K-Drama School
179 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 days ago - ★★★★★ - 34 ratingsK-Drama School is hosted by comedian, writer and media scholar Grace Jung who analyzes a new Korean TV drama every week and contextualizes it according to its social, cultural and historical significance. Let Grace school you in K-Dramas! Visit kdramaschool.com to learn more. Follow @kdramaschool on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok!
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Episodes
K-Drama School – Ep 128: The Good Bad Mother and Shadow Work
June 12, 2023 07:10 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show The Good Bad Mother (2023, JTBC). Grace’s screen addiction is starting to improve while her tolerance for other people’s dramas is reducing, and she’s wondering aloud (again) how this might impact her podcasting in the future. Grace finally understands the significance of positive affirmations. Grace analyzes The Good Bad Mother and Ra Mi-ran’s character who faces her shadows and confronts them bravely. Grace also highlights Ra Mi-ran’s lead performanc...
K-Drama School – Ep 127: Chocolate and Exhausted Tears
June 05, 2023 07:20 - 8 minutes - 7.61 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Chocolate (2019, JTBC). The show is written by Lee Kyung-hee who also wrote Sang-doo! Let’s Go to School and I’m Sorry, I Love You. Chocolate is Lee Kyung-hee’s second collaboration with director Lee Hyung-min who directed I’m Sorry, I Love You. Grace mentions her impression of the second male lead actor Teo Yoo, and his performance in the new film Past Lives (2023). Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool....
K-Drama School – Ep 126: Black Knight and South Korea’s Air Pollution and Delivery Workers
May 29, 2023 07:01 - 11 minutes - 10.8 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Black Knight (2023, Netflix) based on a webtoon by cartoonist Lee Yoon-kyoon, adapted for TV and directed by Cho Ui-seok—a former assistant director to Oscar winner Bong Joon-ho in his film Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000). Black Knight raises awareness around the plight of working-class laborers like delivery workers and environmental issues like air pollution. Grace notes how South Korea is increasingly developing narratives dealing with world crises l...
K-Drama School – Ep 125: Birthcare Center and Kombucha Love
May 22, 2023 07:01 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Birthcare Center (2020, tvN) written by Kim Ji-soo. The show satirizes new parents’ anxiety over being the best parent ever, and putting all their money into proving it so, when really, it’s unknowable. Grace analyzes the show’s exploration of maternal guilt over wanting to be a working mom, and how women exhaust themselves by comparing their lives to others’. Grace discusses her kombucha brewing journey, and her interview with Time magazine. Follow @K...
K-Drama School - Ep 124: Queenmaker and Korean Air’s Nut Rage with Connor Hangsleben
May 15, 2023 06:35 - 1 hour - 56.3 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Queenmaker (2023, Netflix) written by Moon Ji-young. Queenmaker takes inspiration from Korean Air’s Cho family scandals related to staff abuse. Kim Hee-ae’s role as Do-hee is an exploration of how a person who tolerated and participated in corruption turns her life around through vengeance. Kim Hee-ae’s K-drama queendom also plays a meta role in crowning veteran indie and art house film actress Moon So-ri as a K-drama queen through this show. Grace’s ...
K-Drama School – Ep 123: Mr Queen and Korean Food as Vice and Pleasure
May 08, 2023 07:00 - 21 minutes - 19.5 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Mr Queen (2020-2021, tvN) based on a Chinese web series called Go Princess Go. The show is written by Park Gye-ok and Choi Ah-il. Grace compares Mr Queen to Jewel in the Palace; whereas more classic hallyu K-dramas like Jewel in the Palace utilizes Korean food as a vehicle to promote wellness, healing and medicinal properties, Mr Queen appropriates aspects of that show to promote Korean food as pleasure and vice. Mr Queen also includes aspects of trans...
K-Drama School – Ep 122: Divorce Attorney Shin and Family Dysfunction Love with Ruby Bockmeier
May 01, 2023 07:02 - 1 hour - 76.9 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Divorce Attorney Shin (2023, JTBC) based on a webtoon by Kang Tae-kyung written by screenwriter Yoo Young-a. Grace praises the show’s writing and for exploring a public female figure’s experience as a victim of a digital sex crime. Grace also mentions how the people around her are starting to snap out of the matrix of their lives and entering a phase of self-realization. It is all very exciting to her. Grace’s guest is LA-based comedian Ruby Bockmeier ...
