Myeongdong - The Shopping District in Seoul

It’s Emily again! So sorry for the schedule, it has been very strange this week. Erika and I have been so busy with work, and trying to earn as much money as possible in time for October. Lets just pretend this is Wednesday though (…even though it’s actually Thursday, or maybe even Friday to some of you). This week I want to look at a place which I am SO excited to visit, and I can hardly contain myself from screaming - Myeongdong! This is actually the place we will be staying in, which makes things extra exciting as we can go shopping anytime we like. 

That is what Myeongdong is mostly known for by tourists (and locals) in Seoul. It is the most famous place to shop, and it has an amazing atmosphere! Since we are going in October it will be start to darker earlier, but from watching videos of people being their in the dark, I am excited to see how pretty it becomes. The shops stay open until late since most people in Korea don’t finish work until later, so combine that with the street food, music blearing - It just seems like a really fun place to be. Since I haven’t actually been there yet, I can’t really tell you if it’s worth going to or not, but I can tell you what I have researched, and what you can expect if you are planning on taking a trip there. 

There are lots of shops - I mean who could have guessed in a shopping district?! Whilst watching videos of peoples trips, it did surprise me of how many ‘mainstream’ shops there were. I guess I didn’t think I’d see a ‘forever 21’, ‘Zara’ or ‘H&M’ in Korea! Maybe I have just watched too many dramas though. So you get all of those shops, which will be perfect for tourists because of how cheap you will be able to get them (I am going to buy a whole new wardrobe), if you follow this street along you will then come to little shops, that sell high street fashion for very affordable prices. I’m also looking forward to shopping in these shops, since one of things I have always thought about Korean’s was how on point they are with the fashion - I just love clothes. You then get Etude house, which if you don’t know, is basically a makeup shop in Korea, which sells the cutest items ever. Because of shipping costs, I have so far not being able to buy anything, so I’m looking forward to spending all my money in this shop. 

Another shop I am very excited to visit is ‘Music Korea’ which is as you have guessed, is a place to buy music. I will be honest, not only am I excited to explore Seoul, but the K-Pop is the main reason to why I have been attracted to this place. I am a big fan of the music, so I will basically bring all my money, and I plan to spend it all in this music shop, and buy as many CD’s my suitcase will be able to carry. I just can’t wait, I already have a list of CDs and posters I want - and since we will be paying in won, the currency will work out so I will be paying less than an online store. I just can’t wait! You can even listen to music whilst you’re in there, and you can browse to your hearts content. 

So there you have it, if you are a music lover, or a shopping lover (both of which I am) then I would suggest you stop off at Myeongdong. It has great cafes and street food, and judging by the videos I have seen, you will be able to spot many of your idols on big billboards, and around the place. If you have been please let me know what it is like! 

Happy Reading 

Emily :D 

Trot Lovers!

Sorry I didn’t upload on Tuesday evening! But I’m back now, and this time it’s another Drama review. I thought since I always go on about this TV show, I might as well talk about it, and explain why I think it’s the best (in my opinion) drama out there. I think for starters you just have to look at the names to realise it has quite a big cast. Not only does it have APink’s Eunji, but it has Ji Hyun-Woo, who has been in many big hits. It also has supportive cast mates Shin Sung-Rok, and Lee Se-Young. 

I will start with the basic plot, but I don’t want to give too much away since the magic of watching a TV show for the first time is being able to watch plot twists and surprises unfold without you second guessing. It’s about Eunji’s character, Choi Choon-Hee, a young adult trying to find any job just to support her family. She has a love for marathon running, but due to her stubborn self she overworks and has to be kicked off the team. She goes from job to job, trying to pay off the debt her father has created. Meanwhile, Hyun’s character, Jang Joon-Hun is a talented musician, and leads a life of a fabulous, popular idol. You can totally tell throughout the show he has watched many variety shows to prepare for this role! He not only sells himself as an idol, but he can really sing. 

Things take a turn for the worst when he heads to a popular management company, Shine Star, which Sung’s character, Jo Geun-Woo, is president of. His old company doesn’t take kindly to the news he is leaving, and sets Joon-Hun up so he becomes a disgrace, and nobody even wants him on the air anymore. While his luck is plummeting, Choon-Hee’s luck starts to take shape as she gets an offer to be signed to Shine Star after Geun-Woo’s father thinks she has real talent. This of course leads to jealously from the other members of Shine Star, and Se-Young’s character, Park Soo-In gets very uneasy over the thought of Choi Choon-Hee and the president getting together. 

