Welcome to the Weekly Update – January 2-8. This month is very light on new dramas, but I found plenty of new music and a lot of casting information. I spent the week watching “18 Again”, which was a wonderful and surprising drama. Until next week, enjoy your kdrama and ramen!
Military News
Park Hyung Sik and Lee Jong Suk
Kdrama fans are rejoicing this week as 2 of the most popular actors completed their military duties. Although both have been home for their final leave, this week marks their official discharge. Park Hyung Sik finished on January 4th and has already received several offers for acting projects. Currently he is debating his options. Lee Jong Suk was discharged on January 2nd, after serving as a public servant. He has already been in talks about a special appearance in an upcoming film.
Casting News
N, Lee Bo Young, Kim Seo Hyung
An upcoming drama, “Mine” will star Lee Bo Young and Kim Seo Hyung as the daughter-in-laws of a rich, powerful family. Vixx’s N has been confirmed to play Kim Seo Hyung’s son, the oldest grandson of the chaebol family. The drama will be a mini-series featuring 8 episodes and is set to premiere some time in the first half of 2021.
Kim Soo Hyun and Cha Seung Won
“That Night” will be a remake of the popular BBC series “Criminal Justice”. Kim Soo Hyun will play a college student who becomes the main suspect in a murder case. Cha Seung Won will play a struggling lawyer who agrees to take the case. Filming for this series will begin some time in the first half of this year and will premiere in the second half of 2021.
Song Hye Kyo
Song Hye Kyo will be starring in a revenge drama by “Descendants of the Sun” screenwriter Kim Eun Sook. She will play a woman who was bullied in school and has waited her whole life to get revenge of the person responsible. The drama “The Glory” will be a multi-season series beginning with an 8 episode season 1 that will begin filming some time in the second half of 2021. A premiere date has not been set yet.
Seo Hyun Jin, Kim Dong Wook, Yoon Park and Nam Gyu Ri
“You Are My Spring”, a new romantic drama has confirmed this all-star cast. A group of people in need of healing move into an apartment building where a murder was once committed. All of the residents have a trauma in their past which causes them to hold on to their childhood selves while trying to heal their present selves. “You Are My Spring” is set to premiere some time in the first half of 2021.
Music News
A.C.E. (featuring Thutmose)
Fav Boyz
A.C.E. collaborated with Steve Aoki to create this remix to their title track “Favorite Boys”. The remix “Fav Boyz” features Nigerian-American rapper Thutmose, who opens the song with a rap segment. Aoki gives the song a more hard-driven electronic beat than the original version and definitely pumps up the volume.
Jeong Sewoon
In the Dark
“In the Dark” is Jeong Sewoon’s first video from his new album, 24 PART 2. With melodic acoustic guitar and a groovy beat, this song draws you in, and then Jeong Sewoon hits you with his amazingly rich tone. Despite the title and the dark scenes highlighted in the video, the lyrics offer hope that “it’s alright now” because “from now, we will shine”.
MCND
Crush
MCND shows off their youthful exuberance in this fun and sometimes silly video for “Crush”. It’s a little bit hip-hop, a little bit boy band, and it is charming in it’s honest portrayal of young guys being a little goofy. “Crush” embraces this mood and never takes itself too seriously, and that just helps us all enjoy the ride.
Hang Deok Cheol
Fall Asleep
This beautiful ballad by the trio Hang Deok Cheol, is a beautiful story about loss and the road to healing. The piano and strings mix perfectly to create this bittersweet moment as the singers beg for a chance “to heal in a winter sleep”. “Fall Asleep” is mesmerizing, both visually and musically.
Coogie (Featuring GRAY)
POW
Coogie has released his first single for 2021 with the help of hip-hop artist, GRAY. This catchy trap song with the repeated phrase “Click, clack, boom, pow compares love and dating to trying to handle an AK. The beat is energetic and upbeat, although the words are definitely repetitive. GRAY provides a powerful rap break in the middle that gives a cool vibe to a surprisingly chill music video.
Hong Eunki
ON&ON
Hong Eunki brings us a high-energy video for ON&ON. The song features strong synth dance rhythms with a heavy house beat. The song never wavers in its hard-driving musical force. Hong Eunki shows himself as the director of his own video as he poses behind the camera in between complicated choreography scenes.
woo!ah!
I Don’t Miss You
Showing off their child-like playfulness, woo!ah! released this video for “I Don’t Miss You”. The song has an easy, sing-song quality that will have you nodding your head to the beat. It’s not musically complicated, but it shines in it’s simplicity as it allows the singers to really highlight their vocal abilities.
Baekhyun
Get You Alone
Baekhyun is in need of some love and dating advice from a wise television love coach, who also happens to be a cooler, more confident him, in this fun video for “Get You Alone”. “Get You Alone” will appear on Baekhyun’s first Japanese mini-solo album to be released on January 20th . This great funk track has a laid back acid-jazz like rhythm and style.
Drama News
The Penthouse
The women living in the 100 story luxury apartment building Hera Palace are driven, ruthless, and full of secrets. The first 21 episodes of the family drama “The Penthouse” aired on January 5th. But for fans who are sad to see this one end, there is good news. Season 2 has already been confirmed and will begin airing in February. If you haven’t watched it yet, catch up on this first season while you wait!
