This episode aired on April 22, 2019.  Spoiler Alert!

King Yeongjo learns that there are various provinces that have been attacked and taken over by the rebels and that Lee In-jwa is planning to take on the capital next.  He meets in private with Chairman of Congress Min and Chief Justice Jo and tells them how horrible he feels for this was the largest rebellion to date in the kingdom and also one targeted at the king.  Both Lord Min and Jo comfort him by telling him that it had nothing to do with his inability to be king, but rebels just taking advantage of the confusion in the government.

All of King Yeongjo’s friends and their assistants, get ready for battle. Mun su, Jang-dal and Ah-bong say goodbye to Yeo ji who is very unhappy about not being able to go to battle. They all gather at the palace and are addressed by the king who says that his royal command if for them to all come back alive and not let their lives be taken by those traitors!  They all march out of city to battle and stop the rebels.

Mun-su and Dal Moon go off from the main group to spy on the enemy and when they meet they are shocked for the rebels are much closer to the capital then they thought.  They rush back to inform the General of War.  They decide to wait and attack the enemy at Jiksan.  

Back in his palace the King complains to Jang-dal, that he feels useless, that what can he do at the palace. Jang- dal tells him the best answer: his job!  He must try to find a way to prevent a rebellion like this in the future.  What was causing the rebellion was that the Namins felt left out of the government appointments.  King Yeongjo decides to talk to Chief Justice Jo to ask him to arrange a meeting with all the remaining Namin aristocrats in the capital to offer a political deal.  He then has a meeting with the Chairman of Congress Min, but he says that he can’t support that motion becasue it would take the power away form his faction, the Norons.  King Yeongjo is so disappointed.

Court Lady Jo-hong rushes to tell King Yeongjo, that Yeo ji is considering leaving the palace for battle.  He rushes over to her and begs her not to go by saying: “Please stay here, Yeo ji. At least you should stay by my side. I cannot put you in danger as well. If I fail to protect you… if that happens…”  Yeo ji is moved to tears by his sentiment and stays with him.

King Yeonjo meets with the Namin and they tell him that as goos as his intentions are, his words are empty words unless the Noron agree to give some of the government positions to the Namins.  The Chairman of Congress and head of Noron Min has a change of heart as he walks in the empty city. He meets later with the king and agrees to give some of the Noron seats in the government to the Namin.  King Yeongjo is overjoyed!  His joy is short lasting as he waits in anticipation for news about the rebellion and his men. As Mun su and his troops wait at “Jiksan,” he states… Please!  Please!  This battle, we must surely win!

Website and Behind the Scenes Photos:

April 22, 2019

Today is Earth day, a day to celebrate and take care of our planet… but this of course should be every day.  Now more than ever.

This is some artwork I did with Jung Il-woo and planet Earth.  I wanted to convey his love for our planet…

 

As a Spanish teacher I am required to teach about the culture of Spanish speaking countries which is one of my favorite aspects of teaching a language: the culture. This year I chose Costa Rica, but I chose it in order to focus on its Rainforests and their very forward thinking conservation efforts. I believe that we are living in a very crucial time where changes need to take place in order to guarantee our survival on this planet.

I am teaching and learning with my students what we can do.  I am adding the “green” theme to many of my Spanish units.  Transportation?  Yes, you can learn how to say “I ride my bike” in Spanish but, we can also learn why riding a bike is important for the environment.  Sometimes we think it’s hopeless and that change happens only in a great scale, but in the case of conservation every effort counts no matter how small.  And conservation starts when we make choices in every single aspect of our lives.  From what we do… can I incorporate a green aspect to this?  to what we buy:  Do I really need this?, to what we wear, what we eat, how we get rid of things and how we get from one place to another.    These are 13 of the many things my students and I have discovered we can do:

1. Buy a reusable water bottle  and fill it up with the best water: tap water!
2. Recycle and reuse as much as you are able.  Bring things you do not need anymore to second hand stores.  Some you can even re-sell!
3. Do not use plastic straws. Choose paper straws if you really need them.  Buy them and carry them in your bag.
4. Switch all your lightbulbs to CFLs (or at least switch a few).
5. Choose to bring your silverware for your lunch at work, instead of using plastic ware.  You can even leave it a work and wash it and keep it there.
6. Bring your own refillable mug to Starbucks to drink your morning coffee.  This saves trees!  Less cups being used and less energy in processing its trash.
7. Choose shared transportation, whether it’s a train, bus or car pooling, over individual driving.  Or walk, scoot or ride your bike to work. These choices makes a huge difference in our environment!
8. Check the labels when ever you are buying food.  Some foods contain ingredients that are destroying the rainforest like palm oil.  If there is an open produce market near you, shop there. The food is grown by local farmers and it’s plastic free. Choose local over imported food, this makes for less transportation and less burning of fossil fuels.
9. Check the labels on the clothing you wear. What is the material made out of?  Do you know about the working conditions of the people who created the product? Buy clothing made of natural fibers and avoid buying clothing made in countries that mistreat their workers.
10. Keep the lights off for as long as you can—open your curtains and enjoy natural light.  Turn off your computer and all electronics at night.
11. Use cloth napkins daily instead of paper.
12. Pay your bills online.  Put a stop to unsolicited mail—sign up to opt out of catalogs, and pre-screened credit card offers.
13. Stop using plastic bags. Get reusable mesh bags for you produce too.  Avoid buying items packaged in plastic. Do not buy plastic items unless you have no other option. Look at this video… it tells us why:

