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Hey Everyone!!! Seems like everyone is doing well. Although we have move on we are still cherishing the memories of MA. Has anyone seen IU/Lee Jieun's new drama 'Hotel Del Luna' yet? I watched the first two episodes and I felt that the writer was giving hidden nods to 'My Ahjussi'. There are scenes where: 1) The full moon is featured (hotel del luna) --------- 'My Moon' 2) Main characters have a meaningful subway ride --------------- all those subway rides in MA 3) IU's character asks to 'be taken out to eat' ----- 'buy me food' in MA 4) the main characters are in a restaurant but we see them through a window ------ DH and JA in their special restaurant 5) IU's character buys shoes for male character -------------- 'Buy me slippers' 6) ghost wears dark sunglasses (I thought it was IU wearing sunglasses at first) --------------- JA with sunglasses in the office 7) IU's character tells male character to take subway #4 ------------------- subway station 4 in or near Hugye 8) Main characters walk together at night through quiet neighborhood street ------------ oh those special walks home LJE's character is strong and is playing with YJG's naive character. Strong like JA but more playful. It is like watching a mature JA toy with an innocent and younger DH. Now if I see signal lights, bugging a cellphone or a little van tipping over then I know the writer is sending signals honoring 'My Ahjussi'! Like many of you I hope LJE and LSK act together again soon. In the meantime I'll imagine LSK has transformed into YJG in Hotel Del Luna.

I am so excited to learn of the wonderful and surprising results for 'My Ahjussi' at the Baeksang Awards! We were all hoping that our beloved drama would get recognized but with the popularity of some of the other dramas most of felt that even a nomination would be a win. Then when the nominations came out I felt that winning would be great but would that really happen? I can't believe they actually won! I guess the voters did recognize the beauty and greatness of MA. Now that our show has been recognized as the 'Best Drama' I couldn't be happier!!! Except I did agree with @sadiesmith I was so proud of 'My Ahjussi' but I was also disappointed that LSK didn't get recognized for his portrayal of Dong Hoon. I felt disappointment just like I was not initially happy with the ending of the drama. But after reading comments about the ending and thinking about it I did come around to think the ending was the best we could hope for considering the audience. Just like then, after being upset about the non-award for LSK I realized that he and everyone else who participated in MA all go home as winners! As the 'Best Drama' of the year everyone was recognized as being Best. The director, writer, staff and actors (lead, supporting and background) were all essential pieces in this production. It wasn't just one actor that was recognized. The whole team was recognized. Every person who participated in MA was deemed worthy of being named as the Best. The drama wouldn't have succeeded without everyone doing their part. So in my eyes and in the eyes of this awards giving group every person involved in MA is considered a winner! I think this is the appropriate result for our residents of Hugye. A group effort. And that brings me comfort. How about another round of drinks. Some celebratory songs. A nice meal for our special pair at the their special restaurant. And please more fanfic!

I'm sorry that I missed the 1 year anniversary celebration here. So many exciting posts since my last visit (I skimmed the last few pages). The nominations for the Baeksang are exciting and well deserved! "Daebak!" For me the one year anniversary was some time this past week or so. I didn't start watching when it first started. I wanted to have a few episodes to watch before I started. Can't believe it is already a year. Can't believe I can't re-watch it since DF closed down. I wanted to say that I watched 'Touch your heart' and the way the lead characters finally expressed their like for each other was how I wanted our DH and JA to express their feelings for each other. I kept seeing DH's and JA's faces over these other characters. I also saw 'The light in your eyes'. I almost gave up on it. I actually said to myself that if the younger version of the main character did not appear soon I would stop watching. The younger version showed up again so I kept watching. But it was only for one episode. I understood the focus on the elderly and the message but I felt 'come on give us the relationship of the young leads'. Finally the big reveal occurred in ep 10. Everything made sense. I think 3 or 4 episodes could have been cut to make the same point but the beauty of how everything 'connected' reminded me of MA. In MA every episode (except maybe half of one episode) was crucial for the story to fulfill us. TLIYE was close. The acting was great but a tighter story would have made it better. I guess nothing matches our MA. MA spoiled me. Now no other show has really satisfied me. The search continues. Just have to wait for a LJE and LSK reunion!!!

