Which is exactly my point. You can't judge it just because you are not seeing any impact MDL.
MDL is US-centric. It isn't popular here in Asia.
And according to Google AI: https://share.google/aimode/CaD0pc4maXVpNX9VP the Philippines ranks №1 as the largest and most dedicated Kdrama fans in the entire world since 2000. And this show is popular here in the Philippines.
If you carefully think about it, the US dwarfs the Philippines in terms of population and yet the US only comes second. So by percentage, Kdrama is actually low in the US.
In other words, sites like MDL where it's mainly used by Western fans, will definitely not show any numbers, especially since the major US OTT are not carrying this title.
But outside the US and MDL? It is popular and talked about.
Yes. She's grown up well. I'm still getting used to seeing her in these main roles and not as a child actress…
Yep! Her child actress acting keeps on playing in my head when she's on screen. 😅 And then, "wow, she really grew up and improved" every single time. 😆
She's serious with her career to have changed that much, and she's only 19. I can't wait for her to finish her school so she can take more projects. Definitely one to keep tabs on.
Seriously, looking at this political issue in this drama diplomatically, why would the SK president agree to have…
Because they're sandwiched between China and the US.
It was based on a real plan. China wants a DMZ buffer from its borders to the border with a unified Korea. They don't want an unstable and insane North Korea that can drag the entire world into WW3 where no one wins.
As much as the US wants to paint the PRC as evil, the people running the PRC are human beings. Meanwhile, you have an insane regime in North Korea whose hierarchy are probably far more insane than their Supreme Leader.
If you're a small country between these two giants and they both agreed to offer you your dream of a unified Korea, what would you do as the President of South Korea?
am I mean? ... or is it just me? ... but it feels like I'm watching an American series with Korean actors ...…
They did spend money to hire top American actors for the American scenes. That's why ot gives that high-budget quality feels. It also appears that they hired American writers to clean the script and make it very American.
This is for the GenZ, as well as, for GenX and GenY who don't pay attention to geopolitics.E05: The US made a…
1. A few years before the US started their illegal invasion of Iraq, the Mossad (Israeli Intelligence) repeatedly told the US, and its equally stupid allies, that Saddam Hussein no longer possess the capability to develop Nuclear weapons, much less, Nuclear power. The Mossad already eliminated it years ago but the US and its equally stupid allies chose to believe false intelligence instead of listening to Mossad who destryoed Saddam's nuclear dreams.
2. To this very day, the US still hasn't shown a single definitive proof that they acted on reliable and updated intelligence that prompted them to invade Iraq illegally.
3. To this very day, the UShaven't shown a single proof that they found Saddam's nuclear program. Why? Because there was absolutely nothing, the Mossad destryoed it all years before the US acted.
4. Why did the Mossad destroy it without the world's knowledge? Because the US and its stupid allies did not believe that the Mossqd Intelligence about Saddam Hussein were very accurate. So, Israel, acted on its own and destroyed Saddam's nuclear ambitions permanently, years earlier.
5. So, why did the US invade Iraq under false pretense? Simple: to capture Saddam Hussein because they believe that as long as he is alive, Iraq will always remain a threat
THIS IS EXACTLY what E05 was talking about. E05 used that real world fact to build a 2025 story where the US is once again supposedly acting on inaccurate intelligence instead of listening to the very intelligence who knows better (South Korea in this case, perhaps even China).
As far asthe US is concerned, they need to eliminate North Korea because it isa very unstable and unpredictable Nuclear State. They flew to China to convince the PRC that they need to attack North Korea and destroy it. The US understood that North Korea is a thorn to China as well.
Which again is based on facts. North Korea is indeed an unstable Nuclear State and is indeed a thorn to the PRC.
China will accept the dismantling of North Korea as long as a DMZ buffer zone will be placed a few kilometers wide from China's border with a unified Korea. This is what they've always wanted but North Korea is so unstable and unpredictable, and South Korea is stopping both the US and China, it still is pending. The South wants a peaceful unification. But the US and China wants to wipe out North Korea and their entire hierarchy.
That is what this story was based on.
If this was aired in the US, it would've been cancelled after E05.
As for the submarine in the story, probably fiction, probably not. And the existince of the submarine in the story is probably true since they kept showing us scenes of a huge sub.
Me the bodyguard: Now do you see what happens when YOU don't listen to me?!! Me: And you. I told you to check something and yiy had the guts to order me to do my job? YOU ARE FIRED!
Me: From now on, if you want to live, I AM THE ONLY ONE who gives commands here. You are immediately fired the moment you disobey me.
Me: And you, woman! Another word from you dictating what I can and cannot do for your security, I am calling it quits. You will never survive another day out there because of your "Oh Korea is safe, no one bring guns here, ecen prisoners have rights, blah blah blah horseshit". Do you hear me?!!
🤪😜
Sorry, but I really hate people who acts they know better than the person they hired for their expertise. Like, WTF did you hire an expert for if you're going to limit them? You can go to hell. 😜😜🤪🤪🤪🤣🤣🤣🤣
---
Okay, back to watching the rest of it. I hope that's what the ML did.