We can do this not just for us humans but for all the rest of the creatures we share this planet with!  I came across this article that made me so sad… because it is Jung Il-woo’s animal symbol and I had no idea this was happening to them:

There are so many things happening that it can be disheartening and overwhelming… but just start with taking one step in doing something for planet Earth, for us…  and you will see that the next steps become easier and easier and you feel good because you know you are doing something!

I will leave you with this… it is also about frogs and so beautiful… we can do this!  We can live and take care of our planet!  So we can jump like frogs for many years to come!

 

May the Earth be in your thoughts… today and always!

Fan 13

 

 

This episode aired on April 15, 2019.  Spoiler Alert!

Black Chaos Part 1

King Yeongjo has to deal with the big first bad event of his life as king. A “plague” has supposedly started to spread through out his kingdom. He directs all his officials to do all kinds of tasks to keep the plague from spreading, including guarding the entrance into Hanyang if people have any sign of sickness, having the doctors report on the amount of patients every 15 minutes at the Hwalinseo, the hospital, and making enough provisions of rice available to the sick.

He finds out the confirmation of his fear that Mil Pung-kun had escaped and meets with the head of the Soron, Chief Justice Jo and the head of the Noron, Minister Min in private to share the terrible news. He tells them to keep it private for the time being and how he suspects that Mil Pung-kun has something to do with the “plague.”

In-jwa the leader of the Namin, shows off the great camp and army he is creating, including a printing area, where men are setting movable types for a communication.  This printed communication is pasted and distributed all over the capital and it states many lies including that King Yeongjo is responsible for killing King Kyungjong and that the plague was a punishment from the god.  People believe the lies and some attempt to take their sick relatives out of the Hwalinseo in fear as they have heard that the medicine has wolfsbane.

King Yeongjo is made aware that the Queen Dowager has fallen sick with the plague.  He rushes off to see her but everyone tells him to step away for his safety.  Yeo Ji, who is serving the queen comes running out calling for the physician.  King Yeonjo can’t believe his eyes and asks her why has she done that, why had she become a court lady when he didn’t want her to.  She says that it was her wish to be near him to protect him, even more after all his friends had left.  They stare at each other in absolute love.

Dal Moon and his helpers find out that the plague is not a plague but poison that has made it to all the main wells of the city.  He sends for the King, and when King Yeonjo finds out, he promises to never forgive those that have hurt his people is such a cruel manner.

He goes back to the palace and hears about another rumor that is going around stating that he’s leaving the capital.  Though Lord Min suggests they send newspapers immediately explaining the situation, King Yeongjo makes the observation that the commoners would never know the truth that way.  He decides to calm the people down himself and travels to the Hwalinseo where he comforts the sick and their relatives.  He tells them that the illness is not a punishment from heaven, and that he will stay with his people until the end.

Website Photos and Behind the Scenes:

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WITAT

I really enjoyed this episode, not only in how well King Yeongjo handles that terrible crisis as a king and how well Jung Il-woo portrays him… he is just so comforting, like he can deal with anything!  My kind of man!

And… I absolutely loved seeing him in this outfit.  My favorite thus far:

He looked stunning…  really there is no word that can describe how beautiful he looks here… and the outfit is red!  Our favorite color!  Actually red is very prominent in all of this drama… so redlightful! 🙂

 

 

This Episode aired on April 9, 2019.  Spoiler Alert!

This Episode begins with the scene when Crown Prince Lee Geum is deemed unworthy by Chief Justice Jo.  Lee Geum has flash backs of different people telling him the same.  However a talk with the one he calls his teacher, Chief Inspector Lee and he decides not only that he’s worth it, but to get the crown faster than the six days that are the usual custom.  To do this he goes and speaks with Queen Inwon, who has the maximun power until a new king is crowned.  She agrees to make him king before the six days pass.  Lee Geum understands the risk of being called “a shameless king” for not waiting the six mourning days.

We see Yeo Ji enjoy ironing and getting the future garments of the king ready.  And then we see the gorgeous ceremony of the crowning of Prince Lee Geum into King Yeongjo, the 21sst ruler of the Joseon Dynasty. Absolutely Magnificent!

Sadly, soon after that our new King faces the resignation of his two beloved friends, Inspector Mun Su and Chief Inspector Lee.  He bitterly cries feeling alone grasping the arm of his throne.  Then the episode ends with the fresh morning news:  a plague is attacking the people and it has arrived to the capital, Hanyang!

