Ha Seok-jin Plays The Professionals for Luxury

I 💜 the quirky, playful vibe. I love the theme too. Gah. It reminds me the play professionals in kindergarten. Usually parents of the children or sometime just other professionals out there are invited to the school to tell the kids about their profession and what they do in their job that they're doing, so the children can have aspiration about what they want to do once they're grown up. Though in this one is not that Ha Seok-jin looks like he is really that professional but he is like a kid trying to be an adult by playing a professional. Ha, ha, ha.

There're other things I like from this photo shoot. He seems to be there to have fun, not merely to get the job done. I always love an adult with child curiosity in his/her eyes, who looks at the world through a child's eyes. Everything is new adventure. Everything is possible. And every day is a new start. Oh this photo shoot also tries to represent all kind of professionals those run rampant in K drama-verse. Listed based on the tendency we meet them on K drama streets and offices 😁 They forget The Detectives and The Polices.

Ha Seok-jin: The chaebol (in every K dramas ever)

Ha Seok-jin: The Doctor (Doctors, Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim, Live Up You Name, Emergency Couple, and I lost count 😀)

I know Ha Seok-jin has been around K drama verse since forever. He starts from a small role, not even second lead role that had gone unnoticed by me. I don't know he was in Can't Lose and Hello! Miss until recently. He started to capture my interest In Once Upon a Time in Saengchori, and came to the headlight in the remake of 1% of anything and Drinking Solo. He is so good in playing an upright, prickly brat. I'm afraid he is type-casted to that character type, but it is only three times he has played it (1% of Anything, Drinking Solo, and Radiant Office) in which he was excellent in them.

Ha Seok-jin: The Prosecutor/Lawyer (Secret Forest, Can't Lose, Pride and Prejudice, Suspicious Partner and I lost count too 😆)

Ha Seok-jin: Law Student (Love Story in Harvard)

Ha Seok-jin: The Programmer (Lucky Romance, Cunning Single Lady)

Ha Seok-jin: The Teacher (Drinking Solo) 

Ha Seok-jin: The Tailor (Laurel Tree Tailors, Fashion 70's)

I have no wonder why people want to cast him with such role over and over again, because he made us sympathized with the character for otherwise it grates our nerve. You know what I love the most when he played such kind of character, the look in his eyes when he starts to think about to do some petty things. The eyes are filled with childlike playfulness instead of intention to do harm to other. Gah, I love it. In these photos I can see such glimpse coming from his eyes. That is why these photos is irresistible for me. It is a match between the photo-shoot concept and the photo-shoot subject. What is Luxury? Is it a fashion brand? A furniture trade name? A new-trend-of-standing-office life style? 😃 I don't care less. The paradox of good themed photo shoot sometimes it elevates the products, make it fancy and classy, sometimes it makes us forget the purpose of commercial photo shoot is to sell something. But for this is the Ha Seok-jin's effect really 😃

Ha Seok-jin: The Writer (Chicago Typewriter, It's Okay, It's`Love)

This year is coming to end soon, all the drama slots have already fully packed. Probably this year, he won't have another drama to air after Radiant Office and the last year success of his two dramas, 1 % of Anything and Drinking Solo. Radiant Office failed to lure me in because I wished more slice-of-life tonal from it that it didn't have. I wonder what his next project, no I mean his next character that he will take 😛

Thanks to: Luxury

Lee Jung-ki: Before The Profiler

I'm going to tell you some questions about the biggest mysteries in my life. First why do I like nerdy guys who seem so not into me since I’m a nerdy too? Remember the opposite attract? Ha, ha, ha. Second why do I like boys in preppy shorts? Maybe is it because they look nerdy in those? Dunno. Ha, ha, ha. Third I always love a picture or photograph of willowing grass or reed, why is that? I draw as a hobby, and I draw a lot of those. Van Gogh becomes one of my favorite painters probably because he drew many filled with willowing grass landscape paintings. Is it because they give me such a quiet peacefulness? Is it because they seem like understanding what is loneliness? Eeep, who knows. So you know why the photoshoot found its way to my blog. :)

Can you feel the wind?

Lee Jung-ki looks exceptionally young in these photographs. Who will think he’s almost 40 years old. Me? Naah. And those shorts he wears, they give geeky vibe which of course I like it. Shorts usually work well with sneaker but they try to go against the current and go with the dress shoes. Some of the cloths look they are back from 90 ties. But 90 ties fashion is back in full rage this year. I don’t really get what this photoshoot are about. As you know, I love themed photoshoot. I don’t get it why he must roll around on the road? Is that he wants to kick something into the air? In some pictures he looks so detach, in some he looks like want to engage with the audience, and in some he looks menacing. I wish they left the pictures colored, instead of making it black and white. Let’s keep the grass green.

