2021 MOKKOJI KOREA, a festival created by beloved K-pop artists and Hallyu fans around the world, has begun as of September 6 (Monday) and will be held online until November 14 (Sunday). MOKKOJI is a Korean word that refers to a gathering of people for a party, entertainment, and other occasions. MOKKOJI KOREA started last year as a festival to promote various aspects of Korean culture and lifestyle such as food, beauty, fashion, and entertainment to the world.

Every year, “MOKKOJI KOREA” selects the Focus Countries. In 2021, Russia, India, and Indonesia were selected as the Focus Countries. Starting from September, the Festival Week for each country has been being held every month. The India Week is to be held in the upcoming October.

Popular K-pop artists such as MONSTA X, PENTAGON, and AB6IX will participate in Festival Week India, held from October 4 (Monday) to October 10 (Sunday). The Festival Week will be filled with special programs such as “MOKKOJI MINI TALK”, “MOKKOJI LIVE”, and “Online Exhibition”, providing an opportunity for Hallyu fans to broaden their understanding of the culture and lifestyle of Korea and India.

During Festival Week India, “MOKKOJI MINI TALK” will be broadcast every day at 14:30 IST. Featuring artists are AB6IX on October 4 (Mon) and 6 (Wed) and PENTAGON on October 8 (Fri). The program will be first released on the MOKKOJI KOREA website and YouTube channel. PENTAGON’s talk show will be live streamed to communicate with the fans through live chat. Also, they will be bringing their fans a special topic, the Hangeul (Korean alphabet), to celebrate the Hangeul Proclamation Day on Friday, 8th of October.

Popular Indian YouTubers such as Curly Tales, Debina Decodes, and PoohinKorea is to be featured as well, on October 5 (Tue), 7 (Thu), and 8 (Sat), respectively. In addition, an “Online Exhibition” will provide information on exceptional Korean brands and products that have been introduced to the Indian market.

“MOKKOJI LIVE” will be streamed live on “MOKKOJI KOREA” YouTube channel at 14:30 IST on October 10 (Sunday), as a grand finale of the “MOKKOJI FESTIVAL” Week India. AB6IX, PENTAGON, and MONSTA X will communicate with the fans in India through live performances and online fan-meeting segments to top off the event. Together with K-pop artists and hosts, Lisa Kelly and Nidhi Agrawal, the event will become an opportunity to widen the experience and understanding of both countries’ cultures. Fans can join the online fan meeting through the pre-application process on the MOKKOJI KOREA website from September 21 (Tuesday) to October 1 (Friday).

The MOKKOJI KOREA official website features web dramas and webtoons that portray various aspects of the Korean lifestyle and culture. “The First Spring with You” is a webtoon depicting the life of a Russian exchange student while studying in Korea for a year, while “MOKKOJI KITCHEN” is a romantic web drama that is set in a Korean restaurant. The online content will be a unique experience for Hallyu fans who are interested in Korean lifestyle and culture. The web drama “MOKKOJI KITCHEN,” which premiered on September 6 (Monday), has been in the spotlight, as it features K-pop artist Gongchan from B1A4 playing the role of “Muyoung”, a chef and sole owner of a Korean restaurant.

Furthermore, the “K-Lifestyle Playground” platform will provide opportunities for Hallyu lovers in India and around the world to experience Korean culture through various participatory content such as “MOKKOJI Contest”, “Online Game”, “K-Lifestyle Wiki”, and “K-Lifestyle Webzine”.

The main programs and schedules for “MOKKOJI KOREA” can be found on the website (mokkojikorea.com), and they are provided in English for Hallyu fans around the world for their convenience and for easy access.

In Southeast Asia, Korean shows are very loved and some research has found they are watched more than Hollywood productions. In the last three months, on average, four of the top 10 titles on Netflix in Southeast Asia have been Korean. Why is that? Some have pointed to the appeal of storylines which show Asian heroines striving to express themselves personally and professionally — a theme which perhaps resonates with women in more traditional Southeast Asian societies. 

Craving for Korean fried chicken or looking for a fancy Korean meal to treat yourself? K Fry Urban Korean is the perfect choice to fuel your food cravings. They are now offering a 15% off to our readers who spend RM50 and above for online order, https://www.kfry.my/order-online/! Apply the code <KFRY-GOKPOP> upon check out. 

