Memories of the Alhambra (2017)

SYNOPSIS: After receiving a mysterious phone call, the CEO of an investment company agrees to meet up with a young gaming developer at his sister’s hostel in Spain to discuss the sale of a virtual reality style online game. When the boy disappears without a trace, Yoo Jin Woo is suddenly thrown into a world of chaos. Finding himself in a battle against his ex co-founder and ex-friend, falling for the hostel owner and trying to locate her brother, and odd behaviors from the game force him to have to make some difficult decisions.

STARRING: Hyun Bin (Yoo Jin Woo), Park Shin Hye (Jung Hee Joo/Emma), Park Hoon (Cha Hyung Suk), Kim Yong Rim (Oh Young Shim), Park Chan Yeol (Jung Se Joo), Kim Joon Eui (Teen Se Joo), Lee Re (Jung Min Joo), Park Chae Hee (child Min Joo), Lee Hak Joo (Kim Sang Bum), Lee Shi Won (Lee Soo Jin), Kim Eui Sung (Cha Byung Joon), Ryu Abel (Lee Soo Kyung), Lee Seung Joon (Park Sun Ho), Min Jin Woong (Suh Jung Hoon), Jo Hyun Chul (Choi Yang Joo), Han Bo Reum (Ko Yoo Ra), Lee Jae Wook (Marco Han), Park Jin Woo (Noh Young Joon), Kim Do Yun (medical student), Jung Min Sung (Jung Hee Joo’s father), Choi Yoo Song (Jung Hee Joo’s mother), Park Hae Soo (A), Song Young Kyu (Choi Jung Hyuk)

EPISODES: 16

NETWORK: Neflix

12 Years Promise (2014)

GENRE: Family, Romance, Comedy

SYNOPSIS: After Jang Guk’s father passes away from a car accident, her family moves from Busan to Seoul to live with her grandmother and help run a dumpling shop. There she meets fellow high school senior Yu Jun Su and two of his friends. Jun Su and Guk fall in love but Jun Su’s friend Joo Da Hae becomes jealous of Jun Su’s attentions toward Guk and starts a fight. In an attempt to get the two girls to make up and resolve an awkward sitution for the four friends, Jun Su and his buddy Mu Cheol secretly invite the two girls to Jun Su’s house to watch the 2002 Soccer World Cup. Complications arise and Da Hae and Mu Cheol are not able to attend, leaving Jun Su and Guk alone, resulting later in a pregnant Guk and both families in turmoil over how to resolve the responsibilites of the issue. In the end, Guk decides to move to America to live with her aunt after making a promise with her mother that they would both try their best to improve their lives and let no one treat them in an ill manner again.

Twelve years later, Guk changes her name and returns to Korea to work as the “dark horse” for HK Department Stores to help fix the company’s financial stability and as fate would have it Jun Su and his friend Mu Cheol also work there. With several other oddly fated entanglements between the two families, will the two get back together despite their families’ disputes over what happened so long ago, or will they drive each other crazy?

STARRING: Yoon So Hee (Jang Guk/Jang Dal Lae), Lee Won Geun (Yu Jun Su), Ryu Hyo Young Ju Da Hae), Bae Jong Ok (Choi Go Sun), Ra Yoon Chan (Jang Hun), Seo Woo Rim (Yeo Il Suk), Kim Young Ran (Yeo Sam Suk), Uhm Hyo Sup (Jang Guk’s Father), Park Hae Mi (Pyung Bum Seok), Chun Ho Jin (Yu Jung Han), Choi Won Hong (Yu Jun Seong), Danny Ahn (Yu Su Han), Jung Kyung Soon (Yu Jung Sook), Ji Soo Won (Kim Young Hee), Lee Han Wie (Ju Chul Su), Nha Phuong (Ha Mi), Jung Chan (Heo Se Min), Lee Young Eun (Kang Ham Cho), Han Min (Park Mu Cheol), Lee Do Yun (Park Moo Hee), Shin Dong Mi (Yeo Ok), Jung Kyu Soo (Mr. Kang), Lee Roo Ri (Jang Woo), Hong Ji Min (Jang Guk’s Homeroom Teacher), Baek Jong Gun (Jang Woo’s Friend), Park Sung Min (Jang Woo’s Friend), Kim Sung Chan (Jang Woo’s Friend), Lee So Yeon (Adult Jang Guk/Jang Dal Lae), Nam Goong Min (Adult Yu Jun Su), Lee Tae Im (Adult Ju Da Hae), Oh Seung Yoon (Adult Jang Hun), Kim Shi Hoo (Adult Yu Jun Seong), Choi Ro Woon (Ju Hong), Song Young Kyu (Lee Joo Ho), Jung In Sun (Adult Kang Ham Cho), Lee Yong Joo (Adult Park Mu Cheol), Ah Young (Adult Park Moo Hee), Lee Seo Yun (Assistant Manager Kang), Choi Sung Joon (Assistant Manager Park), Song Young Kyu, Kim Ye Joon, Lee Shin Ae, Kang Ji Sub (Adult Jang Woo), Jung Ga Eun (Jung Hee), Im Ji Hyun (So Ra)

EPISODES: 26

VIEWING SOURCE: Netflix; September-October 2016