‘Second Shot At Love' Cast Discusses Drama's Fun Yet Serious Premise
When Sooyoung's character returns to her hometown, she encounters her first love, played by Gong ... More Myung.
The playful title of the drama A Second Shot At Love relates to the character Geum-ju, a woman whose relationships suffer because of her drinking. The Korean title, Geumjuleul Butaghae, is also a play on words. It can either mean Take Care of Geum-ja or Please Stop Drinking Alcohol, since the name Geum-ju is a homonym for the Korean phrase 'stop drinking.' Korean dramas usually portray drinking events as a way to bring people closer together or to let characters say things they might ordinarily lack the courage to voice. The consequences of k-drama drinking are rarely serious. That's not the case for Geum-ju, the character played by actress and Girls Generation member Choi Sooyoung aka Sooyoung. She has become too dependent on alcohol to successfully deal with her problems.
At a recent Seoul press conference the drama's cast and director spoke about the story's fun yet serious look at drinking culture.
'I don't think alcohol is absolutely bad,' said director Chang You-jeong (Honest Candidate, Finding Mr. Destiny). "But I do believe it clearly has risk factors. When we're seeking comfort or feeling empty, don't we tend to depend on something? Some people turn to books, others to exercise, or maybe to watching videos—but the dangers of becoming obsessed with alcohol are quite serious. I felt there was a need to address that.'
The drama deals with those risk factors, sometimes cheerfully and sometimes more seriously, without becoming too preachy.
The first step in dealing with an alcohol problem is to admit you have a problem, but Sooyoung's ... More character does not see a problem.
'Just as we turn to alcohol when we need comfort or when we're happy, this drama also includes stories about healing and recovery—about people who are overly fixated on something or buried in pain, and how they heal and recover with their family or partner,' said Chang.
Sooyoung (Not Others, If You Wish Upon Me, Run On) plays a car mechanic, whose struggle to survive in a male-dominated industry has led to long hours and lots of stress.
'As a result, her drinking increased and she ended up becoming an alcoholic,' said Sooyoung. "She can't fall asleep without alcohol—she enjoys drinking, but she also depends on it.'
Geum-ju returns to Bochun, her hometown, and tries to quit drinking.
'At first, I had many conversations with the director about how to portray and set the level of alcoholism,' said Sooyoung. "When you look around, there are people who don't seem like it at all, but upon closer observation, they are alcoholics. By watching those people or recalling them, I tried to portray a realistic depiction of alcoholism—something that could truly exist in the people around us.'
Gong Myoung, plays Seo Ui-jun, a doctor at the public health clinic in Bochun Village. He still has feelings for his first love Geum-ju. She has no idea she was his first love. Its too difficult for him to express his emotions, so he never confessed.
Gong Myung's character has loved Sooyoung's character since high school. He can't work up the ... More confidence to tell her.
'In terms of his emotional line with Geum-ju, Ui-jun is not someone who easily reveals his true feelings or expresses himself directly,' said Gong (Way Back Love, Lovers of the Red Sky, Be Melodramatic). And because the words 'first love' carry a lot of weight, I spent a lot of time thinking about how to best convey Ui-jun's feelings for Geum-ju and the emotional flow to the viewers.'
Gong says he has a lot in common with Ui-jun. In this situation, however, he would behave differently.
'It's half and half,' said Gong.' Ui-jun's personality — how he approaches people comfortably, stays calm, and gives off a sense of trust — is similar to mine. But the way he hides and holds back his feelings for Geum-ju is quite different from me. I'm the type who goes straight ahead when I like someone, so playing Ui-jun in that regard was a bit difficult. When he holds back or rejects Geum-ju's advances, I had to work on understanding him more deeply, because if it were me, I would've been much more direct.'
As the story progresses Ui-jun has plenty of emotional scenes.
"Toward the later episodes, the inner pain of Ui-jun really starts to unravel,' said Gong. 'And that storyline is just so sad. Even when I wasn't monitoring my own scenes, watching the other characters in those moments really hit me emotionally. I hope viewers also look forward to those parts of the story.'
Like his character Gong doesn't really enjoy drinking.
'So, I don't have many people around me who drink,' he said. 'Even my Extreme Job senior actors don't drink. Still, I really hope they watch Second Shot at Love.'
Sooyoung wanted to realistically portray a character who really loves alcohol.
'There was a scene where Geum-ju searches for water the morning after heavy drinking," said Sooyoung. "But from what I've observed, real heavy drinkers often cure their hangover with more alcohol — not water. So I suggested to the director, 'Can I change it to alcohol instead of water?' and she loved the idea. So we shot it with her drinking more alcohol, and I even thought watching it, 'She really needs to quit drinking.' I tried to include those kinds of detailed observations to realistically depict dependency.'
'Sooyoung is really good at portraying those nuances,' said Chang. 'Even though I know she actually doesn't drink well. Each drink — soju, beer, wine, tequila — has a different aftertaste, and so the sound or expression someone makes after drinking it is different too. But she captured all of that so well, and I really appreciated that detail. That's why I said she gives the best portrayal of drinking in Korea.'
While filming this drama, Sooyoung considered what she might be addicted to.
'It's not just about alcohol — there may be addictions inside us that we don't even recognize,' she said.'This project made me reflect on those things we keep reaching for, almost like reapplying a bandage to a wound we can't face directly. In my case, it might be overworking — feeling anxious when I rest could be my own form of addiction. So I really hope a lot of people, especially my colleagues in the entertainment industry, watch Second Shot at Love and find some healing from it.'
