STORYLINE

After 5 long years of waiting for Young-woo to come back, Jae-hee, a Korean diplomat based in Prague, finally gave up on his promise and ended up in Sang-hyun's arms. But because Sang-hyun is still hang-up with Hye-joo, who had an illicit affair with Young-woo's father, he ignores Jae-hee's feelings.

Young-woo tried to win back Jae-hee but it was too late. When Sang-hyun was assigned to handle one of Young-woo's cases and gets to see more of Jae-hee at work, Young-woo's chances of making Jae-hee understand his reasons became impossible. Seeing Jae-hee happier with Sang-hyun makes him in more pain.

Sang-hyun learned to love Jae-hee eventually, but when he found out that she is no ordinary person, he tried to shut her off. Despite his insecurities and pride, Jae-hee fought for their relationship.

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Although she despises Young-woo so much, Jae-hee found forgiveness when she was convinced that her father was the reason for Young-woo's broken promise. He even used his accident to get her sympathy. Feeling responsible for what Young-woo has become, she decided to break up with Sang-hyun and accepted Young-woo's proposal.

Young-woo's and Jae-hee's father have always been political rivals. Mr. Ji promised to give Hye-joo the baby's custody if she'll agree to come in between Sang-hyun and Jae-hee's relationship. He also threatened to ruin Sang-hyun's life to make Jae-hee suffer. Hye-joo was given no choice but to agree to his terms.

A day before the wedding, Jae-hee backed out and went back to Sang-hyun. Young-woo finally accepted reality. He diverted his attention to pursue his investigation against his father's illegal involvement. Hye-joo cooperated to put Sang-hyun's father in jail.

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Just based on the first two episodes, you'll know that this series has a lot to offer. From the story to the production, everything is well planned. If asked, aside from Sad Sonata, which drama would I recommend, I'd say this. I even made it one of my favorites.

Lovers in Prague is one of those series that starts with the climax. The story started as if it is already the end. Each episode is full of surprises. Just when you thought you had enough, wait until you see the next episodes. And the way they keep you hanging would only make you want for more.

At first, I thought its going to be a hardcore drama but it also got cute scenes especially when Do-yeon's character chases Joo-hyeok's. It only shows that she could be as versatile as it is called for. She could be all teary eyed in a second and be giddy the next. Eventhough she's all out with her dramatic scenes, what made me cry more is Se-ah's situation. Just seeing her tears would want me to weep with her. Her eyes are full of sufferings and pain that would make you feel her emptiness. Speaking of which, I think Min-joon's character deserve Jae-hee more than Sang-hyun. After all he has gone through, he deserves to live happier with her. Besides, Sang-hyun didn't see Jae-hee's love instantly, unlike Young-woo. But, I guess, they have to show his tough-guy personality first before giving in to love. When he proposed, it is so romantic. Atleast, it gave Joo-hyeok a chance to show that he could portray soft too.

The ending part gives you a breather. Everything turned out the way I hoped it would. It didn't leave you hanging or wondering. They even gave the the supporting casts enough air time to give them credits for the success of the series.

Although the OST is moving and would really get stuck in you head, playing it almost in every episode is a little bit overboard. It's nice to know how the main characters are reacting to the situation but if the only thing you'll see is crying or staring at a picture, taking these scenes out wont hurt the story a bit. It is kind of unnecessary. Maybe once or twice is more than enough.

There is one thing that bothers me. How could a public servant not recognize the daughter of a president? Even a commoner could identify somebody in high places, right?

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ARTICLES

'Lovers' Boosts Tourism to Prague
CHOSUN ILBO [ 10.16.2005 ]

The soaring popularity of SBS-TV drama "Lovers in Prague" is boosting tourist traffic to the capital of the Czech Republic. Korean Air said Sunday the number of passengers on Incheon-Prague flights rose 41.1 percent on-year during the period from Sept. 24, when the drama first aired, to Oct. 12, standing at 2,015. Flights were 87 percent full, 20 percentage points more than last year. A boarding rate near 90 percent is rare on Europe flights during low season, the company said. From Sept. 1 to 23, before the show started, flights were 78 percent full. Korean Air attributes the rise to travel packages linked to the TV drama. The Incheon-Prague flight is expected to remain a "golden" route for the time being, the company said.

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OST

01. Gi Juk Gat Eun Nuh (Miracle Like You) - Kim Shi Jin [ lyrics ]
02. Ee Bun Man Keum Eun (Only This Time) - Lim Jae Bum [ lyrics ]
03. Ah Peum Ee Sa Ra Jin Hoo (After the Ache Goes) - T (Yoon Mi Rae) [ lyrics ]
04. Dan Ha Na Eh Sarang (The Only Love) - Yoo Hae Joon [ lyrics ]
05. Praha Eh Yun In (Lovers in Prague) - Kim Shi Jin [ lyrics ]
06. Hae Ba Ra Gi - Jo Kyu Man [ lyrics ]
07. Seul Peun Guh Jit Mal - Kim Shi Jin [ lyrics ]
08. Geu Dae Mi So - Park Hak Ki [ lyrics ]
09. Once - Paran [ lyrics ]
10. Nuh Reul... - Yun Woo [ lyrics ]
11. Geu Dae Gyut Eh It Seum Eul - Kim Dong Wook [ lyrics ]
12. Prague Reminiscence - Lim Jae Bum

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DIALOGUES AND QUOTES warning: may contain spoilers

JAE-HEE: You know what love and marathons have in common? Your heart feels as if it'll explode. You feel lonely sometimes. Some people could die without ever experiencing it. You can't start it if you don't have the courage. You come to love yourself. If you don't focus, you'll lose.
SANG-HYUN: You missed the most important one. You could get hurt.

