IM YourOnlyOne

I think it fits with his character. He sees himself as too handsome and too perfect and too "I can do everything". The business hairstyle gives that kind of aura. ^_^

If that was his hairstyle even casually, the image or aura it will bring is he's "cocky" and way over his head. But since he isn't, he doesn't wear the business hairstyle during casual days.

Yeah, trying to imagine what's going on in his mind. Haha. He's kissing Kim Se Jeong after all, and under a beautiful night skies, on a romantic bridge.

haha so sweet … lucky guy.

LOLs. The FL was not yet sure about her feelings.

Secondly, if you want to talk about "IRL" then what the FL did is correct.

1. The ML was the one who's about to punch someone while there is a police car around. You do NOT turn your back on someone who is about to throw a punch.

If the FL saw her ex-crush about to throw a punch, she would get in between them facing him.

2. She instinctively protected the ML from all the troubles that would've happened if he was caught on the act punching someone.

Yes, it appears that the FL "sided" with her ex-crush but that is only the surface, that was NOT the intent, that was not her instinct reaction.

You've never been in any relationship if you don't even know this simple thing.

Oh wait … a lot of relationships break because one person assumed his/her partner have chosen the side of the other person. LOLs.

3. It is appropriate for the FL to talk to aggressor because he started it.

Do you know why?

IRL, because the FL trusts him enough that he would understand. Because SHE knows him well that he would not make it a big issue.

Again, instinct.

Noticed how she stood up against her ex-crush? She was not there talking to him because, quoting you, "that says A LOT.. who she really cares.." She was there to tell him to "f*** off you pathetic loser".

Give women some credit. They can handle their relationships on their own, better than most men.

LOLs. The FL was not yet sure about her feelings.

Secondly, if you want to talk about "IRL" then what the FL did is correct.

1. The ML was the one who's about to punch someone while there is a police car around. You do NOT turn your back on someone who is about to throw a punch.

If the FL saw her ex-crush about to throw a punch, she would get in between them facing him.

2. She instinctively protected the ML from all the troubles that would've happened if he was caught on the act punching someone.

Yes, it appears that the FL "sided" with her ex-crush but that is only the surface, that was NOT the intent, that was not her instinct reaction.

You've never been in any relationship if you don't even know this simple thing.

Oh wait … a lot of relationships break because one person assumed his/her partner have chosen the side of the other person. LOLs.

3. It is appropriate for the FL to talk to aggressor because he started it.

Do you know why?

IRL, because the FL trusts him enough that he would understand. Because SHE knows him well that he would not make it a big issue.

Again, instinct.

Noticed how she stood up against her ex-crush? She was not there talking to him because, quoting you, "that says A LOT.. who she really cares.." She was there to tell him to "f*** off you pathetic loser".

Give women some credit. They can handle their relationships on their own, better than most men.

They're not haters, they think someone else's story should conform to their little boxes.

LOLs, Ahn Hyo Seop's ear was too red. Was he just too cold at that scene or he's giggling he's kissing Kim Se Jeong?

LOLs. even Moon Goo got freaking scared.

I wonder if he'll join forces. He now realized he's playing "safe" with the devil.

Then again, he also knows who Woo In is, and already have an idea she is out for revenge … which includes him and taking back IM Defense.

Yeah, same. Scenario B is a better path after all that they went through. A very good reality check for everyone too.

Get well soon Kim Se Jeong!

Get well soon Kim Se Jeong!

LOLs, I love the reaction of Baek Yi Jin when Na Hee Do was speaking French.

But, wasn't it a modern reaction? I don't remember that reaction back in the 90s. Haha.

His reaction, 'moving away' + 'stunned' can be interpreted as:
"surprised"
"I don't know you"
"bring back the Na Hee Do I know"
"scared someone's doing something you never taught they can"

It's the "moving away + stunned" reaction that looked too modern. I don't recall we're doing that in the 90s.

Anyway, it was funny and perfect.

Finally! What I expected to happen finally did in episodes 11 and 12. And by the looks of it, the rest of it will be in episode 13.

