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Flower from Spring Waltz OST
a perspective by Jason Romero                                                           originated on October 4, 2006
For those of you that have been here before, you have already read my introduction but I have taken it
out and have put in this tribute to Jung Da Bin. After I read about what happened to Lee Eun Joo and
now I was really saddened about Jung Da Bin's recent death. It is too bad and sad what happened.
Attic Cat was where it all began for me. .............. if you can, watch My Sister in Law is 19 and her movie
He Was Cool it would be a nice remembrance.

I have the links here if you want to check them out on her sudden tragedy.  
where I first found out   
and   
the memorial pics
Counter
Attic Cat
also known as Rooftop Room Cat
episodes  16  
production  MBC                                             
released 2003              
wiki
have DVD

comments: This was this first one for me. The food, the grandparents, the family, the fighting, the yelling,the
crying, the humor and the drama...  I watched this 4 times and will watch over and over.
This was the highest rated show at the time and caused a rebirth of how Korean Dramas were made going
forward. Oh! the music!!!  Kyung-Min na and Jung-Eun na , Hye-Run and Mr. Yoon.
Full House
episodes  16
production  KBS
released 2004       
wiki
have DVD

comments:This story was adapted from an internet periodical, these are popular in Korea. The storyline has the
familiar contract marriage that becomes common in many other dramas. This is the KBS rival to MBS Attic
Cat.Really funny and also irritating at the same time.I watched this 3 times but will always be a fallback. Great
music too, they always have good old timey songs in the background when they go to the bar or out to eat. Three
Bears , gotta see it, hilarious!!
My Lovely Samsoon
also known as My Name is Kim Sam Soon
episodes  16
production  MBC
released 2005       
wiki
have DVD

comments: This drama won the best MBC drama award for 2005. It also won for all four of the main actors best
and best supporting in a drama series. This Samsoon lady was really kooky and the show is too funny. It also
features Hengli the Adonis who will show up in my favorite feature drama later 'Spring Waltz'. Adonis' father is
British in real life, he is half Korean. Also the little waif girl will also show up later in the drama that Kyung-Min na
from Attic Cat as the main character in 'Which Star Are You From'.
That little waif girl speaks english well because she grew up in Austraila. She also one of the four girls in the
K-Pop group Chakra.
check this out
Stairway To Heaven
episodes  20
production SBS
released 2003       
wiki
have DVD

comments: Oh mey! Oh mey! This was my first dark drama. Fittingly, it is also the first Korean drama to delve into
the most tragic of storylines, Many of the later dramas of this type would follow this formula. Everything you
thought would happen but did not want to happen, happens. Still, this is a really good story and one to remember
for a long time.
Save The Last Dance
episodes  20
production SBS
released 2004       
wiki
have DVD

comments: This one has everything. Someone loses their memory, someone dies, someone lives in agony trying
to find a lost love, someone commits suicide, someone gets in trouble in the business and has to fight their way
back. But this becomes typical with Korean drama because at the same time it ts humorous and engaging, silly
and entertaining all at the same time.  The ending.... shocking!  but I liked it. This show stars Yoo-Jin as the
heroine. She is also popular K-Pop singer aka Eugene. Eugene is Korean but from Guam. She is in another of
the shows I will list below.  She is also popular in the Philippines, I saw her guest appearance on GMA Eat Bulaga.
Love Letter
episodes 16
production MBC
released 2003       
wiki
Streamed -buying DVD

comments: This was my first drama I watched on streaming.  It depicts another theme of Korean Drama. Siblings
who don't know of each others existence or parent and child until after the drama takes you along the way to
secrets revealed. The same, every episode never letting up and crazy crazy plots making you want to beat your
screen and at the same time hoping for the best. I like the way these become epic tales. As in many of these
darker but happy ending dramas, you get to follow the characters from childhood through time becoming adults
and witnessing their trials in life.
The next four dramas are a popular set from one Korean director. The four part 'Endless Love' drama series produced by
South Korean TV Network KBS. The first was produced in South Korea in 2000. Though known as Endless Love parts I, II,
III and IV. They are respectively known as:
          Autumn Fairy Tale  2000
          Winter Sonata         2002
          Summer Scent        2003
          Spring Waltz           2006