Sooyong had fun filming a romance that allowed her to wear a school uniform again.
'In our story, we meet in high school, again in college, and then reconnect in our 30s,' she said. 'I feel grateful for the chance to wear a school uniform, a college outfit, and also portray an adult — all in one project. To do that alongside Gong Myoung as a co-actor made it even more meaningful. Honestly, I feel like this might be the last time I ever wear a school uniform on screen, so I'm especially thankful for the chance to play a character who is the embodiment of first love through all those stages of life.'
The Studio Dragon drama airs on Viki.com in the U.S.
A Second Shot At Love also features funny performances by Kim Sung-ryung (A Virtuous Business, Mrs. Cop), Kim Sang-ho (The Haunted Palace, Hide, The Kidnapping Day), and Jo Yoon-hee (The Escape of the Seven).
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WIRED
42 minutes ago
- WIRED
How Covid-19 Changed Hideo Kojima's Vision for ‘Death Stranding 2'
Jun 15, 2025 6:30 AM The video game legend tells WIRED that connection and isolation are major themes of his highly anticipated sequel. The game will be available on PlayStation on June 26. Hideo Kojima Photograph: Hiromichi Uchida/Kojima Productions When legendary game designer Hideo Kojima announced to the world that Death Stranding 2 would soon be released, he made it known that Covid-19 had completely changed his idea for this sequel. 'We released Death Stranding before the Covid-19 pandemic, when the world was moving toward isolation and division—as with Brexit. The idea behind it was 'Let's connect. We'll face disaster if we don't connect.' The theme, the story, and the gameplay of the first chapter all revolved around that idea,' Kojima tells WIRED. 'After the release, just three months later, a pandemic broke out, and I was very surprised. It really felt like Death Stranding , in a way.' WIRED headed to Tokyo in April for a long and comprehensive preview of the game and asked Kojima about all the secrets behind Death Stranding 2 's creation. The game is set to be released June 26 and will be available on PlayStation. The Meaning of Human Connections 'In the real world, in the 21st century, we have something similar to the Chiral Network—the internet. It was different than, for example, the Spanish flu pandemic a century earlier. We survived the pandemic because of the internet and the fact that people were about to connect online. Now there are people who work for our studio from home and whose faces I don't even know. Live concerts were canceled, and everything moved to online streaming. I understand that it was inevitable during the pandemic. It was the same with school. Instead of playing with friends or learning from teachers, you watched a screen, as if you were watching a YouTube video. 'Everything was converging toward the metaverse. You'd turn on the TV and everyone was talking about how we were now in the metaverse era, where there was no need to physically interact with people. I thought we were going in the wrong direction. Communication between human beings shouldn't be like that. You meet people by chance and see unexpected things. With the path we were on, all of that would be lost.' As Kojima explains, the initial concept for Death Stranding 2 was very different, and even his idea of connections between people changed after the pandemic: 'I already had an idea for Death Stranding 2 before the pandemic,' he says, 'but after going through that experience I felt something wasn't right, and I rewrote it.' 'The strangest thing was that after creating a game with the theme 'let's connect instead of isolating,' the pandemic came along, and I started thinking, 'Maybe connecting so much is not such a good thing.' So we went back to the stick-and-rope theory [from Death Stranding ] again. There is a lot of anticipation of that theme in the game, and I'm sure many people will understand what I meant by coming to the end of the experience. For example, there's a character who will express the same feelings that I felt during the pandemic.' 'In the logo of the first Death Stranding , the strands started from the bottom, and the general theme was 'let's connect.' In Death Stranding 2: On the Beach , however, the strands in the logo come down from the top and are somewhat reminiscent of [the puppeteer's strings from] the Godfather logo. Even within the game, you will see threads that start from many people and go upward, like Dollman and the robotic soldiers. These are all clues. When you really start to think about what it means to connect, you start to ask questions. But that's all I'll say for now. Play the game when it comes out in June to learn more!' 'I know everyone experienced the pandemic, so I think certain feelings will seem familiar to many, although I can't be totally sure. I'm not saying the metaverse is evil, but you have come all this way and played the game for four days. Today, something like that would normally only happen online.' 'This game, however, is about connections. You'll understand it better as you progress through Death Stranding 2 ; I think you'll start to feel it after a while. That's why we invited you to come here physically, despite your busy schedules. People from all over the world have gathered here in our studios, meeting each other and starting conversations. You have seen the view from Tokyo Station, or maybe you've wandered into a random restaurant. These things are part of the human experience. These coincidences and unintended events tie together naturally, but none of this exists in the metaverse.' Elle Fanning's character in Death Stranding 2 Courtesy of Kojima Productions In Death Stranding 2: On the Beach the gameplay is much more action-oriented. The player can choose to fight much more often than in the first part, although it's not required. If the first chapter often tried to avoid firefights, almost punishing those who killed enemies, something has also changed in terms of this when it comes to the sequel, Kojima says. 