Dear.M

Dear.M
Promotional poster
Hangul
디어엠
Revised RomanizationDi-eo-em
McCune–ReischauerTiŏem
GenreRomance
Created byKBS Drama Division
Written byLee Seul
Directed by
  • Park Jin-woo
  • Seo Joo-wan
Starring
ComposerJo Yoon-jung
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producerKim Sang-hui
Producers
  • Park Tae-won
  • Jung Hae-ryong
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time60 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkKBS2
ReleaseJune 29 (2022-06-29) –
July 6, 2022 (2022-07-06)
Related
Love Playlist

Dear.M (Korean: 디어엠) is a 2022 South Korean television series starring Park Hye-su, Jeong Jae-hyun, Roh Jeong-eui, Bae Hyun-sung, Woo Da-vi and Lee Jin-hyuk. It is the spin-off of the webseries Love Playlist. Directed by Park Jin-woo and Seo Joo-wan, and written by Lee Seul, the series follows the university life of four students at Seoyeon University as they search for "M" — the writer of a community article.[1][2]

The airing of the first episode was postponed from its originally scheduled premiere date of February 26, 2021, on KBS2, in light of emerging school time bullying allegations against the lead actress, Park Hye-su.[3] The series was originally part of a restructured 'Golden Friday' line-up on the KBS2 channel and was planned to air every Friday at 23:10 (KST).[4][5]

It was released instead on OTT platforms U-Next in Japan, and on Viki in selected regions from June 29 to July 6, 2022.[6][7] The next six episodes were released on July 6, 2022.

Synopsis

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Things are turned upside down when an anonymous confession is published on Seoyeon University's student forum. Four students – Ma Joo-ah (Park Hye-su), Cha Min-ho (Jeong Jae-hyun), Seo Ji-min (Roh Jeong-eui), and Park Ha-neul (Bae Hyun-sung) – from different departments come together in search for "M", the writer of the mysterious confession. They go through university-life, changing friendships, and realistic budding romances in the course of their search.

Cast

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Main

[edit]

Women's Dormitory Room 103

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Ma Joo-ah (21) is a 2nd year student in the Department of Business Administration (Enrolled in 2019). Her dream is to find her first love. She is full of energy, and an only daughter raised by a single mother. Cheerful and warm-hearted, she has been best friends with Cha Min-ho for twelve years. Her nickname Akma-Joo-ah (Devil-Joo-ah) was given to her by Min-ho, since she keeps making fun of his past relationships. Due to her inquisitive nature she is always meddling in her friends' business, but she is also generous and willing to help anyone that needs it. Joo-ah entered Seoyeon University through a support program that assists single-parent families, and is uncomfortable when asked about her admission process. Although it has been one year since she entered Seoyeon University, she is still unsure with what she wants to do in the future. While others say they study hard because they have dreams, she studies hard because she doesn't have dreams. She has been single her entire life, but things start to change on the first day of the second semester of her second year, when her heart flutters because of a guy. Her roommates are Seo Ji-min and Hwang Bo-young.
Seo Ji-min (22) is a 2nd year student in the Department of Economics (Enrolled in 2019). Her dream is to become the leader of the cheer squad. She boasts bright floral beauty as the Centre of the Seoyeon University cheer squad, and is one half of Seoyeon University's official 'Magnet Couple' along with Park Ha-neul. Behind her innocent appearance, there is a reversal that causes girl crush. Ji-min is very adept in social situations, and knows how to stand up boldly to seniors in the face of injustice. Couple rings, couple trips, couple photos—everything is a hot topic when it comes to the pair. She is older than most of her peers as she repeated a year. Since many students in her grade either took a leave of absence or had to fulfil their enlistment duties, she is not close to many people except Ha-neul. However, later she reunites with Choi Ro-sa, whom she went to high school with, and they quickly become close.
  • Woo Da-vi as Hwangbo Young
Hwangbo Young (24) is a 1st year student in the Department of Business Administration (Enrolled in 2020). Her dream is to be able to eat all she wants. Unlike her young and cute-looking appearance, she is a very chic 24-year-old college student. She is deeply empathetic and is good at detecting subtle emotions. Although she has yet to obtain her Bachelor's degree, she is said to possess a Master of Dating. Young is relentless in relationships and will not hesitate to separate from someone who does not align with her relationship views. In Dorm 103, she often provides love advice to Ji-min, who is in the midst of a passionate relationship, and Joo-ah, who is experiencing her first crush. She graduated from a prestigious vocational high school, and was employed immediately in a public corporation in the financial sector. However, after suffering discrimination from college graduates in various ways, she studies hard again and enters the Department of Business Administration. She has Type 1 Diabetes, and thus has kept an insulin syringe pouch with her every day since elementary school. Because of this, she can't eat all that she wants.

