 70% of South Korean people also agreed. Currently, the most famous openly gay South Korean celebrity is Hong Seok Cheon. He has repeatedly spoken out through various interviews and tv programs about how he has been mistreated and being banned from TV broadcasts since coming out. Since publicly announcing his sexuality, he was banned from TV for three years and received multiple death threats from the public leading him to shut himself at home and contemplate suicide. Since then, he has taken his celebrity as a platform to inform the public about homosexuality and even has been a guest on Jessi's "Showterview"! Check it out! South Korea has always been known as a very conservative society. Through K-pop and global exports, South Koreans have become more accepting and open-minded on various other subjects, but this topic still remains sensitive for most people. What are your thoughts about this issue? Let us know your opinions!

#BTS #HIATUS It is sad to know for many BTS fanatics that the group will be on a temporary break. Just like people who spend grueling hours working, the group too also needs to take some time off. According to BTS, they will use their break to pursue solo projects and for personal growth. The group made the announcement through a video during "Festa dinner", their ninth year anniversary. So far, J-Hope is expected to be the first one to pursue solo projects among the members of the BTS. No doubt, BTS fans are waiting for J-Hope to drop his solo music, which was announced by HYBE Labels through a statement. Certainly, fans are waiting for BTS to pursue projects as a group in the future again, despite the announcement that was just made recently. Here's the original BTS Festa that was broadcasted! We're looking forward to BTS's next chapter! We wish them all the best! Were you inspired to have some time off upon reading this? Let us know how would you spend your time off!

#squidgame #reallifesquidgame #netflixrealityshow Now you can be part of the global Netflix sensation 'Squid Game'! On June 14, Netflix announced that the hit series will be made into a real-life competition show! Named "Squid Game: The Challenge" the real-life survival reality show will start production in the UK early next year. "Squid Game: The Challenge" will be considered to be "the biggest reality competition series ever created" and will feature 456 contestants battling out for a cash prize of $4.56 million! According to a press release put out by Netflix on Tuesday, the staggering sum will be the largest cash prize ever offered on reality television. Netflix's biggest show, which premiered in September 2021, is a story about two childhood friends, played by Lee Jung Jae and Park Hae Soo, who meet each other years later as adults at different ends of the financial spectrum. They are invited to play a mysterious survival game with a cash prize of 45.6 billion Korean won (approximately $40 million), but find out there is something more valuable on the line. "Squid Game" is now streaming on Netflix. "Squid Game: The Challenge" just dropped an announcement video! Check it out! Casting is currently only open to English-language speakers over the age of 21. The contest will feature 10 episodes and production is scheduled to take place over four weeks. Do you have what it takes to enter the contest? Enter the contest here!

#psy #psythathat #psyconcert Netizens are rushing to their keyboards and typing in their concerns for Psy's most anticipated series of water summer concerts. As the temperature in South Korea starts to rise and COVID protocols are relaxing, more and more K-pop idols are holding outdoor summer concerts for their fans. Psy's upcoming concert series requires 300 tons (67,200 gallons) of drinking water per show. The singer announced on June 3, that the Summer Swag concert series is known for splashing water on fans during the show. The first concert will be in on July 9 at Incheon Asiad Main Stadium. Tickets will begin selling on Thursday June 16. Although fans are ecstatic about attending concerts after almost three years of hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, netizens are drawing concerns about the waste of drinking water amid South Korea's ongoing drought situation. This video showing the singer performing at Korea University several weeks ago has drawn local criticism from social media and local news. Global conservation is now a hot topic in South Korea. The government as well as many startups have been focusing on recyclables and renewable ways to create a more sustainable future. From fashion, and usable materials, to lifestyle and living, Korean companies and brands have started to create apps that support a more sustainable lifestyle. You can read more about some up-and-coming Korean brands that are supporting this movement here. Should Psy take out the water show that he is so well-known for? Should there be another method or way to entertain fans? Let us know your thoughts about this serious environmental issue!

#gidle #kpop #여자아이들 Girl group (G)I-DLE will begin their 16-city "Just Me" 2022 tour, starting in Seoul, on June 18. The show in Seoul will be held for two days, June 18 and June 19. A month later, the group will travel to the United States where they will have an 8 city-stop, starting in Los Angeles. After a short stint in South America, the group will then travel back to Asia at the end of August with a show in Jakarta. The visually stunning (G)I-DLE five-member group was scheduled for its original tour in 2020 but due to the COVID pandemic, it was halted. Originally a sextet, Soojin left the group in August 2021 due to a bullying scandal. This is not the first that a management company has decided to release an idol due to bullying. Le Sserafim's Kim Garam has also recently been in the spotlight because of bullying. As recently as June 14, ATBO's Yang Donghwa is involved in school bullying allegations. Known for their visuals, (G)I-DLE posted a cool tour announcement video to check out! For (G)I-DLE fans (Neverland) in Spanish-speaking countries, here's a dance cover for 'TOMBOY' by New Sense from Mexico! This is the chance for South American and Mexican fans to enjoy K-pop in their home countries! Let us know if you'll be trying to get tickets! What do you think about the tour dates and cities?

