2000♥Autumn Tale [Series] SYNOPSIS

Autumn in My Heart (가을동화, Ga-eul-dong-hwa) also known as Autumn Fairy Tale and Autumn Tale, is the first installment of the four part Endless Love drama series directed by Yoon Seok-Ho, produced by South Korean TV Network KBS. It was produced in South Korea in 2000.

Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Cast 3 Soundtrack 4 Popularity in the Philippines 5 See also 6 External links

Promotional Poster
Also known as	Autumn Tale 가을동화
Genre	Romance
Format	Drama
Written by	Oh Soo-Yeon
Directed by	Yoon Seok-Ho
Starring	Song Seung Heon Song Hye Kyo Won Bin Choi Woo Hyuk Moon Geun Young
Country of origin	South Korea
Language(s)	Korean
No. of episodes	16
Broadcast
Original channel	KBS
Original run	18 September 2000 – 7 November 2000
Chronology
Followed by	Winter Sonata 2002

Synopsis

The story begins with toddler, Yoon Joon-Seo accidentally causing the switch of his sister and another baby when he drops the name cards on the two babies cribs in the hospital baby room. A nurse who came in put them back incorrectly. The story then continues with the teenage years of the two main characters: Yoon Joon-Seo (Choi Woo Hyuk) and Yoon Eun-Seo (Moon Geun Young). They are the children of a rich professor and believe they are biologically brother and sister until Eun-Seo gets hit by a truck and needs a blood transfusion. At the beginning, Eun-Seo is very popular in school whereas her rival Choi Shin-Ae (Lee Ae Jung), is smart but does not get the attention she craves from the teacher and their classmates. Later, their situations are reversed when the switch is discovered.

After blood tests were carried out by the doctor on Mr. and Mrs. Yoon for Eun-Seo’s transfusion, the Yoons find out that Eun-Seo belongs to Mrs. Choi, and Shin-Ae is the Yoon’s biological daughter. At first, only the parents and brother knew about this, but eventually, Shin-Ae discovered the truth after she got into a fierce argument with her non-biological mother over a teddy bear she received from her biological father. Eun-Seo only discovered the truth after Shin-Ae wants her biological parents to take her in. In the end, the two daughters were returned to their rightful parents. Shin-Ae moves in with the Yoon family, and Eun-Seo goes to live with Mrs. Choi (her biological father is dead) who operates a small restaurant living in abject poverty.

Years went by, and in the duration, the Yoon family went to the United States, where Joon-Seo (Song Seung Heon) returns to South Korea as a successful artist. He went back to the town he lived in, where he encountered his old friend, Han Tae-Seok (Won Bin), who stays at the hotel where Eun-Seo (Song Hye Kyo) works as a telephone receptionist. Tae-Seok (who doesn’t know about the entire brother and sister mixup that happened earlier) fell in love with Eun-Seo and played games with her until she was fired from her job. One day Eun-Seo saw Joon-Seo and followed him to the beach where he was with Yoo-Mi (his fiancée) and Tae-Seok and the two “siblings” finally meet after ten years.

Eun-Seo and Joon-Seo pretend to have a sibling relationship in front of the others, but they meet each other secretly and become deeply in love, though she always refers to him as “brother.” Shin-Ae (Han Chae Young) finds out about their relationship and exposes the two after she found a love letter Eun-Seo had written to Joon-Seo. The two decide to stay together, but are soon forced apart again because their parents are against the union, and Yoo-Mi hurts herself and threatens suicide to hang onto Joon-Seo.

As a fight between Joon-Seo and Tae-Seok grows over their professed love for Eun-Seo, she discovers she has leukemia (the same illness that took her biological father’s life). She didn’t tell anyone except Tae-Seok, who offers to pay for her treatment. When she takes a turn for the worse, the others start finding out. When it was clear that there was no hope, Joon-Seo finds out and takes her home so she can spend her last days with him. At this point, Yoo-Mi finally leaves him. Eun-Seo dies as Joon-Seo was carrying her around the beach where they spent her birthday as teenagers.

Before Eun-Seo died, she told Joon-Seo not to follow her in death, and to continue living. However, Joon-Seo, dazed and grief-stricken by the death of his lover and “sister”, is struck by a truck in the same place as Eun-Seo’s accident and presumably dies.

