17/06/2025

LYFE TUESDAY | JUNE 17, 2025

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Unwritten bonds, unspoken pain

TV SHOW REVIEW

A slow-burn drama about identity and emotional healing, Our Unwritten Seoul, directed by Kim Yun-joo, proves not all stories need fireworks to make an impact. The 2025 tvN series, also available on Netflix, is a deeply introspective piece powered by subtle performances and a quietly poignant script. Dual lives of twin sisters At the centre of this tender narrative are Yoo Mi-ji and Yoo Mi-rae, twin sisters who could not be more different, both played with extraordinary precision by Park Bo-young. Mi-ji is a reclusive writer battling panic attacks and professional burnout, while Mi-rae is an energetic drama script coordinator masking her emotional fatigue with forced optimism. A surprise reunion leads the estranged sisters to impulsively swap lives. What begins as escapism turns into a revealing emotional journey, as each sister is forced to confront not only the life the other lives but also the emotional burdens they have tried to ignore for years. This is not a dramatic identity switch in the conventional sense, but more a study of empathy and long-suppressed pain. The writing leans into psychological realism, gently pulling viewers into the emotional lives of its characters with patience and care. Cast and characters Bo-young is unquestionably the heart of the series. Known for her expressive eyes and emotionally resonant performances, she steps into two completely distinct roles and she disappears into both. As Mi-ji, she captures the heavy stillness of someone suffocating under her own thoughts while as Mi-rae, she reveals the fatigue of a woman trying too hard to hold herself together. The transition between these characters is Ű BY THASHINE SELVAKUMARAN K-POP star Kim Han-bin (B.I) will return to Malaysia on Sept 21, bringing his 2025 B.I Tour: The Last Parade to Mega Star Arena, Kuala Lumpur. Fans, known as ID (short for Be Identity), can look forward to B.I’s signature showmanship and high-energy performances. The tour coincides with the release of his third studio album Wonderland – an 11-track record praised by fans. Concert-goers will be treated to a mix of new and past hits, with tracks from Waterfall and To Die For , as well as EPs Love or Loved Part. 1 and Love or Loved Part. 2. Since launching his solo career in 2021 under his label 131, B.I has steadily built his global presence with headline tours and festival appearances, including Lollapalooza and Rolling Loud. B.I’s list of collaborations includes Ferris Wheel with Heize, Happy Alone with Woosung of The Rose, Got It Like That with Destiny Rogers and Tyla Yaweh, Lost at Sea (Illa Illa 2) with Bipolar Sunshine and Afgan, Die for Love with Jessi and BTBT featuring Soulja Boy and DeVita. Organised by Lo-Fi Entertainment, the show kicks off at 7pm. Ticket prices range from RM358 to RM888, with fan benefits.

o Park Bo-young impresses viewers with dual role in new Netflix drama

Bo-young (left) teams up with Jin-young (member of boy band Got7).

Bo-young plays dual roles in the series.

pacing in the first few episodes is undeniably slow, and it takes time before the emotional momentum builds. But when it does, the payoff is moving and memorable. That said, the drama’s core themes of healing and the messy love between siblings are delivered with sincerity and depth. Our Unwritten Seoul airs every Saturday and Sunday on tvN, with new episodes available to stream on Netflix at the same time.

Beautiful slow burn Visually, Our Unwritten Seoul is shot in warm tones and natural light, leaning into minimalist cinematography that reflects the characters’ inner solitude. Scenes are often slow, filled with silence or subtle expressions rather than exposition-heavy dialogue. This, however, is also where the series may test viewers’ patience. The

restrained presence that slowly unravels as he bonds with Mi-rae. Their scenes are filled with quiet intensity. Every performance, no matter how minor, feels emotionally real, never exaggerated, never hollow. Even the fleeting characters that pass through the twins’ lives are written with a purpose, adding to the show’s emotional richness.

seamless, never once feeling like a performance trick. Supporting her is Park Jin-young, who plays Ji-won, Mi-rae’s co-worker and a man who learns to see beyond surface identities. His portrayal is grounded and gentle, serving as a steady emotional counterbalance to the chaos the sisters navigate. Ryu Kyung-soo also shines as Han, someone with a

0 Director: Kim Yun-joo 0 Cast: Park Bo-young , Park Jin young, Ryu Kyung-soo

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Jin-young plays Ji-won in the K-drama. – ALL PICS FROM INSTAGRAM @TVN_DRAMA

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Ryu Kyung-soo (right) captivates viewers as Han Se-jin in Our Unwritten Seoul.

B.I brings tour to Kuala Lumpur

Wukong reimagines LBI’s Jumping Machine as high-energy remix

ORIGINALLY released as a heartfelt C-pop love ballad by Chinese singer LBI, Jumping Machine has now been transformed into a heart pumping anthem by Singaporean DJ Wukong. Ranked among the top 100 DJs worldwide and known for infusing traditional Chinese elements into his sound, Wukong has transformed the heart

relationship you cannot let go of. With tender vocals and poignant lyrics, LBI expresses the aching sadness of wishing someone would lie and say they still love you, even when you know deep down, they no longer do. Since its release, Jumping Machine has stormed charts across Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan and Hong

wrenching ballad into a dynamic track with pulsating beats. J ump i n g

Kong. It also peaked at 11th on Spotify’s Global Viral Chart. The track’s infectious hooks have transcended language barriers, with non-Chinese

Machine uses the drop tower ride, also known as the “ j ump i ng machine”, as a powerful metaphor to capture the emotional

s p e a k i n g audiences worldwide sharing their renditions on social media. T h i s widespread a p p e a l

highs and s u d d e n lows of a

positions it as one of 2025’s most promising Chinese music exports.

DJ Wukong.

B.I is a former member of the boy group iKon and is now a soloist.