24, Sydney Based. Vocalist, Photographer & Designer with a love for kpop, kdrama, fashion and sashimi – the order changes often. My inspiration is G Dragon and Kim Taeyeon. Unless otherwise credited, all photos are my own (not including reblogged posts). All official images are credited.
After spending some time away from watching Kdramas in order to finish my studies, I was very happy to come back to Sassy Go Go. As I had previously read an article calling it the ‘perfect kdrama for kpop fans’, I was planning on steering far away. It’s not a secret that most romantic comedies geared towards a younger crowd tends to horrify me, even moreso when the target audience are kpop fans. However, Sassy Go Go (Korean titled 발칙하게 고고) was a refreshing change.
The story follows two groups of students at Sevit High School, the ‘Real King’ street dancing club consisting of kids with poor academic performances but a passion for dance (and friendship, it seems) and the ‘Baek Ho’ cheerleading club which... doesn’t really do any cheerleading. They are all students from the top 5% rankings and seem to be, in one way or another, pressured by their parents to make top marks and go into prestigious universities.
For our main characters, we have Kang Yeon Doo (the leader of ‘Real King’ and, in my opinion, one of the most endearing characters in the drama), Kwon Soo Ah (a very broken wealthy girl who is at the core of the school’s spec building corruption), Kim Yeol (our very handsome male lead who has an estranged relationship with his father and a tendency to be a little cocky), Ha Dong Jae (Yeon Doo’s innocent childhood friend who has a phobia of touching) and, my favourite, Seo Ha Joon (who, I insist, is the few face of the second lead syndrome).
From dramabeans.com
The Good
I thought it was very interesting how Sassy Go Go tackled some more serious topics – suicide, self harm, depression and (in a less explicit extent) trauma. I had gone into this drama expecting something similar to The Heirs – cute, a few funny moments but nothing that I hadn’t already seen a hundred times. I was pleasantly surprised from the first episode where these characters felt more like real people with difficulties (and some more immature sides). This is the main reason that I found myself so hooked on Sassy Go Go; you tend to attach yourself to these people very quickly.
For me, the one character that I was rooting for from the beginning to end was Seo Ha Joon. Being the second lead, I was aware that he would never get the girl anyway but I was hoping he and Soo Ah would make a connection at least (sigh). However, I thought that Ji Soo’s performance in this role was very commendable and that he really made the audience feel the character’s pain. Rather than just having him as a hot headed and violent student, the drama showed us why he seemed to be that way. Even though he didn’t end up with either of our female leads, I thought that his character was very important in showing that first loves don’t always work out but they’re still a part of growing up.
Pain and Heartbreak happen.
One of the first scenes where Ha Dong Jae finds Ha Joon in the bathroom, covered in blood with his wrists cut really stuck with me. Rather than having their characters be overly brave and somehow calm, they showed a very realistic reaction – fear, shock and confusion. In that moment, I really emphasised in Dong Jae as well, where he wanted to help but the shock coupled with his own phobia made it impossible to do so.
Of course, it was Yeol to the rescue! He seemed to have experienced the same scene before and was quick to carry his friend to the hospital, forgetting about any sort of school rules. However, the desperateness in the situation and how it seemed to trigger memories of the first time Ha Joon had attempted suicide really breaks your heart. It seems like this is the core of their friendship and an essential part of Yeol’s story – he was a good kid, no mater how arrogant he appeared, and seemed to have an understanding of his peers that other people didn’t. I felt that this was the moment in which I really started to love his character (and cried because I just really, really want Ha Joon to be happy).
I could actually go on a lot more about the ‘Good’ in Sassy Go Go, because I genuinely adored so many aspects of this drama, so I will simply have to stop myself. Overall, the characterisation and overall plot was very thought-provoking and moved at an interesting pace, making it a continuously capturing experience.
The Bad
For a drama that was only planned for twelve episodes, I thought that they tried to fit too much into the story. Soo Ah’s story arc took up most of the series, with Ha Joon happening on the side, so it makes me wonder – what was the point of having Yeol and Yeon Doo’s parents date, aside from fulfilling some sort of kdrama cliche (and, let’s face it, no one will ever do the dating parents plot line better than Love Rain)?
