Seoul Searching | Doota Duty Free + Descendants of the Sun Hall.

Last year, during our first ever trip to South Korea, I had the chance to explore Dongdaemun by my lonesome and enjoy its sights and sounds, its food stalls, and the shopping experience. I made a resolve to take the boys along the next time we visit Seoul, and the plan finally materialized last spring - on a Saturday night when the husband got off work early. And by early, I mean 10 pm.

Off to Dongdaemun!

In the Philippines, most shopping malls operate until 9 or 10 pm. In Dongdaemun, the number of shoppers usually increase during these hours, making the area one of the busiest and most crowded at night.

Weaving through the crowd.

My son was amazed at how many people were still up and about, strolling and shopping, when it's already way past his bedtime. Haha!

Still abuzz even when it's almost midnight!

I, on the other hand, was amazed by Doota's new look. Or should I say, enthralled by its new poster boy? :)

Making our way to Doota.

Apparently, Doota Duty Free - the first 'overnight' duty free store in Korea (because it operates until 2 am) - opened the day prior to our visit, and its endorser is no other than the hottest, most popular Hallyu star of 2016 - Song Joong Ki.

When you see it. :)

More of Doota Duty Free (and Song Joong Ki) after the jump!

Top 3 Reasons for Buying a Franchise.

Owning your own business is one of the best feelings in the world, especially if you are sick of answering to your boss all the time. You need one of two things to own a successful business: a lot of capital, or a good idea.

There is one option, though, if you don't have either of those things - a franchise. Owning a franchise is that same thing as owning your own business. The only difference is that you are buying into an already existing chain.

This may not be everyone's dream scenario, but there are some stark advantages owning a franchise. It does pose the same responsibilities that a traditional business owner has. The following are three reasons that you should consider buying into a franchise.

Pizza chain franchise, anyone? :)

The business has a proven track record of success.
One of the biggest variables when it comes to owning a business is whether or not people will want to buy your product. This problem is completely alleviated when you buy into a franchise. Any company that can afford to franchise their store has obviously had a track record of success in the markets they are already in. The main concern when it comes to reaching customers when your franchise is just finding the right location.

Training.
You may not have experience running your own business yet. Franchise opportunities usually have a training program for new owners that helps get them up to speed. It will also teach you to follow a company protocol for operations. You may wonder why they want all their stores to be run the same way even though other people own them. They do this because they program they have developed has a proven track record of success with the company so far.

Marketing.
A company like Meineke offers their franchise owners a full marketing package to help them get their business off the ground. Like other aspects of the business, the marketing all uses techniques that have proven to be successful in other markets. A lot of people don't understand how to properly advertise an auto repair franchise at first. This can lead to a huge waste of money. Avoid this by buying into a franchise.

The first thing you should do when thinking about buying into a franchise is to decide what style of business you want to be in. It is important to do something interests you. A franchise is an affordable way to become an entrepreneur with some distinct advantages over start carte balance.

My Top 10 Must-See Korean Movies.

So you've seen the much talked about zombie apocalypse thriller Train to Busan, cried buckets over the hit melodrama Miracle in Cell No. 7, and perhaps ended up watching The Flu because this 2013 disaster film kept popping on your Facebook timeline.

Now, your interest in Korean cinema has gone beyond curiosity. You've actually stumbled upon a whole new world of theatrics, and you're ready to get hooked to this awesomeness that is Korean movies. Allow me to help you, and let this list - arranged in no particular order - of must-watch Korean movies be your guide.

The King and the Clown.

The King and the Clown (2005).
Set in the Joseon era, two struggling male actors, Jang-seng and Gong-gil, were arrested after staging a performance deemed to be a mockery of the king. The two actors were given a chance to spare themselves if they could make the king laugh, which they did - much to the court's chagrin. The charges of treason were dropped, and both actors were appointed as official court jesters. As the king showed particular interest in Gong-gil (portrayed by Lee Joon Gi), the king's mistress, the ministers, and even Jang-seng grew suspicious resulting into political unrest in the country.

