Park Ha Kyung Travel Diary (2023)

“It’s not about getting better. The next stage just comes...

Then comes another stage, followed by more stages to go”.

I don’t think I have ever watched a show that introduces so many interesting topics to think about in such a light and heartwarming manner. The episodes might have been only 24 minutes long, but the impact lasted for hours, making me reflect on my opinions, thoughts and behaviors.

From the opening till the end - it felt both realistic and strangely eccentric and dream-like. Following Ha Jyung on the trips allowed me to take a moment to just relax and enjoy the views and the scenery. The straightforward and honest personality of our female lead added to the charm. I also appreciated how real her character was - a normal person in normal circumstances, taking a break from the busy and overstimulated world.

The wide range of topics tackled in the show included, but was not limited to: reflecting on our past goals and dreams, the role of an educator, adults' involvement in creating certain paths for children, focusing on their future rather than the current happiness, the disagreements and different perceptions generations have, where we always villainize the other side, not seeing the flaws in our own thinking and behavior.

We were faced with questions like: is striving for success correct, or should we just focus on doing what we love, even if it does not bear fruits? Why is it so hard to show interest towards another person and since when saying “I love you” or even “I like you” becomes so hard, that we found new ways to convey exactly the same emotions?

This is not all, and I’m sure each and every person would focus on different aspects, different scenes and different lines - seeing their own unique version of what’s presented in the drama.

Lee Na Young was such a perfect casting choice to portrayal Ha Kyung. On one hand her character was truly relatable, on the other hand she had her own charms and quirks that not many people possess. Creating a character that is both unique, but also relatable is not an easy job.

The production was stellar. All episodes were filmed, directed and edited in a similar fashion, but at the same time, all had specific tricks that enhanced whatever story was told in each episode. Be it adding more blur and slightly distorted shots to create these dream-like sequences, or using first person perspective to make viewers connect to the scene and potential feelings the characters are experiencing. The soundtrack was the cherry on top, making me want to drop whatever I was doing and set on a trip myself.

Overall, I feel like no matter how much time I would spend on writing this review, it would be impossible for me to truly convey how much I love One Day Off. It's a rare clean 10 for me.

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Walk, Eat, Wander and don't miss out on this delightful drama!

One Day Off was a soothing, tranquil drama which showed that all who wander are not lost. Served up in eight small bites of travel and food, the drama was easy to digest. It was also gently inspiring without overstepping into preachiness.

Teacher Park Ha Kyung dealt with life's stressors and monotony by using one of her weekly days off to travel. She explored new and old places meeting a variety of people along the way. Sunsets, bakeries, and butterflies led her to some of life's small and grand adventures.

By escaping her daily rut physically and mentally she stretched her mind and heart. "Life is about messing up!" Reflecting on how she was the same age her parents were when they had children, she also found ways to accept the inevitable effects of time and aging. She faced generational conflicts, "Democracy is always loud by nature" and learned to "Dance, even if you trip!" Her traveling also helped her to come to terms with grief and loss as she reminisced.

The drama was beautifully shot and helped the viewer briefly travel to new and interesting places as well. Lee Na Young made for a perfectly lovely traveling companion on these simple but enlightening journeys. Showing how Ha Kyung was slightly awkward at times, but more often than not accepting of where she was in life, I thoroughly enjoyed her performance. She gave just the right balance of maturity and youthful inquisitiveness.

Each episode encompassed a new idea as well as place and touched on various emotions. The drama offered up laughter, sorrow, and new relationship possibilities. Every place on her travel itinerary featured delightful food offerings. One Day Off highlighted how the moments of clarity, joy, and human connections make the efforts worthwhile. It also showed how those same wanderings can deepen the pathway into knowing ourselves, sparking new curiosity for adventures of the mind, regardless of age. Walk, eat, wander---One Day Off shows the journey is truly more important than the destination.

6/2/23

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When a lovely little show captures your heart

I always hate the fact that when I really love something I can never find the adequate words to express how I feel about it. So, I’m sure this review will not express everything that I want it to but I will try.

I really went into this show blind. I knew nothing about it other than the vague synopsis and the impression that this show wouldn’t be intense or dramatic like most of what I watch lol. This show is like little vignettes of the protagonist, Hakyung’s, trips that she takes on the weekend. She visits new places and meets new people, but it never seems to jump to grandeur like falling in love at first sight or having a life-changing experience somewhere. It’s just…simple. But in a very good way. The people she meets she may never see again and the places she goes she may never visit a second time. And that’s that.

I enjoyed how peaceful this show was to watch and how I truly felt like I was just following Hakyung along on her trips. I also liked how, despite it not being the main focus of the show, Hakyung’s job as a teacher was very much prevalent and how important the relationship to her students was to her.

I loved the entirety of this show but the final episode is what solidified, for me, just how much I loved it. The conversations Hakyung and her friend have in this episode couldn’t have resonated more with who I am right now and where my life is. The discussion of aging but not feeling like you are growing up and the question of if time really speeds up as we get older or is that all just in our heads. As someone who is crossing the bridge of childhood to adulthood, those topics couldn’t have felt more relatable to me and similar to what i ask myself often.

This show is probably not for everyone as most shows aren’t, but this show was undoubtedly right for me, especially at this moment.

I’m sure I haven’t articulated all of my thoughts the way I wanted to, but I’m so happy I decided to watch this show on a random whim, much like Hakyung and the trips she took.

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Conforto em forma de audiovisual.

Esse drama foi uma das coisas mais lindas que eu já vi na minha vida. Essa não é uma história convencional ou meramente parecida com algo que a gente tá acostumada a ver, vai além... Muito além, e acho que justamente isso é o diferencial aqui. As histórias e momentos aqui compartilhados pela nossa protagonista são tão imersivos que a gente se transporta pra dentro das viagens. Um dos meus episódios favoritos foi o da desenhista, pois consegui sentir muito de mim. Essa review está sendo um derramamento de amor mas juro que faz sentido. Se alguém ler isso, por favor, dê uma chance e assista esses oito episódios de puro amor, carinho e conforto.

