Your two bloggers at Electric Ground
One fateful day in January 2009, Blue and Bella met on a drama thread at Soompi.com. Blue smirked, “Bellaangel012, huh?” And Bella smirked back, “Blue_angel_1004, huh?” And it was love at first sight.
Nah, but they did hit it off right away and started exchanging emails on Korean dramas, celebrity gossip, and umm, shoes? They marveled at all the things they shared in common, and at more than one occasions, they freaked each other out on whether they might be long-lost twin sisters after all.
Unbeknownst to Bella, Blue decided that if she ever entered the blogosphere, the two should make it a joint venture. That decision came to fruition on November 26, 2010.
After having been a K-drama fan for 22 (or was it 23?) years now, Blue realized that not only could she not recall her general impression of some of the dramas she had watched in the past, but sometimes she could not even remember whether or not she watched certain dramas to completion. Ashamed to call herself a serious K-drama fan, she decided that starting a blog to keep a more concrete record (trail?) of her viewing history was the best solution. Naturally, she asked Bella to join her, and Bella agreed to it. The rest is history.
Here, you will find the personal journey of two K-drama lovers as they fondly look back upon past drama classics, obsess over (and rant about) currently airing ones, and anxiously anticipate upcoming projects. We hope that some of you may find it to be a fun read, and decide to join us (I mean, them) on their journey together.
Blue’s brief bio
I am a Korean American living in a large metropolitan city in the U.S. Although friends describe me as being “as Korean as Koreans come” (whatever that means!), I still share a great deal of American sensibility, as will be reflected in my posts.
I go by the name “blue_angel_1004″ on soompi. It was a name I came up with way back when I was a wee teenager and having names like qTAzNgrL sounded cool. (By the way, the number “1004″ as pronounced in Korean is identical to the Korean word for angel.) Alas, now I hate my screen name, but as it sort of stuck and it seems too much a hassle to come up with a new name, I’ll probably just keep it. Please feel free to call me simply as “Blue” though. I prefer it to being called “angel” or “angle” (as it’s often mistyped), or any other variation of it.
I am fluent in both Korean and English, and very “in tune” with both cultures. People often ask me which language I feel more comfortable with, and honestly, there isn’t any quick, easy answer. Professionally, I much prefer English. I dream in Korean. I swear in English. I pray in Korean. I give myself pep talks in… Konglish?
I specifically mention languages because one of my biggest pet peeves is grossly mistranslated articles and subtitles. Please, let’s stop all the bad subs in the K-drama world!
Bella’s brief bio
Hola people,
My screenname on Soompi is Bellaangel012 and the shortened history version of this name comes from my high school days. For those of you who do not know what “012″ means, it’s “forever.” Yea it’s cheesy and “no” I will not be changing it anytime soon. I am too lazy for that as well.
Like Blue, I also live in a large US metro city.
I am what you call a 2nd generation K-American, who while young, was forced to go through endless hours of Korean lessons. Needless of me to say, I am extremely grateful and appreciative of the fact that I can now parlay this into my endless hours of enjoyment in Korean entertainmentof all forms.
I am bilingual in Korean and English with a smathering of my Spanish peeping through now and then. I use English for my “people” persona and Korean at home. I would like to consider myself not as a complete twinkie or FOB but a hybrid of both cultures.
More often than not, my Korean side is always at war with my so called American sensibilities but I would like to think that I can walk the tight rope and swing for both. So you are officially forewarned that I may go off in tangents and often have bouts of “I covet a person/item/situation/unwanted or unnecessary commentary” Tourrettes.
Dramas have always been a part of my childhood but I never truly appreciated it until I started to really understand the meaning behind the dialogue and actions onscreen when I became older (at least the really good ones). At times, these dramas have served as my mentor, provided guidance, reinforced my own affirmations, and provided a different perspective.
This will be my first time blogging along with Blue so no promises from me that it will be a smooth process. But I do hope, along with Blue, that be it our ravings and rantings, that you discover something useful and new. (This was the PC part)
Unfiltered version: blog is a great opportunity for me to spew my own rantings/ravings/musings in a public forum!
