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5 reasons why you should watch Battle Trip before you travel

Battle Trip is a South Korean entertainment program which sees two groups of celebrities travelling and competing with each other based on specific topics and showing viewers travel tips.

Then the audience in the studio will vote which group win the battle.

The show has showcases not only destinations around Asia but in other continents such as Europe.

Known to be helpful for travellers, even former celebrity couple Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo were reportedly watching the show before planning out their honeymoon.

If you are planning to go for specific location, here are five reasons why you should check out Battle Trip (if the show had featured that destination) before you go:
Battle Trip
Go for the Viking ride in Russia!
1.You can have the exact travel itinerary and see how it turns out

Planning your travel itinerary can be stressful, so how about letting these Korean celebrities plan it for you?

Some of these itineraries are not the typical touristy itineraries. For example in an episode featuring actors Hyun Woo and Tim, the two celebrities divided their Bali itineraries into two parts. On the first day they went to the main tourist attractions while on the second day, Tim took them to hidden spots of Bali.

How did he knows the hidden gems of Bali? Tim stayed there for a month when he filmed the Indonesian TV series, “Saranghae, I love you”.

The show also features different kinds of theme for every episode while giving audience different kind of itinerary, even if it is at the same location.

For instance, there is one episode features a snack tour in Seoul which one group goes around the city in search for tteobokki (Korean rice cake) and another looking for bakeries.

2.You can get a rough idea of how much to plan for your budget

The most important thing about any travelling plan is the budget. You can roughly know how much these celebrities spend when they travel, especially on food and drinks.

Some of us might not be able to afford what they eat (like Kobe beef in Japan) but most of the eateries featured in the show are quite affordable.

They might not be exactly clear about other expenses such as transportation fee. Viewers, nonetheless, still can know the rough budget especially for food and entrance fees to tourist sites.

3. You can get an idea of what (and where) to eat too!

As these Korean celebrities eat through the show, you can also roughly plan and expect what to have in your trips.

Although depending on the celebrity, some of them are quite picky with their food while some are adventurous.

This show can be mouth-watering to watch, especially when the celebrities have the same food preferences like yours as they enjoy their food throughout the journey.

4.Of course, where to visit and what to do

Who would not want to visit the World Liquor Museum in Jeju, South Korea or go bob-sleighing in Canada?

Every trip has its own unique itinerary of places to visit even when the destination has been featured more than once in the show.

Additionally, the show showcases different itineraries based on the different season. Hence, the audience can decide when is the best season to visit a particular destination.

For example, you can only visit Sapporo Odori Beer Garden in Hokkaido, Japan for booze during the summer.

Or you can visit the Blue Pond in Biei, Hokkaido which only looks picturesque in the summer but not in winter.

As for Hokkaido’s Shirahige Falls, it only looks like it comes straight out of a fairy tale during winter while it looks like any other waterfall during summer.

5.Finally, they show you the reality of travelling; the ups and downs as well as the good and the bad

The best part about Battle Trip is it shows the reality of travelling. Sometimes, not everything goes your way even after you meticulously plan for everything.

While watching the show, you can take note of what to watch out for if you are planning to go to the same place.

For instance, when the K-pop Infinite members went to Gangneung, South Korea for a short hike, the Badabuchae-gil Trail was closed due to bad weather.

Watch how the celebrities make up for their setbacks when things did not go the way they planned.

You can watch all the episodes of Battle Trip on KBS World’s official Youtube channel.

#KajoPicks: 10 tear-jerking Korean romance movies you need to watch

If you are looking to shed some tears while watching love stories unfold, here are KajoMag’s suggestion of 10 tear-jerking Korean romance movies to watch:
1.The Classic (2003)
The Classic
The Classic (2003). Credits: IMDB

When it comes to Korean romance movies, actress Son Ye-jin is perhaps the queen of this genre. One of her breakthrough performances is in Classic (2003).

The film tells the parallel love stories of a mother and daughter, both played by Ye-jin.

The story starts with the daughter, Ji-hye and Soo-kyoung (Lee Tae-Kyung) who are friends that both have a crush on Sang Min (Jo In-sung).

Soo-kyung asks Ji-hye to write a love letter to Sang-min on her behalf (why would you ask your friend to do that anyway?). Luckily for her, after receiving that letter, Sang-min is attracted to Soo-kyung.

Feeling uncomfortable that her crush is attracted to her best friend, Ji-hye starts to avoid him. But since it is a classic romantic movie, Ji-hye keeps on running into Sang-min.

Amidst the romantic encounters, Ji-hye finds a box. Inside is her mother’s memorabilia of her first love. The movie then explores how her mother’s love story intertwines with her own.

2.A Moment to Remember (2004)
Korean romance movies to watch
A Moment to Remember. Credits: IMBD

While most romantic stories are about finding love and a happy ending, this movie revolves around the question of what happens after you marry the love of your life and the ever after is nothing like you imagined.

Based on the 2001 Japanese television drama Pure Soul, the film stars Son Ye-jin as Kim Su-jin and Jung Woo-sung as Choi Chui-soo.

Married life seems great for the couple until she finds out that she is suffering with a rare kind of Alzheimer’s disease.

As things get harder for the couple, Su-jin checks herself into an assisted facility. Despite his grief, Chui-soo stays by Su-jin’s side even when she doesn’t remember him. At one point, she even calls him her ex-boyfriend’s name, and Chui-soo painfully plays along.

The movie even inspired other countries such as India, Turkey and Malaysia to make similar films involving the heroine diagnosed with Alzheimer’s while her husband remains by her side.

3.Late Blossom (2011)
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Unlike most Korean romantic movies, this is a love story of two elderly couples.

Based on a Korean manhwa I Love You by Kang Full, the movie turned out to be a sleeper hit even with little budget for marketing.

The movie follows Kim Man-suk (Lee Soon-jae), a foul-mouthed milk deliverer but actually has a warm heart.

One day, he meets Song (Yoon So-jung), a woman who collects and sells scrap paper. Meanwhile, there is Jang Kun-bong (Song Jae-ho) who works in a parking lot and has a wife who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.

This unique romance movie about finding new love in old age and being in love with the same person after years of marriage is definitely worth-watching.

4.Always (2011)
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Always (2011) official poster.

How can a man possibly look hot and disheveled at the same time? That is how So Ji-sub looks like as he plays Cheol-min, a man who had shut his life from the world in this movie.

After a failed boxing career, Cheol-min works as a parking lot attendant where he meets a blind telemarketer named Jung-hwa (Han Hyo-joo).

They start spending time together and eventually fall in love with each other.

Even though Hyo-joo’s acting as a blind woman is as convincing as it can get, there is still something lacking about it, but Ji-sub’s performance in this movie will tug at your heartstrings.

5.Maundy Thursday (2006)
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Maundy Thursday official poster.

In this Korean romance movie, the heroine is someone who has attempted suicide several times.

Meanwhile, the hero is a death-row inmate who is actually sentenced to death for murder.