Adapted from a popular stage play, 'The King and the Clown' is one of the highest grossing films in South Korea. This movie also earned Lee Joon Gi the title 'flower boy' and catapulted him to stardom. 

May 18.

May 18 (2007).

Based on real life events, this movie stars Kim Sang Kyung as Kang Min Woo and Lee Joon Gi as his brother Kang Jin Woo. A student of the Chonnam National University, Jin Woo and his classmates staged a protest against the extended martial law which closed universities and curtailed press freedom. Upon orders from General Chun Doo Hwan, government troops attacked the rallyists, which resulted into a bloodbath with more than 600 people dead. 

The movie is based on the Gwangju Uprising, which took place on May 18, 1980.

Old Boy.

Oldboy (2003).
A powerful movie of punishment and vengeance with a hauntingly twisted plot to boot, Oldboy is the dark and disturbing story of Oh Dae Su (portrayed by Choi Min Sik), who was abducted for reasons unbeknownst to him. A small television in his prison cell was Oh Dae Su's only means of contact with the outside world; his only source of sustenance, a daily supply of fried dumplings. He lived this way for fifteen years, until the day he was finally released from his solitary confinement. With a wad of money and a mobile phone given to him by a beggar on the street, Oh Dae Su looks for his wife and daughter while trying to plot revenge against his captors.

Heralded as one of the best Asian films ever made, Oldboy also has around a dozen or so awards to its name - including the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. This neo-noir thriller has an American remake released in 2013, and was directed by Spike Lee.

My Sassy Girl.

My Sassy Girl (2001).
Anyone who has seen My Sassy Girl will most likely agree that this movie is, beyond the shadow of a doubt, the most beloved Korean rom-com of all time. I love this movie so much that I've watched it countless of times - to the point where my DVD has been scratched beyond readability. 

My Sassy Girl tells the story of Gyun-woo (Cha Tae Hyun) and the sassy, unnamed girl (Jun Ji Hyun), who was drunk and dazed when he first met her on the train. Gyun-woo was forced to take care of the girl after she passed out, as the other passengers were berating him for not taking care of his girlfriend. This was a misunderstanding of course, but he went ahead and took care of her anyway. From this point on, Gyun-woo began to develop a sense of responsibility for the girl. As his feelings grew, so did his ability to (hilariously) endure all the hardships in loving a girl who has been broken and scarred by a previous relationship. 

Silmido.

Silmido (2003).
One thing I love about the Korean movie industry is their knack for historical/period films and how they can make a blockbuster out of it. Case in point, Silmido, which attracted an audience of over 10 million - the first-ever film in South Korea ever to do so.

Based on the true story of Unit 684, a unit created in April 1968 to retaliate against North Korea following the North’s attempt to assassinate President Park Chung-hee. The men recruited for the special unit were outcasts, ex-convicts and prisoners on death row, chosen by the South Korean government to extract vengeance by murdering the North Korean leader, Kim Il Sung. The main incentive for the thirty one ex-criminals was to wipe their criminals records clean and start a brand new life as promised by the government.

This promise failed to materialize, as an unfortunate incident led to the men's revolt against the president, Park Chung-hee. The government declared a state of emergency as the armed men seized buses and rampaged their way through police blockades, which claimed the lives of police officers and innocent bystanders.

Tae Guk Gi.

Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War (2004).

Drawing a record of more than 11 million admissions, Tae Guk Gi was the film that broke Silmido's box-office record.

A heart-breaking tale about two brothers forced to fight in the Korean War, the film stars Jang Dong Gun as Lee Jin Tae, the responsible older brother who shines shoes so he could send his younger brother Lee Jin Seok (portrayed by Won Bin) to the university.

When war between the North and the South broke out, the family escaped to a relative's house in the country, but along their journey, the brothers ended up being drafted. Jin Seok is forced to join the army to fight in the front, and Jin Tae enlists too to protect his young brother. The commander promised Jin-tae that he will release his brother if he could earn a medal of honor, which made Jin-tae the aggressive, fearless soldier in the company.

