KOCOWA Blog
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All the K-Drama Moments You Didn’t Know Were Real

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One of the joys of K-Dramas is the (sometimes) over-the-top storytelling. In our heads, we know they (most likely) will never happen, but we still can’t help watching. And sometimes, things that happen in Korean dramas seem like they’re made up — but they actually are a part of real Korean life.

kingdom season 2 netflix

Who is in Season 2 of “Kingdom”?

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March 13. That’s the date that the second season of the zombie apocalypse “Kingdom” will make its premier. Few would deny it’s drawing power: an amazing cast, led by Ju Ji-hoon, and a unique storyline that includes the undead set in Korea’s Joseon era. Before everyone gets ready to tuck into the new episodes, let’s take a look at some of the series’ stars and the work that led them to this point in their careers.

bts v itaewon class park seo joon

V Sings “Sweet Night” for Park Seo-joon’s “Itaewon Class”

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It pays to have a superstar singer as one of your best friend. BTS’ Kim Tae-hyung has written and produced a song called “Sweet Night” for Park Seo-joon’s hit K-drama, “Itaewon Class.” The tune will — of course — be sung by Kim, also known to fans as V. The title is a nod to Dan Bam, the name of the pub that Park’s character owns. In Korean, Dan Bam translates into … you guessed it … sweet night.

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Suga, Bong Joon-Ho & Other Korean Celebs Donate to Fight Against Coronavirus

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BTS’ Suga and “Parasite” director Bong Joon-Ho are among the latest slew of Korean celebrities to donate money to fight against coronavirus. Each donated 100 million  KRW (about 84,000 USD) to the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association. According to the Yonhap News Agency, the organization confirmed they received the money from the stars and said they will use the funds to buy face masks, hand sanitizers and other necessiities for those afflicted by the disease.

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Team Dream vs. Handsome Tigers

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One of the beauties of Korean television is that it presents topics you may not think you care about in a manner that makes them appealing to viewers. For instance, basketball and baseball. You don’t have to be a sports fan to enjoy “Handsome Tigers” or “Stove League.”

handsome tigers cha eun woo

“Handsome Tigers” Shoot & Score!

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Basketball is one of my all-time favorite sports. So I was delighted to see that the new SBS variety series, “Handsome Tigers,” is available to KOCOWA subscribers. But even if sports isn’t your thing, you’ll enjoy this series, because it’ll shed a new light on some of your favorite Korean celebrities.

it's okay that's love kdrama

Inspirational K-Dramas

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With the new decade already in full swing, it seemed like the perfect time to reflect on some K-Dramas that had inspirational messages: “It’s Okay, That’s Love,” “Fight for My Way,” “Extraordinary You,” “Doctor John” …

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Why We Love Kim Hee-chul!

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If anyone should be allowed to have a love life without being hated on, it’s Kim Hee-chul (better known professionally by the mononym Heechul). Now 36, he has been an integral part of the Korean entertainment industry for almost two decades. As a member of the beloved idol group Super Junior, Heechul and his bandmates helped introduce K-pop to international audiences.

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KOCOWA Miss You, Jonghyun

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Kim Jong-hyun was born on April 8, 1990. He would grow up to be one of South Korea’s most famous and beloved singers. And when he died by suicide two years ago on December 18, 2017, his face would be on the news worldwide. No one knew the extent of his pain, but the SHINee singer was a shining star who worked hard to do his best every day for as long as he could.

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Ryan Reynolds Joins “Running Man”!

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It’s official! Ryan Reynolds will be appearing on an upcoming episode of “Running Man.” The long-running variety show hosted by Yoo Jae-Suk boasted about the casting coup on Instagram. A series of three photos showed name tags for Reynolds and his “6 Underground” co-stars Melanie Laurent and Adria Arjona.

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BTS Makes History at the AMAs!

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BTS went three for three at the American Music Awards on Sunday to become the first ever Asian group to be honored with the Favorite Duo or Group trophy, beating western superstars such as the Jonas Brothers and Panic! At the Disco. The septet also won for Tour of the Year and, for the second consecutive year, Favorite Social Artist.

hwarang bts v

Squad Goals: K-Drama Friendships

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One of the reasons that K-Dramas have such universal appeal is that most have a strong emphasis on friendships. The character may fight and even break their friendships at a certain point, but they almost always resolve it and return to each other. Here are some K-Drama friendships that have squad goals written all over them:

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Are You a K-Drama Bingewatcher?