Men's Dormitory Room 203

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Cha Min-ho (21) is a 2nd year student in the Department of Computer Science (Enrolled in 2019). His dream is to become an app developer and to buy his sister a house. He is bold and has good guts, with his specialty being teasing Ma Joo-ah with whom he has been best friends with for 12 years. Whilst he has a sloppy appearance, when he's hooked on something he tends to become serious. He is the sexiest when coding in front of a computer, and he knows that as well. Min-ho has a talent for developing apps with his innovative ideas. After developing an anti-bullying app in high school, he entered Seoyeon University through special admission. He has been gaining popularity after creating an app called "밥팅 (BOBting)" that matches up people who eat alone at school, leading to potential relationships. By developing such an app, he seems to be in touch with human psychology, but Ma Joo-ah calls him "Min-hogu (Min-pushover)" because he has never been in a relationship longer than a month. His roommates are Park Ha-neul and Gil Mok-jin in Dorm 203. After their parents passed away 12 years ago, his sister Cha Min-ju gave up college to raise him, so he feels indebted to her. She never pressured him, but he wanted to take responsibility for her sacrifice and enter a prestigious university, thus never missing a scholarship. He works a part-time job because he no longer wants to burden his sister, and because he is desperate to raise funds for her upcoming wedding.
Park Ha-neul (22) is a 3rd year student in the Department of Computer Science (Enrolled in 2018). His dream is to become a game developer. He is an honorary public relations ambassador, and the other half of Seoyeon University's official 'Magnet Couple' along with Seo Ji-min. He is blunt and straight-forward, but a sweet boyfriend who enjoys taking photos of his girlfriend of 9 months. Since beginning their relationship, many things have happened. With the recent death of his father last winter, he comes to realize that in his first two years of university, he did not have clear goals and was just going through life messily. So, in the second semester of his third year, he boldly transfers to the Department of Computer Science to pursue his dream of becoming a game developer. Many people around him are against it, but since he has the support of Ji-min, he feels that everything will turn out well. However, he doesn't realize his new major would be so difficult.
Gil Mok-jin (23) is a 2nd year student in the Department of Psychology (Enrolled in 2017). His dream is to no longer be single. He is considered a mood-maker with an outgoing and boisterous personality. In contrast to this, he is also strict when it comes to tidiness and loves to spend time shopping for cleaning supplies. Mok-jin is an older student who has returned from completing his military service, but his requests are often ignored by the younger occupants of Dorm 203. He cannot stand the smell of food so he and his roommates often eat outside. Whilst his major is Psychology, he tends to not understand the psychology of those around him and particularly fails at understanding women. Mok-jin is desperate for a partner, and is the most frequent user of Min-ho's "밥팅 (BOBting)" app. In his spare time he is seen posting on the student forum, taking all kinds of psychological tests, studying tarot cards and palmistry so that he can use it on his blind dates.

Supporting

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Seoyeon University

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Moon Joon (24) is a 3rd year student in the Department of Computer Science (Enrolled in 2016). He is the son of Moon Taek-gun, CEO of Levan Soft. Joon is considered a role model by Min-ho and many other juniors because of his gentle manners and leadership skills. He is also an older student who has returned from completing his military service. He lives in a single premium one-person room with rent that is more expensive than at the dorms. Also, he lies to his father about making an mobile app, using Cha min-ho as his cover.
Choi Ro-sa (22) is a 2nd year student in the Department of Computer Science (Enrolled in 2018). She is Vice President of the cheer squad, and a bright and straightforward student who went to the same high school as Seo Ji-min. After finishing her first year, Ro-sa goes on exchange for a year and a half. Upon returning, she is worried about having no friends, but coincidentally reunites with Ji-min, whom she had lost contact with, and they get along just like old times. Ro-sa, however, becomes filled with jealousy towards Ji-min as she slowly develops a crush on Ji-min's boyfriend Ha-neul.
Min Yang-hee (20) is a 1st year student in the Department of Computer Science (Enrolled in 2020). Her nickname is Goddess of Engineering. Her father is a pilot, so she grew up in wealth and always wears luxury brands. She can be oblivious, but her charms make her impossible to hate.
Ban Yi-dam (21) is a 1st year student in the Department of Psychology (Enrolled in 2020). He takes photography classes and has a free-spirited, unconventional personality.
Choi Tae-jin (25) is a 4th year student in the Department of Computer Science (Enrolled in 2015).
  • Jun Sung-hwan as Tak Moo-young[10]
Tak Moo-young (21) is a 2nd year student in the Department of Business Administration (Enrolled in 2019).
  • Choi Hee-seung as Kim Min-woo
Kim Min-woo (24) is a student in the Department of Business Administration (Enrolled in 2016) who is on a leave of absence.

