Lee Min Ho. Pet Peeve #14
I’m limiting myself to three examples or this post will never see the light of day. 
It’s easy to target Lee Min Ho as the worst offender in kdrama because we see his failures writ large on the screen. But I do pity the guy. He’s forced to speak English whenever he plays the suave sexy bad-boy scion of a chaebol family in kdramas.
— Because in kdrama logic: rich people = have more money = $$$ currency = studied abroad = speak American (sigh)
I understand why, physically, he fits that character-mold. Unfortunately, every time he opens his mouth to speak English, he self-destructs.
His character’s untouchable image in the story, as well as his personal image as hottie actor, implode. Instead of exuding James Dean hawt-ness, he sizzles Jimmy Dean hotness.
#sausage
Do you think I’m kidding?
Watch him say “damn” at 0:12, “disgusting” at 0:14 and “disgusting shit” at 0:28.
WARNING: Do not drink while watching this.
Did you hear them? I heard “dem!” “dis-cursing,” and “dis-cursing sheet”.
LMH cannot copy Philip Lee’s unflappable coolness in Secret Garden. Lee decimated the snobby girl in just two lines and he didn’t even have to raise his voice.
However, I doubt that the scriptwriter was a native speaker. Philip Lee’s character was DOWNPLAYING his success in Hollywood. He dismissed it as pure luck.
PL: I was just lucky.
Actress: I’m very disappointed that it was just lucky. I like everything fabulous, the action, the director’s profile.
What the actress should have said was: Oh come on! Luck had nothing to do with it. Don’t sell yourself short. Everything was fabulous.
But I like how PL said “polished” in his reply. “Then I’m afraid you found the wrong person. My action style is more polished than flashy.”
The “p” was explosive. –edited to add this, it made me look at his lips. (Made you look, too, didn’t it?)
Actress: Good job!
Me and Philip Lee: Excuse me???
Next, the Heirs. The only cool part is here when he caught the cellphone and said “Thanks!” naturally. The rest is facepalm cringe-y.
If I were LMH, I’d bribe the director with beaucoup bucks just to cut that scene out.
LMH can’t deliver the nonchalance of a surfer dude because he tenses up when he speaks English. He tries to slur — because he knows that’s how cool teens roll their words — but his speech comes out unintelligible.
For speech lessons, he could learn from JoKwon, the fabulous singer of 2AM.
This isn’t kdrama but for me JoKwon’s English is the best “Interpretative” English I’ve ever seen. At 0:09 —
Sure, he spoke gibberish but he nailed the intonation (or the rise and fall of the language) of an American high schooler. For me, it’s because JoKwon is musically-gifted; he hears the music in the language. I want to pat him on the back for a job well done.
If you have time, listen to this chick “speak” multiple languages. No, she’s not a polyglot but she’s saying the foreign words with the right tone, speed and melody that she sounds like she’s a native speaker.
Oh my gosh… the clip from “Secret Garden” —> EPIC!!!! Hahahaha Kim Sarang konglish mix with her expression Hahahahahaha to top it off, PL’s expression after that… haha
Very good one Packmule3!!!
if im not wrong PL used to live outside korean, that why his english so good, he live in america US. (if this actor same with the faith drama actor who played character as doctor)
the heirs is the worst when lmh speak english kekekekee even my boyfriend said his english suck lol.
he is better in lotbs, if im not wrong it was happened on ep 1, whe he tried to help simchung release from prison. he speak long english. in bts he also learn script with talking with jun ji hyun.
Who’s Kim Sarang? Is that the actress’ name?
Her “Good job!!!” was so condescending, phony and extraneous.
The interesting thing is English is a “low context” language. Most of the time, what we say is what we mean. We often come off blunt because of the direct and explicit communication. 🤣
In comparison, Korean is a “high context” language. There’s nuance to what the speaker is saying and his meaning is implicit and not verbally stated.
I often rely on my translator for context. For example, when I say “good job” I mean it as a praise. End of story.
When my Asian counterpart says “good job” I want my translator to clue me in on whether the speaker is sincere or not. He might only be saying “good job” to save my face or to please me; he actually thinks it’s a crappy job. 😆😫😆
In Secret Garden, the character’s enthusiastic “good job” was her trying to save face. PL bluntly corrected her and she pretended that she was a thick-skinned woman who wouldn’t be offended by a verbal snub and put-down. 😁
👍Oppa’s goddess, I have to write about interesting Konglish I learned from dramas.
Like hand-phone for cellphone.
Or selca for selfie, that pic you take of yourself with your iPhone. One time at work, I accidentally said “selca” instead of “selfie” and my colleagues were seriously perplexed. They thought my blunder was another proof of me being a poor antiquated soul. 😩
Lovebangwon, LMH should hang out with another cool guy, Daniel Henney and copy his style.
Or with Ok Taecyeon and copy his formality.
Has LMH appeared on a variety show recently? Or a talk show? I’m curious to know how he converses without a script, if he can think on his feet, if he’s an introvert, and so on. His persona is well-guarded.
Lol..@packmule3 you are so good at digging old videos👍😂 ah LMH- i cringe everytime he is forced to speak in english. I hope he continue to practice to make it sound more natural
Jokwon could have fooled me with his gibberish talk😂 that was funny but he nailed it.
Mslee1107, ah! the power of Youtube. LMH is funny to spoof because he is a “top star.” I was able to find clips of Hyun Bin (the Secret Garden guy) too, but he wasn’t as funny to comment on.
For some reason, Gong Yoo’s English sounds sexy-smexy. lol.
Jun Ji Hyun: her “saaaw–rry” in that Alien 👽 Love drama was funny. We know she was being sarcastic, and pronuncing it that way to RUB it in that she wasn’t apologetic at all. It’s like “sorrynotsorry.”
I shouldn’t laugh actually. I could sound more awful than these actors, (I hope not though..) hahaha but I can’t help it hahahaha..
Yes lovebangwon, it’s the same actor. I wonder where he is now, I don’t see him on recent drama.
Packmule, LMH is serving in the army now. So nothing new from him, Korea is now in shortage of “oppa” actors. So many are serving in the army. LMH, JCW, KSH, Siwan, Taecyeon, etc. it’s time for “dongsaeng” actors or (one of my cousins name these older actor as) “oppahjussi” —> ahjussi actors with oppa flavor/ahjussi but still look and feel like oppa hahahaha
gong yoo is sexy.
Young actors in dramas are still a taboo for me.
Yes! Philip Lee is Faith. Watching Hwayugi Ep 6 where that Korean-American film director was introduced, suddenly reminded me of PL. It would be interesting if that director turned out to be the second lead bec he *appears* to be the antithesis of OhGong. He’s mature, attentive and solicitious. And we know the Hong sisters, their second leads are strong contenders.
yes, jun ji hyun probably better than lmh, since she has debut on hollywood movie, vampire or dracula movie. keke
lmh one of exclusive actor in korean, he never be guest in variety show (if im not wrong). he only come out on talk show like entertainment weekly to promote his movie or drama. and his hobby is playing game on phone or computer. lol so he probably never going out with celebrity friend, again if im not wrong, he only hang out with his high school friends haha..
the actor in faith having some trouble with his eyes or something that makes him leave faith drama before the show end. perhaps it was serious illness.
His hobby is playing games on phone or computer?
🙂 He must have more exciting hobbies or else Suzie wouldn’t have fallen in love/crush with him. I remember reading somewhere that he was at the LA airport and he looked lost. His ride didn’t come and pick him up at appointed schedule. I’m not sure if the fans mugged him when they realized who he was, but the situation could have been rough for him.