interesting... her personal life mirrors her characters role in "Last Scandal in My Life". Type casting seems to be the norm in KDramas. Wonder if they specifically looked for a divorced actress for this role. Not much of a stretch, acting wise. ;-(

she's 40?.....hello Mrs. Robinson...j/k

KUDOS in her getting the name change succesfully through!

is this pretty ground breaking by Korean standards?

javabeans:
ummm....bit of an overreaction on your part, huh? First time I saw her in a KDrama. The reference to the role not being a "stretch" was the fact she was divorced. Her acting seems fine, but then again she has been given a sympathetic role in this KDrama by the writers.

BTW, are you her mother or something, or have you taken on the role of her public relations manager? ;-) Chill.....lifes too short....

Korean women keeping their last names upon marriage has nothing to do with progressive thinking, I'm afraid. The Family Registry was founded with the fact that the woman never became a "true" part of the husband's family.

lols I think you're the one who's overreacting her comment Gaijin. being divorced is just one thing she has in common with her character and you called it hardly a stretch? i agree w/ javabeans, that's what i call oversimplification

It's actually not that unusual if you watch "ajuhmma dramas." Most 35+ female leads, by default, play divorcees, old maids, single mums, or (most recently and positively) highly successful women who just don't have the time. Otherwise they wouldn't be single, and there wouldn't be drama.

FWIW, Choi Jin Shil was one of the biggest Korean actresses in the 90s, well considered one of the most beautiful faces and all good stuff, and was doing steady work until her marriage. I'm still not used to seeing her play a proper ajuhmma; it makes me feel . . . intimidated? :D

carol,
ummmm....once again commenting without reading the original post correctly. If you bothered to check my original post, I said her being divorced was NOT a stretch for playing this role. lol..... this is getting funnier by the minute..... talk about overreaction...... look in a mirror.... lol...... ;-)

Gaijin, I'm not going to get into a stupid internet argument, so I'll just respond to your comment that i didn't read the post. I did. YOU didn't read my post, or maybe you don't have the reading comp skills. I said that being divorced and playing a divorced character is hardly a similarity, which is what you are saying. What, are you gonna call a 25 yr old playing a 25 yr old also "not much of a stretch, acting wise"?

carol,
I wasn't the one to use inflammatory comments in responding to your postings. Let's keep things civil, if you are capable of doing so.

ummm.... what am I missing.... so you want to argue that a 25 year old playing a 25 year old IS a stretch? That's like saying that the sky is not up, or water is not wet. How difficult is it for a 25 year old to play a 25 year old? Ohhhh..... you were being sarcastic..... that explains it. Have a nice day.

javabeans,
"cavalier" ???? my goodness.... such language...... BTW, checked the rules, and they don't prevent "cavalier" comments. Oh, wait, I've struck a nerve with a fan or hers. Didn't realize that this board was a love fest, as opposed to a free exchange of various opinions about KDramas. Or have I been unjustly singled out for people to vent their spleens. My oh my, look what a mess being "cavalier' has gotten me into now. ;-)

She is so beautiful! I love her in Last Scandal. Thanks so much for the post javabeans.

ha ha.... made the moderator say "shit".... Like I said, "Chill, lifes too short". ;-)

FWIW, whenever I watch drama deal with divorce, the almost casual way in which the woman gives up her custody rights (even if he was the one who committed adultery or domestic violence) is always hard for me to watch. That and the stigma with adopted children.

Hooray for Choi JIn Shil standing up to the partriarchal system against single moms in Korea.

It takes guts to forge a new path in society. I hope her children will learn from their mother's independence and courage.

@Ms. Beans,

Should I call you "javabeans" or "dramabeans"? I kinda pogo between the two . . .

Yeah one of my favorite subgenres in K-drama involves divorcees. Usually the language is more coarse, and the observations close to real life (or at least vicariously more pleasurable.) Even on American (network) TV, this isn't a particularly strong voice.

I think it's tempting to sometimes read into performances if recent high-profile breakups surrounded the project. For example, when I was watching Coffee Prince, I watched Chae Jung Ahn's performance with the subtext of her then (purportedly) abusive marriage and recent divorce. Or Han Ji Hye breaking up with LDG during the middle of Likable Or Not. Things like that.

i'm not that familiar with Korean family law either, but to me it seems so commendable that she is choosing to have her kids legally have her last name.

i think "Gaijin" is being rude here -- this is your blog afterall, javabeans. some people just do not know internet etiquette... his comments seem more appropriate for something like AllKpop or Popseoul...

go choi jin shil. shes one of those actresses that i just really admire, for her acting skills as well as her personal choices.

oh but even though i read your blog often and i went out of my way to comment and add my opinion, let me just be obnoxious and rude and come back every couple of minutes to make sure that i win. because i do win. ;)

@ Glo, win what, did i miss something?

haha, totally agree with glo about popseoul and allkpop. that whole dispute was a bit comical. well-handled, dramabeans. i think i'll start this drama up.