'I've talked about the 'we shouldn't have connected' theme before, and I've also told you about the stick-and-rope theory in Death Stranding in the past. Today, even though the world is connected via a rope, which we know as the online world, people still play games where they use the 'stick,' shooting each other. That's why I wanted to create a game where you use a rope above all else, and that was Death Stranding . 'There are so many conflicts in the world today. In the end, connecting with the rope isn't the solution to everything. Higgs [Monaghan] will tell you something similar in the game: to connect, you also need a stick. The further you go into the game, the better you will understand what Higgs means. That's one of the reasons I said 'we shouldn't have connected,' and it's not just about the game aspect, it's also a reflection on a social level.' Among the many important themes in the game are those related to loss and mourning, and Kojima reveals that the inspiration to include them also partly stems from personal experiences: 'It comes from within, so I'd say it's half based on real experiences I've had and half from fiction. It comes from a very intimate place, from thoughts like a sense of loneliness, the mystery of where the dead go, and the pain of not having had a true goodbye with someone we have lost.' Transportation in Death Stranding 2 Courtesy of Kojima Productions The Birth of Death Stranding 2 The new Death Stranding expands and improves on every element of the game's first installment. Kojima says the transition from PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5 means most changes focused on game design and story. 'I hope you remember the first Metal Gear Solid , where you really had to concentrate on infiltration, otherwise it was 'game over.' At the beginning of the game, before you got to the lift, you had no weapons, but once you got past that part, you could get access to some. The reason I had done this was that if I had put a weapon there from the beginning, players would have used it to eliminate enemies. It would no longer have been a 'stealth' game. That's why I deliberately removed it, but many hated that choice and many couldn't even get to the lift. 'In the first Metal Gear Solid we included a lot of mechanics to teach what stealth was. So for MGS 2 , I knew that people now understood the concept better, and so I made the weapons more accessible. You could even target specific body parts of enemies.' Fighting in Death Stranding 2 Courtesy of Kojima Productions In fact, all of Metal Gear can be considered an increasingly exponential and often experimental evolution (such as the open world of the fifth chapter) of the formula born with the saga's historic progenitor. The Death Stranding saga seems to be following a similar evolution: 'For Death Stranding 2: On the Beach , I used the same approach. At the beginning it was a game focused on deliveries, something no one had ever seen before, so some people might feel frustrated by that. 'But now the public is familiar with the idea, so I wanted to give players more freedom, even those who want to fight, for example. Now you can use weapons—you can, but it's not compulsory. You can use vehicles and motorbikes. Everything is more accessible in this second installment. It's still a delivery game, but I wanted to offer more freedom in terms of game mechanics—that was the goal.' This freedom is also reflected in the combat. Indeed, the game is now much more focused on firefights, but the main thing was, above all else, the ability to give players a choice in how they approach the various missions—something that doesn't force them to fight at all costs: 'Well, I don't want to suggest to people that they focus on combat or anything like that, but there are a lot of players all over the world asking me to make another Metal Gear , so here too I added more options for combat.' 'This, however, is still a game focused primarily on deliveries. You can avoid enemies by taking a longer ride around the map or by quickly passing a vehicle or motorbike through an encampment, or you can fight them. I wanted the choice to be up to the player. In case he chooses combat, we had to change the design of the weapons to make them easier to use. When we were working on these mechanics, I was a little worried, because many of the team members who worked with me on Metal Gear still work with me, and we kept asking ourselves, 'Does this feel too Metal Gear ?' but we didn't do it deliberately.' This freer approach was also shared by his colleagues: Yoji Shinkawa, art director of character and mechanical design, who has worked with Kojima since M etal Gear Solid ; Hirohaki Yoshiike, lead level designer; Takayuki Uchida, technical art director, lead environment artist; and, finally, Akio Sakamoto, chief technology officer, technical director. Whether in exploration, combat, or stealth, the development team's approach has always been to provide the player with the tools to act as he or she prefers, which is why over the years they have focused heavily on improving gunfights and stealth, incorporating new weapons, new mechanics and the ability to adapt Sam's character to each user's play style. Death Stranding 2 Courtesy of Kojima Productions Kojima says Mexico was a natural choice to continue the path that started with the first game, even though it wasn't his original plan: 'In Death Stranding you connected the North American continent from east to west, mirroring the exploration of the American frontier. America already had the [United Cities of America], so for the sequel I wondered whether or not to use a similar setting. In the first idea I had, the player would have had to disconnect everything he had previously connected, because he would discover that these connections had been a big mistake. But I was not convinced, especially since I would have reused the exact same setting.' The choice to use Australia as Plate Gate in the second chapter was because of its geographical features: a place that was not too large and which ran from east to west along an ocean was needed. This portal connecting the continents provides some interesting possibilities for sequels: 'The concept of the Plate Gate would allow me to create infinite sequels! I obviously have no plans to do that, but I do have an idea in mind for one possible one. I don't think I will make it, but if I passed the project on to someone else, they probably could.' Kojima