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Post by lizlib on May 11, 2004 10:04:04 GMT -5
I know we, in Philly, are behind you Chicago viewers, but in last night's episode something really stood out for me about Ji-Hong! Okay, we know he's calling Tae-il "father" and Keum-ja "mother".  But last night she told Tae-il to put him on his family register so he could go to school and Tae-il's response? He would have to send to his relatives in China for the appropriate papers!  I thought Tae-il was his only family! If he had other relatives, didn't they have any other info on his birth father? ???And, considering all the emphasis on family in this drama, why wouldn't Ji-Hong's family want to raise him? He is blood-related, after all! Liz |
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Post by Lucy on May 11, 2004 10:21:35 GMT -5
Hi, Liz--
Hey, you're right to ask and remind us to think about where the heck that boy's Chinese family is! It's kinda funny how no one in the show ever asks about his family but just accept the bare-bones facts that Tae-il promised to find his Korean father, that he couldn't find him (so far??), and that they now have a new "son" in the family. I suppose that he must now be in the Park family registry, since he's going to school, but they sure didn't make much of that development, did they?
P.S. Do you watch Jang-geum? Bo posted an observation about the medical library in the palace on that board yesterday, and I thought you might be interested if you watch the show.
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Post by TheBo on May 11, 2004 10:31:33 GMT -5
This is similar to the question about MJ's family. He's his father's first son, his father is apparently still alive, and no one from that family ever apparently gives a thought to his existence. I know the mother's sons from a previous marriage get short shrift, but the father's sons seem to have some sort of god-like status in the family. Who are these Kangs? Why are they so--unnatural?
Bo
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Post by jacques on May 11, 2004 12:39:00 GMT -5
This is similar to the question about MJ's family. He's his father's first son, his father is apparently still alive, and no one from that family ever apparently gives a thought to his existence. I know the mother's sons from a previous marriage get short shrift, but the father's sons seem to have some sort of god-like status in the family. Who are these Kangs? Why are they so--unnatural? Bo That is so typical in Asian patriarchal societies (I should know, I partly belong to one--thank God isn't a full membership) where men descended from the women (daughter, daughter-in-law's first marriage, etc.) are the dark horse of the family, no matter how meritous they are (like MJ) and in spite of their de facto high rank (in the family business, society at large), as far as the family's concerned, they have no de jure high position and consistently get treated like crap (whiskey thrown in their face, etc ;D) that is, UNTIL they snap out of it and fight back like MJ eventually does. My theory about the Ji-Hong character. His main function is to balance Min-Joo as the representatives of the next generation of the family. Asian cultures love the yin-yang-influenced notion that a family has both male and female children/juniors in the household. There is a twist however sinc Ji-Hong comes from a checkered past. Same applies for MJ: the most capable male character amid all the dysfunction is an "outsider" who in spite of being treated like a pariah clearly earned the right to be in that family. |
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Post by lizlib on May 11, 2004 13:07:06 GMT -5
That is a very interesting theory,jacques! I will be very curious to see if, in fact, that IS the purpose of his character because I just don't see how Ji-Hong's past can have any relevance at this point in the drama except to balance the female junior and/OR represent a new phase in the senior Park relationship! Whoa! What would that be like? Tae-il and Keum-Ja have a second chance at parenting together! Lucy -  I don't get that show here! I will, however, go to that board and read about it! Thanks for the tip!  |
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Post by Soju on May 11, 2004 22:00:10 GMT -5
Isn't Ji-hong's birth father Korean, and living (supposedly) in Korea?
