The Best Korean Drama Bromances

The love story between a male and female lead in a Korean drama can cause overwhelming feels and emotional attachment, but what about the unwavering love between two male characters? Not necessarily in a gay way (though it sometimes might border on homosexual, and not that it's a bad thing, either), but a pure love that forms between our favorite beautiful Korean actors. Kdrama bromances aren't hard to find, but some stand out as being especially funny, sweet, long standing or passionate.

1st Bromance: Lee Jong Suk and Kim Woo Bin in School 2013

Lee Jong Suk and Kim Woo Bin

As two rough-and-tumble high school boys, Lee Jong Suk and Kim Woo Bin, blew me away. Their chemistry was on fire, and they were the only real romance in School 2013. Who didn't tear up when they decided to be friends again? What a beautiful bromance. Watch School 2013 free and subtitled on DramaFever

30 Day Kdrama Challenge: Day 4

Day 4: Your Favorite Male Third Wheel Character

Park Ki Woong as Won Kang Hwi in Full House Take 2

Ahhhh! I absolutely fell in love with Park Ki Woong while watching Full House Take 2. The male lead, No Min Woo's character Lee Tae Ik, was prickly and a complete diva, but Kang Hwi was sweet, funny, and caring. Even though this entire drama was quite ridiculous and Kang Hwi had the weird story lines involving the rich Chinese family that adopted him and the blindness, I couldn't help but root for him. Also, I think Park Ki Woong is cute enough to pull off any hair color, and I loved him as a blonde. I gathered way too many screencaps of him from this drama, so I shared a few of them above.

Watch Full House Take 2 on DramaFever subtitled and free.

Join me in the 30 Day Kdrama Challenge heckyeahtumblrchallenges.tumblr.com

The King of Dramas episode 17

Choi Si Won as Kang Hyun Min

The King of Dramas is nearing its end, and I am dying to know what is going to happen next. Episode 17 had me laughing (at Hyun Min's over zealous attempts at being a serious actor) and crying (about Anthony Kim's impending blindness). The drama within the drama, Gyeongsong's Morning, has been extended by 4 episodes so the World Production crew is racing to adjust according. Unfortunately, Anthony is unsure if his vision will even last until the end of filming. I really do love this show (I think it's one of the best dramas of 2012, see my The Best Korean Dramas of 2012 post), but I think the theme of characters going blind is becoming too commonly used. Just a few weeks ago Full House Take 2's Kang Hwi (played by Park Ki Woong) was threatened with the same tragedy. In the case of Anthony Kim, though, the illness does make more thematic sense than in Full House Take 2. Anthony spent much of his childhood resenting his mother's blindness even to the point of teasing her for it. He was a man who would stop at nothing to create high-rated dramas, but now that he has fallen and began to rise again, he is learning to appreciate life, people, and his mother.

Jung Ryu Won as Go Eun and Kim Myung Min as Anthony

In this episode Go Eun puts the clues together and realizes that Anthony is going blind. Things started to get very emotional when Go Eun confronted Anthony about his loss of vision because it was clear that Go Eun is willing to stay by Anthony no matter what. Since Anthony had been trying to protect Go Eun from becoming involved in his problem and is opposing her attempts at getting closer to him, the tension is high in this final scene. I can't imagine many people watching this episode didn't at least get a bit teary-eyed. I will tell you the exact moment when I lost my shit, it happened when Anthony said, "I won't be able to see your face and where you are standing and whether you are smiling or crying. I won't be able to see." It made me think about how important sight is in human relationships. Not knowing what expression someone has or their body language would make it difficult to read their true emotions. I am hopeful, though, that the "gotony" ship (I just made that up) will stay afloat and survive this storm.

Watch The King of Dramas episode 17 with English subtitles http://www.viki.com/channels/9887-king-of-drama/videos/84725

Full House Take 2 Final Episode 32 (16 part 2)

Hwang Jung Eum as Jang Man Ok and No Min Woo as Lee Tae Ik

I try to act cool and tell myself that I didn't like this drama because it is so cheesy, but I have to be honest with myself now guys. I did enjoy it. Now, to clarify, I wasn't impressed with the overall plot, and there were things that didn't really make sense (Kang Hwi's family story seemed important, but the surface was barely even scratched), but the show had two things going for it. First there is Park Ki Woong, who is adorable and bursting with charisma, second is No Min Woo's excellent ability to portray a complete DIVA as Tae Ik.

Park Ki Woong as Won Kang Hwi and Tae Ik

In this final episode the story jumped 6 moths into the future to reveal how the conflicts have come to a resolution. In the end Baek Go Dong (Lee Seung Hyo) found fame as the replacement for Kang Hwi next to Tae Ik in the group Take 2 (how original?), Han Ga Ryun (Kim Do Yun, love her!) continued to stalk Kang Hwi and Take 2 with the French-speaking girl and that con artist for their publication, Kang Hwi got the eye surgery and was able to see again and perform with Tae Ik as Take 1, and Man Ok worked at the Tae Kwon Do  house while studying fashion. It ended exactly as I imagined, everything was tied up in a nice bow and everyone was happy (except LJ, of course, because he's the bad guy). Obviously Man Ok and Tae Ik ended up together and Tae Ik gained back ownership of Full House also. I got a little teary-eyed at the very end because of how sweet Tae Ik ended up being to Man Ok, but I'm still team Kan Hwi, don't get it twisted.