K-Drama School – Ep 121: Jirisan and Reading at the Cheesecake Factory with Deb JJ Lee
April 24, 2023 07:40 - 1 hour - 67.3 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Jirisan (2021, tvN) written by Kim Eun-hee starring Ju Ji-hoon and Jun Ji-hyun. Grace appreciates the chemistry between the two stars as well as Kim Eun-hee’s accomplished way of non-linear storytelling. Grace does question, however, the show’s expectation of disabled characters to reach a cure in the end, and without any explanation as to how they got there. Jirisan is chockful of gorgeous scenic views of mountains throughout. Grace’s guest is Korean ...
K-Drama School – Ep 120: Live in Alaska and The Glory, Crash Course in Romance and The Interest of Love with Leah Mansfield, Chip Nicholson and Josh Edelman
April 17, 2023 07:01 - 1 hour - 70.1 MB[Spoiler Alert] This is the first ever K-Drama School podcast live recording at Anchorage, Alaska with the B4UDie Comedy Festival at E Street Theater. Grace’s first comedian guest is Leah Mansfield (@leahmansfield on Instagram) who always brings friendly wit and joy to her comedy. Grace and Leah have a round of flashcard questions based on The Glory (2023, Netflix). Grace’s second comedian guest is Chip Nicholson (@chipnicholson on Instagram) who won Best of Fest at B4UDie 2023, and always br...
K-Drama School - Ep 119: Beef & The Korean American Drama of a Jang-nam’s K-Rage
April 10, 2023 07:05 - 23 minutes - 21.2 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Beef (Netflix, 2023) created by Lee Sung Jin starring Steve Yeun and Ali Wong. While Beef is a Netflix production made in Hollywood, Grace sees a lot of Korean influence on the show like how Danny tries to kill himself using hibachi grills similar to the way Koreans use charcoal briquettes, having a billionaire character, and the jang-nam (eldest Korean son) pressure that Danny puts on himself to buy his parents a house. What makes the show arguably a...
K-Drama School – Ep 118: City Hall and 650 USD
April 03, 2023 07:01 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBGrace is going to be in Anchorage, Alaska for the B4UDie Comedy Festival! On April 8th, she is recording a live episode of K-Drama School podcast at E Street Theater at 1PM. Please stop by! The show is free. [Spoiler Alert] Grace lost $650 because she made some booking mistakes for her trip to Alaska but she talks herself out of grief. Grace discusses a greatly underrated throwback show entitled City Hall (SBS, 2009) starring Kim Sun-ha and Cha Seung-won written by hit-maker Kim Eun-sook. Gr...
K-Drama School – Ep 117: Big Bet and the Worst K-Drama Ever
March 27, 2023 07:02 - 23 minutes - 21.1 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace calls season 1 of Big Bet (Disney+, 2022-2023) starring Choi Min-sik, Son Suk-ku and Lee Dong-hwi written and directed by Kang Yoon-sung “the worst K-drama” she’s ever seen in her entire life. Grace goes off about how much she hates Disney+ productions of K-dramas which hog all the good actors but put them in terrible shows made by inexperienced filmmakers who don’t have a sense of TV pacing. Disney+ and Kang Yoon-sung’s greatest offense when creating Big Bet is making ...
K-Drama School – Ep 116: Juvenile Justice and It Takes a Village to Neglect a Child
March 20, 2023 07:00 - 12 minutes - 11.2 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses Juvenile Justice (Netflix, 2022) starring Kim Hye-soo, Kim Mu-yeol and Lee Sung-min. Grace compares the success of Juvenile Justice to the failure of Extracurricular in that there’s a complete story arc following Judge Sim’s hero’s journey. Grace praises Kim Hye-soo’s controlled performance on this show, as well as the show’s conscious awareness in how a society’s perpetrators come into formation through systemic and structural problems. The show poignantly sta...
