KBFD

[Meat Jun]

This thread may contain spoilers or I may add spoilers to it later. If I do add spoilers or episode synopses, I will put up a SPOILER warning or use different colored fonts. If you don't like spoilers or don't want to know anything about this drama, please hit the BACK button. Thanks!
Meat Jun



I just found out that KBS started a new daily drama called Odd Man & Woman on 9/26/05. I don't know what KBFD is going to call this drama (if they decide to air it on KBFD). So for the time being, I will call this Odd Man & Woman / Odd Couples.

This drama was written by Lee Tok Jae who also wrote KBS weekend drama Pearl Necklace as well as a favorite daily drama of mine called So This Is Love (2001, starring Lee Chang Hoon who played Jae Min in My Sweetheart).

This drama is about love and aspirations of young people and also the ever changing Korean family.

I checked out the cast but wasn't sure that I liked them. A lot of new faces. Some old faces as well (faces I haven't seen in a few years - referring to Jung Joon). The cast is as follows. I am going to group them into their respective families for easy reference:


Lee Hae In (26) - Actress Kim Sung Eun (I know I have seen this actress before, but couldn't pinpoint which dramas. Anyone?? I think I may have seen her in one of those two-part Drama City dramas or something... no, she is not Chae Rim though she sure looks like Chae Rim in that picture.)

Family:


Hae In's father (Lee Byung Doo, 51) is a very careful and meticulous man and his family gets really tired of this. The mother (Choi Yu Jung, 49) is a hardworking housewife who is constantly frustrated at her husband's nagging. Hae In is a smart, quick-thinking woman who is very competent at her workplace. She works for a home shopping company called Welbing (I wonder if it is called Well Being Home Shopping in English?). I think she leads the Product Development Dept in the company. The lady in the fourth picture is Hae In's aunt (Lee Ok Doo, 37). I think she owns a cafe near Jae Man's company (Jae Man is the father of Suk Hyun -- please see below) and is popular with male customers at the cafe. She got divorced 7 years ago. She later moved in with her older brother's family.

==================


Jang Ki Woong (27) - Actor Jung Joon (Like Father Like Son, Delicious Proposal)
The official website has his name down as Ki Wook on the intro page, but I read the other pages on there and found out it should be Ki Woong.

Family:


The father (Jang Jae Do, 54) of this family is the oldest son of the Jang family. He tries to act manly and brave in front of his family. The mother (Kang Min Sook, 51) is a typical Korean daughter-in-law. Ki Woong is the type that cannot tolerate injustice. He is by nature an optimist and has a warm heart. Grandmother (Suh Mal Ja, 75) likes to nag. Sister (Jang Da Jung, 19) represents the stressed out student in Korea who is about to take her entrance examination for a university.

==================


Jang Suk Hyun (26) - Actor Ko Joo Won

Family:


The father (Jang Jae Man, 52) of this family is the second son of the Jang family. He is the chairman of the Welbing (Well Being) Home Shopping. His character is just the opposite of his older brother. He is flirtatious but pragmatic. The mother (Jung Yo Jin, 49) doesn't know anything other than money. Suk Hyun has an MBA from the US. He wants to look for real love but does not open his heart easily.

==================


Kim Jong Nam (22) - Actress Kim Ah Joong (Emperor of the Sea - she is a new actress whose first role was Ha Jin in Emperor of the Sea.)


Jang Jae Ok, 46, is the youngest child in the Jang family. She owns a restaurant, and I think she lost her husband early and just lost her only son recently. So she has been leading a sad and lonely life.

NOTE: Jong Nam and Jae Ok are NOT related by blood. They actually did not know each other at the start of the drama, but they are related in a way, through Jae Ok's deceased son.

A little spoiler taken from the website's intro (highlight to read):

Okay, this may not be much of a spoiler. You probably guess it, but I think Ki Woong and Suk Hyun (cousins) are going to fall in love with the same woman, Hae In.

Photos: credits to KBS

[sumz1]

Aloha Meat Jun! Wow, it's so nice to see your post. I'll never forget how you had many of us waiting for your next "spoiler" on Yellow Handkerchief. Boy, those were the days of some really great dialogues among avid kdrama addicts. Ever since the old message board was "retired" many of the former regulars haven't been heard from. Anyway, thanks for the heads up on this new drama. Please keep the thread going.