And I can’t leave off without posting this:
About the site name:
“You’re my electric ground.” The name of this blog “Electric Ground” was inspired by the lyrics to the song “Electric” by a Korean indie rock band, Mot (못). We wish we had some fancy explanation to give on how we hope this blog would be a place where people’s hearts and minds come together like the flow of electricity. But really, Blue just likes this song and thought it’d be a nifty name for a blog.
36 comments
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thundie
November 26, 2010 at 7:44 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Congrats, blue! I’m thrilled that you have decided to take the leap (into madness, keke). I’m linking you to my blog pronto!
And… just in case you’re too modest to mention the fact…
Hey, everyone, check out blue’s contribution to the epic Sungkyunkwan Scandal review!
http://thundiesprattle.com/2010/11/13/epic-review-sungkyunkwan-scandal/
thundie
November 26, 2010 at 7:59 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Please, let’s stop all the bad subs in the k-drama world!
Oh boy, don’t get me started on my pet peeve! Was just whining about bad subs to two pals yesterday. Please… let’s not sacrifice accuracy for speed!
bitter_lemon
November 26, 2010 at 7:59 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
“Instead, you will find a personal journey of just one k-drama lover as she fondly looks back upon past drama classics, obsesses over (and rants about) currently airing ones, and anxiously anticipates upcoming projects.”
I think I will enjoy your blog..
your skks posts were always very informative but engaging at the same time..
REBEL SOULS
November 26, 2010 at 10:00 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
wow blue,
you dream and pray in Korean? those are the two things I could never do except in English. I guess cuz I grew up speaking only English from age six, my brain can’t switch back and forth so easily.
Thanks to you, I am out there trying to make my small contribution to the subbing world. Remember how you asked me to join the subbing team for SKKS? that was the happiest day for me and I will never forget how honored I was – so glad we all met and became friends through SKKS. it makes the drama all that more special to me.
Best wishes on your blogging adventure blue,
I know you will have fun with your mindset.
we are all blessed that you decided to do this!
softy
kcomments
November 26, 2010 at 1:31 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
“as Korean as Koreans come” love the phrase, LOL.
mommygems
June 30, 2011 at 1:25 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I found this blog while researching 49 days review because I’m deciding if i will watch it after “lie to me” and I’m so glad that there are lot of korean drama fans and I’m one of those!
so far, the k-drama that I love are Full House, My name is Kim Sam Soon, I’m sorry I love you (made me cry for days),City Hall, Dong Yi (my husband even bought the whole series on DVD for 40 dollars) and a lot more. I’ll be subscribing here so that I’ll know which k-drama is worth viewing. 
nonski
July 27, 2011 at 1:22 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
hi,
i was just ecstatic to find something more to read about SKKS after so long it had been aired. well, the blog is not new but new to me coz it’s just now that i found out about it. like you, it had been a drama crack for me, not when it was airing but later. I still find it to be one of the best. Each to his own, i guess. hehehe…
Likewise, i found out about your blog because I had been looking for recap/reviews on Heartstrings. I must admit that when i get addicted, any bit of anything could help me get by. Reading only one recap (DB’s) could not satiate my cravings for HS, so here I am, and greatly thankful for your recap/review.
Oh, and the trailers are cool!
One thing tho, aside from being a k-drama addict… i also am part of the Darksmurfsub Community. We are a fan subbing site where fans help fans sub to come up with the fastest possible subs. Our founder, Darksmurf had come up with a translator software. Dramas that we sub goes through that software first. Its results aren’t really good yet but can already be used. Then human translators and editors work on it as soon as DS posts the drama subs. Later, elite team will do the final works. Depending on the number of fans who work on it, one drama may take less than a day to come up with the 100% translated and edited subtitles. I would really appreciate it if you will allow us to post links of the drama you are recapping which we are also subbing, on the comments section. Would really be thankful if you will allow us to, if not, I’d still be coming back as one of your readers/commenters.
Thank you so much.
blue
July 27, 2011 at 6:35 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Hello there, fellow SKKS fan!
Your screen name (nonski) sounds so familiar! Were you pretty active on the SKKS soompi thread? Or perhaps on Thundie’s SKKS live recap party?
I’m glad the blog’s Heartstrings recaps can help satiate a little of your cravings for the drama. I’m really enjoying the show too. I know everyone else is obsessed with City Hunter right now, but Heartstrings is my “little drama that could” and the one that captured my heart.
