If it wasn’t such a busy week this week I’d definitely sign up for this particular evening. Not only did a lot of my friends heartily recommend Misaeng to me, but it would be interesting to see an example of the retro 1990s trend that seemed to have be running through Korean popular entertainment recently.
The screenings are at the KCCUK on Thursday 3 September at 7pm. As usual, registration is required by emailing the KCCUK at [email protected] or calling them at 0207 004 2600.
Reply 1997 (응답하라 1997)
First Broadcast: tvN (2012), 16 episodes
Produced By: CJ E&M
Cast: Jung Eun-ji, Seo In-gukSynopsis: It’s official! The 90’s are back, its 1997 and the girls from Busan High School are in love with H.O.T, and the boys are crazy about the animation ‘Slam Dunk’. Among the 6 graduates, Shi-won Sung (Jung Eun-ji) and Yun-jae Yoon (Seo In-guk) are best friends. Si-won is a big fan of Tony, a member of H.O.T; she has a tomboy style making her very simple-minded and not capable of lying. Yun-jae is the smartest student in the high school. At the age of 11, his parents passed away and he now lives with his older brother. Yun-jae, is very cold and strict about everything, falls in love with his best friend, Si-won. Fast forward fifteen years to 2012 and the six graduates meet up again.. Among these graduates, one couple makes an announcement about their marriage but which couple is going to get married?
Reply 1997 is the third Korean drama to be picked up for a U.S. remake, intended for FOX.
Misaeng (미생)
First Broadcast: tvN (2014), 20 episodes
Produced By: CJ E&M
Cast: Yim Si-wan, Lee Sung-min, Kang So-ra, Kang Ha-neulSynopsis: Geu-rae Jang (Yim Si-wan) is a young man who is failing to make it as a professional Baduk player and is struggling with the monotony of his bleak future. This is an extremely relatable story of Geu-Rae’s gradual awakening and re-entry into society after living a much despondent and inconsequential existence. He joins the bottom rank of the corporate office ladder and struggles to adapt to the fast-paced cycles. Geu-Rae uses his knowledge and strategies of Baduk to apply those sets of skills to his work. As the title tells, our protagonist is not yet alive, his life incomplete. As the show progresses Geu-Rae will grow and mature in this coming of age drama.
Misaeng is based on the manhwa of the same-name by Yun Tae-ho.
Misaeng is my number 1 K-drama.
It’s the exception to pretty much all the rules of K-drama land, which sadly means there won’t be anything as good in a long, long while. To be honest, it’s more like J-drama than a K-drama….
So many people have told me Misaeng is good. Maybe one day I’ll invest in the box set. But by the time I’ll have the leisure to watch it, DVDs will be history.