I watched all of them in consecutive order. Each of them very good. None of them have related stories, each an epic in
their own right. My favorite of all of them is Spring Waltz. I bought the DVD. But all four are a must see.
Autumn Fairy Tale
episodes 16
production KBS
released 2000       
wiki
Streamed - have DVD

comments: This first installment of the set of four becomes very interesting. you get to see how many of the actors and actresses are used
in different roles in the other different dramas. One actor plays the father in one drama and also a different father in a later one. One actor
plays the son in one drama and a different son in the next drama. The actress who was the well to do mother in one drama becomes
the down trodden mother or aunt in later drama. And so on.
If you thought you saw everything and can forsee a used up plot, the four of these dramas will surprise you.
These four dramas depict divorced families, sibling rivalry, family secrets, child abandonment
and illegitmacy.-... even up to ummm.., brother and sister relationship......   eeek!
aka Autumn Tale, This in the one that always sticks in my head. It was very involving and at that time
I wondered if I would lose the pull of watching another drama, This show set the pace again.
It stars the Full House lady but this was her role before she did Full House. The mother in law in Full House plays the mother in this show.
This is a very dramatic show but always intriguing and humorous. All of the four dramas begin at childhood and follow up to adulthood.
This one was the start, broken into two sequences, the kids losing and gaining, facing many obstacles and tragedy.
Overcoming as adults but some losing and some winning. As always, the build up to secrets revealed and
emotional rollercoaster provides a ride that can never be forgotten. watch this...
Winter Sonata
episodes 20
production KBS
released 2002       
wiki
Streamed - have DVD

comments:
This show stars the woman in Stairway to Heaven, Also one of the fathers is played by the father in Autumn Tale.
The woman's dead father was also the father in Stairway to heaven.
This show has too many secrets but still has many humorous moments. What if you died and came back to life but didn't know
who you are? This show takes that journey and involves many of the characters in that persons life who try
desparately to make him remember.
Summer Scent
episodes 20
production KBS
released 2003       
wiki
Streamed - have DVD

comments:
This show stars the son from Autumn Tale. He plays a guy who's lover died but she had donated her heart to
another woman that the guy later becomes friends with. Many family interruptions take place, as usual the love quadrangle
is present. The down trodden mother of Autumn Tale plays the son's mom. The father from Stairway to Heaven plays
the dead girls father in this show. The theme of this show is beautiful mountainous landscape of Korea.
As always, great build up to the end.
Spring Waltz
episodes 20
production KBS
released 2006      
wiki
Streamed- have DVD
 *gave to Dorrie for her b-day!!*
comments:
This show was the culmination of all four of the set. I bought this DVD. This
story was the best to include childhood drama,
lavish travel scenes from Austria to Korea. Great music and family life
depicted rich and poor. Adonis Hengli from Samsoon
is in this movie, he plays a half-Korean guy. The story is also set in two
sequences as children a boy and a girl promise
to never be apart. But tragedy ensues and they are separated for 15 years.
There is a love quadrangle but each of the
participants have really great roles and performances. Nothing is held back in
this show but satisfyingly there is a *** ending.
This show has all the humour and suspense and agonizing pain that makes it
worth watching.  watch it !!!!!!!!
My Sister In Law Is 19
episodes 16
production SBS
released 2004      
wiki
Streamed -have DVD

comments:
She's baaack! Jung-Eun from Attic Cat teams up With the male lead in Wonderful Life in a really
funny and touching story. I was glad I watched this after finishing the Endless Love four parter.
This show took me back to the Attic Cat mode and it is a more recent show and very entertaining.
Again the show depicts childhood tragedy, single parenting, family ties, family secrets,sibling rivalry and of
course,
contractual marriage. Yes there is a love quadrangle... This show is refreshing because it ties three
families together with an abandoned child at the center of all the mishaps. Mostly the young adult
characters in this show are the ones who try to keep all the families intact.
Very funny parts in this show and also suspense
having the usual will she tell? will he find out? who will suffer for it? plots that make you crazy watching.
Always there is a mean girl... :) Good build up to the end and many cliffhangers.
Which Star Are You From?
episodes 16
production MBC
released 2006      
wiki
Streamed -have DVD