The heroine Yu-jeong (Lee Na-young) has an aunt who is a nun. She often visits death row inmates in prison. One day, one of the inmates, Yun-soo (Gang Dong-won) asks if he could meet her niece.

Yu-jeong reluctantly agrees, subsequently visiting Yun-soo in jail every Thursday.

The most unlikely pair eventually find love in each other but time is running out on them as Yun-soo is about to get executed.

6.More Than Blue (2009)

Don’t you hate it when two people fall in love in a movie and one of them gets terminally ill but refuses to tell the other person?

You are dying so why can’t you be honest for one last time?

More than Blue follows two friends K (Kwon Sang-woo) and Cream (Lee Bo-young) who first meet each other during high school.

One day, K finds out he only has few months left to live. Since he knows Cream’s biggest fear is to be left alone, he decides to keep it as a secret.

To prepare Cream’s life without him, K pushes her to fall for Ju-hwan (Lee Beom-soo). Suddenly, Cream announces she is in love with Ju-hwan. Or is she?

Realistically speaking, life will not be as complicated as it is in this movie if people just choose to be honest with each other.

Watch the trailer here.

7.Pure Love (2016)
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Pure Love or Unforgettable official poster.

While there is a popular belief in the Korean entertainment industry that K-pop idols can’t act, they are usually cast in a drama/movie for popularity boost anyway. That being said, EXO’s D.O or Do Kyung-soo is one of the few K-pop idols who really proved the skeptics wrong.

In this movie Pure Love (or internationally released as Unforgettable), D.O plays a shy and innocent boy named Beom-sil who falls in love with Soo-ok (Kim So-hyun). Soo-ok has a leg injury so Beom-sil is always there to carry her.

The movie overall is not just about romance but about friendship, grief and acceptance.

Maybe it was the movie cinematography, the soundtrack or just D.O’s raw performance, but who knew kissing an umbrella could be more intimate than an actual kiss?

Besides looking forward to D.O’s non-kissing kissing scene, prepare to wipe your tears at the end of the movie if you decide to watch Pure Love.

8.A Millionaire’s First Love (2006)
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A Millionaire’s First Love official poster.

This Korean romance movie might remind you of Nicholas Spark’s novel A Walk to Remember. A troubled male teenager falls in love with an innocent girl who turns out to be dying.

In this movie, Hyun Bin plays a rich kid named Kang Jae-kyung. After a series of trouble, his grandfather sends him to a small town in Gangwon province. If he fails to graduate or drops out, then he would lose all of his inheritance.

There he meets and subsequently falls in love with Choi Eun-hwan (Lee Yeon-hee), an orphan who is suffering from a heart disease.

At first, Jae-kyung tries to push Eun-hwan from him, afraid that his presence would cause more harm than good for her.

Eventually, he decides stay with her and do everything to make her happy.

There are few tear-jerking moments in this movie. But one of the most memorable parts must be when Jae-kyung gives Eun-hwan a jar containing love notes wrapped in pill capsules for her birthday. Each capsule is supposed to be opened once a day.

Jae-kyung then catches Eun-hwan opening a handful of the love notes at once as she is afraid she might die before she can read all of them.

9.One Day (2017)

Death plays a major role in most tear-jerking Korean romance movies just like One Day (2017). After the death of his wife, insurance examiner Gang-soo (Kim Nam-gil) falls into depression.

Upon returning to work, he takes a case of a woman named Mi-so (Chun Woo-hee) who is in a vegetative state.

When he visits her at the hospital, Gang-soo realises he can see and talk to Mi-so’s spirit and he is the only one who can do that.

Do not be fooled by the movie’s cheery official poster because the storyline is not as happy as its promotional item.

Watch the trailer here.

10.Be With You (2018)

Once again Son Ye-jin proves she is the queen of Korean romance movies with the success of Be With You (2018).

She plays the role of Soo-ah who returns one year after her death to the bewilderment of her husband Woo-jin (So Ji-sub) on a rainy day.

However, all of her memories have all disappeared. Woo-jin takes Soo-ah in to live with him and she slowly begins to remember her past.

The timeline of this movie might be a bit confusing because it is a bit fantasy-ish. Plus, there are flashback scenes of how the couple first met and started dating.

Of course, all good things have to come to an end as Soo-ah needs to leave her family once again.

Tear-jerking moment? That time when the couple’s son Ji-ho (Kim Ji-hwan) delivers a speech in a school concert, telling his mother that he will take care of his father when she leaves them. Talk about heart-breaking!

Watch the trailer here.

KajoAsks: Going behind the DJ deck with Nick Dhillon

Knowing how much festival goers are still pumped up for more music even after the performances at Jungle and Tree Stages end, Rainforest World Music Festival introduced the DJ After Party Stage in 2019.

One of the DJs who took over the mixers during the festival this year was DJ Nick Dhillon from Kuala Lumpur.

Covering music genres from EDM,  RnB, Hip Hop, Commercial, retro, Afrobeat and Bolly/Bhangra, it’s no wonder this electronic music producer was brought in for RWMF.

Deejaying since 2003, DJ Nick has released a few singles with artists from Denmark, UK, India, Portugal and Malaysia.

So far, DJ Nick has performed all over Malaysia including Sabah, Johor, Malacca, Penang as well as other countries such as Singapore, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

DJNick Profile 64
Recently, KajoMag had the opportunity to ask DJ Nick Dhillon on his inspiration and what goes on behind his DJ deck.
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DJ Nick Dhillon on his deck.
KajoMag: When did you start DJing and what or who were your early passions and influences?

Nick Dhillon: Basically, I started to learn how to DJ at 9 years old. I got inspired by my father who was a DJ/stage performer back in the day. When I was about 10, I always wondered how people made music. While listening to music on the radio, it just struck my mind – like how did music get created? I then did my research slowly with a lot of attempts. Today I make my own music and I DJ to it.

KajoMag: What are currently your main challenges as a DJ?

Nick Dhillon: My challenges are to get my music heard to a large audience and how to start well, maintain and end well during a set. I’ve set up a goal and the goal is to always do better in every gig I get as I move along.

KajoMag: How you decide to play a particular record during your sets? Is there a criteria other than pure subjectivity for selecting what to play at a gig?

Nick Dhillon: Basically, I usually prepare my set every time before my gig. I listen to new music or similar sounds of what I usually play during my sets. Sometimes I get an original track and remix it and then play during my set. Though the main actual selection of songs during my set comes on the spot while looking at the crowd response. 

KajoMag: Do you feel a crowd is actually able to appreciate the intricacies and complexity of DJing if they don’t really know what goes behind the deck? 

Nick Dhillon: Usually when I DJ, what I believe is in seeing the crowd enjoying the music. Though the understanding of you can’t please everyone with music is always there, the main aim is to catch the majority, especially playing the next song and seeing how they respond to it.

KajoMag: How much do you feel is the club experience or crowd response shaped by cultural differences? When travelling, do you take these cultural differences into consideration? What was your experience during RWMF, for example?

Nick Dhillon: Well, the club experience and the outdoor experience – especially at the RWMF – is very different.