I previously stated that the drama moved at an interesting pace, which was try from episode to episode as there was consistent character building, but the overall planning of this show was a bit of a mess. The cheerleading plot was completely lost, Dong Jae’s childhood trauma was somehow resolved in a split second and Ha Joon’s child abuse story was resolved through an epilogue. Sassy Go Go’s story had so many potential and I only wish that they had cut down on some of the unnecessary scenes/plots or extended the drama for a few more episodes.
I read online that Sassy Go Go wasn’t extended due to poor rating over in South Korea so I’m not too sure about that. It would be a shame if it didn’t do so well over there but I never put much weight on what is popular – I mean, You Who Came From The Stars is ridiculously popular and that was... not nice.
The Fashion
Overall, the styling for Sassy Go Go was quite standard and nothing stood out to me. I think that it was suitable for the characters and not overdone, which is often a problem. Most of the costuming resembled what you see on the streets of Seoul usually, although I wish that they gave each individual character something more unique. I noticed that, in two scenes, Soo Ah and Yeon Doo were wearing the same ‘Ergh As If’ shirt: that quote was a little funny on Soo Ah because of the Clueless reference, but only confused me when Yeon Doo was suddenly wearing the same thing.
The Sevit High uniforms looked good, but I feel like they’re meant to be quite standard in South Korea. I wouldn’t know because Australian school uniforms are generally horrible.
The Music
Sassy Go Go had some really lovely songs in the soundtrack, but they weren’t very prominent to the viewer. I have to recommend that people listen to Hanbyul’s ‘Shooting Star’ though. It’s an upbeat song with the sort of melody that you can’t help but smile to – uplifting, youthful and easy on the ears.
Another song that I can’t help but ask people to listen to this is ‘Whistling Soundtrack’, the original song of which I can’t quite find. It’s a little bit addictive and will surely get stuck in her head, but what really caught my attention was it’s similarity to an AKMU song.
The Story
Sassy Go Go has an interesting take on a very cliched high school premise. It’s very far from Boys Over Flowers, reminding me more of Japan’s Gokusen and School 2013 in that it aims to explore the lives of each individual character. There are aspects of romance (the most prominent being Yeon Doo and Yeol) but other aspects of the story aren’t neglected either. I thought that this drama had great potential but all of which wasn’t met due to the limited episodes. In fact, I would have loved to read Sassy Go Go and it’s own book.
The Verdict
Sassy Go Go is a drama that I would recommend to many people (and not necessarily Kpop fans or teenagers). The fact that Eunji and Hakyeon are idols doesn’t particularly matter and their fans might actually be disappointed to see that they have such great performances as actors that they’re not entirely themselves – if you know what I mean.
I wouldn’t say that this is a perfect drama, but it’s light hearted with a good balance between comedy and tackling some serious issues. A younger crowd may understand the story better as they have an easier time empathising with the mostly young staff but older people may still find a good laugh at some of these scenes.
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It’s been a long while since I did any drama reviews, thanks to this having been my last semester at university. However, my last assignment has been handed in and I am now left alone to fret about the future - which isn’t much fun. Instead, I’ve taken to watching two great dramas lately. They’re not finished yet so I won’t be doing a review but I would love to recommend them to everyone.
From koreandrama.org
She Was Pretty, or 그녀는 예뻤다 seems to be taking Korean drama watchers by storm. It’s a refreshing sort of romantic comedy which talks about two childhood friends who were each other’s first loves. After spending years apart, they’ve both grown to be very different people - the chubby, bullied boy has become a charismatic Art Director and the pretty, popular girl is now considered ugly, unkept and can’t seem to find a job.
What I loved about the plot for She Was Pretty is that the male lead, and the second male lead, both fell for her regardless of her looks (although she did get her Cinderella moment and became pretty again). It had everything to do with her infectious and hard-working personality, with all her quirks and flaws, and less to do with just being ‘Most-like’ (you will understand this when you watch).
Choi Siwon does a great comic performance in this but, I had to say, I will always be rooting for Ji Seong Joon. He had a very strong and cold, no nonsense exterior but his actual personality is rather warm-hearted and clumsy. Recent episodes have been worrying me though and I hope they don’t go down the cliched route of having Seong Joon be sick.
From dramabeans.com
Another drama is Sassy Go Go, which I had just started watching today but found myself quickly addicted. Eunji is sweet and endearing as usual, though I wonder whether her characters ever vary from each other. On the other hand, Hakyeon (VIXX’s N) plays a very interest character with childhood trauma, resulting in a phobia of touching others. It’s too soon for me to make any judgement, but I love that this show isn’t showing from more serious issues such as teenage suicide, depression and social pressure. It could have easily put itself out as just another youth drama, but it seems to be pushing it’s limits.
