~ HE IS PSYCHOMETRIC ~

~ 19.5/20 ~

Korean Title: 사이코메트리 그녀석

English Title: He is Psychometric

Country: South Korea

Director: Kim Byung Soo

Screenwriter: Yang Jin Ah

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Comedy, Romance, Drama, Fantasy

Episodes: 16

Aired: Mar 11, 2019 – Apr 30, 2019

Original Network: tvN

Duration: 64 minutes per episode

Content rating: 15+

Where to watch it: Netflix (depending on the country), WeTV, Viki, Apple TV, Dramacool (lots of ads).

Main Cast:

• Park Jin Young (of GOT7) as Lee Ahn
• Shin Ye Eun as Yoon Jae In
• Kim Kwon as Kang Sung Mo (prosecutor Kang)
• Kim Da Som as Eun Ji Soo

Supporting Cast:

• Noh Jong Hyun as Lee Dae Bong (Lee Ahn’s best friend)
• Go Yoon Jung as Kim So Hyun (Jae In’s friend)
• Kim Hyo Jin as Oh Sook Ja (Jae In’s aunt)
• Park Chul Min as Nam Dae Nam (police lieutenant)
• Sa Kang as Hong Soo Yun (Dr. Hong)
• Uhm Hyo Sub as Eun Byung Ho (Ji Soo’s father)

Brief Summary:

He is Psychometric tells the story of Lee Ahn (Park Jin Young), a young teenager who was gifted with Psychometry after he lost his parents in a huge fire. Psychometry is the supposed ability to discover facts about an event or person by touching inanimate objects associated with them (Wikipedia). However, despite his strong will to help his detective friend Eun Ji Soo and her colleague Dr. Hong in solving murders, Lee Ahn doesn’t seem to have enough control over his ability.

One day, Lee Ahn crosses the path of Yoon Jae In, another young teenager who’s being really secretive towards her past. Together, with the help of prosecutor Kang, detective Eun Ji Soo and Dr. Hong, they will team up to solve the case surrounding the fire that has been haunting their lives for so long. 

This drama tackles different topics such as corruption, abuse of power, mental illness and even Alexithymia, which is the subclinical inability to identify and describe emotions experienced by one’s self or others. 

Diving deeper into the characters:

Lee Ahn

At first, Lee Ahn appears as an uneducated high school student who just does whatever he wants to do. He’s being scolded by his tutors and he seems to take nothing too seriously. However, quickly enough, we learn that he’s an orphan and that he’s living with his “Hyung” (Korean word for big brother) who isn’t really his brother but the man who saved him from the fire his parents died in.

Lee Ahn is this kind of person who really wants to help even if he can be really clumsy and annoying sometimes, and I relate so much in that sense, which is why I got attached to him very easily. START OF SPOIL In episode 1 or 2, they are in the morgue room where they keep the bodies, and he tries touching one of the bodies to see if he can get a useful clue on who the murderer could be, but instead he saw bra sizes. It was hilarious END OF SPOIL. However, he’s also a very impulsive person who acts on his emotions, which will make him suffer a lot considering the events that are going to happen. But it’s also this very strong sense of intuition that will lead him to uncover the truth.

We’ll also see him grow up, mature (while still being clueless sometimes) and master his ability with the help of his acolyte Jae In throughout the drama.

Yoon Jae In

Yoon Jae In is a new student in Lee Ahn’s school. She has just transferred because she was bullied in her old school, and now there was a guy in her classroom who could discover everything she has been trying to hide by just touching her.

Jae In has a very precise goal: Proving her father’s innocence and get him out of prison. For that, she’ll do everything she can to become a police officer. After starting on the wrong foot, her and Lee Ahn become closer, until one day when Jae In decides to leave.

After disappearing for a few years, she reunites with Lee Ahn as a police officer, and she helps him developing his ability. The two of them finally accept their feelings and become a couple.

