The curse of 2016 hits again. The whole year seems to be death, destruction, and depression. The Korean actor that introduced me to Korean Drama was diagnosed with a deadly brain disease. According to Koreaboo.com, he is to enlist into the military but has been also diagnosed with a cerebral aneurysm. The article says:
"The condition is considered a ticking time bomb as if the blood vessel ruptures, the fatality rate varies from 30% ~ 40%. According to The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, “Aneurysms may burst and bleed into the brain, causing serious complications, including hemorrhagic stroke, permanent nerve damage, or death. Once it has burst, the aneurysm may burst again and bleed into the brain, and additional aneurysms may also occur.'"
30-40% is kind of low, but given the nature of the brain and how any little blow could really cause it harm, there is still that possibility of complications. As fans, we can only pray for our Flowerboy Ramen Shop and Moon Embracing the Sun Prince. It's like as if it wasn't bad enough that he had to enlist now he has this diagnoses. I just hope he stays safe and healthy. ALSO I hope that he knows you can live a full life even when you have to live with a disease. Please watch his dramas to support! Jung Il Woo Dramas: Cinderella and Four Knights Diary Of A Night Watchman *Golden Rainbow (His role was great) The Queen of Office (cameo) *The Moon Embracing The Sun (So good) High Kick! 3 *Flower Boy Ramen Shop (Favorite) *49 Days (AWESOME) High Kick! 2 My Fair Lady Moon River High Kick!
Even though Flower Boy Ramen Shop was my first Noona (Old sister/older woman)/Namdongsaeng (Little brother/younger man) KDrama romance I witnessed, Eun B. and Cha Chi Soo weren't the ones who really set this theme off for me. The Noona/Namdongsaeng relationship that really wowed me was the "relationship" between Min Seo-hyun and Yoon Ji-hoo from Boys Over Flowers. It is safe to say that Boys Over Flowers will be used to discuss all the themes as it uses all the themes you could think of... including for a brief moment Noona/Namdongsaeng. Ji Hoo was really caught up on his noona. I mean Geum Jandi finds him at a bus stop looking like this:
I mean his face is up against an outdoor advertisement in like public. Smh... but more importantly I am sure fans can't forget this scene:
Now obviously in this senarios Noona is not always your real big sis. Noona is that women you looked at like a big sis when you were small and then somewhere down the line (puberty more than likely) noona became the woman you want to be with...I mean if you are are that guy. It might be the cougar in me but I love the idea of Noona/dongsaeng romances, no Korea Dramas like to have high schoolers fall in love with teachers, but that is way risque for me as I am a teacher...sure its fun to watch, but in America you will LOSE your job. Of course in Flower Boy Ramen Shop we see Eun B. leave the teaching profession, but that was more so to more the storyline towards the ramen shop.
Another thing that makes drama fans gravitate towards Noona/Dongsaeng relationships is the the passion show by the dongsaeng. I mean they really love noona. Please watch Ji Hoo in the above video again!!! LOL!!! Or watch this....
The young boys swear they are in love. Which usually this turns out to be correct. Unfortunately even though I am clearly a noona myself, I haven't watch many Noona Dongsaeng situations, but for info check out this post that I found... which gives a list of Noona/Dongsaeng to try. http://www.dramabeans.com/2013/09/if-you-like-noona-romances/
am today. Much of that has to do with the Male Lead Character, Cha Chi Soo, played by Jung Il Woo. Cha Chi Soo was the average male lead. (You will soon learn if you haven't already that the male lead is usually a charming jerk, that is insensitive to the others around him, but in the end is actually a sweet guy who was just ignorant of things due to the sheltered lifestyle of the rich). I guess because I saw that Cha Chi Soo, was ignorant of his feelings as in he didn't know that it was love that he felt and he had no idea how to handle it which led to hilarious antics between him and Eun Bi. I loved his acting so much I wanted to see him in more. That is when I found Moon Embracing the Sun (2012), although this time he had the role of the second male lead and worse the 2nd son (by another woman), Prince Yang Myung (a double whammy in the Korean Drama world as far as the fate of the character) the show only added to my love for K-Drama. I will discuss The Moon Embracing the Sun thoroughly soon.
Although Flower Boy Ramen Shop and The Moon Embracing the Sun were top shows it was Jung Il
Woo's breakthrough role as the "scheduler" in the 2011 Drama 49 Days that really proved he would be ready for his role as Cha Chi Soo and later his role as Prince Yang Myung. As the scheduler he was a modernized grim reaper who would help a young woman who was in a limbo of life and death, but wanted
to live and had 49 Days to do so in her outer body state.
In just two years Jung, excelled at portraying 3 very different characters, which shows his skill as an actor. What is similar about all of his roles is that each character has some comical aspect as it seems he is the guy who is always trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel.
He is able to be funny in one instance, then serious in another, all the while his eyes are so expressive.
In addition to his bringing his characters to life Jung Il Woo also has had songs on the OST (Original Soundtracks) of the drama's 49 Days and Flower Boy Ramen Shop.
