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PODCAST

K-Drama School

K-Drama School is hosted by comedian, writer and media scholar Grace Jung who analyzes a new Korean TV drama every week and contextualizes it according to its social, cultural and historical significance. Let Grace school you in K-Dramas! Visit kdramaschool.com to learn more. Follow @kdramaschool on Instagram and TikTok!

tv & film after shows

All Episodes

89:26

K-Drama School - Ep 24: Stairway to Heaven and a Good...

K-Drama School ·

2021/06/14

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses Stairway to Heaven (2003, SBS) and the show’s director Lee Jang-soo’s directorial imprint on the “heaven trilogy” shows he helms. Grace breaks down the meaning of “makjang” drama in the context of televisuality and political economy which affected Y2K socio-cultural habits such as spending and consumption in South Korea. Grace then has a chat with her dear friend and hilarious Berlin-based comedian Christoph Schmid (@topf52 on Instagram) about fatherhood to a toddler,

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103:49

K-Drama School - Ep 23: Fated to Love You and "I am...

K-Drama School ·

2021/06/07

[Spoiler Alert] Grace discusses Fated to Love You (2014, MBC), and the nostalgic intertexts and callbacks the show includes from Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara's careers as singers and actors for nearly two decades as the Jang couple reunites 12 years after their first small-screen appearance together on Successful Story of a Bright Girl (2002, SBS). Grace talks about how she was mistaken for a medical doctor by another comedian in her scene, as well as the doubts her parents had of her abilities which

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111:09

K-Drama School - Ep 22: Reply 1997 and Never-ending...

K-Drama School ·

2021/05/31

[Spoiler Alert] Marisa Llamas (@llamedycentral on Instagram) makes a guest co-host appearance to answer some flashcard questions based on Reply 1997 (2012, tvN). Grace discusses Reply 1997, and how wrong it is that Netflix and Kocowa remove or replace music cues in certain Korean dramas they distribute. Grace then has a chat with Julyane Lee (@julayneelle on Twitter) who is the author of Not My White Savior. They talk about South Korea's adoption issue, racism from white adoptive parents, Mia

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123:08

K-Drama School - Ep 21: Hello My Twenties! and...

K-Drama School ·

2021/05/24

[Spoiler Alert] Tobias Hauser (@hahahouser) makes a guest co-host appearance to answer some flashcard questions based on Hello My Twenties! (2016, JTBC). Grace discusses Hello My Twenties! and the representation of believable female protagonists, as well as Minari (2020, Lee Issac Chung) and why Brad Pitt should kiss Youn Yuh-jung’s feet in addition to the polarized reception between Korean audiences and Korean American audiences. Grace reflects on her trip to New York, and the return. She trashes

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86:04

K-Drama School - Ep 20: Live and The Artist's Mind...

K-Drama School ·

2021/05/17

[Spoiler Alert] In this episode of K-Drama School, Grace discusses the show Live (2018, tvN) and Noh Hee-kyung's impressive career and mother-obsession. Grace is still in New York as she reflects on her life as an artist and intellectual living in the United States where both careers are under-appreciated. Grace then has a chat with screenwriter Shinho Lee (@shinholee77 on Instagram) who co-wrote The Chaser (2008, Na Hong-jin) and teaches at NYU Tisch about the Korean television industry, patriarchy

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92:53

K-Drama School - Ep 19: Personal Taste and Giving Our...

K-Drama School ·

2021/05/10

[Spoiler Alert] In this episode of K-Drama School, Grace discusses the show Personal Taste (2010, MBC) and its LGBTQIA+ theme. Grace continues to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month as well as picture-locking her film while in New York. Grace talks about acknowledging the celebration of mothers on Mother's Day but also being mindful and respectful of those who have contentious relationships or no relationship with their parents who might feel uncomfortable with such holidays. Grace then has a chat with

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116:30

K-Drama School - Ep 18: All In and the Single Tear...

