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Love Alarm Season 2 Character Posters + Trailer Released (Starring Kim So-hyun, Song Kang, Ko Min-si)

Sunday, February 28, 2021

Here comes a love that will make you want to cry!

“I told him for the first time that I like him

Netflix has unveiled five posters of memorable quotes from the characters of Love Alarm season 2, which picks up four years after the creation of the Love Alarm app that rings when you are within a 10-meter radius of someone you like or are the object of someone’s liking.

The five characters show their feelings on their posters using their own lines from the show. Jo-jo, who is unable to communicate her mind because she has a placed block on her “Love Alarm,” reveals her innermost thoughts, saying, "I told him for the first that I like him," which raises questions about who she is confessing this to. Hye-young, despite having an unresponsive alarm, says, “Whether that thing rings or not, it doesn’t matter to me,” expressing his deeper feelings toward Jojo. Sun-oh, saying “From now on, I’ll trust only what your eyes tell me” to distance himself, still shows Jo-jo affection, foreshadowing a more intense love triangle. Gul-mi, who is trying to enter the “Love Alarm” club, says “Who, me? Why? What about me, exactly?” and seems to be unable to hide her embarrassment. Yuk-jo, who is dating Sun-oh but knows Sun-oh still has lingering feelings for Jo-jo, says “I know that feeling of a burning heat. How can I beat that?” and relates to everyone who has ever experienced unrequited love.

The shape of the ring, which shows slightly different variations depending on the character, seeks to catch the eye. The attention will be focused on the expanded story of Season 2, which will show a darker triangle romance and a more diverse form of life and love in a world that has changed so much since the launch of the “Love Alarm.”

Love Alarm Season 2, which shows the inner feelings of five people, will be released March 12th exclusively on Netflix in over 190 countries around the world.

Watch the trailer below

The trailer opens with Jo-jo (Kim So-hyun) narrating, “In this world, you must ring an alarm when you like someone.” Jo-jo, who is dating Hye-yeong (Jung Ga-ram), still concerns herself with the Love Alarm app despite hers not ringing. Sun-oh (Song Kang) appears with a poker face and stares at someone. Though Jo-jo is with Hye-yeong, she cannot hide her complicated feelings for him. Sun-oh's words and actions further complicate the situation. “From now on, I’ll trust only what your eyes tell me,” Sun-oh proclaims to Jo-jo before kissing her.

Following more emotional scenes, it becomes clear that both Hye-young and Sun-oh want to convey their true love for her. The trailer comes to a touching end with Jo-jo’s narration: “Who do I love now?” The love triangle among two men and a woman who want to confirm each other's true feelings will unfold in this season."

The first season of Love Alarm is available to watch now, and the second season will be released on March 12, exclusively on Netflix.

Jeon Yeo Bin

Meet the cat of K-Drama Vincenzo and where you have seen them before

Sunday, February 28, 2021

The much-anticipated series Vincenzo has finally premiered! The unique story of a Korean-Italian mafia lawyer giving a conglomerate a taste of its own medicine is sure to become a favourite. With that said, it’s high time to get acquainted with the talented cast! From the “good” guys to the bad guys, many of the actors might be familiar given their talent and breadth of experience. Find out more about the skilled actors and their characters here.

Song Joong-ki

As an extremely popular Hallyu star, you might have seen a few of Song Joong-ki’s dramas and movies. One of his most famous and swoon-worthy roles is Captain Yoo Si-jin from Descendants of the Sun. In Vincenzo, Song Joong-ki’s character is decidedly different and closer to an anti-hero. As a consigliere to an Italian mafia, Vincenzo Cassano has questionable ethics and no qualms about using evil tactics to punish evil people. You’ll be able to enjoy a different shade of sexy from Song Joong-ki in Vincenzo.

Jeon Yeo-been

Vincenzo is Jeon Yeo-been’s third drama, but she’s actually been in over 15 films. She rose in acclaim following her award-winning turn in the movie After My Death. Also, she acted with Ok Taec-yeon before through Save Me. However, drama fans might recognise her from rom-com Be Melodramatic. Her nuanced portrayal of a woman who has post-traumatic stress disorder following her boyfriend’s passing proved she can be an absolute gem in a drama too. In Vincenzo, Jeon Yeo-been plays lawyer Hong Cha-young who prides herself in her ability to win cases. She’s a very strong and confident character, and her quirks will win us over.