K-Drama School: The Glory (Part 2) and Walking Towards Healing
March 13, 2023 08:43 - 27 minutes - 24.9 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses part 2 of the show The Glory (2022, Netflix) written by hit-maker Kim Eun-sook in her second collaboration with Song Hye-kyo. Grace starts out by admitting how she cried while watching Ke Huy Quan’s and Michelle Yeoh’s Oscar acceptance speeches telling artists not to give up on their dreams. Grace questions the concept of a public apology, and questions the adults involved in the latest media scandal around director Ahn Gil-ho. Grace critiques The Glory’s back...
K-Drama School - Ep 114: Crash Course in Romance and Condom Wrapped Banana Talisman
March 06, 2023 08:01 - 1 hour - 101 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Crash Course in Romance (tvN, 2023) starring Jeon Do-yeon and Jung Kyung-ho. Grace goes into actress Jeon Do-yeon’s impressive entertainment career which she’s been in since the year 1990. Grace is speaks highly of Crash Course in Romance’s noble attempt at raising awareness around mental health, emotional well-being, childhood trauma, and overachievement despite physical incapacitation but is disappointed at the show's failure to address any of them ...
K-Drama School – Ep 113: Summer Strike and Quit Your Job
February 27, 2023 08:20 - 20 minutes - 18.6 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Summer Strike (GenieTV, 2022) starring Im Si-wan and Kim Seol-hyun. She analyzes the character Bom and her moments of female outrage in light of the tragedies she faces, which are highly in contrast with how Yeo-reum handles herself. Grace also encourages you to quit your job if you hate it so much. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School - Ep 112: Save Me and When Two Pisces Dream of Yin Yang Cheese with Dr. Jacob Ham
February 20, 2023 08:58 - 1 hour - 106 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Save Me (OCN, 2017) starring Seo Yea-ji, Ok Taec-yeon, Jo Sung-ha and Woo Do-hwan. Grace analyzes the show’s illustration of religious fanaticism to critique South Korean cults that take advantage of emotionally vulnerable civilians. She also examines South Korea’s conflicting viewpoint around mental illness—how patients suffering from mental disorder and their families are unwilling to accept a clinical diagnosis from psychologists but willing to see...
K-Drama School – Ep 111: The Interest of Love and a Very Chewy Melodrama
February 13, 2023 08:01 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show The Interest of Love (JTBC, 2023) starring Yoo Yeon-seok, Moon Ga-young, Keum Sae-rok and Jung Ga-ram. Grace appreciates this “chewy” melodrama that has substance, humanity, heart, and profound breakthroughs for all the characters. Grace is discusses why she was the most heartbroken by Jung Ga-ram’s character Jung Jong-hyun. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School - Ep 110: Curtain Call and Incest Romance
February 06, 2023 08:00 - 7 minutes - 7.16 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Curtain Call (KBS, 2022) starring Kang Ha-neul and Ha Ji-won. Grace appreciates the potential incest romance the show dangles, as well as Ha Ji-won finally playing a strong female character on TV. Grace breaks down what a classic K-drama melodrama is made of. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 109: Somebody and Female Sexual Empowerment
January 30, 2023 08:10 - 13 minutes - 12 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the Netflix show Somebody—a Netflix series starring Kang Hae-lim, Kim Yong-ji, Kim Soo-yeon, and Kim Young-kwang. Grace is impressed by the show’s diverse way of exploring female sexuality and agency, but questions the choice behind making the autistic character a pathological killer. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School: Ep 108 – Would You Like a Cup of Coffee and Happy Lunar New Year
January 23, 2023 08:01 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace welcomes in the Lunar New Year by setting new intentions, including always making an effort to humanity’s good even in light of the mass shooting in Monterey. Her thoughts are with her Asian American community in SoCal. Grace discusses the show Would You Like a Cup of Coffee? (2021, KakaoTV) written by Huh Young-man, Lee Ho-joon and No Jung-wook. Grace calls this chamber piece a K-drama that feels like “tapas”—small and manageable bites that are easy to digest. Follow @...
K-Drama School – Ep 107: Inspector Koo & Facing Our Shadow
January 16, 2023 09:00 - 15 minutes - 14.7 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Inspector Koo (2021, JTBC) written by Sung Choi. Grace delves into the writer’s feminist logic behind conceptualizing Inspector Koo, inspired by the rage and sorrow over digital crimes, sex trafficking, and misogyny in Korea. Inspector Koo demonstrates how having empathy and understanding for the villain helps the heroine come full circle with her own inner battle. This part of the show works as an effective metaphor for accepting one’s own shadow to ...
