Lore In Stone Cities

A new year and a new reason to be completely tickled pink and extremely honored!  The Korean drama blogging community continues to be a welcoming and enjoyable space; E-kun and I are extremely thankful to be a part of it! So what am I rambling on about? Well, Stone Cities has received a second Liebster Award! It is an honor to be nominated for this award, courtesy of the lovely blogger Miss Cupcakees at A Fairytale World and the lovely blogger at Kdrama & More. Thank you both!

Stone Cities received a Liebster last year, you can check out the post here (including Lore admitting her love for Zack Morris). The second time around is no less touching, because it is so cool to know that our posts are still relevant and fun and people are still enjoying our little old blog. Plus we get to pay it forward and highlight the blogs we love to read! In other words, we are Verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves as we dab our eyes. Be back in a sec.

So what is a Liebster Award?

Official Rules:

Each nominee link back the person who nominated them.

Answer 10 questions which are given to you by the nominator.

Nominate 10 other bloggers for this award who have less than 200 followers.

Create 10 questions for your nominees to answer.

Let the nominees know that they have been nominated by going to their blog and notifying them.

Our Answers

Miss Cupcakees Questions

How did you get into blogging about drama?

Lore: I was inspired by the amazing bloggers over at Drama Beans (I can only aspire to be half as witty as they are). Shortly after my obsession for K-dramas came into fruition I started visiting DB regularly. Their opinions as well as the comments section of the blog made me start to really question what I thought and felt about the media I was consuming. At that point I realized how engaging the Korean drama blogging community is.

Shortly after I took a leap of faith and started Stone Cities with the hope that maybe, just maybe, somebody would be interested in reading my own thoughts on the shows we were collectively watching. Almost a year and half later I am extremely happy I took that original step, because blogging about dramas has become something I love to do! This past year I was lucky enough to have ExtraKun join Stone Cities as my partner in crime, and we have never looked back. I have met some amazing drama friends through the experience!

ExtraKun: Well, I have been watching Kdramas for years (since 2008) at this point, my bestie told me how Dramafever was starting drama clubs for average joe’s to be apart of. I thought– What the heck, I have a pretty free summer and it gives me an opportunity to share my thoughts with people who really want to listen (sorry co- workers and randoms who hear about my obsession)!

That is when I met Lore through our drama club, she graciously asked me to be a regular here at Stone Cities (when I was thinking how I would love to collaborate with her more anyway)! So here I now have a home to rant, rave, and giveaway prizes… unni, we need to have another contest soon!

What is your all-time favourite drama troupe that you can watch over and over again?

Lore: I have a thing for contract marriages / relationships (Goong, My Lovely Sam Soon, My Girl), modern day takes on royalty (King 2 Hearts, My Princess), and sageuks that focus on a love that cannot be (Princess’s Man, Jang Ok Jung). Apparently I like to see forced relationships, imaginary monarchies, and historical heartbreak. Yep, that about sums it up. Not that I am weird or anything…*Runs away to imaginary forbidden romance contract marriage monarchy land*

ExtraKun: Sageuk’s are my weakness! I love a good historical piece– OST’s are usually bomb, the imagery blows you away, and it makes hot guys look even hotter. And I am all about fantasy story like Secret Garden, Queen In Hyun’s Man, You Who Came From the Stars,  Nine, etc. It is something about the romance mixed with fantasy that makes me go cray cray giddy happy!

Who is your favourite OTP and why? (I asked this during my previous Liebster Award post but it doesn’t hurt to ask it again).

Lore: I have to go with my one and only OTP- Monday Couple (Song Ji Hyo and Kang Gary from Running Man)! Because I love them. Absolutely love them. I still have delusions about them being real (wait, are they delusions if I know they are delusions?! Aish, so confused). This couple makes me laugh every week and I am forever thankful for that. Best variety couple ever in my opinion.

ExtraKun: Hands down Eun Oh and Arang from Arang and the Magistrate! I needed them to be together from 21 jump street and that is the way I need it stay forever! I need to go watch that again *turns on Roku to find a couple of scenes*

Who do you have the most severe SLS (second lead syndrome) towards?

Lore: I am actually pretty lucky – I don’t come down with SLS very often. The only second lead that I ever felt should have won the girl was Oh Jin Rak in Flower Boy Next Door because he was just so sweet. In fact, I can’t really think of a severe case of SLS in my drama watching experience. Wait, am I doing something wrong? *Runs back to imaginary forbidden romance contract marriage monarchy land*

ExtraKun: I cannot answer that– I have a severe case of SLS. But the absolute worst case that I will always reign down fire and brimstone about is I Need Romance 2012! Yeol Mae should have picked Ji Hoon and that will always be my story! And yes, I am bitter about it!

What is your favourite MV? Link me please!

Lore: This is a tough one! There are so many MVs I like (I assume we are talking MVs, not necessarily favorite songs). Because I can’t choose one from all of the genres / music I like I give you my favorite Korean MV. I will never not laugh at these (yep, I cheated as there are 2 MVs- you have to see both parts for full impact). Love me some Epik High Mithra Monster.

