Tag: fun

Posted in Korea, lists, Reviews, Uncategorized

10 must watch Korean movies

Posted on by DinaDaily

I come to you, extremely tired, from a PC room.
I made a promise to myself to keep blogging, so I put 10,000₩ (about £7) on my PC room membership. Although I am extremely tired, I owe it to myself (and you guys!) to keep blogging!

Please check out my list series here.

The list that I have decided to make today is, what I think are the 10 must watch Korean movies.
When I first became interested in Korean culture, it was actually movies that drew me in. Korean cinema has remained my favourite part of Korean media! So I have a lot of opinions on this category!
I will try to keep this post short, but I can’t promise! I will also try to involve all genres of film!

  1. Miracle in Cell No.7 (7번방의 선물, 2013)Drama/Comedy
    Drama/Comedy

    7번방의 선물.jpg

    This movie stars my favourite actress, Park Shin-hye (박신혜), as a lawyer for her mentally ill father who was imprisoned for murder. I don’t want to give away too much of this story, so I will not give you any more plot information. However, I will say that this film made me laugh and cry like a baby. Excellent acting, a great story line and emotion filled.

  2. Memories of Murder ( 살인의 추억, 2003)
    Drama/ Mystery

    Memories of Murder poster.jpg

    This is an older movie, maybe the oldest in my list. It is based on the true events of Korea’s first serial murders on record. The movie follows two detectives trying to solve the crimes. After watching this movie, I found myself looking for all information on Korea’s first serial murders. I also found myself watching other dramas and another movie (Confessions of Murder, 2012) based on the same serial murders. This is the best of the movies I watched. (Some of the dramas were great but I will make a post about that another time!)
    What captured me about this movie which was actually recommended to me by a friend, is that I didn’t know any of the actors, so I could focus on their acting skills. They were great actors and I think the movie is also well directed.
    If you like drama/crime/thriller/mystery movies, check this movie out!

  3. The Wailing (곡성, 2016)

    Drama/Romance

    The Wailing (film).png

    This movie was also recommended to me by another friend, and to be honest, I don’t know if I am thankful!
    Whenever I think about this movie I get scared. It is so disturbing. The first time I watched this movie, there were no English subtitles. At the time my Korean wasn’t the greatest, so I thought to myself, “what on earth is happening?!”…
    I watched it a second time, with English subtitles. I thought to myself, “what on earth is happening?!”…
    If you like horrors, this movie is for you.
    If you like thrillers, this movie is for you.
    If you like mysteries, this movie is for you.
    If you like movies like inception and the prestige this movie is for you.
    Watch this movie.
    (Plus, it stars one of my favourite actors, Hwang Jung-min (황정민)!!)

  4. Always (오직 그대만, 2011)
    Drama/Romance

    Always2011Poster.jpg

    This movie…
    I don’t really like romantic movies. They make me feel so lonely and I lose hope in love! But this movie, had such a gripping story line, I had to watch it. I am very glad that I did. Although, the tissues that were used that night probably don’t feel the same.
    I’ll just give you a short preview of the plot.
    The extremely handsome So Ji-sub (소지섭) is an ex-boxer.
    The beautiful Han Hyo-joo (한효주) is blind.
    Of course, they fall in love but it’s never easy in romantic movies.

  5. Spellbound (오싹한 연애, 2011)
    Comedy/ Romance/ Horror

    오싹한 연애에 대한 이미지 검색결과

    I thought that this movie was going to be a horror, but it was a comedy. It had a few jumpy scenes, but overall it is a funny movie! I also do not like comedies much, but this movie had me laughing!
    If you like horror comedies, this is a great movie for you!

  6. Memoir of a Murderer (살인자의 기억법, 2017) 
    Drama/Action

    memoirs of a murderer에 대한 이미지 검색결과

    This movie had me guessing the whole time! It has been a while since I have seen such a good thriller movie. Thriller is my favourite genre of movie. So, I have tried to watch as many thrillers as possible. This is one of the movies that I always think about when someone asks me for a recommendation.
    An interesting story of a serial killer who has Alzheimer’s disease.
    This movie is bound to keep you guessing about the truth.