I must say it was amazing. It’s difficult to express in words but just amazing. And playing the music I make, that is mixing traditional Punjabi instruments into modern beats. The reaction is unbelievable. Music does bring everyone together. And that’s beautiful. Though, RMWF is one of my best experiences DJing, without a doubt.

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Nick Dhillon performing during RWMF 2019.
KajoMag: Care to share some of your future plans or dreams?

Nick Dhillon: My future plan is to always be consistent in music, I have plenty of new music coming up. That isn’t a remix, its original tracks I am looking forward to put up to the crowd. Also I’m working on an album.

I’m an electronic (EDM) music producer. I mix electronic music elements with some traditional Punjabi/bhangra elements that’s more what it’ll sound in my upcoming music releases. I look forward to more music festivals around the world to share my music with everyone.

Check him out on Spotify, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and official website.

All photos courtesy of DJ Nick Dhillon.

10 South Korean disaster movies you need to watch

The thought of “What’s the worst that could happen?” is perhaps how most disaster movies came about.

Any good disaster movie will keep its viewers glued to their seats; there are always multiple storylines going on while featuring a large cast and a tremendous set, all the while following the conventional main heroes as they try to escape or inspire others to cope with the disasters.

Although it doesn’t happen too often in Hollywood disaster movies, some South Korean movies do see their heroes dying, making them tear-jerking.

If you are haven’t watch these, here are 10 South Korean disaster movies you need to watch:
1.Tidal Wave (2009)

Considered as South Korea’s first disaster film, this movie received more than 11 million admissions nationwide.

Although the film’s English name is ‘Tidal Wave’, the film is actually referring to a tsunami.

Just like most disasters movies inspired by real-life disasters, this one was inspired by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

Watch the trailer here.

2.Deranged (2012)

While Tidal Wave was South Korea’s first disaster movie, this one is the country’s first medical thriller on an infectious disease epidemic.

If you believe in conspiracy theories of greedy pharmaceutical companies behind the spread of some diseases or illnesses, this movie fits that theory. It is a fatal outbreak of mutant parasitic horsehair worms that can control the human brain.

Watch the trailer here.

3.Flu (2013)

Imagine a scarier and deadlier strain of H5N1 influenza virus that could kill its victims within 36 hours… and then throw in the human factor.

Flu (2013) takes place in the district of Bundang in Seongnam where half a million people go into a panic after an outbreak of deadly flu.

What starts out like a detective story as it follows the spread of the flu, escalates into mass hysteria, so much so that the government is forced to put its military forces out against its own citizens.

Directed by King Sung-su, the movie stars Jang Hyuk and Soo Ae.

Watch the trailer here.

4.The Tower (2012)

Before Dwayne Johnson rescued his family from a Hong Kong condominium tower taken over by terrorists and set on fire in Skyscraper (2018), there was this movie called The Tower (2012).

In this film, a fire breaks out in a luxury skyscraper in central Seoul on Christmas Eve. Like most disaster movies, this is a story of bravery as the manager Dae-ho (Kim Sang-kyung) tries to save his loved ones and colleagues from the fire.

Watch the trailer here.

5.Pandora (2016)

Make sure you prepare your tissues for this movie because you are going to need it.

The story follows Jae-hyeok (Kim Nam-gil) who works in a local nuclear power plant. Suddenly, an earthquake strikes, causing an explosion at the plant.

While the whole nation is in a state of panic, Jae-hyeok and his colleagues return to the plant to prevent another nuclear disaster.

Watch the trailer here.

Korean disaster movies
A screenshot of Pandora trailer from Youtube.
6.Tunnel (2016)

If you are claustrophobic, this might not be a good movie for you to watch. Starring one of Korea’s most talented actors – Ha Jung-woo – this film revolves around a car salesman who gets trapped in a poorly constructed tunnel that collapsed.

After he regains consciousness, he finds himself trapped under tonnes of concrete.

Watch how he tries to survive with two bottles of water and his daughter’s birthday cake.

Watch the trailer here.

7.The Terror Live (2013)

Before Jung-woo starred in Tunnel, he acted in another disaster movie called The Terror Live (2013).

Here, he plays an ambitious news anchorman Young-hwa who monopolizes the live broadcast of a terrorist attack following the explosion of Mapo Bridge on the Han river.

Apparently, he is not the only one who wants to exploit the disaster for their own agenda.

Watch the trailer here.

8.Train to Busan (2016)

This is the kind of disaster that might be scary but interesting if it really happened. The plot takes place mostly on a train to Busan as a zombie apocalypse breaks out in the country.

The film set a record as the first Korean film of 2016 to break the audience record over 10 million viewers.

Besides the convincingly scary zombies, what makes the movie engrossing was the storyline of different characters.

From Gong Yoo’s acting as Seok-woo, a fund manager who is obsessed with his work to Kim Eui-sung as the selfish businessman, every character carries their own weight making the movie interesting to watch.

Watch the trailer here.

9.Exit (2019)

When disaster strikes, it is natural for humans to use every knowledge or skill they know in order to survive. In this movie, the main character Yong-nam (Jo Jung-suk) uses his rock climbing skills to save everyone from a mysterious white gas covering Seoul.

Watch the trailer here.

10.Sinkhole (working title, 2020)

Well, this movie is not out yet and is expected to be released in 2020. But the cast line-up already has people talking. The movie stars Cha Seung-won, Kim Sung-kyun and Running Man’s Lee Kwang-soo.

Furthermore, the film will be directed by Kim Ji-hoon, the same director for The Tower. With one successful disaster movie in his belt, movie buffs can have high expectations for Sinkhole.

The film follows residents of a villa who are trapped after a sinkhole occurs.

KajoPicks: 10 literary detectives that we love

When it comes to fiction, who doesn’t love a good crime novel? Not only are the mysteries fascinating, but the characters themselves are essential to any compelling mystery crime fictions, be it in short stories or novels.

There are all kinds of literary detectives out there; from private investigators to professional policemen.

Some of these literary detectives have even made it to TV shows or the big screens, gathering a new fan base, especially among those who do not read crime novels.

Every literary detective usually has his or her own quirks or issues that keep readers coming back for more.

Here are KajoMag’s top 10 picks of our favourite literary detectives:
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1.Sherlock Holmes

We cannot talk about literary detectives without mentioning Sherlock Holmes. In terms of Holmes’ depictions on screen, fans have had long arguments on who has played Holmes better, Robert Downey Jr. or Benedict Cumberbatch. (Who also happen to share the big screen in the MCU universe XD)

At the end of the day, though, books are always better than movies or TV shows. Besides letting you imagine the setting or events happening in the story, books can usually create more interesting plots or let you in on what the characters are thinking.

Created by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Holmes is one of the most famous literary detectives of all time.

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2.C. Auguste Dupin

Before there was Holmes, the literary world had C. Auguste Dupin first. Edgar Allan Poe penned him in The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1841), The Mystery of Marie Roget (1842) and The Purloined Letter (1844).

The Murders in the Rue Morgue is widely considered as the first detective fiction story ever.