Hope everyone is having a good start to the new year!!! @Yana Mujay Thank you for posting all those video clips! I really appreciated the video of IU singing the Christmas song. I thought of the lyrics "in your eyes, in your face, in the way you hold my hand". It reminded me of the ending of MA. How DH smiled so brightly and how tightly he held JA's hands. That song was very nice. @widala Thank you also for all your clips! I don't know where you find them but I really get my MA addiction fed by all your hard work. That clip of LSK singing 10 years ago is priceless! @oldschooler your observations are always mind-blowing. JA's wind-swept look does look like the young orphan in Les Mis. Thank you for your words regarding my attempts at being creative. I was hesitant to post them but I love you guys and MA so much that I felt comfortable in sharing. I thinking of writing something from DH's perspective next. I knew I could write what I wanted yet feel safe in this sanctuary of MA love. @Joseph Lim Thanks for sharing IU singing 'The Station'. I like the song. It really grows on you. @sadiesmith Thanks for finding and sharing all these articles. They also help to feed my MA addiction. Happy Lunar New Year everyone! Can you believe it is almost one year since MA started airing? I can start watching 'Sky Castle'. It has started to show on Viki. Hooray!

Sorry for the continuous posting but I wanted to put this out there before the start of the new year. It gets kind of busy at work during this time so I'm not sure if I will be able to post this later. Here is my musical version of the relationship between JA and DH. No other characters involved. Done in four parts. Done with the idea of the traffic signals. Some of it is kinda funny whether intentional or just from knowing the show (sorry, but I have a strange sense of humor). It's been a while since I have seen the drama so the sequence of events might be a little off. My apologies. JA = Ji An thinking, conversing, singing DH = Dong Hoon trying to do the same. Part 1 - Signals flash yellow. Caution JA - It costs to be nice. To be cold there is no price. DH - It takes effort to try. Won't back-stab and lie. JA - Make some easy money. This loser doesn't care. Interest payments don't stop. Life just isn't fair. DH - Under-dressed for winter. Takes the coffee too. But she made the chaos stop. Why I have no clue. JA - Have no shame. Not to blame. I'm just here to eat. DH - Stuffs her face. Has no grace. I'm just here to treat. JA - Spying on the sadness. Hearing that mesmerizing voice. Feelings begin, but they must stop. There is no other choice. DH - My interest has been piqued but I know what I must do. Block these thoughts like a crossing guard although it feels brand new. JA - There is no confusion. The signals are so clear. My heart is pounding frantically when that voice I hear. JA and DH - We are living in the wrong time. In the wrong place. The yellow lights of caution slows our pace. Part 2 Signals flash a faster yellow. About to turn red. JA - Attempted a kiss. Didn't miss. The reaction was disgust. DH - That's so bold. It must be told. It only fosters mistrust. JA - He fights to protect his family. DH - She's responsible for her family. JA - Is he like me? DH - She is better than me. JA - He called me a good person, but to us he was so nice. DH - She is a good person, but has lived paying such a price. DH - Is she like me? JA - Can he like me? JA - The slippers were a mistake. They surely won't be worn. DH - Buy me another pair. Without them I am torn. (or without them my feet aren't warm). JA - My heart aches when you are hurting; when you look so down. Must tell you hang in there. Fighting! Please remove that frown. JA - He fights for me. DH - She speaks for me. JA - He hurts so bad. DH - She is so sad. JA and DH - We are living in the wrong time. In the wrong place. The yellow lights of caution slows our pace. Part 3 Signals flash red slowly. JA - It's me. I had to call from this booth that is so small DH - It's me? Is that all? Did you think we're all having a ball? JA - It is best that I'm not around. I have a job. I am fine. DH - I hear you but can't make a sound. I mustn't cross any line. JA - I must hide alone but I really miss his voice. DH - She tapped my phone but she had no other choice. DH - You don't have to flee. Please Ji An. Call meeee. JA - He found out what I did. Have to run away. Who am I to kid (or he must have blown his lid). Can't be caught today. DH - Where the heck did you go? Why do I run so slow? JA - You're a fool. That's what you get. DH - You're a jewel. There's no need to fret (or won't hug you yet). JA - I did wrong. I listened in. DH - You protected me. There is no sin. JA - I missed his voice. DH - She had no choice. JA and DH - We are living in the wrong time. We must stop when we hear the wind chime. Part 3 The signal stays red. But after red the signal turns green. JA - You told me to call. Grandma has died. DH - You turn then fall. You loved and cried. JA - Don't want to be sappy but grandma would be so happy. DH - Flowers more than a few. It's all thanks to my brother. JA - I'm thankful more to you. More than any other. JA - I have to go (or I have to leave). I will miss the bar. DH - I feel so low (or I can't believe). Why go so far? JA - I'm so sorry. DH - No need to worry. JA - For you to be happy is my wish. DH - Live up to your name you must accomplish. JA - Before I go can I have a hug? DH - Embracing so. My heart does so tug. DH - He asks how is she doing? Is she alright? I answer, why would she call me? Do you want to fight? There is no news to tell. But chairman says she is well. JA - Back in Seoul. That was the goal. DH - No longer low. Now a CEO! JA - I hear his voice. I have no choice. It's been awhile but I see that smile. DH - There is that face in this curious place. Missed her so. Thus my smile does grow. JA - Back in the city. No need for pity. DH - Back in the city. I feel so giddy. JA - Gotta run. Will call you soon for a meal. DH - Let's shake hands now to seal the deal. JA - He holds my hand so tightly. He is smiling so brightly. DH - She confidently said she'll call me again. A clear signal that our new life will begin! JA and DH - We are living in the right time. In the right place. We'll stroll the green gardens at our own pace. Walking hand in hand the curtain comes down. Happy end to the year everyone!