I kick...

I roll...

And roll some more...

I'm ready to be a profiller

Speaking about Lee Jung-ki, I think I have been following him close enough and long enough. You know, not just giving side glance. But strangely, I don’t think I’ve finished his dramas except My Girl in which he’s not even the main lead. The only I-almost-finish-it drama, for I’d watched it till more than two third of the episodes before I dropped it, in which he stars it as a main lead is only Joseon Gunman. I don’t think he’s bad actor, he’s good. But I’ve watched The King and The Clown. It is a movie in which he plays an effeminate clown who has seduced and has been seduced by the king, Yeonsangun. I remember he doesn’t have much dialogue there. But still he’s impressive.

Black and white done right

So yes, he got the up-coming drama to air. It is the remake an American serial, Criminal Mind. K drama probably has more luck in remaking American shows than remaking drama or movie from any other countries. I think A Good Wife is good. But Entourage is bad. So it is fifty-fifty chance here. I’ve been taking a break from rom-com these days, though I still can tolerate romance drama and romance melodrama. I watch more case procedural, mystery, and thriller dramas now. It is just not the season, darling rom-com drama.

I don’t follow American shows. Hey, my schedule is packed with Asian dramas. I watch CSI/NCIS occasionally since they are provided in my cable TV. The last American show I followed religiously was The X Files. Bwa, ha, ha, ha so old schooled I know. But Mulder and Scully is my ultimate OTP. So I don’t have expectation or can’t make any comparison. For all I know Criminal Mind is a show about a group of profiler working for NCI, solving cases included psychopath, serial killer, and terror crime. K drama with case procedural genre has the tendency to get carried away with one big criminal case that pinned one big bad villain as their background story. K drama also emphasizes on the personal story of the character and relationship between the characters compare to American shows. I don’t know how Criminal Mind K version will work on these differences. Will it follow the custom or try to experiment with new format closer to the American show? I don’t have any preference, each format has its own charm or I don’t become K drama addict at the first place 😛 Criminal Mind will premiere on July 26, at TvN, as Wednesday – Thursday drama.

P.S: I love well planned show! Don’t look at the bad example (Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo or Saimdang's Light Diary) but look up the good ones (Forest of Secret or Descendant of The Sun) K drama!

Thanks to: Marie Claire Korea, Vogue Korea

Go Kyung-pyo: From Typewriter Ghost to Jajangmyun Delivery Boy

I think I have some fetish on photos capturing a man/woman with book in tows. Ha ha ha. I post many photos about man/woman indulging themselves with reading and modeling like they own the world, well at least the world written on the book, at my Google+. Every time I see this kind of picture suddenly my curiosity peaks, what happen to their mind for they look so lost in thought? The idea about Bad boy, pose with cigarettes and tattoo, is cool and sexy, is a relic from the past. Ha! Today trend is the nerdy boy with eyeglasses and book. The theme of this photo-shoot is chopped out from Go Kyung-pyo's last drama Chicago Typewriter. That drama is full of lavish book shelves that put the bookish self in me to drool. A story about book, book lover and writer always got me excited.

And there's no better time to talk about Go Kyung-pyo than right now since The Chicago Typewriter has just ended recently. He is about to venture to new territory as a main lead character in prime broadcasting drama. While with Yoo Ah-in, I failed again to get myself warm up to him (I really did want to love him, I tried!), Go Kyung-pyo managed to do just right. I never thought Go Kyung-pyo is bad, even mediocre, actor. He is good, promising young actor. But not until Chicago Typewriter, I do care about his character. He just has this giving-a-distance aura in the character he played, even in his reality-show persona (Youth Over Flowers: Namibia). Every time I got really close to love his characters, this distance fell off between us. So the love frizzles. I wanted to feel his characters, give my sympathy, root for him but the distance wouldn't let me.

So in Chicago Typewriter, he managed to put the distance off, though it came back for time to time, hey it is an improvement! He plays Yoo Jin-oh/Shin Yool, a ghost inhibited a typewriter. He used to be a rich family boy who took part in Korea independent movement when he was still alive. He is devoted friend and lover. He is full of heart and so much warm. I was dreaded that the writer would turn his character into back stabbing best friend in the name of jealousy and the first one who falls in love with the heroine. But he doesn't turn to be that character, he's just glad in his ghost self, watching his best friend reincarnation gets the chance he didn't have to have relationship with the woman whom he loved before just like the ghost did and does.

