contributed by Monica

I am completely new to Korean drama. I live in Connecticut, USA, and 3 months ago, a wonderful thing happened. Our cable company added AZNTV to their line-up. Foreign programming, at last! And suddenly "Hotelier" was part of my life! Wow! What a startling introduction to Korean TV! They aired 3 episodes a week, and I tell you, during the other 4 days, I was literally living in withdrawal!

I was riveted right from the first episode. I really enjoyed the hectic, behind-the-scenes look at the "little people", who weren't portrayed as nobodies at all, but as an integral and appreciated part of the whole. If only work was like that in real life! I am a security officer in a retirement community for the wealthy, complete with up-scale dining facilities, fitness center and swimming pool, and laundry, housekeeping, and security services. I know first-hand about the joys as well as the indignities that service work entails.

As the show progressed, I came to love all of the supporting characters. Housekeeping is mouthkeeping? Ha! I roared the first time that line was used! Here's something we all know is the same in real life as in "Hotelier": There is no such thing as mouthkeeping!

Two other things that added immensely to the elegance of the script and the fine, beautiful actors, in my opinion, were the grand sets and the gorgeous, romantic soundtrack. Who is this Kang Chul? I see I need to learn about Korean pop music!

Of course, all that aside, the main story is the romance between Dong Hyuk and Jin Young. Though it's Tae Jun who stole my heart! Maybe this is because, like Yoon Hee, I too had an overbearing father? And so, again like Yoon Hee, I too became involved with an attractive, magnetic, caring, unattainable older man? Yes, I do find Tae Jun to be all of these things! Those expressive eyes! Swoon! His fierce loyalty! What lengths he went to in order to save the hotel, while all the time acting so polite to Dong Hyuk, as his position required! Ha! And... Wait! Unattainable? Then why go to Las Vegas, to Yoon Hee? Maybe Tae Jun is not completely unattainable afterall! Another real life truth: Some men are like that. All in good time. THEIR time. Sigh!
Jin Young waited for Tae Jun for 3 years, and when he seemed tentatively, (almost!), ready, there was Dong Hyuk! A dream come true for Jin Young and Dong Hyuk, but poor Tae Jun! If only Tae Jun and Jin Young had met at some later time, when Tae Jun might have been ready to settle down? But then, was he ready all of a sudden only because of Dong Hyuk, when he finally had to admit to himself that time was no longer standing still for him?

Now, enter Yoon Hee! She's the one who may have come into Tae Jun's life at the right time. But just because it was the right time, doesn't necessarily mean she was the right woman. Sadly, when Tae Jun began to consider her, it seemed in part out of fear of throwing love away again.

In truth, Yoon Hee irritated me at first with her self-pity and her pushiness with Tae Jun. But her determination to get out from under her father's domination is what started to win me over. She purposefully forced herself to grow up. She chose a menial job - and loved it! - so she could finally run her own life and experience it on her own terms. Yes, she was jealous and petulant when it came to Jin Young and she never stopped pushing Tae Jun, but she matured fast otherwise. She worked hard. And she helped save the hotel, not just for Tae Jun, but for all of her coworkers, people she had come to truly love.

Might Tae Jun end up with the surprisingly worthy Yoon Hee in the future? I think it's a possibility! He didn't take her seriously in the beginning, but I do think a spark was there by the end. Hey, if petty Lee could find true love, then anything is possible!
What if Dong Hyuk had never come along? Would Tae Jun and Jin Young have gotten together eventually? I've argued this both ways, but finally I have to say no. They'd hurt each other so much that every time one of them tried to get close, the other would pull back. They always ended up arguing. They can trust each other totally when it comes to their friendship, but not as lovers. In the end, Tae Jun knew he still would not give Jin Young the commitment she wanted, which was why, in my opinion, he let her - helped her! - go to Dong Hyuk. And by doing so, he also saved the relationship with her that he knew would last. They will always be devoted friends.

I watched all 20 episodes in less than 2 months, so I feel as though I've been in a whirlwind. I am dizzy! As you can plainly see, the characters are almost like real people to me. I found "Hotelier" to be rich and involving. I think it's amazing that, for all I've written here, I've only scratched the surface. I haven't been floored like this in a while. Lately, perhaps because I'm getting older, I've started to feel like I've seen it all, like nothing will make my heart leap again. "Hotelier" showed me how wrong I was. We are never too old for hope, change, or romance!