Then comes the cutest couple of the year award, the president agrees to sign Jang Joon-Hyun (who has now lost everything) under the condition that he trains Choi Choon-hee, and makes her a big star. At first they hate each other, they scowl and it’s very entraining to watch them try and get on. After a while though, they do start to care for each other… and as they say, the rest is history. The show was the second biggest ratings winner of 2014 on their channel, and they won two awards in the KBS Drama Awards. It was a big hit with fans, and you could tell the cast loved their job! 

In my opinion it’s such a good show and everyone needs to watch it! It is so funny, and the characters are so well casted. Even though a lot of people have different opinions on idols acting, I think Eunji is an amazing actress, and she needs to be in more dramas. I give this a 10/10, and please watch it, you will love it! 

Happy Reading 

Emily :D 

Update!

Hey guys! :D Sorry for the lack of posts but Emily and I have been working hard to make this blog even better for you! We have some exciting news coming up for our readers as well!

This Monday, the 26^th of January, our Youtube channel shall be up and running with our very first video uploaded! Yay! We are very excited for this and hope you subscribe to us on their as well!

Onto the blog news! We’ve come up with a wide variety of posts for you guys and here is our schedule! We hope you’ll enjoy reading it as much as we enjoy writing it.

Monday: Kpop Star of the Week

Tuesday: Drama Review

Wednesday: Places to Visit in Korea

Thursday: “Old School” Thursday

Friday: Actor/Actress of the Week

Saturday: MV/Song Review

Sunday: Weekly News Roundup

Monthly Posts:

• Monthly Roundup
• Top 15 Songs of the Month
• Music Video of the Month
• Korean Film of the Month
• Up and Coming Music Releases
• Rookies of the Month
• Idol Birthdays

Erika Signing Off!
Stay Tuned Folks

Song of the Day: 9Muses - Dolls

Drama Review!

The Three Musketeers (2014)

Episodes 5&6

삼총사 – Samchongsa

Things are starting to kick off! After ordering the death of Yong Gol Dae, the King retreats back to his palace, leaving Crowned Prince Sohyeon to take care of the mess with his loyal bodyguards and Dal Hyang. Yet again, poor Dal Hyang has had a really bad day. He’s been battered, bruised, poisoned and beaten up, but he preserves and carries on even after all that. The only thing is, it’s about to get worse.

With the order to kill Yong Gol Dae, Park Dal Hyang is off, close to firing off a kill shot when there is interference from an unlikely source. Waking up back at his room, he hurries to relay the message to the Crowned Prince only to run into his first love, causing an even greater strain on the relationship between himself and Sohyeon. Having found out where Yong Gol Dae is, he heads towards it when a piece of advice given to Dal Hyang from Sohyeon comes back to bite him in the butt. And then to top it off, they clash, literally. I can totally understand where both sides are coming from with this, Dal Hyang still loves Yoon Seo but he’s doing the honourable thing by burying his feelings but he wants to be trusted by Sohyeon who seems to be pushing him away due to the past relationship he had with Yoon Seo. I feel sorry for them both! Episode five really did not disappoint and episode 6 holds so much promise!

Episode 6 starts right back up with the action and the sudden appearance of Yoon Seo to try and stop the fighting. Both sides are injured and things are getting tense between everyone. Seung Po is the comic relief again as you think things begin to calm down, but alas. It does not last. The Crown Prince ties up Dal Hyang in the same study hall as none other than Yong Gol Dae while he Sohyeon is tended to by his wife. Yoon Seo is still pressing him for an answer but he refuses to give in to her before heading into another duel with Dal Hyang.

After losing the duel, the Crowned Prince offers him a deal before releasing him. With a heavy heart Dal Hyang heads out from the palace, determined on leaving Hanyang and returning home. However, just as he is about to leave, he stumbles upon the traitor from the palace but it is too late. She’s dead and Yong Gol Dae is trapped within the Crowned Prince’s library.

Things are heating up as the politics are getting dirtier and the likelihood of Kim Ja Jeom revealing to the King of his own son’s plans is growing closer. With no other choice Sohyeon go to him. Meanwhile, Dal Hyang comes across Mi Ryeong and passes on a message, she wants to meet the Crowned Prince and help him dispatch of Kim Ja Jeom. Joseon is growing more dangerous by the moment and its up to Dal Hyang and the Samchongsa to save it.

Erika Signing Off!