Ok Taec-yeon

Ok Taec-yeon is more known for his masculine and caring characters who often fight against malicious characters or even ghosts like in Bring It On, Ghost. The boy band member turned actor will be able to showcase a cuter side of himself through his character Jang Joon-woo in Vincenzo. Jang Joon-woo is an intern lawyer who works with Hong Cha-young and has a huge crush on her. He’s a bit clumsy and ditzy, so there should be some funny and adorable moments to enjoy. It’ll be interesting to see if a love triangle will ensue!

Kim Yeo-jin

There are plenty of formidable opponents facing Vincenzo and Hong Cha-young. Among them is prosecutor turned lawyer Choi Myung-hee, who is portrayed by Kim Yeo-jin. Choi Myung-hee ends up becoming a senior partner at the law firm Hong Cha-young works at. She’s not above breaking the law if it means she can achieve her goals. While she will be an aggravating foe in this drama, Kim Yeo-jin has acted as plenty of warm-hearted characters, like the thoughtful police officer Lee Hae-gyeong in Extracurricular.

Kwak Dong-yeon

Having debuted as a teenager, Kwak Dong-yeon usually portrays kind characters like friendly and compassionate teaching assistant Yeon U-yeong in My ID Is Gangnam Beauty. He also recently showed a comical and touching cameo in It's Okay to Not Be Okay. We’ll see a 180-degree turn with his character Jang Han-seo who is Babel Group’s CEO. The head of the conglomerate is infamous for being a bit crazy and obsessed with winning. He’ll do anything to get revenge and what he wants, even at the cost of someone’s life.

Cho Han-cheul

Rounding out the group of evil opponents is Han Seung-hyuk who is the head of the law firm Hong Cha-young works at. Having strong ties with the prosecution and the media, Han Seung-hyuk is accustomed to winning cases for his wealthy clients. He utilises underhanded methods to turn people who oppose him into dust.

While his character might not be your favourite lawyer in Vincenzo, actor Cho Han-cheul has played a wide spectrum of roles and you might recognise his sympathetic poetry-loving character from Romance Is a Bonus Book.

Now that you’re familiar with all the main players, you’re definitely ready to enjoy Vincenzo! Don’t miss out on the epic story when Vincenzo premieres on 20 February at 10PM MYT with new episodes every Saturday and Sunday available two hours after the Korean broadcast, only on Netflix.

Image courtesy of Netflix

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[EXCLUSIVE] Kim Bora, Shim Eun-Woo & Ryu Hwa Young Talks About Romance K-Drama 'Love Scene Number#'

Saturday, February 27, 2021

Valentine's Day may be over, but love is certainly in the air this month. On March 13, Korean romance drama, Love Scene Number # starring Kim Bora, Shim Eun-Woo, Ryu Hwa-Young and Park Jin-hee is set to air a marathon of all eight-episodes on Oh!K (Astro Ch.394) on Saturday and Sunday at 6PM. The eight-episode omnibus tells four different romance stories featuring four female characters who are each at a turning point in their lives when it comes to love, dating, and their values.

Over email, we spoke to Kim Bo-Ra, Shim Eun-Woo and Ryu Hwa-Young about the drama and their turning point in life. Here's what they said...

How would you describe your character in the drama?

Kim Bo-Ra: Doo Ah is a character with a lot of charm. She’s someone who was able to date three men at the same time and have option to choose who she wants to date. She’s a very bold young woman who’s juggling between dating a younger man who helps boosts her ego, someone older who teaches her many things, as well as someone who’s her age who is sexually attractive to her.

Ryu Hwa-Young: Ban Ya was once a well-received director, but she is now a forgotten 35-year-old. There is a part in the drama where she says “Being 35 is an age where you can’t do anything if you haven’t done anything to gain wealth or status – like the Maginot Line, with nowhere to go”. I think Ban Ya responded really well with this line. She is one who overcomes her harsh reality but hasn’t forgotten her innocence.

