All We Want This December Is Viu!
Since the holidays are just a few weeks away, most of us have already filed our vacation leaves to fully enjoy the celebrations. And aside from eating delicious foods and spending time with our loved ones, another thing we can do this festive season is binge watch Korean programs!
So here are some shows you can look forward to this December.
When Flowers Bloom, I Think of the Moon
Image credit: Viu
Drama: Imagine living in a time where alcohol is prohibited. This is what Kang Ro-Seo (portrayed by Hyeri) has to deal with as she struggles to live her life in Hanyang.
As a breadwinner of her poor family, Ro-Seo has no issues working hard in order to earn money. However aside from supporting her loved ones, she also has to pay off a debt. This is what urged her to start brewing alcohol secretly, despite the banned.
To make her life more difficult, she crosses paths with Nam Young (portrayed by Yoo Seung-Ho), an officer who is tasked to arrest people who are breaking the liquor prohibition.
You can watch When Flowers Bloom, I think of the Moon when it airs later this month here.
Street Dance Girls Fighter
Image credit: Viu
Variety show: After the success of the dance survival program Street Woman Fighter, Mnet decided to launch a spin-off show. This time around, the participants will be a bunch of high school girls who will be competing to be named the best dance crew in South Korea.
If this makes you miss the previous casts from SFW, don’t you worry! They will now be the judges who will decide which girls are worthy of being called the dancers of the next generation.
Dancers coming back for this program include Prowdmon’s Monika and Lip J, YGX’s Lee Jung and Jihyo, La Chica’s Gabee, Rian as well as Peanut and more!
You can catch Street Dance Girls Fighter here.
Mom Is An Idol
Image credit: tvN
Variety show: On the popular KBS2 variety program, we’ve witness male celebrities’ dad side as they take care of their kids for the day. This show is going to be the opposite.
Former female idols that have left the glitz and glamour of the entertainment world to become full-time moms are now given the chance to shine on stage again.
Aside from following their journey when they were still in showbiz, we’ll also get to see their motherhood image. This show will include former Wondergirls member Sunye, former After School member Kahi and former Jewelry member Park Jung Ah.
There’s going to be 3 more casts, but their identities remain a secret for now.
You can watch Mom Is An Idol when it airs later this month here.
Escape From Mogadishu
Image credit: Viu
Movie: Released only this 2021, this action-drama film is directed by Ryoo Seung-wan. It is based on real events starring Kim Yoon-seok as Sin-seong, a South Korean ambassador to Somalia, Jo-Insung as Dae-jin, South Korea’s intelligence officer, Heo Joon-ho and Youngsu, a North Korean Ambassador to Somalia and Koo Kyo-hwan as Joon-ki, North Korea’s intelligence officer.
It is set in the 1991 civil war in Somalia and will revolved around the two Korea’s efforts to be admitted to the United Nations. These workers, including their family aims to escape Mogadishu (hence the title) since they got stranded during the conflict.
This movie won several recognitions in the 30th Buil Film Awards, 94th Academy Awards and 42nd Blue Dragon Film Awards.
You can watch Escape From Mogadishu when it airs later this month here.
My Sassy Girl
Image credit: My Sassy Girl
Movie: You can’t claim to be an old-school Korean movie/drama fan if you haven’t watched this timeless classic film. Considered the highest grossing comedy in Korea of all time, this movie has contributed in the spread of “Hallyu Wave”. So much so that it has even inspired America, China and India to create their own remake!
It stars Cha Tae Hyun as Gyunwoo, an average college student who meets Jun Ji Hyun’s character, a sassy girl whose name was never mentioned throughout the film.
Their first encounter was on a train ride, where Ji Hyun drunkenly throws up on a passenger after calling Gyunwoo “honey”. This is where they ill fated relationship began.
You can watch My Sassy Girl when it airs later this month here.
Three Sisters
Image credit: Viu
Movie: You won’t always have a good relationship with your siblings and this film successfully conveys this situation. The plot follows the story of three sisters who gather at their home to celebrate their father’s birthday.
The oldest is Hee-sook (portrayed by Kim Sun-Young), a devoted housewife who suddenly learns that she has cancer. The middle child is Mo Yeon (portrayed by Moon So-ri), a church choirmaster who witnesses her professor husband having an affair. Lastly, the youngest Mi-Ok (portrayed by Yoon-Ju) is a playwright who impulsively married a divorced man.
They all have different personalities and personal wounds that will be re-opened as the three of them cope with their present problems.
You can watch Three Sisters when it airs later this month here.
Very Ordinary Couple
Image credit: Very Ordinary Couple
Movie: Another throwback film on the list is this romantic-comedy movie starring Kim Min-hee and Lee Min-ki.
They portray a recently separated couple that works in the same bank. As expected, working with your ex and seeing them on a daily basis is no easy task. As a result, tension and flare-ups start to occur. But as time passes, their feelings toward each other will start to change.
During its release in 2013, it had 1.8 million admissions in just four weeks. A lot of viewers praised the film for being realistic and showing the non-romantic side of being in a relationship.
You can watch Very Ordinary Couple when it airs later this month here.
That’s it for our last list of recommended Korean programs this 2021! Let’s all continue binge watching our favourite shows (be it old or new) next year!
