The Price of Confession

So #KimGoEun's pixie hair cut was for this role.

I just hope that, like #JiChangWook and #DohKyungSoo in #TheManipulated, and #KimYooJung in #DearX, matinding debriefing ang ginawa sa kanila to shake off the role/ character.

Mother Boksoon #JeonDoYeon is so fine as ever.

All 12 episodes of #ThePriceOfConfession are available for streaming at Netflix

Typhoon Family

 #TyphoonFamily

If there were options, I’d vote for Pamilyang Binagyo ng Kamalasan (as in “binagyo talaga” or a family stormed by a series of misfortunes, or unfortunate events) as an alternate or a translated version of this drama's title 😁

After it made its landfall, Typhoon Family was indeed massive and powerful, with most viewers waiting for the return of the King (the Land), #LeeJunHo. During the initial episode/s, he was already showing off his 2PM idol swag and good looks (omg, his hair with blonde highlights). We missed him that much.

Synopsis: Kang Tae Poong's (Lee Jun Ho) father runs Typhoon Trading (you get it now? Tae Poong = Typhoon), a small but settled company. Known to his peers as the Gangnam Prince, Tae Poong was a carefree but kind-hearted young man, would sometimes get into trouble and fighting, and had no plans apart from maintaining a flower nursery as he was into horticulture. But when the 1997 IMF crisis hits South Korea, and his father passes away, everything changed for him. Determined and driven by a strong sense of responsibility, Tae Poong vowed to ensure the company's survival, whatever the cost.

Cast:

• Lee Joon Ho as Kang Tae Poong

• Kim Min Ha as Oh Mi-Seon

• Sung Dong Il as Kang Jin Young

• Kim Ji Young as Jung Jeong Mi

• Kwon Han Sol as Oh Mi Ho

• Kwon Eun Seong as Oh Beom

• Kim Young Ok as Yeom Bun

• Lee Chang Hoon as Go Ma Jin

• Kim Jae Hwa as Cha Seon Taek

• Kim Song Il as Koo Myung Gwan

• Lee Sang Jin as Bae Song Jung

• Kim Min Suk as Wang Nam Mo

• Park Sung Yeon as Kim Eul Nyeo

• Yang Byeong Yeol as Hwang Yun Seong

• Kim Sang Ho as Pyo Bak Ho

• Mu Jin Sung as Pyo Hyeon Jun

• Kim Do Young as Manager Ha

According to reports, Typhoon Family debuted on Netflix South Korea at No. 2 and has maintained the top position since. In the week of October 13–19, the show ranked No. 5 in Netflix Global’s non-English category and was Top 10 overall in 19 countries. In the week of October 20–26, it went up to No. 7 and was Top 10 overall in 8 countries.

However, despite the high ratings, halfway through the season, the audience was 50-50, asking when the unfortunate streak will end. Tae Poong, his family and friends and company Typhoon Trading suffered from an endless series of misfortunes. Bad things would happen one after another. Lahat na lang yata ng kamalasan. And lahat na lang ng pahirap (hardship). Hindi na natapos. And we wondered why Pyo Bak Ho (played by Kim Sang Ho), CEO of Pyo Sang Seon (Pyo Merchant Marine) and his son Hyeon Jun (Mun Jin Sung) were so G na G and persistent on destroying them, when the Kang family and the employees were not doing anything at all. 

What was Bak Ho looking for, when he visited Kang Jin-Young, Tae Poong’s father (played by Sung Dong Il), in the hospital? Turns out that there was a hidden promissory note, where Bak Ho owed Typhoon Trading 40 million won, and in exchange for the loan, he would transfer a 30% share of his own company, Pyo Merchant Marine to Jin Young.

But until that promissory note is found, it was getting to be tiresome, and frustrating. Was it still worth watching and waiting for?

Other highlights / elements that I loved in the drama:

1. Emotional and meaningful story, layered storytelling, good character development, realistic setting and strong cast performance.

2. The recreation of 1990s South Korea, the affluent young people in Seoul known for their flashy, carefree lifestyles during that time, and the nostalgia and emotional weight it created – how we feared Y2K, how we survived the analog era - fax machines, pagers, pay phones, cellular phones, free TV, the desktop computer with diskettes and green or black and white monitors, cassette tapes, and the early beginnings of CDs, MP3 or iPod and CCTVs. 

