Life Is Beautiful (SBS)

[Sourplum]

-> Watch this series online at http://www.mysoju.com/life-is-beautiful-sbs/

Is anyone watching weekend drama, Life is Beautiful at the moment? I'm in love with this show.

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• TV Show: Life is Beautiful
• Revised romanization: Insaengeun Ahreumdawo
• Hangul: 인생은 아름다워
• Director: Jung Eul-Young
• Writer: Kim Su-Hyeon
• Network: SBS
• Episodes: *60 +
• Release Date: March 20, 2010 - September, 2010
• Runtime: Saturdays & Sundays 22:00
• Language: Korean
• Country: South Korea

^From http://asianmediawiki.com/Life_is_Be...orean_Drama%29

Synopsis

Yang Byung Tae’s mother is a stubborn and tough family-head who holds the Yang family together despite of going through the heart-break of being betrayed by her husband. Byung Tae who married Kim Min Jae in his second marriage after the death of his first wife, brought in more people into his side of the family. His seemingly prefect elder son, Yang Tae Sub is actually having a love relation with another man which will be threatening to their family relations if he was discovered. His second son, Ho Sub who is their family’s trouble-maker, wants to be in tourist submarine business after failing in his studies while his youngest daughter, Cho Rong is after fame after being scouted as the resort model.

^From http://allkoreandrama.com/life-is-beautiful-2

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Cast

Yang family

* Kim Yong Rim as Mother
* Choi Jung Hoon (최정훈) as Father
* Kim Young Chul as Yang Byung Tae
* Kim Hae Sook as Kim Min Jae
* Kim Sang Joong as Yang Byung Joon
* Jang Mi Hee as Jo Ah Ra
* Yoon Da Hoon as Yang Byung Keol
* Song Chang Ui as Yang Tae Sub
* Lee Sang Yoon as Yang Ho Sub
* Nam Gyu Ri as Yang Cho Rong

Lee family

* Lee Min Woo as Lee Soo Il
* Woo Hee Jin as Yang Ji Hye
* Jung Da Bin as Lee Ji Na

Park family

* Lee Sang Hoon (이상훈) as Park
* Jo Mi Ryung as Yang Soo Ja
* Kang Yi Suk

Other people

* Nam Sang Mi as Boo Yeon Joo
* Lee Sang Woo as Kyung Soo
* Yoo Min as Chae Young
* Kim Woo Hyun (김우현) as Hyun Jin ^From http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Life_is_Beautiful_%28SBS%29

[Sourplum]

THE FOLLOWING is an extract from a blog. The writer has touched points on a lot of what I wanted to say. I want to praise the film makers for having the courage to introduce a same sex couple and show the audience how their budding relationship grows. I was very touched by the story, to say the least, and I think a lot of people should see this show. This is one EXCELLENTLY written, acted, and presented drama. I can't give it enough praise for the sensitivity and liberation in which the writer has given the plot and characters. Courtesy of http://www.rjkoehler.com/2010/05/02/gays-in-korean-dramas-watch-it-with-your-gfbfwiveshusbands/

I recommend that those who want to learn Korean through K Dramas and those who want to watch a good drama in general watch 인생은 아름다워 (Life is Beautiful) currently running on SBS (Sat/Sun Evening). I’ve only seen a couple of episodes but it’s a gentle family drama set in Jejudo written by 김수현씨 Kim Suhyeon, the original queen of Korean dramas, and she rarely disappoints. I don’t think any of her dramas have made onto the Hallyu boat, but she is the undisputed queen of penning dialogues and much loved amongst the Korean crowd.

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I believe it’s the first time that a gay relationship is introduced in a main, primetime Korean drama. By that I don’t mean a man pretending to be gay like in 개인의 취향 (Personal Preference), another good drama currently running with Son Yejin and Lee Minho who are both good actors, but this drama would appeal to the younger crowd, as it borders on the unrealistic sugar-coated side with pretty sets and pretty actors, you know, for the Full House fans.

Those who are into Japanese dramas, might find 검사 프린세스 (Prosecutor Princess) to their taste. It’s a bit annoying at the beginning, with the manga setting, of exaggerated Legally Blond theme, but it does get better with an intriguing storyline and the main character does endear herself as the story develops. This msg board where people leave opinions have recently been flooded with angry viewers complaining that the drama paints the prosecutors with a good brush.
My mother tells me 신데렐라 언니(Cinderella Sister) with 문근영 and 서우 are good too. I believe her because 문근영 is a good actress.
Note to the naysayers and complainers, this post is not completely irrelevant to the macho geopolitical and boobs theme of this blog because I believe Korean dramas are already playing a role in improving the image of Korea and appealing to the (younger) Western audience as well (as the Asians).

Korean lesson of the Day:
막장드라마 (Makjang deurama) = Drama with preposterous storyline where anything goes. Describes about 80 percent of low-quality Korean dramas where themes such as revenge, birth secrets and affairs get played out with a liberal dose of amnesia, terminal illness, car accidents etc. Hopefully this is on the decline.