After Poe created Dupin, the character had inspired other authors to create their own literary detectives, including Holmes.

3.Hercule Poirot

Here is another character which is inspired by Dupin. English writer Agatha Christie first created Poirot in 1920 in the book The Mysterious Affair at Styles. This was during the “Golden Age of Detective Fiction” (1920s-1930s).

Obviously obsessive-compulsive, Poirot’s interesting character along with Christie’s writing style where she likes to keep her readers guessing, makes him one of the most memorable literary detectives.

Besides Poirot, Christie also created Miss Marple, an elderly lady who is an amateur consulting detective.

4.Harry Bosch

With years of experience as a crime beat writer and crime reporter, it’s no wonder American author Michael Connelly is one of the best crime fiction writers in recent decades.

His most notable works are those featuring Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detective Harry Bosch.

He has appeared in 21 novels to date since the first novel The Black Echo in 1992.

After reading any of Connelly’s books featuring Bosch, one can imagine him as a very confrontational and hostile person who always has problems with authority despite being a police officer himself.

Apart from novels featuring Bosch, other must-read books by Connelly are of Mickey Haller. He is a Los Angeles attorney and Bosch’s half brother.

5.Harry Hole

After reading crime novels written by Norwegian author Jo Nesbo, one can’t help but notice the similarities between Connelly’s Bosch and Nesbo’s main character Harry Hole.

That is because Nesbo took Bosch not only as the inspiration for his own character but also a tribute to the American literary detective.

Just like Bosch, Hole also has repeated conflict with his superiors and colleagues.

And just like Bosch, Hole is a brilliant detective who, despite his sometimes compulsive behaviour, still earns respect among his colleagues.

6.Dave Robicheaux

What do Dave Robicheaux and Harry Hole have in common apart from both being literary detectives?

They have both problems with alcohol. Created by American writer James Lee Burke, Robicheaux first appeared in The Neon Rain (1987). Burke’s latest book to date featuring Robicheaux is The New Iberia Blues (2019).

7.Adam Dalgliesh

Perhaps it is a trend or scientific fact that being a loner, or someone not in any committed relationship, makes one a great detective. Most of the literary detectives in this list are single men who either sleep around or are divorced, widowed or simply those who prefer to be alone in the first place.

P.D. James’ Adam Dalgliesh falls under the widowed category after he loses his wife in childbirth.

Like any British detective fiction, Dalgliesh is depicted as the gentlemen detective throughout fourteen mystery novels he has appeared.

8.Inspector Morse

Created by British author Colin Dexter, Inspector Morse is another gentleman detective that we love.

Inspector Morse appeared in 13 novels with the last one being The Remorseful Day (1999).

Like most literary detectives, Inspector Morse has a snobbish characteristic, but he is good at his job.

9.Jack Reacher

While most literary detectives on this list are policemen or private investigators, this character is a former major in the United States Army Military Police Corps.

British author Lee Childs first created Jack Reacher in 1997 with the book Killing Floor. Since then, Reacher has been roaming around the countryside, always coming across a mysterious situation that requires him to put on a detective’s hat.

If this character sounds familiar, that is because Tom Cruise portrays him in the movie adaptations.

10.Dr Temperance Brennan

Speaking of onscreen adaptations, Dr Temperance Brennan is perhaps one of the literary detectives that successfully transitioned from book to TV.

However, the TV’s Dr Brennan in Bones (played by Emily Deschanel) is just loosely based on American author Kathy Reichs’ Temperance Brennan.

Other than sharing the same name, they also share the same occupation as a forensic anthropologist.

According to Reichs who is the executive producer of the show, the TV’s Brennan is like the younger version of the novel’s Brennan.

Either way, if you like Dr Brennan in Bones, you might also like her in the crime novels.

Do you have any favourite literary detectives? Let us know in the comment box.

KajoPicks: Top 11 Series on Netflix with 10 or Less Episodes

Just one more episode of Netflix…..

Kajopicks: Top 11 Series on Netflix with 10 or less episodes (Picture source: Pixabay)
Top 11 Series on Netflix with 10 or less episodes (Picture source: Pixabay)

For people who don’t have the staying power to watch a series with more than 10 episodes on Netflix, it can be pretty draining to wait for the ending.

So here are the top 11 series on Netflix with 10 or less episodes per season that you can binge-watch over the weekend.

The Many Faces of Ito (Japanese)

Rom-com screenwriter Rio Yazaki has a big hit four years ago for a popular drama series. However, ever since then, she has been under a dry spell. For inspiration, she tricks four different women into telling their love problems under the pretence of giving love advice. Due to a twist of fate, the love interest of all the women is named “Ito”. As Rio discovers later, all the Itos in the women’s stories refer to the same guy.

With just eight episodes, you will be glad it is a short series as you will be dying to know who Ito really is.

Number of episodes per season: 8

Current number of Seasons: 1

Watch the trailer here.

Pose (USA)

If you are into fabulosity, opulence and dramatic entrances, then you should definitely watch Pose.

Pose is set in 1987 in New York City, taking place in the life of African and Latino American ballroom culture scene. After a dispute with her house mother, a HIV-positive transwoman, Blanca Rodriquez-Evangelista (formerly Abundance) decides to leave and start her own house (House of Evangelista).

Her house children include talented homeless dancer Damon-Richard Evangelista, transwoman sex worker Angel Evangelista, Damon’s boyfriend Ricky Evangelista and drug dealer Esteban ‘Lil Papi’ Martinez-Evangelista.

Now, some of you might be confused (but hopefully intrigued) with the terms ‘House’, ‘Mother’ and ‘ballroom’. But trust me, if you just watch one episode it will all make sense.  

The second season takes place in 1990 after Blanca has full-blown AIDS.

Pose has been renewed for a third season.

Number of episodes per season: 8 (10 for Season 2)

Current number of Seasons: 2

Watch the trailer here.

On My Block (USA)

On My Block is a coming-of-age series that centres around a group of 14-year-olds entering high school in Los Angeles. While navigating the ups and downs of high school life, On My Block follows the story of four best friends as they land themselves in a money heist plot in their neighbourhood. Apart from the adorable characters, the absurd yet chaotic plotline of On My Block is never boring. The endings of the first and second seasons will leave you hang and wanting to know more.

On My Block has been renewed for a third season.

Number of episodes per season:  10

Current number of Seasons: 2

Watch the trailer here.

Derry Girls (UK)

Derry Girls reminds me a lot of Mean Girls, if they were the unpopular kids. This series Netflix made it to our top 11 list due to its quirky storyline and lovable characters.

Derry Girls takes place in the 1990s in the city of Derry, Northern Ireland during the the decades-long conflict between Irish nationalists and United Kingdom loyalists. At what seems like the most intense period, the girls provide much laughter and hilarity even during the most mundane momentd of their librd.

With just 6 episodes for each season, you can easily finish this series in just a day.

Number of episodes per season:  6

Current number of Seasons: 2

Watch the trailer here.

Midnight Diners (Japanese)

For those on a diet, I strongly recommen NOT watching this in the middle of the night.