Currently Jung Il Woo is in the drama Golden Rainbow alongside K-Pop and K-Drama star Uee.
Do you love Jung Il Woo? Why is he your favorite actor? Which is your favorite character? Are you watching Golden Rainbow? Which of Jung Il Woo's dramas do you want to try? Let me know what you think!
For me, Flower Boy Ramen Shop was the beginning of my life as
a K-Drama fan, which is quite interesting as it is said that the hit K-Drama
"Boys Over Flowers" is the gateway drug of a K-Drama addiction. Not this time,
but don’t worry "Boys Over Flowers" has its own special place in my heart and
will certainly find a place in this blog as well.
Flower Boy Ramen Shop definitely stamped the Korean flag
right on my heart as I followed Yang Eun Bi (Lee Chung Ah), a teacher intern
(student teacher) who has doubts about being a teacher, but wants to be
something in society as she gets over a break up with a long- time boyfriend
and also deals with some daddy daughter issues.
BUT WAIT…
First we meet the tall, slim, pretty faced Cha Chi Soo,
(Jung Il Woo) who gets out of trouble by being cute and saying something
charming. Females melt in front of him as he says something random such as:
“That mole, it’s pretty” and then walks away looking back and giving the female
a quick wink of the eye.
After Yang Eun Bi and Cha Chi Soo meet randomly (in a female
bathroom stall) as the always insecure tomboy Eun Bi looks at Cha thinking he could
be around his twenties. After an encounter with her EX she takes off with the
unknowing Cha Chi Soo who is more concerned with his cashmere sweater possibly
being stained than acknowledging the vulnerable Eun Bi.
It isn’t until the teacher intern goes to her first day of
work after embarrassing herself by calling Cha Chi Soo “oppa” (although Oppa
really means older brother, it is growing as slang for honey/sweetie) before
realizing he is in fact a student. Not only is he a student he is the richest
student and his father’s company owns the school.
Another thing you will learn about K-Drama’s is that there
will usually be a second male lead. I will take the time to talk all about the
beloved second male lead another time but with Flower Boy Ramen Shop the second
male lead is Choi Kang Hyuk (Lee Ki Woo). Throughout the show he is known as
Pillar. Yes ladies this is another tall and pretty faced man. Kang is usually
found sleeping in a random place. Eun Bi didn’t even know he was there for a
while.
Through unforeseen circumstances, Eun Bi, Kang and Cha Chi
Soo all become involved and end up working at Eun Bi’s father’s Ramen Shop. (I
don’t want to give too many spoilers).
This show grabbed my attention because it was pretty funny.
I could relate to Eun Bi. When I first watched Flower Boy Ramen Shop I was
getting ready to enter my student internship. She also day dreamed which I do
way too often. I also understand how it feels to be getting older without a
boyfriend and without any prospects of getting married as many others are well
on their way to marriage.
BUT….
As you will find as you enter your own journey into K-Drama,
the flower boys will get you every time. Cha Chi Soo ultimately stole my heart
as I watched this rich kid fall in love and has absolutely no idea what he is
feeling. He had never had such experiences having been sheltered and initially
thought he was sick. (He went to the hospital saying a fist was in his
heart).Kang was also a great face and
body to look at throughout the story line. As a reasonable woman I understood
how it made a lot of sense to be with someone who would stand at a pillar for
you. (Hence his nickname as pillar).
Again I am not into spoilers, but there is more to Cha Chi
Soo than just a cute face and money. He has some secrets as does Choi Kang
Hyuk. They both share a common bond (a shocking revelation) and a love for Eun
Bi. By the way President Cha, Cha Chi Soo’s father doesn’t like the idea of
being involved with someone who is below them on the caste system if you know
what I mean. (Another reoccurring theme in K-Dramas).
The cast members make the show colorful and keep the
storyline moving and also are the reason for the show being called Flower Boy
Ramen Shop as these cute young boys all find themselves working at the shop.
There are also sub-plots as other characters help to Eun Bi with her problems
and their problems are revealed.
Jung Il Woo was so magnificent to me as Cha Chi Soo, so much
so, I wanted to see him in more dramas, which will lead to my next review.
Without even knowing anything about K-Dramas I could see genuine acting. I mean
it takes skill to have the comedic timing for certain characters and to me he
did well. He also was amazing with emotional scenes. We often see Cha Chi Soo
with tears welled up in his eyes. I even
named one of my dogs, Cha Chi Soo, which was approved of as I showed my mother
Flower Boy Ramen Shop and she also fell in love with the show and K-Drama, now
she and I usually watch K-Drama together.Imagine that K-Drama pulls families together.
It was intriguing to see this Noona/Dongseng situation as
well. OH the Noona/Dongseng
theme…yes…another topic I will have to discuss for another day as for now, it’s
the older woman/younger man relationship.In America this drama would have been more of a tragedy than a comedy
(although Cha Chi Soo is 19, therefore of age).
Be prepared to literally laugh out loud, cry, and root for
Eun Bi to find her way.Watch and tell
me what you think.Have you already
watched it? Did you love it? Did you hate it? Who was your favorite character?
Who would you choose?Why?
