Back in the States, I would have ignored “You and Everything Else (2025),” saying it is just another “chick flick.” But now, considering over 95% of my Korean learners are women, I just glanced at its first episode. And within a week, I had to binge-watch all 15 episodes, teary-eyed at the end. It’s not just the effect of hormone level change due to male menopause. It is rather my answers to the following questionnaire are all “yes,” which is the legitimate reason for anyone, girl or guy, young or old, to watch this masterfully designed psychological drama:
- Do you believe in the emotional power of photography?
- Do you have an enormous pride in yourself?
- Do you have an estranged friend in life?
- Do you want to know how to forgive someone, or to be forgiven?
- Do you dislike overactions in dramas, such as excessive yelling and screaming?
The rising new star Park Ji-hyun shines throughout the series with her talented interpretation of this complicated character with incredibly varied faces. On top of it, the veteran top actress Kim Go-eun’s purposefully constrained acting creates an artistic harmony that deserves any viewer’s standing ovation. My only warning is that when you reach the final episodes, you will need two boxes of tissues beside you; otherwise, your tears may drown your laptop keyboard.
Unlike many other K-dramas today, this series realistically depicts how “personal” many Koreans can be in their friendships and professional working relationships. Korean personal emotions typically last for years and decades, not just weeks or months, like slow-cooking a Korean stew. For some of you who already live or work in Korea, it lets you observe many such aspects as guidelines against possible culture shocks.
Level A2: At 1:57, Park Ji-hyun says “내가 잘못했어.” In Korean, “잘못하다” can mean two vastly different things. First, it is used when someone apologizes to a close friend or a family member, like in childhood. In this case, there is no space between 잘 and 못하다. Second, it can also mean “can not do (something) well,” which is a literal meaning of 잘 (well), and 못하다 (can not do), and there is a space between the two words: 잘 못하다.
Which one of the following is a correct translation?
a. 내가 수학을 잘 못해요. I am sorry, I am not good at math.
b. 빨리 잘못했다고 빌어! Pray that you can do it quickly!
c. 잘 못하는 건 하지마. Don’t do something you will be sorry about.
d. 내가 잘못했어. 용서해줘. I am sorry I did wrong. Please forgive.
e. 제가 잘못했습니다. I am responsible for everything.
Level B1: At 2:27, what does Kim Go-eun say in Korean at her friend’s deathbed? It is a common colloquial expression meaning both 1) You suffered a lot (to make it); and 2) You did very well, you’ve done a good job through hard work.
Seit ich ihn gesehen,
Glaub ich blind zu sein
Wo ich hin nur blicke,
Seh ich ihn allein
Wie im wachen Traume
Schwebt sein Bild mir vor,
Taucht aus tiefstem Dunkel,
Heller, heller nur empor
Sonst ist licht- und farblos
Alles um mich her,
Nach der Schwestern Spiele
Nicht begehr ich mehr
Möchte lieber weinen,
Still im Kämmerlein
Seit ich ihn gesehen,
Glaub ich blind zu sein
- Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), “Seit ich ihn gesehen”
from “Frauenliebe und -leiben” (A Woman’s Love and Life)
[ Poems by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838) ]
Since I first saw him,
I think I am blind
Wherever I look,
I see him only
As in a waking dream
His image hovers before me,
Rising out of deepest darkness
Brightly, ever more brightly
All else is dark and pale
Around me,
My sisters’ games
I no longer long to share
I would rather weep
Quietly in my room
Since I first saw him,
I think I am blind
Monobility® Group