Stay Tuned Folks! :D

Song of the Day: 4Minute – What’s Your Name

Actor of the Week - Shin Sung-Rok

For each week in this feature I really want to explore an Actor or an actress, and to basically let myself fan girl over their beauty… So who better to start off with than Shin Sung-Rok?! I have decided to go for an actor this week since he is amazing, and I have just finished watching an episode of a series he has been in, and he portrayed a villain beautifully! 

Shin Sung-Rok is quite unknown to many people that I have spoken to, and he has said himself he prefers playing characters in the theatre than TV, but I believe he is one of the most talented actors out there, and very underrated. He has always been in quite unknown TV shows (Dracular, Thank You, My Life’s Golden Years) and even when he has been playing characters in these shows, he has always been a supporting character. In the theatre world however, he has been in many, many hit musicals, and critics have always been impressed with his vocals and his acting. 

In 2013 (so very recent times) he came into one of the most popular TV shows of that year. My Love from the Star was an extremely popular TV show in South Korea, sweeping the board at award shows and getting very high ratings. He was the main villain in this TV show, playing a villainous business man. He was loved by many, and was often picked out as being very scary, and many people soon got to hear his name in other places other than the theatre. This gave him the starting point he needed to go into other TV shows, and… get ready, this next one you know is my favourite show of all time! 

Trot Lovers came out in 2014, and you guessed it, he was in that! This is where my love for him came from. Although he was back to playing an supporting role, I would still count it as a main role considering he was in nearly every episode - and tackled very good storylines. He played the CEO of a talent agency, but he falls for the main actress. He is brilliant in this, and very believable yet again. You wouldn’t even think he could be a villain if you just watched this, since he is very adorable - You want things to go right for him. 

His acting continues to impress me, and not to mention he is very cute. I really hope he is in more TV shows soon, even though I know he loves his theatre performances, being an international fan I would prefer to watch him on the TV. 

Which is your favourite show by him? 

Happy Reading! 

Emily :D 

Drama Review!

The Three Musketeers (2014)

Episodes 3&4

삼총사 – Samchongsa

Episode three started just as it had ended, Park Dal Hyang was in trouble, chased through a forest by a band of barbarians. By the skin of his teeth, he survives and heads back to his home, exhausted and most likely debating his choices in life. Things have not gone well for him ever since he stepped foot into Hanyang and things are only going to get worse for him.

And to make it worse it isn’t long before the Crown Prince is calling upon him for a secret mission. With all of this looming he attends his congratulatory ceremony in order to collect his papers and I have to admit, the hat he is wearing is just glorious.  Meanwhile the Crowned Prince is trying to avert a war and save his kingdom.

With the support from the Samchongsa Park Dal Hyang heads out to complete his mission, unbeknownst to him is the connection the woman he is sent to bring back has to the Crowned Prince.

Episode four has cemented my love for Seung Po, he is adorable and devious in all of the right ways. As for Dal Hyang’s parents, they have got to be some of the nicest parents I have ever seen in a Korean drama, and I’m being serious here (need I mention the Heirs and Boys over Flowers) they’re just an adorable bickering old couple, to which I know plenty of them.

The end of the episodes shows a dashing escape by Dal Hyang as he meets his match in the form of Mi Ryeong as King In Jo and the Crowned Prince heads towards the meeting with the Barbarians.

Erika Signing Off!

Stay Tuned Folks! :D

Song of the Day: Vixx - Eternity

“Old School” Thursday!

As a new segment for the blog, each Thursday I’ll be posting up a review for a song that was released before 2013. So, without further ado, let us reveal this weeks “Old School” Thursday entry!

TVXQ

“Balloons”

2006

When you think of TVXQ you think of power-house vocals, dramatic story lines and sharp dance moves but with “Balloons” you see a different side of them. It’s a super cute, bouncy music video with the members dressed up as animals with fake ears, colourful onesies and all of that good stuff. There are kids playing with them, balloons, party games and an army of people dressed as penguins, what more could you want? The vocals are so sweet and the song is perfect with the happy music video and if you’re ever feeling down this is one music video to watch. It’s so cute as well that each member seems to have an equally adorable “Mini Me”

It makes a refreshing change from seeing SM artists dancing in a room with no hint of a storyline. Whenever I watch this I can’t help but hope that one day all five of them will perform together again on stage!

Erika Signing Off!

Stay Tuned Folks! :D

Song of the Day: Ailee – Don’t Touch Me