Cast

Main cast

• Song Seung Hun as Yoon Joon-Seo
• Song Hye Kyo as Yoon/Choi Eun-Seo
• Won Bin as Han Tae-Seok
• Han Chae Young as Choi/Yoon Shin-Ae
• Han Na Na as Shin Yoo-Mi

Extended cast

• Jung Dong Hwan as Yoon Kyo-Soo (Joon-Seo’s father)
• Sun Woo Eun Sook as Lee Kyung-Ha (Joon-Seo’s mother)
• Kim Hae Sook as Kim Soon-Im (Eun-Seo’s mother)
• Kim Na Woon as Housekeeping Supervisor Kim
• Kim Hyung Jong as Ji-Han
• Seo Yoon Jae as Kang-Hee

Guest cast

• Choi Woo Hyuk as young Joon-Seo
• Moon Geun Young as young Eun-Seo
• Lee Ae Jung as young Shin-Ae

Soundtrack

The 13-track soundtrack for Autumn in My Heart includes Jung Il-Young’s heartfelt ballads “Reason”, “Prayer”, and “In My Dream”, as well as the main flute theme and the guitar and piano versions of some of the songs. “Romance”, also known as “Forbidden Love” is the classic piece used for this soundtrack. It comes from a famous work of unknown authorship “Spanish Romance“.

 

1. Main Title (Flute ver.)
2. Reason – Jung Il-Young
3. Romance – Choi Tae-Won
4. Gi do (Prayer) – Jung Il-Young
5. Remember – Park Jung-Won
6. Uhl Ma Na Nae Ga (Sincerely) – Yoon Chang-Gun
7. Reason (Instrumental ver.)
8. Romance (Piano ver.) – Lee Hong-Rae
9. Noon Mool (Tears) – Lee Hong-Rae
10. Uhl Ma Na Nae Ga (Sincerely)(Guitar ver.) – Guitar by Ham Choon-Ho
11. Ggoom suhk ae suh (In My Dream) – Jung Il-Young
12. Uhl Ma Na Nae Ga (Sincerely)(Piano ver.) – Piano by Yoo Jung-young
13. Gi Do (Prayer)(Piano ver.)

Popularity in the Philippines

In the Philippines, the GMA Network acquired the rights to broadcast the series outside Korea, where it gained high ratings and popularity. The theme song that was used was a cover of “Ikaw” sung by Faith Cuneta.

The GMA Network also acquired the adaptation rights to air its own rendition of Autumn in My Heart. It was released in June, 2010 and is titled simply Endless Love.

AUTUMN IN MY HEART 1.01 Synopsis (KOR)

Episode 1:

In this first episode, we are introduced to the wealthy Yun family, composed of father, mother, 17ish year old brother (Joon-Suh) and 14 year old sister (Eun-suh).  Joon-Suh and Eun-Suh have a teasing, but very loving relationship, with big brother always taking care of younger sister.  At school, Eun-Suh has a volatile relationship with Shin-ae, the smart but vile girl from the other side of the tracks.

The parents learn that Eun-Suh is not their biological daughter and meet Mrs. Choi, the Mother of their daughter.  Mrs. Choi is a widowed, BattleAxe who runs an awful dump of a diner that only serves a grim stew and who struggles everyday to try to make ends meet; it’s no wonder Shin-ae is as she is.

Mr and Mrs Yan struggle with what they should do next, trying to come to terms with the situation.  Should they switch daughters?  Should they tell their Eun-Suh?  Should they meet Shin-ae?

At school, Joon-Suh makes a painting to accompany Shin-ae’s poem, in exchange for Shin-ae leaving Eun-Juh alone.  Poem and painting are displayed at a big gathering at the school.  Here, the Yan family and the Choi family meet and the stark truth sits before us:  Shin-ae is the Yan’s true daughter and Eun-Juh is Mrs. Choi’s biological daughter.

AUTUMN IN MY HEART 1.02 Synopsis (KOR)

Episode 2:

Mr and Mrs Yan have now seen their daughter for the first time and are brought ever-more into Mrs. Choi’s life.  They discover that her husband is dead and that her son is a thug.  Is that the environment for their biological daughter?  While Mr. Yan reaches out to Shin-ae, going as far as buying her a stuffed animal, Mrs. Yan willfully refuses to open up.   For Mrs Choi, life is not easy and realizing that her daughter is not her own, brings her own pitiful state more starkly into view.