Shim Eun-Woo: Lee Ha Ram is someone who’s lived 29 years of her live without much drama. However, she slowly becomes rebellious when faced with various confusing situations as she prepares for her wedding.

What is the one thing you like most about your character?

Shim Eun-Woo: I like that although she realizes that she was a little late in coming to terms with who she, she still makes a conscious decision that the time is now.

What Attracts you to accept the role?

Kim Bo-Ra: In the drama, Doo Ah fills up the various voids and lives happier by dating three separate men. However, her childhood friend Han Yool finds out about her relationships. In the process, she gets to understand deeper about friendship and love, while remaining true to her bold self. I found that very attractive.

Ryu Hwa-Young: Ban Ya appears to be like someone you can’t break. She appears bold and a very intelligent. But if you get to know her better, she is one who easily gets hurt and has an innocent side to her, and that’s what got me attracted to this role.

Shim Eun-Woo: I could go back to the time when I was 29. It felt like I was reliving life as my friend or even as myself.

Hwa-Young, you played the 35-year-old Ban Ya. In your opinion, do you find a huge difference in relationships between those in their 20s and 30s? Why do you say so?

Ryu Hwa-Young: You look at love with innocence in your 20s, but in your 30s you realize that you carry a lot more value with you through social interactions and experiences.

Bo-ra, do you find it difficult to portray the character as Doo Ah as she is involved in secret relationship with three different men?

Kim Bo-Ra: There were parts where it was difficult. However, it helped that all three men didn’t share a single similar characteristic, and my co-actors expressed their own characters so clearly. The director also slowly brought me through the reasons as to why Doo Ah were dating all three men at the same time and it helped me relate a lot more to the character.

How was the atmosphere on set? Share some interesting episodes that viewers wouldn’t know of.

Kim Bo-Ra: The atmosphere was really good for me, and I hope the rest feels the same too. Even though it was a really short time, I got to finish the project with no obstacles. There were scenes that could have been potentially embarrassing but it all went well as they made it a very comfortable environment to film those scenes. In fact, we got so close that the director was still holding me back even after my last scene. It’s sad because you only got to spend such a short time with them, and you do want to spend more time with these group of people but the project had to come to an end.

Ryu Hwa-Young: Our experience on set is very good. There are a lot of fun moments so it’ll be tough to pick one.

Shim Eun-Woo: It was really good. I enjoyed my experience acting with with Yoon Yu Seon who acted as Sun Hwa, as well as Han Joon Woo who acted as Jeong Suk as we had very good chemistry.

What would you like the audience to take away from the drama?

Kim Bo-Ra: Doo Ah has this part in the drama where she says “It doesn’t matter if you’re lovers or just friends, you have to be honest if you don’t want to lose them”. It was one of the lines that I could really relate to. I don’t know if anyone else who’s watching the drama can relate, but I wish can be more honest with the people I love, whatever the type of relationship is, so as not to lose those I love.

Ryu Hwa-Young: There are times when things don’t go your way, but don’t give up during those moments. Find the small contentment in life and you will slowly find happiness at the end of that journey.

Shim Eun-Woo: Continuously ask yourselves questions. I’d want for viewers to know that we are living our happiest when we make decisions for ourselves.

The drama tells story of four different women at their turning points in life, so how about yours? What’s your turning point in life?

Shim Eum-Woo: I think I had my turning point in life when I turned 29. I was able to appear in Running Man because of ‘The World of Marriage’, and was then cast as Ha Ram as the director for Love Scene Number# was watching that Running Man episode.

Ryu Hwa-Young: Instead of a turning point, I feel like all my choices and paths have brought me to become who I am today. I’ve grown to become the person I am today with all the little and big things that have come along my path.

Any message to fans and viewers in Malaysia and Singapore?

Kim Bo-Ra: Hello this is Kim Bo-ra who plays #23 Nam Doo Ah. Thank you for showing your love towards our drama by reading this article. I will work hard to become an actress who you will be able to relate to via my various roles. See you again in the next production.

Ryu Hwa-Young: Thank you to my fans in Malaysia and Singapore. Please show us some love and support Love Scene Number#!