Long time reader, first time poster. Couldn't help but notice all the hate going on here. My grandmother taught me to be open minded and not be judgemental of others opinions. I teach my children the same. I've read all the postings, and looks to me that overreaction and blind devotion rule the roost with the fans. These are, after all, just actors playing ficticious roles on TV. I'm happy to say I have a life beyond the tube. Just my 2 cents. Love you all.

yeah i agree with rocketfuel...she looks excellent for her age!

#1 Gaijin: "Not much of a stretch, acting wise. ;-("

On the contrary, I think it IS a stretch for her to play a divorced woman given how ugly and public her own divorce was. It takes courage and strength of character. Who enjoys enacting roles that remind them of their own scars?

I have heaps of respect for Choi Jin Shil and hope she finds all the happiness she deserves.

OK, excuse my ignorance since I am not Korean ... but what are the legal benefits for changing the children's surname to hers?

Amyable & Javabean: I learned a while ago that it's the same thing in Chinese culture - the women keeping her last name when she married. I remember thinking, "wow that's amazingly forward!" but then realized the real reason when I read this post. :-(

There's this saying in China that a married daughter is like thrown out water - i.e. she's been given away, not to be thought about. As a result, many times the family's inheritance is not given to a daughter that is married. So I was wondering, since the bride doesn't become an official part of her husband's family registry, does she still remain on her own family's registry or is she taken off because she's married?

hua,

As I understand it, when a woman marries, she is taken off the family registry into which she was born. She is then recorded into her husband's family registry but not in a true context since she's still an outsider.

To be honest, I don't see the need to change names. Whether in marriages or divorces. If the woman didn't change it when she marries, there's no need to change it when she gets divorce, right? They have named the kid like that, so why change after divorce?

For an Indonesian, surname is never a big issue. Most people are born without surnames. People just name their children to whatever they think is good. They can have long names with no surname attached to it. Me myself, I invented my surname using my last name (because living in other countries requires you to have one). I was one of them who's born without one. Some of my friends only have ONE name. No last name, no surname. Just a name.

At the end of the day, it's really just a name. It doesn't change anything, and shouldn't change one's way of thinking or the way the law sees the person.

I have a different point of view. I think there is so much in a person's name. That's why parents belabor for so long in choosing just the right names for their unborn children. That's why women make various different choices when they get married (keep their maiden name, take on their husband's name, or hypenate, etc.). Just recently, I had a co-worker change HIS last name when he got married. I'll use a psuedonym so let's say his name was John Smith. He married Mary Chan. So, his wife decided to hypenate and become Mary Chan-Smith. He wanted to have the same last name as his wife, so he is now John Chan-Smith. This isn't the first couple I've seen do this and these decisions tell you that there's so much to a person's name! I think identity, sense of belonging, heritage, individualism, etc can be factors in how a person views their name.

Javabeans, thanks so much for the repsonse. Ah, now I understand why Choi would be so hung up on changing her children's surname. That makes sense and honestly, I do not mean to criticise but it seems that a woman is kinda left in no-man's land in Korea? Taken off family registry after marriage but only kinda registered in husband's family registry as an outsider and with no rights to the children ... wow.

@Skangrrl: I was thinking the same thing. A woman's identity and rights, so to speak, are kind of lost in the air when she marries? I don't think I can accept that myself, but then it's their practice and their society accepts it so who am I to oppose? As a citizen born and raised in a democratic world, where men and women are regarded equal, it just doesn't seem right. My 2 cents.

the song today really reminded me of hellogoodbye. lol : )

RE: javabean's explanation @ #30:

'kay that makes sense, and it's consistent with the patriarchal view of women being merely vessels to deliver lineage borne from the man's seed. in that old scenario, she truly is a non-person without ownership/authority in the marriage/family. *cough*vomit*

Rest in Peace, Choi Jin Shil...

My aunt divorced her husband who was abusive. During the divorce he tried to get the house and ended up with half the worth of it although it was my grandpa's gift to my aunt before he died. My aunt got custody of her daughter and changed her last name. A regular divorce is one thing but I don't think it's surprising to change the child's last name to the mother's maiden name if the father was terrible and now estranged. Choi's husband was physically abusive and cheated on her. He even denied the alleged affair then secretly got married to the woman soon after the divorce. I wouldn't want my children to have his name.

Question: "Why should I not commit suicide?"