Kang Sung Mo (Prosecutor Kang)

This character is the perfect example for the saying that goes “Do not judge a book by its cover” but in the wrong way. He seems pretty nice and charming at first, and Lee Ahn admires him so much which makes you want to adore him too. However, as the story rolls on, I got really uncomfortable when he appeared on screen, and it just becomes worse. And even after hearing his childhood story (that was the most painful story I’ve ever heard), I just couldn’t forgive him. I wanted to slap him for always wearing a poker face, for never drawing a sincere smile, and for never acknowledging Ji Soo’s feelings towards him. He was really selfish because he only cared about finding someone and get revenge, he would never take other people's feelings into consideration, and I think this is why I hated him so much. START OF SPOIL It's not because you cannot have feelings that others don't have feelings either END OF SPOIL.

Eun Ji Soo

This character was really touching, and what I loved the most was the relationship she had with Lee Ahn. It was a true brother-sister relationship. She genuinely cared about him and Lee Ahn really considered her as her older sister. I also like how she tried to prove to her father, Eun Byung Ho (the head of the police forces), that power wasn’t always the solution, and that justice had to be done. START OF SPOIL Oh god how I wished she didn't die. Why the hell did she have to die! I was so sad and angry! She was such an important character, and she was the only person who could’ve make prosecutor Kang change END OF SPOIL.

Nam Dae Nam (Police Lieutenant) 

Even though he’s just a secondary character, Lieutenant Nam played such a beautiful role. His character portrays the experience and the voice of wisdom. He acted like a paternal figure for Jae In (well, he ended up liking her aunt so he might actually become part of her family lol), and he didn’t hesitate to help in solving the case, even though he knew he could lose his job. 

My final thoughts and opinion:

This drama is easily part of my top 5 favorite Kdramas of all time. There's not even one thing that bothered me (apart from prosecutor Kang's character, but it plays a big role in the drama's uniqueness). Everything was perfect, from the plot, the acting and the sets to the music and the special effects. I was never bored watching it, I suspected that everyone had done something bad at one point, and they kept the suspense until very late in the drama. 

Plus, the romance does not take the biggest part of the cake, which makes the cute moments much more impactful, especially when we need to cool down from all the suspense. 

So, if you're still not sure whether to watch this Korean Drama or not, my answer would be: WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR! And if you already watched it, feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section ;) 

On that note, take care and I'll see you all soon!

Love, Swan

Sources: Mydramalist, Wikipedia

~ EXCALIBUR: Kingdom's strong debut ~

Members from left to right: Ivan, Dann, Jahan, Arthur, Mujin, Louis, Chiwoo.

I wasn't planning on making an article about KINGDOM's debut (hence why I am publishing this article way after their debut), but someone requested it and I thought: Yeah, why not? So yes, we're doing this, and surprisingly enough I have a lot to say about this debut!

KINGDOM is a new 7-membered Kpop boy group under GF entertainment (a company I've never heard of) and debuted on February 8, 2021 with the song "Excalibur" (you can watch the official MV here). Every member is supposed to represent a king in history; which is a concept that has never been done before and that I find kind of clever. 

Before we dive into the actual debut, let's get familiar with the members (why do I feel like I'll feel old when finding out their age lol?)

Stage Name: Dann

Birth Name: Jung Seungbo

Position: Leader, Lead Vocalist

Birthday: November 1, 1997

Height: 178 cm

Weight: 64 kg

Fun facts: He was born in Ilsan, South Korea but moved to Dubai when he was 10, he was a translator for KCON Dubai when he was 19, he can speak four languages (Korean, English, French and Arabic), his role models are Jooheon from Monsta X, Jay Park and Jimin from BTS, he likes Italian food, he is a good swimmer, and he was a contestant on MIXNINE. 

 

 

Stage Name: Arthur

Birth Name: Jang Yunho

Position: Main Vocalist, Main Dancer

Birthday: April 15, 2000

Height: 178 cm

Weight: 57 kg

Fun Facts: He's good at street dancing and urban choreography, he learned to dance by being in a street dance crew, he's good at girl group dances, he would like to be a mentor on dance-related programs, his favorite artist is BTS's Jungkook, his habit is touching his lips, shaking his head to flip his hair, and crossing his legs when he’s on his phone, his favorite clothing brands are sports brands, his motto is: “let’s not postpone to tomorrow the things we can do today”, and his ideal type is "a  shot woman with lots of aegyo".