[Meat Jun]

[dorama]

Ko Joo-won (Buhwal) looks different in this drama. He lost weight and he looks a lot older...

[Meat Jun]

Dorama, you are right. Suk Hyun is the same person as the one in Rebirth. He looked quite different. I guess losing weight makes one look different. But he is still good looking and quite tall anyway.

I just edited the first post a little -- added a little more flesh to the description (mainly on Hae In and Ki Woong's families), and amended the part on Kim Jong Nam and Jang Jae Ok. I kept wondering about their relationship while I was putting together the first post. They didn't seem to be related from what I read on the website. However, KBS has their pictures and descriptions on the same page, so I thought they were related. However, after watching episode 1, I realized they are actually not related by blood but are related (kind of) through Jae Ok's recently deceased son. It is often a little hard figuring out the relationships of so many people in a daily drama from watching the first few episodes. My apology.

I will write up an outline of this drama and detailed episode summaries a little later (coming soon... ).

I have watched the first 3 episodes so far and liked what I saw. It is not like Yellow Hankie nor My Sweetheart. The main theme song reminded me of the one for To Be With You (2002). Of all the previous daily dramas I have watched, I would say this one is closer in theme and storyline as One Million Roses (2004) and This is Love (2001). But not quite the same. Just a little bit of each, I guess.

[Meat Jun]

I have watched 3 episodes so far. Here is an outline of this drama. This is not exactly a spoiler as it tells you how the characters are related to each other and the type of their relationship they have:


The Jang family consists of the Mother (Suh Mal Ja), her 2 sons and 1 daughter.

Her oldest son is called Jae Do who works for the environmental control department (hope I get this part right). He is married to Kang Min Sook who is your typical Korean housewife. They have 2 kids -- Ki Woong whom the Grandma adores because he is the "eldest grandson", and Da Jung, the 19-yr-old daughter who likes the internet.

The second son is called Jae Man who is the chairman of Welbing (Well Being?) Home Shopping Network. He is rich and flirtatious with women. He is married to Jung Yo Jin who only cares about money, materialistic things and status. They have a son called Suk Hyun who just returned from the US. Because he is the only child, his mother spoils him.

The youngest child and the only daughter of the Jangs is Jae Ok. Her husband died early and her only child/son just passed away recently. I am not sure how he died though. As such, Jae Ok has been very depressed lately. Her son used to have a girlfriend called Kim Jong Nam. Jong Nam has never met Jae Ok before the son died. But after he was gone, they would somehow meet.

Lee Hae In works in Jae Man (2nd son)'s Home Shopping company. She manages the Product Development Dept and seems to report directly to Jae Man. So there is a work relationship between them. Plus, Hae In's mother (Choi Yu Jung) is a close friend of Jae Man's wife (Yo Jin). So there is also a family connection.

Hae In knows Ki Woong very well because they graduate from the same school or college from my understanding.

Hae In's family consists of her, her mother and her strict, meticulous father. There is now a new family member, her aunt (father's younger sis) who was divorced and has nowhere else to go. Hae In's father seems to adore his only daughter but is always hard on his wife. He nags and criticizes her a lot. The mother puts up with his nagging but you can tell, she is frustrated.

Okay, here comes the good part -- the dynamics of their relationship.

The wife of the second brother (Yo Jin) doesn't seem to like the wife of the first brother (Min Sook). Because Yo Jin is materialistic and has money, she looks down on Min Sook, her family and her son. Yo Jin doesn't think much of Ki Woong and believes her son, Suk Hyun is more superior in many ways. Min Sook knows that, so on the surface, they seem to get along well, deep down both women just don't like each other too much. The Grandmother lives with Jae Do and Min Sook, so she is naturally much closer to Min Sook and Ki Woong. The fact that Grandma adores KW because he is the eldest grandson may have made Yo Jin like Min Sook and Ki Woong even less. So far, KW and Suk Hyun seem to get along fine, but I think more conflicts will arise between the two of them soon, in the areas of family, work and love... (doesn't this part remind you of One Million Roses?)

[Meat Jun]

EPISODE 1

Ki Woong is on his way to a job interview.