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There are some K-Drama fans who will patiently watch each new episode as they are released and go about their lives. Then there’s me, who promises to watch just two episodes and then gets overly worked up that I have to wait a few days for the next episode.

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Baby, It’s You!

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There’s never a guarantee that a successful child actor will grow up to be a famous leading man or leading woman. For every Natalie Portman who matures into an Academy Award-winning actress, you have a slew of performers like Macaulay Culkin, who were beloved as children, but didn’t fare as well in their 20s and 30s.

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Perks of Being Part of the KOCOWA Family! Exclusive Titles and LIVE Feature!

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You can always watch plenty of K-Dramas for free on KOCOWA, but one of the perks of a subscription is getting to watch your shows straight through without annoying ads. KOCOWA also offers premium content that’s not available on other legal streaming services. And for viewers who aren’t fluent in Korean — and fans who dislike waiting days for subtitles to be uploaded — KOCOWA can’t be beat when it comes to speed or accuracy.

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K-Drama Stars with the Golden Touch

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When Yoo Ji-Tae was doing press interviews to promote”Healer,” he said he was confident about signing onto the project when he heard that Park Min-Young was the female lead. Why? Because Park is one of those actresses who has the magic touch when it comes to picking projects that will become hits. He wasn’t wrong. That got us wondering: Who else has the golden touch when it comes to K-Dramas?

What Makes Ji Chang-Wook Simply Irresistible?

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Ever since Ji Chang-Wook’s discharge from South Korea’s mandatory military duty on April 27, 2019, fans have been biting their fingernails waiting for his comeback. They won’t have to wait much longer, because the popular actor’s latest series, “Melting Me Softly,” will premiere on South Korean television on September 28. We take a look at some of his most popular K-Dramas!

kim so hyun kwak dong yeon

You’re How Old?!

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Do you ever watch a K-Drama (or any series, for that matter) where the character is supposed to be a high school student and the actor playing the part looks at least a decade older? (I’m looking at you, “Beverly Hills, 90210.”) Due to labor laws in which underage actors can’t work as long hours as adults, it’s understandable why showrunners would want older artists working on their set. But it’s also a refreshing change when a younger actor plays characters that are nearing their ajusshi stage of life.

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5 Seconds of Summer! Welcome to Korea!

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It’s always fun to see Korean groups like BTS, Blackpink and Day6 being interviewed on American talk shows. But it’s also eye-opening to see international acts having fun on South Korean programs, whether it’s Tom Cruise appearing on “Running Man” or NBA star Stephen Curry on “Infinite Challenge.” But one of the most charming segments I’ve seen in a long time is 5 Seconds of Summer’s guest appearance on “YO~! WELCOME TO KOREA!”

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Happy Chuseok from BTS!

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In Korean culture, Choseok is a major holiday that’s equivalent to Thanksgiving. And SBS gave viewers a gift by airing the “BTS Variety Chronicles” — a collection of hand-picked segments from the group’s various variety show appearances on the network. That inspired us to curate our own best of picks, but we’re not going to limit it to just SBS shows or funny moments. Here are some of our favorite BTS’ appearances!

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Real-life K-Drama Couples

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Because Ku Hye-Sun and Ahn Jae-Hyun’s breakup is depressing news, we wanted to give K-Drama fans some happier relationships to think about. So let’s celebrate some of our favorite actors and actresses.

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Kim Soo-Hyun Is Otherwordly!

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Just two months after his military discharge, Hallyu superstar Kim Soo-Hyun is ready to get back to work. But before he has his official comeback, he’ll make an appearance in the finale of the K-Drama “Hotel Del Luna” (set to air on August 31).

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Do You Remember Me?

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The old amnesia plot device isn’t new, but it’s something that K-Drama fans have come to love (to hate, sometimes). While it’s a trope, I must admit that many scriptwriters do an admirable job of keeping viewers guessing as to what will happen next.