As the war progressed, the relationship between the two brothers deteriorated, and both of them ended up fighting on opposite sides of the war.

The Admiral: Roaring Currents.

The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014).
The last historical film on this list currently holds the title of being the most watched and highest grossing film of all time in South Korea. Released in 2014, the movie is based on the historical Battle of Myeongnang, led by Korea's most popular war hero, Admiral Yi Sun Sin. The battle is regarded as the Admiral's most impressing victory as he lead a fleet of 12 ships against the Japanese invaders with a fleet of more than 300 vessels.

Choi Min Sik, the same actor who played the lead in Oldboy, also played the role of the Korean naval commander in this film. 

The Man from Nowhere.

The Man from Nowhere (2010).

Won Bin may be staying out of the limelight a little too long, but he will always be remembered as Ahjussi, or The Man from Nowhere.

Released in 2010, The Man from Nowhere is a hard-hitting action thriller about Cha Tae Sik, a special agent turned pawnshop keeper whose only friend is a little girl named So Mi. Her mother, Hyo Jeong, smuggles drugs from a drug trafficking organization, hides it in a camera bag, and then pawns the entire bag to Tae Sik without letting him know of the actual contents.

The smuggling was soon found out, and the traffickers kidnap both Hyo Jeong and So-mi. The gang promises to release them if Tae Sik makes a delivery for them, however it is actually a ploy to eliminate a rival drug ring leader. When Hyo Jeon's disemboweled body is discovered, Tae Sik realizes that So-mi's life may also be in danger. Tae Sik, enraged at the thought that So Mi might end up dead, prepares for battle and risks his life to save his only friend.

Memories of Murder.

Memories of Murder (2003).
Set in 1986, Memories of Murder chronicles the Hwaseong Serial Murders - the first serial killer case in South Korean history. The victims are all beautiful young women whose bodies have been found raped and strangled in local fields and ditches. The initial agents who have been put on the case are two incompetent bunglers - one a dropout from college, the other a dropout from high school - who seem to have gleaned the majority of their investigative techniques from cheesy TV crime dramas. A detective from Seoul was sent to assist the duo, and together they try to piece together the clues with hopes of finding the suspect.

Memories of Murder was a huge box-office success in 2003, and even received screenings at international film festivals such as the Cannes Film Festival, the London International Film Festival, and the Tokyo International Film Festival.

This true-to-life case of the Hwaseong Serial Murders has also been depicted in two Korean dramas - Gap Dong in 2014, and Signal in 2016.

A Werewolf Boy.

A Werewolf Boy (2012).
Concluding my list of top 10 must-watch Korean movies is A Werewolf Boy, the hit romance fantasy film from 2012 which stars Park Bo Young and the world's favorite captain, Song Joong Ki.

The story begins with an elderly woman reminiscing about the past as she visits an old house in the country. Forced to move to the countryside due to problems with her lungs, Soon Yi (Park Bo Young) discovers that there's a lot to adjust to in this new environment, including a feral boy whom she found in the barn. Soon Yi's kindhearted mother adopted the boy, despite his animalistic behavior and his inability to speak, read, or write.

Although Soon Yi was not happy at the thought of living with Chul Soo (the name given to him by Soon Yi's mom), she eventually warmed up to him and began teaching him social skills and other human behavior so that he could one day live like a normal man. As she opened her heart to the innocent boy, he began to develop feelings for Soon Yi, the only person to ever show him affection.

However when threatened, he let loose his bestial instincts and became the subject of the villagers' fears. In order to save the life of the boy who risked his to be by her side, she left him with a promise: "Wait for me. I'll come back for you."

Hope you all enjoy watching these movies as much as I did! Will try to add more to this list if I come across more note-worthy Korean films in the future. :)

Project BB Cream | Laneige Snow BB Cream.