K-Drama School - Ep 106: My Unfamiliar Family and Metaphysical Drag Queens with Tobias Hauser
January 09, 2023 08:00 - 1 hour - 68.1 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show My Unfamiliar Family (2020, tvN) written by Kim Eun-jung, and the show’s creative uses of the theme “unfamiliarity” in the context of family. Grace’s returning guest is Berlin-based comedian Tobias Hauser (@hahahouser on Instagram) and they discuss how quitting drinking changes one’s social circle, boredom, Joni Mitchell, buying and selling guitars, aging, drag queens, prime ministers and new year’s resolutions. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twit...
K-Drama School – Ep 105: The Glory and its Glory
January 02, 2023 08:05 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Glory (2022, Netflix) written by hit-maker Kim Eun-sook in her second collaboration with Song Hye-kyo. The Glory also features Lee Do-hyun, Lim Ji-yeon, Yeom Hye-ran, and Park Sung-hoon. Grace is impressed by Song Hye-kyo’s frightening portrayal of woman obsessed with vindication, and her sensitivity in delivering a PTSD survivor’s behaviors. Grace problematizes The Glory and other K-dramas’ regular insensitivity when depicting drug addicts while fram...
K-Drama School – Ep 104: Reborn Rich and National Self-Reflection
December 26, 2022 08:29 - 15 minutes - 14.6 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Reborn Rich (2022, JTBC) starring Song Joong-ki, Shin Hyun-been, and Lee Sung-min, and how the show has a couple of overlaps with HBO’s Succession although writer San Kyung wrote the web novel Reborn Rich a year prior to Succession airing. Grace dives into how K-dramas that display a giant ego meltdown is what makes it a K-drama. Grace also mentions a category of K-dramas that fall under the "National Self-Reflection" umbrella like Reborn Rich, the Re...
K-Drama School - Ep 103: My Secret Terrius and Marry Me So Jisub
December 19, 2022 08:00 - 17 minutes - 15.8 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show My Secret Terrius (2018,MBC) starring So Ji-sub and Jung In-sun. She delves into Jung In-sun’s versatile career starting out as a child actor in some dark films like Memories of Murder by Bong John-ho and Han Gong-ju by Lee Su-Jin. Jung In-sun was also on the show Baek Jong-won’s Alley Restaurant as an emcee. Grace is impressed by Jung In-sun’s ability to draw out So Ji-sub’s comedic side in spite of his usual struggle with comedic roles. Follow @KDra...
K-Drama School – Ep 102: One Ordinary Day and Inevitably Insufficient Justice
December 12, 2022 08:50 - 14 minutes - 13.3 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show One Ordinary Day (2021, Coupang Play) which is a show produced for streaming starring Kim Soo-hyun and Cha Seung-won. Grace discusses the metaphysical meaning behind the characters’ diseases like eczema and asthma, how the show makes hints at the 2016 Gangnam Station femicide Post-it Note protest, and the inevitably insufficient justice system in the face of a lost life. Grace praises Cha Seung-won’s performance. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twi...
K-Drama School - Ep 101: Under the Queen’s Umbrella and Veterans and Newcomers
December 05, 2022 08:00 - 14 minutes - 13.3 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Under the Queen’s Umbrella (2022, tvN) starring Kim Hye-soo, Kim Hae-sook, Choi Won-young and Moon Sang-min. Grace admires Kim Hye-soo and Kim Hae-sook’s veteran performances go head-to-head on this show. She wonders why the actor Moon Sang-min is suddenly popping off. Grace is disappointed by the soundtrack composer of Under the Queen’s Umbrella for copying Rupert Gregson-Williams who composed the soundtrack for season 1 of The Crown—particularly the...
K-Drama School - Ep 100: Moon Embracing the Sun and Badass Bitches with Julieta Degese
December 04, 2022 06:08 - 1 hour - 78.2 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Moon Embracing the Sun (2012, MBC) starring Kim Soo-hyun and Han Ga-in. Grace’s guest is Berlin-based comedian Julieta Degese (@dgcjulieta on Instagram). They discuss unicorn outfits, drinking vermouth, how inflation is impacting their shopping and traveling habits, the advantages of being labeled a “bitch,” and how to cope with urban loneliness. The two friends celebrate K-Drama School’s 100th episode. Cheers! Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitt...
