I Really Really Like You (진짜 진짜 좋아해 / Jinjja Jinjja Joahae -2006)

Starring:
Eugene as Yuh Bong Soon (Birth name is Yeo Yoon He, 25)
Lee Min Ki as Nam Bong Ki (Bodyguard, 28)
Ryu Jin as Dr. Jang Joon Won (President's son, 31)
Bong Soon's family
Geum Bo Ra as Lee Han Suk (Bong Soon's mother, 47)
Shin Min Hee as Geum Soo Kyung (19)
Lee Sang Kil as Jo Hyun Joon (9)
Bong Ki's family and colleagues
Jang Yong as Nam Dae Shik (Bong Ki's father, 61)
Yoon Seung Won as Lee Sang Jik (Director Lee, in charge of security for the President, 48)
Yoo Tae Joon as Kim Joo Yup ( Bodyguard nicknamed Robocop, 28
Yoon Ji Hoo as Kang Moon Shik (Bodyguard: Bong Ki and Robocop's friend, 28)
Presidential family
Choi Bool Am as Jang Min Ho (The President, 59)
Kim Hye Ok as Oh Young Sil (Joon Won's mother, 53)
Jung So Young as Go Ji Soo (Joon Won's wife, 31)
Jung Da Bin as Jang Hyo Won (Joon Won's daughter, 4)
Staff people
Kwon Ki Sun as Ma Ok Hee (47)
Lee Young Ja as Song Un Joo (39)
Ahn Hye Kyung (안혜경) as Noh Jin Kyung (Nutritionist in charge of the canteen, 29)
Kim Chang Wan as Kang San (50)
Kim Gook Jin as Ki Hyung Do (35)
Kang In Duk as Bang Pil Do (59)
Yoon Yeo Jung as Goo Hyang Sook (55)
Others
Kim Hee Jung as Soo Jung
Kim Hyung Bum

Yeo Bong Soon (Eugene) leaves her mountain village and comes to Seoul to live and look for her parents after her foster 'grandmother' passes away. She finds a job as an assistant cook at the President's Blue House canteen and later, in the Blue House kitchen. She falls for Jang Joon Won (Ryu Jin), the President's son, a highly intellectual doctor; however, he is married with a five-year-old daughter. His wife is suffering from dementia. As Bong Soon finds herself falling in love with Joon Won, a love triangle builds up when Bong Ki (Lee Min Ki), the President's family's bodyguard, starts to fall for the hillbilly Bong Soon! The drama explores about how Bong Ki gets in touch with his own feelings and how Bong Song's generosity makes the men fall for her.

This was truly a beautiful story. A love triangle, yes. But not overly intense. I will say that the progression for Bong-soon's love for Bong-ki didn't really hit until the last 3 episodes and their were 34 episodes. Don't get me wrong, we see her change attitudes towards him during the whole show but it from total hate, to disbelief, to friendship.......just her love for him was just rushed at the end. That's how I felt anyway.

The whole show really showed how love can change and to love someone unconditionally while sick. I loved Joon-won's character. I really, truly did. You could feel the torment and guilt he felt for both Bong-soon and his wife. That character had depth.

I did not care for the wishy-washy character of Bong-soon. Once she found out about Joon-won's wife, you'd think she would back off. But instead she held on for dear life and didn't give Bong-ki the chances he deserved. They tried to portray her as a good girl but I think that fell through while dealing with Joon-won's character. That part left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Bong-ki. What can I say about him? Lee Min-ki is a freakin' riot. He always leaves me with a smile on my face. He has some great comedic timing and his facial expressions are a joy. He always makes me happy while watching him. I'd really like to see him in a serious role. No comedy involved. I wonder if he could pull it off. I think I might Dal Jal's Spring next just so I can get more of LMK. *sigh* How can someone be that cute?

Lee Min Ki

Wonderful LIfe (원더풀 라이프 / Wondeopool Laipeu -2005)

Starring:
Kim Jae Won as Han Seung Wan
Eugene as Jung Se Jin
Lee Ji Hoon as Min Do Hyun
Han Eun Jung as Lee Chae Young
Joo Hyun as Han Bum Soo (Seung Wan's father)
Sun Woo Yong Nyeo as Yoon Tae Hee (Seung Wan's mother)
Kim Hye Ok as Pyo Jae Kyung (Se Jin's mother)
Choi Joon Yong as Han Seung Pil (Seung Wan's older brother)
Yoon Hyun Sook as Baek Hyun Joo (Seung Pil's wife)
Kim Hyo Jin as Jung Il Jin (Se Jin's older sister)
Kim Seung Min as So Chang Myung (Seung Wan & Do Hyun's flying academy classmate)
Jung Da Bin as Han Shin Bi (Seung Wan and Se Jin's daughter)
Lee Hye Sook as Do Hyun's stepmother

Let me start off that this was a typical Korean drama. After episode 9, after slugging away my emotions to pulp and hating the characher Chae Young to wishing for her death, I had to skip to the last episode. And you know what? I didn't miss a single thing. I didn't see the trauma of the love quadrangle the show was working on. I didn't see the start of Shin Bi's illness which would have been torture beyong belief.

What I did see? I saw the end of the quadrangle and the start of the loving relationship of Se-jin and Seung-wan. I didn't see a death. I didn't see the family fight over Shin Bi. Let's put it this way.......from episode 10-15 was the same old, same old dragged out till you bleed drama. So in other words, there really wasn't any movement in the show. I might have missed some things which I might go back and see what I missed but for now....I wish the Korean drama figures would get a brain like the Japanese and just get to the gist of the story and move on.

On the whole.....the movie started out wonderfully and ended wonderfully. A very good drama but typically sluggish and emotionally draining.

Would I see it again? Probably so.....give me few more months when I get bored and am looking to watch some reruns..................

Kim Jae Won