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Tuesday, April 13, 2021
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    Upper School faculty attend Nonbinary and Transgender Student Workshop

    Upper School faculty attend Nonbinary and Transgender Student Workshop

    New upper school student group encourages valuable discourse on identity and diversity

    New upper school student group encourages valuable discourse on identity and diversity

    New schoolwide faculty committee strives to create a more inclusive TAS community

    New schoolwide faculty committee strives to create a more inclusive TAS community

    Taipei American School Film Club’s Year-Long project

    Taipei American School Film Club’s Year-Long project

    Uncovering Harvard professor’s distorted narrative of Comfort Women

    Uncovering Harvard professor’s distorted narrative of Comfort Women

    Dr. Dodge takes on the role of interim head of school

    Dr. Dodge takes on the role of interim head of school

    Athletes adjusting to constant IASAS changes

    Athletes adjusting to constant IASAS changes

    TAS delegates attend the 2020 IASAS MUN conference online

    TAS delegates attend the 2020 IASAS MUN conference online

    IASAS Film offers new online 48-hour-film competition due to COVID-19

    IASAS Film offers new online 48-hour-film competition due to COVID-19

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    Conversations in these isolated times

    Conversations in these isolated times

    Dear TAS boys, be careful with the curls you get

    Dear TAS boys, be careful with the curls you get

    Deeper connotations beyond seemingly casual greetings

    Deeper connotations beyond seemingly casual greetings

    Style Exploitations: Why unsustainable fashion still exists

    Style Exploitations: Why unsustainable fashion still exists

    Let’s stop shopping at SHEIN, the fashion company that sells affordable clothing but is problematic

    Let’s stop shopping at SHEIN, the fashion company that sells affordable clothing but is problematic

    What I wish I knew before applying to college

    What I wish I knew before applying to college

    Why “test optional” policies should continue on post-pandemic

    Why “test optional” policies should continue on post-pandemic

    Passport strength amidst the COVID-19 pandemic shines light on dual citizenship

    Passport strength amidst the COVID-19 pandemic shines light on dual citizenship

    Exclusive library study rooms further toxic academic culture at TAS

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    • Features
      Hanlin Tang (‘04): Former Blue & Gold Editor-In-Chief is now a principal scientist at Intel Corporation.

      Hanlin Tang (‘04): Former Blue & Gold Editor-In-Chief is now a principal scientist at Intel Corporation.

      Black History Month needs to be talked about more at TAS

      Darryl Loke (‘17) wins Emmy award for his college film, “Strays”

      Darryl Loke (‘17) wins Emmy award for his college film, “Strays”

      College application advice from 2021 Seniors

      College application advice from 2021 Seniors

      Classes more people should know about

      Classes more people should know about

      Lower school students launch gardening initiative

      Lower school students launch gardening initiative

      Juggling in-person and online classes

      Juggling in-person and online classes

      Chinese New Year traveling has been canceled due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus

      Chinese New Year traveling has been canceled due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus

      Annabelle W. (‘22) participates in triathlon relay in Taiwan and places fourth in her division

      Annabelle W. (‘22) participates in triathlon relay in Taiwan and places fourth in her division

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        niko and… :An underrated Japanese home goods store

        YEN sets an unmatched bar for Cantonese food

        YEN sets an unmatched bar for Cantonese food

        Ideal cafes for studying

        Ideal cafes for studying

        Neighbors Cafe lives up to its name

        Neighbors Cafe lives up to its name

        REVIEW | “Raya and the Last Dragon”

        REVIEW | “Raya and the Last Dragon”

        TikTok’s Three Ingredient Creme Brûlée: Is it Worth it?

        TikTok’s Three Ingredient Creme Brûlée: Is it Worth it?