 

Stage Name: Mujin

Birth Name: Go Sungho

Position: Vocalist, Rapper

Birthday: November 20, 2000

Height: Unknown

Weight: Unknown

Fun Facts: Mujin's MBTI is ENFP, his favorite sports are soccer and swimming, he likes mint chocolate, he's a night owl, he helped compose part of their debut album, his mother majored in music, he claims that the maknae line plays a lot of pranks on them and he can’t control them, he got into JYP, but his phone broke, so he found out about his acceptance when it was too late, his role model is G-Dragon and he wants to collaborate with him, he sings and snores in his sleep, he has a cat named Cheolsoo and he has a habit of bobbing his head.

 

Stage Name: Louis

Birth Name: Yang Dongsik

Position: Vocalist

Birthday: April 8, 2001

Height: Unknown

Weight: Unknown

Fun Facts: His MBTI is ENFP, he wanted to be an idol because of the thrill he got when he was on stage, his favorite foods are meat, fast food and sushi, he is one of the mood makers in the group, he likes to go out driving alone, he has been training for 3 years, his role models are BTS and Big Bang, he was the first member to join GF entertainment, he has a habit of talking in his sleep and Dann described Louis as having a fiery personality, but a good heart.

 

 

Stage Name: Ivan

Birth Name: Park Yoosung

Position: Vocalist, Visual

Birthday: October 12, 2001

Height: 182 cm

Weight: Unknown

Fun Facts: His specialties are Taekwondo and Bowling, his favorite colours are black and sky blue, he enjoys spicy food, he wants to be in a web drama, he began his trainee career when he was a freshman in high school, after being cast by a large agency, he joined Kingdom after being cast by Louis, his role models are the groups SEVENTEEN and BTS, he snores in his sleep, his nicknames are Prince, High-Pitched Machine and Positive King, he is camera shy, and Mujin described Ivan as having a bright personality, very passionate and always kind.

 

Stage Name: Jahan

Birth Name: Lim Jihun

Position: Vocalist, Rapper

Birthday: August 1st, 2002

Height: Unknown

Weight: Unknown

Fun Facts: His specialties include popping dance and beatboxing, his hobbies are listening to music and shopping, he has been dancing for about 7 years, he taught himself BTS's choreography for "I Need U" and practiced it 5 hours a day, Jahan and Ivan trained at the same academy, so when looking for members, Ivan suggested Kingdom to Jahan and he ended up joining, his role models are BTS's J-Hope and Jungkook, he loves Justin Beiber’s "Nothing Like Up", he has a habit of sniffling constantly and Chiwoo said that Jahan is bad at lying, as he is too honest.

 

Stage Name: Chiwoo

Birth Name: Guk Seungjun

Position: Rapper, Maknae (Youngest)

Birthday: September 2, 2002

Height: Unknown

Weight: Unknown

Fun Facts: Chiwoo is a big fan of the variety show called "Knowing Brothers" and has watched every episode, he claims to be the mood maker of the group, he has a habit of rubbing his face because of his sensitive skin, he likes cats and fantasy movies, his role models are Jungkook and V of BTS, his favorite foods are shrimp and grilled clams, he was casted by the head of GF Ent at the Yeouido Dance Competition, and he had wanted to be a soccer player at first, but after watching BTS's DNA performance, he wanted to become an idol.

 

Excalibur: My thoughts on the Music Video

According to the legend, Excalibur is a magical sword that had been sealed with some sort of magic. This sword belonged to King Arthur who managed to remove it from the ground and to break the magic. Which is why, throughout the whole MV, Arthur is at the center of attention, and becomes the king at the end.

This music video was to say the least astonishing (and this is still an understatement to me). You can feel how much work was done to produce such a short movie, because that's what it is, a short movie. It tells the story of a man who becomes a king after sacrificing himself and becomes in possession of the sacred sword. The epic atmosphere was carried from start to end, thanks to the sets, the props, the special effects, the costumes, the choreography, the music, and everything else.

I really want to praise the team behind this music video, because not only is it well executed, it is also very creative and innovative. It is at the extreme opposite of the era we're living in, and this is what makes it so powerful! Take Black Mamba from Aespa, the perfect representation of the digital era we're living in. It didn't have that much of an impact on me because we know it by heart! We know A.I is coming for us. But the Kingdom era seems so far behind, unattainable and mystical, that it fascinates me even more.