What to Eat? 

Chikin Sando Series

Spicy Buldak Chicken Sando - RM19.90 | Korean Fried Chicken Sando - RM18.90 | Bulgogi Chikin Sando - RM18.90 Order here: https://www.kfry.my/order-online/

We get to try the signature K Fry Sando Series which comes with Spicy Buldak Chicken Sando (RM19.90), Korean Fried Chicken Sando (RM18.90) and Bulgogi Chikin Sando (RM18.90). Sando Series are filled with mouth-watering crispy fried chicken, topped with soft buns and SeKret sauce that added some FIRE. It's also one of our favourite series among all! If you prefer a healthier choice, pick Bulgogi Chikin Sando which comes with flavourful grilled bulgogi chicken thigh that topped with Gogi Mayo sauce.

Must-try: 5/5

Jjajang Series

Chicken Jjajangmyeon - RM18.90 | Chicken Jjajangbap - RM17.90 Order here: https://www.kfry.my/order-online/

Jjajang series are definitely the perfect go-to dish for your late night k-drama sessions - the sauce is savoury but somewhat slightly sweet, it goes well with both rice or noodles. If you're a noodle person try the Chicken Jjajangmyeon (Korean black bean sauce noodle - RM18.90), if you're into rice then try the Chicken Jjajangbap (Korean black bean sauce over rice - RM17.90). 

Must-try: 4/5

Croffles

Strawberry Cream Cheese Croffle - RM14.90 | Salted Caramel Biscoff Croffle - RM12.90 Order here: https://www.kfry.my/order-online/

Last but not least, we tried the newly launched Strawberry Cream Cheese Croffle (RM14.90) and also Salted Caramel Biscoff Croffle (RM12.90). Both Croffles are the absolute delight - sweet, crispy and buttery. If you prefer a sweet and fruity flavour, try the strawberry cream cheese but if you prefer a combination of sweet and salty then pick the salted caramel biscoff instead. 

K Fry is having a sweet deal which you can get 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream for free when you purchase 2 croffles of your choice! 

Must-try: 5/5

We all get cravings for a particular food occasionally but with wide variety of K-food choices, we are sure K-Fry will get your craving fixed. Don't forget to apply the code <KFRY-GOKPOP> upon check out and get your special 15% off when you spend and above at https://www.kfry.my/order-online/. 

Squid Game is taking the world by storm with its thrilling story of desperate people who sign up to play mysterious children’s games in the hopes of winning a large cash prize. While the series appears to be enjoying instant success, the road to creating it has been long and difficult for series creator and director Hwang Dong-hyuk. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how Squid Game came to life.

The Beginning
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk first conceived the idea and began writing in 2008. He said, “The year 2008 was actually right after my debut. That was a time when I frequented comic book stores. As I was reading a lot of comic books, I thought about creating something like a comic book story in Korea, and I finished the script in 2009.” As a film director, Hwang Dong-hyuk originally planned for Squid Game to be a film.

A Challenging Journey
Despite finishing the initial screenplay for Squid Game in 2009, Hwang Dong-hyuk had to shelve the idea and work on his hit films Silenced (2011), Miss Granny (2014), and The Fortress (2017) before being able to create the series. The director revealed, “At the time, it seemed very unfamiliar and violent. There were people who thought it was a little too complex and not commercial. I wasn’t able to get enough investment and casting was not easy. I dabbled in it for about a year, but I had to put it to sleep then.”

About 10 Years Later
About10 years or so after conceiving the idea for Squid Game, Hwang Dong-hyuk was finally able to actualize it and start working on it. He shared, “Thanks to Netflix, there was no limit and I was given creative freedom to work as I wanted to.” Through this opportunity, the director expanded his story into a series that is capturing a global audience now.

The Intention Behind the Art
One of the most visually noticeable aspects about the series is the unique, colorful aesthetic which sets it apart from other survival stories. Art director Chae Kyoung-sun said, “We created the places and displays trying to make the viewers think about the hidden intentions of Squid Game with us.” The large-scale sets and vibrant colors transport viewers into a realistic yet fantasy-like world.

