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Master of Study (DVD) (End) (Multi-audio) (English Subtitled) (KBS TV Drama) (US Version) DVD Region All

Bae Du Na (Actor) | Kim Su Ro (Actor) | Yoo Seung Ho (Actor) | Ko Ah Sung (Actor)
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Master of Study (DVD) (End) (Multi-audio) (English Subtitled) (KBS TV Drama) (US Version)

YesAsia Editorial Description

Based on the same manga that spawned the hit Japanese series Dragon Zakura starring Abe Hiroshi and Yamashita Tomohisa, KBS school drama Master of Study (a.k.a. God of Study) is one of the most popular Korean dramas of 2010. Movie star and funnyman Kim Su Ro stars in his first TV drama as scrappy and abrasive lawyer Kang Suk Ho, who takes up a teaching position at a failing high school. To save the school from the ax, he comes up with the unconventional plan of starting a special class curriculum devoted to getting the school's five worst students into the country's top university.

Teen heartthrob Yoo Seung Ho (Queen Seon Duk) leads the delinquent pack as rebellious underachiever Baek Hyun, who bumps heads right away with Suk Ho. The rest of the class is formed by T-ara's Ji Yeon (High Kick Through the Roof), Ko Ah Sung from The Host, Lee Hyun Woo (The Return of Iljimae), and Lee Chan Ho (Our School's E.T.). Popular actress Bae Du Na returns to the small screen as a quirky, earnest teacher who initially objects to Suk Ho's teaching methods and motivations, while Oh Yoon Ah (Alone in Love) plays the ditzy principal.

© 2011-2012 YesAsia.com Ltd. All rights reserved. This original content has been created by or licensed to YesAsia.com, and cannot be copied or republished in any medium without the express written permission of YesAsia.com.

Technical Information

Product Title: Master of Study (DVD) (End) (Multi-audio) (English Subtitled) (KBS TV Drama) (US Version) 學習之神 (DVD) (完) (韓/國語配音) (中英文字幕) (KBS劇集) (美國版) 学习之神 (DVD) (完) (韩/国语配音) (中英文字幕) (KBS剧集) (美国版) Master of Study (DVD) (End) (Multi-audio) (English Subtitled) (KBS TV Drama) (US Version) 공부의 신
Also known as: God of Study / Lord of Study / Gongsin / The Masters of the Art of Study God of Study / Lord of Study / Gongsin / The Masters of the Art of Study God of Study / Lord of Study / Gongsin / The Masters of the Art of Study God of Study / Lord of Study / Gongsin / The Masters of the Art of Study God of Study / Lord of Study / Gongsin / The Masters of the Art of Study
Artist Name(s): Bae Du Na (Actor) | Kim Su Ro (Actor) | Yoo Seung Ho (Actor) | Ko Ah Sung (Actor) | Ji Yeon (T-ara) (Actor) | Lee Hyun Woo 裴斗娜 (Actor) | 金秀路 (Actor) | 俞承豪 (Actor) | 高雅星 (Actor) | 智妍 (T-ara) (Actor) | Lee Hyun Woo 裴斗娜 (Actor) | 金秀路 (Actor) | 俞承豪 (Actor) | 高雅星 (Actor) | 智妍 (T-ara) (Actor) | Lee Hyun Woo ペ・ドゥナ (Actor) | キム・スロ (Actor) | ユ・スンホ (Actor) | コ・アソン (Actor) | ジヨン （T-ara） (Actor) | Lee Hyun Woo 배 두나 (Actor) | 김 수로 (Actor) | 유승호 (Actor) | 고아성 (Actor) | 지연 (티아라) (Actor) | 이현우 (영화배우)
Release Date: 2011-04-19
Language: Korean, Mandarin
Subtitles: English, Traditional Chinese
Country of Origin: South Korea
Picture Format: NTSC What is it?
Sound Information: Dolby Digital
Disc Format(s): DVD
Region Code: All Region What is it?
Duration: 960 (mins)
Publisher: Tai Seng Video (US)
Other Information: 4DVDs(Ep.1-16)
Package Weight: 300 (g)
Shipment Unit: 2 What is it?
YesAsia Catalog No.: 1024215398