3. Lee Jun Ho does not disappoint. Once again, he delivers a compelling performance, with this role further solidifying his reputation as a versatile and bankable lead actor, following his award-winning performance in #TheRedSleeve and his popular role in #KingtheLand. His portrayal of Tae Poong exudes charm, energy and humor, injecting life (even a few dance moves) into the character even amidst the serious backdrop of economic hardship.  

4. #KimMinHa is said to be a replacement for the female lead role. But it doesn’t matter, bare face, freckles and all, she is, for me, the perfect Ms. Oh Mi Seon. I remember the episode where she accepted Tae Poong’s offer to be his employee, when he couldn’t offer anything. When she said Yes, I couldn’t help but cry.  She may not be the prettiest actress, but I find her acting natural and effortless. For me, her on-screen chemistry with Jun Ho feels organic, full of quiet tension and warmth. To recall, Min Ha’s breakout role is her critically acclaimed portrayal of Kim Sunja in the international hit series #Pachinko.

5. Tae Poong's mother adjusting to their life from being a spoiled wife living in comfort to being broke and homeless. And how she embraced the Oh family. 

6. The combined support of his mother and Typhoon Trading’s loyal employees contributed further to his strength and resilience.

7. Same with the support system of Mi Seon.

8. The existence of “angels” on earth – the ones who helped him along the way (from his first textile case to safety shoes case, helmet case, surgical gloves case, Dabontech / cooling fan case).

9. At the same time, gigil na gigil na ko sa antagonists hahaha Ayaw tumigil, ayaw paawat.  Ang yaman na nila, and ang laki ng company compared to Typhoon Trading.

10. The second lead couple Nam Mo and Mi Ho added charm to the story.

11. The flowers serve as a significant metaphor throughout the series, reflecting the characters' growth and their ability to find hope and build a "flower garden" (a fulfilling life and strong community) even amidst hardship: Roses for hope, representing Tae Poong’s optimism and ability to rise again; Cosmos representing resilience and strength, the ability to endure, light pink for budding love and dark pink for passion; Freesias carrying a message of small comfort and encouragement; Gerbera for passion and wealth; Lilawadi (Frangipani) conveying a heartfelt message, "Meeting you was luck"; and Lilies: respect.

12. The OST is also memorable, with contributions from the lead actors: "Eternity" by Min Ha, "Did You See The Rainbow?" by Jun Ho (the drama's opening theme song), and “Updraft” by Han (Stray Kids) which is a hint that something is happening in favor of Tae Poong each time Whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh. Whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh plays. There’s also an unreleased track featured during the train ride scene in the first episode, which goes like: "Strangers with flowers on a crowded train, smiled at me like you knew my name".  The BGM perfectly complemented the visuals of the scene where the two leads who at the time didn’t know each other yet share a moment of unspoken connection on their commute. 

13. Bonus: Jun Ho singing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”

14. The episode titles are real names of popular Korean dramas from the 1980s and 1990s, with the writer Jang Hyeon-suk paying tribute to the classic K-dramas that laid the foundation for the industry today. 

To simply say that the moral of the story is ‘Don’t give up’ is an understatement. Typhoon Family cannot emphasize perseverance enough. It also shows how one’s strength of family ties, holding on to values and hope in the face of hardship can help people overcome life’s difficulties. Frustrating yes, and you can’t help but wonder why there are people out there who will intentionally make your life difficult. The “silver lining” or the end of the rainbow seemed so impossible to obtain for Tae Poon and a lesser mortal would have given up or worse, died in the process.

We see in the last episode that Tae Poong told Bak Ho that while the latter’s son grew up knowing this world is a hellhole, his father on the other hand taught him that it was full of flowers and fruits. 

I wish you luck, Bak Ho said. See if the world will wait for the flowers to bloom, and the fruits to bear.

Bouncing back, did Tae Poong go back to his flower nursery?  He didn’t have to. Ultimately, his decision to stay on as Typhoon Trading CEO tells us that the people and their strong human connections, forged through shared struggles and support, are "more beautiful than flowers". His flowers are here.

The drama finished strongly with the final episode hitting 10.3% rating nationwide. 