The tension between the girls escalates when the girls learn the truth.  And by the end, the girls switch positions as Shin-ae desperately wants to leave her hard life and Eun-Suh knows that she must go to her real mother.

AUTUMN IN MY HEART 1.03 Synopsis (KOR)

Episode 3:

Eun-suh is now CHOI Eun-Suh and Shin-ae is now firmly entrenched as YOON Shin-ae as the girls begin life in their new homes.  For Shin-ae, life is difficult being in the shadow of beloved Eun-suh and thus she lashes out; for Eun-suh, she faces her life with a Cinderella-ish optimism and warmth.

For Mr and Mrs Yoon, the emotional struggles continue.  Mr Yoon has agreed to take a position in the United States and the familiy will be moving there, taking Joon-Suh and Shin-ae, but they cannot bear the thought of “abandoning Eun-suh in that awful place.”  Mrs. Yoon meets with Mrs. Choi and asks to take and raise Eun-suh.  Mrs. Choi agrees, but Eun-suh won’t go.  She knows she must stay with her mother and must let the Yoons go.

***

It’s now 9 years later and an adult Joon-suh returns.  He’s about to have his engagement party where he formally introduces Yumi, a fellow artist he met in the United States, as his fiancee.  First, he wants to find his long-lost “sister”, Eun-suh, but she’s moved several times since and there’s no finding her.  Instead, he meets up with his old friend, Tae-suhk.

Tae-suhk is the wealthy, good-for-nothing, lazy son of the Hotel Owner; he’s also engaging, vivacious, charismatic, and fun.  He’s the William Holden character in SABRINA and he’s been banished to run the hotel (the duties which he suitably ignores).

AUTUMN IN MY HEART 1.04 Synopsis (KOR)

Episode 4:

Adult Joon-suh continues to search for Eun-suh, but also must prepare for the Engagement Party.

CHOI Eun-suh works at the Hotel as a phone operator and is having continual monetary troubles.  She still lives with her mother, who now runs a little corner shop.  Together, they eke out a bare living.

Tae-Suhk (who runs the Hotel) meets Eun-suh and falls for her immediately, although his bet efforts to woo her prove more repellant than anything else. But he’s not going to give up and has her transfered to HouseCleaning as a maid… as HIS maid.

Joon-suh continues to seek her out, but is on the verge of giving up.

AUTUMN IN MY HEART 1.05 Synopsis (KOR)

Episode 5:

The Beach was an old favorite place for Joon-suh and Eun-suh.  Joon-suh and Yumi go there and surprisingly find Tah-suhk there.  Eun-suh spies them and runs to greet Joon-suh in an emotional reunion.

It’s awkward for Joon-suh and Eun-suh, getting to know each other again after all these years.  More strangers than siblings, they struggle with how to act with each other and how to feel about each other.  In addition, it’s difficult for them to quite explain their relationship, especially to Yumi, so they introduce each other as cousins.

As Eun-suh’s homelife gets worse and worse, she goes to her Brother for comfort and Joon-Suh takes her in.

AUTUMN IN MY HEART 1.06 Synopsis (KOR)

Episode 6:

YOON Shin-ae, the former Choi daughter, returns after completing her MBA in America.  She’s successful, beautiful and has everything.  It’s an awkward reunion between Eun-suh and her.   They are civil and polite, but Shin-ae’s animosity is obvious.

Joon-suh and Eun-suh grow more and more comfortable with each other and the bonds they had as youths is returning.

Yumi can feel Joon-suh slipping away and she won’t let that happen.

Tae-Suhk continues to try to win over Eun-suh, going so far as to affect change in his life: he’s trying to be a better person.  Shin-ae’s affections for Tae-Suhk are not easily hidden and her machinations to get rid of Eun-suh begin.

AUTUMN IN MY HEART Theme Tour (KOR)

I’ve finished watching AUTUMN IN MY HEART (aka ENDLESS LOVE, aka AN AUTUMN LOVE STORY) and have absolutely fallen in love with this Korean TV melodrama-series(and I’m not alone in that. It’s been so incredibly popular that there are now THEME TOURS in Korea that visit the areas protrayed in AUTUMN IN MY HEART as well as WINTER SONATA (a followup series).  It’s a really cool idea, especially given how popular the series have been.  If I were planning to go to Korea…

Here’s the story from ThingsAsian.com [link]

Movie Theme Tours in Korea: Winter Sonata and Autumn in My Heart

Theme travel has taken a different turn for many travelers with tourism associations collaborating with film makers to portray the finest sceneries and traditions of their countries through movies. For many years, travelers from Malaysia and Singapore have flocked to China to admire the striking countryside scenery of Dali, to the National Palace Museum and Taroko Gorge in Taiwan.