Product Information

Kang Seok-Ho (Kim Soo-Ro) is an ordinary lawyer and former bike gang member. He then takes a position to revive a third rate high school named "Byeong-Mun High School". To revive the school, Kang Seok-Ho needs his students to become accepted into prestigious universities. Because of this, Kang Seok-Ho decides to teach a bunch of rebellious students (Hwang Baek-Hyeon, Kil Pul Ip, Hong Chan-Du, Na Hyeon-Jeong, and Oh Bong-Ku). He promises to get five of them into their most prestigious colleges in the country. Kang Seok-Ho takes students who have bad scores, and guides them to improve not only their scores but their outlook on life. One such student is Hwang Baek-Hyeon (Yoo Seung-Ho) a defiant and headstrong student who is similar to Kang Seok-Ho at that age. Their strong personalities causes them to have clashes, but gradually, Hwang Baek-Hyeon opens up to Seok-Ho's teaching methods and eventually becomes the best student in the class.
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YumCha! Asian Entertainment Reviews and Features

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Editor's Pick of "Master of Study (DVD) (End) (Multi-audio) (English Subtitled) (KBS TV Drama) (US Version)"

Picked By Sanwei
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August 10, 2011
Study like your life depends on it
I've never attended school in Asia, but I did teach at an English cram school in Taiwan, and the experience was unlike anything I had seen growing up in the States. Kids start taking extra classes at a young age to get ahead, and my junior and high school students were juggling multiple night classes on top of actual school. On nights they didn't have class, they might get a call from the TA for a phone quiz. They were very much (mischievous) kids and (disgruntled) teenagers like you'd encounter anywhere else, but the academic schedule they considered normal may shock their counterparts in the West.

God of Study (a.k.a. Master of Study) is an exaggerated look at the Asian classroom and testing pressure cooker, but the popularity of the series, as well as the original Dragon Zakura manga and its Japanese drama adaptation, does tell you something about the resonance of its themes and conflicts with local audiences. The drama is a classic underdog story, only in academics instead of sports, with stakes that any student in Asia could identify with. The message that even the worst student can ace the college entrance exam with hard work is positive, predictable, and wholly unbelievable to the tired, disillusioned masses. God of Study, however, does not try to sugarcoat the process or the pressure behind its message. There's only one way to make it: study like your life depends on it, and then study some more.

The school drama revolves around a very unpleasant lawyer (Kim Su Ro), who endeavors to save a failing high school from shutdown by introducing a class that specializes in getting students into the country's top university. He handpicks the five worst students for his class, and whips them into academic shape with wacky instructors, unconventional teaching methods, and rote till you drop. Though the original source is Japanese, the great significance of preparing for the college entrance exam may be even more relevant in Korea. The annual college entrance exam is held in such high regard in Korea, there are special arrangements to make sure it runs smoothly. Students line up to cheer on seniors as they enter testing facilities, offices start work an hour late to reduce traffic, police cars speed latecomers to school, and planes can't land or takeoff during the listening test period. Take that, SATs!

Intensive teaching and studying make up a big part of the drama, so there are many scenes of kids tackling test after test, lesson after lesson. The abundance of classes and cramming do get burdensome at times, but it's not as boring as it sounds. The classroom is a battleground in God of Study, and the teachers are pretty off the wall. Some of the teaching exercises and testing tips are actually quite useful, like ping-pong math, English aerobics, and memory trees, while other more boot camp, disciplinarian measures may seem alarming if taken seriously. I'm pretty sure it's not OK anywhere for a high school teacher to make students stay after school till the wee hours, or to whisk them away for a week of customized study sessions.

As the tiger teaching mastermind, Kim Su Ro doesn't pull off the tough love facade as well as Abe Hiroshi did in Dragon Zakura. We know he means well because that's what the storyboard gods dictate, but it takes a while to warm to his character, even for those used to Kim Su Ro's abrasive acting style. Fortunately, he is balanced by the incredibly likable Bae Doo Na as a soft-hearted English teacher. It's a bit of a waste for Bae Doo Na to be in a sideline television role like this, but she makes the most of her screentime. Oh Yoon Ah also manages to do more with her character than the material suggests.

