Moon nights - a summer romance in Seoul

Chapter 7

Episode 1: Welcome, friends!

Having one of the richest histories in the world, South Korea rose to the everlasting hard work and dedication of our people. From the Joseon dynasty to the Korea War, our ancestors never gave up and worked hard every single day.

What does history teach us?
To not repeat the mistakes of humanity.
Which is why it always needs to be remembered.

A war that demanded the death of 5 million people.
A war that brought help from so many countries together like it was never seen before.
A war that we want to thank for the help we recieved in such hard times.

70 years have passed since the end of the war.
We found 8 young adults that will undercover more about the war and the history we all share together.

They all have one thing in common: they are descendants of the war veterans

"Hello, I'm Ayla Duman. I'm 21 years old and an accounting & controlling student. It's nice to meet you," Ayla smiled into the camera. 

"Ayla, where did you get your name from?" assistant Mrs. Lee asked me from behind the camera.

"My great-great-grandfather was one of the soldiers that had found five years old Kim Eunja, Ayla, amid a fight back then. Like the rest of their group, he had grown fond of Ayla and would tell my family about her when he was back home in Turkey. Hoping Ayla will be safe and sound. And happy. He wanted her to be happy and loved. My parents called me Ayla after discovering they were expecting a girl. I'm the first granddaughter in the family in generations. It was fitting, they said."

"How does your name make you feel?"

"It makes me... feel connected to my great-great grandfather? I've never met him, but it's like carrying a part of his life with me daily. Like he's with me every day, he fought in a war in a foreign country, miles away from his own family, without knowing if he could ever go back while protecting innocent families here in South Korea. My name reminds me of his courage and strength when I need it."

"Tell us something about yourself; what makes you special?"

"Since I was a young student, I preferred scientific classes over linguistic ones, which is why I also made it into my accounting degree. And I started learning to play on the piano five years ago to play a thing or two."

"Your boyfriend, Jonghyun, is also on the show. How do you feel about that?"

"Excited? Participating in this show with him by my side makes me feel more confident to do this."

"Nice to meet everyone; I'm 22, Jeong Jonghyun."

"Tell us something about yourself, Jonghyun."

"I'm in this program since my and Taehyun's great-great-grandfather fought in the war, the same regiment alongside Ayla's great-great-grandfather. But more men from our family were soldiers back then as well."

"And who are you today?"

"I've been modeling for a while now."

"What's a special skill of yours?"

"Oh, I always win at just dance. All high scores in the games back home are from me."

"Your girlfriend, Ayla, is also on the show. When we asked her how she felt she was on the show, she said she was excited. How do you feel about the fact that you are both with your girlfriend and your cousin on the show?"

Jonghyun looked up with a tilted head for a couple of seconds, away from the cameras, and hummed before he decided to look back into the camera lenses to answer the question:

"It makes me proud. I can be here with two people I hold dear to my heart."

"Hello, I'm Kim Taehyun. Nice to meet you."

"I'm 23 years old, actually the oldest in this group. I graduated from Harvard Law and am now preparing for the bar exam."

"Are you close to your cousin?"

"Yes, we are the closest in an age in the family, so we get along well."

"Tell us a special skill of you."

"A special skill? I have a photographic memory, which is very useful when you're studying to become a lawyer. It's honorable to be part of this show; thank you for having us."

"Hello, I'm Hwang Naeun; nice to meet you."

"I'm 20 years old and a marketing student in the making. A special skill... I can memorize roads and routes very easily, so I usually don't use maps and public transportation apps. Convenient for saving your battery, right? I am happy to be here."

"Good day, I'm Faras."

"Tell us something about yourself, Faras."

"I'm 23 years old. My parents are from India, but I grew up most of my life in Wellington, New Zealand. I'm studying medicine because I want to become a surgeon."

"Impressive! Do you have special skills?"

"A special skill- I was a real good football player growing up, I swear! I still like to play it when I find the time."

"Hello, I'm Lee Mina; nice to meet you."

"I'm 22 years old and a literature and history student."

"Any special skills you'd like to tell us about, Mina?"

"A special skill? Not to brag, but I can recite any Shakespeare play."

"That sounds cool. Mina, why did you choose to be on the show?

"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them; Twelfth Night, Act 2, Scene 5."

"Heya, I'm Tatho, 21 years old. I'm a psychology student from Kapstadt, South Africa."

"Which career do you want to work in once you finish your degree, Tatho?"

"I want to continue with criminology and start a career as a profiler."

"Very interesting! Do you have a special skill you'd like to show us?"

"I can laugh without making my lips move. Want me to demonstrate?

Swiftly, Tatho pushed a blonde lock away from his eyes before he began to laugh wholeheartedly - without his lips moving an inch, making everyone behind the camera laugh.

"Hello, everyone; I'm Tala. I'm 23 years old.

"Tala, tell us something about yourself."

"I am originally from the Philippines, but I moved to Istanbul to pursue my dancing, contemporary, and ballet career.  This is also why I'm flexible. Ayla even found me napping while I was stretching one time. This show offers us kindly enough to learn more about our past and human kindness, so it is an honor to be here."