So they’re all being beaten or sexually abused? Coz wounds on the body makes no sense as they’re all drugged…
As for what their sponsor is actually doing to them, it could be anything.
The 2025 latest victim seems to be pregnant. But others are not. SeRa's rival also went through it but nothing hints that she did sexual favours. More likely it depends on what their sponsor needs.
It could very well be as drug subjects. Or, just serve drinks like what was asked of SeRa in late 1999 before the accident. Or, as a punching bag that explains the bruises.
Though, on SeRa's defense, a woman serving drinks in such an environment, is a woman losing her dignity regardless of there were or were no sexual favours. It's a sign that you're lowering yourself as a slave. That you are nothing but a servant to those in power, who comes when called.
And maybe, some patrons abuse them if they refuse to serve drinks. But they're so glued to their careers, they soud their souls. But SeRa being SeRa, she chose to put her career on the line.
So they’re all being beaten or sexually abused? Coz wounds on the body makes no sense as they’re all drugged…
As far as we know, SeRa did not agree to it. The first attempt on her life was because she refused and fought back. She lost her career because of that.
We don't know yet if during her severe depression or after that long battle, she gave in just to get back to her life.
- 1ML is named "Jun's father" in 3ML's phone (reinstated detective). Where is Jun? What happened to Jun? - 1ML is well-known and well-respected in many circles. Some positive, some neutral, some with reservations. To the point that, when they see him in a scene, they don't react immediately. - A top (supreme court?) judge defers to 1ML. - A top detective did not suspect him as the suspect, or a co-conspirator. - A reinstated detective have deep respect for him. - The 1FL is buddy-buddy with him. - Everyone in the town defers to him.
Just who is Shin?
Based on the Korean title 신사장, it means "New President".
He cannot be the Korea's President, otherwise, he wouldn't be able to do what he is doing as everyone will know his real identity. Yet, a new judge, 2ML doesn't even know him.
So, the next in line is a company or organization President.
He is probably the President of a big group of companies who has a vision and started a project. Hence, in Korean the actual title is "New President Project".
OR, maybe, he has plans to run for the Presidency and his method is to be a grassroots citizen. Deeply embedding with communities. Slowly build relationships and rapport. Then announce his presidency for the next elections.
After all, the title is "New President Project" not "New President's Project".
A President who is truly for the people.
And everyone who knows him, at least the top ones like the Judge and the two detectives, probably are in his circle about the project. That is why the Judge defers to him, and the detective for the bomb case was so neutral. They know him too well but cannot reveal anything.
Maybe Jun was his dead son, and he started the "New President Project" because of him.
They are just waiting for the next elections. They're practically ready until he got involved in major cases.
The more they repeat how the daughter is a "spitting image" or SeRa, the more it hints she's actually her daughter.
If this happens to be the twist, it means SeRa succumed to the demands of the powerful just to get back in the industry but he did not follow suit after she gave birth. So, later, their last meeting was that flashback in the earlier episodes where she (adult version) saw him again and told him, "You are the reason why my life is destroyed! Bring back my life!" (paraphrased)
:: trying to piece things together since we don't know the sequence of the flashbacks.
1 
MDL is US-centric. It isn't popular here in Asia.
And according to Google AI: https://share.google/aimode/CaD0pc4maXVpNX9VP the Philippines ranks №1 as the largest and most dedicated Kdrama fans in the entire world since 2000. And this show is popular here in the Philippines.
If you carefully think about it, the US dwarfs the Philippines in terms of population and yet the US only comes second. So by percentage, Kdrama is actually low in the US.
In other words, sites like MDL where it's mainly used by Western fans, will definitely not show any numbers, especially since the major US OTT are not carrying this title.
But outside the US and MDL? It is popular and talked about.
She's serious with her career to have changed that much, and she's only 19. I can't wait for her to finish her school so she can take more projects. Definitely one to keep tabs on.
In my mind, I already kicked him and accused him as a traitor. LOL.
It was based on a real plan. China wants a DMZ buffer from its borders to the border with a unified Korea. They don't want an unstable and insane North Korea that can drag the entire world into WW3 where no one wins.
As much as the US wants to paint the PRC as evil, the people running the PRC are human beings. Meanwhile, you have an insane regime in North Korea whose hierarchy are probably far more insane than their Supreme Leader.
If you're a small country between these two giants and they both agreed to offer you your dream of a unified Korea, what would you do as the President of South Korea?
2. To this very day, the US still hasn't shown a single definitive proof that they acted on reliable and updated intelligence that prompted them to invade Iraq illegally.
3. To this very day, the UShaven't shown a single proof that they found Saddam's nuclear program. Why? Because there was absolutely nothing, the Mossad destryoed it all years before the US acted.
