sunshine

Webtoon is worth the read, too T^T

1. MY GOLDEN LIFE (2017) (https://kisskh.at/23949-my-golden-life)
- Synopsis: 25 years ago, the Haesung Group lost their granddaughter Choi Eun Seok. The girl was found and raised by Seo Tae Soo as one of his twin daughters, Seo Ji Ahn and Seo Ji Soo, They grew up rich, but their father was bankrupt, and they had to experience the hard life of a dirt spoon. Ji Ahn is now a contract worker at Haesung Group who would do anything for a job, while Ji Soo is an air-headed part-timer who has a one-sided crush on Sun Woo Hyuk.
- Warning: There is a death.

2. BAD FAMILY (2006) (https://kisskh.at/545-bad-family)
- Synopsis: Na Rim, who came from a wealthy household, lost her family in a car accident when she was nine. After the accident, she suffered from amnesia so her uncle hired Oh Dal Gun, an ex-gangster, to recreate a similar household with parents, sister, brother, grandparents and uncle in hopes that she would regain her memory. In a hurry, Oh Dal Gun ended up hiring all sorts of odd ball characters to act as members of Na Rim's family. None got along at the start and hilarious situation arose when all members tried to cope in front of the little girl and also to protect her from the one who caused her family's accident. Eventually they started to behave like a real family and cared for each other, proving that blood relation is not as important as a caring heart.
- Old Korean drama; non-biologically-related but they come together and become a family to one another

3. FLOWER OF EVIL (2020) (https://kisskh.at/54625-flower-of-evil)
- Synopsis: Although Baek Hee Sung is hiding a dark secret surrounding his true identity, he has established a happy family life and a successful career. He is a loving husband and doting father to his young daughter. But his perfect façade begins to crumble when his wife, Cha Ji Won, a homicide detective, begins investigating a string of serial murders from 15 years ago. Ji Won notices changes in Hee Sung’s behavior and begins to wonder if he could possibly be hiding something from her.
- Family is a subplot but crucial to the story.

4. FATED TO LOVE YOU (2014) (https://kisskh.at/9558-fated-to-love-you)
- Synopsis: Mi Yeong is a typical office clerk who is rather plain, somewhat awkward and has her good nature taken advantage of by her co-workers on a daily basis. While on vacation, she accidentally spends one night with a stranger who happens to be handsome, charming and rich. And her life will never be the same! This fateful encounter brings a love that transforms this not-so-special girl into an attractive, warm, lovable young lady.
- Warning: Deals with tough issues that some families (aspiring parents) face.

Yeah, kids don't talk like her daughter did lol

End of episode 11
- are his memories back now? :) All of them?

The whole dialogue between Mijoo and her daughter sounded VERY SCRIPTED. No kid her age is going to say that. Things like: divorce is nothing these days, put yourself first, etc. These are things older people say lol.. not some 5-7 year old.

It sounds like denial to me. There is grief (and loss) that you experience when you accept that what your parents did was emotional neglect (and/or abuse). People would rather make excuses for or rationalize such behaviors, than to face hurtful truths.

It is completely possible to continue to love and care for your parents, even if you acknowledge that they were also human who made mistakes, fell short, and made hurtful actions against you. Afterall, they're your parents.

But it's part of the healing process to accept the emotional abuse/neglect for what it was/is, than delude oneself into thinking everything was okay, it was out of love so it's okay, or make excuses for them saying they went through xyz, had good intentions, and whatnot.

You're good. Your statements weren't racist - they're well known facts. Are all asian parents that way? No. But substantial number of them are :) It's no secret. I'm Asian too.

Anyway, I thought she'd change cause (1) she clearly sees how her words (and actions) traumatized her son and appeared remorseful about it, (2) life-changing events place (i.e. his son's memory loss and disability, her health issues), and (3) because as much as it's difficult for people to change, people do change when they have a huge moment of realization, determination, and effort. But she hasn't.

ML's mother is terminally ill though. The writer will likely use this to play on viewers' sympathies and also push ML into forgiving his mother because of that whole 'she did it out of love' rationalizing. At the same time, ML still loves his mother. They both care about one another. Just cause one is emotionally neglected or abuse, it doesn't get rid of that 정(Jung; attachment; bond-feelings) and love for one's parent(s). *shrugs*

It's for everyone. Viewers don't need to fit the same demographics to enjoy a foreign series.

And just because the son+mom has the "typical Asian/African" dynamics, it doesn't make it OK. Abuse is abuse. Neglect is neglect.

She loves her son but is abusive (emotionally and physically). She has good intentions, but cruel actions. This could be a trigger for those who suffered emotional neglect or abuse by their parents. The drama nonchalantly depicts emotional abuse.

We don't know yet, the series hasn't ended. He hasn't gotten better (end of Episode 10, even). He frequently gets flashbacks of his past memories, but nothing complete.

I see it as a measure to avoid spoilers. From past seasons, netizens would go crazy trying to get clues from the participants' Instagram accounts.

Poor child of hers...

I recommend Lindsay C. Gibson's "Recovering from Emotionally Immature Parents: Practical Tools to Establish Boundaries & Reclaim Your Emotional Autonomy" :)

Have you read "Recovering from Emotionally Immature Parents" by Lindsay C. Gibson, PsyD?

ML's mother was likely emotionally neglected (abused) herself. Happens a lot in Asian households. Good intentions, love/care, but still.. their actions and words and failure to act can be traumatic to loved ones.

The book is a good read.

Right? Sometimes the flashbacks feel unnecessary. We aren't stupid. Most of us knew ML is the kids' father. We didn't need to be "walked-through" their entire past. I wanted to see what happened after the bad guys attacked ML & his mom. Instead, we got lengthy story telling OTL

It reminds me of the "Penthouse" series where the beginning 10-20 minutes of every episode (in the newer seasons, especially) would just be a massive FLASHBACK with the story told in a different perspective (POV). Sometimes it is refreshing to see; other times it is redundant and simply eats up screen time.

ML's mother has definitely emotionally neglected and emotionally abused him. She could have the most best intentions for him, but she's still wrong.

Some quotes from the book:

"The intense reactivity of EI (emotionally immature) parents trains their children to be inhibited, passive, and acquiescent instead of nurturing their individuality and trust in others. In order to get along with these parents, it's easier in the short run to tune out who you really are and what you relaly want. But in the long run, you end up burdened by obligation, guilt, shame, and feeling trapped in your family role." (p.2)

"EI parents don't just act wounded or abandoned if you can't help. THey'll quickly become angry or outraged if you don't comply. First they play on your sympathies, then they threaten you with their displeasure. If you don't jump to make them feel better right away, they act insulted and accuse you of being heartless. You are branded a selfish, unreliable person for anything less than making their issues your most important concern." (p.20)

Also.. Emotionally immature parents almost always were emotionally neglected themselves - much like the cycle of abuse (ie. victims of abuse later ending up as offenders, abusers to their own children).

ML's mother may have been emotionally neglected herself. And the whole situation with her husband (his dad) may have contributed on top of that.

I recommend Lindsay C. Gibson's "Recovering from Emotionally Immature Parents: Practical Tools to Establish Boundaries & Reclaim Your Emotional Autonomy"

She didn't like her before either. 'Cause her son loved Mi Joo so much that he was willing to skip his bar exam and get hurt while trying to save her.

She repeated her mistakes too when he came back. She sees the effect she had on him, yet she's certain her way is the right way. She says "sorry," yet does the same thing over again.

They all look different to me.