LAST week, I shared the first batch of my K-drama recommendations on the topic of self. This week, I will continue on with my “K-thartic” reflections on love, relationships and society.
LOVE
- Encounter—(Park Bo-gum, Song Hye-kyo) Viu
- The Time We Were Not in Love—(Lee Jin-wook, Ha Ji-won) Dramacool
- Secret Garden—(Hyun Bin, Ha Ji-won) Netflix
- A Millionaire’s First Love—(Hyun Bin, Lee Yeon-hee) Dramacool
- My Suspicious Partner/Love in Trouble—(Ji Chang-wook, Nam Ji-hyeon) Viu
Admittedly, I only watch K-dramas with a love angle. A lot of them are about first love, unrequited love or tacit affection. I realized how my idealism on this topic still exists despite my age. I cried so much watching A Millionaire’s First Love and Encounter.
As much as people say you never end up with your first love, I am still grateful that it was a sweet memory for me. From tons of snail mails, long distance calls, surprise gifts and pranks in school, these were four years of my high school life that, as my best friend would say, I still put on a pedestal. I would always tell my daughter that I wish her first love to be this pure and rooted in friendship. It was so funny when I actually introduced him to my daughter in our high school reunion last year.
While watching The Time We Were Not In Love, it made me feel thankful that my husband and I share that deep of a friendship in our marriage. I like how I find comfort in all our laughs, our adventures and even in our arguments. I remember writing in my past column entry “Diary of a Mom With No Limits: My Kismet” (June 6, 2018):
“Thank you for being my rock! Thank you for always supporting my dreams, taking care of our family and having my back no matter what. Like in the movie Me Before You, you’re that someone who sees my worth more than I ever can. And for this, I’m forever grateful for My Kismet.”
RELATIONSHIPS
- Crash Landing On You—(Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin) Netflix
- Inheritors—(Lee Min-ho, Park Shin-hye) Netflix
- A Piece of Your Mind—(Jung Hae-in, Chae Soo-bin) Viu
- Moment to Remember—(Jung Woo-sung, Son Ye-jin) Dramacool
- Uncontrollably Fond—(Kim Woo-bin, Bae Suzy) Netflix
Many say we are a product of our life relationships. Our memories with our family, friends and significant people around us mold our view of life. Crash Landing On You and The Heirs were spot-on in identifying the value of relationships over wealth. The Heirs puts it in a simple question: What is your crown? Wealth, fame or love? I also can’t help but remember the people who have gone ahead but has truly steered me to be the person I am today. Below was my entry after watching A Piece of Your Mind:
“‘See you tomorrow’… After hearing this line from the series, I felt so much sadness and longing for people who have gone before me. It is a different feeling from before of wanting to die so young so I could leave. Today, I bear the longing to stay with joy for the life they have guided me to have today. I miss Sakopo [Grand Aunt], Manang Eyang [my nanny], Angkong [Grandfather] and Amah [Grandmother] so much. I am so grateful God granted me precious time with them.
“When I see you again, I would like to hug you so tight and say an even bigger thank you for never once leaving my side even when you were gone. I promise to live the life of love you taught me. I promise to be that person whom you would be proud to call your daughter, Sakopo and Manang Eyang. I became a teacher because of both of you. I have become patient in life because of the patience you have shared to a forgetful girl who just wanted to not be ‘adopted.’
“See you tomorrow. I love you very very much.”
Moment to Remember and Uncontrollably Fond both depicted middle-aged characters losing their memory. In the latter, Jun-Yong would lose his memory intermittently during his last days. He would forget even the people he loves. I wish when I leave this Earth that I may be able to say my proper goodbyes to the people I love. I hope that if ever I do lose my memory, my kids can relate my life to me.
SOCIETY
- Descendants of the Sun—(Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo) Netflix
- Chicago Typewriter—(Yoo Ah-in, Im Soo-jung) Netflix
- It’s Okay, That’s Love—(Jo In-sung, Gong Hyo-jin) Netflix
- Chocolate—(Yoon Kye-sang, Ha Ji-won) Netflix
- A Poem a Day—(Lee Jun-hyuk, Lee Yu-bi) Viu
I enjoy watching how detailed the depictions are on real-life professions in K-dramas. I especially like how they explain specific medical fields like neurology (Chocolate), psychology (It’s Okay, That’s Love) and even physical therapy (A Poem a Day). Definition of technical terms would even appear to educate the viewer. I also got educated a lot more on mental illness and the psychological conditions people face caused by past traumas. I wish for myself and our society to be more emphatic, accepting and more encouraging to people who face these conditions.
Last but not the least, K-dramas also made me even more grateful to the frontliners who sacrifice their lives during this pandemic.
Happy K-drama viewing, everyone.