His mother (Min Sook) is in the kitchen making Kim Chee when Grandma enters and asks if Ki Woong has already gone to his job interview. His mother says yes and says he probably takes the bus. Just then, KW's mother receives a call from her friend. I think she and her friend Song Ja are going to meet but she is busy today, so she tells her friend she will call tomorrow. The friend's son must have been promoted to a supervisor or managerial position (or just got a job as a manager/supervisor). So when KW's mother hangs up the phone and tells Grandma that, Grandma feels her grandson Ki Woong will do just as well and will definitely pass the interview this time round.

On the way to the interview, Ki Woong sees a man who is about to jump off a bridge. The man has been fired from his work and doesn't want to live anymore. Ki Woong tries to persuade the man to get down by mentioning his family. Then he tries to distract him by asking what his address is while taking out a piece of paper (his resume) and then grabs onto the man's leg. After the incident, he realizes he is very late for his interview and starts running.

The next scene shows a live broadcast on the Home Shopping Network. Hae In is busy taking down some notes.

Jae Man, the chairman of the Home Shopping Network company, comes down to see the live show.

Ki Woong finally arrives at the building where the interview will be held. It looks like a big company. He apologizes for being late. The interviewer asks him to go as he is more than an hour late. The interview is scheduled for 10am but he arrives at 11:10am. KW says he has a good reason but the interviewer refuses to listen and just leaves with his staff.

Jong Nam is fighting with Hae Young in Hae Young's house. Hae Young is Jong Nam's friend of 3 years. Apparently, Hae Young either wants Jong Nam to move out or pay rent (I am not exactly sure) because HY's boyfriend needs to move in or something. Jong Nam refuses and is mad that Hae Young would choose a man whom she only knows for a month over her. She is pulling Hae Young's hair out. Hae Young says JN can move to another place since she has a rich brother / boyfriend. JN gets angry, packs up and leaves on her scooter.

Ki Woong comes out of the building, muttering to himself. Just then, he receives a call from Hae In. She calls to find out how he has done on the interview. When she finds out he didn't do well, she rolls her eyes. He then asks her to buy him lunch as he is starving. She is on her way to a meeting so she says she will see him the next day.

KW's mother just arrives at a sports center to meet her sister-in-law (Suk Hyun's mother = Yo Jin). Since her husband is the chairman of the Home Shopping Network, KW's mother has a favor to ask. Her friend (Song Ja) who calls earlier has a soybean factory (or something like that) and I guess the friend wants the Home Shopping Network to sell her food products. KW's mother is trying to convince SH's mother that the food is good. Suk Hyun's mother doesn't seem to want to help. She then mentions her son Suk Hyun will be returning back to Korea the next day. Just then, KW's mother feels she has a stomachache and makes a dash for the bathroom.

Inside the bathroom, while she is doing her business, she hears a woman in the next cubicle calling out and asking her for her name. She wonders why but says her name anyway. The woman in the next cubicle then says, "I am sorry I cannot go out now but can you please do me a favor?" KW's mother figures the woman must not have toilet paper, so she grabs a roll of toilet paper and throws it into the next cubicle. The woman in the next cubicle is actually on her cellphone. The flying roll of toilet paper knocks her cellphone into the toilet and it flushes automatically. The woman is shocked.

KW's mother comes out of the cubicle, unaware of what has just happened. The woman (Hae In's mother = Yu Jung) rushes out, demanding to know why KW's mother just did that. Eventually, they clear up their misunderstanding but the phone is damaged.

Hae In is relaying some product data to her boss, Jae Man (Suk Hyun's father, the chairman). He receives a phone call so Hae In leaves his office. Apparently, Jae Man has sent some roses to a lady called Ms. Shin and the lady is very touched. In the middle of his conversation with Ms. Shin, another call comes in through his second cellphone (he has 2 cellphones, one in each pocket) and he has to end his call with Ms. Shin. He checks. It is his wife. He doesn't look very happy but the minute he picks it up, he turns into this sweet husband with Yo Jin.

Suk Hyun's mother (Yo Jin) is exercising at the sports center. She tells her husband she is going shopping as their son is returning the next day. The husband sweetly tells her he loves her. She reciprocates it. Hae In's mother walks in and overhears that. She seems a little jealous (you will find out the reason soon). Anyway, she tells Suk Hyun's mother she cannot exercise today because her cellphone which Hae In gave her a month ago is damaged due to some weird woman who she runs into in the restroom.