Answer: Our hearts go out to those who have thoughts of ending their own lives through suicide. If that is you right now, it may speak of many emotions, such as feelings of hopelessness and despair. You may feel like you are in the deepest pit, and you doubt there is any hope of things getting better. No one seems to care or understand where you are coming from. Life just is not worth living...or is it?

If you will take a few moments to consider letting God truly be God in your life right now, He will prove how big He really is, “for nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). Perhaps scars from past hurts have resulted in an overwhelming sense of rejection or abandonment. That may lead to self-pity, anger, bitterness, vengeful thoughts, or unhealthy fears that have caused problems in some of your most important relationships.

Why should you not commit suicide? Friend, no matter how bad things are in your life, there is a God of love who is waiting for you to let Him guide you through your tunnel of despair and out into His marvelous light. He is your sure hope. His name is Jesus.

This Jesus, the sinless Son of God, identifies with you in your time of rejection and humiliation. The prophet Isaiah wrote of Him in Isaiah 53:2-6, describing Him as a man who was “despised and rejected” by everyone. His life was full of sorrow and suffering. But the sorrows He bore were not His own; they were ours. He was pierced, wounded, and crushed, all because of our sin. Because of His suffering, our lives can be redeemed and made whole.

Friend, Jesus Christ endured all this so that you might have all your sins forgiven. Whatever weight of guilt you carry, know that He will forgive you if you humbly receive Him as your Savior. “...call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you¼” (Psalm 50:15). Nothing you have ever done is too bad for Jesus to forgive. Some of His choicest servants committed gross sins like murder (Moses), murder and adultery (King David), and physical and emotional abuse (the apostle Paul). Yet they found forgiveness and a new abundant life in the Lord. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Why should you not commit suicide? Friend, God stands ready to repair what is “broken,” namely, the life you have now, the life you want to end by suicide. In Isaiah 61:1-3, the prophet wrote, “The LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”

Come to Jesus, and let Him restore your joy and usefulness as you trust Him to begin a new work in your life. He promises to restore the joy you have lost and give you a new spirit to sustain you. Your broken heart is precious to Him: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:12, 15-17).

Will you accept the Lord as your Savior and Shepherd? He will guide your thoughts and steps—one day at a time—through His Word, the Bible. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you” (Psalm 32:8). “He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure” (Isaiah 33:6). In Christ, you will still have struggles, but you will now have hope. He is “a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you in your hour of decision.

If you desire to trust Jesus Christ as your Savior, speak these words in your heart to God: “God, I need you in my life. Please forgive me for all that I have done. I place my faith in Jesus Christ and believe that He is my Savior. Please cleanse me, heal me, and restore my joy in life. Thank You for Your love for me and for Jesus' death on my behalf.”

Depression is a widespread condition, affecting millions of people, Christians and non-Christians alike. Those suffering from depression can experience intense feelings of sadness, anger, hopelessness, fatigue, and a variety of other symptoms. They may begin to feel useless and even suicidal, losing interest in things and people that they once enjoyed. Depression is often triggered by life circumstances, such as a loss of job, death of a loved one, divorce, or psychological problems such as abuse or low self-esteem.

The Bible tells us to be filled with joy and praise (Philippians 4:4; Romans 15:11), so God apparently intends for us all to live joyful lives. This is not easy for someone suffering from situational depression, but it can be remedied through God's gifts of prayer, Bible study and application, support groups, fellowship among believers, confession, forgiveness, and counseling. We must make the conscious effort to not be absorbed in ourselves, but to turn our efforts outward. Feelings of depression can often be solved when those suffering with depression move the focus from themselves to Christ and others.

Clinical depression is a physical condition that must be diagnosed by a physician. It may not be caused by unfortunate life circumstances, nor can the symptoms be alleviated by one's own will. Contrary to what some in the Christian community believe, clinical depression is not always caused by sin. Depression can sometimes be caused by a physical disorder that needs to be treated with medication and/or counseling. Of course, God is able to cure any disease or disorder. However, in some cases, seeing a doctor for depression is no different than seeing a doctor for an injury.

There are some things that those who suffer from depression can do to alleviate their anxiety. They should make sure that they are staying in the Word, even when they do not feel like it. Emotions can lead us astray, but God's Word stands firm and unchanging. We must maintain strong faith in God and hold even more tightly to Him when we undergo trials and temptations. The Bible tells us that God will never allow temptations into our lives that are too much for us to handle (1 Corinthians 10:13). Although being depressed is not a sin, one is still accountable for the response to the affliction, including getting the professional help that is needed. “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name” (Hebrews 13:15).

Release from depression caused by guilt came from confession and seeking God's forgiveness… Jesus Christ loves Choi Jin Shil very much..