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Jae-Ha Kim

Tomatometer-approved critic
Biography:

Jae-Ha Kim first started reviewing films alongside Roger Ebert when they both worked at the Chicago Sun-Times. She is an in-demand pop culture expert who has been quoted in outlets such as the New York Times, Associated Press, MTV, Korea Times, and the South China Morning Post. As a critic, Kim wrote about the history of Korean cinema for the Victoria & Albert Museum's Hallyu: The Korean Wave exhibit in London. Additionally, she is a popular guest lecturer, discussing the intersection of journalism and pop culture at the University of Southern California, Columbia College Chicago, North Central College and North Park University. Kim is an avid fan of K-dramas and reviews them for K-Culture with Jae-Ha Kim (Substack).

Reviews

Movies TV Shows
Made in Korea: Season 1 (2025) 3/4 EDIT “"Made in Korea" doesn’t flinch in its portrayal of corruption by both the Korean government and its strongest ally, the U.S. military. Director Woo Min-ho presents a Korea where there are no heroes, but rather desperate survivors caught in the crosshairs.” – Jae-Ha Kim (Substack) Dec 26, 2025 Full Review Melo Movie: Season 1 (2025) 100% 3/4 EDIT “This emotionally-engaging show is less of a rom-com than it is a slice-of-life K-drama that explores how familial loss greatly impacts who we are today. ” – Jae-Ha Kim (Substack) Dec 12, 2025 Full Review As You Stood By: Season 1 (2025) 71% 3/4 EDIT “"As You Stood By" asks the question: Is it ever OK to break the law if you’re trying to prevent someone from being harmed? It’s complicated, and the dark series doesn’t pretend otherwise. ” – Jae-Ha Kim (Substack) Dec 12, 2025 Full Review Our Unwritten Seoul: Season 1 (2025) 100% 4/4 EDIT “"Our Unwritten Seoul" presents everyday choices that may seem too much to bear, but also offers the kind of realistic hope that’s better than a pat, happy ending.” – Jae-Ha Kim (Substack) Dec 12, 2025 Full Review Bon Appétit, Your Majesty: Season 1 (2025) 80% 3/4 EDIT “"Bon Appetit, Your Majesty" is a delicious mashup of sageuk, time travel, and mukbang. The developing love story between a Michelin-star rated chef and the the petulant king of Joseon is driven by their shared love of unique, beautifully-prepared food.” – Jae-Ha Kim (Substack) Dec 12, 2025 Full Review Beyond the Bar: Season 1 (2025) 3/4 EDIT “BEYOND THE BAR does such a great job of creating complete characters who don’t need a partner to be whole, leaving viewers satisfied with either choice, because we’re confident they will all be OK.” – Jae-Ha Kim (Substack) Dec 12, 2025 Full Review The Manipulated: Season 1 (2025) 3/4 EDIT “"The Manipulated" is a film-to-series adaptation of the 2017 action film "Fabricated City." Both share the same creative (Park Kwang-hyun) and leading man (Ji Chang-wook). And as with the film, the series explores how a wronged man gets vengeance.” – Teen Vogue Dec 12, 2025 Full Review Heavenly Ever After: Season 1 (2025) 3/4 EDIT “"Heavenly Ever After" could’ve used the five-decade physical age gap for cheap laughs. But what it does is present a deeper look at a complicated relationship and how that manifests when you are given a second chance at life (among the dead).” – Jae-Ha Kim (Substack) Dec 12, 2025 Full Review Mercy for None: Season 1 (2025) 88% 3/4 EDIT “Full of revenge (and bloodshed), "Mercy for None" features a taciturn protagonist (So Ji-sub) who is the ultimate fighter. You can knock him down, but you can't destroy him. ” – Jae-Ha Kim (Substack) Jul 1, 2025 Full Review Weak Hero: Season 2 (2025) 80% 3/4 EDIT “No one tops South Korean creatives when it comes to telling high school bullying stories. In this sequel, our protagonist wants nothing more than to be left alone. But as with the 1st season, the quiet teen’s plans are thwarted by his surroundings. ” – Jae-Ha Kim (Substack) Jul 1, 2025 Full Review Squid Game: Season 3 (2025) 78% 3/4 EDIT “With this third and final season of SQUID GAME, creator Hwang Dong-hyuk ties up loose ends in this blood bath, which kills off almost all our favorite players (and some we hate). Park Sung-hoon and Im Si-wan stand out portraying the best and worst of us.” – Teen Vogue Jun 28, 2025 Full Review Let's Fight Ghost: Season 1 (2016) 3/4 