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Post by Lucy on May 12, 2004 10:37:12 GMT -5
Yes, that's why Tae-il brought him back with him and tried to find his father. Supposedly he tried and couldn't. So we're wondering about the Chinese family and why they aren't claiming Ji-hong. Or am I misunderstanding your question? |
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Post by TheBo on May 12, 2004 10:42:24 GMT -5
Isn't Ji-hong's birth father Korean, and living (supposedly) in Korea? Yah, and I think it's RH's right-hand man, Mr Kim (who, you may have noticed, displays much more moral fiber than his boss). He seems to be the only Mr Kim that Tae-il hasn't managed to call, I laugh hah hah. But the way this show is going, I half expect the Ji-hong thread not to be tied up in any way. He may have only been the machine to get Tae-il back to Korea. Also, notice how much better he is being treated by the poor family than the rich family treats MJ. I think that may be intentional. (Sort of ties in with jacque's "family archetype" theory.) Bo |
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Post by Lucy on May 12, 2004 10:53:41 GMT -5
Warning: I first posted this without this note, but on reflection, I think my theory about how the series plays out could be construed as a spoiler, even though I have no actual knowledge of what's going to happen. But if you don't like detailed speculation of this nature, skip my post. BO! I think you're RIGHT! I don't know if anyone else has floated that theory so far, but I just realized that this would totally solve the problem, at least to my way of thinking. Okay: RH finds out her right-hand man's son has been fostered and cherished by the family whose name is anathema to her. Kim knows where all the bodies are buried. Therefore she must accept Ji-hong, Tae-il, and Hye-ran or face a very sticky (possibly ruinous) situation, if Mr. Kim is the blackmailing type. Or if Mr. Kim is a good man, finds out about his son, and decides to side with the Park family, which would cause him to resent his boss for all her machinations against them, that would probably turn the tide of fortune against the Hussy. That would be a great resolution, leaving only the horrible In-hwan and the sad Oh/Kang family to make their peace. I think Granny is going to relent, because she's so upset to see Hyun-gyu sick and miserable. And, if the hint we saw was really a hint, and Soon-young develops a dread disease, In-hwan will see how awful he's been to his supposed true love and will finally put aside his moral objection to the Parks in favor of our besotted young couple's happiness. |
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Post by TheBo on May 12, 2004 10:55:53 GMT -5
BO! I think you're RIGHT! I don't know if anyone else has floated that theory so far, but I just realized that this would totally solve the problem, at least to my way of thinking. LOL Lucy, I've been spouting that theory continually since he showed up in RH's car when she first came to Korea. Now I have to read the rest of your post. Bo |
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Post by TheBo on May 12, 2004 11:09:29 GMT -5
Hey, Loocee--EXCELLENT theory. Excellent. (Why the heck shouldn't you speculate? That's fun, it's fun to see whether a theory is "good." The reason spoilers are not fun is because they do NOT let you see whether something will happen, you just know it will. Why watch?)
Bo
PS - Haven't the ads gotten fancier on this board all of a sudden? They used to be for handkerchiefs and silk and Asian stuff. Mine has a big color picture on top with some PC company. Bo-ring.
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Oma
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Post by Oma on May 27, 2004 16:41:32 GMT -5
I know this thread is kind of old. I'm hoping someone will have a looksee anyway. Did Tae-il really say he had to send to familly for the papers? I know he said China, but assumed he meant something like a birth certificate. Assuming Ji-hong Oma was legally in China unlike Tae-il was. Also, I don't think Tae-il had a response yet. It seems Ji-hong is in a preschool and needs the paperwork for the next school year. At least that's what I think Keum-ja said to Hye-ran.
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Post by tata on May 27, 2004 17:50:18 GMT -5
I'm going out on a limb here but, I suspect that Tae-il is Ji-hong's father. If he indeed send for birth papers wouldn't they have come by now? Notice how edgy he got when asked about the papers? Looked a little guilty to me for something there.
He suposedly lived with a woman (Ji-hong's mother) in China all the time he was gone. Would the Chinese culture accept a single man living with a widowed woman ? I'm thinking they were married and Ji-hong is the result of that union.
The phoning all the Kims in Korea, could have been him looking for relatives of Ji-hong's mother to dump the kid on them.
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Post by TheBo on May 27, 2004 21:58:39 GMT -5
I'm going out on a limb here but, I suspect that Tae-il is Ji-hong's father.... The phoning all the Kims in Korea, could have been him looking for relatives of Ji-hong's mother to dump the kid on them. Wow, then he'd be really an icky guy. That might explain why he doesn't want Ki-soo to have him, either. Bo |
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Post by jacques on May 27, 2004 23:00:37 GMT -5
Wow, then he'd be really an icky guy. That might explain why he doesn't want Ki-soo to have him, either. Bo The Ji-Hong saga continues...  |
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But last night she told Tae-il to put him on his family register so he could go to school and Tae-il's response? He would have to send to his relatives in China for the appropriate papers! 
I thought Tae-il was his only family! If he had other relatives, didn't they have any other info on his birth father? ???And, considering all the emphasis on family in this drama, why wouldn't Ji-Hong's family want to raise him? He is blood-related, after all!
I don't get that show here! I will, however, go to that board and read about it! Thanks for the tip! 
