Dal Ja's Spring (달자의 봄 -2007)

Starring:
Chae Rim as Oh Dal Ja
Lee Min Ki as Kang Tae Bong
Lee Hyun Woo as Uhm Gi Joong
Lee Hye Young as Wee Seon Joo
Gong Hyeong Jin as Shin Sae Do
Extended cast
Seo Yeong Hee as Jang Soo Jin
Kil Yong Woo as Kang (Tae Bong's father)
Kwon Ki Sun as Yeong Shim (Tae Bong's mother)
Kim Na Woon as Go Shil Jang (Oh Dal Ja's sunbae)
Jang Young Nam as Uhm Gi Joong's wife
Lee Kyung Jin as Jung Ae (Dal Ja's mother)
Kim Young Ok as Dal Ja's grandmother
Kim Sung Kyum as Tae Bong's grandfather
Oh Kyung Soo as Nam Dae Soo (the department director)
Kim Jae Wook as Choon Ha (Tae Bong's friend)
Seo Yeong as Hong Ji Hee

‘Dalja’s Spring’ is the story of Dalja, a 33-year old single at a crossroad of whether to remain single or get married before she gets older. The drama aims to comically and candidly portray the reality and undying pursuit of romance of a thirty something single woman.

The love triangle of Dalja, Taebong and Gijoong brews conflicts over love versus marriage. Taebong, a hunk six years younger than Dalja, works as substitute dates and becomes Dalja’s fake boyfriend. Gijoong is the type who dreams of an ideal and rational courtship. The drama also highlights the life and work of women in their thirties through Dalja who is a talented managing director at a home shopping channel.

God I love Lee Min Ki!!! Even though he is so young, he portrays an age above his true self spectacularly! You wouldn't think he was in the low 20's but almost 30. He is very mature for his age.

OMG! The first really serious role for LMK! I got what I wanted. This was a comedy but the comedy was all on Chae Rim not LMK (a first). He was serious throughout this drama. OMG! OMG! OMG!

You never really realize who is really by your side until its almost too late. I couldn't stop watching this drama. LMK was actually the "adult" in this drama. I could almost reach through the screen and just kiss'im. This drama was almost mirroring itself with Soulmate. He was always there for her and she didn't realize it. I will say that I was hoping for a more glamorous ending. A marriage perhaps? Something more "nailed shut". The ending was just a wee bit too open ended but it was atleast a happy ending. *sigh*

Lee Min Ki

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

Evasive Inquiry Agency (2007)

Starring:
Lee Min Ki as Moo Yeol
Ye Ji Won as Hee Kyung
Ryu Seung Soo as Yong Soo
Lee Eun Song as Eun Jae
Extended Cast
Park Hee Soon as Baek Min Chul
Yoon Moon Sik as Lee San
Yoo Tae Ho as Jo Man Ki
Lee Han Wie as Jang Taek Soo
Lee Hae Young as Kang Seung Ho
Ryu Tae Ho
Lee Jong Goo
Choi Dae Hoon
Kim Yoo Jung
Choi Yo Han
Tak Sung Eun
Lee Dong Ho
Jo Gyu Chul
Lee In Chul
Choi In Sook
Kim Ja Ok (cameo)
Park Hwi Soon (cameo)
Kim Si Duk (cameo)
Yoo Yeon Soo

Moo Yeol is a taekwondo instructor who falls for Eun Jae at first sight when she comes and asks him to help her find gold treasures at the agency. Hee Kyung is a tarot card master and Yong Soo is a manhwa shop owner who passes his days with no dreams nor hopes but gets involved in the gold hunting simply for fun. Moo Yeol, Hee Kyung, and Yong Soo gather together at the empty Inquiry Agency office and they discover a dead corpse in the basement. The four of them later decide to start a treasure hunting project.

This is also a drama without a love story.

OMG! I so fell in love with this drama. It was nothing, I mean nothing, like I expected it to be. First off, I didn't think it was a comedy because the very beginning started off at the end of the show and there was fighting.

From that point on, the whole gist of the story changed and we follow the characters until they get to that point of the story. But, the characters in general, were histerical. OMG! It was hilarious. Lee Min Ki is a comedian. Even though he plays a young oaf, his hotness exuded through the screen. They can dress him all like a beggar but he still is one hell of a fine piece of male specimen! LOL! His character, while innocent, was the most buoyant. He was oafish, dumb, and love-lorn. But out of it all, he acting skills and character shined through. My God, he was just a riot!!!

I won't leave the other characters out. Hee-kyung and Yong-soo were the eldest of the group. Yong-soo was the tarot card eccentric/swindler. Money hungry but true to her friends the most. Hee-kyung is the manga cafe owner. While lazy, seemed to be the smartest. Having learned everything he needed to know through reading mangas. You have to see that. I was laughing so hard. Then there is Eun-jae. Moo Yeol (LMK) falls head over heels for her. She is rich, beautiful but very arrogant. Eventually we see her open up and change for the better and see a glimpse of attraction towards the love-struck Moo Yeol.

This story was fun! After every episode, they had "extra" scenes that were probably the most funniest things ever. They were scenes supposedly cut from the episode. So you get to see something that might not have been answered. Some were outrageously funny. I always looked forward towards the end to see what would happen. My favorite one.....well it includes Lee Min Ki and a towel. Ohhhhh, I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard!

This is probably one of my most favorite dramas ever. I can't believe this was passed up by me a long time ago..............................

What was I thinking??

Lee Min Ki

A Good Day to have an Affair (바람피기 좋은날, Baram-pigi joheun nal-2007)

Starring:
Hye-su Kim - Dew
Jin-seo Yun - Small Bird
Jong-hyeok Lee
Min-gi Lee
Supporting Cast
Eun-pyo Jeong
Yun-hong Oh
Sang-Myeon Park
Eun-pyo Jeong

Two bored housewives have affairs with two different men they meet in online chat rooms. As their relationships developed into offline relationships they often pass each other unwittingly in the hallways of the motels where they meet their lovers.

One day, the lady known as “Dew” is in a room with her aged college lover. Suddenly, her husband bursts through their door, along with police officers that he brought. The other lady known as “Small Bird” is in a adjacent room listening to what’s going on in the other room. Small Bird whispers to her lover to be quiet, because the police officer in the other room is her husband. -- Lunapark6



Okay this movie was disappointing. Eergh! First off, they made "my man" into a jerk. At first, he comes across as a deprived, frustrated, first timer in sexual affairs. Kind of endearing at the beginning. Then "poof!" WTF! Then he just dumps her and takes on another chick. In the end, it was all about the sex. Then they take his "Tweetie" and make her a scared pussy cat into a caged up tiger at the end. Uh-wuh?

The connotations of this movie can lead some of those whose hearts are teetering on infidelity to believe that it's okay. NOT!

It was supposed to be a comedy and it was funny at times as "Fox" tried to get into "Tweetie's" skirts. Or "Dew" and college boy and their sexual romps and playtime. But the real moment of this movie showed that their was no real consequence to what breaking the marriage contract can do to the other halves and the children involved. Sad. *pouts*

And this had my "Fox" and he was all that and then some.........*sigh*

Lee Min Ki