Man Ok and Tae Ik love

So, I am glad I watched this drama, but it's not one that I will watch again. And if I were to have directed the final episode, I would have ended Take 1's performance with Kang Hwi and Tae Ik kissing again because that was honestly the best part of the show.

My sweet Kang Hwi

Watch Full House Take 2 with English subtitles http://www.viki.com/channels/536-full-house-2

Full House Take 2 episodes 11 & 12 (21, 22, 23, 24)

No Min Woo and Hwang Jung Eum as Lee Tae Ik and Jang Man Ok

I am so torn after watch Full House Take 2 episodes 11 and 12 (aka episodes 21, 22, 23, and 24). I get a warm, fuzzy feeling from the growing relationship between Lee Tae Ik and Jang Man Ok, but I love Won Kang Hwi too! It is obvious that Man Ok and Tae Ik like each other, but I can't help feeling sorry for Kang Hwi because he liked her first and he's going blind. In these episodes Tae Ik is now living with Man Ok in her grandfather's judo. After a night of drinking and confessing in the tent that Tae Ik is staying in, they wake up to the grandfather's return. I found his return to be very anticlimactic. I mean, Man Ok made a complete mess of things while he was gone, but it doesn't seem to be an issue with them. The show was built upon the premise of her getting away from Taekwondo while her grandfather was gone. I guess it doesn't matter anymore.

As episode 12 part 2 came to an end, I was crying! The episode closes showing Kang Hwi fumbling around blindly in the dark and then calling Man Ok by the mean girl's (Yoo Seol Ah as Jin Se Ryung) name. The love triangle is now at its peak of drama. The teaser for the next week of episodes hints at Tae Ik finally getting back to his goal of obtaining Full House, and also making sure he doesn't lose Man Ok to Kang Hwi.

Park Ki Woong as Won Kang Hwi

A few other random thoughts from these episodes:

• The road manager Bae Go Dong play by Lee Seung Hyo is cute!
• I want to go to the sauna with Park Ki Woong and get gold facials.
• I think Man Ok looks better with straight hair, now she doesn't look more manly than Tae Ik.

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Watch Full House Take 2 with English subtitles http://www.viki.com/channels/536-full-house-2/videos/82528

Park Ki Woong Amazes Me

Park Ki Woong as Kimura Shunji in Bridal Mask

Ki Woong as Won Kang Hwi in Full House Take 2

I am in the midst of watching both Bridal Mask and Full House Take 2. Watching these two (completely different) dramas simultaneously has made it very clear that Park Ki Woong has wonderful versatility as an actore. As Kimura Shunji in Bridal Mask he is a man controlled by pain. He seeks revenge on someone that he thinks of as a friend, but who has the heart of the girl he has loved for years, not to mention this friend also killed his brother (and I believe kills his father toward the end?). Shunji is a character that I both pity and hate at times. In Full House Take 2, on the other hand, he plays the eternally bright and friendly Won Kang Hwi. I have yet to finish either drama (Full House 2 is currently airing), but I doubt he will get the girl in either story.

Park Ki Woong was born February 13th 1985. Here is a list of the dramas he has been in :


Full House Take 2 (SBS Plus, 2012)
Bridal Mask (KBS2, 2012)
The Musical (SBS, 2011)
The Scary One, The Ghost and I (KBS2, 2010)
Golden Fish (MBC, 2010)
Chuno (KBS2, 2010)
Invincible Lee Pyung Kang (KBS2, 2009)
A Man's Story (KBS2, 2009)
Seoul Warrior Story (MBC DramaNet, 2008)
Love Marriage (KBS2, 2008)
When It's At Night (MBC, 2008)
Drama City (KBS, 2007)

Full House Take 2 episodes 5-8

No Min Woo as Tae Ik gettin' naked

 To start off, I want to share something that I realized about this show. At first I thought the format was a bit strange, having 4 half-hour episodes per week. I discovered, though, that each video is actually a half of a full episode. So, my first post was technically about episodes 1 and 2, parts 1 and 2, and this post is about episodes 3 and 4, parts 1 and 2. I was wondering why they replayed such a long part of the previous episode at the beginning of the next because the videos are so short it seemed like a waste of airtime, but thinking about them as parts makes a lot more sense. Now, as far as the actual content of the show, episode 3, part 1 started off on a humorous note. I did think the Islam jokes were a little overboard, but comedy is all about extremes, and if some people get a bit offended then sorry, but that's just how comedy works. The naked scene in the sauna was funny as well. Tae Ik asked Man Ok later if she saw his schlong, she said no of course. I am going to assume that she did, though. And I also want to add that even though No Min Woo has such a tall, slender body, he does look good with his shirt off.