        A trip to the Cat Cafe

        A trip to the Cat Cafe

        Attemping to make the Korean Minimalistic Cake

        Attemping to make the Korean Minimalistic Cake

        Spend your Sunday afternoons studying at Windows Cafe

        Spend your Sunday afternoons studying at Windows Cafe

        Eco-friendly brands that reduce climate impact

        Eco-friendly brands that reduce climate impact

        Diamonds and Dior lead to deeper conversations in Netflix’s “Bling Empire”

        Diamonds and Dior lead to deeper conversations in Netflix’s “Bling Empire”

        National Taichung Theater: the best architectural phenomenon that showcases musicals

        National Taichung Theater: the best architectural phenomenon that showcases musicals

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      • News
        Upper School faculty attend Nonbinary and Transgender Student Workshop

        Upper School faculty attend Nonbinary and Transgender Student Workshop

        New upper school student group encourages valuable discourse on identity and diversity

        New upper school student group encourages valuable discourse on identity and diversity

        New schoolwide faculty committee strives to create a more inclusive TAS community

        New schoolwide faculty committee strives to create a more inclusive TAS community

        Taipei American School Film Club’s Year-Long project

        Taipei American School Film Club’s Year-Long project

        Uncovering Harvard professor’s distorted narrative of Comfort Women

        Uncovering Harvard professor’s distorted narrative of Comfort Women

        Dr. Dodge takes on the role of interim head of school

        Dr. Dodge takes on the role of interim head of school

        Athletes adjusting to constant IASAS changes

        Athletes adjusting to constant IASAS changes

        TAS delegates attend the 2020 IASAS MUN conference online

        TAS delegates attend the 2020 IASAS MUN conference online

        IASAS Film offers new online 48-hour-film competition due to COVID-19

        IASAS Film offers new online 48-hour-film competition due to COVID-19

      • Sports
      • Opinion
        • All
        • Editorial
        • Letters
        • The Gabfest
        Conversations in these isolated times

        Conversations in these isolated times

        Dear TAS boys, be careful with the curls you get

        Dear TAS boys, be careful with the curls you get

        Deeper connotations beyond seemingly casual greetings

        Deeper connotations beyond seemingly casual greetings

        Style Exploitations: Why unsustainable fashion still exists

        Style Exploitations: Why unsustainable fashion still exists

        Let’s stop shopping at SHEIN, the fashion company that sells affordable clothing but is problematic

        Let’s stop shopping at SHEIN, the fashion company that sells affordable clothing but is problematic

        What I wish I knew before applying to college

        What I wish I knew before applying to college

        Why “test optional” policies should continue on post-pandemic

        Why “test optional” policies should continue on post-pandemic

        Passport strength amidst the COVID-19 pandemic shines light on dual citizenship

        Passport strength amidst the COVID-19 pandemic shines light on dual citizenship

        Exclusive library study rooms further toxic academic culture at TAS

        Trending Tags

        • Features
          Hanlin Tang (‘04): Former Blue & Gold Editor-In-Chief is now a principal scientist at Intel Corporation.

          Hanlin Tang (‘04): Former Blue & Gold Editor-In-Chief is now a principal scientist at Intel Corporation.

          Black History Month needs to be talked about more at TAS

          Darryl Loke (‘17) wins Emmy award for his college film, “Strays”

          Darryl Loke (‘17) wins Emmy award for his college film, “Strays”

          College application advice from 2021 Seniors

          College application advice from 2021 Seniors

          Classes more people should know about

          Classes more people should know about

          Lower school students launch gardening initiative

          Lower school students launch gardening initiative

          Juggling in-person and online classes

          Juggling in-person and online classes

          Chinese New Year traveling has been canceled due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus

          Chinese New Year traveling has been canceled due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus

          Annabelle W. (‘22) participates in triathlon relay in Taiwan and places fourth in her division

          Annabelle W. (‘22) participates in triathlon relay in Taiwan and places fourth in her division

          Trending Tags

          • Verdict
            • All
            • Food
            • Movies
            • The B&G Book Corner
            • TV

            niko and… :An underrated Japanese home goods store

            YEN sets an unmatched bar for Cantonese food

            YEN sets an unmatched bar for Cantonese food

            Ideal cafes for studying

            Ideal cafes for studying

            Neighbors Cafe lives up to its name

            Neighbors Cafe lives up to its name

            REVIEW | “Raya and the Last Dragon”

            REVIEW | “Raya and the Last Dragon”

            TikTok’s Three Ingredient Creme Brûlée: Is it Worth it?

            TikTok’s Three Ingredient Creme Brûlée: Is it Worth it?

