I see myself immersing in Korean culture this year.  I have shortlisted the three things that I am looking forward to in 2018.

Learning a new language.  Understanding Korean language has become a need as my interest for Korean dramas and K-pop music grew. Writing and reading Hangeul, or the Korean alphabet, is the easiest part of the lesson. Grammar, sentence structure, and honorifics are the challenges.

There are free lessons available online.  However, having a fixed schedule and attending classes can help you learn the language faster.  Korean Cultural Center (KCC) offers language lessons for cheap. Basic Korean is at P2,500 for the full term. It includes Active Korean 1 text and workbook. The books alone cost $25 in Amazon.

KCC teachers also engage the students by using Korean dramas and idols as example.  My teacher Kim So Young used pictures of Choi Minho of SHINee in our lessons because I told her he was my bias.

Each class can only accommodate 25 students.  Slots go fast so you really have to be on your toes to secure one. Online registration will open this Friday, Jan. 12.

SHINee’s future and seeing the members recover from their tragic loss. It’s been 21 days since Jonghyun’s death and the fandom are still mourning.

One of the hottest topics being discussed online is the future of SHINee as a band. Will they or will they not disband? For those unfamiliar with the group, finding someone to replace Jonghyun to be part of the OT4 is out of the question.

The group has a scheduled concert in Japan on February but there is still no announcement as of this writing if it will push through or not. SM Entertainment, SHINee’s management company, has released a statement on the topic asking for more time and understanding as the group and staff are still in mourning and “are still going through a great deal of emotional pain as the current reality is hard to accept.”

Should they choose to go solo, it’s not going to be a stretch for them career-wise. All the members have solo careers outside the group.  They also need to serve their mandatory military service (MS) soon, starting this year with their leader Onew. He will be followed by Key, Minho and Taemin. All four will be done with their MS by 2022-2023.

Whatever the band’s decision, the Shawols will be behind them.

More K-dramas. New year means new dramas to watch out for. We expect the Korean dramaland to continue delivering good stories in 16 episodes or less.

Ongoing series like “I am not a Robot” and “A Korean Odyssey” have a promising start. We also expect the drama of EXO’s leader, Suho, to be out this year. He was announced as the male lead in a Korean remake of the Japanese drama “Rich Man, Poor Woman.” Park Hyung Sik will be part of a remake of the American legal drama series “Suits.”

Some of my favorites who are still in talks for new dramas include Park Seo Joon for “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim” and Lee Sung Kyung for “About Time.”