STORYLINE

They say that first love never dies. But how far could you hold on to that love if even destiny is against it.

Jun-sang went back to his mom's hometown with one purpose... to find his father. Thinking that Sang-hyuk's father is the person he is looking for, he came in between Yoo-jin and Sang-hyuk's friendship to mess up his life. Despite the chaos he got involved in, he managed to win Yoo-jin's heart. But just when they are barely starting to get romantically involved, Jun-sang had an accident.

Yoo-jin could have survived living the next 10 years of her life with an empty heart but she won't be able to do it without Sang-hyuk beside her. They were happy together until they met Chae-reen's boyfriend, Min-hyung, who looks exactly like Jun-sang. Even though they thought he died years ago, Yoo-jin is still curious to know the truth behind Min-hyung's connection to his first love. Coincidentally, she was given a chance to him more when she was assigned to work with Min-hyung in a ski resort renovation. In spite of their first impressions, they were able to straighten up their differences.

Sang-hyuk became threatened of Min-hyung feeling that Yoo-jin might relive her memories of Jun-sang through him. Just as he thought, Min-hyung and Yoo-jin are starting to have something beyond their professional relationship. He decided to push through with the marriage despite Yoo-jin's objection.

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Jun-sang's memories partially came back when he got himself into an accident. Yoo-jin helped him cope up with the changes. When he finally remembered everything including his search for his father, he decided to settle down with Yoo-jin. But he was made to believe that his father is Yoo-jin's so he broke up with her thinking that they are related.

Jun-sang was diagnosed with hematoma and was advised to have surgery in the United States. Even after he found out that his real father is Mr. Kim, Sang-hyuk's father, he didn't go back to Yoo-jin because of his health condition.

Yoo-jin was about to go to France when Sang-hyuk told her the reason why Jun-sang is leaving. He gave her the liberty to follow him to New York but she decided not to. She wanted to leave everything to fate. After three years, Yoo-jin went back to Korea to pursue her career. While browsing through some designs, she saw a house that looks like one of hers. Out of curiosity, she went to see it and to her surprise, Jun-sang was there. He survived the surgery but got blind.

Jun-sang and Yoo-jin found themselves in each other's arms... for the third time.

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I got hooked just watching the first three episodes. There are no dragging moments that I could remember. Choi Ji-woo's portrayal as a bubbly high school student (which is far off better than her character portrayal after 10 years) was so effective and Park Yong-ha's cute smile could make your heart melt. But after the accident and during their project, everything turned out to be so slow and monotonous especially the part where everybody's connecting Min-hyuk to Jun-sang. Too much "Do I really look like him?" or "Do you remember now?" A lot of flash backs and MTV style takes too (in fairness, I liked the OST especially My Memory). But, good thing, the winter scenes and views slightly added a spice to these dragging moments.

The ending is predictable. Even though there is a big twist at the end, if you just pay attention to the story flow, you'll probably forsee who'll end up with who and how would it turn out. But, technically, since this series marked the beginning of the Korean wave, a lot of people found it interesting and refreshing. It made them miss the signs.

On a personal note, I've seen series which are more tear-jerking than Winter Sonata. But it is not really a bad thing. I liked how they made it emotional and yet, believable. Being carried away makes the drama effective but overdoing it is a different story. Sometimes, when the viewers are too down, they tend to overlook the real deal beyond the emotional rollercoaster.

Overall, Winter Sonata could pass to be one of the best there is if the pacing in the mid part is faster.

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ARTICLES

Koreanfilm.org

What is it about Winter Sonata that touches so many women of all ages throughout Asia? 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.

Although the drama is basically a love story, it tackled many contemporary themes: 1) character duality -- Joon Sang personified the dark side and Ming Yeong, the bright side; 2) identity problems -- Joon Sang searched for the identity of his father and later Min Yeong questioned his own identity; 3) different reactions to the loss of love -- Yu Jin's sad disposition, Joon Sang's escapes to America, San Hyuk's suicide attempt, and Chae Lin's drinking binge; 4) incestuous love remained a taboo in modern age; and 5) fate prevailed no matter what others did to prevent the destined lovers from getting together.

Like all great love stories, true love as written in the stars exists in the one and only couple made for one another. Obviously, Joon Sang and Yu Jin were destined to be together, for they both fell in love with each other, not once but twice and could love no one else.

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OST

01. Chuh Eum Boo Tuh Ji Geum Gga Ji (From the Beginning Til Now) - Ryu [ lyrics ]
02. My Memory - Ryu [ lyrics ]
03. Chuh Eum
04. Geu Dae Man Ee - Ryu [ lyrics ]
05. Chuh Eum Boo Tuh Ji Geum Gga Ji
06. My Memory - Piano & Violin
07. Bo Nael Soo Uhb Neun Sarang - Kim Wan Sun [ lyrics ]
08. Shi Jak
09. Geu Dae Man Ee - Piano & Violin
10. My Memory - Piano
11. It Ji Ma - Ryu [ lyrics ]
12. Gi Uk Sok Eu Ro - Instrumental
13. Yun In - Chinese
14. Je Bi Ggot - Ryu [ lyrics ]
15. Geu Dae Man Ee - Piano
16. Chuh Eum - Piano
17. Je Bi Ggot - Instrumental

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DIALOGUES AND QUOTES warning: may contain spoilers

JUN-SANG: Are you the kind who never makes the same mistake twice or the kind who can't help making the same mistake twice? For example, you decided that you wouldn't see someone again. Would you keep it that way or would you see that person again?
YOO-JIN: l would try to see that person again.
JUN-SANG: Why?
YOO-JIN: You don't have to have a reason for missing someone.

