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[Revisiting Dramas] The timeless struggle over age differences in What’s Up, Fox

The first true noona romance I ever saw (before I knew that “noona romances” were even a thing) was What’s Up Fox. Over the years, no matter how many noona romances I watched, I was quietly comparing each one to Byung-hee and Chul-soo’s captivating struggle with socially unacceptable age gaps. I decided to revisit What’s Up Fox because I wanted to know if the memories of this show withstood the test of time, or if I were holding other noona romances to faulty unspoken standards.

I was pleasantly surprised both by how much I remembered and by how much I forgot. There are certain iconic scenes that still linger with me all these years later—such as Chul-soo jumping on the hood of the surgeon’s car, the ribbon around his neck, the carefully researched “first kiss” locations at the amusement park, and, of course, that iconic ending in the makeshift camper bus. I had forgotten about the older fashion mogul and his disturbing obsession with Byung-hee’s sister (and honestly, I think it was probably a good thing that I forgot that B-plot, since it still slightly skeeves me out).

I also forgot that this was the first time Yoon Yeo-young and Go Hyun-jung worked together, which warmed my ever-lovin’ Dear My Friends heart. (For the record, both Go Hyun-jung and Yoon Yeo-jung look the same as they did in 2006, which now makes me long to know their secret source of eternal youth.)

I had forgotten how much fashion and technology have changed in just a decade: Flip phones! Phones with such teeny-tiny screens and laughably simple graphics! VHS tapes! Baggy jeans! The ability make a living by working at a mediocre print magazine! Honestly, though, there’s something I find so comforting about the mid-2000s aesthetic. It feels homey and familiar, automatically giving me a sense of understated nostalgia.

Most surprisingly, though, I forgot the honest discussions about sex—which seems impossible, I know, since that’s the main theme: a one-night stand between a thirtysomething virgin and her best friend’s younger brother. I had to double-check that this drama had indeed aired on MBC, since I found it difficult to believe a show that spoke so frankly about sex and sexual desire would be given the green light to air during prime time.

If this show aired today in 2017, I assume it would find a home on tvN or JTBC—not just because of the frank talk about sex, but also because I get the feeling modern-day MBC would hesitate to have a heroine who works at a adult magazine and who, in the first episode, goes through a pelvic exam. (How many shows matter-of-factly remind you how important it is to regularly visit your OBGYN?)

When I first watched this drama, I was closer to Chul-soo’s age than Byung-hee’s, so the idea of a thirtysomething woman worried about her romantic and sexual future was only something I could understand in the abstract. I was more caught-up in the general romance, being a sucker for the boy-next-door and friends-to-lovers trope. I also loved the family dynamics and the general relaxed and realistic vibe of the entire setting—particularly the relationships between the sisters and their mother, between Byung-hee and her friend Seung-hye, and between Chul-soo and his sister.

Now that I’m closer to Byung-hee’s age, I find her relatable to an almost painful degree. While I don’t think I’m at the point where I’ll be drunkenly crying into my oysters, clutching a plastic model of a uterus (at least, not yet!), I understand her fears much more than I did when I was in my early twenties. Back then, I was like the idealistic Chul-soo, ready to fight for what I believed in and not caring what anyone else thought. Now I’m older and less confident about what I believe, less sure about my future path and goals. I’m more aware of my faults, and definitely more hesitant to foist my emotional baggage onto any unsuspecting soul.

Like Byung-hee, I feel like I fell asleep in my twenties and suddenly woke up in my thirties, unaware of how exactly I’ve ended up here. I, too, think I should have done something more with my life. Like Byung-hee, I find being a grown-up is harder than just counting the years go by, and wish I didn’t always have to be the “adult.” Like Byung-hee, I want to enjoy a life that looks good on paper, but get dissatisfied when it doesn’t live up to my expectations or make my heart go pit-a-pat.

I originally watched What’s Up Fox the same year I watched My Name Is Kim Sam-soon, Bottom of the 9th with 2 Outs, and Coffee Prince, having no idea how spoiled I would be with the low-key “indie” vibe of those types of dramas. Not all dramas can be such quiet, emotional powerhouses (with fantastic soundtracks), despite how much I wish they could be.

Thanks to this walk down memory lane, I’m reminded of how much I adore writer Kim Do-woo’s dramas—they always somehow end up sticking with me long after they’ve finished airing—and how earnestly I yearn for her return to dramaland. Even though I appreciate her viewpoint on romance, it’s the general way she writes about relationships in all their eternal messiness—particularly family and friendship—that make her dramas lodge themselves in my heart and soul.

It’s already been over two years since Valid Love, six years since Me Too, Flower, eleven years since What’s Up Fox, and twelve years since My Name Is Kim Sam-soon. Will I have to wait another two or three (or ten) years before I get to experience Kim Do-woo’s perspective on a new set of families and relationshps? Please say it isn’t so!

The most important part bout this revisit, though, is that I once again fell in love with Byung-hee and Chul-soo. They reaffirmed why I’ve considered this to be my ideal noona romance for almost a decade, and why I will always think of them first. It was such a pleasure reliving their awkward beginning as they go from noona-dongsaeng to lovers (a much longer journey, admittedly, than I originally anticipated, since I kept wondering when that monorail kiss would finally happen!).