4. Why did the Mossad destroy it without the world's knowledge? Because the US and its stupid allies did not believe that the Mossqd Intelligence about Saddam Hussein were very accurate. So, Israel, acted on its own and destroyed Saddam's nuclear ambitions permanently, years earlier.
5. So, why did the US invade Iraq under false pretense? Simple: to capture Saddam Hussein because they believe that as long as he is alive, Iraq will always remain a threat
THIS IS EXACTLY what E05 was talking about. E05 used that real world fact to build a 2025 story where the US is once again supposedly acting on inaccurate intelligence instead of listening to the very intelligence who knows better (South Korea in this case, perhaps even China).
As far asthe US is concerned, they need to eliminate North Korea because it isa very unstable and unpredictable Nuclear State. They flew to China to convince the PRC that they need to attack North Korea and destroy it. The US understood that North Korea is a thorn to China as well.
Which again is based on facts. North Korea is indeed an unstable Nuclear State and is indeed a thorn to the PRC.
China will accept the dismantling of North Korea as long as a DMZ buffer zone will be placed a few kilometers wide from China's border with a unified Korea. This is what they've always wanted but North Korea is so unstable and unpredictable, and South Korea is stopping both the US and China, it still is pending. The South wants a peaceful unification. But the US and China wants to wipe out North Korea and their entire hierarchy.
That is what this story was based on.
If this was aired in the US, it would've been cancelled after E05.
As for the submarine in the story, probably fiction, probably not. And the existince of the submarine in the story is probably true since they kept showing us scenes of a huge sub.
E05: The US made a mistake on its invasion of Iraq. = FACT.
Me: And you. I told you to check something and yiy had the guts to order me to do my job? YOU ARE FIRED!
Me: From now on, if you want to live, I AM THE ONLY ONE who gives commands here. You are immediately fired the moment you disobey me.
Me: And you, woman! Another word from you dictating what I can and cannot do for your security, I am calling it quits. You will never survive another day out there because of your "Oh Korea is safe, no one bring guns here, ecen prisoners have rights, blah blah blah horseshit". Do you hear me?!!
🤪😜
Sorry, but I really hate people who acts they know better than the person they hired for their expertise. Like, WTF did you hire an expert for if you're going to limit them? You can go to hell. 😜😜🤪🤪🤪🤣🤣🤣🤣
---
Okay, back to watching the rest of it. I hope that's what the ML did.
The 2025 latest victim seems to be pregnant. But others are not. SeRa's rival also went through it but nothing hints that she did sexual favours. More likely it depends on what their sponsor needs.
It could very well be as drug subjects. Or, just serve drinks like what was asked of SeRa in late 1999 before the accident. Or, as a punching bag that explains the bruises.
Though, on SeRa's defense, a woman serving drinks in such an environment, is a woman losing her dignity regardless of there were or were no sexual favours. It's a sign that you're lowering yourself as a slave. That you are nothing but a servant to those in power, who comes when called.
And maybe, some patrons abuse them if they refuse to serve drinks. But they're so glued to their careers, they soud their souls. But SeRa being SeRa, she chose to put her career on the line.
We don't know yet if during her severe depression or after that long battle, she gave in just to get back to her life.
- 1ML is well-known and well-respected in many circles. Some positive, some neutral, some with reservations. To the point that, when they see him in a scene, they don't react immediately.
- A top (supreme court?) judge defers to 1ML.
- A top detective did not suspect him as the suspect, or a co-conspirator.
- A reinstated detective have deep respect for him.
- The 1FL is buddy-buddy with him.
- Everyone in the town defers to him.
Just who is Shin?
Based on the Korean title 신사장, it means "New President".
He cannot be the Korea's President, otherwise, he wouldn't be able to do what he is doing as everyone will know his real identity. Yet, a new judge, 2ML doesn't even know him.
So, the next in line is a company or organization President.
He is probably the President of a big group of companies who has a vision and started a project. Hence, in Korean the actual title is "New President Project".
OR, maybe, he has plans to run for the Presidency and his method is to be a grassroots citizen. Deeply embedding with communities. Slowly build relationships and rapport. Then announce his presidency for the next elections.
After all, the title is "New President Project" not "New President's Project".
A President who is truly for the people.
And everyone who knows him, at least the top ones like the Judge and the two detectives, probably are in his circle about the project. That is why the Judge defers to him, and the detective for the bomb case was so neutral. They know him too well but cannot reveal anything.
Maybe Jun was his dead son, and he started the "New President Project" because of him.
They are just waiting for the next elections. They're practically ready until he got involved in major cases.
If this happens to be the twist, it means SeRa succumed to the demands of the powerful just to get back in the industry but he did not follow suit after she gave birth. So, later, their last meeting was that flashback in the earlier episodes where she (adult version) saw him again and told him, "You are the reason why my life is destroyed! Bring back my life!" (paraphrased)
:: trying to piece things together since we don't know the sequence of the flashbacks.
That's how much she grew and improved. It's good she's diversifying too.
I hope her detracters see her as she is now.
We have a future Best Actress in the making!