Sweet 18

Cast:

Lea Yoon Jung Sook (Han Ji Hye)
Matthew Kwon Hyuk Joon (Lee Dong Gun)

Kwon Sun Ah (Hyuk Joon’s elder sister)
Jung Chan (Hyuk Joon’s colleague and best friend)
Magnet

Moon Ga Young (Hyuk Joon’s ex-girlfriend)
Hyuk Joon’s grandfather
Jung Sook’s mother

Other Titles: Nang Rang 18 She

Official Homepage: http://www.kbs.co.kr/drama/rangrang/

Summary:

The drama begins with Hyuk Joon’s grandfather, the patriarch of the respectable and very traditional Kwon household, agreeing to a pre-arranged marriage between his at-the-time 10 year old grandson and the new-born granddaughter of his best friend, Jung Sook’s grandfather. However, the family of Jung Sook’s grandfather soon runs into debt and in the middle of the night, they quietly leave the Kwon household so as not to bring shame upon them.

Fast forward 17 years and Jung Sook is all grown up now and studying her final year in high school in preparation for her university-entrance exams. Her grandfather and father have by now passed on and she was brought up in a poor environment by her mum who owns a small laundry shop. However, Jung Sook is chirpy and strong-willed despite her background and definitely very cheeky. She unfortunately does not have much of an interest in her studies and often goes shopping and to discos with her ‘gang’ of four close friends, known in school collectively as the ‘five mirror princesses’.

It is during one of these disco outings that Jung Sook ends up meeting her future husband, Hyuk Joon, although it is not in the best of circumstances. Hyuk Joon, a prosecutor has led his team to the disco to arrest a targeted gang leader but failing to do so, end up arresting underage entrants to the disco instead. Jung Sook, not yet 18, is one of those arrested and the awkward circumstance of their meeting is used to generate a few laughs. At almost the same time, Hyuk Joon’s grandfather who has been looking for his long-lost friend over the years, finally locates Jung Sook’s family’s whereabouts and send Hyuk Joon’s uncle to formalize the details of the pre-arranged marriage with Jung Sook’s mum.

Upon learning of the marriage, Hyuk Joon and Jung Sook of course are very much opposed to it with Hyuk Joon thinking of Jung Sook as an immature brat while Jung Sook sees Hyuk Joon as an old boring nerd. However, the usual plot developments are thrown in to bring the two together like Jung Sook catching Hyuk Joon in the bath when going to his house to ask him something and more importantly, she learns that Hyuk Joon is her first love (the unknown guy in traditional Korean dress whom she bumped into on the street and fell in love with immediately). Thus Jung Sook begins to actively pursue the marriage to Hyuk Joon’s horror, even travelling from Seoul to Andong (a rural area where the Kwon household is located) to earn points with Hyuk Joon’s grandfather. Hyuk Joon’s grandfather takes an immediate liking to her despite her being from a poor background and not trained in the proper use of Korean traditional etiquette and household duties. Adamant that the marriage goes through, Hyuk Joon finally agrees to the marriage so as not to aggravate his grandfather’s ailing health and with the mutual agreement with Jung Sook that their marriage is only to be in name with each other not interfering in the other’s personal life.

All this takes place within the first few episodes and there is much more interesting twists and turns as Ga Young, Hyuk Joon’s aggressive university ex-girlfriend, is introduced and goes about trying to win back Hyuk Joon with the help of Sun Ah, Hyuk Joon’s sister who utterly dislikes Jung Sook and is against the marriage. Other obstacles like Hyuk Joon’s and Jung Sook’s constant bickering, the problems of living under one roof and the requirement of Jung Sook to meet the expectations of the Kwon family as the ‘wife of the heir’ also come into play to create some humorous moments and also further the plot. It would be too long to summarise the entire plot here but to put it briefly, in the end true love blossoms between Hyuk Joon and Jung Sook and their show marriage becomes a real one in all meanings of the word.

Credits: spcnet

What I Think:

This series is so funny, the leads have absolutely great chemistry and the plot is engaging and fast-paced. There was one part where Lee Dong Gun kissed Han Ji Hye and she fainted! Oh that’s hilarious! I thought she’d like hug him or something! Then there is also another scene where Han Ji Hye thinks she’s pregnant so she says she must only look at pretty and handsome things then the pictures that she collected included Bae Yung Joon and Won Bin!! Aish!!! Won Bin oppa is in her list! Lee Dong Gun is 25 years old, and Han Ji Hye is only 21 years but they fit their roles to perfection!