We finally reach the point wherein the story can go either way.
A. The original couples will be back together
B. They will all split up, stay single or find other people
C. They'll fix their problems and live happily ever after

So far, episodes 1 to 12 (and partly 13) are predictable if you've experienced most of the ups and downs of both couples. It's good, you get to reflect on your own past and current relationships … but it hurts a lot because "you've been there".

Even the third couple … Bo Mi's parents, you don't have to be married to experience the kind of conversation they had in episode 12 and what led to it.

Going back to the original couple, I also like how they showed that ex'es can be friends. It is, as I always say for 22 years now, strong evidence that the ex-couple have matured and truly let go. If you can't stomach seeing your ex, it means you haven't truly moved on, it means you are still feeling something-not necessarily love but hatred. A person who have truly moved on won't feel any emotion, not even hatred, which in turn enables them to not mind seeing or talking to their ex -- because they moved on, all emotions are gone, nada, zero, zilch.

It doesn't happen overnight, as obviously shown in the series. To some ex-couples, it can take years. That's fine but you need to be aware of it because you will carry that as baggage into your next relationship if you don't address it, if you don't truly moved on.

This is show is painful to watch if you can related with most of the plots and twists in each relationship shown--even between parents and kids. Yet at the same time, truly is a great watch because we learn from it and it reminds us of our past and current relationships.

I know I've said it a few weeks back, but that's exactly why this show is a must watch. It goes beyond drama and romance … it's about the reality of life and relationships, how we fail, how we succeed, how we trick ourselves into thinking it's all sweetness, and how we do not give our all because we've been hurt deeply before.

To those who haven't gone through any of what was shown in the series, good for you.

To those who have not been in a relationship, I hope you'll pick the lessons (and tips) from this series and apply it in your life, it can save you from a lot of pain that the rest of us had to go through.

As Bo Mi's father said, there is no manual about being a father. It's the same thing with being in a relationship, there is nothing to tell you if you are doing things right.

And like the original couple realized, you don't say things you should say because you expect each other to "know" and "understand" what's wrong … but in reality, neither of you will know if you don't say what you should say.

^_^

I think you are confused about the different laws in Asia.

"Age of sexual consent" = anyone who engages in sexual intercourse with a person below a certain age is considered rape no matter what. If you engage in sexual intercourse with a person below that minimum age, it is rape no matter what.

"Age of consent to marriage" is the right of a person to decide to marry without asking for permission from their parent/guardian.

In Korea:
"Age of sexual consent" is 13 and above. (Korean age)

"Age of consent to marriage" is 20 years old and above. (Korean age)

In the Philippines:
"Age of sexual consent" is 16 and above.

"Age of consent to marriage" is 18 for men and 16 for women.

Aight! Thank you for replying, I understand now what you mean and where you're coming from.

I agree, the way he's acting is way beyond the character's age that it made it appear he'd trying to date a high schooler.

Exactly. Also, she took on that role even knowing how conservative their own culture is, especially back then. Despite that, The Handmaiden received much acclaim and her acting was praised so much.

You're missing the cultural context.

South Korea's law on "age of consent to marriage" or also known as "legal age", is 19 years old (International age) or 20 years old (Korean age). For most countries, the "legal age" or "age of consent to marriage" is 18 years old.

Just 1 year difference, right? Correct. However, culturally speaking, there's a huge difference between Korea and the rest of the world. For them, when the state says "legal age" or "age of consent to marriage" is 19 (int) or 20 (Korean), then it means even entering into a relationship.

Isn't a relationship not the same as marriage? True, again, for Western cultures and cultures influenced by the West. But many Asian countries are still deep into their own cultures.

For example, in Hebrew culture (that means Western Asian), once a couple becomes engaged (a.k.a. "fiancee") they are considered "married" already. All they have to do is to formalize their "marriage". You can no longer "break" the relationship easily, you will follow the same rules as anyone who "formalized" their marriage already.

China used to be similar to Hebrew culture. I'm not sure today, but back then, once two people are engaged, they are practically "married", all that is left is formalizing it or in Korean terms "submitting your marriage into the legal registry".