Excalibur: My thoughts on the Song

I would be lying if I said that this song is as amazing as the music video. If you're listening to the song while watching the MV, you'll find yourself focusing on what's happening in the MV more than on the song itself, and when this happens you have to listen to the song alone. So this is what I did, and here's what I thought: The song is an 8/10.

I really like how the song starts. The godly vocals followed by more or less heavy percussions makes an impact. I also like how after the first verse they don't go straight into the chorus. What I also like is the lyrics, because it's coherent with the Kingdom and King concept they've been going for. However, what really kills this majestic vibe for me is this heavy electronic sounds in the chorus. And the bridge? A big no for me. What the hell were those weird vocals?  It's like we switched to another song in the bridge and came back to the original song when going into the last chorus. 

Excalibur: My thoughts on the Performance

This performance is everything I expect a debut performance to be. Let me elaborate: Nowadays, the standards are SO HIGH that they want everything to be perfect, especially performances. But hey, are you forgetting that they are humans and can make mistakes? I didn't forget and I'm just glad that this performance wasn't perfect.

The costumes were amazing and so was the makeup, the stylist deserves a praise. The dancers did a great job too. However, something I was afraid would happen actually happened: The epic vibe from the MV didn't translate into the performance. For the performance to be as epic as the MV, I needed to hear some live vocals. But, because the industry has been trying to focus SO MUCH on the performance, the vocal aspect tends to be neglected, and here it was clear that they were lip-syncing. Just stop making them jump all around in the live performance when what we need is just powerful moves (the energy put into the moves can be enough to make them seem powerful, no need to jump around) and some live vocals!  

And here my friends is where I'll stop! I won't comment on the whole album simply because I haven't listened to it (I will listen to in when I'll have the time and maybe update you on my Instagram, so go ahead and follow me there!). Now, this was my own personal opinion, and I'm really curious to know what were YOUR thoughts on this debut! Feel free to leave a comment down below ;) I really look forward to their comeback, because this group really sounds promising. They debuted with such a strong concept so I wonder if they will keep it and create a story line or totally change the concept for the next album they're going to release. 

Take care and I'll see you all soon!

Love, Swan

 

Sources: Allkpop, Wikipedia, Kprofiles

~ ASTRO ~

Members from left to right (back, then front): Sanha, Cha Eunwoo, JinJin, Rocky, Moonbin and MJ.

 

Who is ASTRO?

Astro is a South-Korean boygroup composed of members JinJin, MJ, Cha Eunwoo, Moonbin, Rocky and Sanha. The group debuted on February 23rd, 2016 under Fantagio entertainment. They came back with their latest Korean album "All Yours" and its title track "One" on April 5, 2021. Their fandom is called "Aroha". Here are their official social media accounts: 

• Facebook: offclASTRO
• Twitter: @offclASTRO
• Twitter (Japan): @jp_offclASTRO
• Instagram: @official_astro
• Fan cafe: fantagio-boys
• YouTube: ASTRO channel
• V Live: Astro channel
• TikTok: @astro_official

 

Stage Name: JinJin

Birth Name: Park Jin Woo

Position: Leader, Main Rapper, Lead Dancer

Birthday: March 15, 1996

Birthplace: Ilsan, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

Height: 169cm

Instagram: @ast_jinjin

Weibo: ASTRO_JINJIN

Fun facts: His nickname is "Angelic Smile", he graduated from Hanlim  multi arts high school, he can speak Korean, English and basic Chinese, if he wasn't a  singer he would've been a drummer, his role model is GDragon, and his ideal type is a girl with her own opinions and attitudes. 

  

 

Stage Name: MJ

Birth Name: Kim Myung Jun

Position: Main Vocalist

Birthday: March 5, 1994

Birthplace: Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea

Height: 175cm

Instagram: @mj_7.7.7

Weibo: ASTRO_MJ

Fun facts: His nickname is "The Happy Virus" because he's always laughing, he jokes a lot and is mischievous, his favourite superhero is Iron Man, if he wasn't a singer he would be an architectural designer, on August 22, 2020 MJ debuted in the trot idol group "Super Five", and his ideal type is a girl with a nice smile, a good sense of humour and who is similar to him. 