The series focuses on its main character, the chef known as ‘Master’ and his relationship with his customers. As his diner only opens at midnight, Master has a niche group of customers. These include those who work late into night or when their shifts start late at night as well as those who are just plain lonely. These people include pensioners, yakuza, prostitutes, a taxi driver and a lonely housewife. Midnight Diners highlights how Master listens intently to his customers’ colourful yet sad life struggles as he serves them their favourite dish.

So, imagine having Master as a therapist who served you delicious food every time you visit him.

Number of episodes per season:  10

Current number of Seasons: 4

Watch the trailer here.

The Cravings (Korea)

When newly single Jegal Jae-young breaks up with her boyfriend, she does what she loves best; EAT.

Apart from her unwelcome status, she also has to deal with work struggles and people who comment on her looks and weight. #rude

However, when she gets home after work, Jae-young will make sure to make time to cook dishes that she craves. What sets The Cravings apart from other food series is that, each episode is only 10 minutes long. So, you can finish one season in just under an hour. Towards the end of each episode, the scene showcases how Jae-young prepares her favourite dishes. So, viewers will get to see different delicious yet simple Korean recipes.

Think of it as a Korean cooking show but with a plot.

Number of episodes per season:  6 (10 for Season 2)

Current number of Seasons: 2

Watch the trailer here.

Kingdom (Korea)

Next on the list of top 11 series on Netflix with 10 or less episode to watch is Kingdom.

This series has been listed in one of our articles for its zombie plot. However, as it fits in this category, it is worth mentioning that you can binge-watch Kingdom in just one day.

Kingdom is renewed for a second season which is set to be release in 2020.

Number of episodes per season:  6

Current number of Seasons: 1

Watch the trailer here.

The Umbrella Academy (USA)

With its quirky storyline and equally eclectic characters, The Umbrella Academy is like a Nanny McPhee spin-off if it was directed by Quentin Tarantino.  

The Umbrella Academy follows the life of six orphans from different parts of the world with supernatural abilities. They are adopted by a mysterious billionaire, Sir Reginald Hargreeves who trains the children to be superheroes. Instead of giving them names, he calls them by numbers. They are however given names by their robot mother who is invented by their father. Sadly, out of the seven orphans he adopted, one was killed before the series started. The series follows the characters as they try to stop the apocalypse from coming.

The series centres around Luther (Number Two) who has super strength, Diego (Number Two) who has the ability to throw his knives in curved trajectories, Allison (Number Three) who can manipulate people by spreading rumours, Klaus (Number Four) who can see the dead and Ben, Number Five (the only one who has no name) who can time travel, the deceased Ben (Number Six) who can turned into a monster and Vanya (Number Seven) who can manipulate wave into destructive force.

The Umbrella Academy is renewed for a second season.

Number of episodes per season:  10

Current number of Season: 1

Watch the trailer here.

Russian Doll (USA)

If you are into dark humour and unusual plot, then Russian Doll is for you.

The series centre around cynical software engineer, Nadia who repeatedly dies during her 36th birthday. Having been trapped in a time loop where she dies and returns back alive to her birthday party, Nadia try to figure out a way out from experiencing death over and over again.
To be honest, I am not a big fan of a repetitive story line. However, Russian Doll gives out a different plot every time Nadia comes back to life.

Apart from that, the Russian Doll only has eight episodes, each 25 minutes long. So, this series is perfect if you are looking something to binge-watch in just one night.

Number of episodes per season:  8

Current number of Seasons: 1

Watch the trailer here.

Queer Eye (USA)

Queer Eye (2018) made it to our top 11 drama series on Netflix with 10 or less episode you need to watch for various reasons.

First, it broke the stereotypes that good skin care routine, eating healthy, dressing well and grooming are reserved for gay men. Second, regardless of what body type you are, there are clothes made for you. Third, it is nice to see straight men opening up instead of bottling up their feelings, thus combating toxic masculinity. And fourth, people can be accepting towards each other regardless of their background.  

The makeover show revolves around five gay men of various specialties going around America giving straight men (and sometimes women) makeovers. They are culture expert Karamo Brown, grooming expert Jonathan Van Ness, food expert Anthony Porowski, fashion designer Tan France and interior designer Bobby Berk. Once they are done throwing pixie dust around the ‘hero’, he or she is transformed after spending a few days with the Fab 5.

The show explores various cultural and racial issues as well as religious barriers in America. Our cultural, racial and religious issues might differ from those in America, but what the show is trying to convey is kindness, acceptance and that love is the way to be.

Queer Eye has been renewed for a fifth season.

Number of episodes per season:  8

Current number of Seasons: 4

Watch the trailer here.

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo (Japan-USA)

If you have not heard of Marie Kondo’s battle cry ‘KonMari’ before, then you might want to add it to your lexicon.

This reality show made it into our top 11 list because it is a soul cleanser. It is also not your typical home makeover show where people come in and redo your house. Instead, it features Japanese organising consultant Marie Kondo coming into various family homes and helping to declutter their space by getting of things that do not “spark joy”. By the end, each family will be left with a tidy and organised home and a clutter-free mind. And what makes this show so addictive is that it actually shows that tidying up is not difficult once you make up your mind to do it. 

After watching it, you will be wondering, does owning 65 pair of shoes give you joy?

Number of episodes per season: 8

Current number of Seasons: 1

Watch the trailer here.

KajoPicks: 5 performances we loved during RWMF 2019

If you were there during Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF 2019), chances are you may still be suffering from post-RWMF withdrawal.

Despite a claim on international media last year that the festival was a dying brand with no new stories being told, the festival has definitely proven the critics wrong.

The number of festival goers this year hit 23,650 people – the highest it’s been since RWMF started in 1998.

And if you were one of those thousands who danced beneath the moonlit sky with the Santubong mountain in the background, you might not have realised how big the crowd was.

It was definitely good to see the festival highlight more local Sarawakian performers such as Suku Menoa, Suk Binie’, Kemada, Staak Bisomu and crowd favourite, At Adau.

With so many performers from all five continents gathering at Sarawak Cultural Village for three days, it was definitely hard to choose our favourites.

But here are KajoMag’s picks for our five favourite acts during RWMF 2019 which took place from July 12 to 14.
1.Duplessy & The Violins of the World (France, Mongolia and Sweden) featuring Guo Gan (China)

The beauty of Rainforest World Music Festival has always been the ability to bring artists of different musical styles and cultures to perform on the same stage.

And this year, one of the performances which managed to do that beautifully and successfully was the performance by Duplessy & The Violins of the World featuring Chinese erhu musician, Guo Gan.

Four soloists- Mathias Duplessy, Guo Gan, Naraa Puredorj and Aliocha Regnard – came together for two different sets called “Marco Polo” at the Theatre Stage and “Crazy Horse” on the Tree Stage.

Inspired by the Italian explorer who travelled through Asia, “Marco Polo” gave the audience a crossover of Western and Asian classical music, while “Crazy Horse” truly reflected its name with fast-paced, cantering rhythms and swinging tunes.