The latest country to have captured the hearts of theme travelers is South Korea. In the past two years, two Korean soap operas, Winter Sonata and Autumn in My Heart commanded a strong following of over four million viewers among Malaysians and Singaporeans. Winter Sonata was so popular among the Malay population that a translated version, “Sonata Musim Salju” was sung by Malaysian singer Hazami.

According to a television channel producer who purchased the rights to show both movies to the Malaysian audience, “These programs have successfully attracted a high number of viewers who are interested in their storyline, beautiful scenery, gorgeous actors and actresses, and, most of all, their universal themes.”

According to Wai Lan, a fan of the series, the initial attraction was the breathtaking scenery and gorgeous actors, but the love story and conflicts between the characters got her totally hooked to the serials.

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WINTER SONATA: Main Locations

The set of a sad yet so beautiful love story, Winter Sonata presented a collection of well-known attractions in Korea. Among the main attractions are Namiseom Island, which was where the lovers in Winter Sonata grew up and first knew each other, the snow covered Yongpyeong Resort where the skiing scenes was shot and Oedo Island Botanical Garden, all which have become some of Korea’s main tourism spots.

Yu Jin and Sang Hyuk are best friends who go to the same school. A new student, Joon Sang who was from Seoul came to Namiseom Island in search of his father and ended up enrolling in the same school. Joon Sang thinks that Sang Hyuk’s father is his biological father. In order to spite Sang Hyuk, he starts to get close to Yu Jin. He falls in love with the lovely Yu Jin but later found out his mother was once in love with Yu Jin’s father. Wrongly suspecting they might be related, Joon Sang hastily decided to leave for the United States with his mother. However, he could not resist meeting Yu Jin for the last time. Unfortunately, he was involved in an accident while traveling to meet Yu Jin and everyone thought he died.

Yu Jin gradually got over her love for Joon Sang and ten years later, she became engaged to Sang Hyuk. She came across a person called Lee Min Hyung, who looks like Joon Sang but is more outgoing and happy than Joon Sang ever was. A curious Yu Jin started a friendship with Min Hyung, whose romantic and loving personality made him an instant heart robe among Winter Sonata’s fans. Min Hyung convinced Yu Jin to migrate to Paris with Sang Hyuk.

Three years later, Yu Jin and Sang Hyuk realized they are incompatible. Yu Jin returned to Oedo Island and found a house there built exactly the same way as she described to Joon Sang years ago. Here, she found a blind man wondering around, and she discovered that he is Joon Sang/Ming Hyung. Ming Hyung did not inform her that he is Joon Sang as he was going to the United States to undergo an eye operation to avoid getting blind, but the operation was unsuccessful.

Namiseom Island: Where it All Began…

Namiseom Island is located about an hour’s drive from Seoul, and was created when Cheongpyeong Dam was constructed at the downstream of the Bukhangang River. Winter Sonata fans will recognize the crescent-shaped Cheongpyeongho Lake, which is entirely surrounded by chestnut and poplar trees. Many of the earlier episodes of Winter Sonata are set here, from scenes of the two lovers riding on a bicycle to their first kiss near the lake. The cycling scenes from the movie are so popular that special Winter Sonata bicycle rentals are available to tourists who wish to ride along the same paths. Visitors can also partake in recreation activities such as water skiing and snow sleighing.

Yongpyong Ski Resort: Lost Love Found

Another Winter Sonata location is the Yongpyong Ski Resort, which is where the two lovers met again. It is in the midst of the Yongpyong Ski Resort at Dragon’s Peak that the lovers rekindled their love. Here, movie fans can take a short walk around the snow covered mountain while marveling the striking scenery of Mount Balwangsan in the background. A luxurious ski resort, Yongpyong has constantly been likened to the Swiss Alps. The fact that its architecture is entirely Swiss-styled reminds travelers even more of the Alps. Besides being Korea’s first and most prolific ski resort, it is considered a world class ski destination and hence was chosen as the venue for the 1998 and 2000 World Cup ski championships and the 1999 Winter Asian Games.

Oedo Island: A Happy Ending?