comments:
He's baaack! Kyun-Min na from Attic Cat teams up with the little waif girl from Samsoon.         
web
You will be surprised watching this. Both of the actors get reversed roles from their previous.
Three themes that I liked, first, the way way way backwoods location of the girls upbringing, think Heidi.
Living in the little shanty wood shack tending goats. The girl later becomes involved with the rich
life taking on her Cinderella journey. Secondly, this was the time of the World Cup Soccer played in Korea.
Much of the plot revolves around the soccer atmosphere at that time. Third, the contrast between the well to do
and the girl from poor origins trying to fit into the high class lifestyle. That was what made this show so funny.
I liked when the Kyun-Min na guy kept calling her 'little fellow'.  on to the next one !!
Lovers In Paris
episodes 20
production SBS
released 2004      
wiki
Streamed - have DVD
Delightful Girl Choon-Hyang
episodes 17
production KBS
released 2005      
wiki
Streamed - have DVD

comments: okey,   I finshed watching Delightful Girl Choon-Hyang now... !!!
This is a funny show.... !!    well done!  bashtah!
(it stars, the mean girl in Autumn Tale, but she plays the main character and heroine in this show)
Exhibition of Fireworks
episodes 17
production MBC
released 2006     
Streamed- have DVD

comments: ha ha!  it's Choon-Hyang again, woohoo !!I Done now,  this woman helped her
fiance for 7 years so he could become successful. But now she is 30 years old and that guy
rejected her. She is so pissed off now and has hard times because all her money and efforts
she spent on that guy. Now she has to pose as her 20 year old sister to get her current job
and has to put up with the new guy who helped her get the job but this guy thinks she is a
younger woman and always calls her 'little fellow'. hahahah! but this show is really funny so
far...!
!!I think both her and the new guy will get together. This is in 2006 so there is the soccer
theme again because of Korea hosting the World Cup Soccer that year.  Thought you had
seen all topics covered? Well, this one has a good secret that surfaces at the half way point.
Dae Jang Geum or Jewel In The Palace
episodes 54
production MBC
released 2003     
Streamed - uhhh, I think I will buy this ...

comments: Finally! This is after watching too many shows... /yes, I will watch this now. Too many episodes... 54!
But this show is unlike all the ones finished, this is in the ancient times and is no internet or tv or technology, no cars or clubs.
Only a palace and kings and royal court ladies and lowly peasants and fighting and the countryside and
drama and happiness and tragedy.  Oh yeah, the first theme of the show is cooking and food.. yummy!
I didn't want to watch this ... only because of the sheer enormity of it. Though this is the most popular Korean drama
of all time and the most popular in the Philippines when it was shown on tv from March 2005 to November 2005, and
many people watched faithfully. I was hesitant because so many episodes. So I had to wonder , if even in China and Japan
people were watching and finished it then it wouldn't be so bad. Furthermore, I had just finished watching 18 drama shows,
each about 16 to 20 episodes long.
I had watched about 360 episodes combined already.. PIECE OF CAKE !!  hahaha !
So I am at the 8th episode now... and from the first episode to now...  WOW!   yeh mama,  yeh, good good show.
A really nice change,  maybe it is good I waited to watch this ... it is a refreshing change.  Note --- if you watch this first or
after... you will understand some of the underlying themes of the well done Goong Palace and Hyoon-Chang Delightful Girl.
These two came after Jewel and there is really nice and humorous play-ons in some scenes of palace guards and women wearing their
hanbooks.
Well, I'll see you all in a few months when I finish this and will catch up then...  kaza !

I finished!! took me 8 days, the last day I did a marathon 10 hours with breaks in between... uggghhh! The previous nights
staying up until 1AM , waking up and watching.... but it was very compelling and epic.  yeh ma ma ! was like nothing I was used to
really, so entertaining and addicting.  now I understand the references in Delightful Girl Choon-Hyang and The Imperial Household -
Goong - Princess Hours.  Lady Lee from Exhibition of Fireworks and Woo Jin from Love Letter had great performances. The king
from Goong was also in this show as Jang Deum's birth father. Jang Deum's stepmom was Jae Ha's mom in Spring Waltz.
Jang Deum's birth mom in the show looks like my Korean cousin Sheila.  I guess I will buy this show on DVD too for my collection !!
              
                   yeh ma ma !
Only You
episodes 16   production SBS
released 2005     
Streamed - .

