Thank You - 4 Stars

Can there really a person as giving, as patient, as kind as Lee Young Shin (Gong Hyo Jin) ? Really? In this world? Hmm....

She got pregnant by a friend she love, but the guy slept with her because a bet he made with his friends. Heartless jerk, I'll say. He knew as a friend how hard her life already is- left as an orphan, caring for her Grandfather who has Alzheimer - why does he have to mess with her heart and life even more? To add salt to the wound, he knew she have a child- though nobody know who the father is, but everyone silently know it's him - but he didn't return to the island for 6 years after serving his 2 years in the army! And all he could say to her when he return, "Why didn't you ask me to stay? Ask me to stay and I'll give up everything." Hulllloooooo... does she really need to ask him? dumbo! jerk! bastard! moron! Bbabo! You should know your own reponsibilty!

So she raised her daughter by herself, took care of her ailing grandfather, support her brother's study and still with a smile on her face. When her daughter ended up having HIV because of a blood transfusion, she didn't sue the doctor and the hospital to kingdom come but walk quietly out of the hospital. She still show her cheerfulness to the world. I know wailing and pulling my hair out wouldn't solve anything, but still....at least that would make me human isn't it?

Dr. Min Ki Seo (Jang Hyuk) is an arrogant jerk who lost his passion in healing the sick after his father's medical license was revoked for a patient that end up dead. To top it off his girlfriend died of pancreatic cancer that he could't cure. He just lost his reason to live. Before his girlfriend died, she asked him to apologize on her behalf to the little girl that ends up having HIV because of her careless mistake. I don't think that at first he went to Canglu Island to fulfill her last wish, fate (or the writers) just meant for him to meet Lee Bom (Seo Shin Ae). With them, he learn again to be compassionate, to love and to laugh again.

I couldn't recognize Jang Hyuk from The Successful Story of a Bright Girl at first, maybe because he lost his weight after his 2 years stint in the army (in Wiki it stated he try to avoid serving!) but then the way he tilt his head arrogantly jolt my memory. Though I don't like him (coz he can't act humble), I wouldnt want Young Shin to choose Choi Suk Hyun (Shin Sung Rok) the jerk though...I didn't care how much he regret his past actions, or how he deep inside wants to be with Young Shin and Lee Bom and thus live in misery, it still stink if she choose him!

Well, just as the title suggest, the drama ends with everyone being thankful ^_^ Young Shin to Suk Hyun for getting her pregnant and giving her Lee Bom, Suk Hyun to Young Shin for not teaching Lee Bom to hate him and Ki Seo to Young Shin for giving him a miracle...

Gong Hyo Jin natural beauty shines through here, if only her make up was as light as this in Biscuit Teacher and Star Candy....then she and Gong Yoo would make a nice couple :)

My Prized Collection

Among Korean dramas that I watched earliest was 'Autumn in My Heart', 'Winter Sonata' & 'Successful Story of a Bright Girl' and those didn't make an impression to me. If I managed to caught them on TV its okay, but if I miss it, its no biggie.

Then I incidentally watch a historical drama and I got hooked! Impatient to wait for a fresh episode every weekdays, me and my sister went in search of the dvds. So 'Jewel in the Palace' is the first of my collection. Then someone lend me 'Stairway to Heaven' and Korean Drama becomes an addiction...

1. Jewel in The Palace - 5 Stars

-->Simply lurve it! Have rewatched it 3-4 times.

2. Phoenix - 2.5 Stars

--> when I bought the boxset it seems it will be an interesting watch when spoiled rich girl falls for a common guy, but her family was against it. Then fortune reversal make him the rich ones and she the pauper. Maybe watching this drama directly after JIP make me dont like it as much, left disappointed...

3. Miss Kim's Million Dollar Quest - 1 Star

--> if it's not for Ji Jin Hee, I will not watch it from start to finish...so irritating!

4. Hotelier - 4 Stars

--> To run my own hotel...hmmm! Dream on......

5. Medical Brothers - 1 Star

--> bought it because of Jang Dong Gun. Never finish watching it

6. Spring Days - 3.5 Stars

--> bought it because of Ji Jin Hee, was so disappounted he didn't get his happy ending. Sure enough he taught her to cry while the brother taught her how to laugh...but if she didn't learn how to let go of her pain, she wouldn't be able to laugh right?

7. Truth - 1 Stars

--> another dissapointment :(

8. Save Your Last Dance For Me - 3 Stars

--> hmmm...have to rewatched again....someday

9. Love Letter - 2.5 Stars

--> bought it because of Ji Jin Hee, so I didnt pay Jo Hyun Jae much attention. Do I hate it because Ji Jin Hee didnt get his happy ending also???

10. Three Leafed Clover - 2.0 Stars

--> unmemorable

11. All In - 1 Star

--> what a bore!!!

12. Diamond Tears - 2.5 Stars

--> hmmm...would it help if the casts are popular actor/actress?

13. A Love to Kill - 2 Stars

--> love to resell

14. Sunshine of Love - 4 Stars

--> like the beginning, hate the ending

15. Resurrection - 2.5 Stars

--> I just realised I had so many dramas with vengeance theme...

16. Loveholic - 1 Star (MIA!)

--> hate the casts, hate the story. so it doesnt matter to me much thats it's MIA

17. Green Rose - 2.5 Stars (MIA!)

--> another drama driven by vengeance. passable only

18. Into The Storm - 1 Star

--> another bore. I bought the drama because the lead actor reminds me of the guy I had a crush on when I was in Uni. Have not finished watching it...

19. Seo Dong Yo /Ballads of Seo Dong - 5 Stars

--> slow begining, but once he grew up becomes Jo Hyun Jae, I couldn't stop!! I even sacrifice my lunch hour to watch the dvd on my pc

20. Jumong - 4.5 Stars

--> The most expansive of my collection so far. I had to buy the original...too impatient to wait for the un-ori. But it was worth it...

21. Only You - 2 Stars

--> hate the female lead, love the child actress. Only watch it to the finish because of JHJ.

22. Princess Hours - 4 Stars

--> I think it was meant for teenagers, but I do still like it...a fairytale story. Love the soundtracks

23. My Girl - 4 Stars

--> make me smile... ^_^

24. Snow Queen - 2.5 Stars

--> a bit slow...but ok lah...know from the start that it will be a sad ending

25. Hwangjini - 3 Stars

--> cry a bucket when the young master die, and the story after that goes downhill

26. Damo - 3.5 Stars

--> Fudge! The storyline makes me pondered, sometimes we are born in this world to suffer..

27. Man of The Vineyard - 4.5 Stars

--> Like the lightheartedness...


28. Emperor of The Sea - 5 Stars

--> lurve it! love this song too... makes me wants to learn korean language

29. Seoul's Sad Song - 1 Star

--> maybe I hate it cause the translation was so bad....

30. Tree in Heaven - 1 Star

--> Ewww...the female lead still looks like a child, maybe she need to wait until her looks matured to take such role

31. Couple or Trouble - 3.5 Stars

--> LOL!

32. Fashion 70s - 4 Stars

--> the storyline when they were children make me wish I had superpower and stop all stupid useless war! Love Jo Jin Moo

33. Something About 1% - 2.5 Stars

--> Kinda okay...but I still could not understand their contract...

34. Queen of The Game - 2.5 Stars

--> took me more than a month to finish it.....

35. 9 Ends 2 Outs - 4 Stars

--> they are so sweet ^_^ though when So Ae was dating the high schooler kinda gross me out

36. Coffee Prince - 5 Stars

--> love, love, love it!

37. Biscuit Teacher & Candy Star - 3.5 Stars

--> Sigh....Gong Yoo! Makes me think would I make more a difference if I become a teacher..... NOT! since I cant teach!

38. Yuhee The Witch - 3 Stars

--> When I was watching it I like it, but now thinking back, I cant remember wats so speacial about it....

39. One Fine Day

--> havent watch it yet...I think I need a time off from looking at TVs

Queen of The Game

They say 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned'. She raised her son with hatred for the man who used and betrayed her and eventually lead to her husband's suicide. Shin Jun grew up plotting vengeance against the man who used to be his father's bestfriend. Therefore, when the time comes to put the plan into actions, he didn't hesitate to execute it even when he realised he was truly falling in love with the enemy's daughter, Eun Seul. However, his love was stronger than his hatred; because of her, he was willing to forgive the father - even shouldered the crime the father's hoisted on him.

It was rather 'weird' watching selfish parents who rather have their children miserable rather than themselves. Shin Jun and Eun Seul was like Korean's Romeo & Juliet - lovers who were torn apart by feuding family. It was a boring first half of the drama, because everything are so predictable and slowwwwwww.....

Things started to get interesting five years later when Shin Jun reappered with an amnesia. Even Jo Jin Moo looks more handsomer with a youthful-playful-carefree character, rather than his serious-bent-on-vengeance looks earlier. Eun Seul's father was catatonic because of brain aneurism, so the only person stand in their path to happiness was his mother - and his collegue, Joo Woon who was in love with him for years.