Winter Sonata theme tours will not be complete without a visit to the Oedo Island Botanical Garden, which is where the last scene of the movie is shot. It is here that the two lovers are reunited but the story ended a bit abruptly with a slightly sad twist?possibly setting stage for a second episode of Winter Sonata. The Botanical Garden of Oedo Island is a part of Hanrye National Park. The little white huts built along the deep blue ocean, Oedo Island oozes of true romance. When visitors get off the ferry at the boarding dock, they will come to an arch-shaped gate, which is the entrance to the Botanical Gardens. After passing this gate you will see the tropical gardens and surrounding palm trees. The romantic Venus Garden is decorated with 12 Venus statues and the flower gardens will fascinate your eyes. In the summer, cypress trees shade over these stairs creating an amazing sight. Besides the Botanical Garden, Oedo Island boosts of a sculpture park and a Korean art gallery.

For war and historical buffs, the nearby Geoje-do would be an interesting stop. Here is where the remnants of the Geoje Prisoner of War (P.O.W.) camp during the Korean War can be seen. The P.O.W. models of some main figures during the war, military equipment, a magic diorama, a mock-up of a string of marching refugees, an exhibit depicting prisoner life as well as a POW experience tank where visitors see how life was like for a prisoner of war makes this an interesting, albeit eerie place. The park sets itself ahead of the traditional museum by providing a new and refreshing style of display, offering education and entertainment through models and interactive exhibits.

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AUTUMN IN MY HEART: Main Locations

Fans of this Korean drama describe Autumn in My Heart as a story of family, relationship, love and obligations all at once, in a touching and unforgettable way, set in the midst of the beautiful autumn scenery. Autumn in My Heart is a tragic love story about a pair of baby girls switched by accident at birth. The poor girl, the kindly and intelligent Yoon Eunsuh was raised by the rich family whereas the bad tempered Choi Shinae was raised by the poor family in the slums. She has always been envious of Yoon Eunsuh and her wealthy lifestyle.

One day, when Eunsuh was fourteen, she was involved in an accident lost a lot of blood. When the doctors tested her blood to transfuse her with the correct type of blood, they discovered she is not related to the rich family. The rich man who raised Eunsuh then went looking for his real daughter. When he found Choi Shinae, he brought to his home and sent the girl he had raised as his daughter to live with the poor family. Soon after, he migrated to the United States with his real daughter and his son. At first, Shinae was very happy living in the midst of wealth and luxury but after a while, she began to miss the poor family she grew up with.

In the meantime, the Yoon Joonsuh, the rich man’s son met up and fell in love with Yoon Eunsuh, formerly his “sister”. However, both of them repressed their feelings knowing their parents would oppose and because the son is engaged to You Mei whom he met at university and Yoon Eunsuh was dating Tai Xi. Eventually, both of Eunsuh and the Joonsuh eloped, but came back because they did not want to hurt their parents’ feelings. The rich man’s son was reunited with his fiancée You Mei and both of them decided to return to the States for their wedding. However, Eunsuh was diagnosed with terminal stage leukemia and Joonsuh found out just before he left for the States. He rushed to the hospital and declared his undying love for Eunsuh. They got married and spent her last months together. When Eunsuh died, a heartbroken Joonsuh was run over by a car, thus reuniting the lovers in death.

Joonsuh’s Art Studio: An Elementary School

An abandoned elementary school in Yang-Yang, Gangwon-do is where Joonsuh kept a small art studio. The two lovers met here in the series. Part of the school has been converted into a studio by Korean potter; Jeong Jae-Nam whose husband is popular Korean novelist, Kim Ha-In. Today, the small school remains a popular tourist attraction, where the atmosphere is fueled with romance.

Samyang Mokjang Ranch: Eunsuh and Joonsuh’s Honeymoon Destination

The Samyang Mokjang Ranch, which is the largest green pasture in Asia located on a plateau, was where Eunsuh and Joonsuh spent their honeymoon. Besides the relaxing atmosphere of dairy cows lazing around the ranch, the view from the plateau is remarkable. Spectacular scenery of the sun rising from beyond Mount Odasen can be seen from the Daegwanryeong Observatory early in the morning. In order to travel around the huge ranch, visitors need a car or bicycle. By car, it will take about 2 hours while bicycles will take about five or six hours to explore the ranch.

