KDRAMA

"TO VISIT" LIST

 

 

You've probably heard me mention kdramas (Korean dramas for those unfamiliar with the lingo) a few times before. I watched my first (Boys Over Flowers) when I was in college for which I can thank a couple of my Korean friends (thanks, guys!!!), but I really got into them when I started preparing to come to Korea to teach. They were great introductions to a little of the culture and language (although obviously there are many things you have to take with a grain of salt--it's like Hollywood: you can't believe everything you watch).

 

Anyway, moving on. As I've watched kdramas, I've started acumulating a list of places I've seen in the dramas that I would like to visit. Jeju island being one of the major ones (it's also a major vacation spot in Korea).

One of the first dramas I watched and also one that is a few years old but still very popular in Korea is Coffee Prince. I won't get into the story too much, but the setting is the important part here. It takes place in a little cafe, which the owner turns into a "prince cafe" where only handsome boys/men can work. Long story short, a girl is mistaken as a boy and decides, when she gets a job at the cafe, not to correct people in their misconception. The cafe is quite small, and in the beginning of the show, is quite the fixer-upper project. By the end, you have something that looks a little like this:

 

 

The cafe is very small, but it also wasn't too crowded. There were surprisingly few people there (though I guess it's had a few years for the tourist rush to slow). The show first premiered in 2007, so it's been about seven years now. Sadly, the cafe isn't run by "princes" anymore. When I went, there was an ajusshi (an older gentleman) and an ajumma (an older lady) who were running the place. I have to admit I was a little disappointed I couldn't buy waffles from this guy (if you haven't watched the show, this will mean very little to you):

 





Although I knew the possibilities were slim to none, I secretly hoped some of the cast would stop by. But, alas, it was not to be. Oh well. The cafe was still cool ^ ^

Here's a few more photos. This first is a quick view of the inside. For anyone who hasn't seen the show, it won't be all that special. Anyone who has seen the show, will probably be geeking out right now. The cafe is very small. It actually has two levels, but the second floor is off limits.

 Remember how I said the second floor was off limits...Well, one of my friends who came along for the trip got us a free pass :) On our way up, we found some Coffee Prince barrells (I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that there's no coffee in them).



And then this is what greeted us upstairs:

A nice life size-ish poster of the two main characters of the story.

This poster was gigantic! It took up an entire wall, almost floor to ceiling!!!

The deck (which, once again, you will recognize if you've seen the drama).

 

After heading back downstairs, I snuck in a couple more pictures before we had to leave. The first was of the iconic flower paintings (though sadly we learned they weren't the original, nor were they actual paintings). The original had been done in chalk (I think that's what it was, but I can't quite remember), which doesn't last long. The new "paintings" were actually stickers. Sad, right?

 

 

And then we have the classic old western style swinging doors which lead to the kitchen (in which a few pivotol scenes were filmed).

 

Sorry about the glare, and the little bit of my friend's face...



 

The last picture I snapped before we walked out the door was the sign posted on the inside of the door.

 

I liked the Coffee Prince logo :)

 

Only a couple more pictures from this venture. I had to get a picture with me in it (just to prove I was actually there) and one of the sign outside.

 

 

 

It was a nice relaxing day to say the least. And I got to go somewhere cool :) That equals a good day in my book.

 

I know I've been terribly behind on my posts. This trip was actually a few weeks ago. I have a couple more to do (hopefully both of which you will be seeing soon).