says he decided to introduce a day/night cycle to give players the freedom to choose their favorite time of day to play, as it will be possible to change the time simply by sleeping in Sam's room. This choice, however, has led to some minor problems in the direction of the cutscenes, which are also managed in real time according to the time of day. He mentions how important it is for him to analyze player behavior in his games, particularly with regard to the asynchronous multiplayer of the first Death Stranding , which allows players to share objects and constructions, such as bridges and ladders, with other users. Kojima is surprised by the success that the highways have had, and especially the fact that even today, five years after the launch of the first chapter, there are still people who continue to build and maintain them. He says he's not much of a construction guy, preferring to use simpler tools like ladders when playing. Combat vehicles in Death Stranding 2 Courtesy of Kojima Productions For players who are fans of this mechanic, however, he has added many elements in Death Stranding 2 , such as the monorail, which is a new addition. He went on to explain the meaning of likes, which work very much like social media likes in the game: 'A like is not a currency—you don't get any items or become stronger because of them. The team was very hesitant about adding them at first. They are closer to likes in the real world. They have no concrete value, but they make you feel good. From a game design point of view, it's strange. Normally you accumulate points and get a rank or rewards, but in our case the like is just a personal incentive. It's exactly like on social. I wanted to create something like that, and in the end, people seemed to enjoy it. I expected more criticism. Even the team, who were initially opposed, changed their minds.' How Kojima Chooses Actors The first and now also the second Death Stranding unite the worlds of film and video games thanks to the presence of many famous actors. Kojima has said the criteria he uses to choose them is always based on the connections he has with people and their work. Kojima says he usually contacts these stars personally and, on many occasions, including with Luca Marinelli, who plays Neil in the game, the actor or their agent turns out to be a fan of the game designer. 'That is generally my selection process. I also audition, of course, but it's mostly a matter of connections. This also applies to Od , Physint , and other projects.' Luca Marinelli's character in Death Stranding 2 Courtesy of Kojima Productions 'I have already mentioned on several occasions that I saw the Italian film Martin Eden , with Luca Marinelli. It had a big impact on me. I may have seen it before the pandemic, but I wrote a commentary for the promotion of the film in Japan. After that, Luca sent me an email. He told me that he has been a fan of mine since his childhood and that he had read my comments. He asked the distributor for my contact details, and we got to know each other.' 'When I thought about involving him, I knew that his character had to surpass the one played by Mads Mikkelsen. I asked myself: 'Is that possible?' Mads' character could not return in Death Stranding 2 , and I knew some fans would be disappointed. I had to find someone who could go further. I remembered Luca, wrote to him directly, and offered him the role. He accepted immediately.' Shooting for a video game, however, is not as simple as shooting a film, as Kojima tells us: 'It's a job that requires a lot of strength, both physical and mental. Before shooting we have to scan the actor, decide on a hairstyle, makeup, and costumes and then create the digital data. And in order to record the scenes we have to coordinate everyone's schedules. 'Unlike a film, however, we can't shoot everything in three or four months, and we meet periodically during the development. It's a tiring process, both for us and for the actors. It's not a matter of three months and we're done. After that there is also the ADR [automatic dialog replacement, or dubbing], for example. Marinelli doesn't just appear in cutscenes. When the character appears as an NPC, you also have to record sounds, moans, breaths, grunts … and that part never seems to end. It's tough. And, of course, the actors are also working on other projects at the same time. Death Stranding 2 also features Marinelli's wife, Alissa Jung: 'I was also looking for someone to play Lucy, but in the midst of the pandemic it wasn't easy. One day, Luca asked me if I had found his 'counterpart.' I told him no. He told me that his wife is an actor and also a director, so we met and I found her really brilliant, intelligent, perfect for the role of Lucy. We scanned them both at the height of the pandemic. Neil also has scenes with Norman, while Alissa, who plays Lucy, has mostly scenes with Luke. I can't say more, or I'll reveal some spoilers.' The worlds in Death Stranding 2 Courtesy of Kojima Productions Among Kojima's favorite scenes filmed for Death Stranding 2 , he mentions one shot by Marinelli and Jung: 'Luca, meanwhile, was filming the series Mussolini: Son of the Century , directed by Joe Wright. When I offered him the role he was beautiful, he looked like a young Alain Delon. But when I scanned him he had changed: I asked him what had happened. He replied: 'I'm getting fat to play Mussolini.' We couldn't do much, so we scanned him as he was. 'A year later, at the time of motion capture, he had changed again. I thought: 'Oh God, it's not the Luke I expected,' but we then solved it digitally. It was quite a problem, but what he shot is really good! Most of the scenes with Alissa and Luca are just between the two of them, and the interesting thing is that, because they are husband and wife in real life, they have an incredible chemistry. 