Well, it sure took me months to get another BB Cream review out. I can't believe the last review I did was way back in February - when I still sported a pixie and my son was still in Kindergarten. Haha!

Anyhoo, on to my review. This will be the 15th in my Project BB Cream series (yes folks, so far I have tried 15 kinds of BB Cream in my lifetime), and perhaps my most favorite among all the BB Creams that I've tried.

Laneige Snow BB Cream.

This one's called the Snow BB Cream, from the highly-acclaimed Korean skincare brand Laneige. If you're a Kdrama/Kpop fan like me, you can easily associate this brand to Song Hye Kyo, Soong Jong Ki, and Song Jae Rim. (So I just noticed that the brand's endorsers have something similar in their names. Haha!)

#2 Natural.

Laneige calls this their 'smart and advanced BB Cream', with its whitening, anti-wrinkle and UV protection properties (SPF41 PA++).  This product also boasts of the 'liquid crystal essence ingredient', which works as a natural barrier that locks moisture on to the skin.

Squeeze tube bottle, 10 mL sample size.

The Laneige Snow BB Cream comes in two shades - #1 Shimmer Brightening, and #2 Natural. I have the latter, which is neutral beige in color but adjusts accordingly to one's skin tone.

A swatch of the Snow BB Cream #2 Natural.

This BB Cream has a light, non-sticky texture that's quite easy to blend. It provides medium to full coverage, yet looks very natural on the skin. It also leaves the skin with a luminous finish - the kind that makes your skin look healthy and glowing. 

Blend, blend, blend!

I love how this BB Cream lasted for hours on my face, with very little to almost no touch-ups. If you have oily skin, you may need to blot every few hours or so but that's pretty much it. Oh, and did I mention that this BB Cream smells so nice? It has this mild powdery, floral scent that I fell in love with at first whiff.

Left without BB Cream, right with BB Cream.

What I love:

- Buildable coverage.

- Looks very natural on the skin.

- Feels light on the skin, too.

- Lovely, dewy finish without looking sparkly and all.

- Excellent staying power. 

- SPF42 PA++.

- Mild, floral scent.

- No break-outs, no allergies, safe for sensitive skin.

What you might not like:

- Only two shades available.

- A bit pricier than the other BB Creams in the market, but then again, Laneige is a high-end brand.

In the end, you're really getting your money's worth. :)

Products Used:
FACE: Laneige Snow BB Cream, Missha Under Eye Brightener.
EYES: Ever Bilena Eyebrow Pencil in Brown,
BYS Waterproof Eyeliner, Missha The Style 4D Mascara.
CHEEKS: Tony Moly Cat Chu Wink Tint in #2 Red.
LIPS: Sleek Makeup True Colour Lipstick in OMG!

The Laneige Snow BB Cream sells for around 30,000 won in Korea (where this sample came from). Here in the Philippines, a 50mL tube sells for Php 1650 (correct me if I'm wrong) and is available at all six branches in the Metro.

Spotlight | Laneige Water Sleeping Pack.

Funny how I have several Laneige products in my makeup stash, but I haven't done a proper review of any of them. Sure, I've featured them in this haul post from last month, but that's about it.

And so today, I am finally posting my first product review for the brand that Song Hye Kyo and Song Joong Ki endorses. And this being the first, I guess it's only proper that I write about the brand's most popular (and one of my most favorite) skincare product - the Water Sleeping Pack.

Laneige Water Sleeping Pack_EX in a 20mL jar.

I've been using the Water Sleeping Pack for quite sometime now, applying it twice a week in lieu of my regular night moisturizer (ergo, Human Heart Nature's Moisturizing Night Cream). And I must say, my skin looks better and has become healthier since I incorporated the Water Sleeping Pack to my skincare regimen.

Just about everything is written in Hangul in this 20mL jar.

The Laneige Water Sleeping Pack is designed as a 'sleeping mask'. Meaning, the product should be applied before you sleep and left on through the night as the final step of your nighttime skincare routine.

Inside the jar.