For me, Sassy Go Go feels like a more romantic version of School 2013 and Japan’s Gokusen (which I favoured a lot over the newest version).
So that’s it for now, everyone, but I’ll be sure to post some fuller reviews once I finish these dramas as well. I’m also considering the introduction of reblogged material onto this blog. Before now, I had been keeping this blog as an assignment for university. However, now I just want to enjoy blogging and talking to people about things I love.
One does not go to Seoul and not visit N Seoul Tower so, naturally, we decided to go. It was a pretty cold night, especially considering that it had been raining, but it was getting difficult to pick a date that didn’t clash with exams so we didn’t have much of a choice. We had been putting it off for quite a while, but I’m glad that we ended up going because the sight is really breath taking.
It’s quite a long trip up, but it’s not that bad when you’re excited. Seoul Tower is kind of a couple’s location, well known for the locks that people hang on the gates as well as some cute features like tilted chairs and mail boxes, so I know that a lot of people aren’t comfortable coming here alone. If you’re a bit intimidated, come with friends or with family because it really is worth it.
After taking a hanging car up to Seoul Tower, there’s a fairly long walk to the actual tower, but the sights are quite beautiful on the way too. There’s also a place to stop for snacks (you might recognise it from EXO Show Time) and, of course, that’s where you can buy and start hanging your locks.
After that, you buy a ticket into the tower, where you catch an elevator to the top. You have to wait for your number and go up in groups, but the elevator is a bit of an experience in itself. It’s ridiculously fast and, when you look up, there’s a screen that imitates the view of flying up into outer space. Beautiful, right?
Once you’re up, there’s also a chance to mail out postcards home (from the highest place in Seoul), including these cute Hanbok designs. I love the use of colours and floral patterns in these which are reminiscent of more traditional designs. Even the floral pattern of the card seems to draw inspiration from Korean culture, although it would be preferable if that was clearer.
Whether or not you decide to do this though (which I didn’t), it’s still worth coming up here for the sights. For me, it was quite beautiful even though I’m a Sydney-sider. However, for some people like my friend who came from a small town, being able to see the big city lights like that was unbelievably eye opening. It’s also a very awe-inspiring sight, seeing the busy city laid out like that.
These little signs on the walls are also used to greet tourists, showing people how far away from their home country they are. From these subtle designs, it’s clear to see that the majority of N Seoul Tower’s visitors are from other countries. From their mailing system to these signs, the message is quite clear. Personally, I like the simple approach to typography that they employ, which reflects the modern interior, but nothing is exceptionally striking to me.
We’re all here for the sights, anyway.
And, as I mentioned earlier, one of the things that N Seoul Tower is very famous is the lock bridge, but it was only when I got there that I found out that wasn’t it. They also sell tiny tiles that people buy, write on and leave (but I think that they are removed much more often than the locks). I was hoping that they would have more designs for the locks but it doesn’t seem like it’s that necessary - couples were obsessed!
And, although I’m not too surprised, some kpop fans did a bit of shipping.
It’s been a while, everyone but my adventures in South Korea are now coming to an end. I’m sitting here in the airport lobby now, charging all of my electronics and watching all of the planes take flight.
It’s difficult for me to write a proper departure post at the moment because everything is kind of a big blur and I haven’t even taken photos of the airport or anything (but I don’t think that’s necessary). I’ll be updating this post once I land, and then also working on my backlog on my Travel posts and some more kpop/kdrama reviews which I’ve been itching to do!
Updated!
It’s been a whirlwind being back in Sydney since I’ve been picking up as much work as I can. It’s good to get back into the design thing again, especially with my new experiences from South Korea. It’s very different though and it’s only now that I’m back here that I realise how starkly different my lifestyle was in Seoul as opposed to here.
Being in exchange teaches you a lot though. For one, it’s made my perspective on the world and day-to-day living a lot more mature, since I’ve lived alone for quite a while. It also teaches you the importance of culture and society in shaping the world around you, seeing how everything is different once you’re in another country. These are all things that I think I will touch on gradually, since making a big post about it may feel a little too rant-y, but it’s definitely changed me.