ExtraKun: So I am old and have not seen music videos for a hot minute scratch that, after I saw half of Justin Timberlake’s Tunnel Vision, I got all indignant and decided not to watch anymore music videos. But if I had to pick one…

Only because of Soo Hyuk and Jong Hyun… I’m a mess.

What is one drama that you regret ever having started regardless of whether you finished it or not?

Lore: Level 7 Civil Servant. It made me question my faith in humanity.

ExtraKun: I have more than one but I will give you the last one I saw: When a Man Loves. If that is what happens when a man loves I don’t want it! I will stay single forever (that’s not true Soo Hyun… I am waiting for you)!

Poor girl, rich guy. Write up a drama plot revolving around them.

Lore: Ms. Poor Girl was raised in an orphanage in Seoul with no knowledge of her real parents. As an adult she gets a job as a governess working at a large, stately home in a rural province of Korea (her first job outside the orphanage, where she stayed to teach after she turned 18). She arrives at the estate to meet her charge, an odd little boy who swears he can see ghosts. The boy’s widower father, rebellious cousin, and widowed aunt are eccentric and full of mysteries. The place only gets weirder as a long lost cousin arrives, ready to take up residence in a long abandoned smaller home on the estate. This cousin has some odd habits, such as only coming to the main estate in the evenings. Oh, and he has a sword cane. Soon the cousin, who is also abundantly wealthy, starts to pay attention to our governess. The governesses’ charge tells her to stay away because Mr. long-lost-creepy-rich-guy is not all he seems. But however much she tries, our poor governess is drawn to our rich long lost cousin. Will they fall in love? And just what is this long lost mysterious man’s goal?

Yes, that is my version of Dark Shadows Korean drama style. Because Dark Shadows is awesome.

ExtraKun: Anything that involves me ending up with one of the following: Kim Soo Hyun, George Hu, Tamaki Hiroshi, Blue Lan, Lee Jun Ki… what happens in the middle doesn’t really matter. Heh.

Who are some guys that you can just stare at for days and nights without having them to even do anything?

Lore: Kim Ji Hoon, every member of Exo, Lee Min Ho, Lee Jun Ki, Yoo Ah In, So Ji Sub. I would probably pay to watch any of them sit around and stare at a wall. Seriously.

ExtraKun: I don’t think wordpress will allow me to put all of them but lets stick with the staples: Lee Jun Ki, Kim Soo Hyun, Kim Jae Wook, Lee Jung Jae, Song Seung Heon, Blue Lan, Gong Yoo, Roy Chiu, Kimura Takuya, Haruma Miura, Kang Ha Neul,Cha Seung Won, T.O.P., Seo Kang Joon… this list is dangerous (and I am not even finished)! Can I include Gumiho Daddy too?! *Eyes light up*

What are you currently studying/have studied etc. or what is your current job (if you are currently working)?

Lore: I have a bachelors degree in accounting, I am currently pursuing a masters degree in accounting & finance (will be done in December whoot whoot!). I work as a financial analyst for a fortune 500 company. In other words, I like math and stuff.

ExtraKun: I have a bachelors in music ministry but I work in the international department for a top clothing line. I also teach handbells on a beginners level. I am starting school again in the near future.

What are some places you want to visit (it can be fictional or not) and where in the world do you currently reside? (I know, I cheated with asking 11 questions in all but hey, rules are meant to be broken!)

Lore: Ohhhhh, imaginary places are acceptable answers?! Okay then – Middle Earth, Seoul as portrayed in 99% of Korean dramas (6 city blocks wide consisting of a shopping mall, a few mansions, the hovel a poor girl lives in, 4 coffee shops, a club, a convenience store, a hospital, a police station, and the place the gangsters hang out), whatever world the writers of Boys over Flowers live in (hint- pretty sure it is filled with laughing gas), Narnia, Isle of Avalon/ Camelot or anywhere Merlin chills, Discworld, Collinwood, Ferelden, Skyrim. Real places- South Korea, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, Italy, Malaysia and India. I currently reside in the land of ice and snow- also known as the frigid northern continental United States.

ExtraKun: So Ji Sub’s kitchen, Hyun Bin’s bathroom, Ancient Rome (like with lions in the arena), Socrates brain (I need him to let a sister in on a couple of things in life), Golgotha, the River Styx (not dead– but like how it was in Arang and the Magistrate), India, YG headquarters, and Disneyland. I currently reside in VA… my hope is to move back home to Cali in the next year or so.

KDrama & More’s Questions

1) If you could go on a date with an actor/actress for one day who would you choose and why?

Lore: Kim Ji Hoon with a five o’clock shadow- because I want to stare at him.

Ekun: Honestly, Rain. Not because I think he is uber hot (he is attractive but I have seen better. Put your tomatoes or popcorn away you crazies!) but because I find him intriguing. I would like to sit and really have a conversation with him about live, love (his love not mine), and the pursuit of happiness.

2) What is your all time favorite kpop MV?

Lore: See above for our answers (in the previous question set 🙂

Ekun: Same, seek above answer…

3) If your life were an Asian drama which drama would you pick?