Website Photos and Behind the Scenes:

And Jung Il-woo posted this photo in his IG on April 11:

Like I wrote for him:  Silly King! How you rule my heart.  You make me smile and dance over clouds and float over flowers! You fill my heart with strawberry candy…

…what joy you bring to my life!

To see the 2015 Press Conference Post of Beautiful Woman go HERE.

 

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A SORROWFUL DUTY

This episode aired on April 8, 2019.  Spoiler Alert!

Our dear Crown Prince stops the medicine from the Royal Infirmary that the King Kyungjong had been taking under the suspicion that Yi Tan (Mil Pung-kun) had tampered it, by adding poison.  He then sends for the best doctors from outside the palace.  Chief Justice Jo says to him he believes he has other motives for stopping the medicine, like taking the throne for himself.  And though Lee Geum is furious he lets it pass for the sake of what is more important in the moment: to save the King.  Prince Lee Geum also summons Mun-su to the palace and tells him about his suspicions about Mil Pung-kun.  Mun-su gets to work right away trying to help his royal friend.

Our leading lady came back as Yeo-ji is brought before Queen Inwon, who takes her as a court lady even without finishing her training as she has noble eyes.

In the last part of the episode, we see King Kyungjong is given a very toxic medicine: wolfsbane. This medicine brings him to a conscious state to say his final words full of kindness to his younger brother Lee Geum.  Then he falls unconscious again and Lee Geum cuts his hand in a final attempt to save him with his own blood, but it is all futile and the King dies.  Everyone weeps…

Website Photos:

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WITAT

Oh… watching these photos of Lee Geum crying for his brother, just makes me thing of Il-woo crying for Awoo.  Just so sad…

…and today April 15, the Notredame Cathedral in Paris caught on fire and suffered severe damage.  The main spire fell and at this point there is no much information on the origin of the fire or the amount of damage.  I pray they were able to save the towers, their gargoyles and the round stain glass.  There were no human lives claimed … thank goodness.

…and tomorrow marks another anniversary of the Sewol tragedy in South Korea as well. Over 300 people died, many of them secondary school students from the Danwon High School that were on a field trip. The Safety Investigation Report made by the Korea Maritime Safety Tribunal noted that Sewol at the time of departure was carrying 2,142.7 tons of cargo when its maximum allowance was 987 tons!

Sigh…

For 2015’s Beautiful Woman Chinese drama go HERE.

For KRIBBIT Translations see main menu.

This episode aired on April 2, 2019.  Spoiler Alert!

This episode begins with the dreadful scene when Mil Pung-kun shows up all face bloody at the palace of the King. Prince Lee Geum shows up a minute later to confront him but he seems to have lost it completely as he laughs hysterically.  Once he is arrested, Prince Lee Geu is still not at ease, he wants to make sure all loose ends are tied.  He even visits Mil Pung-kun to try to get something out of him and he does when he hears what he told his younger brother while killing him.

Prince Lee Geum absolved from any crime is finally free to return to his palace and decides to have a night out with friends.  He meets Mun-su and Dal Moon among others. The next day, Prince Lee Geum is chosen by King Kyungjong to govern the country vicariosuly, which basically means governing with the aid of the King as he learns and is ready to be a King by himself.  He walks into the throne room and takes a seat in front of the king.  He tells the court he is lloking forward to learning from each one of them and proceeds with his first ruling: to replace the personnel in the three justice related agencies.  He begins by with replacing the Saheonbu’s chief inspector with Minister Lee, who is totally shocked by the order.

Later that day he meets a very bitter Minister Min who mentions that it was too bad that Mil Pung-kun had been caught that night when he had plenty of time to run away.  Lee Geum is immediately curious about the statement and finds out eventually that Lee Tan had two hours of a window when he could have escaped.  He asks himself why?  What was he doing?  The answer came swiftly as King Kyungjong’s chest pains get worse while he’s drinking his medicine. Lee Geum ends up in the Infirmary yelling at the the Royal Physician as he doesn’t know what’s wrong with the King.  Ja dong shows where he had found the bloody stain and finally Lee Geum realizes what Mil Pung-kun was up to.  He runs to the King’s Palace to find King Kyungjong almost unconscious after coughing up blood from drinking the medicine that Mil Pung-kun had tampered with.

Website Photos:

Website photos and Behind the Scenes photos and videos. Cr. SBS and Jung Il-woo.

This is the photo from the selfie posted by the director in his instagram @ leeyongsuk.

WITAT

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He just posted this!  I’m so glad his mom went to see him… nothing compares to the love of a mother!  So sweet!  They must to be so proud of each other! They are both doing great things for their country Korea and the preservation of its beautiful culture!   I’m so happy to be a witness… that people like them can really do good with their talent not only for themselves, but for a greater good… and ultimately the world!