Tae Ik and Park

 In the next episode (episode 3 part 2, technically) the Take One guys hold a fan meeting and receive some ridiculous gifts from some Chinese girls. First let's talk about the jeweled mic, it was hilarious how they were both practically drooling over it, and Tae Ik was genuinely upset when it wasn't a gift for him. When I started the show last week, I found Tae Ik and Kang Hwi's petty fighting to be obnoxious, but since learning more about their personalities, I find them much more entertaining. What I can't possibly accept about this episode, though, is that someone who loves a musical idol like Tae Ik enough to make him some cat PJs wouldn't know that he ie allergic to fur. Don't those crazy fans know everything about their beloved idols? Anyway, the ugly cat pajamas lead to more drama when they are involved in the expensive missing watch scandal in episode 4 part 1.

Kang Hwi

The last episode of the week (episode 4 part 2) begins where the previous one leaves off with Take One performing. Kang Hwi's vision suddenly becomes blurry (it had happened briefly before during the fan meeting) and he stops mid-concert to try to regain his sight. When the tears started streaming from his eyes, I was like, "no!" He is so cute and sweet that I am going to hate to see him sick. Unfortunately, the last episode ends without a diagnosis from the Doctor on Kang Hwi's condition so it is still up in the air. On a lighter note, though,  it is becoming more clear that Tae Ik is interested in Man Ok more than he would like to admit. After she defends him and beats up that jerk executive, Tae Ik looks for her frantically until he finds her in the hole in the woods. I personally love a good worrying-and-searching-for-someone-they-say-they-don't-like-but-secertly-do scene, and this one was no exception. And, naturally, when they are forced to sleep together, Tae Ik notices how adorable Man Ok is. I think we all know where this is going! Let the love triangle begin!

Tae Ik and Hwang Jung Eum as Man Ok

I also want to add that the house in Full House Take 2 is amazing. I get why Tae Ik wants it, and is willing to act like a jerk as a pop idol to get it. Maybe Man Ok and Tae Ik will end up in it together in the end? I guess we'll wait and see.

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Watch Full House 2 with English subs here: http://www.viki.com/channels/536-full-house-2

Full House Take 2 episodes 1-4

When I watched the first episode of Full House Take 2, I thought "this show is so bad, wrong, and not funny," but that all changed at the end of the episode. It began by introducing the two main characters Jang Man Ok (Michelle Jang) and Lee Tae Ik as children. First we see Man Ok taken in as a girly-girl to her grandfather's Taekwondo house because both of her parents have died (of course). Quickly after that Man Ok is shown as a tomboy dressed in a dobok at a fancy party taking place at Tae Ik's family's home. The fact that they met as children leads me to believe that they will end up together once the love triangle is resolved in this story.

The part of this show that I hated in the first episode is the rivalry between Tae Ik and Won Kang hwi. Their fighting wasn't funny to me, just petty. The two men work together in a singing group called Take One and their song in the show is not good. After the episode unravels and all the main players are introduced, the drama's saving grace happens. The real comedy begins as Tae Ik starts to die on stage because he wanted to wear a stupid sparkly scarf that he is allergic to, and then Kang Hwi appears and decides to save the show by kissing Tae Ik and pulling the scarf off. I was litterally LOLing, you guys!

No Min Woo and Park Ki Woong as Tae Ik and Kang Hwi

I believe the show markedly improved at the end of episode 1. In the following episodes we learn more about the characters personalities and see where they fit in to the Kdrama spectrum. Tae Ik is the prissy, picky main male character that will inevitably fall for Man Ok's messy, fun female character and Kang Hwi is the guy who will be nice to Man Ok and like her the whole time, but Man Ok will eventually come to like Tae Ik. Can we all agree on that? Ok, good, because the next step in the story is for them all to begin working together and interacting with each other every day as Man Ok joins the Take One team as a stylist. I foresee much silliness and jealousy to come for these three.

Hwang Jung Eum as Jang Man Ok

Kang Hwi

Tae Ik

As far as this being a sequel to Full House (2004 Korean drama), it really isn't. I feel that it is more spiritually similar to You're Beautiful (2009 drama). Tae Ik is exactly like Jang Keun Suk as Hwang Tae Kyung, much more so than to Rain's Lee Young Jae. Though all three characters are prissy, spoiled celebrities, I found Young Jae in Full House to have a sadness and lack of confidence to him that the other guys don't have. I can't make a judgement about yet how this show will rate overall, because it is only the beginning. It may become as sad and romantic as the original Full House did, or Take 2 could stick to the lighthearted romcom feel. I am hoping for the latter because I don't know how seriously I will be able to take the romance of this love triangle.

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