            A trip to the Cat Cafe

            A trip to the Cat Cafe

            Attemping to make the Korean Minimalistic Cake

            Attemping to make the Korean Minimalistic Cake

            Spend your Sunday afternoons studying at Windows Cafe

            Spend your Sunday afternoons studying at Windows Cafe

            Eco-friendly brands that reduce climate impact

            Eco-friendly brands that reduce climate impact

            Diamonds and Dior lead to deeper conversations in Netflix’s “Bling Empire”

            Diamonds and Dior lead to deeper conversations in Netflix’s “Bling Empire”

            National Taichung Theater: the best architectural phenomenon that showcases musicals

            National Taichung Theater: the best architectural phenomenon that showcases musicals

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          Home Verdict Movies

          REVIEW | “SKY Castle” is a K-Drama turned political commentary

          by Kelly P. ('20)
          10/17/2019
          in Movies, Verdict
          0
          REVIEW | “SKY Castle” is a K-Drama turned political commentary

          [PHOTO COURTESY OF CHINA FILM INSIDER]

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          “SKY Castle” is part of the next wave of iconic Korean dramas to enamor the international community. It is now officially the highest rated cable drama in Korean broadcasting history. It took over “Goblin”’s, another K-drama, record which they held with 18%.“SKY Castle” broke this record with 23.77% in average viewership ratings with its last episode (episode 20).

          The drama follows four wealthy families living in a secluded complex called SKY Castle. All of the families pour their resources, wealth, and time into their children’s education, often going to extreme lengths to give their children an edge in the Korean education system. The show begins with one household, who come to be known as the Park family, in the midst of an ecstatic celebration when their only son gets accepted into Seoul National University’s medical school. Soon after, however, the Park family’s wife commits suicide, her son is nowhere to be found, and her husband quits his job. The rest of the drama follows the families’ reactions and their approach to their children’s education. 

          Although the drama has all of the elements of a murder mystery, it is ultimately a commentary on Korea’s hyper-competitive education system. In the show, as the children strive to be the best in their respective schools, the parents push them to their limits with the full weight of their wealth behind them. Often, the pressure pushes the characters to relieve stress through drug use and petty crimes while it causes others to develop suicidal thoughts or spiral into depression. 

          Of the four households, for instance, we mainly focus on the Kang family, consisting of mother Han Seo-jin (Yeom Jung-ah), father Kang Joon-sang (Jung Jun-ho), eldest daughter Ye-seo (Kim Hye-yoon), and youngest daughter Ye-bin (Lee Ji-won). By the end of the show, we see Ye-seo develop high levels of anxiety and sleep-deprivation as she pushes herself to get into a good medical school. 

          At the Cha household, we have mother Noh Seung-hye (Yoon Se-ah), father Cha Min-hyuk (Kim Byung-chul), eldest daughter Se-ri (Park Yoo-na), and twin sons Seo-joon (Kim Dong-hee) and Ki-joon (Jo Byung-kyu). With Se-ri studying abroad at Harvard, former prosecutor Min-hyuk now spends his time tutoring his sons. With pressure from their father’s extreme teaching style, the two children are often in fits of stress which even causes their parent’s divorce. 

          Overall, “SKY Castle” is a show that effectively critiques Korea’s educational system with much success. The most chilling part of the drama, however, is that many of its stories and plotlines are not exaggerations. The South Korean Health and Welfare Ministry estimates that 90% of people who committed suicide in 2016 had a diagnosable psychiatric illness, such as depression or anxiety, conditions often caused by stress. According to the University of California Berkeley Political review, that stress is often induced by competitive schooling environments and low hiring rates that only help a few get to the top. 

          In this current condition, “SKY Castle” sheds light on a growing problem and will hopefully influence many to change their outlook on education and mental health.

          The Review

          5 Score

          Review Breakdown

          • 5
          Tags: highlight
          Kelly P. ('20)

          Kelly P. ('20)

          Kelly is a junior at Taipei American School and the Opinions & Verdict Editor for the Blue & Gold. She loves rainy days, sleeping in on weekends, and re-binging her favorite TV shows. You can also see her going to night markets with her friends and reading her favorite science books.

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          The Blue & Gold strives to represent the school as whole, showcasing hidden personalities and covering events and issues that affect the school and community.

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          The Blue & Gold welcomes any questions, opinions, comments, or suggestions. To contact us, please email Natalie S., our Editor-in-Chief, at 21natalies@students.tas.tw. You can also email Ms. Kundel, our advisor, at kundell@tas.tw.

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