'Luca comes from the theater, and Alissa is a director as well as an actor. Sometimes she tried to take over on the set too! We shot at the SIE studio in Los Angeles. It's a huge studio, almost like a big Hollywood set. Me and a couple of my staff went to manage the shoot, but there were many other people including technicians, makeup artists, and others. When Luca started acting, however, everyone came over to watch. This had never happened to me before.' The Music of Death Stranding Kojima's games also impress with their beautiful soundtracks, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is no exception. One of the star artists of the new title is Woodkid, and the game director recounted that he met him by chance in Paris in 2020, when the artist wanted to introduce himself, being a fan of Kojima's, by playing one of his songs. Kojima was also struck by Woodkid's music videos, which have atmospheres like that of Death Stranding , and Kojima decided to contact him to have him work on some songs for the soundtrack of the second chapter. The music was an important legacy to continue, especially after the passing of Ryan Karazija of Low Roar, whose musical style had profoundly marked the first chapter. Kojima explained that he had also included some unreleased Low Roar tracks in the new game, sent to him by the singer's family. Kojima follows the same approach for the music in his games as he does for the choice of actors: 'Just like for the casting of actors, I contact them directly: Sometimes I ask if I can use one of their songs, other times they offer to write a new one, and an exchange takes place.' Many other artists contributed to the new game, such as Caroline Polachek, the Mongolian singer-songwriter Magnolian, and the Polish pianist Hania Rani. Each musical choice, the game designer explains, reflects his personal taste: a mix of different sensibilities that further enriches the atmosphere of the game. Kojima's Pride At the end of our interview, Kojima talks about what was the most rewarding aspect of creating Death Stranding 2: On the Beach : 'That's a difficult question. I wrote the concept for this game completely on my own, during the pandemic. 'Yoji [Shinkawa] would come by maybe once a week, but otherwise I worked without seeing anyone in person. It was a really tough time. Some people still worked from home. Yet, despite all the challenges, we're almost done now. 'During the pandemic I thought we would never make it. I think all the studios felt the same. We couldn't shoot anything, everything was at a standstill, and I wondered: 'How can I make a game like this?' But, thanks to the support of so many people, we are now really close to the end. I think we started performance capture in 2021. At that time I couldn't go to Los Angeles to direct; the studio wouldn't allow it. It was like that for all the studios. So we had to do everything remotely. I was working from Tokyo and connected online with Los Angeles. Sam and Lou in Death Stranding 2 Courtesy of Kojima Productions 'The actors obviously had to go to the studio, but I had to explain everything from a distance: 'Stand here, walk there, do this...' It was very difficult. We used iPads and smartphones, but it didn't work very well. At one point I thought I was going crazy. 'Then an acquaintance of mine at Sony created something called Mado, which means window in Japanese. It's like a giant smartphone, a two-way monitor that almost looks like a door. If you stand in front of it, you can see inside the studio in Los Angeles. You see and hear everything in real time. Unfortunately you can't walk through to the other side but they lent us two of these devices and we managed to get the footage we needed. Even Norman got close to that 'window.' It was difficult, but there was also something beautiful about the process. 'When you work in person, you can talk directly and change things on the spot. But remotely, you'll have a meeting every week or every month, and everything slows down. Sometimes you find out too late that someone was working on an idea that had already been rejected. I think all studios faced similar problems. So what was the most rewarding part? Simply the fact that we managed to go all the way and finish this game.' This interview was originally published by WIRED Italia . Translation by John Newton.
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While Korean skincare has taken the U.S. by storm, the best Korean makeup products deserve just as much of a spotlight. These cosmetics boast similarly innovative formulas as their skincare counterparts, acting as complexion multitaskers. Think lightweight, SPF-fueled foundations packaged for on-the-go application; velvety blushes infused with antioxidant fruit extracts, and balms brimming with peptides and hydration. 'In Korea, it's a given that makeup needs to make your skin look amazing,' expert and former Allure editor-in-chief Michelle Lee tells Vogue. 'Makeup products tend to be quite affordable and have skin-care benefits, too,' Lee adds. Another defining factor of Korean beauty products? Customization. 'There tends to be more emphasis on personal color in Korea, so people typically know if they have a cool or warm undertone and know the details about the colors that suit their skin tone best,' says Lee. It's a culture where hyper-awareness of tone, texture, and finish informs every product choice—making the payoff feel perfectly tailored. Vogue's Favorite Korean Makeup Products In This Story Even aesthetics are considered down to the last detail. These bestselling picks come wrapped in whimsical packaging and feature sensorial textures—from airy, pudding-like pots to silky melting balms. In short, Korean makeup is fun, functional, and endlessly thoughtful. Scroll on to discover 14 standout K-beauty products, from blushes and mascaras to lippies and beyond. From familiar picks you may recall from TikTok viral moments stateside to hand-picked expert favorites, all of which are cosmetics that are actually popular with the Seoul cool girls—plus, get expert insight on K beauty trends, Best Lip Gloss Balm: Rom&nd Glasting Melting Balm Why We Love It : 'Rom&nd is the number one lip color brand in South Korea. It's wildly popular, and their products are amazing,' says Lee, noting how moisturizing the brand's balmy lip tint is which wears beautifully on its own or layers over liner for the perfect lip combo. The formula delivers a translucent, high-gloss finish reminiscent of an oil with a non-greasy or sticky feel. That's thanks to a perfected oil-to-wax ratio from a blend of plant-based oils, including argan oil, shea butter, and camellia seed oil. : 