K dramas with the moon

It’s the mid autumn festival today. In Chinese, it’s 中秋节. In Korean, it’s 추석 (Chuseok) and it’s the biggest festival for them, perhaps even more so than the Lunar New Year. It’s a massive internal migration, where thousands of Koreans will be travelling back to their hometown to pay respects to their ancestral graves, much like the tomb sweeping festival (清明节) for the Chinese.

So I’ve rounded up the few dramas with the word ‘Moon’ in it’s title and perhaps you can sit down for binge watch with your family today.

The Moon Embracing the Sun (해를 품은 달)

MBC, 2012

This 20 episodes drama reached a record high of 42.2% nation wide for it’s finale and was the most talked about drama in 2012. It boasted of elaborate sets and colourful costumes, the intriguing storyline of palace plots, witchcraft, true and unrequited love.

Interesting notes:

After the success of ‘Dream High’, this drama sealed his status as an A list actor. His crying scenes in the drama were phenomenal.

There were murmuring of incompatibility between Han Ga In and Kim Soo Hyun. Han Ga In is 6 years older than him. It didn’t help that she has a matured look while Kim Soo Hyun has a baby face. That aside, the acting could not be faulted.
The young actors and actresses would go on to become established and well-love adult artistes.- Yeo Jin Goo, Lee Tae Ri, Kim Yoo Jung, Kim So Hyun.
There was also a serious case of 2nd male lead syndrome as the Prince Yang Myung (the other Sun, rival to the throne) was acted by Jung Il Woo. Hands up those of you who cried when he sacrificed himself in the last episode, because ‘there can only be one sun’.

And we discovered Song Jae Rim.

The Moon Embracing the Sun is now available on Netflix and Viu

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (달의 연인 – 보보경심 려)

SBS, 2016

This is a remake, Korean version of the immensely popular Chinese drama, ‘Scarlet Heart (步步惊心)’ with Cecilia Liu, Nicky Wu and Kevin Cheng.

‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’ was given much publicity because of the cast. You have IU (Lee Ji Eun), Lee Joon Gi and Kang Ha Neul as the main leads. Actors like Hong Jong Hyun, Byun Baek Hyun (EXO member), Jisoo and Nam Joo Hyuk as round up some of the princes. In fact, the publicity was so big that ONE, the TV Channel in Singapore hosted the media to a lavish dinner and a preview of the first episode before it aired.

Interesting notes:

The opening scene was memorable and jaw dropping, not necessarily in a good way. It had all the princes in a pool, half dressed. If this was supposed to set our hearts beating, I can only say I ended up laughing.

The drama was very popular overseas but lost to another Moon drama back home in Korea that aired at about the same time.

There were quite a few moving scenes in the drama, but stuck in my mind were 2 scenes.

This is the scene when Lady Hae, the 8th Prince’s wife died. I literally had goose bumps when I heard the song and watched this scene. The song is Im Su Hae, entitled ‘Will Be Back’.

The second scene was when the 4th Prince, Wang So (Lee Joon Gi) had sheltered Lady Hae Soo (Lee Ji Eun) in the rain. So macho and such a defining picture.

The drama was filmed all over Korea and many of them are very picturesque. Some of my friends went on a Moon Lovers filming sites hunt. Do you know which scene was filmed here?

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo is available on Viu

Love in the Moonlight/ Moonlight Drawn by Clouds (구르미 그린 달빛)

KBS, 2016

‘Love in the Moonlight/ Moonlight Drawn by Clouds’ aired one week earlier than ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo’ and was over shadowed by the latter’s publicity and promotion. The 18 episodes drama starred Park Bo Gum and Kim Yoo Jung was very popular domestically. The 2 leads would go on to win the Popularity Awards in the 53rd Baeksang Awards.

Interesting notes:

KBS was warned by the Korea Standards Commission for showing inappropriate scenes for minors. There were 2 scenes- 1) when Kim Yoo Jung (who was disguising herself as a man) wrapped her chest with gauze 2) when she kissed Park Bo Gum. The problem? She was only 17 years old and a minor still.
Despite the age difference and Kim Yoo Jung’s young age, it is to their credit that the chemistry is so good. Not in a sexual way, but a very compatible way that you could feel them really loving each other but not being able to be together.

And then there was Kwak Do Yeon, the King’s bodyguard. Why do all the bodyguards look so good? The bromance between Kim Byung Yeon and Lee Yeong was one big factor to watch the show. Kwak Do Yeon is 4 years younger than Park Bo Gum but looks about the same age, as the latter also has that baby face look like Kim Soo Hyun.
The photobook, poster and music score are available for sale on my website.

‘Love in the Moonlight’ is available on Netflix, Viu and iQiyi.

Hotel Del Luna (호텔 델루나)

tvN, 2019

The 16 episodes drama was written by the Hong sisters, who also write many other popular dramas like ‘You Are Beautiful’, ‘My Girlfriend is a Nine-Tail Fox’ and ‘Master’s Sun’. It was the most watched drama for the station in 2019, reaching a high of 12% for the last episode. I normally don’t watch horror shows but this was one worth scarring my heart for. Actually, it wasn’t really that frightening but heart breaking for some of stories. Starring Lee Ji Eun as Man Wol (Full Moon) and Yeo Jin Goo as Gu Chan Sung.

Interesting notes:

Luna means Moon in Latin, the original name of this special hotel was Guest House of the Moon (because it was set up long ago in Joseon area). When the new owner (Kim Soo Hyun) took over, he changed it to Hotel Blue Moon, complete with a jazzy, modern look. Of course, his mere appearance as the new owner whipped up a frenzy on the internet that there may be a Season 2 for this drama. Sadly, I don’t think it’s going to happen soon, if at all.

The drama had many well known artistes making cameos as IU is known to be well liked in the industry. One of them was Sulli, who unfortunately committed suicide in 2019, making this the last of her drama.
Even BTS was mentioned in the drama!

Finally, in this drama, we discovered another worthy new actor- Lee Do Hyun, who acted as Man Wol’s first love, Go Chung Myung. He became so popular that he went on to star as the lead in ’18 Again’ soon after.

I love the songs in the ost for ‘Hotel Del Luna‘.

‘Hotel Del Luna’ is available on both Netflix, Viu and iQiyi.

River Where the Moon Rises (달이 뜨는 강)

KBS, 2021

The 20 episodes drama was viewed positively when it was initially announced. Originally starring Kim So Hyun and Jisoo, the drama had to replace the male lead after just 6 episodes. Na In Woo, who gained popularity with the drama, ‘Mr Queen’ took over.

Interesting notes:

Jisoo became embroiled in school bully incidents and eventually had to apologize and resign from the drama due to pressure from netizens. He was replaced by Na In Woo. The first 6 episodes was refilm.