Here Comes Ajumma

Here Comes Ajumma is a 162-episode South Korean production that was released in 2006. It is currently showing on Channel U, Mon-Fri, 7pm... very slowly...

The female protagonist is a self-suffering mother of one in her early 30s. In Singapore, we call these mature females, usually housewife-ish and concerned about matters such as family health, kids' education etc, 'auntie'. In Japan, they are called 'obasan'. And in South Korea, they are called 'ajumma'. According to my South Korean classmates, the male version is 'ajussi'. Like how we in Singapore address mature males 'uncle'.

(Hence, since we started on this series, 'Good Fren' now officially goes by the endearing term 'ajussi' or 'apagee', i.e. Father in Korean.)


Bits and pieces of Here Comes Ajumma resemble those of Cruel Temptations. Or I should say... some parts of Cruel Temptations resemble those of Here Comes Ajumma because the latter is an earlier production. But Here Comes Ajumma is less dramatic and more believeable.

**~** SPOILER AHEAD **~**

Poor Thing Female Lead
This Ajumma is much much more likeable than the Cruel Temptations' blurfuck and sweetie pie Ajumma. Though she is relatively uneducated, she tries very hard for her family, but not in a dumb or shiok-sendiri way.

Philandering Husband
Ajumma's husband leaves her (i) for a pretty and sophisticated old flame, (ii) with a load of debts, and (iii) with his irritating mother. Ajumma signs up for cooking competition on TV to attempt to win the prize money, in hope to settle debts.

Mistress
Husband's mistress is the host of the cooking competition. Similar to the mistress in Cruel Temptations, she is a smart and scheming individual with an abnormal childhood. The difference is that her love for the guy is questionable.

Rich Family, Poor Family
Heir of TV Station falls in love with Ajumma. All set against the backdrop of 2 families, extremely rich and powerful vs extremely poor and helpless. Rich dads in both series are equally uptight, bound by social pressures such as 'face', and tend to faint/heart gives way when things go very wrong in the family/business. Cute grandchildren in all families.

Evil Mother-in-Law
As for the perennial 'evil' mother-in-law... both are totally irritating... with this mother-in-law being absolutely useless, whiny and not good-looking. I am unable to find any bit of myself sympathising with this mother-in-law, while I did feel bad for the Cruel Temptations' mother-in-law at some point. I guess the scriptwriters improved the formula right for the 'evil' yet human mother-in-law over time.

Stomach Cancer and Suicide by the Sea

Enuff said.

So, if you like Cruel Temptations, chances are, you will like Here Comes Ajumma more. Go get the VCD boxset from Poh Kim. Only SGD20. Audio in Mandarin/Korean. Subtitles in Chinese only. Please watch it in Korean. Dubbing takes away the flavour by too much.

Oh yes... Prepare a box of tissue papers. This drama-comedy makes you cry no less than a full-fledged drama.