The love and loyalty Joo Woon had for Shin Jun turn into blinding hatred when Shin Jun - even with his memory lost - still choose Eun Seul. Sigh! Soulmates always recognize one another, even when one lost one memory, or in another lifetime, or whatever. Now, Joo Woon would do everything to ruin Shin Jun.

The conclusion....you have to watch for yourself, or else you wouldn't .... If you are a fan of Lee Bo Young, she was boring here, terlalu kontrol ayu, even menangis pun nampak not sincere enuff, she's better in Seo Dong Yo. Pil Seo's ex-wife appears more interesting... Oh! One more thing, Shin Jun wardrobe is so...whats-the-word....sissyish...even the coats are so ughhh! thankgod some of the female casts clothes are better...

Beautiful Heroine

Name: 송혜교 / Song Hye Gyo (Song Hye Kyo)
Profession: Actress and model
Birthdate: 1981-Nov-22
Height: 161cm
Weight: 45kg
Star sign: Sagittarius

Name: 이보영 / Lee Bo Young (Yi Bo Yeong)
Profession: Actress and model
Birthdate: 1979-Jan-12
Height: 168cm
Weight: 48kg

Name: 이다해 / Lee Da Hae
Real name: 변다혜 / Byun Da Hye
Profession: Actress and model
Birthdate: 1984-Apr-19
Height: 170cm
Weight: 47kg
Star sign: Aries

Name: 윤은혜 / Yoon Eun Hye
Nicknames: "JamGgoDae"(Stick), "Pooh"
Profession: Model, actress and singer
Birthdate: October 3, 1984
Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
Height: 168cm Weight: 50kg

Name: 김태희 / Kim Tae Hee (Kim Tae Hui)
Nickname: Angel
Profession: Actress and model
Birthdate: 1980-Mar-29
Birthplace: Ulsan, South Korea
Height: 165cm
Weight: 45kg

Oppa

These Korean actors are not drop dead gorgeous to be truthful, but there are something about them that makes their character on screen alive, that makes you forget that it's not truly their character, they are just acting for godsake...but you just can't help falling in love with them.

Here's a list of my "oppa" and I believe its gonna grow over time....

Name: 조현재 / Jo Hyun Jae (Jo Hyeon Jae)
Profession: Actor
Birthdate: 1980-May-09
Height: 181cm
Weight: 65kg
Star sign: Taurus
Blood type: A
Education: Myungji University, Dangook University

Drama

Ballad Of Suh Dong (SBS, 2005) - here's where I fall in love with him
Only You (SBS, 2005) - he's gorgeous, hate the female lead
Nine Tailed Fox (KBS, 2004) - lurve it!
Shining Days (SBS, 2004) - watched!
Star's Echo (MBC/Fuji TV, 2004) - watched!
First Love (SBS, 2003) - wanna watch!
Love Letter (MBC, 2003) - not impressive :(
Daemang (SBS, 2002) - wanna watch!
That's Good (SBS, 2001)
Father and Son (SBS, 2001)
Kaist (SBS, 1999)

Movies
G.P. 506 (2007) - watched!
Joy of Love (2004, short internet film)
Untold Scandal (2003) - ltd!

Screen Name: Gong Yoo (공유)
Birth Name: Gong Ji Cheol (공지철)
Birth Date: July 10, 1979
Western & Eastern Sign: Cancerian Sheep
Status: Single
Birth Place: South Korea
Height: 184 cm or 6'2
Weight: 74 kg
Blood Type: A
Hobbies: Watching movies, playing basketball, and exercising
Expertise:English speaking, singing, basketball
Favorite Music: R&B and Hip-Hop
Family: One older sister; he's the youngest in the family

Talent Agency: SidusHQ

Drama

The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince (MBC, 2007) - lovable
One Fine Day (MBC, 2006)
Hello My Teacher (SBS, 2005)
Screen (SBS, 2003)
20 Years (SBS, 2003)
Hard Love (KBS, 2002)
When Ever (KBS, 2002)
School 4 (KBS, 2001)

Movie

Ryu ga Gotoku / Like a Dragon(2007) - wanna watch!
She's On Duty (2005) - cute!
S Diary (2004)
Superstar Mr. Gam / Mr. Gam's Victory (2004)
Spy Girl (2004)
My Tutor Friend (2003)

Name: 지진희 / Ji Jin Hee
Profession: Actor
Birthdate: 1971-June-24
Birthplace: South Korea
Height: 178cm
Weight: 71kg
Star sign: Cancer
Blood type: B
Family: Wife Lee Su Yon (since 2004)
Talent agency: SidusHQ