All 16 episodes of Typhoon Family are available for streaming at Netflix

P.S. Watch out for Lee Jun Ho’s next project Cashero, an upcoming South Korean superhero fantasy action series coming out also in Netflix this December. #BuhayKPam

Lee Chae Min in Manila

Lucky 13☘️

My 13th Fan Meet

3rd this year and 2nd to the last for 2025

He is the good-looking young man in #CrashCourseInRomance #Hierarchy #SeeYouInMy19thLife #Crushology101 

Who became a household name and a global rising star after #BonAppetitYourMajesty 

Please stay humble, Chae Min ❤️

Nae gyeote isseo jwo

#LEECHAEMIN_TOUR_IN_MNL 

#Chaemintoyou_in_manila 

#LEECHAEMIN 

#Chaemintoyou

#WouldYouMarryMe

 #WouldYouMarryMe mini review

After Melo Movie, Rom Com King (a title given to him by his Wooga brothers) Choi Woo Shik is back!

Two years after I have seen him in person, I believe that #WouldYouMarryMe can boast of having the handsomest Woo Shik ever. I couldn’t help but mutter “Ampogi” every time he’s on screen. For a change, he comes from a chaebol family. Thanks too to the stylist and the clothing brands he endorses (Ami Paris and Project M), his casual yet elegant outfits mostly in brown, tan, and beige complement his good looks and height, veering away from the usual black and navy formals that corporate executives in dramas wear.   

And so far, this is the only drama where I am so strongly shipping his character to the female protagonist. Or better yet, to Jung So Min herself (I like Park Bo Young as an actress, his partner in Melo Movie, but not for him). 

Initially, I found it so problematic and chaotic. You can already see that Yoo Meri (played by Jung So Min, Love Next Door, Alchemy of Souls) has financial struggles, doesn’t have the happiest relationship with her partner, the first Kim Woo Joo (Seo Bum June, Hierarchy, First Night with the Duke), who is a cheater and whose side chick, it turns out, has a real fiancé. The mother-in-law and sister-in-law are troublemakers who don’t like her because she’s not rich enough. But she has her own design company, and her family loves her.

For the other Kim Woo Joo (Choi Woo Shik, Parasite, Our Beloved Summer, A Killer Paradox, Melo Movie), his parents died in a car accident when he was young and there seems to be a hint that they were intentionally killed. He has anxiety attacks, perhaps due to his childhood trauma. His uncle is a scheming man using underhand tactics to gain control of the family business and has an affair and a son on the side. Woo Joo’s aunt and cousin seem to hate him, maybe because of inheritance issues. He has a childhood friend who is forever in love with him, with automatic approval from his grandmother whose personal physician is the father. Upon his return from the US, he was given the marketing team leader position in Myungsoondang, a popular bakery chain in South Korea, where he is a fourth-generation heir. And there’s the typical back story of him and Meri knowing each other since kids. Turns out she is his first love, the girl he met after the car accident and gave him a plushie toy for hope and strength, and the one he has been searching for all his life.

By twist of fate, Meri, dumped by her partner and left technically married, won a luxurious townhouse in a department store promo for newlyweds. So as not to lose the prize, she “proposed” to Woo Joo to pretend to be her husband as he bears the same name.  At this point, you would agree with me that everything would be chaotic, as pretense is unsustainable and you can only fake things up to a certain extent.

For the second lead couple, the childhood friend Yoon Jin Gyeong (played by Shin Seul-Ki, Pyramid Game) is a doctor who will do everything to win his heart; and Baek Sang-Hyun (played by the ever-busy Bae Na Ra, who has four dramas this year), a department store managing director who also has a back story of his own, including gratitude struggles with his employer.

There are so many subplots, and there’s so much going on that one would find it hard to track them all at once. There are annoying and unbelievable situations and characters, what can you expect from a “fake marriage”, but as a rom com, the chemistry between the leads and the second leads compensate for it, and Woo Shik’s presence and sense of humor is all over. You can tell that the director allows him to be his usual comic self, as seen from behind-the-scenes videos and photos. 

And of course, all loose ends have been neatly tied up. Napagod siguro ang writer sa dami ng subplots.