Shim Eun-Woo: Thank you for watching Love Scene Number# from so far away. It’s amazing to know that we can all connect through a drama.

Catch the stories of a university student who is secretly involved in polyamorous relationship with three men; an elementary school teacher who runs away from her own wedding after undergoing a sudden change of heart; an adjunct instructor at a university; a furniture designer who discovers that her husband of 20 years is having a spiritual extramarital affair. New episodes of Love Scene Number# premieres on every Tuesday, 7.40PM on Oh!K (Astro Ch.394), while full marathon series will air on 13 March, 6PM.

photo credit: Oh!K, MBC

K-drama

Upcoming Shows, Sitcoms, K-dramas, K-movies on Netflix

Friday, February 26, 2021

Netflix has unveiled a lineup of upcoming original Korean content during the See What’s Next Korea 2021 virtual event. The titles revealed at the event consist of a variety of genres and stories, from series and movies to sitcoms and stand-up comedies, and are expected to further raise the expectations of fans waiting for unique Korean content.

List of upcoming Netflix Korean Originals:

The Silence Sea

Starring: Bae Doo-na, Gong Yoo & Lee Joon
Directed by: Choi Hang-Yong

Set in a future where water and food have almost run out on Earth due to global desertification, The Silent Sea follows the story of the members of a special team that set out to a research base on the Moon. A story with unexpected twists and turns, The Silent Sea is a series based on director Choi Hang-yong’s short film that was given a major spotlight at the 13th Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival in 2014.

Director Choi took the lead again for the series, teaming up with writer Park Eun-kyo, who won Best Screenplay for the film Mother at the 29th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards. The series has garnered much attention as actor Jung Woo-sung joined the project as an executive producer. Actors Bae Doo-na, Gong Yoo, and Lee Joon play members of the team on a life-risking mission to the Moon, often dubbed “the silent sea,” promising to deliver intense suspense to the viewers.

D.P

Starring Jung Hae-in, Koo Kyo-hwan, Kim Sung-kyun & Son Seok-koo
Directed by Han Jun-hee

D.P. is a Netflix original series that follows the story of army private Joon-ho, one of many soldiers serving in the Korean military, who suddenly ends up becoming a member of the “Deserter Pursuit” unit that tracks down military deserters and encounters the realities of confused young soldiers. The series is based on a webtoon by Kim Bo-tong that garnered over 10 million views for its realistic portrayal of the brutal violence and human rights violations committed in the military with the refreshing theme of Deserter Pursuit (D.P.), a military police unit in charge of arresting soldiers who deserted their posts.

The series is expected to balance the tension and thrill of chasing down deserters from the perspective of “soldiers catching soldiers” while shedding light on the mental torment and hurts of young people who chose to escape. Actors Jung Hae-in, Koo Kyo-hwan, and Kim Sung-kyun play members of D.P., while Son Seok-koo plays a military official that disapproves of them to represent the trouble-ridden daily life in the deserter arrest unit.

My Name

Starring: Han So-hee, Park Hee-soon, Ahn Bo-hyun, Kim Sang-ho, Lee Hak-ju & Jang Yull
Directed by: Kim Jin-min

My Name is a Netflix original series that follows the story of Ji-u, who joins the police force as an undercover for a crime organization in order to find the truth about her father’s death and presents fist-clenching suspense of Ji-u’s revenge and the harsh truths uncovered in the process. Director Kim Jin-min, whose previous work Extracurricular received much attention for the dark and twisted realities of teenagers and Korean society it portrayed, took the helm again for this upcoming series, promising a story of cold revenge and adrenaline-pumping action.

Actor Han So-hee, who impressed audiences with her unparalleled presence in The World of the Married, transforms herself as Ji-u, showcasing her limitless range again. Veteran actors, including Park Hee-soon, Kim Sang-ho, Lee Hak-ju, and Jang Yull, and up-and-coming fresh faces have been cast for an amazing ensemble performance along with stunning noir action.