Korea is no different. While relationships are not exactly "marriage", they treat it very seriously. They see it as something "going to end up in marriage". Or to put it another way, a relationship can easily become marriage or have the intention of getting married sooner rather than later. We can probably say that Koreans treat "engagement" similarly to Hebrew and Chinese cultures, to the point that if it's called off, everyone talks about them, takes pity, create rumours, and the reputation of the both families are tarnished … but they're fine with divorce (just like in Hebrew and Chinese cultures too).

Cultural context. ^_^

Out of curiosity, take this as an educational question. Which country are you from and/or where did you grow up and take education?

Allow me to explain my "weird" question:

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The education "age" brackets of majority of countries in the world are practically the same, see this table:

* NA Grade 7: 12–13 years old (13–14 Korean age)
-- South Korea: "Middle School 1st Grade"
-- ASEAN: "1st Year Junior High School"

* NA Grade 8: 13–14 (14–15 Korean)
-- South Korea: "Middle School 2nd Grade"
-- ASEAN: "2nd Year Junior High School"

* NA Grade 9: 14–15 (15–16 Korean)
-- South Korea: "Middle School 3rd Grade"
-- ASEAN: "3rd Year Junior High School"

* NA Grade 10: 15–16 (16–17 Korean)
-- South Korea: "High School 1st Grade"
-- ASEAN: "4th Year Junior High School"

* NA Grade 11: 16–17 (17–18 Korean)
-- South Korea: "High School 2nd Grade"
-- ASEAN: "1st Year Senior High School"

* NA Grade 12: 17–18 (18–19 Korean)
-- South Korea: "High School 3rd Grade"
-- ASEAN: "2nd Year Senior High School"

Students start to have crushes at ages 14 and 15 (Grade 9; Middle School 3rd Grade; 3rd Year Junior High School) and starts to enter into relationships at ages 15 and 16 (Grade 10; High School 1st Grade; 4th Year Junior High School). It is also normal as far as history, social science, and psychology, goes. It is a human process and thus should not be weird or uncomfortable.

That makes me curious then, which country did you grow up in? And which country did you take your education? If you grew up and/or studied in Japan or Korea, it is understandable.

In Japan, they made it an education "rule" to forbid any relationship for non-college students. And students bring that "rule" outside of schools too (at least that's the image), and if caught, they will be forced to break up and all eyes will be on them "watching".

In Korea, their social norm (not education, like in Japan) is students should only enter into a relationship once they are of "legal age" or "age of consent to marriage"—which is 19 in International age, or 20 in Korean age. But they can secretly enter into a relationship.

In China, non-college students are also not allowed to be in a relationship, they are also not allowed to have crushes. If caught, they'll be forced to break up and will be watched closely by society.

But for most of the world, there are no restrictions. It is left to the parents to educate and guide their children on crushes, love, relationships, marriage, and sex. The only thing the government cares about are the "age of consent to marriage" or "legal age", and "age of consent to engage in sexual intercourse" (for example, here in the Philippines, anyone who engages sex with someone age 15 and below is considered rape no matter what your reasons are, whoever you are, whichever passport you are holding).

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I want to understand where you are coming from and I am very curious which other countries/cultures have similar restrictions like in China, Japan, and Korea.

Thank you!

Yep, you're the only one. And her role in The Handmaiden was not "erotic", it was lesbian relationship and sex. In one interview with the Director, he explained that he had to hire lesbians as boom mic holders during the bed scene and forced leave all male and female (who are not fine with it) staff during the filming of the bed scene (lesbian sex). He also explained he wasn't in the room, explained to them the scenes and shots he needed, and he controlled the cameras from another room.

That's how "heated" her role was in The Handmaiden, and no, I'm not bothered seeing her as a high school student or in any other roles for that matter.

She's an actress. Her character/role in one film/show does not carry over in another. Their fictional characters/roles does not define them as an actor/actress/person.

Episode 10: the beauty of being a junior/senior teenager. (Although in South Korea, they're 19 already, still the same … junior/senior high school students.)

It is true that our junior/senior H.S. years are the best, no matter what hardships and heartaches we experienced during and after.

The latest "Nation's First Love" because of her superb, all-out, acting in Twenty-Five Twenty-One … which practically overshadowed everyone. She's just that awesome. TOP-NOTCH. She's even outdoing herself in every episode.