comments: Oh te kay!!>?? I found another drama starring actress Han Chae Young. She is always in
good shows. She was the real grandaughter in My Girl and also the mean sister in Autumn Tale. But
watch in this order Delightful Girl Choon-Hyang, Exhibition of Fireworks then this show Only You to
appreciate her work. The premise of this show is cooking! This is the first Korean Drama show to be
filmed partly in Italy. This show is typical but still refreshing , funny and not really sad... !
I know too many Korean stars now. The main actor is the priest on Love Letter and the mom is the
sad mom in Fashion 70's also the sister is the sister in My Lovely Samsoon. :)
Sad Love Story
episodes 20   production MBC
released 2005     
Streamed - .

comments: This story is about a blind girl and is epic. It starts out in poverty where two small kids
grow up and make a life for themselves after they get separated and go through many trials. The
first half of the plot takes them to New York, they learn to survive living in a foreign but great
country that shatters all their wonderful visions of the USA. The title is too foretelling, worse, so sad,
every episode. Everything you think bad that could happen , happens and it gets so agonizing for
these characters. It still was a very good tale and I could not stop watching.                                        
       It stars the guy in Stairway to Heaven in another great performance!
oh! watch for the
starring actress Kim
Hee Sun in Jackie
Chan's current movie
'The Myth'.
Honesty
episodes 16   production SBS
released 2000     
Streamed - .

comments: fucking show OMG!!! I loved this and hated it at the same time. I was hooked on this one.
I watched this on a Sunday from my morning to 1AM at night. I saw the whole show in one day!! I
never did that before. But each episode ended wanting you to watch more. There is a nice middle class
woman trying to make it in life and her rival is this rich bitch fucking bitch spoiled brat who is always making
fucked up things happen. Choi Ji Woo stars , she is the heroine, she always has good roles and great
acting as in Stairway to Heaven and Winter Sonata. This show was in 2000 so many of the stars I have
watched so far are at but when they were younger and you can see how they looked and acted in their
early careers. I think I will calm down and watch a comedy.... whew !!
Sucessful Story of a Bright Girl
episodes 16   production SBS
released 2002    
Streamed - .

comments: woohoo !  I did watch this to be uplifted from the last show. The show focused on the silly guy who
was rich and then lost it all and then had to get it all back after hitting rock bottom. But, the main story is
about the girl who has to rescue that pitiful guy. There are many good performances here with a large
ensemble of characters. This one was very entertaining, funny and happy! HAPPY HAPPY !!!!!
bad but sad
hero guy
heroine
Hello My Teacher aka Biscuit Teacher  and  Star Candy
episodes 16   production SBS
released 2005    
Streamed - .

comments: The main actress is the woman who played a teacher in Sang Doo Let's Go to
School! and she also plays a teacher here. This time she is like a Mother Teresa to the high
school kids and in most of the episodes each kid has a sad story but she is able to come to the
rescue. The students were very good as an ensemble cast, each one had their own identity. The
one student who falls in love with the teacher steals the show. He is very funny and also had
many sad and dramatic scenes trying to please his stepmom, uncle and father. This show was
very funny at times and then sad but never tragic. Oh yeah, fighting Korean chicks!! That was
awesome, a gang of mid 20's and 30's women friends lead by the teacher that knew kung fu
saved two of the students from getting beat up by real gangsters,  woohoo !
The Memory of Beautiful Days
episodes 24   production SBS
released 2001    
Streamed - .

comments: An older drama, very epic, 24 episodes and Cho Ji Woo! again, woooooo! As always,
a good performance. The theme is the record business but also typical, lost parents, siblings who
are not really siblings, abandoned children who grow up looking for their parents. Many family
secrets, murder, revenge... all the good stuff. Lots of drama K-drama... good drama !!
Princess LuLu
episodes 20   production KBS
released 2005    
Streamed -
wiki

comments: This drama starred the funny woman in Lovers in Paris. She has a reverse role of a
heroine who is well to do but experiences life outside of her sheltered past. She helps a guy out
who has it all but overnight loses all his riches. This was caused by the womans brother because
of sibling rivalry and powerful corporations going after each other. The themes are extreme
family power against the low class lives of the have nots who are just trying to make their
successes and dreams come true. So, amongst all of this the woman goes through many funny
and brave trials to keep everyone close to her in check. This show was kind of long but still very
entertaining.
favorite links: