The South of Seoul featured K-drama for March is popular series that aired in 2016, “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.” With compelling storytelling, visually stunning cinematography, and stellar performances, this drama will have viewers engaged in twists and turns. Let’s dig into this K-drama and expand your social knowledge. Breaking Down the Cultural Knowledge When you watch a K-drama when living in Korea or plan to live in Korea, you may want to go deeper than just the show. In order to fully understand the context of entertainment and the world around you, plan on looking at not only experiencing the movie plot, but also at the actors, music, and cultural conversation. In order to make it easier to maximize watching K-Dramas for cultural knowledge, I will provide you with some quick links each month related to the South of Seoul recommended K-Drama watch list. If you catch up on all these details you will become a K-pop culture master in no time. Let’s explore March’s K-drama “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.” About “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” is a South Korean historical drama that premiered on August 29, 2016. The series ran on SBS network for a total of 20 episodes. Based on the Chinese novel “Bu Bu Jing Xin” by Tong Hua, the story was adapted for Korean audiences. The drama focuses on a 21st-century woman named Go Ha-jin, who gets transported back in time to the Goryeo Dynasty. However, she finds herself in the body of Hae Soo. As she becomes involved in the lives of the royal family, she must navigate intricate political and social dynamics. Finally, she discovers love and power can come at great personal cost and must choose wisely where to align her loyalties. About the Drama’s Success “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” was a popular and successful drama series in South Korea and internationally. The series received high ratings in South Korea as one of the most talked-about dramas of 2016. It also gained a strong following in China and Southeast Asia, where it became one of the most-watched Korean dramas of all time. In 2016, “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” was awarded the Grand Prize, K Culture Pride Award, in the “Global Korea Category” at the 4th Korean Brand Awards Ceremony. In addition, Lee Joong-gi was nominated for the Grand Prize (Daesang) at the SBS Drama Awards. IU was nominated for Best Actress and Best Couple (with Lee Joon-gi). Kang Ha-neul, Hong Jong-hyun, and Ji Soo were also nominated for awards for their supporting roles in the series. While the series did not receive any major awards, it has since become a beloved and highly regarded drama. About the Drama’s Themes “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” explores several complex and interrelated themes throughout its storyline. However, the overall theme is the struggle for love and power in a complex and unforgiving world. As the characters navigate the intricate political and social dynamics of the royal court, they grapple with their own desires and ambitions. Then, the characters must confront the consequences of their actions and choices as they strive for love, power, and acceptance. In addition, the series explores the themes of loyalty, identity, and fate. With loyalties constantly tested, the characters struggle to find their place in the world. Also, their identities are in flux, and their fates are uncertain. Ultimately, the series suggests that love and power are intertwined, and that the pursuit of one often comes at the cost of the other. The Music of “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” Whenever a new, popular K-drama hits the screen you hear the music everywhere. Take the time to become familiar with the tracklist and maybe even memorize one for the norae-bang. Also, this will make you an absolute superstar at social gatherings. Additionally, being able to sing the chorus when you hear the songs in the streets or be able to casually say to a new friend, “Oh, isn’t this the theme song for Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo?” creates a wonderful feeling of connectedness to the world around you. Learn About the Cast of “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” After watching the K-drama and becoming familiar with the songs, it’s time to also become familiar with the cast. You will see these actors and actresses in advertisements across the country or in new dramas. Therefore, knowing about the cast helps you create a language for understanding the visual world around you. The Food of “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” When watching K-dramas, it is often fun to see the different foods represented in the shows. Set back in the Goryeo Dynasty, we see many traditional dishes in this series. This includes Korean dishes such as bulgogi, kimchi, and galbi jjim. If you want to try cooking these dishes at home, check out our series, “A Year to Learn Korean Cooking.“ Catch Up On Show Related Gossip Now that you have watched the show, listened to the music, and learned about the actors, it’s time to learn the tea. Check out this interview with the cast and learn more about how the actors and actresses prepared for their roles and what challenges they had during film. 2023 K-Drama 101-Recommendations You can find more popular K-Drama recommendations on the K-Drama 101 recommendations list for 2023. In the blog article, we recommend a K-drama for every month of the year. By the end of 2023 you will basically be an expert on the top 10 most-watched K-dramas. Additional 2023 K-Drama Reviews Each month in 2023, we will dig into each of our K-Drama recommendations to give you in-depth information about the series. Last month, our K-Drama was “Itaewon Class.” Check out the February K-Drama blog post for more details on this series. Make sure to watch them all and get caught up! In January, our K-Drama was “Crash Landing on You.” Check out the January K-Drama blog post for more details on this series. Lanae Rivers-Woods, MAITLanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert. Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities. Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea. Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea. When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains. www.southofseoul.net

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The South of Seoul K-drama for February is a popular one. “Itaewon Class” was highly popular when it aired in South Korea and internationally on streaming platforms. With great storytelling, its strong characters, themes and performances continue to keep this drama popular and relevant. Let’s dig into this K-drama and expand your social knowledge. Breaking Down The Cultural Knowledge When you watch a K-drama when living in Korea or plan to live in Korea, you may want to go deeper than just the show. In order to fully understand the context of entertainment and the world around you, plan on looking at not only experiencing the movie plot, but also at the actors, music, and cultural conversation. In order to make it easier to maximize watching K-Dramas for cultural knowledge, I will provide you with some quick links each month related to the South of Seoul recommended K-Drama watch list. If you catch up on all these details you will become a K-pop culture master in no time. Let’s start with February’s K-Drama “Itaewon Class.” About “Itaewon Class” “Itaewon Class” is a South Korean television drama that premiered on the cable network JTBC on January 31, 2020. It is based on the Korean webtoon by the same name. The drama focuses on a young man, Park Sae-Ro-Yi, who starts a food and beverage business in the multicultural neighborhood of Itaewon. After his release from prison, he seeks revenge against the people responsible for his father’s death. He meets a diverse cast of characters along the way, including his employees and competitors. In addition, he faces challenges as he tries to achieve his goals and grow his business. About the Drama’s Success Written by Kim Eun-Sook and directed by Kim Sung-Yoon, the drama stars Park Seo-Jun as Park Sae-Ro-Yi, Kim Da-Mi as Jo Yi-Sep, Yoo Jae-Myung as Jang Geun-Soo and Kwon Nara as Ahn Bo-Young. “Itaewon Class” was a highly successful drama, commercially and critically. Well-received by audiences, the series had high ratings in South Korea. In addition, critics praise the show for its well-written script, strong cast performance and its handling of important social issues and themes. Additionally, “Itaewon Class” won Best Drama Series at the 25th Asian Television Awards in 2021. The series was nominated for and won many other awards from 2020-2021. About the Drama’s Themes “Itaewon Class” explores themes of revenge, diversity and inclusion, entrepreneurship, friendship and love, and the meaning of success. Merged throughout the show, these themes provide a rich and complex story. Revenge is the major theme and a driving force for the actions of Park Sae-Ro-Yi throughout the show. In addition, since the show takes place in Itaewon, a multicultural neighborhood, the drama also highlights the importance of understanding and accepting people from different backgrounds. Overall, “Itaewon Class” is a well-rounded, thought-provoking and emotionally engaging drama. Although the show explores serious themes, it balances those moments with humor and lightheartedness. If you’re looking for an intriguing show exploring important themes and featuring talented actors, this is the drama for you. The Music of “Itaewon Class” Whenever a new, popular K-drama hits the screen you hear the music everywhere. Take the time to become familiar with the tracklist and maybe even memorize one for the norae-bang. This will make you an absolute superstar at social gatherings. The following YouTube video provides English translations and Romanization so that you can learn the songs for “Itaewon Class.” Additionally, being able to sing the chorus when you hear the songs in the streets or be able to casually say to a new friend, “Oh, isn’t this the theme song for Itaewon Class?” creates a wonderful feeling of connectedness to the world around you. Learn About the Cast of “Itaewon Class” After watching the K-drama and becoming familiar with the songs, it’s time to also become familiar with the cast. You will see these actors and actresses in advertisements across the country or in new dramas. Knowing about the cast helps you create a language for understanding the visual world around you. The Food of “Itaewon Class” When watching K-dramas, it is often fun to see the different foods represented in the shows. Since this show takes place in the neighborhood of Itaewon in Seoul, known for its diverse food culture and international cuisine, a multi-cultural variety of foods is represented. This includes Korean dishes such as bulgogi and kimchi and international foods like pizza and tacos. Itaewon is a diverse neighborhood, and the food depicted on the show does an excellent job of representing a mix of culture and cuisine. If you want a more in-depth look at the specific Korean dishes represented in this show, this blog by Korean Bapsang gives a great detailed look at the food. Catch Up on Show Related Gossip Now that you have watched the show, listened to the music, and learned about the actors, it’s time to learn the tea. Since this was a multicultural show, “Itaewon Class” features a diverse cast of characters, including individuals from different ethnic backgrounds and with different sexual orientations. Here’s a look at behind the scenes from one of the actors, Chris Lyon. Also, here is a great video with the main characters of “Itaewon Class” where they discuss how they connected with the characters they portray. 2023 K-Drama 101 Recommendations You can find more popular K-Drama recommendations on the K-Drama 101 recommendations list for 2023. In the blog article we recommend a K-drama for every month of the year. K-Drama Reviews Each month in 2023, we will dig into each of our K-Drama recommendations to give you in depth information about the series. Last month, our K-Drama was “Crash Landing on You.” Check out the January K-Drama blog post for more details on this series. South of SeoulFounded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences. www.southofseoul.net

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