Ki Woong's mother is doing laundry in the yard when KW comes home. The grandmother can't wait to ask how well he did on the interview. KW lies and says he did well. The grandmother seems very glad to hear this. His mother, on the other hand, seems skeptical. Grandma drags the reluntant Ki Woong into the house as she wants to call KW's dad to tell him the news.

Ki Woong's father is in his office and is very excited at the news.

The next scene shows the apartment building where Hae In and her family live. A taxi with a lady passenger is parked nearby. Turns out it is Hae In's aunt (her father's younger sister). She sees her brother's car pull up but gets too scared to get out of the taxi. In the end, she asks the taxi driver to drive her to Kangnam instead.

Hae In's father gets home and starts barking orders and nagging at his wife. He seems to be a very orderly, strict and demanding person. The wife (Hae In's mother, the woman whose cellphone fell into the toilet earlier) is stressed out by her husband's nagging. Just then, Hae In returns home. Her mother tells her she is stressed by her husband's nagging. Hae In calls out to her father to let him know she is back. Her father comes out of the room after changing and asks her why she has been coming back early after work. Is it because she can't find a man? Hae In jokingly says it is because she cannot find a man as meticulous as her father.

In Ki Woong's house, they are celebrating the fact that KW did well on the interview. They are eating barbeque meat tonight. KW's father asks KW when the result of the interview will be announced. KW lies and says it will take about a month. KW's father believes his son. He says big companies often take a longer time to announce the results. Everyone is at the dining table except for KW's younger sister.

Da Jung is in her room cutting up her brother's jeans to make herself a denim top. She proudly wears it and shows it to everyone at the dining table.

Jong Nam is working as a waitress at a bar. After work, she spends the night inside what seems like a storage room to me (maybe it is the storage room of the bar she works for). She finds a bottle of wine and starts drinking. As she is drinking, she remembers Hae Young mentioning "the rich boyfriend". She gets upset thinking about it because apparently the "boyfriend" is already deceased.

KW's grandmother is in her room. She is thinking about the past and talking to herself. She laments how young "Min Woo left" and her youngest daughter (Jae Ok) is still young and has already lost her husband, etc. Note: Min Woo is Jae Ok's son and the boyfriend or close guy friend of Jong Nam.

Jae Ok is in her deceased son's room. She is looking sadly at the airplanes on his desk. Next to the airplanes is a photo of Jae Ok and a young man, which I assume is her son, Min Woo.

In the next scene, we see an airplane touching down on the runway. Ki Woong is at the airport and is shortly joined by Jae Man and his wife (Ki Woong's uncle and aunt). They are waiting for Suk Hyun to come out. The couple asks KW how he is doing in his job-hunting. Yo Jin seems to be critical of KW but KW doesn't say anything. Just then Suk Hyun appears...

END.

Sorry about the lengthy synopsis. Future ones won't be as long, I hope. I thought I would write a longer first episode as it sets the stage for future episodes.

[mindalei]

Since I posted, I did not even realize that the boards changed over until today.
Thanks for giving spoilers on this new drama. I hope it turns into a good one. My niece in Korea has given me some feedback about it all and said it was okay.
Mindalei

[Melody1]

Sounds interesting from your summary. Thanks for all the hard work putting this together.

I wish The Lawyers was as fleshed out in the subtitles as your summary here!

Melody

[sunny]

I hope this one is good! I just haven't been seriously hooked on a daily since Yellow Handkerchief. I kind of miss being on edge, waiting for the spoilers to come out. (Thank you Meat Jun!!!)

[sumz1]

Thanx for the summary of this story. There sure are a lot of things going on from the get go. Hope we get to watch this one on KBFD.

BTW Meat Jun, I remember you highly recommending Sandglass, a story you were watching around YH timeframe. I see that YesAsia will be selling Sandglass w/Eng. subs and for Region 1 on 12/30/05. Price TBD, but I already put my name on the notification list to pre-buy.

[Meat Jun]

[sumz1]

[Andrea]

Does this replace MSMD?

[kmholic]

Thank you for posting the summary of this drama; i'm happy that i finally found the forum that talk about it; please keep us update, your work is greatly appreciated.

I really like the drama a lot, especially Hae In & Suk Hyun couple; do you know how many episodes for this drama?