'Rom&nd is the number one lip color brand in South Korea. It's wildly popular, and their products are amazing,' says Lee, noting how moisturizing the brand's balmy lip tint is which wears beautifully on its own or layers over liner for the perfect lip combo. The formula delivers a translucent, high-gloss finish reminiscent of an oil with a non-greasy or sticky feel. That's thanks to a perfected oil-to-wax ratio from a blend of plant-based oils, including argan oil, shea butter, and camellia seed oil. Key Ingredients : Microcrystalline wax, jojoba seed oil, sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, evening primrose oil, shea butter, mango fruit extract, olive oil : Microcrystalline wax, jojoba seed oil, sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, evening primrose oil, shea butter, mango fruit extract, olive oil Finish : Glossy : Glossy Best For : Keeping lips hydrated with a flush of color : Keeping lips hydrated with a flush of color Size: 3.5g Best Mascara: Clio Kill Lash Superproof Mascara Why We Love It : Are you looking for a mascara that holds a curl exceptionally well? It's time to explore some high-performing K-beauty formulas. 'I have the stereotypical straight, short Asian lashes, so I prefer Korean and Japanese mascara formulas, which excel at holding a curl,' says Lee. She says the Clio mascara is her favorite for its buildable, volumizing formula. Additionally, it's a waterproof mascara that doesn't leave behind any flakes or clumps. To ensure even longer-lasting lash results on stubborn straight lashes, Lee recommends a couple of squeezes of a Korean lash curler. : Are you looking for a mascara that holds a curl exceptionally well? It's time to explore some high-performing K-beauty formulas. 'I have the stereotypical straight, short Asian lashes, so I prefer Korean and Japanese mascara formulas, which excel at holding a curl,' says Lee. She says the Clio mascara is her favorite for its buildable, volumizing formula. Additionally, it's a waterproof mascara that doesn't leave behind any flakes or clumps. To ensure even longer-lasting lash results on stubborn straight lashes, Lee recommends a couple of squeezes of a Korean lash curler. Key Ingredients : Bean extract, panthenol, silica, olive fruit oil, soy extract ferment filtrate, camellia seed oil, carnauba wax, hydrolyzed collagen, glycerin : Bean extract, panthenol, silica, olive fruit oil, soy extract ferment filtrate, camellia seed oil, carnauba wax, hydrolyzed collagen, glycerin Finish : N/A : N/A Best For : A volumizing mascara with skin-loving ingredients that provides maximum life and curl. : A volumizing mascara with skin-loving ingredients that provides maximum life and curl. Size: 0.24 fl oz Best Cushion Foundation: TirTir Mask Fit Red Cushion Why We Love It : 'Many people in Korea use cushion foundations which come in a variety of finishes and often have skin care ingredients. After a meal, it's quite common to see people pull out their cushion compact to reapply, so foundation formulas tend to be light and not cakey or heavy,' says Lee. Not to mention, the formula boasts up to 72 hours of wear, SPF 40 for sun protection, and full coverage results with a lightweight feel. The formula is enriched with anti-inflammatory ingredients like red propolis extract to nourish and soothe sensitive skin (and cover the most angry blemish)—and just one pump of product should do the trick. : 'Many people in Korea use cushion foundations which come in a variety of finishes and often have skin care ingredients. After a meal, it's quite common to see people pull out their cushion compact to reapply, so foundation formulas tend to be light and not cakey or heavy,' says Lee. Not to mention, the formula boasts up to 72 hours of wear, SPF 40 for sun protection, and full coverage results with a lightweight feel. The formula is enriched with anti-inflammatory ingredients like red propolis extract to nourish and soothe sensitive skin (and cover the most angry blemish)—and just one pump of product should do the trick. Key Ingredients : Water, iron oxides, dimethicone, titanium dioxide, propanediol, glycerin, hibiscus flower extract, red propolis extract : Water, iron oxides, dimethicone, titanium dioxide, propanediol, glycerin, hibiscus flower extract, red propolis extract Finish : Satin : Satin Best For : Lightweight complexion coverage : Lightweight complexion coverage Size: 0.63oz Best Multi-Purpose Color: Fwee Blurry Pudding Pot Fwee Blurry Pudding Pot in Ambitious $20 AMAZON Why We Love It : Imagine the texture of a perfectly whipped chocolate mousse, with the bounce of a pudding fresh out of the fridge—that's exactly what you can expect from this cream blush. 'Korean brands really excel at fun yet useful textures. You especially see this in the blush market right now, particularly with Fwee's bouncy textured pudding pots,' says Lee, noting the multi-purpose color product provides a smooth, velvety matte flush wherever applied—from cheeks to lips. : Imagine the texture of a perfectly whipped chocolate mousse, with the bounce of a pudding fresh out of the fridge—that's exactly what you can expect from this cream blush. 'Korean brands really excel at fun yet useful textures. You especially see this in the blush market right now, particularly with Fwee's bouncy textured pudding pots,' says Lee, noting the multi-purpose color product provides a smooth, velvety matte flush wherever applied—from cheeks to lips. Key Ingredients : Dimethicone, dimethicone crosspolymer, cocoa seed butter, agave leaf extract : Dimethicone, dimethicone crosspolymer, cocoa seed butter, agave leaf extract Finish : Blurred : Blurred Best For : A two-in-one lip and blush flush : A two-in-one lip and blush flush Size: 0.17 oz Best Lip Tint: Etude Dear Darling Water Tint Why We Love It : For a perfectly stained pout at a super affordable price point, this lightweight tint from popular K-beauty brand Etude is the answer. Its non-sticky formula stays on for hours and keeps your lips hydrated throughout the day with a vitamin and berry fruit complex. With just one swipe, the watery formula is near instantly absorbed into lips, leaving behind a pigmented, blurred stain. : For a perfectly stained pout at a super affordable price point, this