As you can see, the product is a light blue, water-based gel that's easily absorbed by the skin. It also has a soothing and cooling effect on the face when applied. Its patented 'Sleepscent formula' is very aromatic, which is not surprising since this formula includes essential oils from orange flower, rose, ylang ylang, and sandalwood.

A pea-sized amount on the back of my hand...

As for the ingredients of the Sleeping Pack itself, the core components include Beta-glucan (regenerates the skin), Ceremide SLN (prevents skin moisture loss), Hunza Apricot Extract (purifies the skin), and Chestnut Extract (improves skin texture).

After applying the Water Sleeping Pack - dewy skin!

Now just to make it clear, what I'm using is the 20mL jar, which I bought for Php280 from Kimchi Jib. It doesn't come with a spatula, unlike the full-sized tub. That's 80mL, and usually sells for Php1250 at the mall. Here's how the full-sized Water Sleeping Pack looks like:

Price in Korea = 25000 Won (approx $23 or Php970).

What I love:

- Easy to apply.

- Light, non-sticky formulation.

- Gives a cooling sensation when applied.

- Aromatic scent.

- Skin hydration at its finest.

- Makes the skin soft and supple.

- Didn't make my skin greasy or oily. 

(I have combination skin.)

- Did not break me out. 

(My skin is quite sensitive.)

What you might not like:

- The price.

But then again, this is a premium Korean skincare brand, and the product delivers.

Have you tried the Laneige Water Sleeping Pack before? Did you love it as much as I do? :)

Spazz Saturday #14 | G-Dragon Hailed as Best Dressed Celebrity of 2012

2012 proves to be a year of achievements for G-Dragon. This time, he earned the recognition of being the Best Dressed Celebrity of the Year. In a poll conducted by the Chosun Ilbo, 25 fashion designers and stylists were asked who they felt were the leading trendsetters of the year. The top 15 advanced to the second round of voting, where the top 10 were decided.

G-Dragon, the leader of world renowned group Big Bang, came first with 10 votes. Establishing himself as a fashionista early in his career, he is known for his wide range of styles, from street fashion to luxury, and is said to be capable of making any piece of clothing his own.

In second place is actress Ko Joon Hee, getting six votes for being sophisticated and bold. Experts said that she makes clothes look more beautiful with her well-proportioned body, and she knows how to create her own style without the aid of stylists.

Sharing the third spot  are actor Song Joong-ki and actress Kim Nam-joo with five votes each. Song looked neat and trim in the film “A Werewolf Boy” and TV drama “The Innocent Man,” which suited his natural and subtly edgy image. Kim, who appeared in KBS soap “My Husband Got a Family”, created a buzz with the clothes she wore to the set. Experts praised her improved fashion sense and attention to detail when matching her clothes to the occasion.

Actress Ko So-young, who still appears in commercials for cosmetics, clothing and fashion accessories after childbirth, and actress Jung Ryeo-won, who looked natural in unique outfits on TV drama, shared fifth place with four votes each. Both pay a lot of attention to matching accessories and bags to their body shape and clothes.

Actors Gong Yoo and Yoo Ah In, who both worked on TV dramas this year, received three votes each and came in seventh. Both actors love trying on different clothes and know what suits them, both.

Ninth place was shared by rapper Psy and actors Ryoo Seung Bum and Jang Dong Gun. According to the experts, Ryoo knows how to maintain his own style in both the public and private sphere, while Jang is very versatile when it comes to styling. As for Psy, he “is the only male celebrity who know what to do with tuxedoes.”



Also posted on Korea.com.

Spazz Saturday #11 | Lee Min Ho's Adobo, and Kdramas seasoned just right.

In case you haven't heard, Korean actor Lee Min Ho was in town as the latest endorser for the global brand, Bench. He had a meet and greet session for the said brand last Friday, and Araneta Coliseum was jam-packed with eager fans.