#koreancinema #screenx #koreatech With less stringent COVID protocols entering the summer, South Korea's largest multiplex cinema chain, CGV, will showcase its flagship ScreenX and 4DX technologies as its frontline formats of strategy. "ScreenX is a multi-projection cinematic platform that provides 270-degree panoramic images to audiences by expanding the display onto the theater's side walls. The 4DX format allows films to be decorated with various practical effects, including motion seats, water and scents." (Yonhap News) CGV recently opened a new ScreenX theater at its Yeongdeungpo branch this past weekend, equipped with a 69-meter (226 feet) wide screen and six projectors. The company also stated that live streaming non-film content such as music concerts, theater, and online gaming is also available using the new ScreenX theater. South Korean movie theaters are known for their unusual sitting arrangements, namely "couple seats" where couples can enjoy a movie in a more intimate space with enclosed seating. CGV said, "it will build more private, independent movie suites, such as sky boxes, as an increasing number of people prefer to feel at home while watching movies." (Yonhap News) "We can say ticket sales of ScreenX and 4DX theaters pulled off steady growth during the pandemic, while the global and Korean film industry struggled with a sharp drop in overall revenues," CGV said. "As people enjoyed entertainment content easily and comfortably at home through online streaming services, they want something different at theaters." (Yonhap News) The combined revenue of ScreenX and 4DX theaters fell slightly from $363 million in 2019 to $331 million in 2021, although only five films were simultaneously released for the two formats last year, according to CGV. "The rising demand for high-tech screens and private theaters will grow further in the future and provide fresh momentum to movie theaters, which have to prepare for the end of the pandemic," a CGV official said. Globally, CGV operates 350 ScreenX theaters and 783 4DX theaters in 106 countries, including the United States, France, Britain and Japan, as of June 2022. How about this type of movie-going experience? Would you be willing to pay a premium for this? Let us know!

#ourblues #우리들의블루스 #kdramareview The top show of the season, 'Our Blues', capped off a historic run and ended with its highest viewership ratings this past weekend with 14.597% nationwide good for first place! The show has garnered first place every episode throughout the 20-episode season. An amazing feat! This star-studded cast included Lee Byung Hun, Shin Min Ah, and Kim Woo Bin and is poised to win some awards, we believe. 'Our Blues' shed light on so many cultural and social issues many South Koreans face today and we would like to get the discussion rolling. Which issues stood out to you? How do South Koreans handle these issues compared to your country? We would love to hear from you! We are sad to see this wonderful show come to an end. There were so many stories left to tell. Which story did you enjoy the most? Let us know your thoughts about this series!

#whyher #seohyunjin #hwanginyoup *Contains spoilers The recently popular coldhearted lawyer Oh Soo Jae (Seo Hyun Jin Black Dog 2019-2020), the youngest partner of South Korea's best law firm, TK Law Firm, who gets caught up in an unexpected case is demoted to an adjunct professor position at Seojung University law school has seen viewership numbers soar after its second weekend! The popular lawyer drama started off at a mediocre 6.0% rating on its debut on June 3 but has risen to 10.1% nationwide in its fourth episode this past weekend, according to Nielsen Korea. The end of the third episode has everyone talking and in shock! Netizens have been debating the age difference between Oh Soo Jae (37), an accomplished lawyer, and law school student Gong Chan, 31 (Hwang In Yeop The Sound Of Magic 2022). Of course, these are their real ages although no one really knows the age of their characters. This type of taboo subject, especially in South Korea, has left everyone scratching their heads if this is socially acceptable. Check out the trailer here! Here's a snippet of a scene from episode 4! What are your thoughts about this questionable dynamic? Is this acceptable in your country? Many people argue that it might not be the age gap, but more of the social hierarchy. Let us know what you think!

#Jeju #Kdrama #OurBlues #LegendOfTheBlueSea #SomethingInTheRain Our Blues Poster. Photo Courtesy by Korea Joongang Daily. If you are looking for a tranquil vacation away from the bustling Hallyu land in Seoul, you should plan on traveling to Jeju! But if you still don't have the time and/or the capacity to travel, don't worry, we got you covered! Here are our K-drama recommendations that will surely give you a glimpse of the magnificent volcanic archipelago of South Korea! 1. Our Blues (2022) Photo courtesy by IMDb. Min Seon-ah (Shin Min Ah) fled to Jeju with a tormented past. She then bumps into Lee Dong-seok (Lee Byung Hun) a merchant and a native of Jeju. Initially apprehensive, they both became part of each other's lives and found consolation in one another. 2. Legend Of The Blue Sea (2016) Photo courtesy by Trazy. In a unique fantasy story set in the 1500s, governor Dam Ryung played by Lee Min Ho freed a captured mermaid named Shim Cheong played by Jun Ji Hyun. In the present time, Dam Ryung was reincarnated into a smooth-talking con-man named Joon Jae and discovers Shim Cheong, whom he felt connected to a long time ago. 3. Something In The Rain (2018) Photo courtesy by Netflix. Yoon Jin Ah (Son Ye Jin) and Seo Joon-hee (Jung Hae In) were just acquaintances but Jin Ah started to brew some unexpected feelings for Joon Hee, her best friend's younger brother. This series gives us an intimate look at taboo topics such as the significant age gap between couples, and other considered taboos about work and family in South Korea. In the latter part of the series, Jin Ah gets tired of her toxic work environment and settles in Jeju to run a restaurant. There you go with our K-drama recommendations. We don't want to spoil you with the story plots in case you haven't watched our recommendations. After watching the mentioned series let us know which particular spot in Jeju you are dying to visit!