Family members

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Cha Min-ju (31) is a bank employee and Cha Min-ho's sister. Ever since their parents died in a car accident when she was 19 years old, she has been raising Min-ho herself. She is the only one that Min-ho (who is considered smart and good at arguing) cannot win against. She is a good talker and has a good sense of humour. She is dating someone from work and is about to get married.
Kim Mi-young (48) has run Elephant Snacks for twelve years and is Ma Joo-ah's mother. She is kind and always willing lend a hand to those in need. When she was young, she broke up with her alcoholic husband and raised Joo-ah alone. As it has always been just the two of them, they are very close.
Moon Taek-gun (53) is the CEO of Levan Soft and Moon Jun's father. He is a first generation IT mogul, and unlike his innovative company culture, he is quite harsh when it comes to academics.
  • Song Kyung-hwa as Kim Jeong-im
Kim Jeong-im (49) is a professor and Park Ha-neul's mother. Her husband passed away last winter so she is now alone. She is a person who is strong and warm enough to be Ha-neul's 'first love'.
  • Lee Jae-baek as Seo Ji-hoon
Seo Ji-hoon (19) is a senior high-school student and Seo Ji-min's brother. He and Ji-min seem to bear no similarities.

Others

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  • Seo Hee-sun as Yoon Ho-jung[11]
  • Joyfle as Gru[12]

Production

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Development

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In late June 2020, it was reported that Love Playlist would be rebooted under the working title Dear.M: Love Playlist 2021 with new cast members, except for Bae Hyun-sung and Kim Sae-ron.[13]

Casting

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In September 2020, Park Hye-su[14] Kim Sae-ron, Jeong Jae-hyun and Bae Hyun-sung were cast in lead roles, with Kim and Bae reprising their roles from the web series Love Playlist.[15] The series marks Jeong Jae-hyun's acting debut.[16] On October 12, 2020, Kim Sae-ron left the series due to a row over the cast billing order.[17] On October 14, the production company cited a "difference of opinion" as the reason for Kim leaving the cast. Roh Jeong-eui replaced Kim.[18]

Filming

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The series is entirely pre-produced with filming scheduled to be completed in early February for the production team to focus on post-production and music editing.

Release

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The release of Dear.M was indefinitely postponed due to a controversy involving school violence allegations against Park Hye-su. In response to a petition on the KBS Viewer's Rights Centre requesting the removal of the actress from Dear.M, KBS Chief Producer (Jo Hyun-ah) stated, "As the truth is being challenged on the relevant matter and a police investigation is underway, KBS has implemented postponement of the drama, and we are monitoring the situation until the facts are revealed. Depending on the result [of the investigation], we will implement measures for all matters including the organisation and re-shooting of Dear.M."[19] KBS stated that television series Imitation originally scheduled for May 21, 2021, will be aired on May 7, 2021.[20]

In April 2021, it was announced that for the time being, the series will be broadcast tentatively in August 2021.[21][unreliable source?] On January 11, 2022, it was announced that presently the series has been put on hold till the police investigation results come out.[22]

In March 2022, it was announced that Dear.M would be aired first in Japan in the second half of 2022.[6] KBS further confirmed that they were negotiating with other countries regarding the series' copyright license. In May 2022, the Japanese streaming platform, U-NEXT announced in a press release that they would be exclusively distributing Dear.M starting in late June 2022.[7] In June 2022, Viki restored Dear.M in their catalogue and re-released teasers.[23]

On June 29, 2022, the first six episodes of Dear.M were digitally released on Viki and U-Next. Its next six episodes were released on July 6, 2022.[24]