EDIT “Buffy's got nothing on Hyun-ji in this show (also known as "Bring It On, Ghost"). The thesis? If you have hate in your heart, you can be easily influenced to hurt others. Ok Taec-yeon and Kim So-hyun are charming together in this K-drama show.” – Jae-Ha Kim (Substack) Jun 6, 2025 Full Review When Life Gives You Tangerines: Season 1 (2025) 100% 4/4 EDIT “"When Life Gives You Tangerines" reflects on what it means to be a woman in South Korea. IU and Park Bo-gum star in this nuanced slice-of-life K-drama.” – Jae-Ha Kim (Substack) Apr 27, 2025 Full Review My Demon: Season 1 (2023) 60% 2.5/4 EDIT “"My Demon" is further proof that K-drama writers enjoy inserting the marriage-contract trope into as many shows as possible -- including one that deals with a demon (Song Kang) & an heir apparent (Kim Yoo-jung). The cast is charming, but the plot falters.” – Jae-Ha Kim (Substack) Mar 28, 2025 Full Review Love Next Door: Season 1 (2024) 83% 3/4 EDIT ““Love Next Door” is written as a love story between two childhood neighbors. And it is. But it’s also about loving yourself enough to follow your convictions, despite objections from those you love.” – Jae-Ha Kim (Substack) Feb 11, 2025 Full Review Squid Game: Season 2 (2024) 84% 3/4 EDIT “The gigantic cash-filled pig looming over the players’ heads in SQUID GAME 2 is meant to entice & provoke. While the majority of players are lower-class citizens who had to take out loans to survive, some in season 2 have accumulated (and lost) a fortune.” – Teen Vogue Dec 27, 2024 Full Review Doctor Slump: Season 1 (2024) 100% 3/4 EDIT “Former high school rivals Jeong-woo (Park Hyung-sik) and Ha-neul (Park Shin-hye) form a truce as adults after both face slumps in their medical careers. ” – Teen Vogue Dec 19, 2024 Full Review Welcome to Samdal-ri: Season 1 (2023) 3/4 EDIT “This K-drama explores the romance between childhood friends Yong-pil (Ji Chang-wook) and Sam-dal (Shin Hye-sun), but it’s their ongoing friendship that ties this series together. ” – Teen Vogue Dec 19, 2024 Full Review No Gain No Love: Season 1 (2024) 83% 3.5/4 EDIT “Hae-yeong (Shin Min-a) doesn’t need to get married to appease her parents. But she does need a husband to prove to the higher ups at work that she’s responsible enough to be promoted. (Wrap your head around that for a second.) ” – Jae-Ha Kim (Substack) Dec 19, 2024 Full Review A Shop for Killers: Season 1 (2024) 100% 3.5/4 EDIT “This fast-paced K-drama kills off its protagonist (Lee Dong-wook) early on, but we see him throughout the show in flashbacks as he guides his niece (Kim Hye-jun) for a life she may have to live alone.” – Teen Vogue Dec 19, 2024 Full Review The Trunk: Season 1 (2024) 83% 3/4 EDIT “Adding a twist to the contract marriage trope, The Trunk tackles the plot device from a film noir perspective. While the titular trunk is seldom seen, it works well as an allegory in this quiet thriller.” – Teen Vogue Dec 19, 2024 Full Review Like Flowers in Sand: Season 1 (2023) 3/4 EDIT “A mystery thriller as much as it is a wrestling saga, "Like Flowers in Sand" is set in a small town where everyone is obsessed with ssireum (traditional Korean wrestling).” – Teen Vogue Aug 1, 2024 Full Review Doctor Lawyer: Season 1 (2022) 2/4 EDIT “There are parts of "Doctor Lawyer" that are well done. The plot is intriguing. Yi-han is a skilled surgeon who is a ghost doctor for the chairman's incompetent, milquetoast son. He puts in years of work waiting for the pay off. But there is none.” – Jae-Ha Kim (Substack) Jul 20, 2024 Full Review Marry My Husband: Season 1 (2024) 3/4 EDIT “Though Ji-won’s physical transformation is showcased with each new outfit and makeup application, it’s really her inner self that was liberated from the shackles of the pathetic life she thought was the best she could ever have.” – Jae-Ha Kim (Substack) Jul 20, 2024 Full Review Queen of Tears: Season 1 (2024) 100% 3.5/4 EDIT “"Queen of Tears" relies on a lot of K-drama tropes: e.g. brain cancer, memory loss, chaebol in-laws from hell, evil adoptee. But Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Ji-won are so good in their lead roles that viewers can overlook all of that to cheer on this couple.” – Jae-Ha Kim (Substack) May 29, 2024 Full Review
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