@widala @africandramalover and @justamom (welcome back) I really wanted to watch Sky Castle but viki doesn't show it in my area. I'll have to try and watch it somehow. Thanks for the recommendation. I'm glad it is a good show. @t123han Lee Min Jung and Joo Sang Wook star in fates and furies. They were in the 2014 drama Cunning Single Lady. F/F is a Saturday drama showing four 30 minute episodes in a row. It is about a rich shoemaker but his status in the family is rocky because of the usual step-mother/brother dynamics. He meets a poor shoemaker who is enlisted to break-up his upcoming (loveless/business related) marriage to a rich woman by another rich man who used to like that rich woman. Sounds typical right? But I enjoy watching LMJ and JSW so I'll keep watching. @arctichare Thank you for your kind words. Happy Holidays to you! (Sorry but I can't manage to remove your name below. You get posted twice!) @arctichare

Hi all, It's the holiday season and my mind was wandering and of course it settled on MA! So, I was thinking about what @oldschooler wrote about glass and what @h2ogirl and others wrote about all the traffic signals. I decided to write a song about both of those topics. But it ended up being more of a bad poem and a weird song from a musical. I don't want to ruin the holidays but I'm offering you my thoughts about 'glass' here and my longer 4 scene musical about traffic lights in another post. I just quickly glanced through the pages and @t123han fates and furies stars the leads that had starred together in a show several years ago. I'll look up their names and the show and post later with a synopsis of the drama. It is almost like other melodramas but it is different enough. Plus I just like the leads. Spoiler. Here goes the poem/song. Skip to next post everyone. This is our beloved Jian's mind wandering, hoping, speaking. Looking through the subway window at the coat on a slumping frame. My heart reaches out to touch your soul praying your reflection does the same. Moon bright this night but through dusty glass can't pierce the gloom from this depressing room. Cold bite of night, in open air, can't dim the fond glow gleaned from my mated soul. On the road I spy you engaged, seemingly cozy in your life. But on another day those eyes can't hide such pent up hurt and strife. At my reflection I say, "it's no big deal". But why? Oh my! This longing do I feel. Oh glass barrier if only it will break. But your earnestness and morality so impossible to shake. I long to meet. Long to touch. Long to share. Shatter this glass barrier and expose your emotions bare. In our special place we share a meal, a laugh, a drink. A sanctuary where we don't care what other's think. At my reflection I say, "it's no big deal". Oh my. Won't deny. My heart you did steal. Looking through the subway window at the coat on a comforting frame. My heart reaches out to hold you tight. We now agree there is no shame.

There is a television commercial in the US for SimpliSafe that talks about 'hygge' (the Danish and Norwegian term for comfort in a family home). I immediately thought of the beautiful composition that was posted here regarding HoogyHugye by @africandramalover. Did the writers of the ad read this forum or our fansite? I was so excited when I saw that ad. I have watched several new kdramas in the past few months. Good shows to pass the time but nothing like MA so far. I did like 'The Beauty Inside'. It gave a different perspective to love because the male character cannot recognize faces (done before in another drama) and the female character changes into another person's body once a month for about a week. It was heartwarming to see how the male lead 'recognized' the female lead even when she wasn't 'herself' and how she felt that someone really 'knew' her for the first time since this started happening to her. Even if you don't watch the whole thing try to watch episode 9. It was touching and funny. The best episode of the series. The final episode was not satisfying (except for one scene at the beach) although it was the ending I was hoping for. The new show 'The Encounter' has caught my eye. It seems promising. And so does 'Fates and Furies'. 'Twelve Nights' putters along slowly and the pacing reminds me of MA. There are time jumps of 5 and 3 years where the main leads don't seem to contact each other but still have feelings for each other. Hard to believe but I keep watching to see what happens. '