Abai Village: The Poor Girl’s Home

Abai Village, a quaint village resembling the old Korean homes of the 60s, is where the poor family lived. Here is where Eunsuh arrived on a sailing boat after being sent to live with her blood parents. Abai Village in Sokcho is actually where many North Koreans settled after the Korean War. Travelers can get to Abai Village by car or by boat. The boat from Sokcho to Cheongho-dong can carry 35 people and after getting off the boat, visitors to Abai Village should walk south until arriving at the Cheongho-dong Dock. Besides the peaceful scenery, Abai Village is also well known for its Abai Sun-dae (Korean style sausage) which is made of squid and other seafood.

Phoenix Park: Where Eunsuh worked

The Phoenix Park Resort located about 700 meters above sea level is where Eunsuh worked. It is located in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do, and it has Taegisan Mountain in the background. The resort consists of a hotel with about 140 rooms and the condominium has approximately 750 rooms. Besides golf, visitors can enjoy recreation activities like roller-skating, tennis, paragliding and skiing in the winter.

Hwajinpo Beach: The Finale

The romantic Hwajinpo Beach is the place where the lovers spent their last moments together. The young and handsome Joonsuh carried the beautiful Eunsuh on his back down the beach with the deep blue winter ocean slowly comes in and out of the shore makes this a must-visit for Autumn in My Heart fans. Hwajinpo Beach is already famous before Autumn in My Heart used it as a background for its most poignant and touching scene. Its beautiful 1.7-kilometer long shoreline preserved with shallow yet clean water and fine sand as well as spectacular view of sunset has made it a favored spot among travelers for many years.

Moving slightly inland, visitors will come to the Hwajinpoho Lagoon. With its graceful scenery, surrounded by a forest of pine trees and a field of sweet briers, this lagoon is the most striking lagoon in Korea. The awe-inspiring atmosphere of Hwajinpo encouraged many public figures to purchase villas along its shoreline. Villas located here were once owned by North Korean dictator Kim Il-Seong and Korea’s first president Yi Seung-Man.

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See also Why is Winter Sonata a Big Hit in Asia? by Diana Lee

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Published on 8/12/03

http://www.thingsasian.com/stories-photos/2653

AUTUMN IN MY HEART 1.07 Synopsis (KOR)

Episode 7:

Eun-suh and Tae-suhk are now a couple.  Tae-suhk has turned over a new leaf, taking on the responsibilities of running the hotel, and dotes on Eun-suh.

Joon-suh and Yumi’s relationship takes a turn.  Yumi knows Joon-suh doesn’t love her, but yet refuses to give him up.

The Yoon parents arrive to visit Joon-suh and have a tearful reunion with Eun-suh.  Shin-ae, feeling rejected yet again, runs off and ends up in a less-pleasant reunion with her own former-mother.

Eun-suh decides to move into the Hotel’s dormitory, but Shin-ae has secretly excluded her from the candidate list.  Eun-suh’s mother refuses to let her back home, for her own good.   With nowhere else to go, she ends up …

AUTUMN IN MY HEART 1.08 Synopsis (KOR)

Episode 8:

Joon-suh and Eun-suh take a trip to a cabin together, lying to their fiancees about where they’re going.  But it rains and they are stranded there overnight.  Joon-suh and Eun-suh have a heart-to-heart.  Meanwhile, aware of the deceit, Yumi and Tae-suhk try to come to terms with Joon-suh and Eun-suh’s relationship, each in his/her own way.  On the return, everyone lives with the lie, but the secret is out.

Tae-suhk goes to Eun-suh’s mother (Mrs. Choi) to ask for permission to marry her daughter.  Mrs. Choi, afraid that the Han family would disapprove of her, asks the Yoons to take Eun-suh back.  The Yoons decide to adopt Eun-suh, which causes Shin-ae grief.  She responds by exposing Joon-suh’s and Eun-suh’s relationship.

note: On the YesAsia dvd, there’s a short unsubtitled scene b/w Tae-suhk and Shin-ae.

AUTUMN IN MY HEART 1.09 Synopsis (KOR)

Episode 9:

Joon-suh and Eun-suh run away together, ending up at a ranch where Eun-suh and her mother (choi) lived for a time.  As Yumi and Tae-suhk go frantic looking for them, Joon-suh and Eun-suh’s relationship grows stronger until finally Joon-suh proposes to Eun-suh.

On her birthday, after a phone call to tell her Mother that she’s ok, Eun-suh suddenly develops a nosebleed.  Tae-suhk finds them and brings them home.  When they return, Joon-suh and Eun-suh announce to everyone their intention to get married.