What really lifts God of Study above the curve is the endearing young cast. Though the Japanese drama had bigger stars in Yamashita Tomohisa, Koike Teppei, Aragaki Yui, and Nagasawa Masami, the Korean adaptation has more believable kids. Yoo Seung Ho is, of course, the main draw among the students, and for good reason. Korea's little brother was at just the right age and right time to play the handsome high school rebel in God of Study. He not only grows an extra step into his inevitable role as Korea's next big heartthrob, he also shows he's likely to become Korea's next great leading man as well. The rest of the kids are also very promising, in particular Ko Ah Sung (reuniting with Bae Doo Na after The Host!) who has a refreshingly natural screen presence. We should also be seeing much more of T-ara's Ji Yeon and Lee Hyun Woo in years to come, because they are adorable.

God of Study is actually at its best when portraying the growing pains of the students, and how they struggle with family problems, ambiguous relationships, and personal insecurities on top of their battle against test scores and commando Kim Su Ro. In comparison to problems they're still too young to fully grasp, studying becomes a way out for the teens, not because passing the college entrance exam is all that matters, but because only after they've tried their hardest can they understand which path is best for them. Now that's more of a message I can get behind.
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This original content has been created by or licensed to YesAsia.com, and cannot be copied or republished in any medium without the express written permission of YesAsia.com.

Customer Review of "Master of Study (DVD) (End) (Multi-audio) (English Subtitled) (KBS TV Drama) (US Version)"

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Average Customer Rating for this Edition: Customer Review Rated Bad 9 - 9.3 out of 10 (3)

MKL
See all my reviews

October 24, 2011
good to the end! Customer Review Rated Bad 10 - 10 out of 10
Kim Sooro stars as the lead actor Kang Seok-Ho with a goal to revive Byeong-Mun High School by getting some senior students to enter the number one college in Korea. Using his lawyer wits with a hidden past. Kang Seok-Ho using tricks to convince, force, and with a volunteer forms the special class of 5 to begin his goal. Why does Mr. Kang want to revive the worst high school in korea to help a bunch of troubled kids he doesn't even know? Well Mr.Kang has a hidden past that will slowly be revealed.

Yoo Seung Ho stars as Hwang Baek-Hyeon who is forced by Seok-Ho tricks to join the class. Growing up with his grandma. Baek-Hyeon works part-time as a delivery boy to make ends meet. Close to being evicted. Mr. Kang convices Baek-Hyeon's grandma that her grandson made it into a special class to enter the number one college in Korea. Kang then makes a deal with Baek-Hyeon that he will help him with the rent if he joins the special class. Baek-Hyeon without wanting to disappoint his grandma and not having much of a choice with eviction lets Kang have his way. Baek-Hyeon not very trusting of Mr. Kang often expresses his doubts to fellow classmates to fight against Mr. Kang for what he believes is right.

Ji Yeon stars as student Na Hyeonjeong who follows her so called hubby Baek-Hyeon into the special class. Hyeonjeong always follows Baek-Hyeon around even though he shows no interest in her what so ever. That doesn't bother her one bit. This cute little princess just keeps on smiling. But even a smiling angel has her hidden past. Strangely no one has met any relatives of Na Hyeonjeong. Heck it made me curious when all the other students parents or guardians appeared but Hyeonjeong was the only one who was always alone. Bright and smiling on the outside but quite sad on the inside.

Ko Ah Sung stars as student Gil Pulip who was the first to join the special class. Pulip like all the other troubled students has her own problem. Growing up with a mom that runs a bar and dating someone elses husband. Well maybe you can guess how that might be. Pulip out of all the students puts the most trust in Mr. Kang. Not wanting to be like her mom. Pulip hopes this class will not only take her to college but to be able to live on her own.

Lee Hyun Woo stars as rich student Chandu who loves music and wants to dance his life away. His dad on the other hand wants him to be like his elder siblings to go into a good school to become a successful person. One day Chandu's dad has a gathering over at their house. Chandu overhears his dad's friends talking about how proud they must be with Chandu and how he will probably be like his siblings. Chandu feeling bad for his dad as his friend's don't know that he isn't the ideal son. Chandu takes his chance in the special class to make his dad proud.