 

Stage Name: Cha Eunwoo

Birth Name: Lee Dong Min

Position: Vocalist, Visual, Face of the group

Birthday: March 30, 1997

Birthplace: Sabon District, Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea

Height: 183cm

Instagram: @eunwo.o_c

TikTok: @at_chaeunwoo

Weibo: ASTRO_车银优

Fun facts: He has a younger brother who is studying in China, JinJin and him are the best English speakers of the group, he is considered the smartest member, he can play the piano, guitar, flute and violin, he acted in several Kdramas ("The best hit" in 2017, "My ID is gangnam beauty" in 2018, “Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung” in 2019, and "True Beauty" in 2020), he's close friends with Seventeen's Mingyu, BTS's Jungkook and GOT7's Yugyeom, if he wasn't singer, he would be a teacher, a doctor, or an anchor, and his ideal type is a girl that's wise, intelligent and curious.

Stage Name: Moonbin

Birth Name: Moon Bin

Position: Main dancer, lead vocalist, center

Birthday: January 26, 1998

Birthplace: Cheongju, Chungbuk , South Korea

Height: 182cm

Sub-unit: ASTRO MOONBIN & SANHA

Instagram: @moon_ko_ng

Weibo: ASTRO_文彬

Fun facts: He graduated from Hanlim Multi Arts High School in 2016, his favorite food is beef, he can play the piano, his childhood friends are iKon's Chanwoo, SF9's Chani, and GFriend's SinB, his favorite colour is black, he has a cat named Roa, his role model is Taeyang from Bigbang, he was on hiatus from November 2019 until February 2020 due to health issues, he acted in several Kdramas such as "Boys over flowers" (2009) and "Moments of 18" (2019), and his ideal type is a girl with a good sense of humour. 

Stage Name: Rocky

Birth Name: Park Min Hyuk

Position: Main Dancer, Lead Rapper, Vocalist

Birthday: February 25, 1999

Birthplace: Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea

Height: 176cm

Instagram: @minhyuk202523

Soundcloud: rockycl0ud

Weibo: ASTRO_ROCKY

Fun facts: He went to Hanlim Multi Arts High School, on July 14, 2011 he auditioned for TVN Korea’s Got Talent, he was a participant in “Hit the Stage”, he knows Taekwondo (black belt), he is a big eater, his favourite colour is red, he created the choreography for the Astro MVs “Fireworks” and “Wake up call”, if he wouldn’t be a singer he would be a dance teacher, his role model is G-Dragon from Bigbang, he's friends with Monsta X's Jooheon, Lee Suhyun of Akmu, SF9's Chani and Seventeen's Seungkwan and Dino, and his ideal type is a caring, cute, and nice girl. 

Stage Name: Sanha

Birth Name: Yoon San Ha

Position: Vocalist, Maknae

Birthday: March 21, 2000

Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea

Height: 184cm

Subunit: ASTRO Moonbin & Sanha

Instagram: @ddana_yoon

Weibo: ASTRO_尹产贺

Fun facts: He has two older brothers Junha and Jeha, he learned to play guitar from his dad and brothers, he attended a-sound music academy, he is allergic to seafood and can't drink coffee, his favorite colour is pink, if he wouldn’t be a Kpop singer he would most probably be a guitarist, he's friends with The Boyz's Eric and Sunwoo, Ab6ix's Daehwi and Golden Child's Bomin, and his ideal type is a girl who thinks about him a lot and asks him about his day. 

How I discovered them:

I was binge-watching some Kpop dance practices, and I remember watching a compilation of the most synchronised Kpop groups. At the time I really thought there was no competition for Seventeen, known as the kings of synchronisation, but Astro proved me wrong. Plus, they have really creative choreographies and formations, and the members are really good dancers (Rocky being my bias). The song that made me become a true fan was Always You. I thought this group had a certain level of notoriety but got shocked when I learned that they still didn't have their first music show win (they got it for "All night" later on in early 2019). I still stand on the fact that they are underrated and need more exposure and I am extremely disappointed that they are not part of the lineup for Mnet's "Kingdom".