Actually Go Kyung-pyo has played this type of characters so many times (Answer Me 1988, Jealousy Incarnate). The good boy, gentlemanly second male lead character. But it the first time he got me in the heart. Sometime is not about how the character is written, but how the actor lives the character up. And that giving-off-distance aura, I think about it, perhaps it comes from him trying to appease everyone about his acting, no? He should just trust his talent, I think Go Kyung-pyo has it, this noona think you have it, you can do it, Kyung-pyoyah! You should just say to those people who you try to please: “Fuc** it, I have my own way.” Ha, ha, ha.

Hearing upon Go Kyung-pyo has been offered as the main lead in prime time drama aired in prime broadcaster, I feel delighted. The Strongest Deliveryman is set to broadcast in KBS on Friday - Saturday sloth following The Best Hit that has already aired its 8 episodes, in July, 2017. I just want them to hurry! Ha, ha, ha. The story is about 'veteran' jajangmyun deliveryman who is going up the stepladder to become a CEO of Delivery Company along with it he falls in love with another delivery woman. She cares for nothing except earning money, he stops for nothing to do delivery. Hey, that makes a great couple. It is said to be a 'human' drama. I don't know about it. If it turns to be Misaeng with some romance flair, it is going to be a hoot! I like to watch an actor grows in acting department before my eyes. And an actor who is aware the important of building a resume is always in my good book. And seeing his progress in Chicago Typewriter, I think he is ready to take lead role's "responsibility". Lol. I just want to say: "Fly!" 

P.S: They want to air this drama in July but still don’t have any promotional poster yet?!? Dun, dun, dun….

Thanks to: Grazia

Lee Dong-wook: Welcome to The Country of Thousands Islands!

You can't talk about Gong Yoo without remember Lee Dong-wook, his partner of bromance in Goblin. I always like Lee Dong-wook ever since My Girl. Although I don't watch every single project under his name, you can blame it on the projects, but having him in a drama that I watch is feast for the eyes 😃, just guarantee half my effort to finish it or trying to watch the few first episodes. Many people are gushing about how great Gong Yoo as the titular Goblin, he was just sitting in peripheral for me. Kim Eun-sook is the one who sit in the central y'all since she successfully brings such an intricate story 😛 She IS the goddess. It is just that Kim Shin left no impression on me. But Lee Dong-wook as Grim Reaper did. I don't know, Mr. Grimm Reaper is such social awkward and emotionally retarded, which offers no help in facing his tragic love story, I can easily relate to that. Ha, ha, ha.

Oh dear, Does somebody try to steal your expensive bag (Salvatore Ferragamo)??

Unlike Gong Yoo who sometime takes few years to take project after project, Lee Dong-wook has been working diligently years after years. Props to that. There's rarely a year without a project under his belt. Saying he is on some kind of surge of popularity after Goblin would seem like underestimating his work commitment throughout these years. So I'm waiting patiently for his next project. I hope it won't be long, I'm sure it won't be long. Please don't jinx it K drama God.

He looks fragile and vulnerable

Then he looks strong and manly

Then he looks so boyish and quirky, just love!

For now we, fans, must satisfy our selves with several photo shoot from Arena, Elle Men Hong Kong, Vogue and High Cut and his modeling for Oliver Sweeney (busy, busy, busy). Although I’m not fan of the first two photo shoots for the same exact reason, too commercial, though I like the color scheme for Arena photo shoot and Lee Dong-wook always looks gorgeous in every photograph. Who can resist those big soulful eyes 🙅🙅 For Elle Men, he wears Gucci from head to toe. I always think Gucci embodies what people say ‘fashion for fashion only’. It always has peculiar kind of design, it is hard to miss it. It needs a whole lot of charisma and confident (and money) to wear it and pull it off like it is your every-day looks, not some kind fashion victim. I laugh when watching Ode to Joy (C drama), and one of the character said, "although the suit looked 'ordinary', the suit is from Gucci". You can't wear Gucci and look ordinary. But I think Vogue photo shoot is one that takes the cake. I love its simplicity without forgoing undercurrent theme. The Vogue photo shoot brings the quirky inside, makes him looking strong yet vulnerable. 

Hmmmm.....

Donald Duck on the mirror, who is the handsomest of all...

Sigh.....