#insider #인사이더 #kdramareview An intriguing cast of characters that will keep you on the edge of your seat! Action, suspense, and thriller all rolled up into one drama! *Contains spoilers. 4.5/5 Stars (So far!) With an interesting amount of lawyer-based Korean dramas out now including Again My Life and Why Her? Insider takes a different approach to how the protagonist is able to catch the bad guys. In its television debut on June 8, Insider was only able to draw 2.568% viewership ratings nationwide, which stood at 8th place, according to Nielsen Korea. The second episode, which debuted the following day, surpassed the pilot with 3.274%, good for 5th place. As the story begins to unfold, we feel that Insider will be one of the top K-dramas everyone will be talking about this summer! Kim Yo Han (Kang Ha Neul The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure 2022) works as a judicial apprentice. He is just starting his career when he is given an undercover assignment to bust an illegal gambling ring in Seoul, but isn't able to capture Chairman Yang (Heo Dong Won The Roundup 2022), the top leader of The Skin Nation. Because of this, his superiors, Mok Jin Hyung (Kim Sang Ho Rookie Cops 2022) and Noh Young Guk suggest that he pose as a prisoner to get film evidence from Chairman Yang's right-hand man, Lee Tae Gwang, which is currently serving a prison sentence. Once in prison, Yo Han must find a way to accomplish his mission while surviving his fellow prison mates, the ones he put away. So far the first two episodes have us sitting on the edge of our seats and wanting more! This drama is serious, unlike the other lawyer-based dramas mentioned above, with more action and violence! Let us know if this drama gets your adrenaline going and will you be watching more!

#koreantigermoms #greenmothersclub #kdramareview Growing up in South Korea is scary with moms like these! A small snippet of what life in Korea really is! How do children handle all the pressure from parents, school, and society? *Contains spoilers. 4.0/5 Stars In a small country like South Korea, there is only one type of resource, human resources. With minimal natural resources like other larger countries, it has to rely on its citizens to create products and services the world needs. Therefore, within the country, getting an edge on anything, and I mean absolutely anything, is vital to a person's survival. Although 'Green Mother's Club' wasn't able to draw audiences around the country as much as other dramas, we feel this drama puts South Korea under the microscope of what it feels like to be part of a tiger parenting family. Tiger parenting is a form of strict parenting where parents are highly invested in their children's success by pushing their children to achieve high levels of academic achievement or high status in extracurricular activities such as music and/or sports. 'Green Mother's Club' ended its 16-episode run with the highest viewer rating of 6.088% national viewership on May 26 according to Nielsen Korea. The initial response to the series was mediocre, but viewership was able to increase towards the middle and latter part of the series with an average of third or fourth place in nationwide viewership. The series depicts the lives of five mothers that live in an ordinary neighborhood in Seoul. But this neighborhood is especially competitive in primary education which causes the housing market to skyrocket in the area. Lee Eun Pyo (Lee Yo Won Different Dreams 2019), a young mother with two young boys, moves into the neighborhood expecting it to be very normal but runs into a group of mothers at the local elementary school who are extremely invested in their children's academics. Eun Pyo befriends a classmate's mom, Byun Chun Hee (Choo Ja Hyun A Man Called God 2010), who seems to be the leader of the mothers club, as well as juggles her troubled past relationship with her ex-best friend Seo Jin Ha (Kim Gyu Ri Designated Survivor: 60 Days 2019). Each character embraces growth as a young mother while dealing with a complex they cannot overcome. The series is currently available on Netflix. Check out the cast's episode 1 & 2 commentary! Social Insight South Korea is one of the "Tiger" countries where Tiger parenting is acceptable and is expected. Children often as young as first grade (depicted in 'Green Mother's Club') are expected to go to academies after their regular school. These academies often run until the late hours of the night. Many argue that South Korean children cannot enjoy their childhoods since each activity is attributed to them getting into a top-tier university and hopefully a great job. I've had personal experience with this as I used to work for a company that sang English songs to children over the phone. On multiple occasions, mothers with unborn children would call and ask us to sing to their preborn by placing the phone against their bellies! They felt that the earlier they could expose their children to English, they would be able to get an edge on their child's education. Tiger parenting has been blamed for the high rates of suicide, especially in South Korea, which has some of the highest suicide rates in the developed world. The stress from constant studying and lack of social life takes a toll on children and young adults leading to anxiety, depression, and antisocial behavior. We at Dojeon Media want to shed a light on this topic and listen to what you have to say! Please let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!