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Beautiful and contemplative

The plot summary makes this show sound like a travelogue but it’s a lot more than that. It’s more of a meditation on human connection.

The main character deals with how she feels about her life but it’s not a straightforward narrative about that. It’s more contemplative. The acting, from the main character and the supporting characters is subtle and moving.

The cinematography is beautiful. The mood is sometimes melancholy but I didn’t find it depressing.

It’s very different from other dramas I have seen but in such a good way. I highly recommend it.

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Healing through traveling!!

Surprisingly, I enjoyed this series more than I expected. I love how this series let us meet a different story for each episode and led us slowly to know the main character, Park Ha Kyung. Just like her, I think so many of us have always wanted to take some time off just to log out of our busy lives. Whether it be through traveling, eating, or doing our hobbies, we could enjoy our lives and recharge for a better tomorrow. I feel like this series tried to remind us that we need to take a rest every time we feel exhausted from our everyday lives. The revelation about her best friend actually got me startled, and I didn't expect to cry so much at the end of the episode. In conclusion, this is a good healing short-drama that will help you find consolation and make you feel warm.

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"Dance, even if you trip!“

One Day Off aka Park Ha Kyung-travel diary. She’s a teacher at a high school who spend her Saturdays off doing one day trips.

Sunsets, bakeries, and butterflies led Ha Kyung to some of life's small adventure. She walks around, eats, and meets various people. She realizes she receives comfort and empathy through her travels. Each trip felt realistic and strangely therapeutic, highlighting Ha Kyung’s blunt and quirky personality. I like how lighthearted her story is – being a normal person in normal circumstances, taking a break from the busy and overstimulated world.

This short drama feeds me a lot of interesting food for thoughts in a light and heartwarming manner. Each episode is dedicated to different themes, such as reflecting on our past goals and dreams, the role of a teacher, adults' involvement in setting examples for kids, future insights, and appreciating artworks. I think everyone will have their own relatable part of what’s presented in each episode. Although it is only 24’ per episode, it provokes my thoughts for hours.

The cinematography was stellar and it’s consistent throughout all episodes. This is one of the dramas that is more feels and aesthetics than plot. Good casting all around. The soundtrack as sweet and simple, making me want to take days off and take a moment to just relax and go on a daytrip.

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Comforting

To say in one word, comforting.

It's a story about a teacher who travels every weekend for one day. Not always a far away place bt sometime the nearby alleyway tht u don't use for ur everyday commute.
Then try new food, meet new people, have conversation wth them about jst everyday things without much deep thoughts.
So it's all about some chance encounter, some strange conversation and some good foods.
I really loved the vibes of it. It's like a cup of hot coffee on a chilly day, warm and comforting.
The last ep is my favourite where she met her frnd.
It's not much of a story just good vibes.
So beautiful

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Good enough

Korean Drama " One Day Off " is an anthology of, well, days off that a school teacher takes. Each episode is dedicated to a theme, like love, art, teacher-student relationship, and so on.

The short length of the drama doesn't allow the viewer to really get to know the main lead, even though she is the main constant of the show, with her performance being the killer point of the show, and often carrying it when things got a bit too slow.

And yet, the whole mood of the drama, in addition to the performances, was what makes this drama worth the watch, even though the story is quite simple and, even at some cases, non existant. Still, this is one of the dramas that is more feels and aesthetics than plot.

So, overall, eight out of ten.

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Always look on the bright side of life!

I really do not know what to think about this one: it comes highly praised by "opinion makers" here and yet I found it somehow lacking, swinging between being pretentious and a Korean tourism ministry ad! It was beautifully filmed, slow burn and inviting introspection.

The episodes are a mixed lot but they all somehow reflect real life, and I guess that is not what I am looking for in a drama. There are a couple of episodes that stand out, in my humble opinion, the one on Jeju island with a little girl looking for bread and the one with the comic book writer. On the other hand, the episodes with the artist and the writer in the temple were rather pretentious: look and admire me!

The main character is a single woman in her 30s who takes day trips in order to recharge her batteries. She visits beautiful tourist spots in Korea and meets interesting people. In contact with all these different people, she learns a lot and grows as a person. The whole series has optimism written all over it.

This is an extraordinarily well filmed and written drama: the cinematography is stunning and some episodes' writing is rather original, as if they were trying out different genres (episodes with the comics writer and her best friend stand out in that respect).

I personally have a problem with this kind of overly optimistic dramas: it hits too close to home for comfort, as I see them as a criticism of my own life and the lack of effort I put in. So instead of inciting me to try to change, it has a completely opposite effect on me: I get even more depressed!

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When longing to disappear; take one day off to walk, eat, and let the mind wander

As someone who enjoys solo travel, this show is relatable. Going out alone and doing a variety of new things on each adventure was pretty cool. A good way for the story to give us a character that revolves around strangers and how her solo trips help her feel alive.

However, the concept alone is not enough for an overall greatness in its impact. As the episodes moved by, I tended to get bored, and it came to the point that I became uninterested in the next thing that would happen to the story. They tried their very best, which was good enough, but failed to provide consistent satisfaction to the audience. It became plain and unclear towards the end. Yet, it is reasonable since the major highlight of the show is to introduce us to the main character who self-meditates in terms of going out with herself alone.

My favorite episode must be when the woman met a man who dreamed of being a film director and they somehow flirted with each other but ended up separating on their ways. I love the tension and the short story that they portrayed. I hoped to see them again in the end but it didn’t happen.

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