Now I wish there could be a sequel showing us where my favorite noona-romance couple are a decade later, when Chul-soo is in his thirties and Byung-hee is in her forties and a nine-year age-gap wouldn’t seem quite as extreme. Are they still together? Did they successfully manage to build a lasting relationship despite the social stigma of age differences? Are they still traveling in that camper bus or have they settled down to raise mini Chul-soos and Byung-hees?

Perhaps it doesn’t matter, in the end. After all, the final words in the show are to “follow your heart and be happy,” even when there’s no guarantee what the futures holds. So, for now—as I have for the past eight years—I’ll continue to cling to the fact that Chul-soo and Byung-hee were able to work through their differences, struggling through personal and societal expectations, before realizing that sometimes what makes you happiest is what you least expect.

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Thanks so much! This is one of my early favourites, and I loved the vibe.
If I may, what did you think about ... well, the elephant in the room...their first 'sexual encounter'?

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I wondered this too. I remembered liking What's Up Fox years ago when I first watched it, but I'm more aware now, and when I went back to rewatch it a few months back ( I was craving some noona romance), I didn't bother to watch past the first episode because of how that sexual encounter happened.

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I'd be wary of a rewatch as well, but Chul Soo was so darn adorable!! We got to know his character through the drama, and that motel scene is not really consistent.

The problem with the drama is that it doesn't really address the consent part of it. They should have addressed it as a mistake (a crime, really), and moved on from there. *sigh*

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So Valid Love and My Name is Kim Sam Soon is from the same writer :o I have check out What's Up, Fox !

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Me, too! I loved MNISKSS and enjoyed VL, so I guess I must look this up.

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The side plots grossed me out, but I watched this a year ago and absolutely looooooved Chul-soo!

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Your post brought back all the feels! I'm not a huge fan of noona romances, but this one completely stole my heart. Agree that it's the one to beat! ❤︎

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Chun Jung Myung is a long time favorite of mine. Heart to Heart, for me, was his crowning glory, with Goodbye Solo a close second (though that was more for the ensemble and brilliant brilliant script) ! LOVED his character. I've always thought he and Jo Jung Suk should play brothers. But could two such powerful personalities be contained on one screen? Be still my heart...I'd love to see it nonetheless.

I liked Fox, but wasn't crazy about it. It's main draw was introducing me to him. What I really want to know, since you brought it up and I have been wondering about this a lot lately, WHY has censorship become even more prevalent in Korea with their dramas? I'm guessing it's because their audience demographic has changed? A younger crowd maybe so the older ones in power are 'protecting' their audience? All I know is I'm getting sick to death of the monotony of pablum they are serving up. I continue to thank the heavens for cable drama. I'm not asking, nor do I want sex and people eating each other's faces!!! ;) Just SOME kind of reality where love and sex are concerned in people's relationships. I am consistently surprised at older dramas like this where reality is more prevalent than in today's childish fairy tales. It's a much more even balance, real, and far more relatable to life.

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I agree wholeheartedly with everything you have said about censorship and current day fairy tales.
Speaking of CJM, Heart to Heart was indeed his crowning glory - I rewatched it maybe for the 7th time!
What's Up Fox - Being unused to any drama with a large age difference, it took me some time to believe that such a romance was ever possible? The side-plot was even less palatable. But by the end, it changed my outlook forever, that love truly has no boundaries, it doesn't matter if someone is 9 or 17 years older. You need to be willing to commit to make a relationship work. Show you converted me :)
I was also struck by how similar the vibes CJM gives are to Seo In-guk's in High School King of Savvy, they both have the charm aspect down pat. Apart from both the dramas being noona romances and SO cute, the male leads are so confident, idealistic and fearless. And the ladies so self-doubting, it feels so relatable(especially in one's 30s), that I even wished to find myself a Chul-soo or a Min-seok, le sigh.

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Re : censorship. It's basically come out (very recently) that the past 2 presidencies had a heavy hand in censoring dramas/movies and whatnot. The head honchos of SBS, MBC etc have become used to the conservatism... MBC reporters are currently on strike so it may seep into dramaland as well - we'll see!

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I absolutely agree it would be great to see more variety of relationships and perhaps realistic as well. I still remember watching Healer and realizing...oh, they are actually going to not stop at that kiss. I did note that both in Fight My Way and Suspicious Partner, the intimate aspects of the relationships seemed more grounded in terms of how they progressed. I think neither of those dramas was cable either.

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Thanks for posting this! I haven't really explored noona romances, but the dynamics you described sound interesting. I'll probably start with this one.