Running time: 54min

AUTUMN IN MY HEART 1.10 Synopsis (KOR)

 Episode 10:

Now that the relationship is out in the open, Eun-suh officially and unquestionably breaks up with Tae-suhk, which sends him spiraling out of control.  Meanwhile, Eun-suh’s natural mother encourages her to give up on Joon-suh and allow herself to be adopted by the Yoon family.

The conflict between Joon-suh and his father increases.

Yumi attempts suicide, slicing her right (drawing) wrist.  Though she survived, her use of her hand may never be 100% again.  The guilt overwhelms both Joon-suh and Eun-suh.

Guilt-ridden, Joon-suh returns to Yumi’s side, helping her recover; Eun-suh gives her blessing and leaves Joon-suh.

Unbeknownst to Joon-suh, Eun-suh gets mysteriously ill.

Running time : 57min

http://evilninjax.typepad.com/evil_ninja_xs_asian_movie/kdrama_autumn_in_my_heart/

Why is Winter Sonata a Big Hit in Asia?

by Diana Lee

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.

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.

Following the success of directing the TV drama series, Autumn Tales, Yun Seok Ho demonstrated his supremacy in making melodramas using symbolism, parallelism, repetition, and timing, as provocative ways to stir emotions and draw tears from the audience. The main symbols in Winter Sonata — the star Polaris (representing Joon Sang), the missing puzzle piece (representing Yu Jin in Joon Sang’s life), and the first snowfall of winter (representing the meeting of the two lovers) — appeared repetitively throughout the melodrama to hammer the point of their significance they contributed to the story. Furthermore, the excellent use of parallelism and repetition compounded the dramatic effects in scenes — whenever Yu Jin and Sang Hyuk were fighting, Min Yeong and Chae Lin were also arguing; when Yu Jin and Min Yeong strolled through their high school, each taking a different path, unaware of one another’s presence; and when Yu Jin tried to tail whom she thought was Joon Sang in the crowd and later Sang Hyuk attempted to follow whom he thought was Yu Jin in the streets.

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.

The main reason for Winter Sonata‘s popularity could be attributed to its bold exposition of the various aspects of love: 1) puppy love; 2) first love; 3) possessive love; 4) lost love; 5) parental love; and 6) true love. Everyone in the audience has experienced at least one or more of these different shades of love, where he or she could empathize with any of the characters at one time or another in this melodrama.

In high school, Choi Ji Woo and Bae Yong Jun in their roles convincingly demonstrated the beauty of innocence and sweetness of puppy love as they helped and defended each other. Then the puppy love blossomed into first love when their most impressionable memories consisted of things they did together for the first time. It was through this love that the gloom and anger in Joon Sang faded away when he was in the presence of Yu Jin.

The series also showed the negative impact of possessive love — Sang Hyuk for Yu Jin and Chae Lin for Min Yeong — in which Sang Hyuk and Chae Lin would do anything to keep their loved ones to themselves, including lying, scheming, and hurting others. When they finally lost their beloveds to the destined pair, they marched down a familiar path of self-destruction — Sang Hyuk tried to commit suicide and Chae Lin slumped into a drinking stupor. However, mature love requires making sacrifices — putting the beloved’s happiness above everything else — as seen in Sang Hyuk’s release of Yu Jin to the revived Joon Sang, in Chae Lin’s suggestion to Joon Sang to elope with Yu Jin despite everyone’s disapproval of their marriage, in Joon Sang’s decisions to place Yu Jin’s well-being above all his needs, and in Yu Jin’s respect for Joon Sang’s resolution to bid their last farewell.

Even in modern times, family plays a dominant role in Asian culture. At the beginning, Joon Sang desperately sought parental love from a father he never knew, and later he could forgive his mother for all the wrongs she had done him. Suppressing her feelings, Yu Jin chose Sang Hyuk over Min Yeong to abide the wishes of Sang Hyuk’s family and her own mother. As the drama unfolded, the meddling of three families — Sang Hyuk’s parents, Joon Sang’s mother and Yu Jin’s mother — caused more harm than good with endless sorrow and tragic consequences to their offsprings.

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.