Why “Would” instead of “Will?” While "Will you marry me?" sounds confident and direct, "Would you marry me?" is generally more hypothetical or conditional, polite and indirect, and because of the fake marriage setup, the question is if Meri "would" marry Woo Joo under these unusual, artificial circumstances. "Would" introduces an element of uncertainty and choice that "will" might not capture as effectively, emphasizing the conscious decision to choose each other.

Interestingly, I read that the drama's title is actually a clever linguistic blend of the character names, Woo Joo and Meri, which creates a hidden layer often lost on international audiences.

All in all, WYMM is one of those dramas with heart and humor, na hindi perfect pero you can live with it. It can be your companion after a hard day’s work, or even in the morning when everyone else is still fast asleep, and kayong dalawa lang ang gising, having coffee, looking out the window or listening to the sounds of the falling rain. It’s a drama that you can be comfortable with, in silence or in chaos. Minsan nakakatawa. Minsan nakakaiyak. Minsan wala lang. Minsan nakakainis, madalas may conflict, merong mga cast of characters na sumisingit. Minsan ayaw mo, minsan pinipili mo, but it’s always a conscious choice. And you get by. You get by. 

Just like what being in a life partnership is all about.

All 12 episodes of Would You Marry Me are available for streaming at Disney+ PH SBS DRAMA #BuhayKPam

#RomanticsAnonymous mini review

It’s one of those dramas that kept on popping on my feed, but I never paid attention until a colleague suggested watching it, saying there’s a surprise in the end. So, I gave it a try, and despite not being a sweet tooth person myself, I bit into the chocolate and was lost, as endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine were released.

RA is an 8-episode Jdrama, a remake of the 2010 French film "Les Emotifs anonymes" with a Korean actress as female lead, played by #HanHyoJoo (#Always #Moving #Happiness #W). Male lead is Japanese actor #ShunOguri who at 42 can still give his younger peers a run for their money, with his good looks and physique.

Mentored by a brilliant chef, Kenji, who believed in her, Lee Hana is a genius chocolatier with scopophobia, an excessive and irrational fear of being watched or stared at by others, a type of specific phobia and is often linked with social anxiety disorder. Sosuke Fujiwara is the heir of a family-owned confectionery corporation, the number one in Japan, who has a fear of germs, dirt and contamination, owing to a childhood trauma where he felt guilty and has been blaming himself for the death of his older brother.

Strangely, they didn’t encounter these fears with each other. Hana and Sosuke share a comfortable intimacy: she can meet his gaze directly, and he is unfazed by her physical touch. But will they have a sweet ending?

Completing the foursome are the second leads, also Japanese actors, #YuriNakamura as Irene, a renowned psychologist and author; and #JinAkanishi as Hiro Takada, the dashing owner of the bar Brush.

As someone with an acquired mild claustrophobia, I discovered that I could no longer stay in crowded small tight spaces shortly after I was diagnosed with general anxiety disorder and MDD in 2021. I can totally relate to the two characters’ struggles, with the physical symptoms such as panic attack, difficulty in breathing, trembling, sweating, dizziness, nausea, and chest pain, among others, when triggered.  

According to research, phobias are an anxiety disorder that can cause physical and psychological distress, interfere with daily life, and increase the risk of other mental health issues like panic disorder. 

But as shown in RA, with professional help, support from family and loved ones, medication, lifestyle and home remedies, these can be managed and treated, although it takes time. We see Hana and Sosuke’s journey (individual therapy, group counseling, Kendo, supportive co-workers) to overcome their phobias as they fall in love, using chocolate as a comforting and symbolic backdrop for their healing relationship. While they are successfully confronting their respective social anxieties, they are still a work in progress, finding strength in each other.

I have previously seen Han Hyo Joo in her previous dramas, but I just found out that she speaks fluent Korean, Japanese and English. No wonder, she was chosen for this role. On the other hand, Shun Oguri is drop dead handsome and is said to have actively pursued a wide range of roles to avoid being typecasted.

I also love that the beginning of each episode features one of the 7 flavors in the Rainbow Palette, a special seven-piece chocolate assortment and the chocolate shop’s (Le Saveur) bestselling product. 

The surprise at the end? Spoiler Alert: It’s the double cameo by Korean actor Song Joong Ki and Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi.