K-Drama School – Ep 99: Was it Love? and Regularity
November 21, 2022 08:01 - 9 minutes - 8.33 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Was it Love? (2020, JTBC) which stars Song Ji-hyo and Son Ho-jun. She commends both actors’ versatility and mentions how the show points to the stigma that single mothers live with in Korea society. Grace also talks about where all her energy’s been focused on in the month of November. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit https://www.kdramaschool.com/ to learn more.
K-Drama School - Ep 98: Avengers Social Club and the Most Feminist K-Drama Ever
November 14, 2022 08:00 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Avengers Social Club (2017, tvN) which stars Lee Yo-won, Ra Mi-ran, and Myung Se-bin. This is an ajumma drama based on a webtoom that was published on Daum back in 2014. Grace dives into Ra Mi-ran’s career post Reply 1988, the supreme feminism of Avengers Social Club, her love for her favorite neighborhood in Seoul—Buam-dong, and the greatness of Kim Hyang-an who was once married two great modernists Yi Sang and Kim Whanki in her lifetime. Follow @KDr...
K-Drama School – Ep 97: Tomorrow and Quantum Physics with Rosie Tran
November 07, 2022 08:00 - 1 hour - 60.9 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace is back from San Diego and she’s back to drinking coffee! Grace discusses the show Tomorrow (2022, MBC) starring Kim Hee-sun, Ro-woon, Lee Soo-hyuk, Yun Ji-on and Kim Hae-sook. Grace appreciates the show’s camp aspects particularly the episode in Tomorrow with a suicidal dog while the rest of the show felt a bit redundant. Grace delves into the prolific career of actress Kim Hae-sook who has spent the bulk of her career playing a mom on screen. Grace’s guest is LA-based...
K-Drama School – Ep 96: My Roommate is a Gumiho and Adrenaline Rush with Cat Min
October 31, 2022 07:01 - 1 hour - 65.6 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace takes a moment to reflect on the tragedy that took place in Itaewon leaving 153 people dead and many others wounded. Her thoughts are with them. Grace discusses the show My Roommate is a Gumiho (2021, tvN and iQIYI) starring Jang Ki-yong and Hyeri, and iQIYI's production on a K-drama since THAAD. She analyzes Shin Woo-yeo’s characteristics as metaphors for male struggles with restraint and just how much the show rips off of Goblin, just like all the other fantasy K-dram...
K-Drama School – Ep 95: A Gentleman’s Dignity and Politely Following Up with Prateek Srivastava
October 24, 2022 07:00 - 53 minutes - 49 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show A Gentleman’s Dignity (SBS, 2012) written by hit-maker Kim Eun-sook (Secret Garden, Descendants of the Sun, Goblin: The Lonely and Great God, etc) starring Kim Ha-neul and Jang Dong-gun. Grace admires Kim Ha-neul’s comedic performance on this show, placing her up on the mantle alongside Son Ye-jin and Jun Ji-hyun while problematizing Jang Dong-gun’s character Kim Do-jin as pervy, immature, and toxic. Grace’s guest is LA-based comedian Prateek Srivasta...
K-Drama School - Ep 94: The School Nurse Files and 16 mm Dream with Nalini Sharma
October 17, 2022 07:10 - 1 hour - 66.5 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show The School Nurse Files (Netflix, 2020) written and directed by Lee Kyoung-mi, based on the book by Chung Serang. Lee Kyoung-mi is a fascinating auteur who brings a unique touch to all of her movies and most certainly on this drama series which unabashedly explores the realm of the gross. The School Nurse Files has some big star hitters like Jung Yu-mi and Nam Joo-hyuk but an underappreciated veteran actress Moon Sori. She is a force to be reckoned wit...
K-Drama School - Ep 93: Little Women and Intergenerational War Trauma
October 10, 2022 07:00 - 16 minutes - 14.7 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Little Women (tvN, 2022) written by Jeong Seo-kyung who frequently collaborates with filmmaker Park Chanwook, co-writing for films like Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, I’m a Cyborg but That’s Ok, Thirst, The Handmaiden and his latest movie Decision to Leave which opens this month in US theaters. Little Women stars Kim Go-eun, Nam Ji-hyun and Park Ji-hu, and the show includes themes of intergenerational trauma revolving around war and parental or national...