Move to Heaven

Starring: Lee Je-Hoon and Tang Jun-Sang
Directed by: Kim Sung-ho

Move to Heaven is a Netflix original series about a young man named Geu-ru with Asperger’s syndrome and Sang-gu, who becomes Geu-ru’s guardian, as they start a trauma cleaning business and uncover the stories that are left behind by the deceased. Directed by Kim Sung-ho of How to Steal a Dog and written by Yoon Ji-ryun of Angel Eyes, the series centers around a unique theme of “trauma cleaners” to pass on the messages from the deceased and tell the moving stories of those who are left behind. Lee Je-hoon, beloved by audiences for his persuasive and nuanced performances, plays the role of Sang-gu, and rising star Tang Jun-sang plays the role of Geu-ru to relay the last words of those who passed.

Squid Game

Starring: Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo
Directed by: Hwang Dong-hyuk

Squid Game is a Netflix original series about people who participate in a mysterious survival game with a 40-million-dollar prize at stake. Viewers will find themselves glued to the screen by the tension and suspense from various players desperate enough to participate in a game that could risk their lives and the choices made by people who are pushed to extreme situations. It’s the first TV series of director Hwang Dong-hyuk, whose previous works such as Silenced, Miss Granny, and The Fortress have offered insightful and poignant messages about society. Lee Jung-jae plays Ki-hun, who lost his job and hit the rock bottom, while Park Hae-soo plays Sang-woo, who gets into trouble after embezzling his company’s funds, to capture the raw realities of those who risk their lives through a survival game.

Love Alarm Season 2

Love Alarm 2 to release on 12 March 2021
Starring: Kim So-hyun, Jung Ga-ram, Song Kang, Ko Min-si & Kim Si-eun
Directed by: Kim Jin-woo

Set in a world where a notification on an app called “Love Alarm” becomes the only indicator of love, Love Alarm season 2 is a Netflix original series about a girl who cannot trigger Love Alarm and two guys with unabashed love for her trying to figure out how she feels.

Season 2 picks up from the end of season 1, which became a huge sensation for its original concept of Love Alarm—which signals the user when someone with a crush on them is within the radius of 10 meters—and the perfect chemistry among its gorgeous cast, Kim So-hyun, Jung Ga-ram, and Song Kang, to tell their unfinished story. The new season will explore the unresolved feelings of first love of Jojo, Sun-oh, and Hye-yeong and capture various aspects of a society where the number of hearts on Love Alarm becomes so valuable that it affects a person’s social status.

Hellbound

Starring: Yoo Ah-in, Park Jeong-min, Kim Hyun-ju, Won Jin-ah and Yang Ik-June
Directed by Yeon Sang-ho

Hellbound depicts supernatural phenomena experienced by people who are condemned to hell after their unexpected encounters with angels of death. The intense series will depict supernatural events that are neither a miracle nor a curse, the rise of a new religious group that interprets the events as the will of the divine, and people trying to survive in the chaotic society. Hell, the widely popular original webtoon published on Naver, created a lot of buzz from the beginning as it was co-created by illustrator Choi Gyu-seok of Awl (or Songgot in Korean) and director Yeon Sang-ho, taking charge of the storyline. The Netflix series stars Yoo Ah-in, Park Jeong-min, Kim Hyun-ju, Won Jin-ah, and Yang Ik-june.

All of Us are Dead

Starring: Yoon Chae-yeong, Park Ji-hu, Cho Yi-hyun, Lomon, and Yoo In-soo
Directed by Lee JQ and Enes Kim

All of Us Are Dead is a story about people who are trapped in a high school where a zombie virus is spreading and those who are trying to save them as extreme situations riddled with surprises unfold. The original webtoon, Now at Our School, topped the chart among Wednesday webtoon series on Naver as soon as it was published in 2009 and became so wildly popular that each weekly episode topped the portal’s trending keyword list. The Netflix series is directed by Lee JQ, whose refreshing, sensational works include TV series Beethoven Virus and Damo: The Legendary Police Woman and a film Intimate Strangers. The series stars many rising stars with solid acting skills and refreshing charm, including Yoon Chan-yeong, Park Ji-hu, Cho Yi-hyun, Lomon, and Yoo In-soo.