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I love how you talked about your different perspectives when watching this at different ages! Byung Hee is totally relatable as a thirty-something looking at her life. And Chul Soo is just the most adorable puppy ever. My gut says he'd still be her puppy if we caught up to the characters today :)

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I thoroughly enjoyed What's up fox. Reading this post made me realize how long ago I watched it, man where has the time gone? haha I didn't realize the same writer wrote Sam-soon and Valid Love. I liked Sam-soon didn't love it but the female lead and her sister were a wonder full part of the story, they lost me at the cancer/ anorexic second lead. And when she tried to "cure" her illness by forcing her to eat. right because why didn't anyone else try that? haha not to mention her motivation was to get her boyfriend back. Ahem any way haha I also liked/ hated Valid Love. I Loved Illri and Joon together, they fit so well and he brought back her spark. I didn't think going back to her husband was the right choice. I never believed their romance, they basically stayed married because of the handicapped sister and then the dementia mother-in-law. I am convinced she only went back because of the mother in law and not her husband. So this writer is very talented and in general I like her stories, I just don't always like how she chooses to add tension and drama to the stories.

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I love What's Up, Fox. As charming as Go Hyunjung was and always is, Chun Jungmyung's bright-eyed innocence was magical.

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awwww, i've almost forgotten about this one -- it was one of my early watches, when i fell down the Kdrama rabbithole in 2010...

i really liked it! i was laffing out loud and was terrified of her best friend finding out about her and her younger brother...
: D

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I really wanted to like this drama, for all the reasons you mentioned, but the show started with chul soo taking advantage of byung hee when she was way to drunk to say yes. Why couldn't they both have been drunk? One being hammered and the other sober makes it so icky. And I vaguely remember byung hee apologising afterwards? Which only upped the ick factor (may be wrong there though) that and the sisters story was also way creepy. Both couples were just so off...

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That's what always bothered me about this show and why I would never recommend it.

I watched this drama because everyone always seems to gush about it to no end, but this scene was not okay in any way I spin it.

I'm really glad I'm not the only one who thinks that.

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Thank you, Odilettante, for your lovely tribute to What's up, Fox. I agree, it is still the one to beat for noona romance.
It is also one of my favorites for the low key, realistic portrayal of a couple navigating a relationship.

I also want to mention the OST?. I still listen to the songs on a regular basis.

https://youtu.be/n6pxuyf_-hI

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It's so hard to find old dramas recently. Where I could watch this drama with english sub?

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It's available at both Dramafever and Viki.

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This is one of my favorite and i love the actor ever since this drama. Romance 2002 is one of my favorite too.

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Oh how i missed this show. It's so hard to find old show to watch. I remember watching this a zilliontimes. I didn't realize it's the same writer as Valid Love, Me too Flower, and My Name is Kim Sam-Soon. They were all so good. Now I really wish the writer would please come back soon.

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I just finished re-watching this a few days ago as well. I definitely appreciate this more now than I did back when i first watched it. I also forgot about most everything outside the OTP... (and omg the sister is the second female lead in She Was Pretty)... I'm still weirded out by her sister's farty spinsor... but, oh, well.

I'm with you on most everything you said.

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This also made me watch more Chun Jung Myung productions again. XD

(I ended up digging a little too earnestly through old dramas for rewatch... ahem.)

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Well if this drama were to be set in modern times, everyone will be crying foul over their age gap. One of the reason it worked was because they were both actors, idols hadn't invaded into the acting space then. I think if it hadn't been their superb acting, I might not be able to love it if it were another set of actors. I got hooked once I saw the scene of her pretending to know about sex when she was still a virgin. Then I fell for the realism of the drama. Although their road to happiness were paved with many obstacles, that they first have to overcome their own stigma then for their families and friends to accept them. She had such a hard time coming to terms viewing him as a man as she even changed his diaper when he was a baby. Lol. Somehow it was so well done that it still is on of my fave moons romance drama.

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Typo - one of my fave noona romance drama.

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This has been on my to watch list for the longest time but have been hesitant in watching because I didn't want to be disappointed. Thanks for the reassurance! Will watch this after I finish the other four dramas I need to finish hahaha

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I watched this drama for the first time in the last 18 months or so. What struck me was how many concept later noona romances took from this one. I would think as I viewed it...oh they did that in I Remember Romance 3 or they did that in Flower Boy Raymen Shop etc. I liked that it was grounded, the guy seemed like a regular guy with a regular job and oddly I liked that the makeup for both actors seemed minimalist by today's standards.

I do agree the secondary couple did nothing for me, and I eventually started skipping the scenes. I'm not ready for a re-watch but if anyone is a fan of the noona concept they should give this a go.

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Thank you for revisiting this drama - loved your post as much as the drama. Let's hope there are more dramas like that to come to our streaming services.

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i love this drama, good memories

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I watched this drama when it was new because it was the same writer as Sam Soon and I loved it almost as much. The iconic scene that's unforgettable to me is Byung Hee throwing the model uterus into the sea, maybe because I was watching it at a much older age than the character's? Unlike most, I loved the nutty fashion mogul and forgot that his relationship with Sis (who was SUCH a brat) was initially based on creepiness. Now you make me want to watch it and Sam Soon (yet) again.

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Wow. I thought Valid Love was outstanding. Me Too Flower, on the other hand, I couldn't remember the plot at all, so I went back to read the summary. Interesting. I enjoyed Dal Ja's Spring so I think I'll give this Noona Romance a try, too!

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ugh, yes. this is one of my all time fave dramas!

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