Their performances might have been a fusion between East and West cultures, but there was no confusion among the audience who was listening.

It was definitely a nice eclectic mix of classical guitar (Duplessy), erhu (Guo Gan), traditional Swedish string instrument the nyckelharpa (Regnard) and the Mongolian fiddle (Naraa).

2.Otava Yo (Russia)

This group of seven musicians from St Petersburg had a goal: to shatter the stereotype that Russian folk music was boring and undanceable.

Judging by how the crowd danced on Friday night during their performance, Otava Yo definitely achieved their goal.

Using instruments such as the Russian fife, gusli (Russian psaltery), the bagpipe and fiddle, they gave a performance which transcended languages and cultural boundaries.

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Otava Yo. Credits: RWMF Official Photograph
3.Kila (Ireland)

If you are a veteran RWMF festival goer, then Kila might be a familiar act. They performed in RWMF back in 2013 and they were back again this year.

Kila is a musical ensemble of eight Dubliners centering around Irish classic, folk and rock music.

BBC World Review once described their music to be ‘one of the most beautiful euphoric live experience’ and we agree.

Kila gave a phenomenal performance as the last act on Friday night and they outdid themselves when they performed with Oki Kano, an Ainu Japanese musician on Sunday night.

Who knew a collaboration between the sounds of Dublin and Hokkaido would blend perfectly together?

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Kila performing on Friday night. Credits: RWMF Official Photograph.
4.Macka B (United Kingdom/Jamaica)
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Macka B. Credits: RWMF Official Photograph.

According to Macka B, Sarawakians have the reggae spirit in them and we couldn’t agree more: the moment Macka B took over the mic on Saturday night, the audience was immediately taken by his stage presence.

With a career spanning nearly four decades in the United Kingdom and Jamaica, Macka B was definitely a seasoned performer and an expert on working the crowd.

He brought the house down with songs you would expect a reggae artist to sing; peace, love, a tribute to Bob Marley and marijuana.

But Macka B’s hit “Wha Me Eat”, in which he raps a long list of food he eats as a vegan was definitely one of our faves.

Most RWMF 2019 festival goers might never have been to Jamaica but he had us screaming “Ya man!” all night.

5.Tabanka (Cape Verde)

If Tabanka could bottled up their energy and sell it, I would definitely be the first in line to buy it.

This band who performed as the final act during the final night of Rainforest World Music Festival 2019 had an infectious, excessive energy on stage.

They introduced funana, an accordion-based music and dance genre from Cape Verde.

The genre was once forbidden by the Portuguese colonial rulers but later became part of the post-Independence Cape Verdean identity.

Check out their official music video down below and you would understand why we loved them.

Who were your personal favourites during RWMF 2019? Let us know in the comment box.

Which type of RWMF goer are you? Here are 10 types that we usually see during the festival.

Here is throwback to who we loved during Rainforest World Music Festival 2017.

15 South Korean revenge films you need to watch

They said revenge is sweet but here at KajoMag, we say it is sweeter when filmmakers make a movie out of it.

Perhaps the reason why revenge films are popular, especially the ones with good storylines and convincing lead characters, is because they bring the audience on an emotional roller coaster ride.

First, it creates a bond between you and the main character. Then it brings you down with sadness and sorrow when something important is taken from the character. When the character decides to take revenge, then you feel the eagerness and determination. After the revenge finally takes place, you feel satisfied along with the main character.

But we cannot talk about revenge films without mentioning those that come from South Korea.

Over the years, the South Korean movie industry has been generous in giving us revenge films that are not only satisfying to watch but borderline gruesome as well.

Here are 10 South Korean revenge films you need to watch:

1.The Vengeance Trilogy

The trilogy is a series of three films that are not connected in stories but directed by the same director Park Chan-wook.

The first installment Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) is a tale of how revenge can go wrong.

It all starts when a deaf-mute man kidnaps a young girl to pay for his sister’s surgery. When the young girl accidentally dies, her father seeks vengeance.

Meanwhile in the second installment Oldboy (2003) revolves around a man who is imprisoned for 15 years. He is then released without any explanation as to why he was confined and released.

When he think he has the freedom, he is given five days to learn his captor’s true identity or his new love interest will be killed.

As for the third and final installment aptly named Lady Vengeance (2005), the film tells the tale of a young woman released from prison doing time for a child killer. She of course seeks revenge against the man for whom she served time.

The movie really tells how long a person can hold grudges and how far they will go to seek revenge.

Watch the trailer here.

2.I Saw the Devil (2010)

Rolling Stone magazine picked this movie for its top 20 of ‘scariest movies you’ve never seen.” So you can imagine how scary the revenge must have been or how the events led up to the revenge must have been.

It follows Kim Soo-hyun (Lee Byung-hun) who embarks on a journey of revenge after his fiancee was brutally murdered by a psychopathic murderer.

Oh, did I mention Soo-hyun is a secret service agent of the National Intelligence Service (NIS)?

Hence, it is a cat and mouse story except the role of the cat switches between the antagonist and protagonist.

Furthermore, the psychopathic murderer (played by veteran actor Choi Min-sik) is everything you imagine your perfect villain to be: sadistic and brutal.

Watch the trailer here.

3.Mother (2009)

How far would you go to protect your son? Hye-ja is a single mom to 27-year-old Do-joon who is extremely shy.

Do-joon is prone to attack anyone who mocks his intellectual disability. Walking home one night, he encounters a young girl and then decides to follow her.

The next morning, she is found dead and Do-joon is accused of her murder.

Like any protective mother, Hye-ja sets on a journey to seek the real killer in order to free her innocent son.

Watch the trailer here.

4.Pieta (2012)

Imagine a job of threatening debtors into paying his clients, loan sharks who demand 10 times the return. That is what Kang-do does for a living.

To recover the interest, the debtors sign an insurance application for a handicap. And then Kang-do comes in to injure the debtors brutally so that they file the claim.

This might be a feasible idea to make ends meet. But what is not that feasible is to seek revenge for a woman who just shows up claiming she is your long lost mother.

That is what happens to Kang-do when a strange middle-aged woman visits him.

Later when he finds his mother missing, Kang-do goes to every person he crippled to find his mother.

Watch the trailer here.

5.Bedevilled (2010)

Have you ever thought what would make the perfect murder weapon to carry out your vengeance? In this Korean revenge film, a sickle fits the bill.

The story starts with Hae-won who escapes from her busy life to take a break in Mudo, an island where she spent her childhood.

There, she meets her friend from teenage years, Bok-nam. Bak-nam suffers under her abusive husband and her attention goes all to her young daughter Yeon-hee.

When her daughter is accidentally killed, Bok-nam seek her revenge by starting a killing spree on the island with a sickle.

Watch the trailer here.

Korean revenge movie
When a mother carries around a sickle to avenge her daughter’s death. Credits: IMDB

6.Hwayi: A Monster Boy (2013)

Hwayi: A Monster Boy (2013) revolves around a 16-year-old boy who is raised by five criminal fathers to become the perfect assassin.

He follows his adoptive fathers in their criminal activity until he learns that the first man he killed was his real father.

