Winter Sonata (Winter Ballad/Winter Love Story) (Korean Drama)

Synopsis

Upon a closer scrutiny, this Korean TV drama series offers more than a complex love story, intriguing plot twists, good acting, memorable scenes and lines, not to mention, breathtaking winter scenery backed up by melancholic music tunes. Under the crafty direction of Yun Seok Ho, the series presented a mastery of cinematic techniques tugging at one's heartstrings, like the sound and visual effects of a big screen effectively capturing one's imagination. Moreover, it addressed the perennial theme of love in all its complexity in our ever-changing society.

Unlike most tragedies with a sad ending, Winter Sonata reached a bittersweet conclusion even though everyone who had intimate connection with the two main characters paid the heavy price of emotional and mental agony. The story opened with Joon Sang portrayed by Bae Yong Jun in his finest performance and Yu Jin, played by the talented Choi Ji Woo, as two high school students who fell in love for the first time. Unfortunately, their ill-fated love suffered a cruel blow as our hero soon died in a car accident, leaving our heroine heart-broken and dispirited. Ten years later, Yu Jin found herself working on a ski resort project with Min Yeong who looked exactly like Joon Sang. Oddly enough, he was courting Yu Jin's high school rival, Chae Lin, deftly played by Park Sol Mi. Consequently, Yu Jin's uncontrollable attraction to Min Yeong jeopardized her engagement to her childhood admirer, Sang Hyuk, played by Park Yong Ha, who in conspiracy with Chae Lin, tried everything to separate the two destined lovers. When the truth came out that Min Yeong and Joon Sang were the same person and worse still, the suspicion that Joon Sang and Yu Jin were half-brother and sister, everyone involved was thrown into utter confusion, resulting in grief and detrimental pain.

Winter Sonata
The Story **SPOILER ALERT**

The story begins when Jun-sang, yew the son of an eminent musician, moves to Chuncheon, a rural city in South Korea. As an extraordinarily talented student, Jun-sang is welcomed by his fellow students as well as teachers, but remains a quiet, introverted young man. As a result of his mistaken belief that his father is dead and serious conflicts with his mother, Junsang believes that no one truly loves him.

On one fortuitous day on the ride to school, Jun-sang's classmate Yu-jin interrupts him on the bus. Jun-sang soon falls in love with Yu-jin, who opens herself to him with an innocent heart. Their love, however, is cut short after Jun-sang is involved in a serious auto-accident and, due to brain damage, is unable to recall his past life.

Jun-sang's mother, desiring Jun-sang's love and respect, has Jun-sang brainwashed by a Psychologist, so that Jun-sang will not remember his painful memories of growing up as an illegitimate child. As a result, Jun-sang's memories prior to the accident are erased. Jun-sang's mother decides to move to the United States with Jun-sang, where he can start a new life under the identity of Yi Min-hyung. As such, both his friends and teachers are told that Junsang is dead.

Ten years later, Jun-sang is an award-winning architect in the United States. He does not remember anything about his life in Korea. He is completely different, an open-minded person who cares about other people, including his mother. He returns to Korea and Yu-jin sees him on the street, prompting her to put off her engagement to childhood friend Sang-hyuk. Little does she know that Min-hyung is dating her friend and sometime rival Chelin. The story's plot intensifies when Yu-jin begins work at the firm where Min-hyung is employed, and tries to find out if he is her lost lover Jun-sang.

Description
Winter Sonata
  • Type: Comedy, Drama, Romance
  • Starring: Choi Ji-Woo, Bae Yong-jun
Casts

Bae Yong-jun

Date of birth: 29 August 1972

Starred in:

  • April Snow (2005)
  • Untold Scandal (2003)
  • Winter Sonata TV Series (2002)
  • Hotelier TV Series (2001)
  • True to Love TV Series (1999)
  • Youth at Barefoot TV Series (1998)
  • PpilKu (1997)
  • First Love TV Series (1996)
  • Papa TV Series (1996)
  • Place in the Sun TV Series, A (1995)

Choi Ji-Woo

Date of birth: June 11, 1975

Starred in:

  • Yeonriji (2006)
  • Rondo TV Series (2005)
  • 101st Propose TV Series (2005)
  • Everybody Has a Little Secret (2004)
  • Stairway to Heaven TV Series (2003)
  • Piano Playing President (2002)
  • Winter Sonata TV Series (2002)
  • Beautiful Days TV Series (2001)
  • Truth TV Series (2000)
  • Mr. Duke TV Series (2000)
  • Love Story TV Series (1999)
  • Nowhere to Hide (1999)
  • First Kiss (1998)
  • Snare, The (1997)
  • First Love TV Series (1996)
  • Adventure of Mrs. Park, The (1996)