I didn’t realize that so many people worked on DS’s subs! I had always just assumed that it was wholly computer-generated. But anyway, of course you can link to this blog and/or the recaps as you wish. See you around!
nonski
July 27, 2011 at 10:34 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
wow! thanks for answering my post… really, really appreciate it
actually, i was actively posting on Dramabeans as well as Koala’s, occasionally on thundies. I had not posted on SKKS’s Soompi and Thundies. It was late that I had discovered SKKS, but the lingering effect is still on. I doubt if I could get over it. Up till now, it’s OST is still on my playlist.. It’s one of those dramas where I can just watch all over again and never skip a part.
HS will have a special part in my heart. Park Shin Hye and Jung Yong Hwa who both starred in YAB are the reasons for it. I’m giddy watching HS. and gah! OST is wonderful too. And dare I mention, Song Chang Ui is mightily handsome. Know those guys who you could really see as a man with one look at them. *giggles* And oh, i said satiate my hunger, coz when I like a drama, i tend to scram for anything i could get hold to read, anything at all. Koala dropped HS, so I had to find somewhere else and came across you on thundies. I’m a dear fan of musicals, school angst and this same theme. Dream High will forever be my special drama. I was just so disappointed that What’s Up was held up till now. It will be another really, really good drama. Even the trailer had me. Haizt!
About DS, well, as of now we have 55000+ members, tho not all are that active but the CTS (editing team) have active members who work on the sub. After regular editing, subs will still undergo elite editing, tho, after regular editing, it is already good enough. Even machine translation is already watchable. Thanks to the efforts of Darksmurf, our founder.
I really appreciate your permitting us to post here. Mostly, it made me happy coz I will be frequenting this blog too, with HS, here. Plus thanks for always posting trailers here.
thundie
August 16, 2011 at 3:23 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Oh my, new blog design is awesome! Congrats on migrating successfully to your own domain, blue and bella!! So very excited for you!!
red
August 16, 2011 at 4:27 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
reading this I recognize your soompi ID…i have to thankyou for the SKKS subs….i was one of thoes people who was constantly refreshing soompi for the subs…thanks for keeping me sane
….and I think i said this in another post but I’m loving the design for the site
vicka
August 16, 2011 at 8:58 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Love the new site… Love you girls…. Thank you for this beautiful place where people like me can enjoy and learn…. And Bella… Thanks, thanks, thanks for Nina…
msclockwatcher
August 16, 2011 at 10:29 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Your site looks all kids of awesome. Congrats on the new look and domain name. I’ll be electric…
nonski
August 18, 2011 at 3:47 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Cool New Look! Looks Awesomatical!
olsen
August 18, 2011 at 2:04 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
First time here.
Loving you guys already
bella012
August 18, 2011 at 7:31 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Thank you!!
If you have any suggestions/questions/recommendation
please post away.
And welcome to ElectricGround!
olsen
August 19, 2011 at 1:58 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Thanx for the warm welcome
I have a question as it seems you guys love Ji Sung too..
Did u guys watch The Law of Marriage (MBC, 2001)?
He was with Oh Yun Soo (Bad Guy) and also Lee Min young
I’ve been searching for it but couldn’t seem to find it anywhere..
I really appreciate your Korean language and culture series even thiugh I haven’t gone through everything yet. I’m trying to learn Korean so I’m thankful for all your ‘educational’ stuff
Keep up the good work.
blue
August 19, 2011 at 8:35 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
No, I didn’t watch it myself. Isn’t that a daily drama? Older dramas, especially a daily one, will be a hard find anywhere. Good luck!
olsen
August 19, 2011 at 12:03 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Ya..like over 100 episodes!
peculiar
September 21, 2011 at 5:26 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Hello! I have just discovered Electric Ground having landed on your home page via Dramabeans and so happy to have made the jump. Quickly perusing your tab titles and blogroll list, I took the jump to your About page. It’s really nice to meet you Blue and Bella and have to say, Nina’s Simone’s See-Line Woman…what a hook!
I’m looking forward to hanging out here. Thanks for the offer to answer questions. I thought I would dig deeper before i start enquiring.