K-Drama School ·

2021/05/03

[Spoiler Alert] In this episode of K-Drama School, Grace discusses the show All In (2003, SBS). Grace celebrates the first week of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. All of May will include interviews from Asian American and/or Asian guests. In her opening monologue, Grace discusses the pachinko business run by Korean gangsters, male-centric narratives, passive female characters, and more. Grace then has a chat with comedian Walter Hong (@yellowsheki on Instagram) about

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66:27

K-Drama School - Ep 17: Successful Story of a Bright...

K-Drama School ·

2021/04/26

[Spoiler Alert] In this episode of K-Drama School, Grace discusses the show Successful Story of a Bright Girl (2002, SBS). Grace talks about Jang Nara and Jang Hyuk’s careers, their onscreen chemistry, and South Korea’s desperate need to create labor unions for the entertainment sect. Grace then has a chat with Berlin-based journalist and activist Esra Karakaya (@ms_blackrock on Instagram). They talk about Koreans’ obsession with weight loss, the importance of grassroots activism, how to manage

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84:12

K-Drama School - Ep 16: Beautiful Days and Noble...

K-Drama School ·

2021/04/19

[Spoiler Alert] In this episode of K-Drama School, Grace discusses the show Beautiful Days (2001, SBS). Grace goes into depictions of toxic masculinity, Lee Byung-hun's sex scandals, why leukemia is such a common trope in K-dramas, and another fan letter she received. Grace then has a chat with comedian Jaren George (@jaren.george on Instagram). They talk about IT, Oregon snow, Valentine's Day jokes that get too real, beefing up resumes, game life, Christianity versus magic, and more. Follow

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75:55

K-Drama School - Ep 15: Itaewon Class and "Don't Kill...

K-Drama School ·

2021/04/12

[Spoiler Alert] In this episode of K-Drama School, Grace discusses the show Itaewon Class. Grace goes into representations of Black-Koreanness and transgender identity on this show, as well as issues of diversity that South Korea has trouble addressing in mainstream television such as that of migrant workers from Southeast Asia. Grace then has a chat with comedian Ai Yoshihara (@aiyoshihara3 on Instagram). They talk about how Grace got stood up by her initial guest, pandemic-anxiety, meditation,

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104:00

K-Drama School - Ep 14: Something in the Rain and...

K-Drama School ·

2021/04/05

[Spoiler Alert] In this episode of K-Drama School, Grace discusses the show Something in the Rain starring Son Ye-jin and Jung Hae-in. She goes into complex characters like Jin-a's mother on the show and what her significance is. She also talks about Son Ye-jin's chemistry with Jung Hae-in which she shares with Hyun Bin (in Crash Landing on You). Grace then has a chat with Dr. Ji-yoon An who currently teaches at the University of Tübingen. They talk about Korean history, "compressed modernity," how

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85:35

K-Drama School - Ep 13: Kingdom and Hot Baths with...

K-Drama School ·

2021/03/29

[Spoiler Alert] In this episode of K-Drama School, Grace discusses the original Netflix series Kingdom (2018- ) written by Kim Eun-hee. She breaks down the zombie allegory in the context of South Korean history, politics and culture framed around the Cold War, while also citing films like Train to Busan, Seoul Station and The Wailing. What is a zombie supposed to be in South Korea? What about ancient Choson Dynasty Korea prior to the Cold War and the dividing of the Kingdom of Korea? Grace then has

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105:25

K-Drama School - Ep 12: Star in My Heart and Deep...

K-Drama School ·

2021/03/22

#StopAsianHate and #StopAAPIHate. Stop Killing Asians. To all the people who were silent around this issue, open your eyes, ears and hearts. To all my Asian and Asian American family members, I love you. You are not alone in your pain, fear, anger and grief. Solidarity. [Spoiler Alert] In this episode of K-Drama School, Grace discusses the show Star in My Heart (aka Wish Upon a Star) starring Choi Jin-sil and Ahn Jae-wook. She discusses Choi Jin-sil's tragic life story and career, Ahn Jae-wook's

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54:22

K-Drama School - Ep 11: It's Okay to Not Be Okay and...