Lore: Hmmmm. Well, I would probably pick the most outlandish drama I can think of with a happy ending. Boys over Flowers it is. Because in the end I would marry Lee Min Ho and follow my dream. What more can a girl ask for?

Ekun: I would pick Queen In Hyun’s Man– I want to find the love of my life and have a phone booth momo with a sexy Yangban like Kim Bong Do (I know this is not the phone booth moment but it was still magical all the same)!

4) Your life is going to become a script for a movie. Who would you want to play you? and why?

Lore: Park Shin Hye, because she is beautiful and spunky or Gong Hyo Jin because I simply adore her (and she could probably pull off my eccentricities better than I can).

Ekun: This is tough, I need someone to pull off my no nonsense attitude, but show my kinder side– wait who is the male lead? Because depending on that I might need to play myself.

5) What is you favorite book?

Lore: I love to read, so it is extremely difficult to pick an all time favorite. One of the books I have thought the most of (translation – it made me think far too much) is On the Road by Jack Kerouac. I never not want to drop everything and go after reading this book (yes, I keep rereading it).

Ekun: Favorite book, that is a tough question… I am not an avid reader but I like poetry more than anything. I am kind of a fan of Shakespeare’s Sonnets– Sonnet 130 is my favorite. He loves her for her, what more can a person ask for?

6)  If you could have a 30 minute conversation with any fictional character (asian drama, movie or book character), who would you choose and why?

Lore: On the drama side I would pick John Mayer from King 2 Hearts. This man is a rare form of batshit crazy and would make for an interesting 30 minutes. Plus, we would probably spend it all talking about Lee Seung Gi, which is completely fine with me. In terms of literary characters I would want to talk to Tom Bombadil from Lord of the Rings- I have always imagined it would be like talking to a mixture of Ghandi, Buddha, and a Monty Python character rolled into one strange guy.

Ekun: I want to spend time talking to Choi Young Do from Heirs. I want to make him snacks and drink soju with him. I want him to know, that he doesn’t have to be alone if he doesn’t want to be. Even though I loved him, it would be completely Noona talking, no shenanigans.

7) Who is your favorite Asian drama character?

Lore: Tough questions! I can’t really say I have a favorite, because there are just so many! I really like a strong and likeable heroine (read, not damsel in distress) as well as a flawed antihero.

Ekun: Agreed, I do not have a favorite character, but right now I am digging Do Min Joon from You Who Came From the Stars. I will also add that my favorite male lead character is Lee Min Ki’s Kang Tae Bong from Dal Ja’s Spring– he is the ultimate classification of “MY TYPE”!

8) Favorite drama ost of all time?

Lore: Arang and the Magistrate had a pretty good OST – it threw in modern tracks to back up the supernatural historical scenes. It could have been a major fail but it felt just right (especially the MC Sniper bits).

Ekun: Anything Sageuk pretty much rocks! I think I like the people who tend to sing songs for OST’s more than one particular OST. My favorites are Baek Ji Young, Yesung (Suju), Hwanee, K. Will, and Park Wan Kyu.

9) What korean food would you like to try?

Lore: Bulgogi!

Ekun: Oh, that is delicious Lore! I think I would want to try something that I would normally not like. I have eaten Korean food before, but I would want to try something with fish in it– I have a low tolerance of fish, but if you can make it taste good for me, I will love you for always!

10) If you were to come out in we got married who would you like you partner to be?

Lore: I liked WGM when it is funny, so my choice has to do with my perception of the entertainment value. Right now I would want to go on the program with Exo’s Baekhyun. Why? Because this kid is sassy to the point I want to slap him at times- he cannot shut his mouth. I imagine I would spend most of the show arguing with him and giving him side eyes while he groaned about being paired with a noona. But in the end we would sit down and have a nice noona dongsaeng fake marriage soju party. Cheers!

Ekun: That is a toughie! I guess I would pick someone I am not really attracted to but I can manipulate them to do what I want, and pull rank on as “Noona”… I would pick Baro! He is adorable, younger than me, and I am not attracted to him like that. I think it would be fun and I wouldn’t have to pull rank as much because he is already precious!

Our Nominees

Mary from Kdramalaws

Randomsoju

Caitlyn from As I Watch

Shai from K-Drama Central

June at Fun. Futuristic. Fashionista

Jaime from Drama Noona

Unnichan from With Subtitles Please

Pamela from Hallyu Mentality

Our Questions

Who is your least favorite character in drama land (aka the one that you wish you could slap)?

What is the story behind your blog name / blogging ID?

Favorite Korean variety show and why? If you do not watch Korean variety shows, do you have a favorite variety, talk or reality show (from any country) and why?

Why do you enjoy writing?

If you could choose only one drama to have while stranded on a deserted isle (and could watch it via a magic coconut blu-ray / DVD player) what would it be and why? This would be the only drama you could watch until you were rescued (if you were rescued).

If you were to describe your personality as a Kdrama character, what type of character would you be and why?

What is the one thing in a drama that is a deal breaker for you? I. E. You hate it so much you can no longer watch it, why?

Your dream team F4 looks like…?

If there was any drama out there that you could rewrite with an alternate ending, what would it be?

Name one thing you cannot absolutely live without? Why?