That is when he starts his journey of vengeance against his criminal fathers who took him from his real parents.

Watch the trailer here.

7.Broken (2014)

“Life no longer exists for parents that lost their child,” is a famous quote from this movie. It centers around widower Lee Sang-hyeon (Jung Jae-young) who avenges the death of his daughter.

Frustrated with the pace of the investigation team, Sang-hyeon begins his own investigation. After he accidentally kills the first suspect, he finds out there is more than one culprit.

Then he sets to find those who are responsible for his daughter’s murder with the police hot on his trail.

Watch the trailer here.

8.No Mercy (2010)

This Korean revenge movie comes with a very shocking plot twist. It all starts with pathologist Kang Min-ho (Sol Kyung-gu) who is about to retire.

When a dismembered corpse of a young woman is found, Kang agrees to do one last job.

The main suspect for the murder is Lee Sung-ho (Ryoo Seung-bum). It seems like it is an easy case because Lee is all ready to confess for the murder. Or is there more to the story?

Watch the trailer here.

9.Soo (2007)

Two brothers, Tae-soo and Tae-jin separated when they were young. Tae-soo (Ji Jin-hee) becomes an assassin while Tae-jin becomes police detective.

When they finally reunite as adults, Tae-jin is suddenly killed. The killer really should know better than kill an assassin’s brother because Tae-soo then decides to get revenge.

10.The Five (2013)

What if you are physically incapable to take revenge on those who hurt you? Then you manipulate and threaten others to do it for you.

Go Eun-ah (Kim Sun-a) is a crippled woman who gathers four people to kill the serial killer who murdered her family.

In return, Eun-ah promises them her organs once her revenge is complete. However, things do not go as planned and the killer starts hunting them instead.

Watch the trailer here.

11.Don’t Cry Mommy (2012)

Don’t Cry Mommy is inspired by a real case of revenge which happened in South Korea. An 8-year-old Kim Bu-nam was raped by her 35-year-old neighbour Song Baek-gwon.

21 years later, following two divorces and months in a mental hospital, Bu-nam went back to her hometown where she stabbed Baek-gwon to death.

Acknowledging that she went through enough, the court sentenced Bu-nam to a three-year suspended sentence and a requirement that she receive medical treatment.

However in this South Korean revenge movie, the victim Eun-ah (Nam Bo-ra) is not that lucky. She takes her own life after being brutally raped by her schoolmates. This leads her mother Yoo-lim (Yoo Sun) on a path of vengeance to kill those who are responsible for Eun-ah’s death.

Watch the trailer here.

12.Monster (2014)

First of all, Kim Go-eun acting as Bok-soon in this movie is impressive. Bok-soon is known to be an aggressive woman with a mental disability.

She lives happily with her younger sister Eun-jeong while running a stall in a local market. Everything changed when a serial killer Tae-soo (Lee Min-ki) kills Eun-jeong.

Thus, Bok-soon’s journey to avenge her sister’s death starts making you wonder who is the real monster in this movie.

Watch the trailer here.

13.Azooma (2013)

This Korean revenge movie had its world premiere at the 2012 Busan International Film Festival. It centers around a mother seeking justice for the rape of her 10-year-old daughter.

When her daughter is sexually assaulted, Yoon Young-nam (Jang Young-nam) is not happy with how the police handles the case.

So Young-nam decides to track down the child molester herself.

Watch the trailer here.

14.Princess Aurora (2005)

This is a story of a woman who sets out to kill everyone whom she believes played a role in her child’s death.

At first glance, it seems that there is a serial killer on the loose asthere seems to be no connection between all the victims excepts for small sticker depicting a character from the popular “Princess Aurora” cartoon series is found at every crime scene.

Eventually, the killer allows herself to get caught simply to carry out the final act of her revenge.

Watch the trailer here.

15.Revenger (2018)

To sum up most of these Korean revenge movies, do not molest, rape or kill anybody because their family members, especially parents, will definitely come and find you.

Unlike the other movies on this list, Revenger (2018) is set in the near future where dangerous criminals are housed in a hellish prison island.

Then comes a man who purposely sends himself to the island just to carry out his revenge.

Watch the trailer here.

5 South Korean zombie movies you need to watch

You have to admit, Korean zombies are among the scariest of all fictional zombies; they run, they run in a horde, they twist into bone-breaking pretzels, they eat people alive… they are exactly what you imagine zombies should be.

When comes to terrifying an audience, Korean zombies can beat most Hollywood zombies (except those from 28 Days Later and World War Z) and of course Malaysia’s own zombies from Kampung Pisang.

Here are five South Korean zombie movies you need to watch:
1.Train to Busan (2016)

When comes to zombie movies, this is THE zombie movie to watch. Starred Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi and Ma Dong-seok, the movie takes place on a train to Busan as a zombie apocalypse suddenly breaks out.

The audience also get to watch the reunion for Gong Yoo and Yu-mi who both starred in a based on a true story movie Silenced (2011).

Anyway, the storyline is thrilling and the acting even for those who had only small roles is impressive.

To top it all, the zombies are just purely gory and terrifying.

We guess the movie is so good that there is a sequel in the pipeline with the Korean title Bando.

Watch the trailer here.

2.Seoul Station (2016)

If you wondering how did the events in Train to Busan unfold, then you need to watch its prequel animated zombie film.

Released a month later after Train to Busan, Seoul Station (2016) revolves around a young runaway woman named Hye-sun.

It also centers around her father Suk-gyu who is looking for Hye-sun only to find out she has become a prostitute.

While a father-daughter reunion is about to take place, a zombie epidemic conveniently breaks out in Seoul.

Watch the trailer here.

3.Rampant (2018)

When Korean period drama meets zombie epidemic, what you get is Rampant (2018).

Since it is set during the Joseon dynasty, you can imagine there would be horse riding, sword fighting, some archery skills in the movie.

The story circles around a prince named Lee Chung (Hyun Bin) who was given to the Qing empire as a political hostage.

When he returns upon hearing the death of his brother the Crown Prince Lee Young, Lee Chung is met with zombie epidemic plaguing his country.

Though the plot is predictable (you basically know which one is the bad guy and who is going to sacrifice himself in the end), this Korean zombie movie is still worth to watch.

Why? Because of the zombies of course! They are creepy, quick, disgusting and just scary.

Watch the trailer here.

4.The Odd Family: Zombie on Sale (2019)

If there is a possibility of a profiting from a zombie, would you give up the opportunity? This zombie comedy film revolves around the Park family who resides in a peaceful rural town.

One day, the whole town turns up and down when a zombie suddenly appears.

So the Park family decides that they need to find the zombie and tries to profit from it.

Watch the trailer here.

5.Kingdom (2019)
Korean zombie movies

First of all, this is not movie but a Netflix original series consists of six episodes. It is on the list because we cannot talk Korean zombie onscreen without mentioning Kingdom. It is definitely worth-watching.

Adapted from the webcomic series The Kingdom of the Gods, the series is set in Joseon period.

