It was a week that started with the release of Cha Eun-woo’s first solo album Entity, and the development of little sore throat that turned into an upper respiratory infection. I spent a lot of time stuck in the house – writing, listening to the songs on Entity, watching Kdramas, drinking fluids and taking meds. My husband made me the best chicken soup and brought me chai tea lattes. (I officially dedicate Eun-woo’s song You’re the Best to my husband because he really is the best.)
During this time, I wrote up my Review on Entity, the post, Memos in My Phone, and started the Marry My Husband vs Perfect Marriage Revenge decider – which I struggled with not because it was hard but because my head failed to cooperate. I also began watching Love in the Moonlight, a beautiful drama, but I needed something to brighten my day. That’s when I found Young Actor’s Retreat (Korean: 청춘MT) – a perfect cure for doldrums.
Young Actor’s Retreat – A Happy Find
I don’t know exactly how the series Young Actor’s Retreat ended up on my radar but I’m glad I did. It’s a reality show vs a Kdrama so not what I have typically been watching lately. It is, however, just what the doctor ordered. Conceived by Kim Seong-yoon, a well-known director, it features actors from three of his dramas, Love in the Moonlight, Itaewon Class and The Sound of Magic. As director Kim states in the show, being able to bring these casts members together was like a gift to him. After watching the show, I felt as though it were a gift to me. This show is so much fun. The cast play games, carry out activities, have chill times, eat meals, and enjoy lively conversations, all set to fun music amidst beautiful settings.
The drama Love in the Moonlight is a little heavy at times, so I liked popping over to episodes of Young Actor’s Retreat to see the actors from LitM laughing, getting wet and enjoying good food. While I have yet to watch the other two dramas, I have seen Park Seo-joon, Ahn Bo-hyun, Ji Chang-wook, Hwang in-youp and Ji Hye-won in other shows. Seeing Kdrama stars outside of dramas is a refreshing reminder that they are people too.
Kdrama Stars Are People Too
Young Actor’s Retreat is filled with relatable activities – like find your friends. Team leads Kim Yoo-jung, Park Seo-joon and Ji Chang-wook must find the members of their teams before heading to the retreat site. The men decide to follow their instincts. Kim Yoo-jung, on the other hand, pulls out her phone and logically determines where her some of her fellow castmates will be. I can almost hear that conversation in my own home. Later, to help overcome the awkwardness between the teams, they are temporarily scrambled into new teams and required to play hilarious games. This brought back my own not so hilarious memories of corporate employee engagement events where stickies with the names of famous people were placed on foreheads and a game of twenty questions ensued.
On the second day, the actors choose between being adventurous or chilling. It’s kind of surprising to see who chooses what. That is a hard choice for me. I’m a natural homebody but also have a fear of missing out. The one time I went ziplining it was amazing and terrifying at the same time. I’m not sure I could do it again. Oh, who am I kidding. If I could zipline with Ahn Bo-hyun, count me in! Then again – tea with the charming Jung Jin-young and lovely Choi Sung-eun? Choices! The subsequent flying chair tournament is one of the highlights of the show. My mom would tell me it’s rude to laugh at people being repeatedly dunked and propelled into the water, but I couldn’t help rolling in laughter at these scenes. So sorry, not sorry guys!
During Young Actor’s Retreat there are several conversations about Myers Briggs Type (MBTI). I too have an MBTI! It’s the same one that Kim Yoo-jung and Hwang In-youp reveal in the drama. How I would love to have conversations with the two of them (if we could get past my broken Korean) because when I talk with people who have the same MBTI it’s like talking with a kindred spirit. In Kim Yoo-jung, I see a younger and a way more attractive version of myself – the focused leader of the Love in the Moonlight group. I love the way she organizes the ingredients for their food trucks menus on her phone!
Fun Things I learned About the Actors
Watching the drama, I learned that Park Seo-joon is fearless and unflappable – not to mention a born CEO. That my favorite night courier/weather forecaster Ji Chang-wook is scared of something very relatable. (My youngest daughter would scream right along with him). I loved seeing how much Park Bo-gum’s soul is very much like that of his Love in the Moonlight Crown Prince, when he spontaneously hands out food to the staff. And could relate to Kwon Nara and Kim Yoo-jung who feel bad when their actions cause their fellow actors to get dunked.
Not surprisingly, Ahn Bo-hyun is as sweet as he is hunky – just like his character, Jin Yi-soo, in Flex X Cop. Surprisingly – Hwang In-youp is super shy and yet somehow even more appealing in real life than his character, Han Seo-jun, in True Beauty. Seeing athletic, outgoing Kwak Dong-yeon so happy over his choice to stay inside and chill at the retreat, especially having just watched him portray such a stoic character in Love in the Moonlight, made me happy he enjoyed some precious downtime.
I have yet to watch Lee Joo-young in anything but after seeing her in this, but I’m looking forward to a drama with her in it. I also enjoyed watching her bond with new bestie Kim Yoo-jung. And Kwon Nara must be one of the most caring people on the planet (or at least at the retreat). She is always looking out for not only her fellow actors but also the people dinning at the food truck event.
Season One of Young Actor’s Retreat Comes to a Close
My favorite episodes are the first six focusing on the interactions between the three casts. Once the food truck event starts, the actors get down to the business of cooking. It is cool seeing them mastering their food trucks and serving their guests delicious food. The fact that so many of those diners are star struck is not surprising. If Park Bo-gum made me spicy noodles and asked me how they were, I don’t think I could speak – or wipe the smile off of my face.
Watching the final episode, I felt my own heart lifting a bit, or maybe it was the meds kicking in allowing me to finally breathe. Whatever the reason. I can still hear Kwak Dong-yeon wistfully speaking his desire for a Season 2. I am right there with you. From your lips to God’s, or director Kim Seong-yoon’s ears!
