Sad Love Story

Sad Love Story (Korean: 슬픈연가; RR: Seulpeunyeonga; lit. 'Sad Sonata') is a 2005 South Korean television drama series starring Kwon Sang-woo, Kim Hee-sun and Yeon Jung-hoon.^[1][2] It aired on MBC from January 5 to March 17, 2005, on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 20 episodes.

Sad Love Story
Promotional poster for Sad Love Story
Also known as	Sad Love Song Sad Sonata
Genre	Romance Melodrama
Developed by	Kim Sa-hyun (Planning)
Written by	Lee Sung-eun
Directed by	Yoo Chul-yong
Starring	Kwon Sang-woo Kim Hee-sun Yeon Jung-hoon
Music by	Choi Seung-kwon Lee Seon-kyung Lee Jeong-mi Yoon-Geun (ko)
Original languages	Korean English (some episodes)
No. of episodes	20
Production
Production locations	South Korea United States
Running time	60 minutes
Production company	Kim Jong-hak Production
Budget	₩7 billion
Original release
Network	MBC TV
Release	January 5 (2005-01-05) – March 17, 2005 (2005-03-17)

Plot

From the moment they meet, Jon-young (Kwon Sang-woo) and the blind Hye-in (Kim Hee-sun) share an instant connection. Young and naïve, they believe that nothing can change their love. Life, however, pulls them in opposite directions. Jon-young is sent to Seoul, while Hye-in immigrates to America. Misleadingly informed that Jon-young is dead, Hye-in struggles to begin a new life alone. Years later, Hye-in returns to Seoul. With her eyesight restored, she is now a singer happily engaged to her producer Gun-woo (Yeon Jung-hoon). Everything changes though when Gun-woo's composer friend turns out to be none other than Jon-young. He instantly recognizes her, but Hye-in has never seen Jun-young before. When love is no longer simple and blind, can Hye-in and Jun-young still find their way back to each other? This series is a series of love, death and suspense.

Cast

Choi/Seo family

• Kwon Sang-woo as Seo Joon-young / Choi Joon-kyu
  • Yoo Seung-ho as young Joon-young
• Yoo Seung-ho as Joon-young's son
• Na Young-hee as Seo Hyang-ja, his mother
• Lee Young-ha as Choi Joon-il, his father

Park family

• Kim Hee-sun as Park Hye-in
  • Kim So-eun as young Park Hye-in
• Jin Hee-kyung as Audrey / Lee Mi-sook, her aunt

Lee family

• Yeon Jung-hoon as Lee Gun-woo
• Jo Kyung-hwan as Lee Kang-in, his father
• Lee Yeon-soo as Lee Soo-ji, his handicapped, older sister
• Lee Jong-won as Oh Sang-jin, Soo-ji's husband

Cha family

• Kim Yeon-joo as Cha Hwa-jung
  • Go Ah-sung as young Hwa-jung
• Lee Mi-young as Hwang Min-kyung, her mother
• Kang Nam-gil as Cha Chang-man, her father, a taxi driver

Extended cast

• Jung Woo as Lee Min-ho, a small-time gangster who likes Hwa-jung
• MC Mong as Jang Jin-pyo, Joon-young and Gun-woo's friend
• Lee Hyun-woo as Jang-ho, guitar player
• Lee Da-hee as Kang Shin-hee, Gun-woo's NYC friend
• Choi Ran as Sook-ja
• Hong Seok-cheon as Charlie
• Yang Geum-seok as Gun-woo's deceased mother
• Baek Bong-ki as Yong-chul
• Kim Hee-jung as Choi Joon-il's girlfriend
• Ha Seok-jin as Ha Seok-jin
• Kim Sung-oh

Production

The series originally cast actor Song Seung-heon to play the character Gun-woo. Song had already filmed several scenes overseas and recorded songs for the soundtrack, when a draft-dodging scandal involving him broke out, causing him to enlist in the military service. On short notice, Yeon Jung-hoon was selected as his replacement.^[2]

Partly shot overseas with a budget of ₩7 billion, it was one of the most expensive Korean dramas of the mid-2000s. It received average 16.3% ratings in South Korea. It attracted much attention when it was broadcast in Japan and Middle East.^[3][4]

International broadcast

The series aired in Japan on Fuji TV in August 2005 every Saturday at 4:00 p.m. where it received ratings around 10%.^[5][6] According to a poll conducted by TV Asahi variety show SMAP Station in May 2007, Sad Love Story ranked as the sixth most popular Korean drama in Japan.^[7]

The series aired in Indonesia on Indosiar in September 2006 every Saturday at 7:30 p.m. where it received ratings around 10%. Korean Dramas now go on air in According to a poll conducted by antv variety show SMAP Edition in June 2007, Sad Love Story ranked as the sixth most popular Korean drama in Indonesia.