It tells the story of Crown Prince Yi Chang (Ju Ji-hoon) who becomes embroiled in a political coup. While investigating about what happened in the palace, the prince embarks in journey that takes him right into a zombie epidemic.

On top of the exciting plots which keeps audience on their toes, we cannot help but notice the picturesque cinematography.

You might be flip a table after watching the series because the ending is a cliffhanger. But fret not, the filming for the second season had started last February so yeay!

Watch the trailer here.

10 more South Korean movies based on real-life events to watch

You have read our 10 South Korean movies based on true stories. Now, we have 10 more films inspired by real-life events that you need to watch while learning a bit about South Korean’s history:
1.71: Into the Fire (2010)

The Battle of P’ohang-dong which took place during the early Korean War was a fight was between the United Nations and North Korea from Aug 5-20, 1950 around the town of P’ohang-dong, South Korea.

71: Into the Fire (2010) is based on true story of a group of 71 under-trained, under-armed, and outgunned South Korean student-soldiers who took part in the battle.

For 11 hours, this group of students defended the local P’ohang-dong girls middle school from an attack by North Korean forces.

Unfortunately, most of the students died during the battle as they were unmatched against the North Korean’s special forces commando 766th Unit.

Watch the trailer here.

2. A Taxi Driver (2017)
5 movies inspired by Gwangju Uprising you should watch
Five movies inspired by Gwangju Uprising here.

The Gwangju Uprising took place in Gwangju city from May 18 to 27, 1980.

After President Park Chung-hee was assassinated on Oct 26, 1979, Chun Doo-hwan, a former South Korean army general successfully led a military coup and became the de facto South Korean leader.

The uprising in Gwangju began when local Chonnam University students demonstrated against Chun’s martial law government.

In response, the South Korean army and police used firearms, violence and even sexual assault to suppress the protest.

Meanwhile, the Gwangju citizens stood up against the authority by robbing local armories and police stations.

This 2017 South Korean movie centers around Kim Man-seob (Song Kang-ho), a taxi driver who ferried a German journalist named Jurgen Hinzpeter (Thomas Kretschmann) around Gwangju and past military cordons.

Man-seob’s character in the movie is loosely based on real-life Kim Sa-bok while Hinzpeter (1937-2016) was the real-life German TV reporter who reported on the Gwangju massacre to the world.

Apart from A Taxi Driver, the real-life events which happened in Gwangju also inspired other movies such as May 18 (2007) and Peppermint Candy (1999).

Watch the trailer here.

3. The Attorney (2013)

Speaking of Chun Doo-hwan, another incident called the “Burim case” of 1981 happened during Doo-hwan regime.

The military government arrested 22 students, teachers and office workers who belonged to a book club without warrants and on fabricated charges that they were North Korea sympathizers.

The Attorney (2013) is loosely based on this event in which tax lawyer Roh Moo-hyun formed a legal team with Moon Jae-in and Kim Kwang-il to defend the group.

Today, the real-life Moo-hyun went on to become the 16th South Korean president while Jae-in is currently the South Korea president.

Watch the trailer here.

4. 1987: When The Days Come (2017)

Even after the Gwangju Uprising, university students continued to protest against Doo-hwan.

One of the students, Bak Jong-cheol was detained and interrogated for his role in the student protest. During the interrogation, the authorities used the infamous waterboarding technique to torture Jong-cheol which led to his death.

The movie is set in 1987, focusing on the real-life events that led up to the June Democratic Uprising including the death of a student protester during police interrogation.

Unlike the Gwangju Uprising which was limited to the city, the June Democratic Uprising was a nationwide democracy movement in the country that brought about mass protests from June 10 to June 29, 1987.

Watch the trailer here.

5. The Battleship Island (2017)

Hashima Island is commonly known as “Gunkanjima” meaning “Battleship Island”. This uninhabited island was where Korean civilians and Chinese prisoners of war were forced to work during the Second World War.

Sadly, it is estimated that about 1,300 labourers died on the island due to exhaustion, malnutrition and accidents from poor working conditions.

Inspired by the events on Hashima Island, The Battleship Island (2017) is about an attempted prison break from the forced labour camp.

Watch the trailer here.

6. Northern Limit Line (2015)

Starring Kim Mu-yeol, Jin Goo and Lee Hyun-woo, Northern Limit Line is a naval thriller film based on the real-life events of the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong.

The battle was a confrontation at sea between North Korean and South Korean patrol vessels near Yeonpyeong island in 2002.

During the real-life events, two North Korean patrol boats crossed the contested border and engaged with two South Korean patrol boats.

Subsequently, the North Koreans withdrew before South Korean reinforcements arrived.

Unsurprisingly, the North Korean state media outlet slammed the movie being distorted while conservative South Korean leaders recommended the film.

Watch the trailer here.

7. Sea Fog (2014)

Here is a movie based on the ugly side of real-life human trafficking cases. The islands of South Korea’s southwest coast have been used as routes for illegal Chinese immigrants to enter the country seeking for better life.

In 2001, 25 of these illegal immigrants were suffocated to death in the storage tank of a fishing vessels. Instead of giving them a proper burial, the boat crew dumped their bodies into the sea.

Sea Fog is a romanticized version of this real-life event with the youngest crew member Dong-sik (Park Yoo-chun) trying to protect a young female migrant.

Watch the trailer here.

8. Norigae (2013)

This year, the K-pop fandom was rocked by its biggest scandal in the industry ever. Big Bang’s youngest member Seungri was named a suspect for offering prostitutes to clients at his nightclub.

Before this scandal, there was the death of actress Jang Ja-yeon. In 2009, Ja-yeon killed herself, leaving behind a shocking suicide note.

She described how she was beaten and forced to entertain and have sex with program directors, CEOs and media executives.

Inspired by the events surrounding her death, Norigae (2013) follows a journalist in finding the truth behind a young actress’ suicide.

Watch the trailer here.

9. Another Family (2013)

Imagine a movie that was both invested in and produced solely by crowdfunding and all the actors in the cast worked in the film for free.

That was how much the South Korean public wanted this movie to happen. Another Family (2014) was based on the true story about the legal battle between Korean conglomerate Samsung and its employees who contracted leukemia.

Meanwhile, the movie was a fictionalised account of the real-life story of Hwang Sang-ki. Sang-ki was a taxi driver who waged a four-year legal battle against Samsung.

His daughter Yu-mi was diagnosed with advanced stage of leukemia two years after working at a Samsung semiconductor factory. Then in 2007, she lost her battle to cancer at the age of 23.

Watch the trailer here

10. Birthday (2019)

The world was shocked when the news of the Sewol Ferry Disaster broke out. On the morning of Apr 16, 2014, the ferry sank while carrying 476 people en route from Incheon towards Jeju.

Overall, 305 passengers and crew members died in the disaster. In addition to that, more than half were rescued by fishing boats and other commercial vessels.

Most of the victims were secondary students from Danwon High School, Ansan city.

Inspired by the incident, Birthday (2019) follows how a family copes with the grief from the loss of their son in a tragic accident.

Watch the trailer here.

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