All in all, RA may not be perfect (I read that many found it disappointing), but for me, it is light, heartwarming, comforting, and delightful that I finished all episodes in one sitting. Sometimes we just forget the basics of human connection. Romantics Anonymous is a sweet reminder that kindness is everything and that real joy comes from life's small and simple moments.

Available for streaming at #Netflix

#BuhayKPam

#TheMurkyStream mini review

It took me a while before I actually let go of #TheMurkyStream.

I took my sweet time to finish the remaining 2 episodes last Oct 17 because one) I know I would miss #Rowoon after this, 2) I couldn’t bear to see the bloody scenes and him getting hurt every time, and 3) I didn’t want to say goodbye just yet to one of the most moving and unforgettable historical dramas I’ve ever seen.

TMS is not your usual good vibes-feel good k-drama. No usual elaborate opulent royal palace set and costume design, this is a gritty portrayal of the lower classes and how they lived during that time. This is so raw, so real, so murky. I knew from the start that we may not get a happy ending, as the drama shows that dark lawless side of the Joseon era (1392–1910) along the Gyeong-gang River (now the Han River), specifically focusing on the area around the Mapo port. This location was the economic hub of the kingdom, where merchants, outlaws, and officials converged, creating a backdrop of wealth, power, and corruption.

Rowoon reportedly turned down multiple other acting projects to dedicate his time and energy to prepare for this drama before his military enlistment. He is said to have performed a significant portion of the action sequences himself, demonstrating his commitment to the physicality of the role; and underwent a  demanding transformation, studying his character's lines to show a different side of himself. He lost 8kg and adopted a "stray cat physique" with a beard and ragged clothes to match his character, Si-yul. While his Calvin Klein ads showed a pretty Rowoon with visible 6-pack abs, Si-yul was dirty, wild and unpolished.

Who doesn’t dream of a beautiful world? Here, three individuals dared to dream differently to brighten up a murky world and live like humans at a time when the poor and common people struggled to survive.

• Jang Si-Yul, played by Rowoon (#DestinedWithYou #ExtraordinaryYou #TheKingsAffection), a decent man who hides his past and becomes a bandit / ruffian.

• Choi Eun, played by Shin Ye Eun (#TheGlory #RevengeofOthers), a smart merchant and a lady of principle and righteousness, and 

• Jung Chun, played by Park Seo Ham (#SemanticError), an educated man who dreams of becoming an honest government official.  

• If this is Rowoon’s last drama before he entered the military last Oct 27, this is Seo Ham’s first since his discharge in 2023. 

But how can you win, how can one try to stand up for what is right when everyone else does not follow law and order, and at every opportunity would kill, steal, cheat, hurt others?  Where the norm is to deceive, betray, take advantage of the ones who can’t fight back. Where greed, abuse of power, and unfair practices are rampant. 

Even so, TMS doesn’t tell us to remain silent and let evil and darkness prevail. TMS doesn’t stop us from thinking good, doing good even if everyone else does otherwise. 

Instead, in its subtle nuances, even if it hurts, even if it kills, TMS upholds the human dignity, that no matter what, deep inside every single person, there's a spark of undeniable worth—a human soul with its own story. It doesn't matter where they're from, what they look like, or what they've done. That value is built in. This means we all deserve to be treated fairly, like equals, and to be respected for who we are, not judged by things like our background or gender.

Every person also has the right to steer their own life and make their own choices. No one should have that control taken away from them. And we all deserve to be treated with kindness and care, with the security of knowing we won't be mistreated or abused. Ultimately, our shared humanity connects us all, and it's our job to honor that connection in our everyday interactions.

‼️Spoiler Alert: one of the three protagonists didn’t make it to the end.  😭

TMS may not be a drama that everybody would enjoy watching, but it is sincere, and strong, and beautiful. And tears will fall, I tell you. No matter how murky this stream called life can be, and everything that we hope for and dream of may not always be possible, we just have to keep on rowing harder for a good world, and never stop.

All nine episodes of TMS are streaming #Disney+PH 

#BuhayKPam

Tempest

 Yung sa #BonAppetitYourMajesty ako nagprepare masyado

Andito pala ang k-trauma 😭😭😭

What the f 😭😭😭

#Tempest #tempestfinale  #tempestondisneyplusph 

#JunJiHyun #KangDongWon