In the Soop: Friendcation
This summer (in some markets) Disney+ offers star-studded K-reality series In the Soop: Friendcation (Soop = ‘forest’ for you Korean language learners), delivering some heavy-hitting K-stars including BTS’ V (Kim Taehyung) Choi Woo-shik, Park Seo-joon, Park Hyung-sik and rapper/singer/producer Peakboy. So, how did this group get smashed together? In real life, they’re mates – collectively self-titled as Wooga Squad (wooga is an abbreviation that means family). Park Seo-joon, Park Hyung-sik and Kim Taehyung performed together in the 2016 drama Hwarang (Netflix, Viki). While Park Seo-joon and Choi Woo-shik first worked together in 2012 on K-drama Shut Up Family and Park Seo-joon and Peakboy went to the same high school. But if we hang around, we may hear a bit more of the detail on what sealed their little family and keeps them making the effort to group up.
In the Soop: Friendcation Friends
The Unwitting Friendcationers (and their group-presumed roles):
Park Seo-joon (Captain Marvel 2: The Marvels, Itaewon Class) – the father and emotional anchor Park Hyung-sik (Strong Woman Do Bong Soon, Suits, Juror 8) – the kind mom, a little softer than dad Choi Woo-shik (Parasite, Our Beloved Summer, Time to Hunt) – the trustworthy older son, leader of the kids Kwon Sung-hwan (rapper/singer/producer Peakboy known for Gin&Tonic and last summer’s Gyopo Hairstyle) – the wild youngest daughter, always pumped up Kim Taehyung (BTS’ V, and also appeared in Hwarang, BTS In The Soop) – the cute & mischievous youngest sibling
Where Can I Watch?
Still no official announcement from Disney+. Having premiered on July 22 in market, it will continue to air Fridays on South Korean cable network JTBC at 9pm KST, and available on the local Disney+ channel at 11pm KST thereafter for three more episodes. Initially, it will run in Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore, with hope for a global release date Yet to Come (pun intended). As with previous In the Soop series, YouTube seems like a good bet if Disney+ doesn’t capitalise quickly. We’ll continue to monitor and update here.
Where Can I Watch Outside of Select Asian Markets?
This is still to be confirmed by Disney+. Presumably, one could use a VPN to watch if you already have or are willing to have Disney+. This option seems to be working but let us know what you’re finding if you’ve tried it. Alternately, if you’re willing to wait, Disney+ recently announced a global partnership with HYBE which includes this mini-series and several other BTS-related programmes.
Episode 4 Preview
The guys head from the beach to an ice-skating rink to show off their skills and slough off their stressors. Then they make their way home for another home-cooked meal. Afterwards, PJ-clad, they make a pact to squeeze the most from their last evening. And it sounds like another night of laughter and conversation.
Is There a Trailer?
You’re in luck, as there are several to stoke the fun:
Is There an OST?
There seems to be, though it’s not yet been announced. You can clearly hear V and Park Hyung-sik, and you gotta believe that Peakboy at least had a hand in the production, even though you don’t hear his voice in that tiny clip. Have a listen here to the promo-sized charm. Hopefully, a full-sized OST version will be released, as it’s a pleasant tune.
What happened in Episode 3?
A lot. Over the course of several insightful conversations, we learn a huge amount about the pressures of acting and being a celebrity in Korea. We also see the friendship at work as they talk about their lives past, present and future, supporting each other and giving advice or consolation. As the series was filmed half a year ago, if we look carefully, we might see the origins of some of today’s Kpop and Kdrama news. But most importantly, we see friends being real whether jesting to lighten the mood or commiserating over tough topics. Just as it will with them, I suspect some of these nuggets may stick with us.
Read more:
Episode 3 Recap and Review Episode 3 Preview Episode 2 Recap and Review Episode 2 Preview Episode 1 Recap and Review In The Soop: Friendcation Launches in July Disney and HYBE Announce Collaboration Two New Teasers for In The Soop: Friendcation
Who’s the most surprising as an ‘off-screen’ view?
In Ep 3, it’s Woo-shik who guides the direction of the conversation on several occasions, spotting opportunities for honest disclosure and closeness. He gently gets everyone there by sharing, commenting and asking questions like a master. As the guys follow his lead and sink into more serious topics, we hear a lot more from Seo-joon than previous instalments. Some of it comes from the other guys noting inspiring things Seo-joon has said to them. Pointedly, he’s a sage – at least with other people’s hearts. Left to himself, he admits he’s in a quandary, not knowing what he wants to do. It doesn’t get more open.
Worth the wait?
100%. With all this introspection going on, we get to the bit where the guys ask Taehyung if he’s crying. Taehyung admits in a quiet little voice that he’s hoping for less sadness in the year to come. Every piece of that conversation is heart-breaking. How he’s not able to say much more; how they all try to console in different ways. How Woo-shik lands exactly what’s happening for all of them in that resonant moment. It’s an emotional bomb and certainly worth the wait if you’re not able to watch it yet.
The funny thing is…
Recall for a moment how in Episode 1, Seo-joon felt like he’d been tricked into the trip and seemed to resist sharing his thoughts whilst surrounded by cameras. He kept pretty quiet. But after today’s drive-time discussion of a potential future trip and Woo-shik’s revelation of his desire to direct and produce one day… Who is that puts together that they should film their next trip? You guessed it, the father himself. Well, there you go. Witness the conversion.
How are these guys connected again?
As noted above and from the initial organigram, Seo-joon is the hinge that links them all together. But in interviews, the guys argue that it’s Taehyung, with frequent calls and presumably a talent for organising, that keeps their friendship rolling. Hence, this BTS-modelled trip. Luckily, we do get to overhear more on their joint history in this week’s show. Since their initial connection, or perhaps as part of it, there does seem to be a bit of crossover in their work as well – presumably some since they’ve gotten to know each other.
Hwarang, as previously noted, starred Park Seo-joon, Park Hyung-sik and Kim Taehyung; Kim Taehyung also created a tune for the soundtrack with his BTS-mate Jin Choi Woo-shik and Park Seo-joon have appeared in a number of productions together since 2012, not least of which was Parasite Kim Taehyung created OST tunes for Itaewon Class (Park Seo-joon) and Our Beloved Summer (Choi Woo-shik) Peakboy is featured on Kim Taehyung’s solo tune ‘Snow Flower.’
So apart from just liking each other, there are probably tons of little connections that we’ve not yet sussed. For example, in this week’s instalment, we hear about a time earlier in their careers, before Hyung-sik and Taehyung joined the group.
Considering a trip to Gangwon-do?
It looks like a nice vacation, doesn’t it? If you’re keen or just curious, here are the top things to do in the area. We’ll continue to cover the series episode-by-episode, so watch along with us and tell us what you think. Any observations you’d like to share? Any new favourites rising to the top? Scribble ‘em below – we’d love to hear about it. For more stories from this writer on all sorts of content, see the link here: Kristen Lazur.
