Hee-soo vs Young-shil

[Lovely]

What is up with this "brain game" between these two women? I personally think that if both women don't want to do housework, a housekeeper should just be hired . But we all know that Hee-soo fired the housekeeper last time . Young-shil aka Evil Stepmom finally let out her anger at Hee-soo in last night's episode (Episode 108). I really don't like Hee-soo's persistency lately...to go into business and also annoy her step mother-in-law. She is really starting to get irritating like her mother .

[galacticchick]

I don't understand this girl. It seemed to me that they were already living in harmony and then she goes and screws it up w/yesterday's prank. I think ESM's anger was justified in that Hesoo should learn to respect other people's timings. If ESM is really changing (which I guess we are lead to believe she is) then she will probably come when she feels the time is right, now when Hesoo thinks the time is right. The more time passes, the less I like Hesoo's character. There is no justification for trying to run someone else's life. ESM & Golfer Dad should just move out.

[panther]

hee-soo was always irritating to me. now she has jin-kook in the palm of her hand she feels free to do what ever she likes. at first i was thinking that youngshil (since she was wrong for leaving in the first place) should just try to fit back into family life without complaint but hee-soo is becoming too pushy. she should really leave youngshil alone before things turn ugly.

[jenny]

Hee-soo's intentions were good (trying to get Jin-kook to call ESM "Mother") but that situation seemed too confrontational. I hope JK's dad explains it to ESM.

And I don't like the way ESM has resumed her position in the household, just 'cause she's residing with her husband again. I would have expected a few months of humble gratitude, her showing her appreciation to these people with her tail between her legs and her big mouth shut. I couldn't believe it when she said, "I should use my money for a maid?" Doesn't she mean THEIR STOLEN money?!

[mznatalia]

I agree Jenny! ESM thinks that she should just resume her place in the household as if she has done nothing wrong. Hee-soo did take care of Jin-soo and Jin-kook's Dad while ESM was gone and didn't complain when she could never leave the house. I would leave the house everyday too. ESM needs to get a grip. Would it kill them to share the housework? Also keep in mind that Hee-soo is pregnant. Sharing the house work seems like a reasonable request to me but it doesn't even seem like that is even an option

[sandy]

In a way, Hee-Soo was the one who brought the family back together. I think her MIL should be happy to be back in the family instead of insisting that the pregnant Hee-Soo do her housework again. I think Hee-Soo is being very smart. She is lettting her "Mother" become responsible for the house while she and Jin-Kook find their own beginnings.

[panther]

that is true hee-soo deserves to go out and do what ever she wants at this point. personally i dont understand why her in laws get so irritated every time she goes out anyway. is she not allowed to go out side?

but i just have a feeling that once youngshil returns back to the conniving, evil youngshil again (because a person never really change) hee-soo wont stand a chance.

[toranaga]

IT is a cultural thing,hee-soo as the wife of the oldest son,so by tradition it is her responsability to take care of the "ELDERS'"do not forget that these dramas are aimed at korean viewers.IT is apparent to me that KBS is trying to influence the older generation.
since 1997 korea has undergone a rapid change in it's society,after the region wide financial crisis of 1997 many women were forced into the workforce and with this new found economic power are looking for more freedom.I think this is one reason that hee-soo is so intent on working.does anyone remember maybe 10-15 episodes ago when jee-hae and her MIL seperatley told their respective husbands that women do not exist solely to produce children,that a womans worth is not only based on bearing children and washing dishes and caring for aged in-laws,although she may be willing to help with these things she should not chained to these traditional duties.

there is so much more I want to say but this post is already to long.
maybe somebody will take up where I left off and will do a much better job of explaining why kbs is exposing and then breaking down these age old roles applied to women and the expectations of children.

[hachiue]

They should just move out. ESM already suggested that. She can use the money she saved from not hiring a maid to put the down payment on an apartment. And they should take Jinsoo with them. I think it's only fair to allow the couple to live on their own after they'd tried to shove them out back when ESM had the father in the palm of her hand and hated Jinkook for no good reason.

[jenny]

I understand what Toranaga is saying. Usually the daughter-in-law stays at home, in her little apron and ankle socks cleaning and cooking. Even if the DIL works she's expected to come home and take care of business (remember Yu-jin on OMR?)

[hachiue]

I would kind of understand that but not in this case. I guess usually the kids live off the parents for a while, so then when the kids are married, the parents expect to live off the kids. If this goes on for a few generations, there should be a changeover every 20-odd years.

However, I don't see why the parents should feel they have the "right" to ask their children to do this, especially when they have been such horrible parents - and admitted it, like ESM!

I find myself thinking that at least here, back in the day, all women were expected to help out around the house (not just the son's wife) and all men were expected to work. It's still annoying because it puts people in little traditional niches instead of letting them do what they want to and dividing all work equally. But it would still be better if at least ESM would help.

[panther]

i agree with hachiue, even though its hee-soo's "job" to stay home and cook and clean the esm should be able to do something. in "so,this is love" the mom with the three dil (two living at home) even though she had so much help she still did something around the house. youngshil does absolutly nothing but complain. and after what she did to the family i think she should atleast try to help out.

but youngshil is the head wife like it or not and since she has the ability to use her husband as a puppet im sure hee-soo will find her place again, even if youngshil have to show her.

[jenny]

Oh, no, I don't think that's the way things should be, that's just the way things are. I don't think that should be the case here because

1. They're rich
2. ESM really has no right to act as head of the house OR MIL, she is a criminal who is very lucky she has such forgiving (stupid?) people in her life.

It really upsets me that she thinks she can resume her role in the family. Wasn't she a fraud for 16+ years? Who is she going to be now, if her whole image in that family was fake? Aigu!

[Soju]

While it seems most folks here on the American fan boards are bothered by Younng-sil returning to her family so easily, no one on the show seems to have any problems with it. I wonder if this is a cultural thing, or if it just the writers being expedient. The same goes for the Ji-hae and a baby.

I wish someone would translate the Korean fan board for the show on KBS's Web site, or any other one, for that matter. I'd like to hear what the Home Audience has to say about the show.

[sandy]

Hee-Soo's problem isn't too different from past European families where the DIL enters the home of her husband, then takes care of his parents. My in-laws have been deceased for years, but my FIL insisted, way back then, that his wife, who didn't speak Italian, live in their home and care for his parents until they died. Then they were free to buy their own home.

Hee-Soo has walked into a difficult situation because she has brought Jin-Kooks parents together again, but she also has the responsibility of taking care of Jin-Soo. In some ways, I think Hee-Soo is happy to be pregnant, but also feels that this will further confine her into serving others. At the same time, she is seeing her EX SIL and Jin Kook making plans for starting some kind of business. If she becomes a mother and housemaid, Jin-Kook may look down on her as being less than an intelligent person with ambition. His late night dinners with the EX will become an irritation for her while she stays at home taking care of everyone.