The last thing it’s taught me, and perhaps this is the most important, is that it’s made me realise what I want in life. Although I frequently told myself, throughout my childhood too, that I wanted to move to another country (bright lights in New York, shopping in Los Angeles, creating in Seoul and working in Hong Kong) but being away from my family made me realise that I don’t want that.
I like being in different countries and, ideally, I want a job that allows me to move away for a few months at a time and work/live abroad. However, my home is in Sydney and I’m happy for that. I want to be a wanderer who travels the world, but I still want my home at the end of the day.
Things have been too busy in Seoul to update all the time but my mid-terms are finally over and I can share some photos from the Cherry Blossom Festival is Yeouido that we attended on April 10th. It was absolutely beautiful to see the streets lined with flowers and even more amazing to see what must have been the entirety of the city come together to celebrate the season. There was stands selling floral themed bracelets, street performers, installations and camera crews all over filming news segments on the event.
On the top of my head, I’m not sure if I can think of similar Australian festivals to this. Of course, we have things such as Lunar New Year and all, but they’re events brought over from different cultures. I think that that’s the difference between Korean events and Australian.
There’s a very distinctive atmosphere at these events that I hadn’t experienced back at home. For a lot of people, even though they see these blossoms and performances every year, they still look on the beauty with fresh eyes and spend so much time taking photos. It also seems to be the kind of event that couples attend, because the amount of love I was seeing was striking. Korean society tends to be really cute when it comes to Public Displays of Affection though and seeing the way people smiled really warms your heart.
It’s a kind of tender feeling that I wished I could bottle up and carry around. Perhaps I could do some illustrative or poster work based around the emotions of Seoul? Maybe.
I really loved seeing the broadcasting stations filming, as I’ve witnessed a few times already (and learnt about on my tour of MBC Broadcasting which I still need to blog about) because I think that television is a very dominating media in Korean society. Especially considering that there are three major networks (MBC, SBS and KBS), I’m told that the content they create is also very political and theres a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff that is difficult for foreigners to understand. Either way, seeing them film really bring a kind of realism to what they’re showing on television and you can see how and why they create these images - using angles to make scenes look fuller, ‘beautifying’ their performers and so on.
This street performer in a clown costume quite literally just jumped into a photo with me, maintaining his ‘concept’ the entire time. In fact, he didn’t even speak - just jumped in, pulled a face for the photo and left. I love this kind of celebratory attitude, as though the event is just a big day of play.
There were also some people dressed in more traditional Korean costumes (though not the usual hanbok) as... ghouls? I suppose. They were taking photos with other tourists though I didn’t approach them because I found the image just a little too jarring for me.
All in all, the Cherry Blossom Festival was beautiful and a great day of smiles and relaxation before the exams begun. It was something that literally cannot have been experienced back at home so I knew that I couldn’t miss it. Rather than ‘learning’ from the experience, I think that being in Korea is teaching me an important lesson - it’s important to see the world around us.
Back at home, I spent so much time trapped behind the computer screen or just locking myself up in my room that I didn’t really experience or analyse the world around me. I did so when I was forced too, but not naturally and I think that that had been one of my major flaws. Learning to enjoy my life in Seoul may be setting me up for better habits when I am (inevitably) having to return home.
I was wondering how did you get passes to SFW, im planning to go next season and i was just wanted to know how to register for passes, thank you :)
Hi~ My apologies for the late reply because I’ve been in mid-terms. I got the SFW tickets via the fashion department at Yonsei Univ so I’m not quite sure how you can apply for regular tickets. I’m thinking that your best choice will be to contact the designers in advance. If you’re a design student, blogger, buyer or a photographer, I’m sure that your chances of getting passes will be greater too.
I’m not at all surprised that things are getting too busy here in Seoul for me to update this blog as regularly as I wanted to but rest assured that I’m still documenting everything - I just have a slight back log.
Last weekend, me and my friend from my home university were given the opportunity to attend Seoul Fashion Week, something that I was really hoping to do in the time that I was here. Although Sydney has their own shows in the form of the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, I don’t think that it is nearly as big of a deal as it is in this country. Samsung will promote their new phones, celebrities will come out to play and everyone is eager to show off their brilliant designs and styles. On the day that we attended, there was also the independent designer market happening, but it was too cold to stay for too long.
It was an almost glamorous feeling to walk amongst these beautiful people, but you can see it on our faces how much we were enjoying ourselves. In fact, one girl has stopped us to photograph our ‘street fashion’, which was a pretty intense self esteem boost if I must say so myself. However, the one photographer was nothing compared to the crowds that flocked towards some of the more well known models or fashionistas. Many of them were struggling to even get to the fashion shows with the number of times they were stopped for a photo.
I’m not even ashamed to say that I even stopped two of them (a particularly stunning male model pictured below and Youtube Jina Kim whom I had the chance to meet and converse with) to get a quick photo with them too. However, I was reluctant to get in the way of these true street fashion photographers, especially because I didn’t have my usual camera here. I was more an observer than a worker that day, which I didn’t really mind!
I think that the impact of being at Seoul Fashion Week is greater than one that anticipate just by looking at images. For me, especially since I have aspirations to work in the fashion industry, it is more about feeling the weight and power that the industry holds. For many people, this is more than just a day to go out wearing a pretty dress. Their entire lives and careers can centre around these twice a year events and it is here that Designers and Designs are truly celebrated.
How appropriate is it that they had this event at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)? If you remember the building from my previous post, this is Seoul’s recent endeavour to rebrand the area of Dongdaemun as a place for fashion and design. While Hongdae is abundant with artists and students, I always feel that DDP is abundant with the commercial, the freelancers and the designers. Being around this community inspires me and, seeing all of these people who live and breathe design, propels me to find my calling in design. I’ve always been a learner, floating here and there, but it makes me even more determined to find my signature.
I’ve had a few questions from people asking me about my living conditions in South Korea (kind of small and dusty because I’m hopeless at cleaning) and, since I’ve stayed in both a Guest House and the Yonsei dormitory so far, I thought that I would compare/contrast the South Korean lifestyle with that of the Sydney sider.
Welcome to my dormitory, everyone, also known as the very unglamorous side of being an exchange student. I have a small room that I’m unfamiliar with, a squeaky chair and the responsibility to cleaning my own floor. However, it’s also the first time that I’ve ever lived on my own and, I have to say, I’m enjoying it. There’s many differences between living in South Korea as opposed to Sydney though and the tightness of this room barely skims the surface.
From what I know, land in South Korea is extremely expensive which is why apartments tend to be smaller and the design of their interiors very spatially aware. Cupboards are seamlessly fitted against the desk with drawers beneath the bed and, as you can see, my mini fridge hidden at the end. Of course, my room isn’t exactly a modern beauty, but it’s clear to see how design reflects lifestyle.
Sydney apartments, from what I know, tend to be more spacious. While this is still up to individual tastes, and spacious apartments do exist in South Korea, I feel that the general concept in Australia interior design is comfort. In Seoul, it seems to be convenience. After all, my food is only a half step away.
In fact, you may also be interested to know that the showers in South Korea are usually designed as part of the entire bathroom. This means that, unlike in Sydney, there is no division between the shower and the sink, the sink and the toilet. At first, I had so much difficulty adjusting to this oddity that showering seemed to be a chore, but the past month and a half means that I’m more than accustomed to it now.
There are a lot of interesting subtitles in Seoul that, I think, reflect the fast paced lifestyle that people lead. Rice balls and kimbab, which would have been considered a dine-in food in Sydney, are sold pre-packaged in convenience stores. Pre-made coffee and milk tea is also very popular and the packaging has been designed to maximise convenience, something that I hadn’t seem previously in Sydney.
This was a point that I brought up recently in my Cultural Anthropology class. On one hand, the choice of food reflects the cultural preferences of Korean society. However, it is even more interesting to look at the simply innovations that they had made in daily items. For things like pre-made coffee, the cup is designed so that it can easily travel in bags and, with a straw that is unalike a pop top, is easy to consume on the go.
On the contrary, I don’t believe that this product would be popular in Australia and, for that reason, the design of coffee packaging is heavier and more suited to sit down consumption. What I realised is that design is not only the aesthetic value of an object, but also the encompassment of social values and cultural habits.
Today was my first official class with my group of four Yonsei students. Approximately two weeks ago, I applied l to tutor English (focusing on writing skills) and, after an interview, was given a two hour time slot on Thursdays to run a small, intimate class. Of course, they had given me the title of an Advanced English class but we’re still on a fairly basic level. It’s really beautiful how eager these students are though, and they genuinely try hard to learn.
As I am also learning Korean while I’m here, I can understand how difficult it is to grasp a language with a completely different syntax to my own. They do incredibly well though and I’m so happy to have them.
We have a class of four at the moment, ranging from linguistics students to computer science majors. Skill levels are also all over the spectrum, but they focus well and pick things up quickly. After our first orientation meeting on Monday, they were eager to begin class immediately and we started today (an entire week before everyone else). We had a confusion with the room booking with the library, but ended up taking over an empty classroom to finish up. I even went a little over time, which I’m a little sorry for, but everyone seemed happy irregardless.
It’s a lot of fun being able to lead a class and I can feel myself becoming a lot more confident as a public speaker too. Because I’m essentially in a position of authority (although not much), I feel much responsibility to teach and lead them well. Although I tutored English previously, it really is a different experience when you have students who genuinely desire to improve. Also, I have to say that I love to write my own syllabus and class plans.
Teaching a language class wasn’t my original plan when I came to Seoul - I was thinking that I would join photography clubs or the music club, but here I am. It has no direct link to my course and, really, doesn’t give me a big material benefit at all, but it’s so incredibly fulfilling. Next week, I’m planning to teach them about characterisation and the beginnings of creative writing. I’ve also asked them to read an excerpt from Perks of Being a Wallflower so I hope that I evoke some interest in them about the book.
Perhaps a future in education really does await me? I turned down the prospect a few years ago to pursue design, but maybe part-timing as a university tutor really wouldn’t be so terrible after all. My only question, UTS, is how do I apply?
As part of my Korean Cinema and Society class, we screened the movie Welcome to Dongmakgol and wrote a reaction article on the piece. I personally thought that the film’s visuals were very well thought out and effective in establishing the tone of the story. As the movie is a war comedy, a genre which I had seldom come across, it attempted to delicately balance the use of simple humour with the more serious topics of the Korean War.
Unlike many other war movies, Welcome to Dongmakgol made use of bright and saturated colours to give the village a sort of dream-like effect. The result was a sequence of events that seemed far removed from the harsh realities of the battle field. This is quickly revealed in small cuts back to the American navy base which, using darker, desaturated tones, makes for a more Hollywood kind of aesthetic.
As a Visual Communicator, I haven’t considered a foray into film, but I thought that it was really useful to study these movies. The reason for this is that Korean films and Western films have two very distinctly different aesthetics. It made me think back onto the short video that we filmed for our Lab A subject last year, which we produced with essentially no knowledge of the video format.
It was interesting to see how the video editing and use of soundtrack came together to tell a story that, otherwise, would have come across as a cheap war parody. The result was slick, relatable and light hearted, but still carried a heavy message that reverberated in the audience’s heart. In fact, I felt that the script was not completely necessary in telling the story (although it was brilliant nonetheless) as the visual imagery and orchestra did enough.
Click read more to see my full reaction article.
The Story
The film, Welcome to Dongmakgol, is a South Korean film released in 2005. Set during of Korean War, it depicts five individuals forced to work together – three North Korean soldiers, two South Korean and an American pilot with absolutely no knowledge of the Korean language. As a war comedy, it makes use of over dramatized actions, a witty script, and an exaggerated orchestral soundtrack to deliver a serious story. The film has perfectly balanced these two sides, enabling the audience to both laugh and cry.
It opens with the image of the American pilot, Neil Smith, crashing into a field in a remote part of Korea. The use of bright colours strongly contrast against the atmosphere of the navy base – something that is carried throughout the film. Little explanation is given of this scene, instead switching quickly to dark images of war. The beginning of the film is mostly typical for the genre, making use of desaturated tones and bloody imagery to depict the brutality of warfare. The North Korean soldiers are caught in a bombing attack, leaving only a handful of survivors – Rhee Soo Hwa (played by Jung Jae Young), Jang Young Hee (played by Im Ha Ryong) and Seo Taek Gi (by Ryu Deok Hwan). They trek through the mountainous area, uncertain of their destination but unable to stay comfortably in one spot. The turning point occurs with the introduction of Yeo Il (played convincing by actress Kang Hye Jung), a mentally disabled girl who leads them to the secluded village of Dongmakgol.
Unbeknownst to them, two South Korean soldiers were also being led there by another villager. Both having deserted their units, Pyo Hyun Chul (played by Shin Ha Kyun) attempted to commit suicide, but was stopped by innocent Moon Sang Sang (by Seo Jae Kyung).
Their meeting results in a hilarious stand off which reveals exactly how isolated the village is. Aside from the soldiers, people have no knowledge of modern technology and do not understand their threats. Their ignorance leads to exaggeratedly hilarious scenes, perfectly executed with great comic timing. As a result of this, Soo Hwa accidentally blows up the village’s stockpile of corn, making it surrealistically rain down in puffs of popcorn. This scene sets the tone for most of the film, making lighthearted jokes at every serious moment between the soldiers.
It is clear their war-induced hatred towards each other has no place in Dongmakgol.
Characterisation
In war, it is easy to take sides. One, typically the victor, will be painted as heroic and almighty, while the enemy is cowardly and cruel. This can be seen in history books, painting and especially in films. For this reason, it was interesting that ‘Welcome to Dongmakgol’ did no such thing. Rather than focusing on the right and wrong of war, all of the characters were painted as real human beings, simply thrown into a battle that they knew nothing about. This is evident from the moment that one of the soldiers revealed his lack of knowledge when it came to the goal of the fight. He’d simply walked in the direction he was told, pulled the trigger when they said to and ran when there were no other choices left.
Refusing to demonize any of the characters, the director chose to focus on the relationship between the soldiers instead. It spoke about how people are, at their core, the same regardless of nationalities, languages or political beliefs. This is further exemplified when Smith carries the old grandmother to bed, showing that he had made connection with the people in the village despite the language barrier. In fact, the film relies heavily on wordless, slow motion scenes to create humor, making it a film that is easily interpreted even by those who don’t understand the language.
I personally favored the characterization of Second Lieutenant Pyo overall. The use of flashbacks to show his remorse from having killed civilians in the past created sympathy for his character, making the audience want to see him find peace at the village. The scene where he finally gives in and slides down the mountain after the other soldiers was particularly fulfilling and, at that moment, I’d realized how invested I had become in his character.
One of the most memorable characters from the film, however, was that of Yeo Il. Although she only played a small role in moving the narrative forward, with her scenes mostly reduced to vague moments of daydreaming or comic moments, she was a strong symbol of innocence and purity. Taek Gi falling in love with her can be interpreted as him finding peace again away from the battlefield. His action of handing her the flag shows that he has already put aside his role in the war, wanting to live the rest of his life in the village.
Upon the arrival of the American fleet in Dongmakgol though, Yeo Il is killed by a stray gunshot and dies without realizing the battle that she’d come between. This is symbolic of how the war had finally reached the village and brought irreversible damage with it. Although Taek Gi had lost control upon seeing Yeo Il’s death, he is still unable to avenge her because he was in love with her purity and, therefore, could not taint her memory with violence. I felt that this was a pivotal point in the film as well, making the audience realize strong bonds that had been formed between the villagers and the soldiers.
As they left to defend the village, and therefore sacrificing their own lives, the villagers still had no knowledge of what was happening. There was no desire to enlighten them though, as the soldiers wished the preserve Dongmakgol in its wholesome form.
Why was ‘Welcome to Dongmakgol’ a success?
After watching the film, it is easy to understand why it was such a success. The film was nominated for and won multiple awards, commending a strong soundtrack, screenplay and performances from the actors. However, I believe that the real reasons for the films success is the powerful story and unique perspective on the Korean War. While a lot of movies have, in the past, shown the audience how grotesque and cruel the battlefield can be, ‘Welcome to Dongmakgol’ did not. Instead, the story of the village was a sort of escape for both the audience and the soldiers from reality. For that reason, the moment of brutality between the American soldiers and the Town Head was only made more striking, creating discomfort in the viewer who had become so accustomed to humor and exaggerated boar fights.
The story is one that is easy to understand across a broad audience and, although some of the jokes required knowledge of the language, the longer comical scenes were wordless. The use of a dramatic orchestral soundtrack was also effective. Although the blaring horns are a war time cliché, they had an almost sarcastic effect throughout the film as the bright, peaceful scene was feeling so disparate from the opening shots.
Conclusively, I personally enjoyed ‘Welcome to Dongmakgol’ and would be quick to recommend it to other viewers. I believe that it paints a unique portrait of the Korean War, making it easy to understand and empathize with for a broad audience. The casting, script writing and film work has been impeccable, all aspects which come together in a film that had both great comic value and a strong, moral story to tell.