In conclusion, Winter Sonata delivered a tearjerker with a moving tale and unforgettable characters. It brought a paragon mate for a modern woman to life, exemplified by Joon Sang — handsome, sensitive, intelligent, and successful in life. More importantly, he was able to love a woman with complete gentleness and understanding, even at the risk of his own welfare and happiness. In addition, the drama series successfully revealed the manifestations of love in real life, to which everyone in the audience could relate. As Winter Sonata makes its appearance around Asia, its popularity will certainly grow, for it possesses all the elements of a classic drama.

Diana Lee (www.uniorb.com) has traveled extensively and worked abroad in Cameroon, China and Japan. Her work has appeared in several magazines, ezines and anthologies. Interested in various forms of writing, she has written essays, poems, and short stories.

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Koreanfilm.org, posted September 10, 2003.

    Autumn Fairy Tale (2000, KBS miniseries)Autumn Fairy Talewas a major hit in 2000, directed by critically-acclaimed director Yoon Suk-ho. This series was so popular that it not only propelled the three leads — Song Seung-hun, Song Hye-gyo and Won Bin — to stardom, it also helped Korea to become a popular tourist destination for many Asians. In fact, this was also the first series to really showcase Korean dramas internationally. Some might find the storyline to be pretty sentimental, as it tells the story of an undying love between two siblings, although they are not related by blood. Song Seung-un is Jun-suh, and Song Hye-gyo is Eun-suh, who grew up together as siblings for fourteen years. Due to a traffic accident, Eun-suh is hospitalized and requires a blood transfusion. It is then that the parents of the two children realize that Eun-suh is not their biological daughter. As Eun-suh’s father probes into the matter, he found out that two female infants were born in the same hospital the day Eun-suh was born. After much investigation, Eun-suh’s parents find that their biological daughter is Eun-suh’s classmate and rival, Shin-ae, who had suffered through a much tougher life. Shin-ae hates Eun-suh for possessing a much better material life. Also, while Eun-suh grew up with her parents’ and Jun-suh’s love, Shin-ae grew up with a rather uncouth mother and a very abusive brother.

When the truth is revealed, emotions overwhelm Eun-suh, and being the kind-hearted girl, she choses to return to her biological mother. Shin-ae, played by child actress Lee Ae-jung, leaves with Jun-suh and her biological family for America and stays there for nine years. The show than fast forwards nine years later, as Jun Suh returns to Korea with his fiancee. Jun-suh is reunited with Eun-suh, but alas, Jun-suh’s best friend, played by up-coming actor Won Bin also falls in love with her. As the story moves on, Eun-suh and Jun-suh face many obstacles which pull at viewers’ hearts…

When this show was broadcast on TV, the love story between Jun-suh and Eun-suh was deemed by many as incest, although they were not biological siblings. Song Seung-hun is charistmatic as Jun-suh — I personally felt that he portrayed the role of Jun-suh quite well. Song Hye-gyo’s portrayal of Eun-suh was also compelling. It was impressive to see her tearing up so naturally in the drama’s many heart wrenching moments. The supporting leads, Won Bin (Taegukgi) and Han Chae-young (Bet On My Disco), who played the grown-up Shin-ae, also complemented the two leads well. However, I thought Han Chae-young was a little underused in the show. Despite the general thumbs up performance of the leads, the most impressive performance comes from the child actors. The teenage Jun-suh was played by child actor Choi Woo-hyuk and the teenage Eun-suh, played by Moon Geun-young (A Tale of Two Sisters). Despite the fact that Moon Geun-young was only 12 or 13 when she played the role of Eun-suh, she shows her caliber as one of the best actresses around. Choi Woo-hyuk also impresses the audience with his good acting skills.

With a good plot and great performance by the cast, Autumn Fairy Tale proves to you why it has such a huge following. Overall, this series is worth your every minute spent watching it.      (Review by Kit Lim)

Autumn Fairy Tale (“Gaeul donghwa”). Alternative titles: “Endless Love” or “Autumn Tale”. 16 episodes. Written by Oh Su-yeon. Produced by Yoon Suk-ho. Starring Song Seung-hun, Song Hae-gyo, Won Bin, Han Na-na, Han Chae-young, Choi Woo-hyuk, Moon Geun-young, Lee Ae-jung. First aired on KBS in Korea in Autumn 2000. Official website (in Korean): click here. Available on DVD from KBS Media in Korea (no subtitles) and from MPEG Video in Malaysia (English, Chinese, and Malay subtitles).

http://www.koreanfilm.org/tvdramas/index.htm