lightweight tint from popular K-beauty brand Etude is the answer. Its non-sticky formula stays on for hours and keeps your lips hydrated throughout the day with a vitamin and berry fruit complex. With just one swipe, the watery formula is near instantly absorbed into lips, leaving behind a pigmented, blurred stain. Key Ingredients : Berry fruit complex : Berry fruit complex Finish : Glossy : Glossy Best For : A long lasting, lightweight lip tint : A long lasting, lightweight lip tint Size: 9 g Best Eyeliner: Merzy The First Pen Eyeliner Why We Love It : When it comes to eyeliner, precision and longevity are non-negotiable—this is especially true if you have hooded eyes, making formulas prone to transferring. Merzy's felt tip liquid liner pen delivers all of the above. Hailed as one of the most popular K-beauty liners on the market, it's earned its reputation with a formula that refuses to smudge, smear, or disappear halfway through the day—that's thanks to water-resistant polymers which ensures it grips the skin without budging. : When it comes to eyeliner, precision and longevity are non-negotiable—this is especially true if you have hooded eyes, making formulas prone to transferring. Merzy's felt tip liquid liner pen delivers all of the above. Hailed as one of the most popular K-beauty liners on the market, it's earned its reputation with a formula that refuses to smudge, smear, or disappear halfway through the day—that's thanks to water-resistant polymers which ensures it grips the skin without budging. Key Ingredients : Acrylates copolymer, anise fruit extract, : Acrylates copolymer, anise fruit extract, Finish : Matte : Matte Best For : A transfer-proof liquid liner that doesn't flake or smudge. Plus, the slim design makes it easy to achieve a sharp winged liner. : A transfer-proof liquid liner that doesn't flake or smudge. Plus, the slim design makes it easy to achieve a sharp winged liner. Size: 0.017 Best Setting Spray: Neogen All Day Locking Fixer Neogen All Day Locking Fixer $28 AMAZON Why We Love It : 'Neogen makes an incredible setting spray,' says Lee, noting that this pick is more than just a TikTok viral find—it's a best-kept secret in the kits of many makeup artist friends. Infused with soothing aloe leaf extract and nourishing panthenol, it keeps your complexion looking fresh and hydrated, letting your skin breathe while delivering that sought-after, glowy finish. Meanwhile, fixing polymers ensure your makeup won't be going anywhere and tea tree leaf extra keeps excess sebum production at bay. : 'Neogen makes an incredible setting spray,' says Lee, noting that this pick is more than just a TikTok viral find—it's a best-kept secret in the kits of many makeup artist friends. Infused with soothing aloe leaf extract and nourishing panthenol, it keeps your complexion looking fresh and hydrated, letting your skin breathe while delivering that sought-after, glowy finish. Meanwhile, fixing polymers ensure your makeup won't be going anywhere and tea tree leaf extra keeps excess sebum production at bay. Key Ingredients : Glycerin, aloe leaf extract, panthenol, chamomile extract, cotton extract, green tea extract, peppermint leaf extract, tea tree leaf extract : Glycerin, aloe leaf extract, panthenol, chamomile extract, cotton extract, green tea extract, peppermint leaf extract, tea tree leaf extract Finish : Natural : Natural Best For : Keeping your makeup look in place—no matter how hot it gets while navigating summer in the city. Plus, the dewy finish allows for you to fake glass skin. : Keeping your makeup look in place—no matter how hot it gets while navigating summer in the city. Plus, the dewy finish allows for you to fake glass skin. Size: 2.7 fl oz Best Contour: Too Cool for School Artclass By Rodin Shading Why We Love It : Another It girl brand, Too Cool For School's contour palette blends effortlessly into the skin with perfectly cool-toned shades that emulate the natural bone structure. With a trio of silky, buildable shades, it offers a variety of contouring options. Skin-conditioning agents like silica and a touch of mineral powder are infused in the formula, to glide on without clinging to dry patches. The micro-milled texture ensures a seamless, second-skin finish that layers beautifully over foundation or bare skin. : Another It girl brand, Too Cool For School's contour palette blends effortlessly into the skin with perfectly cool-toned shades that emulate the natural bone structure. With a trio of silky, buildable shades, it offers a variety of contouring options. Skin-conditioning agents like silica and a touch of mineral powder are infused in the formula, to glide on without clinging to dry patches. The micro-milled texture ensures a seamless, second-skin finish that layers beautifully over foundation or bare skin. Key Ingredients : Micro-milled powders, silica, mica : Micro-milled powders, silica, mica Finish : Natural : Natural Best For : Those with fair to light-medium skin tones looking for an everyday contour essential : Those with fair to light-medium skin tones looking for an everyday contour essential Size: 0.33 oz Best Eyeshadow: Unleashia Glitterpedia Eye Shadow Palette Why We Love It : If you're in the mood to take your makeup look from day to night, a bit of shimmer adds some eye-catching intrigue. Lee notes how even when it comes to a sparkling eyeshadow, sustainability remains top of mind. 'Unleashia is a Korean makeup brand known for its glitters, which are vegan, cruelty-free and biodegradable,' she explains. And if you're hesitant to go for a full sparkly lid—just one swipe of this eyeshadow on the inner corner of your lid works wonders for brightening eyes. : If you're in the mood to take your makeup look from day to night, a bit of shimmer adds some eye-catching intrigue. Lee notes how even when it comes to a sparkling eyeshadow, sustainability remains top of mind. 