And then there is Magnet! Omg he is so cute!! He looks younger than Han Ji Hye though…I don’t know maybe he’s of the same age as Moon Geun Young..but he is so cute! He is very wacky,and he ended up as a wonderful friend. I have to research on Magnet fast! Heheh!

The actress who plays Kwon Sun Ah (Lee Dong Gun’s sister) was also good! She was so conniving at first, I want to squeeze her for everything she didn’t ruin her brother’s marriage! But anyway she was such a good actress!

I love the scene where Jung Sook was crying her eyes out in front of what she thought to be the graves of her grandfather and father, then older folks came and asked her, “How are you related to our parents?” omg!! She got the wrong grave!! I was laughing so hard in that scene!

Another fave scene, When Jung Sook insisted on tying Hyuk Joon's tie! I thought that was such a giddy romantic moment!

Rating: 8 Korean Kimchis out of 10

Other Stuff:

I like song songs in the Sweet 18 ost, in its channel 7 airing; they play the Tagalog version of Shim Eun Jin’s song My Love, which is the ost of My little Bride. I will find lyrics… difficult it is to find those lyrics. Meanwhile, I will just repost the original Korean lyrics. Okay? *Does okay sing*  J

I like the background song that is played in the local run of Sweet 18 in channel 7, it’s “I Know” by Yasmien Kurdi. It is a nice song; I didn’t know Yasmien is a good singer.

I Know
Yasmien Kurdi

I don't need to own a fancy car
To drive with you around the city
I don't need to live in a palace like house
A simple home is enough for me
I don't need much
Only your attention
I had to hope
To make me feel that I am not alone

I know
Is you my life is worth living
I know
Is you my life is gonna be just fine
I know
If you each day begins with a smile

I don't really have to worry
Somethings won't workout for me
I don't really have to bother
Just as long as you here with me
I don't need much
Only your affection
To see me through
To make me feel that I am not alone

I know
Together we can make our dreams come true
I know
But through the years we won't be growing old
I know
Counting stars won't be so hard to do

There will be your always time
At the end of the tumble shine
Our love for each other never fails
Baby I just know
(I know)
I know
(I know)
I know... wooahh..
I know
(I know)
I know
(I know)
wooahh...

I don't need much
Only your affection
To see me through
To make me feel that I am not alone

My Love

Shim EunJin

Orin ne gasum gadughan naui jagun solleim
guten gu maumi sarangin jur mollajyo
oh BABY nan ijeya babo chorom ne ane guder nukijyo
nunbushin hessar gadughan onu narui sogsagim
guten gu sarangi ne goshin jur mollajyo
oh ije nan gude phum aneso hengboghan kumur kujyo oh~
MY LOVE~ MY LOVE~
MY LOVING LIKE SUNSHINE TO MY LIFE
MY LOVE MY LOVE YOU WHAT YOU SAY
gude sarangi doer koyeyo
hyanguthan baram buro on onu narui sogsagim
guten isarangi ne goshimur arajyo
oh ije nan gude phum aneso hengboghan kumur kujyo oh~
MY LOVE~ MY LOVE~
MY LOVING LIKE SUNSHINE TO MY LIFE
MY LOVE MY LOVE YOU WHAT YOU SAY
guden naui sarang naui chonsajyo
sehayan duresu ibgo sarang suron phyojongdo jigo
gude son jabgo hengbogheyajyo yongwonhi guder saranghe
MY LOVE~ MY LOVE~
MY LOVING LIKE SUNSHINE TO MY LIFE
MY LOVE~ MY LOVE~
MY LOVE MY LOVE YOU WHAT YOU SAY
gude sarangi doer koyeyo
MY LOVE~ MY LOVE~
MY LOVING LIKE MEANING TO MY LIFE
MY LOVE MY LOVE YOU WHAT YOU SAY
guden naui sarang naui chonsajyo
MY LOVE~ MY LOVE~
guden naui sarang nan gudeui shinbujyo
MY LOVE MY LOVE YOU WHAT YOU SAY
gude jonbuga doer koyeyo

Does Han Ji Hye look familiar? Well she played Ryu Jin’s younger sister in Summer Scent and I just have to post her mvs! I like this song!! I like happy songs!

Say Yes MV- Jung In Ho
mms://211.106.66.141/moretv/drama/2tv/dra_summer/music/title2.asf

Credits: spcnet, ompi forums, tsinoy forums, sweet 18 official page, yahoo korea, yesasia

Music Playing in the Background: Shim Eun Jin-My Love