Have a great day!
blue
September 22, 2011 at 1:25 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Welcome to Electric Ground! Hope you enjoy your stay here, and we always welcome feedbacks or questions at anytime! We’ll be happy to help as long as we can!
jed
September 27, 2011 at 3:33 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
hi blue and bella. i hope you will do a recap on Healing Camp episode featuring Lee Dong Wook.. hehe.. thanks.
Raine
October 30, 2011 at 8:48 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Hello! I’ve just stumbled across your website and its AMAZING. Truly well put together. A ton of effort has gone into it and non-Koreans (ie white/Spanish/other crazy mix) such as myself appreciate the explanations of things. I have put your link into my blogroll! Thank you, thank you!
blue
October 31, 2011 at 1:44 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Thank you for your kind words and the add. I hope you don’t mind I’ve added your blog to our Blog Directory as well!
Raine
October 31, 2011 at 1:59 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Blue – I don’t mind AT ALL! I just became part of the blogging community so I will do my best to contribute worthwhile blogs! Gambarimasu! (Don’t know how to say that in Korean….) Keep rockin’ K-drama land!
LindeB
November 4, 2011 at 5:53 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
dear blue and bella,
thank you this electric ground site. l stumbled on your site through dramabeans. l’m so grateful that l did. l’m learning a lot about korea and koreans, the language, the culture and the people. when l started watching kdramas (l’m an addict since then), one of my bucket list is to visit korea. so when l go visit l know a little about the beautiful country. thank you very much.
your site is so informative and very educational.
count me in as your regular visitor. more power to both of you.
Andy
January 16, 2012 at 12:03 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Hi. I wanted to know if your company works with affiliate programs for advertisements? My website is: http://www.styleismine.com
If you don’t know what affiliate program is…
The primary incentive for affiliates to register with and help direct traffic (and sales) to an online store is the commissioned payments affiliates can receive based on the amount of sales they can generate for the store. So if someone from your website clicks on my banner AD posted on your website and buys something, then your company gains 7% of whatever sales that person did.
We pay you always on time if you have generated revenue.We have teamed up with Volusion affiliate network to handle all the traffic and sales tracking.
Let me know.
Thanks,
Stacey
January 27, 2012 at 8:25 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Oh, can you please, please, pretty please, keep translating ˆThe Moon the Embraces the Sun” book? I’ve read the 6 chapters and I have been checking back everyday for another chapter.
Zara
February 3, 2012 at 2:25 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Yeah, me too. I’ve been coming back here everyday hoping to see Chapter 7. Please?
JADEEYES
February 9, 2012 at 9:45 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
The fact that you posted Nina Simone makes me like you right off the bat, but who knows! Im difficult, lol…
My favorite is “Since I Fell For You” but really, when it comes to Nina there is no way you can pick one favorite and stay with it.
I love the name of the site, its totally jazzy.
Both of you are doing an awesome job for non-Korean speakers. How about this Bella? Te enseno Espanol, y tu me ensanas Koreano
amarmirch
February 26, 2012 at 5:04 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
kind of mad i didn’t find this blog until today
thoughtsramble
March 17, 2012 at 12:33 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I stumbled onto this blog via the book club for The Moon That Embraces The Sun, and have been following your blog ever since. I love the contents that you guys come up with and it has inspired me for my own drama blog!:DD
Thanks so much for what you guys have written, and I’ve added your link to my blogroll:D
nadia
July 5, 2012 at 8:54 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
could you help me with the name Taemin,is the name I would like to put my child,I’ll be waiting for a response as soon as possible.ty
blue
July 8, 2012 at 11:19 pm (UTC -5) Link to this comment
Hello!
I’m not quite sure what you’re asking me here. Are you asking me what I think of the name? Or what the name Taemin means? Also, depending on whether or not you live in Korea or another country, you may want to consider how you feel about your child having an ethnic name that others may have a difficult time pronouncing. Just things to think about!
alodia
November 3, 2012 at 4:37 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I have nothing to say by love your blog!!!! Thank you so much! I’m learning a lot here!
Eun
December 22, 2012 at 10:00 am (UTC -5) Link to this comment
I consider this as my home… Gaahhh! i miss your posts blue and bella…. *sniff *sniff