K-Drama School – Ep 92: Run On and Cosmic Yoko-Onian Cure with MariNaomi
October 03, 2022 07:01 - 1 hour - 61 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Run On (JTBC, 2021) starring Shin Se-kyung and Im Si-wan. Grace comments on the difficulty of viewing Im Si-wan as a leading man in a rom-com, and how he’s better at playing weirder roles. She also mentions how Shin Se-kyung appears more connected to herself in her performance as Mi-joo in Run On which is refreshing. Grace’s guest is California-based artist and author MariNaomi(@MariNaomi on Instagram and Twitter). They discuss the process of healing ...
K-Drama School – Ep 91: A Model Family and Rap Battle Etiquette with Reggie Kush
September 26, 2022 07:40 - 53 minutes - 48.8 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show A Model Family (2022, Netflix) which she finds lackluster due to the fact that it includes premises and topics already covered by Hollywood like Ozark and Breaking Bad. Grace questions the show’s originality and what its larger purpose is but fawns over Park Hee-soon’s impressive performance. Grace’s guest is New York-based comedian Reggie Kush (@reggie_kush on Instagram). They discuss the difference between rap music and rap battle, the similarities ...
K-Drama School – Ep. 90: Encounter and the Desert’s Peace with Saeed Green
September 19, 2022 07:01 - 1 hour - 61.5 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Encounter (2018, tvN) written by Yoo Young-ah—the same writer of the series Thirty-Nine. Encounter stars Song Hye-kyo and Park Bo-gum. Grace analyzes the Cinderella-story in a gender-swapped scenario wherein the woman is in a higher income bracket than the man, and what that looks like in a K-drama. Grace’s guest is Berlin-based comedian Saeed Green (@saeedgreen.ent on Instagram). They discuss how and why Saeed became vegan, his tour in Iraq when he s...
K-Drama School – Ep 89: Narco-Saints and Skate Impersonation with No Guest
September 12, 2022 07:33 - 23 minutes - 21.5 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Narco-Saints (2022, Netflix) which is a Netflix original K-drama written and directed by the prolific filmmaker Yoon Jong-bin. Narco-Saints stars Ha Jung-woo, Hwang Jung-min, Park Hae-soo, Jo Woo-jin and Yoo Yeon-seok. This episode has no guest today but Grace does chat it up with returning flashcard series pal Marisa Llamas (@dapplegreen on Instagram) who applies her improv expertise to Grace’s questions after three drinks. It’s a wild ride. (Thank y...
K-Drama School – Ep 88: Start Up and the Art of Grounding with Joe Biel
September 05, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour - 72.8 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Start-Up (2020, tvN) starring Bae Suzy of Miss A, Nam Joo-hyuk, Kim Seon-ho and Kang Han-na. She discusses the unconvincing love triangle in the show, wonders what Dal-mi’s real dream is, and the show’s relatable illustration of imposter syndrome among young people trying to pursue their dream career despite their lack of resources and experiences. Grace’s guest is LA-based artist Joe Biel (@joebiel20 on Instagram) who originally hails from Iowa. They...
K-Drama School – Ep 87: Another Miss Oh and Audition as Work with Bruce Baek
August 29, 2022 07:01 - 1 hour - 66 MBSpoiler Alert] In this episode of K-Drama School, Grace discusses the show Another Miss Oh (AKA Another Oh Hae-young) written by Park Hae-young, who also wrote My Mister and My Liberation Notes. Grace sees a consistency in all three of Park’s shows in how they represent the patriarchy, three-sibling dynamics, and women in their 30s and 40s vulnerably expressing their need to be loved. Grace also talks about the chemistry between Seo Hyun-jin and Eric Mun, as well as Eric’s two-decade long K-...
K-Drama School - Ep 86: Extraordinary Attorney Woo and Taking Notes with Kristen Cunningham
August 22, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour - 81.8 MB[Spoiler Alert] In this episode of K-Drama School, Grace discusses Extraordinary Attorney Woo written by Moon Ji-won, and how it weaves in multiple narratives related to politics including disability, misogyny, queerness, religion, childhood, liberation, and more. Grace’s guest is Kristen Cunningham (@kris10cc on Instagram) and they discuss mothers showing up at the house without invitation, negative self-talk, fashion, education, how to take notes, racism, and moving closer towards the thin...
