A New Fascination: Korea

Seoul, South Korea

During this long year of quarantine for the COVID-19 pandemic, my husband, Byron, and I discovered the pleasurable “escape” of watching South Korean dramas. Our 14-year-old Grandson is a great BTS fan, and is interested in learning the language, so we were on alert for all things Korean. I don’t remember exactly how we found it, but we watched our first K-drama, enjoyed it immensely, and then continued on from there. For us, it has been a refreshing change of pace from the things we had been watching, a fun connection with our Grandson’s interests, and the discovery of a new interest in Korean culture and history.

That interest lead us both to expand our “escape” by starting to read and learn more about the history and culture of Korea, about which we knew next to nothing. It’s been a lot of fun for us, so I wanted to set up this page on my blog so I can keep track of our Korean learning journey.

Please check back here occasionally to see what we’ve been reading, watching, and listening to. The list keeps expanding!

감사합니다. 

BOOKS/AUDIOBOOKS read:

  1. South Korea 101, by Mancho Soto
  2. Korea, by Simon Winchester
  3. Korea: A Very Short Introduction, by Michael J. Seth
  4. The Birth of Korean Cool, by Euny Hong
  5. Hanok, The Korean House, by Nani Park and Robert J. Fouser
  6. Stone House on Jeju Island, by Brenda Paik Sunoo
  7. A Single Shard, by Linda Sue Park
  8. The Kite Fighters, by Linda Sue Park
  9. The Seesaw Girl, by Linda Sue Park
  10. The Firekeeper’s Son, by Linda Sue Park
  11. The Island of Sea Women, by Lisa See
  12. Crying in H Mart, by Michelle Zauner
  13. The Living Reed, by Pearl S. Buck

K-DRAMAS we have watched:

  1. Crash Landing On You
  2. Misaeng
  3. Stranger
  4. Stranger 2
  5. My Mister
  6. Run On
  7. Hospital Playlist
  8. Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung
  9. The Good Detective
  10. Signal
  11. Mr. Sunshine
  12. Prison Playbook
  13. Designated Survivor: 60 Days
  14. Sisyphus: The Myth
  15. Live Up to Your Name
  16. The Legend of the Blue Sea
  17. My Country: The New Age
  18. Man to Man
  19. Let’s Eat
  20. Guardian: The Great and Lonely God (Goblin) (Hubby’s favorite so far, although we both loved this one!)
  21. Hotel Del Luna
  22. Move To Heaven
  23. Laipeu (Life)
  24. The King: Eternal Monarch
  25. Touch Your Heart
  26. Descendants of the Sun
  27. Bossam: Steal the Fate
  28. Tale of the Nine-Tailed
  29. Tunnel
  30. Hospital Playlist, Season 2
  31. Racket Boys
  32. 100 Days My Prince
  33. My Holo Love
  34. Personal Taste
  35. Vagabond
  36. Yumi’s Cells
  37. My Unfamiliar Family
  38. The Silent Sea
  39. The Red Sleeve
  40. Jirisan
  41. Hello, Me!
  42. Mystic Pop-Up Bar
  43. Itaewon Class
  44. The King’s Affection
  45. Twelve Nights
  46. Lovers of the Red Sky
  47. Vincenzo
  48. Tomorrow
  49. Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth
  50. Our Blues

Movies:

  1. Space Sweepers
  2. Minari
  3. The PIrates
  4. Sori: Voice From the Heart
  5. Welcome to Dongmakgol (A very moving film about being human, during war.)
  6. Tiger Spirit, (a documentary about reunification of North and South Korea, by Min Sook Lee)
  7. North Korea, Michael Palin’s Journey (documentary tv series)
  8. Train to Busan
  9. The Suspect
  10. Midnight Run

Music and Musicians I am enjoying listening to:

  1. Park Hyo shin  “Goodbye” (link to YouTube)
  2. Taeyeon  “Rain”  (link to YouTube)
  3. Jung Seung Hwan  “We, From the First” (link to YouTube)
  4. Crush  “Beautiful”  (link to YouTube)
  5. Sam Kim  “The Juice”  (link to YouTube)
  6. SWJA  “Serenade: Run With You”  (link to YouTube)
  7. Onew  “Blue”
  8. BTS  “Permission to Dance” (link to YouTube)
  9. Jung Seung Hwan  “Love Letter” (link to YouTube)

Virtual Walks in South Korea:

 

6 thoughts on “A New Fascination: Korea

  1. Books and livres (@AndLivres)

    My eldest daughter is a hardcore BTS fan too. And she started learning Korean, which means I started watching K dramas ! We have watched Goblin, are watching Hotel del Luna (with her), I’m watching Stranger with my partner (excellent !) and I heard very good things about Crash landing on you ^^

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Robin Post author

      We really liked Stranger and Stranger 2! I’ll put Goblin and Hotel del Luna on our watchlist! Our grandson is learning Korean, too. It’s really a fun shared interest.

      Like

      Reply
  2. Ti

    I’ve stumbled across a few K dramas and they are hard to stop watching. I don’t recall the names of the ones I’ve seen but they were quite dramatic and entertaining.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Robin Post author

      That’s so nice, Nan. I’ll try to fill it out with some reviews and maybe include some of my favorite musicians, as well. There’s so much inspiring talent!

      Like

      Reply

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