Kingdom: Ashin of the North

Starring: Gianne Jun and Park Byung-eun
Directed by Kim Seong-hun

Kingdom: Ashin of the North is a sidequel to the global K-zombie sensation Kingdom and tells the story of “Ashin,” the heiress to a northern Jurchen town, and the secret behind the resurrection plant. Created as a special episode, it is spun off from the story of Kingdom season 2 and depicts what happened in the past to the mysterious character Ashin, who encountered Lee Chang’s group on their northbound mission to uncover the truth behind the resurrection plant.

Gianna Jun, whose appearance at the end of season 2 created much buzz, plays Ashin to unfold the story that everyone has been waiting for. Actor Park Byung-eun, who made a lasting impression on the viewers as the head of the Royal Commandery Min Chi-rok, makes another appearance in this special episode.

Night in Paradise

To release on 9 April 2021
Starring: Um Tae-goo, Jeon Yeo-been and Cha Seoung-won
Directed by: Park Hoon-jung

Night in Paradise is a film about a man targeted by a criminal gang and a woman cornered to a dead end in life. Director Park Hoon-jung, whose works such as New World, V.I.P., and The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion have established him as a genre master for their compelling stories and brilliant action scenes, returns with yet another noir film that is quintessentially Korean.

Night in Paradise was the only Korean film to be screened out of competition at the 77th Venice International Film Festival, where the film earned critical acclaim early on. Anticipation is high for the film as it promises to deliver an enthralling performance by the cast, including Um Tae-goo, who made his unique presence known in The Age of Shadows and The Great Battle; Jeon Yeo-been, who garnered unanimous praise for her performance in After My Death; and Cha Seoung-won, who transformed himself as unforgettable villain in Believer.

Lee Su-geun: The Sense Coach

Lee Su-geun: The Sense Coach is a Netflix original stand-up special packed with gratifying ad-lib jokes that Lee Su-geun improvises as he coaches, with his acute sixth sense (or nunchi in Korean), members of the audience who often get pushed around and constantly worry about what others think. Having entertained Korean audiences through a myriad of variety shows including Men on a Mission, Ask Us Anything Fortune Teller, New Journey to the West, and The Fishermen and the City 2, Lee Su-geun is now reaching out to viewers around the world with his first stand-up special since his debut 25 years ago. Created with interactive live communication with the audience at its heart, Lee Su-geun: The Sense Coach is anticipated to draw viewers in with Lee’s masterful command of live performance and his impromptu jokes that strike a chord with the audience.

So Not Worth It

Starring Park Se-wan, Shin Hyeon-seung, GOT7's Young-jae, (G)I-DLE's Minnie & Han Hyun Min
Directed by: Kwon Ik-joon and Kim Jung-sik

So Not Worth It is a sitcom about students of diverse nationalities living in the international dormitory of a university in Seoul and portrays their love, friendship, and life adventures. Kwon Ik-joon, who has created some of the most beloved Korean sitcoms, including Korea’s first iconic sitcom series, Three Guys and Three Girls, and Nonstop, is the creator and director of this upcoming project, while Kim Jung-sik, who co-directed High Kick!, Potato Star 2013QR3, and Shut Up and Smash, joined the project as the co-director.

It is co-written by Seo Eun-jung of New Nonstop and Baek Ji-hyun of Nonstop season 1, 2, and 3 as well as Ugly Miss Young-ae season 15, 16, and 17. The cast for the international dorm residents in So Not Worth It has been confirmed, including Park Se-wan, Shin Hyun-seung, Choi Young-jae (GOT7), Minnie ((G)I-DLE), and Han Hyun-min.

Paik's Spirit

Paik’s Spirit is a Netflix original series where Paik Jong-won sits down for a drink with top Korean celebrities and professionals in various fields to have a conversation about drinking and life. Netflix partnered with Paik to create its first reality series, where the restaurateur introduces Korean alcoholic beverages, food, and culture. Anticipation runs high as viewers around the world will be able to enjoy Paik’s gift of the gab and charming presence that have won the hearts of Korean audiences. Featuring various alcoholic beverages ranging from soju—which in its characteristic green bottle stands at the center of Korean drinking culture—to beer, Korean traditional liquors, rice wine, and even craft beer, the series promises to bring stories of “the most uniquely Korean” drinks to intrigue the senses of viewers around the globe.

Photo credit to Netflix