More awards for 'My Ahjussi'. Yay!! Very well deserved. Thanks to everyone for posting the updates and photos/videos. For those wishing to participate in a Fan vote please go to koreandrama.org They have a vote for Best Drama of 2018. Apparently 'My Mister' got through the preliminary round to the final voting of Top 8 dramas. Currently it is next to last in votes with 364 or so votes (just behind 'Mr. Sunshine'). The first place has more than 6000 votes. You can vote once a day until the end of December. Let's help move our drama up the rankings!

I haven't visited this site in quite a while so I am eager to read what I have missed. But before I do I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!!! I know not everyone here celebrates the US Thanksgiving day. Maybe very few of us here actually do so. But I think there is some version of this day wherever you live so you might understand what this day signifies. Aside from all the usual things to be thankful for, this year I am truly thankful for 'My Ahjussi"! To everyone who made this show possible I say Thank You!! I am also truly thankful to have 'met' all of you here. Without 'My Ahjussi' I wouldn't have come to this site. I wouldn't have been able to experience and enjoy all the wonderful thoughts and observations that all of you have shared. You have made me laugh, shed a tear or two and made me think. I realized I was not alone in my love for the show. You are all so great. I am so glad I found 'My Ahjussi' and stumbled upon this thread. Yes, I give Thanks to all of you. Thank you everyone for the 300+ pages. Here's to 3000 more!? p.s. I'm not thankful that Dramafever is gone. I was planning on re-watching MA entirely or just watching bits of episodes but now I can no longer watch. Did the DVD come out yet?

@oldschooler your thoughts above about glass were so brilliantly told. Bravo! I wanted to add the scene where DH looks so defeated sitting in the car after the soccer match but through the window he sees JA looking back at him with eyes filled with concern and heartache and love. I am going to use your beautiful analysis as proof for the 'shipper' group. I think we can safely say now that the meeting between JA and DH at the end of ep 16 represents a new beginning for their relationship. There is no glass barrier. We are not peering into a private space. They are outdoors in the sunshine with no dark reflections. They are outside holding hands for all to see. Their smiles are big and bright. The trees are green. The traffic signals are green. The birds are chirping and soon everyone will be singing and dancing like in '500 Days of Summer' (sorry, I'm getting carried away here). We are looking at their relationship at a very different time in their lives with new eyes. The glass barriers are moved. Have they been shattered? The official ending may say no but in our hearts it is a resounding yes!

CONGRATULATIONS to My Ahjussi!!!!! Wow! To the winners at the APAN, winning Best Drama at the Seoul Award's and to LSK being awarded the Prime Minister Commendation at the Korean Pop Culture and Arts ceremony. These are so well deserved!!! Before the nominations and the awards I felt like Jian when she first saw Dong hoon at the cafe. Happy inside but a bit hesitant. I knew that this was a drama deserving of recognition and awards but I didn't know if the accolades and nominations would actually come about. The nominations for the Korean Drama Awards brought joy but not winning made me think our show would not be fully recognized. But then the APAN's!!! I felt like Dong hoon when he saw Jian. A big smile came to my face too. I felt like holding on to all of your hands and pulling everyone in for a big group hug. Thank you all for sharing your joy and excitement. Thank you @sadiesmith and @widala and @t123han for posting photos and videos and translations of what transpired at the awards ceremonies. And to whomever else posted pics and vids but I can't remember by name. Thank you @Joseph Lim for posting the translations of LJE's thoughts about possibly leaving the drama but staying after having a heart to heart talk with the PD. It shows how hard of a time she had trying to portray JA. But she hung in there and gave us a performance we all loved and respected. It was so worthy of her APAN win! Like LSK inferred in his acceptance speech. Despite the controversy, good story-telling plus great acting broke through any prejudice and brought this drama to life. I hope many more people discover our gem and enjoy it like we do. It proves that we are not alone in our devotion! p.s. 300 pages, yea!