'Unleashia is a Korean makeup brand known for its glitters, which are vegan, cruelty-free and biodegradable,' she explains. And if you're hesitant to go for a full sparkly lid—just one swipe of this eyeshadow on the inner corner of your lid works wonders for brightening eyes. Key Ingredients : Glycerin crosspolymer, mica, tocopheryl acetate : Glycerin crosspolymer, mica, tocopheryl acetate Finish : Pearlescent, metallic, and shimmer : Pearlescent, metallic, and shimmer Best For : An eye-catching eyeshadow look, with nine shades per palette to pick from. : An eye-catching eyeshadow look, with nine shades per palette to pick from. Size: 2.89 oz Best Subtle Blush: House of Hur Moist Ampoule Blusher House of Hur Moist Ampoule Blusher $15 YESSTYLE Why We Love It : Another lip-to-cheek hybrid, House of Hur's liquid blush boasts a formulation with more than 50% skin-care ingredients and moisturizing essences for an easily blended matte-yet-blurred pop of color that also plumps your skin. Lee appreciates how this liquid blush provides a subtle, healthy glow while still letting natural skin peak through. : Another lip-to-cheek hybrid, House of Hur's liquid blush boasts a formulation with more than 50% skin-care ingredients and moisturizing essences for an easily blended matte-yet-blurred pop of color that also plumps your skin. Lee appreciates how this liquid blush provides a subtle, healthy glow while still letting natural skin peak through. Key Ingredients : Glycerin, chlorella vulgaris extract, strawberry fruit extract : Glycerin, chlorella vulgaris extract, strawberry fruit extract Finish : Soft matte : Soft matte Best For : Long-wear liquid blush with a soft-focus matte finish : Long-wear liquid blush with a soft-focus matte finish Size: 20 ml Best Lip Treatment: Sulwhasoo Perfecting Lip Color Why We Love It : Sulwhasoo is one of the most well-known Korean skin care brands stateside—but did you know they do color cosmetics, too? Its glowy lip balm, for starters, is a luxurious fusion of skincare and color. Packed with ginseng seed oil, the formula provides deep hydration while smoothing fine lines, leaving lips plump and radiant. Plus, the balm's elegant packaging, inspired by the iconic Moon Jar, adds a touch of sophistication to any vanity. : Sulwhasoo is one of the most well-known Korean skin care brands stateside—but did you know they do color cosmetics, too? Its glowy lip balm, for starters, is a luxurious fusion of skincare and color. Packed with ginseng seed oil, the formula provides deep hydration while smoothing fine lines, leaving lips plump and radiant. Plus, the balm's elegant packaging, inspired by the iconic Moon Jar, adds a touch of sophistication to any vanity. Key Ingredients : Ginseng seed oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, pomegranate seed oil, jojoba seed oil : Ginseng seed oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, pomegranate seed oil, jojoba seed oil Finish : Subtle glossy : Subtle glossy Best For : A non-sticky, tinted lip balm that adds a hint of flush to lips : A non-sticky, tinted lip balm that adds a hint of flush to lips Size: 0.1 oz Best Blurred Lip Liner: Rom&nd Lip Mate Pencil Why We Love It : Another beloved lip pick from Rom&nd, Lee became an instant fan after trying this two-in-one pencil, which features both a pen and brush on the opposite end. 'The pencil tip is bigger and rounder, with a more matte texture, and leaves leaving behind a softer, blurred outline rather than a harsh line,' she says. '[Going for a] subtle, blurred overline on the top lip makes lips look super plump [and round].' : Another beloved lip pick from Rom&nd, Lee became an instant fan after trying this two-in-one pencil, which features both a pen and brush on the opposite end. 'The pencil tip is bigger and rounder, with a more matte texture, and leaves leaving behind a softer, blurred outline rather than a harsh line,' she says. '[Going for a] subtle, blurred overline on the top lip makes lips look super plump [and round].' Key Ingredients : Synthetic wax, mica, candelilla wax : Synthetic wax, mica, candelilla wax Finish : Soft matte : Soft matte Best For : A diffused yet plump lip look : A diffused yet plump lip look Size: 0.5 g Best Water Blusher: A'pieu Juicy-Pang Water Blusher Why We Love It: No, this isn't a nail polish you're looking at—that tiny brush is for precision brush application (and a bit of whimsical packaging, no doubt). A'pieu Juicy-Pang's liquid blush is another cult-favorite K-beauty pick from Lee, which she cosigns for its lightweight, buildable formula packed with antioxidant-rich fruit extracts for a fresh, just-pinched look. No, this isn't a nail polish you're looking at—that tiny brush is for precision brush application (and a bit of whimsical packaging, no doubt). A'pieu Juicy-Pang's liquid blush is another cult-favorite K-beauty pick from Lee, which she cosigns for its lightweight, buildable formula packed with antioxidant-rich fruit extracts for a fresh, just-pinched look. Key Ingredients: Pomegranate seed oil, grape fruit extract, raspberry extract, blueberry extract, glycerin Pomegranate seed oil, grape fruit extract, raspberry extract, blueberry extract, glycerin Finish: Dewy Dewy Best For : A natural flush, with a lightweight non-greasy feel : A natural flush, with a lightweight non-greasy feel Size: 9 g Best Matte Lip: Peripera Ink the Velvet Lip Tint Peripera Ink the Velvet Lip Tint $11 $7 AMAZON A weightless, highly pignemted lip tint that smooths on easliy and doesn't budge all day—available in 45 shades. Why We Love It : Peripera's matte lip tint is a beauty staple in Seoul for it's non-cakey formula and velvety finish (think: a matte liquid lipstick that delivers a comfortable, lightweight wear that doesn't compromise on bold color payoff). Its mousse-like texture glides on effortlessly, providing a soft, blurred effect thanks to a double-layer elastomer that fills in the fine curves of the lips. The result? A smooth, emollient, and silky finish. : Peripera's matte lip tint is a beauty staple in Seoul for it's non-cakey formula and velvety finish (think: a matte liquid lipstick that delivers a comfortable, lightweight wear that doesn't compromise on bold color payoff). Its mousse-like texture glides on effortlessly, providing a soft, blurred effect thanks to a double-layer elastomer that fills in the fine curves of the lips. The result? A smooth, emollient, and silky finish. Key Ingredients : : Finish : Soft matte : Soft matte Best For : A velvety matte lip look that won't flake or cake : A velvety matte lip look that won't flake or cake Size: 0.14 fl oz Everything You Need To Know
