full house (korean drama)

Full House (2004)
Director:  Pyo Min Su (who also directed The World That They Live In)
Starring:  Bi (A Love to Kill, Fugitive Plan B, I'm a cyborg, but that's okay), Song Hye Kyo (The World That They Live In, All In)



Edited January 2013:  NOT to be confused with "Full House Take 2", which was a complete waste of time as far as I am concerned.

Synopsis, found here:

Han Ji-eun's house, built by her father

Han Ji-eun lives alone in the house that she inherited from her parents. Her parents named the property 'Full House.' She has two close friends who end up selling the house behind her back to Lee Young-jae. Through a series of incidents, the two make a contract to marry, so that Ji-eun can stay in the house that her parents built. Although not in love with each other when they marry, a love between them develops slowly over time. The feelings of love are constantly interrupted by Gang Hye- won, Young-jae's love interest for quite some time and by Yu Min-hyeok, a man that Han ji-eun likes.

I'm not sure why I enjoy so many Korean comedies, when I really have a hard time striking up any interest for American comedies.  I suspect my sense of humor runs more to slapstick, which would explain a lot. I've watched Full House (the Korean drama, not the American sitcom) three times through -- sharing it with both my daughter, when she was 13 or 14, as well as Johnny, last year. It was a huge hit, and not just because of all the rowdy fun we had poking at the male lead's wardrobe choices (can you say 'matronly'?!)

Like the best Korean dramas, this show was both hilarious, touching and sweet, in good measure. It had one of our favorite ahjumas ever, in Young Jae's grandmother.  Johnny thinks the female lead, Song Hye Kyo, is just about the hottest thing that's come out of Korea in the last decade, and once again, my daughter thinks the same of the male lead, Bi.  But what the show didn't have going for it was good secondary characters; I found Kang Hae Won to be utterly abrasive, and Yu Min Hyuk unrealistic.  However, you can't have it all, and the main characters were admittedly pretty steep competition.

Funny moments:

On their tumultuous "honeymoon" as a contracted couple,
a single bed in the suite causes a singularly immature spasm.

When introduced to Yong Jae's parents and grandmother, Ji-eun -- with no parents of her own -- tries in her own way to impress the new in-laws. To Young Jae's horror.  Found here.

 And when rumors arise that their "marriage" may be an unhappy one, Ji-eun brings home-made sushi to her actor husband's shoot to prove what a great couple they are:



For a 2004 drama, its dated fashion almost becomes another spicy and unexpected character, adding flavor. Also, and this is unverified rumor, but I've heard that this show may have been the source of the phrase you will now hear at least once during almost every Korean drama: "Fight-ing, fight-ing!"  Or, hwighting! Don't hold me to that one, though.

Watch the full trailer here.