Astro's discography:

Astro debuted with a very cute and fresh concept with their debut mini album "Spring Up" and the title track "Hide and Seek" out on February 23, 2016. The choreography is probably one of my favorite from them, although the song isn't really the type of song I usually listen to. They kept the cute and fresh concept for quite a long time. They did it with their second mini album "Summer vibe" and the title track "Breathless" in July 2016, with their third mini album "Autumn Story" and the title track "Confession" in November 2016 as well as with their fourth mini album "Dream part 01" and the title track "Baby" on May 2017. Their fifth mini album "Dream part 02" and the title track "Crazy Sexy Cool" was kind of a transition to me. The song is still fresh but not that "cute" anymore (which is maybe why I prefer this song to the previous ones I mentioned), and it is really catchy.

In my opinion, Astro's discography and career took a turn on July 24th, 2018, the day when their album "Rise Up" was released with the title track "Always You". This song could've brought them their first win, it's really a good song with amazing vocals (especially the high note in the bridge, I'm a sucker for high notes) and the MV shines through its editing and directing. The sets are simple yet the lighting game is really smart (there's this guy called PD who has a YouTube channel called Form of Therapy and he did a great analysis on the MV, you can check it out here).

Astro then released their first full album entitled "All light" with the title track "All night" on January 16, 2019. And it is with this song that Astro got their first music show win on SBS's The Show on January 29, 2019, 3 years after their debut. To be honest I liked this song less than Always You, but the MV definitely did its job. The visuals in this MV and the sets are gorgeous. 

On April 3, 2019 Astro made their Japanese debut with their 1st Japanese mini album "Venus" that included Japanese versions of previous title tracks such as Baby, Always You and All Night, but also original Japanese songs such as Hansake Mirai, Li Aishiteru and I'm on your side. I'm not familiar with their Japanese discography but it's always a plus for a group to market themselves outside Korea, especially in Japan since they have a lot in common when it comes to the music industry. 

On November 20, 2019, Astro came back with their 6th mini album "Blue Flame" with the Title track of the same name. For this era Moonbin was absent from all promotions due to health issues and this really affected the promotions in my opinion. Usually when a member's missing you feel its absence but the performance doesn't always loose its charm. Here, I definitely felt that the song and the performance were kind of empty. I'm not saying the song isn't good, it is and I absolutely love MJ's vocals (by the way MJ has been wrecking me ever since blue flame era). I like the latin feeling in the instruments at the very beginning of the song and in the verses. 

Astro then released their 7th mini-album "Gateway" and the title track "Knock" on May 4th, 2020. This song has to be, hands down, my favorite Astro title track. The song is amazing, the instrumental at the beginning reminds me a bit of "Always You", the choreography is original and the moves powerful (I love how  their isolations and the popping at some points of the dance), and the colour scheme in the MV is gorgeous (multiple shades of blue and a bit of pink with Rocky's hair). 

Finally, Astro came back with their second Korean full-album "All yours" and the title track song "One" on April 5, 2021. This song (and album) is very different from what I was used to. They totally rocked the outfits and the attitude on that one, however this album didn't hit me as hard as their previous ones. It's still a good album, and it's great that they wanted to try something new. I listen to "One" here and there, but that's it. And for me not to like any b-sides it's that the album really lacked something, but again that's my personal opinion. 

Content you should check out:

Rocky participated in the competition "Hit the stage" not long after Astro debuted, and performed on "Hey Pachuco" with the same attire as Jim Carrey in "The Mask". This performance was beyond impressive, Rocky's technique is really solid. However, the audience was really confused (and they probably didn't know what "The Mask" was), and this kind of dance isn't really popular so they really didn't give him enough credit for this performance. Watch it here.

Rocky also does choreographies from time to time on Astro's official YouTube channel, my favorite has to be Close to Me.

The dance practice for their debut title track "Hide and seek". As I previously mentioned, this choreography is one of my favorite because it's really funny, energetic and creative. Watch it here.

That's a wrap for Astro's presentation! I hope you just discovered a new group to stan, or at least that I tickled your curiosity. And if you're already an Aroha, you can comment down below your favorite Astro song/era! 

Take care, and I'll see you all soon. 

Love, Swan

 

Sources: Amazon, Kpopmap, Kprofiles, YouTube, Wikipedia