Winter Sonata
Winter Sonata is a South Korean television drama series that aired on KBS2 in 2002. Starring Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo, it is the second part of the season-themed Endless Love series directed by Yoon Seok-ho. Filming primarily took place on the resort island of Namiseom and Seoul.
The series is widely considered to be the Korean drama that launched the Korean Wave throughout Asia and worldwide. It has also been adapted into an anime series and a stage musical.
Synopsis
The story begins when Joon-sang, the son of an eminent musician, moves to Chuncheon, a rural city in South Korea. As an extraordinarily talented student, Joon-sang is welcomed by his fellow students as well as his teachers, but remains a quiet, introverted teenager. As a result of the belief that his biological father is dead, and serious disagreements with his mother, Joon-sang believes that no one truly loves him.On his way to school one day, Joon-sang's classmate Yoo-jin, while sitting next to him on the bus, falls asleep on his shoulder. Joon-sang soon falls in love with Yoo-jin, who opens her innocent heart to him. Their love, however, is cut short after Joon-sang is badly injured in a car accident and, due to brain damage, suffers from amnesia, unable to remember anything prior to his accident.
Joon-sang's mother, yearning for Joon-sang's love and respect, has Joon-sang brainwashed by a psychologist, so that Joon-sang will not remember his painful childhood as an illegitimate child. As a result, Joon-sang's memories prior to the accident are erased. Joon-sang's mother decides to move to the United States with Joon-sang, where he can start a new life under the identity of Lee Min-hyung. His friends and teachers are told that Joon-sang is dead.
Ten years later, Min-hyung is an award-winning architect in the United States. He does not remember anything about his life in Korea. He is completely different, now an open-minded person who cares about other people. He returns to Korea and Yoo-jin sees him on the street, prompting her to put off her engagement to her childhood friend Sang-hyuk. Little does she know that Min-hyung is dating her friend and past rival Chae-rin. The story's plot thickens when Yoo-jin's interior design firm is awarded a project by Min-hyung's architectural firm, and has to work with Min-hyung. Yoo-jin sometimes wonders if he is her supposedly dead first love Joon-sang.
Cast
- