Zettai Kareshi (絶対彼氏) / Absolute Boyfriend
Fuji TV Spring 2008 season
I find it strange that I like Zettai Kareshi so much. Although I love the romantic comedy genre of j-dramas (as opposed to the melodramas) in general, I can’t help but be reminded of the horrible conclusion that the title is everything that I am not. I’ve only seen the first few episodes since the summer started while stuck in airports and planes without in-flight entertainment, but here are some initial thoughts on the series:
The long-awaited animated special of my all-time favorite k-drama MiSa (미안하다, 사랑한다 / Mianhada, Saranghanda) has finally been released on DVD. I want it so bad.
Tell me, tell me, t-t-t-t-t-t-tell me/ 나를 사랑한다고 날 기다려왔다고
I got addicted to the Wonder Girls after hearing ‘tell me’ on Lobbyist. I wish I could afford the $150 tickets to see the Wonder Girls on Friday. I can’t remember the last time I paid so much for entertainment, but I think it would be worth the money to see all the people in the audience who memorized the dance steps. Admittedly I memorized them too (it works for the boy version), though I’m nowhere as good as these guys rofl or even these guys (or these guys that James told me about). I wish my army days had been like that.
Microfinance is kind of like initiating a kiss. You take a risk on a long shot… and hopefully it pays off
(Actually I just wanted an excuse to post my favorite scene up)
In July 2007, the South Korean ministry of finance announced that it had hired the lead actor and actress from a hit television serial that aired May-July to promote their microcredit program. That television serial, “War of Money” (쩐의전쟁), was about the informal moneylending industry in South Korea, reaching an average of 32.8% of households in the greater Seoul area and 31% nationwide, and it was the top-rated serial of the season, so popular that ‘bonus’ episodes were produced - it remains one of my personal all-time favorite kdramas. Much of its storyline emphasized themes of income volatility, uncollateralized credit, innovative entrepreneurship, and good (and bad) borrowing practices - all themes relevant to microfinance. In an interview prior to the serial’s airing, the lead actor Park Shin-yang (박신양, of Lovers in Paris/파리의연인 fame) had even noted that one of the sources of inspiration that he drew from was the work of Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank.
Perhaps it may be useful to take “Money’s Warfare” one step further, and consider a similar application of television serials in microfinance education, through its plot, themes, and product placement strategy.
My winter break on campus is dedicated to essays, applications, self-study, and exercise - which I had been diligent about all summer but neglected completely during the term. Now that the dorms are empty, I have the gym all to myself, and I intend to make full use of it. Gotta get back in shape, mens sana in corpore sano and all that. Now every muscle in my body aches. But I can’t be working all the time, so to prepare for my long-awaited Tokyo adventure, I am immersing myself in a semester’s backlog of j-dramas. All k-dramas and c-dramas have been put on hold. Here’s what I’m watching:
War of Money / 쩐의전쟁 (Summer 2007)
From Chosun Ilbo:
The male and female leads of a hit Korean drama about the illegal loan sharking industry were appointed public relations envoys for the Finance Ministry on Wednesday. For one year Park Shin-yang and Park Jin-hee of “War of Money” will promote the ministry’s “micro-credit” system which offers low-interest loans to people with bad credit. The government in February will use dormant deposits to establish a W200 billion fund to finance the micro-credit program.
I absolutely adore the SBS k-drama War of Money and I think it is so awesome that the stars of the drama have been co-opted by the Korean finance ministry to promote their microcredit program, which no doubt needs a lot of help, although I think they should pursue a more commercial approach. Also, given the number of SK dramas imported to the north through China, the stars might well be supporting much-needed microfinance/small-business education in NK and paving the way for economic reform and development efforts in the north.
I’ve had more time to catch up on my j-dramas and anime since summer began. It’s strange since my mom has started watching k-dramas, but all the imports she’s watching now I’ve already seen before. This season is surprisingly interesting, with a few gems that I hadn’t noticed before.
April, and the new season of J-doramas has begun! Although finals are around the corner and I really shouldn’t be watching any kind of television, the spring season is really good.
My all-time favorite k-drama is now animated. What was truly wonderful about MiSa was the tragic irony of the protagonist’s misguided but all-consuming desire for vengeance, and not necessarily the purity of the girl’s love for him (that’s like every other drama) - so don’t be fooled by the trailer, it’s actually pretty dark. Also, it looks almost like a scene-by-scene remake.
After watching Pirates at yet another YR gathering, we passed by an arcade and so began the Para Para challenge between JK and myself, sponsored by WT. As first-time players we would challenge each other on the same song. Unfortunately I was completely defeated by his parapara skills, honed by years of salsa training. Way to represent Oxford, JK! It’s a lot harder than it looks, though Hinoi Asuka (ultimate cuteness) makes it look so easy.