Drama

Cain and Abel (SBS, 2008) - wanna watch!
The 100th Bride (2005)
Spring Day (SBS, 2005) - Love him here
Miss Kim Makes 1 Million (SBS, 2004) - irritating
Dae Jang Geum (MBC, 2003) - fall in love with him here
Love Letter (MBC, 2003) - hate and pity him here
Passing Rain (MBC/Fuji TV, 2002)
Four Sisters (MBC, 2001

Movies

Su (2006)
Perhaps Love (2005)
If You Were Me (2003)
H (2002)

Name: 송일국 / Song Il Gook (Song Il Guk)
Profession: Actor, model
Birthdate: 1971-Oct-1
Height: 185cm
Weight: 80kg
Blood type: A
Star sign: Libra Family: Mother is actress Kim Eul Dong and sister is Song Song Yi
Education: Cheongju University
Hobbies: Golf, swimming, skiing, mountain biking and swordsmanship Talent agency: Barunson Entertainment

Drama

The Lobbyist (SBS, 2007)
The Book of Three Han (MBC, 2006) - compelling
Sea God (KBS, 2004) - riveting
Terms of Endearment (KBS, 2004)
Water flower Village (MBC 2004)
Desert Spring (MBC, 2003)
Bodyguard (KBS, 2003)
Royal Story (KBS2 2003)
Hard Love (KBS2 2002)
Album of Love (KBS1, 2001)
All About Eve (MBC, 2001,cameo ) - don't notice him

Movies
The Art of Seduction (2005) - not playboyishly enuff
Red Eye (2004)

Name: 주진모 / Joo Jin Mo (Ju Jin-mo)
Real name: 박진태 / Park Jin Tae
Profession: Actor
Birthdate: 1974-Aug-11
Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
Height: 180cm
Weight: 70kg
Star sign: Leo
Blood type: O
Family: 3 older sisters

Drama

Queen of the Game (SBS, 2006) - yeppeun!
Bicheonmu (2005) - wanna watch!
Fashion 70's (SBS, 2005) - dashing!
Punch (SBS, 2003)
Turn Your Angry Face (KBS, 2000)
Sad Temptation (KBS, 1999)

Movie
Love / Sarang (2007)
200 Pounds Beauty (2006) - a hunk!
Sorry Apple (2005)
3-Iron (2004)
Liar (2004)
Bighouse Dotcom (2004)
The Trigger (2001)
Wanee & Junah (2001)
Musa: The Warrior (2001) - hmmm...will rewatch again
Real Fiction (2000)
Happy End (1999)
Dance Dance (1999) - still green ^_^
Park vs Park (1997)
Farewell My Darling (1996)

Name: 오만석 / Oh Man Seok (Oh Man Suk)
Nickname: Man-zzang (meaning "Man the Best")
Profession: Actor
Birthdate: 1975-Jan-30
Height: 175cm
Weight: 64kg
Star sign: Aquarius
Blood type: B
Family: Daughter

Drama
The King and I (SBS, 2007) - wanna watch!
Surgeon Bong Dal Hee (SBS, 2007, guest star ep13&14)
Hyena (tvN, 2006)
The Vineyard Man (KBS2, 2006) - funny & endearing!

Movie

Our Town (2007)
Soo (2006)
Bi-sang (2006)
A Cruel Attendance (2006)
Liar (2004)

Name: 오지호 / Oh Ji Ho
Profession: Actor and model
Birthdate: 1976-Apr-14
Height: 183cm
Weight: 75kg
Star sign: Aries

Drama

Get Karl! Oh Soo Jung (SBS, 2007)
Couple of Fantasy (MBC, 2006) - endearing!
Thanks Life (KBS, 2006)
Autumn Shower (MBC, 2005) - make up your mind!
Super Rookie (MBC, 2005)
Second Proposal (KBS, 2004)
Confession (MBC, 2002)
Cool (KBS, 2001)

Movies

My Wife is a Gangster 3 (2006) - funny!
Love Trilogy (2004)
Silver Knife (2003)
I Love You (2001)
La Belle (2000)
Kka (1998)

Thought of the day

A day of boredom at the office, and while waiting for the clock to tick to 4.30pm I was browsing some personality quizzes and this quiz at tickle.com caught my eyes...so what the heck i try it out...and the result....

"siti, you're single because you don't want to settle..... You, more than others, have a fairy tale fantasy of how things should be. Ever since you were a kid, you've probably dreamed of the perfect wedding, coming home to a white picket fence, dog, and 2.2 kids (how does that work, anyway?). When someone asks what you're looking for, you don't skip a beat: You're likely to have a handy checklist that details your perfect partner. Hair and eye color, height, religion, education, career, interests, the list goes on.