I wasn't part of that crowd, mind you. I'm not exactly a huge fan of LMH, although I liked him in City Hunter. I guess I still haven't gotten over the fact that Geum Jang Di didn't end up with my beloved Yoon Ji Hoo in Boys Over Flowers, lol. Still, I'm happy for my fellow Kpop/Kdrama fans who had the chance to see him in the flesh. And I find it adorable that LMH likes adobo.

Photo credit: @ActorLeeMinHo

On Saturday, LMH tweeted this photo together with the following message: I  would like to say thank you to all the fans who made out to the Bench event. Adobo ^^ Masarab! 반가웠어요 ^^ (Yes, he really wrote 'masarab'.)

So what if Lee Min Ho, Choi Siwon, and Lee Donghae all got together for one Bench event? It's gonna be chaos, I tell you! :)

Moving on to my Kdramas, Nice Guy/Innocent Man finally came to an end last Thursday. I began watching this drama with the fear that Kang Maru might suffer the same fate as the lead actor in Mianhada, Saranghanda. After all, the screenwriter of both dramas was one and the same person.

Kang Maru loves Seo Eun Gi ^^

But surprise, surprise! Kang Maru survived, and the drama had a happy ending! Thank you, writer-nim for not killing the lead actor! Yay!

Also on my spazz list is Full House Take 2, a remake of the 2004 drama which starred Rain and Song Hye Kyo. I am liking the current version better, despite No Min Woo's noodle hair and Hwang Jung-eum's afro.

Better than the first. :)

I've been a fan of No Min Woo since My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, so I guess I'm a bit biased with this version.  I like Park Ki Woong too, and in my opinion, he deserves a first-lead role in his next drama. Enough of the second leads! He deserves to shine! :)

As for I Miss You, I'm so looking forward to episodes 5 and 6. I reckon Park Yoochun and Yoon Eun Hye are finally appearing in the upcoming episodes, so I'm all antsy for Wednesday and Thursday.

I literally miss you, Yoochun!

How about you? What are you watching lately? :)

Spazz Saturday #6 | Nice Guy.

So many Korean dramas, so little time.

This has been my grievance ever since I got hooked to the Kdrama frenzy. If I were watching just one or two dramas, I wouldn't be saying this, but dang, I'm watching six different series (five currently airing, one on DVD) on a daily basis! Originally there were seven, but since To the Beautiful You ended last Thursday, that's one drama less in my 'now watching' list.

Out of the six that I'm watching, there's one drama that stands out in terms of storyline, acting, how it leaves me in awe at the end of each episode, and how I eagerly await the next episode.

Surprise! It's not my beloved Lee Joongi's Arang and the Magistrate that gets me spazzing. My ahjussi's fantasy sageuk only comes second to... Nice Guy.

Also known as 'The Innocent Man', the drama takes off with Kang Maru (Song Joong Ki) and his unconditional love for Han Jae Hee (Park Shi Yeon). However, it was his love and trust that Jae Hee used
to frame him for a murder she committed and then marries an older, rich man to escape her impoverished life.

After serving time in prison, Maru comes out as a changed man. What once was a promising medical student, now becomes a bartender, and a gigolo who uses women to get what he wants. When he meets Seo Eun Gi (Moon Chae Won), the daughter of Jae Hee’s new husband, he realizes he can use her to get revenge for the betrayal, the hurt, the pain that Jae Hee has caused him.

It's amazing how this seemingly dark melodrama leaves you wanting for more. Its writer, Lee Kyung-hee is famous for layered characterization and unfathomable twists to the story, and he's at it again with Nice Guy. Couple it with Moon Chae Won's 'defiant now, vulnerable next' character, plus Song Joong Ki's flawless acting and the expression in his eyes that speaks volumes and pierces the heart...

then you have a drama worthy of its 16% audience share. (Episode 6, as per AGB Nielsen). And I won't be surprised if the ratings keep on soaring up, up, and away. The storyline is so intriguing, the twists so interesting, and the acting so impressive that it makes the audience wanting for more.

I can't wait for Episode 9. Fast forward to Wednesday, please!

What about you? What show has you hooked right now? :)