Simple Childhood Games
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk deliberately selected childhood games that are relatable and easy to understand. However, the details behind the games shows how much planning went into each round. For example, the first game is Red Light, Green Light which is a game that most should be familiar with. The robot is modeled after a girl from children’s textbooks making the scene all the more shocking as childhood fun transforms into a harrowing fight for survival.

Portraying Realistic Emotions
The enormous sets helped lend to realistic emotions portrayed by the actors. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk said, “I tried to stimulate the atmosphere of real playgrounds, so that the actors can feel like they’re really doing something in there. I thought those kinds of sets can give more of a sense of reality to the actors’ performance.” The juxtaposition of an urgent need for survival set in an innocent, childlike playground is quite striking and emotional.

Creating Nostalgia
One of the sets that took the longest to create is a replication of typical Korean neighborhood alleyways in the 70s and 80s. Actor Park Hae-soo commented, “The playground felt so real, like the actual back alleys of the past. It was like being in front of real homes of the past. It created a strange nostalgia and an odd tension.” Actor Heo Sung-tae also praised the art team for their attention to detail with sprinkling soil in various spots in the alleys.

Making It Universal and Korean
All of these aspects combine to create a story that is both universal and Korean. Most of the childhood games are ubiquitous and some of them are uniquely Korean. The human emotions and struggles the characters go through will strike a chord within many people irrespective of where they are from. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk commented, “As a survival game it is entertainment and human drama.”

Delivering a Poignant Message
The series examines human nature and how we change from childhood to adulthood through showing adults revisit and play children’s games. Director Hwang Dong-hyuk shared, “I wanted to write a story that was an allegory or fable about modern capitalist society, something that depicts an extreme competition, somewhat like the extreme competition of life.” It’s not all depressing though, as we see the characters hold onto their humanity and hope. The commentary on human nature and society is definitely thought-provoking.

For more behind-the-scenes details, view the featurette here and watch Squid Game, only on Netflix!

Image courtesy of Netflix

Netflix’s upcoming series My Name has released its main trailer, offering a look at the story of Jiwoo who joins a crime organisation in order to find the person who killed her father. She ends up taking on a new name to work undercover as a police officer which leads her to discover harsh truths while seeking revenge.
The main trailer features Han So-hee’s striking acting transformation, some intense action, as well as the diverse characters you can see in the series. On her 17th birthday, Jiwoo (Han So-hee) witnesses her father’s death and takes it upon herself to find out who killed her father. She approaches her father’s long-time friend Mujin (Park Hee-soon) who is also the boss of Dongcheon, the largest domestic drug ring.

Jiwoo laments about how the police are not investigating and she cannot stand by without doing anything. Her earnest desire to get revenge for her father’s death is palpable. Mujin reveals that a police officer killed Jiwoo’s father and offers her an opportunity to take on a new identity as Oh Hyejin and work undercover as a police officer.

After uncovering some clues, Jiwoo transfers to the Narcotics Unit where ace detective Jeon Pildo (Ahn Bo-hyun) and team leader Cha Giho (Kim Sang-ho) work. Jiwoo ends up joining their sting operation to capture Mujin which leaves Jiwoo in a situation where she’s investigating her own crime boss. The more Jiwoo helps Mujin, the more her team becomes suspicious of her. She also faces mistrust from Mujin’s right-hand man Jung Taeju (Lee Hak-ju) and threats from Dongcheon gangster Do Gangjae (Jang Yull).

The characters surrounding Jiwoo add on to the intrigue as she falls deeper and deeper into danger. Through her relationships with the various characters, Jiwoo gets closer to finding her father’s killer and ends up discovering some unexpected twists. Jiwoo, who has abandoned her name and her future for the sake of revenge, will face the harsh truth of who is good and bad as she investigates until the end.

My Name is an action noir series led by Director Kim Jin-min of Extracurricular. The series stars Han So-hee, Park Hee-soon, Ahn Bo-hyun, Kim Sang-ho, Lee Hak-ju, Jang Yull et al. My Name will be released on 15 October, only on Netflix.

Information
Title: My Name
Directed by: Kim Jin-min
Written by: Kim Va-da
Starring: Han So-hee, Park Hee-soon, Ahn Bo-hyun, Kim Sang-ho, Lee Hak-ju, Jang Yull et al
Produced by: Studio Santa Claus
Distributed by: Netflix
Release Date: 15 October 2021