Lee Chan Ho stars as Bonggoo the nicest and hardest working student of Byeong Mun High. Unfortunately no matter how hard Bonggoo studies. His grades prove otherwise. Growing up with loving parents who run a bbq restaurant. Bongsu would seem set for life, but his will and passion to learn pushes him to strive for more. With the special class in place. Bonggoo will endure whatever it takes to enter the best colllege in Korea.

Regarding the quality of this version. The picture quality is fine. Subtitles were off in some parts but its not bad at all for the price you are paying. If you're learning korean. you'd probably want the Korean edition. It can confuse you a bit on the definition of what they are saying and the subtitles given. Some of the subtitles make sense of what is going on but its not completely accurate.
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zetachister@...
See all my reviews

May 20, 2011
7 people found the following helpful

 Buyer beware - getting what you pay for. Customer Review Rated Bad 10 - 10 out of 10
I couldn't believe the lower pricing for two very popular Korean dramas from 2010. THANK YOU VIKI for your review on why.

I whole-heartedly agree with the review made by Viki (May 9, 2011). It's true most of us probably view the dramas on-line first (even my mom's generation is doing this now). I have to want to watch a particular drama (or certain actors/actresses) over and over again before plunking down $$$ for the DVD puchase. Yes, YA entertainment's extras, behind-the-scenes, bloopers makes them worthwhile; but it's the quality of the English subtitles that makes it for me -- I can count on the English to be the most accurate out there.

One could argue that some content would inevitably get "lost in translation"; but take it from someone who's got both YA Entertainment and Tai Seng versions - substandard and incorrect subtitles can ruin the entire viewing experience and enjoyment. You can actually feel your frustration level mounting because it's sometimes that painfully wrong. I sometimes can't help wonder if someone at Tai Seng took a Korean-English dictionary and proceeded to translate word by word - and you lose out a lot on the poignancy and irony, which is a shame.

I'm fluent enough to know when the English subtitles are off, missing the important point/s, or completely wrong. I also find it somewhat embarassing and cringe at what the less or non-fluent are reading.

I have no problems loaning out the YA Entertainment produced dramas to my non-fluent friends; however, the Tai Sengs stay on the shelf collecting dust - yes, the difference in translation is that big.

If YA Entertainment's price points were a little less, they would see their sale numbers go up for sure. Or Tai Seng's translation team needs to look at the fan-subs for reference...
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Viki
See all my reviews

May 9, 2011
9 people found the following helpful

 KBS American ended contract w/ YA Ent? Customer Review Rated Bad 8 - 8 out of 10
This review is about this product, not the drama itself, seeing as I haven't finished watching it. Anyway, KBS' DVD distribution in America has been YA Entertainment's responsibility for the past years as far as I know and I love the quality of their DVDs and the English subtitles they provide. YA Entertainment also provided special contents such as behind-the-scenes, blooper reels, cast interviews, etc. as a part of their DVD, making the DVD worth-buying ('cause believe or not, I bet you that 90% of us English-speaker, K-Drama-watchers watch the dramas online most of the time) for fans of the dramas.

However, with this years' two KBS English-version releases (God of Study and Kim Tak Goo) it seems like the rights to distribute KBS drama has transfer to Tai Seng Video. I see a lot of pros and cons as to this transferring of rights, so let's break it down.

PROS:
-More affordable DVDS
-Chinese audios for Chinese speakers/listeners
-English AND Chinese subtitles
-Pretty good video quality

CONS:
-No extra contents!!! (Including video contents & photobooks, etc.)
-Poorer English subtitles (even compare to fan-subs)
-Small transparent watermark flying across the screen once in a while

I guess the best good thing about this is the price since usually YA Ent.'s releases are at least $55+ for new releases while God Of Study is just $25 (upcoming MBS Playful Kiss is $79.99). I am very disappointed that they didn't include extra contents in the DVDs 'cause that's mainly why I buy the DVDs. I usually have watched the dramas online first and would buy it if I love it so much for the bonus content and collecting purposes (except for GoS, since it was so cheap and I wanted to test the quality of the DVD so I can decide whether or not I am gonna get Kim Tak Goo).

Bottom line is that I would rather spend a little bit more money for the extra contents because usually, what's the point of buying a drama you already watched? I hope KBS would renew their contract with YA Entertainment because they have BETTER video quality, no watermarks, better subtitles, and most importantly, extra contents!
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