While it's great to have standards — Hey, you shouldn't have to settle, after all — there's one slight glitch in your master plan: No one has made the grade in real life — at least not yet. Next time you're out with someone, keep yourself from mentally checking that list, and give love — and others — a chance. That special someone who you've written off may be perfect for you after all..."

Well... I do admit, hehe I have high expectation and who wouldn't? After all those hundreds thrashy novels I read, it makes you take a step back when approach by real man. Some of them may meet the minimum requirements but when you get to know them closer and better, it's kinda dissapointing to found them just human and have flaws. Haha..even Superman has flaws, tapi would you wanna risk your spending your lifetime with a person who bores you, don't share the same interest and have personality that irks you? if you do, I salute you! You are so courageous...

Fudge! And all these Korean drama nudge my expectations a notch higher everytime... Here comes a life of solitude...

Coffee Prince

Go Eun-Chan (Yoon Eun-Hye) as the head of her family had to work 3-4 jobs a day to support them while Choi Han-Keol (Gong Yoo) being the heir apparent of a large company just didn't have anything better to do but have a good time. Circumstances brought them together, as he thought Eun Chan to be a boy, he hired her to pose as his gay lover to foiled his grandmother's match-making dates. Unhindered to mold her aimless-grandson, she told him to triple the profits of a dilapidated coffee house in 3 months or she takes away his privileges.

After some persuasion from Eun Chan -who desperately needed a job-Han Keol decided to take up the challenge. Apart from Eun Chan (who had to continue her masquerade since he only hired males), Han Keol also hired some helpers that enliven the coffee shops (and the drama) with their own live story and antics; the aloof No Sun-Ki (Kim Jae Wook), the smug-playboy Jin Ha-Rim (Kim Dong Wook) and the brawny-dunce Hwang Min Yeop (Lee-Un).

Working everyday together brought Han Keol and Eun Chan together, to the point where Han Keol was very agonized to think that he was attracted to a boy and in danger of falling for him. He tried to fired her but in the end rehired her back. So when Eun Chan finally confess her secret, he felt very betrayed.

Never heard of Gong Yoo before, but now I'm gonna watch out for every past drama/movie he's been in. There's something about his secretive smiles, the way his eyes teared up, the way he try to appear non-caring, the way he say Mul-la for "don't know"and the way he wakes up Eun Chan with a phone call and serenade a love song.....sigh!

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My favourite moment was after Eun Chan's confession and this is what he have to say "I need someone who trust me, and even though the whole world laugh at me and call me an imbecile. I need someone who can tell me, Choi Han Keol just haven't the oppurtunity to prove himself; Choi Han Keol does what he puts his mind to; Choi Han Keol just havent found his way yet, but when he do, he'll be able to make something out of himself. I need someone who can trust me like that, not someone like you who deceives me even while we're in love. Who is afraid of being abandoned"

The way he delivers the line, make me root for him, whereas before I was like "Dude, get off your high horse! So she deceives you...big deal! Who has never told a lie in this life? She has her reasons - but now she comes clean..so get over it lah!" Hahaha.....

But really...does this really happen in real life? Its comprehensible for Eun Chan to fall in love with her boss, who is tall, handsome, rich and to top it off have soft heart underneath the gruff exterior. But for him to fall for a person who he think is a boy, but who is too pretty to be a boy, but won't be beautiful as a girl??? Won't any real man just think of a person as a bestfriend or a little brother if they are very fond of the person of the same gender?

There's talk about making the sequel for this drama but if it was without Gong Yoo's shy-goofy smiles, it wouldn't be worth watching. Gong Yoo will be serving his 2 yrs military service this coming Jan 14 :( I hope he won't be harass even more just because he's an actor and all. Sigh! Two years is a long wait for another drama from him...........

p/s: I had this love-hate relationship with Korean Dramas that I really really like, that make me wants to rush out and buy another boxset- immediately!, as soon as the shops open!, as soon as I get off from work!. To date, the drama that makes me restless and dissatisfied with life are Seo Dong Yo, The Vineyard Man, Jumong, Emperor of The Sea & this Coffee Prince...FUDGE!

p/p/s: I take back my earlier statement bout Yoon Eun Hye won't be beautiful as a girl. She might not be a dashing beauty- but with the right hair style, make-up - she's quite pretty. I don't drink coffee, but hmmm...maybe I should give it another try? Nah......