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“My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho”

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Do we have any Lee Seung-gi fans here? You’ll be delighted to know that KOCOWA has added the classic series, “My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho” (with subtitles in languages like English and Portuguese). The K-Drama also stars one of my favorite actresses, Shin Min-a, as a real-life fox. Sort of.

Weightlifting Fairy, Kim Bok-joo

I Came for the K-Drama & Stayed for the Food!

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K-Dramas are full of amazing food scenes where the actors eat with gusto. They make whatever they’re eating look like it’s the most delicious thing on earth. And, not for nothing, but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I always want to eat along with the characters.

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Idols and Actors: BFFs!

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While it’s not common for K-Pop idols to openly discuss their romantic relationships, they are effusive when it comes to showing off their bromances. And some of these idols’ BFFs are famous celebrities in their own right.

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We Will Miss You, D.O.!

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Though he could’ve gotten an extension, EXO’s D.O. chose to enlist on July 1 to begin his mandatory military duty. It’s a fact of life that all able-bodied South Korean men have to serve their country in the armed forces. K-Pop idols aren’t exempt from this, no matter how famous they are.

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Kim Soo-Hyun is Back!

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Hallejuah! July 1st is a great day for Kim Soo-Hyun fans. The “My Love From The Star” actor will be discharged from his mandatory military duty. We’ve got some details on his life in the Army and what fans can expect upon his return to civilian life!

True Romance, “The Secret Life of My Secretary”

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Leave it to South Korea to make a romantic comedy that revolves around a character who suffers from prosopagnosia (face blindness). But such is the plot for “The Secret Life of My Secretary.” The K-Drama focuses on the burgeoning romance between chaebol boss and his harried secretary, who is not what she seems.

Running man Kim jong kook Gwang soo jeon so min yang se chan

Running Man ARE Characters!

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The “Running Man” cast members are characters. Literally. Since its debut on July 11, 2010, “Running Man” members have had a great time making fun of themselves and each other. Here, we’ll take a look at their nicknames and on-air personas.

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K-Drama Moms: The Good and the Bad

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Mother’s Day is just around the corner. What does that have to do with K-Dramas? Plenty. There isn’t a K-Drama around that doesn’t have a storyline or plot twist that revolves around a mother. Here are some moms that we love … or love to hate:

Ji Chang Wook Discharge

Ji Chang-Wook is Back!

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April 27, 2019. Mark that date in your calendar, because after having served 1 year, 8 months and 13 days in South Korea’s military, Ji Chang-Wook will be discharged on Saturday. Hallelujah!

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How Makjang Are You?

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[DISCLAIMER: MILD SPOILERS AHEAD!] WHAT DOES “MAKJANG” MEAN? Storylines that are extremely dramatized and exaggerated to make things intense and…

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Why We Miss Lee Jong-Suk

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It hasn’t even been a month since Lee Jong-Suk enrolled for his mandatory military duty on March 8. But there’s a ton of us fans who miss him already. Am I right? (That’s a rhetorical question, by the way.)

I am Woman, Hear Me Roar

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In a perfect world, everyone would be equal. We’re still working towards that goal. This got me thinking about some K-Dramas that featured strong women who were trying to assert their independence.

Can FOX’s “The Masked Singer” Dethrone MBC’s “The King of Mask Singer”?

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Four years after “The King Of Mask Singer” premiered on MBC in South Korea, “The Masked Singer” made its U.S. debut on FOX.  The American remake — in all its gaudy splendor — is a bonafide hit. The Jan. 2nd series premiere not only had the highest viewership of any FOX series for its 2018-2019 programming season, but — according to the Nielsen ratings — it was also the most watched series premiere for the coveted 18- to 49-year-old demographics.

Revisiting “Hwarang” (V: It’s Definitely You)

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Before I watched  “Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth,” I was looking forward to seeing how the romance between Dog Bird (Park Seo-Joon) and Ah-Ro (Go Ara) played out. But after the finale, I realized that what stuck with me wasn’t their tepid relationship, but that of the young men who formed a relationship, which at times was adversarial, but also based on friendship, honor and righteous morals. In other words, I was all about the poet warrior youth’s bromance.

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