[ YOUNG-WOO ON JAE-HEE ]
To me, right or left is always in Yoon Jae-hee's direction. I mean, East or West, it's all Yoon Jae-hee to me.

[ YOUNG-WOO TO JAE-HEE ]
Do you know how far the distance is between a couple when they sleep with their backs to each other? Once around the earth. If you want to see the other person's face again, you have to go around the earth. If you turn your back, that's how far it becomes.

[ HYE-JOO TO SANG-HYUN ]
You can't buy money with love. But I thought, you can buy love with money. If I'm destined to fall, I wanted to fall from a high place. But, I didn't expect to fall this quickly. The reason I'm telling you this is, because I want you to stop worrying about me. I no longer have any rights to make you worry.

HYE-JOO: Do you know what his favorite song is? Do you know his favorite food? His favorite season, his favorite number. If you know those things, does that mean you love him?
JAE-HEE: Do you have to know those things, in order to love someone? I don't think so. You know those things, and yet, you have turned your back on him. You don't even ask him if he wants to see you again. His favorite song, food, or season can change when he loves someone else.

[ SANG-HYUN TO YOUNG-WOO ]
It is true that the relationship between policeman and prosecutor doesn't have to be hostile. But for me, it was also from a personal reason. So for someone like me, do you know why I have talked up to Presecutor Ji? It was out of respect. It was out of respect for the love Yoon Jae-hee once had. I will stop that respect, because I have done that long enough as well. My heart is no longer listening to me. However much I try to hold myself in, no matter how much I threaten myself, and flog myself, my heart says it belongs to Yoon Jae-hee. (to jae-hee) You told me once that you will make me believe in love again. Then, make me believe. I will believe, not a mutt, but in Yoon Jae-hee, so make me believe. From now on, Yoon Jae-hee belongs to Jong-roe district Detective Choi Sang-hyun

[ YOUNG-WOO TO JAE-HEE ]
You said I'm like a rainbow you sometimes see? You want me to give you a smile when I see you? If I'm a rainbow you sometimes see, then what's Sang-hyun? The sky you see everyday? The ground you walk on everyday? The air you breathe everyday? The wind that blows everyday? Why couldn't I be one of those?

[ SANG-HYUN TO YOUNG-WOO ]
Did you know that love, like a camera flash, could instantaneously explode so you get temporary blindness whether you were ready or not. Right now, I am totally blind because I looked squarely at the flash exploding. Try to take her away with your last breath, because I'm going to protect her with my last breath.

JAE-HEE: I've loved you from the beginning. Why is it so important whose daughter I am? I am just a woman whom you playfully refer to as a parachute. A woman who wanders around men's restroom, a woman who eats certain meal twice, and a woman who runs from the Blue House to the riverside because she wanted to jog with you. Before I was a daughter of the President, I was a woman in love with a man. Don't do this. Don't look away from me. Not when you were just beginning to see me as a woman. Is it because you've never loved me? I said, have you ever loved me?
SANG-HYUN: Yes, I did. That's why I don't like it because people are going to wonder if I love Yoon Jae-hee or the President's daughter. In the beginning, I'm sure it's Yoon Jae-hee. But as time passes, even I am going to ask myself, is it Yoon Jae-hee or the President's daughter I love? I am proud of myself as a Jong-ro detective. But when I see Yoon Jae-hee, I feel embarrassed of who I am. I should have studied more. I should have saved more money. How am I going to get promoted? How come my father only knew about flowers? Pretty soon, I'll look at my whole life as one big embarrassment. Therefore, let's just say good-bye.

[ JAE-HEE TO SANG-HYUN ]
My mother once told me. Toil for what you believe in and be brave when facing love. I am more than brave, but it seems I have met a coward. Choi Sang-hyun is right, I am too much for you. To a coward, I am excessively elevated. Fine. Let's stop. To Choi Sang-hyun, I just may be too much. But, let me set the record straight. The reason why I am agreeing with you is not because I am the President's daughter but because Choi Sang-hyun doesn't deserve me. I have never loved anyone who is not brave when faced with love.

[ SANG-HYUN ON JAE-HEE ]
Your daughter is much braver than this policeman. I now desire to be a man worthy of her. Therefore, I have no time to be cowardly. Since I have met your daughter, I have built a nation in my heart. I mean no disrespect to you, President, but the president of that country is Yoon Jae-hee.

[ SANG-HYUN TO JAE-HEE ]
You probably don't realize this yet, but I'm actually very narrow-minded. When I thought about how your mind would be filled with him, I began to feel very jealous. But it's okay to waver. Don't hold back. Waver. It's okay for you to waver until Prosecutor Ji is well again. Regardless of where you stop, regardless of whom you ultimately select, that would be Yoon Jae-hee's true love. The reason I can say this is because I now believe in love. Because I believe in Yoon Jae-hee and not some mutt.

SANG-HYUN: Miluju te. Milu...jute...
JAE-HEE: You said you couldn't learn it. You said it was too hard. Why did you have to learn it?
SANG-HYUN: Don't go. I can't let you go even if it kills me.

[ SANG-HYUN'S NOTE TO JAE-HEE ]
Yoon Jae-hee, you know something? You're the president of my country. But what kind of president forsakes her people? It was a long day trying to find you. I couldn't find you anywhere I went but I saw you everywhere I went. The words only Yoon Jae-hee would understand. Miluju te, words too sad to learn but again, miluju te.

"Even if sky were to fall, even if earth were to collapse, even if I were to travel hundred times around the world, my heart will always be milujute."

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