Controversy

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On February 24, KBS canceled the broadcast program as actor Park Hye-soo, who plays Majua, was embroiled in controversy over school violence. The schedule for the reorganization is undecided, and the schedule for the reorganization is unclear as it is impossible to change roles due to the nature of the pre-produced drama that has already been filmed. Unless the allegations are clearly resolved, it seems difficult to air on terrestrial television.[25][26]

Original soundtrack

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Album

[edit]
Dear. M
Soundtrack album by
Various
ReleasedJuly 14, 2022
GenreSoundtrack
Language
Label
Released on July 14, 2022 (2022-07-14)[27][28]
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Freshman Welcome (Symphony for Dear.M)"Jo Yoon-jung2:32
2."Notification Setting_01"Jo Yoon-jung, Chae Yoon2:06
3."Waltz for Cats_Piano"Jo Yoon-jung2:19
4."Breakfast at Kissroad"Anz1:51
5."The First Kiss"Jo Yoon-jung2:41
6."One Side Love"EZEE1 / EZEE22:41
7."Shooting Stars"Jo Yoon-jung2:41
8."Sign-up for Classes"Jo Yoon-jung, Lee Jonghan2:32
9."Waltz for Cats_Orchestra"Anz1:28
10."Notification Setting_02"Jo Yoon-jung, Kim Ji-ae1:22
11."Elephant Diner"EZEE1 / EZEE21:20
12."Something in Between"Kim Ji-ae1:50
13."Group Project"Jo Yoon-jung1:52
14."Chicken Mayo"Anz1:05
15."Roommate"EZEE1 / EZEE21:34
16."Notification Setting_03"Jo Yoon-jung, Anz1:43
17."Class on Monday Morning"Jo Yoon-jung2:45