Floral print on the pants, I don't care anymore

For right now, I don't think he has the time and any attention to spare to read any of this or anything, or any time ever, since he is now busy with his For My Dear 'Asian' fan meeting tour. And you know what my beloved country will be one of the countries he will visit. Huzzah! After Park Bo-geum, So Ji-sub, now we will have Lee Dong-wook visiting our country to hold fan meeting this month. Okay, this is probably the effect of TAAD conflict between South Korea and China that push SK to venture to other countries beside the lucrative China consumer. See always looking for the brighter side :D 

Though I’m not kind of fan who watch and attend fan meeting, but I should rejoice for other Indonesian fans. Watch and go crazy my friends! Hurry up, grab the tickets before they are all sold out! Unless I get paid to watch all these fan meetings, I don’t think I want to spend my money to watch my oppa doing things besides acting. It’s kind of expensive, rationally speaking, I rather buy books, CDs and spend it for travelling expense or the actual music concerts. You know how cringe worthy it was for me watching Super Junior Show when members of the mentioned boy band trying to act cute in parody to please the fans. Eeep! It’s not experience I want to happen to me twice. 

Who did the make up and photoshop for this photo should just look for another job, how can they make my beautiful oppa's face looked this tired!

Anyway, years of working, I learn to separate the work and private life. I’m almost notorious to keep them apart, like those crazy mother-in-laws’ attempt to separate the OTP in K dramas. Ha, ha, ha. So this principle is also applied for my favorite actors and idols. I don’t want their personal lives affecting my watching experience. Jebal! My oppas are as pristine and kind, cool and gentle, smart and funny, as the characters they portrayed. I believe them to be! I don’t go to fan meetings, or collect memorabilia, or even follow Instagram, I want to deludes myself, that my oppas are not some kind of superficial, appearance-centered person, with ego bigger than the universe, and loose mouth that tends to have ‘having foot on the mouth’ scandals. Please I beg...you can do anything you want in your private life, I don’t care, but just keep your foolishness and shallowness for yourself… OTL

Thanks to: Vogue, Arena Homme Plus, Elle Men Hong Kong

Gong Yoo's Daily Life by Epigram

Boo I love this series of photographs from Epigram. I think Epigram has found its perfect muse; named Gong Yoo. It tries to depict daily life of Gong Yoo. Seriously he looks like this in his daily life?? Probably, it can be, yes. I can 'buy' the image that Gong Yoo looks like this in his daily life, not under the lime light. Good theme to choose to promote casual cloth brand. It looks so effortless, neat and clean but still chic, urban chic. Really suits Gong Yoo’s image that is installed in our head, or in my head, all these years. If they want to seduce us to believe that we definitely can look like Gong Yoo if we wear their brand? Sureeeee.

He lives in secluded place like Jeju island in between time he doesn't have any project to promote. Strolling on street, just taking in the view. He probably likes to do some gardening. Or he just has no-rush breakfast in his home, and while reading book and magazine. He even cooks his healthy dinner by himself actually. With no schedule, he likes to write on his journal, probably some poem. Lol. He can spend his time brewing his own coffee, and drinking it under the warm sunlight, quietly. One or two time he has to go to the city to buy thing or receive offered script. Ha, ha, ha. What good photo shoot can do to your head.

Wake up you sleepyhead :)

Yes, I have a thing with men with books, they are sexy! :D *flashback the scenes from Goblin where Kim Shin tried to appear in front of Ji Euntak with book in hands*

No, no, no it is not a pictorial done by a professional photographer, it is photo series taken by a commissioned stalker. Hah. It is NOT arranged or scripted. Not a single touch of Photoshop in these photos. I’m kind of a fan who gets angry and feels deceived when my oppa (i.e. Lee Jung-ki) announce his relationship after doing his job which is “acting” like he is still available by flirting in a variety show (i.e. Sweetheart in Your Ears). Bwa, ha, ha, ha.

I have not heard the next project from Gong Yoo. He maybe still rides the high tide from last year drama Goblin. Though I don’t really like his goblin character. And I don’t buy his romance with Kim Go-eun either. You know how cringe worthy it is for me hearing Ji Eun-tak in school uniform calling her supposedly boyfriend Kim Shin, ajjusi. Oh God, No. Honestly I love Lee Dong-wook’s Grim Reaper more. Lee Dong-wook also experiences surge in popularity after Goblin and also has several good photo shoots after. While the previous photo spread from Gong Yoo, not quite impress me. It looks to commercial. I don’t like photoshoot that explicitly selling something. Sorry Gong Yong.

2016 seems a good year for Gong Yoo, beside the successful Goblin, he also has Train to Busan under his belt. The film enjoyed good box office. I think Train to Busan is good for action flick, so I understand the general good reception. So I hope 2017 gives Goo Yong more good project. I hope he gives us clue for his next project in 2017. A drama? A sageuk Drama? A Movie? A Fan Meeting? Anything, but please no Big!

Thanks to: epigram I follow you!