    Based on the best-selling fiction book A Murderer’s Guide to Memorization by Kim Young-ha (김영하)

  7. Poetry (시, 2010)
    Drama/ Tragedy

    Poetry film poster.jpg

    I actually watched this movie when I was at home in London. I was shocked that there was a Korean movie available on Sky Movies, so I just decided to watch it.
    It was a great find.
    This movie is a tragedy.
    I think one of the things that I appreciate about Korean movies is that they are very good at showing emotions and making the audience feel sympathy for the actors.
    An elderly woman, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, is raising her grandson.
    This movie shows what a grandma would do to protect her grandson, even if he does not deserve it.
    It is a controversial topic and while I do not agree with the grandma helping the grandson, it is a movie. I tried to watch this movie while focusing on a grandmothers love as apposed to protecting people who have done something wrong.
    A greatly tragic movie.

  8. The Chaser (추격자, 2008)
    Crime/ Thriller

    The Chaser film poster.jpg

    I’m not sure why, but I thought I wrote a blog on this movie. I didn’t.
    A great crime thriller movie which is inspired by Korean serial killer, Yoo Young-Chul (유영철). I had heard about this serial killer before I had watched the movie, but it didn’t connect until I had watched the movie and researched it after. (I know I do things a bit backwards.)
    While I was watching this movie, I found myself really hating the main character. The film has excellent acting! This movie also had me guessing what was going to happen next.
    If you like watching movies or documentaries based on true crime, you may find this movie interesting.

  9. Forgotten (기억의 밤, 2017)
    Mystery/ Thriller

    Recall the Night (기억의 밤).jpg

    I think you guys can tell by now, I really like thriller movies.
    I watched this movie because it popped up as a suggestion on my TV. While I was watching it, I thought I knew what the story line was…
    I was left shocked because it wasn’t what it seemed like.
    A great watch which is action packed from the start.

    I have saved my favourite movie for last, so I hope you are still with me!

  10. Hide and Seek (숨바꼭질, 2013)

    Mystery/ Thriller

    Hide and Seek (2013) poster.jpg

    I have watched this films multiple times. I never get bored of it!
    Every time I watch this movie, I am just so amazed at how good of an actress Moon Jeong-hee (문정희) is! She is amazing!
    This movie also had me wondering what was going on the whole time! This was one of the first Korean thrillers I had watched. It is still my favourite!
    I suggest everyone watches this movie and while you are watching, please pay attention!

Well, there you have it! My top 10 Korean movies.
Of course, there are many more movies that I would like to suggest to you guys! However, for today, I tried to do my favourite movies that I think have not been seen by many of my international friends and followers.

Who knows, maybe there will be a part 2!

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Posted in 30 day challenge, lists

Day 5: 5 current goals.

Posted on by DinaDaily

How many goals do you currently have set for yourself? I have never really thought about goals and I guess it’s because I have never been asked what my current goals are. I always get asked what my future goals are. However, now that I think about it, I have to have current goals in order to fulfil my long term goals.

Why 5? Because it is day 5 of my blog challenge and I want to celebrate by having a 5 theme! Okay?!

  1. Lose weight.

Now, this is always going to be a goal for me. Is it not a goal for most of the population? I have never been slim and I probably never will be. But I feel like I need to lose weight for my health. Since moving to Korea, I have put on weight and I can tell that it needs to change. So that is one of my more important goals.

2. Keep up blogging and be recognised as a blogger.

Now this is a goal which I have, if you haven’t noticed, have started to try to reach recently. (The challenge, for my slower readers). It is something that ai realise I should have never stopped doing, because it makes me happy. It also will help towards my long term goal of being a journalist or professional blogger.

3. Be fluent in Korean.

When I first moved to Korea, I kind of had the basics of Korean, or enough to get by. Now, I have improved a lot due to being in a relationship with someone who could not speak English. But, I am not at the fluency I want yet. Not only in speaking, but also in reading/writing. I feel like this would also benefit my long term goal of wanting to be a journalist.

4. Save money.

This one is the same as my goal of losing weight. I have never been and probs never will be good at saving money. But, it is something I know I have to do and I am finally trying to do! I want to save money so that I can help my family, be able to do most of the things I want to do and to be prepared for any situation that comes my way. It could be that I want to travel or I am jobless. I need to always be financially stable.

5. Be the best version of myself.

Now this is a current and long term goal. It is also a goal that I think everyone needs to have! We are so fast to criticise ourselves and others these days. I want to be someone who is positive, sees the good side to every experience and have people like me for who I am. I know that not everyone in the world will like me, but if I am the best version of myself, I will know that there is nothing else I can do.

I know my goals are kind of bland and you have probably heard before, but it’s simple things that please me. So my goals are simple.

I wonder if any of you lovely people have a goal that I have never thought could be a goal. It’s so interesting to see and hear how different peoples goals are. So, let me know in the comment section below and I will respond to you!

Thanks for supporting and reading my blog!