[ SANG-HYUK TO YOO-JIN ]
I sometimes think about that time when you got lost in the mountain villa. What would have happened if l found you first? lf l had found you first, would you have loved me before l loved you? But l don't mind loving you first. I am just happy that l could be one who is always next to you whenever you are sad and need of help. I won't regret.

SANG-HYUK: Yoo-jin, do you remember? You used to jump on top of these bars when we were young. I really wondered what it would be like to be up here. What is it like?
YOO-JIN: Lonely. I think this is like a life. Risky and dangerous.
SANG-HYUK: Give me your hand. When l saw you coming up here, I really wanted to hold your hand. I didn't want to let you walk alone. Hold my hand whenever you need me. Don't ever try to solve the problem on your own.
YOO-JIN: I might ask you for your hand as well. You must hold my hand if I ask for your help, okay?

YOO-JIN: Sang-hyuk knows more about me than anyone else. He's born with a warm heart. We have grown up like a family since we were young. He's full of understanding and responsibility. Why do you laugh?
JUN-SANG: You have too many reasons for loving a person. Give me reasons why you should like me. You can't, can you? You shouldn't be able to explain why you like something, if it's something special. I was only joking. Why do you like Jun-sang so much? Can you give me reasons for that? Think about him if you have to. If I remind you of all the memories, then remember them.
YOO-JIN: I didn't do much with Jun-sang. I don't even have much to remember. We used to fight a lot in school. We went out together and played at the Choonchun lake when we skipped school. We made a snowman on the first day it snowed.

JUN-SANG: You said to me that l never loved a person with all my heart. You are right. I don't know anything about love. But in my point of view, it isn't a real love not to forget about someone who's already dead. That's not love. It's like an attachment or feeling compassion for him! Please face the reality. That person is dead! That person is dead.
YOO-JIN: Stop it! Please, stop it!! Why are you doing this? Why are you doing this to me?
JUN-SANG: Because l love you! Because I love you too much.

[ YOO-JIN TO JUN-SANG ]
Yesterday you said that there are moments when we have to decide. This road or that road. I like you. But l can't let myself do that. If l let myself be with you, I can't get let Sang-hyuk go. If I stay with Sanghyuk, I can't let go of you. I can't take either road. That's my decision. Can you understand? I told Sanghyuk today that I couldn't marry him and I can't go to you either. I'm going to be alone from now on. I don't know if I'll be okay but I'm going to try. Min-hyung, I don't want to be a bad person to either you or Sanghyuk. Can you help me?

[ JUN-SANG TO YOO-JIN ]
You said that Polaris always stays where it is even when other stars move with the season. If other people can't forgive you left you because they don't understand you, I'm staying where I am, right? Can you trust me?

[ JUN-SANG TO YOO-JIN ]
There is one thing I envy about Sang-hyuk. Do you know what it is? It's time. All those times he spent with you. You can't take two steps at once. Aren't you worried about Sang-hyuk? Don't you want to go see him?

[ YOO-JIN ON HER FEELINGS FOR JUN-SANG ]
When I looked at Jun-sang, I felt like something was falling inside me. Like my heart and my soul were toward him. I thought it was what love is, what destiny is. I thought I'd never feel that way again since Jun-sang died but when I met Min-hyung, something fell inside me again. As if he's back. It's not because they look alike. My heart beating disregarding what I was thinking. Just like when I was with Jun-sang. He made me feel that way again. How is that possible? They are certainly different people but my heart felt them as one. It sounds strange but they were like one person to me. I knew you found out.

[ FAREWELL NOTE ]
I can't remember anything. Jun-sang Kang, who you miss so much is me but not me at the same time. Without the memory we shared, Jun-sang is just a meaningless name even if l'm Jun-sang. I'm sorry. I thank you for being part of my forgotten past. With all my heart, let me go.

YOO-JIN: When I think of Sang-hyuk, it hurts and l feel so bad. But mom, he is my destiny. I fell in love with a same person twice. And now he's in comma because of me. If something goes wrong, I'd have killed him twice. Nothing's on my mind but saving his life. I don't care about other thing. I can't think of anything. He doesn't have to love me. He doesn't have to remember anything. He just has to live. Mom, you said it's all going to come back to me? I'm willing to take it.

YOO-JIN: I can't let you lose Jun-sang twice. I'm going to get punished for hurting you like this.
SANG-HYUK: Don't say that. I'm not hurting at all. I'm OK. But it hurts me to see you cry. It's funny. Jun-sang has to try to remember his memories with you and I have to try to erase my memories with you. I don't know if I'll be able to survive. But I'll try. So even if I call you late at night, come visit you. Or ask for your attention. Just ignore me. Don't smile at me warmly or cry in front of me. You can do that, right? You can help me, right?

[ YOO-JIN TO JUN-SANG ]
Do you remember what you told me when you were Lee Min-hyung? You asked me why l just remembered the sad memories despite there being so many beautiful memories. You asked me that. I think you were right. It's so beautiful here. But why are we just trying to go back to the past? Past memories are important but we'll be making so many memories together in the future. Let's not try to remember the past. It's OK for me even if you don't remember. I don't love the Jun-sang in my memory. I love the person standing in front of me now.

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