References

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  1. ^ "'디어엠' 노정의 합류 → 박혜수·재현·배현성, 청춘 배우 라인업 완성" [Joining'Dear M'Roh Jung → Park Hye-soo, Jae-Hyun, Bae Hyun-sung, and youth actor lineup completed]. Seoul Economic Daily. October 19, 2020. Archived from the original on March 27, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  2. ^ "KBS 2TV 새 드라마 <디어 엠(Dear. M)> 재미 화력을 배가시킬 청춘 라인업 완성!" [KBS 2TV's new drama <Dear.M> Completed the youth lineup to double the fun and firepower!]. Korean Broadcasting System (in Korean). October 20, 2020. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  3. ^ Lee Kyung-ho. "KBS, 박혜수 '학폭 의혹'에 결국 '디어엠' 첫방송 연기 결정" [KBS decides to postpone the first broadcast of'DOM' after Park Hye-soo's'abusive suspicion']. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on May 31, 2022. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  4. ^ Ji Min-kyung (January 13, 2021). "박혜수X재현 '디어엠', 金 편성 확정..2월 26일 첫 방송 [공식]" [Park Hye-soo X Jae-hyun'Dear M', gold schedule confirmed.. First broadcast on February 26 (Official)]. Chosun. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  5. ^ Yim, Seung-hye (January 13, 2021). "KBS announces Feb. 26 as premiere date of new drama 'Dear. M.'". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on July 2, 2023. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Hwang So-young (March 24, 2022). "[단독] 편성보류 '디어엠', 올 하반기 일본부터 선공개" [[Exclusive] Pre-release of 'Dear M', scheduled to be aired in Japan in the second half of this year]. JTBC (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "NCT ジェヒョン&パク・ヘス主演！韓国ドラマ『Dear.M』が世界に先駆けて、U-NEXTにて独占配信決定！ティザーPVを初公開 | U-NEXT コーポレート" [Starring NCT Jaehyun & Park Hae Soo! The Korean drama "Dear.M" will be exclusively distributed on U-NEXT ahead of the rest of the world! First public release of teaser PV]. U-NEXT corporate (in Japanese). May 23, 2022. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  8. ^ Lee Kyung-ho. "[단독]CLC 권은빈, KBS '디어엠' 출연..'NCT 재현♥' 공대생役" [[Exclusive] CLC Kwon Eun-bin, KBS'Dear M'appearance..'NCT Jaehyun ♥'engineering student]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  9. ^ Ahn, Jung-eun (November 27, 2020). "한도우, '디어 엠(Dear.M)' 캐스팅···진상·밉상 2콤보 빌런 활약 예고". Seoul Gyeongje (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 30, 2021. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  10. ^ Kang Da-yoon (February 18, 2021). "전성환, '디어엠' 출연 확정...박혜수·재현과 호흡" [Seonghwan Jeon confirmed to appear in'Dear M'... breathing with Park Hye-soo and Jae-hyun]. Xsports News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  11. ^ Kim Ye-rang (January 14, 2021). "신예 서희선, '디어엠' 출연 확정 "설렘 반 걱정 반" [Rookie Seo Hee-seon confirmed to appear in'Dear M'"Half excitement and half worry"]. The Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  12. ^ Lee Jin-ju (January 22, 2021). "[bnt화보] '디어엠' 조이플 "신인배우 대거 출연, NG 발생에도 촬영장 화기애애"" [[bnt pictorial] 'Dear M' Joyple "A large number of rookie actors appear on the set, even with NG, Hwakiae-ae"]. International bnt news. Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  13. ^ Kim, Yang-soo (June 29, 2020). "[단독]배현성X김새론, '디어엠-연플리2021'로 뭉친다..."내년 KBS 편성 논의"" [[Exclusive] Bae Hyun-sung x Kim Sae-ron To Reunite in Dear M: Love Playlist 2021... "Next Year's Broadcast on KBS Under Discussion"]. JoyNews24 (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  14. ^ Ahn, Jin-yong (September 3, 2020). "박혜수, KBS2 '디어엠' 주인공 발탁...내년 상반기 방송" [Park Hye-soo, KBS2'Dear M'selected as the main character... Broadcast in the first half of next year]. Munhwa Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  15. ^ Yang, Jin-young (September 3, 2020). "박혜수·NCT 재현·김새론·배현성, 청춘 로맨스 '디어엠' 출연" [Park Hye-su, NCT Jae-hyun, Kim Sae-ron, and Bae Hyun-sung appear in youth romance'Dear M']. NewsPim (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  16. ^ "Dear.M (Drama – 2021)". HanCinema. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  17. ^ Lee, Hyun-joo (October 12, 2020). "김새론, 드라마 '디어엠' 하차...노정의 물망" [Saeron Kim, get off at the drama'Dear M'... Roadway]. Newsis (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  18. ^ "노정의·이진혁·우다비 합류, '디어 엠' 화력 더할 청춘 라인업 완성" [Joining Jeong-eui Roh, Jin-hyuk Lee and Dabi U, completed the youth lineup to add firepower to 'Dear M]. Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). October 19, 2020. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  19. ^ "KBS "'디어엠' 박혜수 하차, 사실 여부 밝혀지면 조치" [전문]" [KBS "'Dear M' Park Hye-soo to leave, action will be taken if the truth is revealed" [Full text]]. iMBC (in Korean). Naver. March 17, 2021. Archived from the original on March 17, 2021. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  20. ^ Lee Hoyeon (March 15, 2021). "KBS 측 "'이미테이션' 5월 7일 첫방 확정, '디어엠' 편성은 아직 논의 중" [공식]" [KBS's "'Imitation' confirmed for the first room on May 7th,'Dear M' is still being discussed." [Official]]. Hankook Ilbo (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on March 15, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  21. ^ ""Dear. M" Representatives Tentatively Announce August Broadcast". Koreaboo. April 15, 2021. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  22. ^ Lee Kyung-ho (January 11, 2022). "[단독]'디어엠', '박혜수 학폭 의혹 논란'에 2022년에도 편성 보류[★NEWSing]" [[Exclusive] 'Dear M', 'Park Hye-soo Suspicion of School Abuse' Suspension in 2022 [NEWSing]]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  23. ^ Dear M | Korea | Drama | Watch with English Subtitles & More ✔️, archived from the original on June 8, 2022, retrieved June 9, 2022
  24. ^ Jimin-kyung (July 6, 2022). "'디어엠' 日서 선공개→차트 top10 진입..현지 뜨거운 반응" ['Dear M' pre-released in Japan → Entered the top 10 charts.. Local reaction]. Osen (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  25. ^ 뉴스1 (March 10, 2021). "'디어엠' 빈자리에 '이미테이션'? KBS 측 "확정된 바 없어"". 뉴스1 (in Korean). Retrieved June 10, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ 기자, 이선명 (March 17, 2021). "[공식] 박혜수 학폭 논란 '디어엠', KBS "재촬영도 가능"". sports.khan.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  27. ^ "디어엠 (Dear.M)" [Dear.M OST]. Melon. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  28. ^ "Dear.M (Original Television Soundtrack)". YouTube. Archived from the original on July 24, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
[edit]
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