K-Drama School – Ep. 85 Penthouse (Season 1) and Part of a Movement with Joe Wong
August 15, 2022 07:01 - 1 hour - 63 MB[Spoiler Alert] In this episode of K-Drama School, Grace discusses season 1 of show Penthouse (2020, SBS) written by Kim Sook-ok, and how makjang dramas queer the moral boundary between a villain and a hero by allowing characters to change personas. Grace also compares makjang dramas’ excessiveness to German expressionist cinema. Grace’s guest is comedian Joe Wong (@joewongcomedy on Instagram). They discuss the writing process of his book Not This Shit Again!: A Comedian’s Guide to Tackling ...
K-Drama School – Ep 84: Jealousy Incarnate and Old Man Burps with Killian McAssey
August 08, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour - 64.7 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Jealousy Incarnate (2016, SBS) starring Gong Hyo-jin, Jo Jung-suk and Go Kyung-pyo and how the show is based on actual people who work at SBS in the news department. Grace also talks about trying to get closer to gratitude, how she’s working on trying not to lecture so much, and how much this podcast grounds her every single week. She’s grateful to her listeners. Grace’s guest is LA-based comedian and artist Killian McAssey (@killian_mcsassey). They t...
K-Drama School – Ep 83: My Love from Another Star and Awakened Acting with Steve Park
August 01, 2022 07:50 - 1 hour - 69.2 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show My Love from the Star (2014, SBS) starring Gianna Jun (Jun Ji-hyun) and Kim Soo-hyun. Berlin-based comedian Tobias Hauser (@hahahouser on Instagram) answers a few flashcard questions based on the show off the top with hilarious answers. Grace’s guest is veteran Korean American actor and comedian Steve Park (@stephenpark62) on Instagram) who is in Fargo, A Serious Man, The French Dispatch, In Living Color, and dozens of other films and shows over a spa...
K-Drama School – Ep 82: No K-Drama and Make a List That Matters with No Guest
July 25, 2022 07:40 - 13 minutes - 12 MBGrace has no guest or K-drama to cover today. Instead, she does a short ASMR mukbang video with two cans of soda, talks about the state of academia today, and recommends making lists in the face of nothing mattering. Follow @KDramaSchool on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Visit kdramachool.com to learn more.
K-Drama School – Ep 81: Oh My Baby and Sad Infant Clown with Juzo Yoshida
July 18, 2022 07:40 - 1 hour - 59.6 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Oh My Baby (2020, tvN) starring Jang Nara, and how the show exhibits challenges faced by single women in their 30s who wish to become single mothers, as well as how the IVF laws negatively impact queer couples who wish to conceive in South Korea. Grace’s guest is LA-based actor, comedian and clown Juzo Yoshida (@juzoyoshida on Instagram). They talk about clowning, being Asian in Hollywood, pursuing acting and comedy with English as a second language, ...
K-Drama School – Ep 80: Worlds Within and Buddhist Lawyer with Teruko Nakajima
July 11, 2022 07:00 - 1 hour - 60.8 MB[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses the show Worlds Within (2008, KBS) written by Noh Hee-kyung, and how the show addresses struggles of female TV directors trying to make it in a male-dominated industry in Korea, and Noh’s meta storytelling on the show by including a writer character, and the upsides and downsides of a tightly-knit community that works more like a dysfunctional family. Grace’s guest is Teruko Nakajima (@terukonakajima on Instagram) who is currently playing in her very moving on...
K-Drama School – Ep 79: No K-Drama and a Humorous Activist with Dr. Karla Jay
July 04, 2022 08:39 - 1 hour - 64.3 MBNo monologue or K-drama coverage today. Sorry! Let’s enjoy the long holiday weekend. Happy fourth of July. May your dogs and cats brave the fireworks. May you enjoy a wholesome time with good food, sun, and great company. Grace’s guest is Dr. Karla Jay who is Grace’s former college professor—now professor emeritus. They discuss activism in today’s political climate and how to maintain a sense of humor and grace while sticking to one’s values and standing up for those who often go unheard. Fo...