K-Drama School ·

2021/03/15

[Spoiler Alert] In this episode of K-Drama School, Grace discusses the show It's Okay to Not Be Okay (tvN, 2020) starring Kim Soo-hyun and Seo Yeji. Grace goes into representations of disability on K-dramas especially PTSD stemming from the Vietnam War which South Korean mercenary troops were hired to fight in by the hundreds of thousands. Grace then has a chat with Los Angeles-based comedian Kristen Lundberg who sings a song on BDSM gay daddies, talks about her former roommate who broke into the

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91:19

K-Drama School - Ep 10: Search WWW, Power Lesbians...

K-Drama School ·

2021/03/08

[Spoiler Alert] In this episode of K-Drama School, Grace’s guest sidekick Julieta Degese (@dgcjulieta) makes a quick early visit to answer flashcard questions. Grace discusses the 2019 show Search WWW—the debut work of Kwon Do-eun. Search WWW is a solid queer text showcasing a lesbian love-triangle disguised as business affairs with a thin veneer of heteronormativity. This show reunites Im Soo-jung with Jeon Hye-jin from their I’m Sorry I Love You days but as strong female characters with deep

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55:54

K-Drama School - Ep 9: Full House and a Golden Doodle...

K-Drama School ·

2021/03/01

[Spoiler Alert] In this episode of K-Drama School, Grace discusses the hit 2004 drama Full House starring Song Hye-kyo and Rain when they were super young and adorable. Grace breaks down Full House's subtle critique of domestic labor shaped by Korean patriarchy, and how K-drama stars originally got their start in sit-coms. Grace then has a chat with Los Angeles-based actress, comedian and clown Natisha Anderson (@natishaanderson) who you've seen on Lady Dynamite, All That, CSI and Angie Tribeca

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53:59

K-Drama School - Ep 8: My Lovely Sam Soon and Costco...

K-Drama School ·

2021/02/22

[Spoiler Alert] In this episode of K-Drama School, Grace discusses My Lovely Sam Soon and its feminist protagonist which marks a shift in female character development for Korean dramas in the early 2000s which were notably different from heroines of 1990s shows. Grace talks about the pressures that Korean women face in society to conform to patriarchal heteronormative standards that determine what is acceptable in terms of weight, looks, and age. Grace then has a chat with Berlin-based Canadian

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59:33

K-Drama School - Ep 7: The Greatest Love and “A”...

K-Drama School ·

2021/02/15

[Spoiler Alert] In this episode of K-Drama School, Grace discusses The Greatest Love (2011, MBC) written by the Hong sisters. It is a romantic comedy starring Cha Seung-won and Gong Hyo-jin. Grace breaks down the K-pop ecosystem and where variety shows fit into the equation, cradle-rocking-perverts of Korean show business, and Korean models. Grace then chats with comedian guest Kimberly Clark (@clarkkimberlyl) who's been on NBC's Last Comic Standing and Lopez Tonight with George Lopez. They discuss

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58:29

K-Drama School - Ep 6: The World of the Married and...

K-Drama School ·

2021/02/08

[Spoiler Alert] In this episode of K-Drama School, Grace discusses The World of the Married. She goes into the declining number of South Korea's marriages, increase in divorce, negative stereotypes of single working women, and why Kim Hee-ae is the queen of K-dramas. Grace then has a chat with Los Angeles-based comic Dante Chang (@dantechang) who is originally from DC. They discuss girlfriends who get revenge by stabbing, self-care, emotional health, and violent Asian American and Korean

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50:55

K-Drama School - Ep 5: My Mister and Great...

K-Drama School ·

2021/02/01

[Spoiler Alert] In this episode of K-Drama School, Grace discusses My Mister (2018, tvN) which stars K-pop starlet IU and Lee Sun-kyun of the Oscar-winning Bong Joon-ho film Parasite (2019). Grace goes into the #MeTooKorea movement's impact on My Mister's initial reception, sonic/auditory voyeurism, female agency, the "spycam" problem in South Korea, and fallen male K-pop stars like Jung Joon-young. Grace then chats with comedian guest Erika Ratcliffe (@erikaratcliffe) about noisy neighbors, school

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204 results

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