Posted in 30 day challenge

Day 4: Star signs

Posted on by DinaDaily

Star signs. Do you believe that you are actually a certain kind of person or have a certain type of personality because of the day you were born?

Well, I’m going to put it to the test by seeing how I similar I am to what my star sign says I should be.

I am a Taurus, so here are some facts that a friend of mine told me about and what I have found online, too.

Strengths: devoted, stable, patient, reliable, responsible.

Weaknesses: possessive, stubborn.

Taurus likes: music, cooking, working with hands, romance, good food and drink.

Taurus dislikes: complications, sudden changes, being rushed, being hungry, loud and aggressive behaviour.

So far, I am torn. Part of what I have found is true to me. The rest, I can argue with. So let’s look into it in more detail.

As far as strengthens go, I am devoted. I am devoted to my bed, songs that I know, my friends, my no work on the weekend policy. But seriously, I am devoted in many ways.

I asked my trusted friend, Felix the Cat, because I couldn’t decide if I was responsible or not, he told me that he thinks I am responsible. So, I guess I am! But when it comes to certain things like, work or important things. I think I am not responsible when it comes to making personal decisions and when it comes to money.

I agree that I am stubborn. It’s my way or the highway for most things when you are with me. I do not change my mind easily. And I agree I am super possessive. So I guess on the weaknesses side, I am very Taurus. But, I do not think that those two things are negative. What is wrong with knowing what you want and caring about things or people enough to be possessive?

I also like music, cooking, romance and good food and drink. But then again, who doesn’t like those things? (apart from my ex on the romance part. Low blow, I know.)

Now, in terms of Taurus dislikes, 100% accurate. Especially the hungry part. If I am hungry, leave me alone for your own sake.

Now, things that I do not agree on.

Being patient is 100% not true for me. I am not patient. I hate working with my hands, unless you include typing or writing with my hands.

And in terms of being reliable, I cannot answer that without being bias. So, let me know if you guys think I am reliable! But again, I guess it’s something that is true when applied to certain circumstances.

What are your star signs? And do you think you are similar to your star sign? Do you think it’s all nonsense? Do you know more about Taurus? Should I stop asking questions? Okay.

Thanks for reading!

Posted in 30 day challenge

Day 2: Do you want to be famous?

Posted on by DinaDaily

“She started off writing a blog about dating in Korea. Now she is changing Journalism as we know it. Let’s have a round of applause for Dina Daily!” – The Independent.

Yes. I want to be famous. And while I can imagine all I want is to become famous for being me, that’s probably not going to happen. But I do have a few ideas about how I will rise to fame.

Now before you guys jump down my throat to tell me that I am not thinking about the downsides, like not having privacy, I have already thought about everything. I will be fine!

The first way I see myself becoming famous is, by being the first black news reporter in Korea. Now, there may have been one already and Sam Okyere is probably going to beat me. But I really want to be known for breaking a barrier in Korea. I want to be known as Dina, the Black British girl who sounds like a Korean.

If that doesn’t work, I want to be famous for my booty. Hahaha I’m kidding!

I want to be famous for changing journalism orcoming up with a new form of journalism. Now, I know this is a big one, and probably the least realistic, but a girl can dream! Studying journalism really opened my eyes as to how slanted the media is. All major news outlets are reporting what they think is news worthy. But nobody really reports on important news unless it is negative. So I want to make a change!

The fun one, would be to be married to a celebrity! Now, don’t pretend like you wouldn’t want that to happen to you too! Who would reject their favourite celebrity crush?! So, Kim Woo Bin, I am waiting for you. 😏

The last thing I want to be famous for is helping people. In specific, the first thing I want to do is, to make Female Genital Mutilation illegal in every country. My mum was mutilated and is still traumatised by it. To defend my Grandma, she didn’t know any better as she was 14 and living in a country at war when she had my mum, so I am not angry at her. But it shouldn’t even be an option in any country. After doing that, I want to keep helping people by putting an end to as many problems as possible.

Now, I know some of you are thinking, ‘You shouldn’t help people for the fame.’ I understand where you are coming from. But, I believe that publicity is needed in order to make a big difference. What way better to get publicity than to be famous? I would use my fame to help people by bringing more attention to the problems and by fund raising events where celebrities and people with a lot of money are invited to donate money. I would make sure that those funds are all donated to the cause. Also, if I were famous, I would donate most of my earnings to whichever problem I would be trying to end.

So, yes! I want to be famous! And it’s not because I want money or because I want to buy a house.

Let me know what you would like to be famous for!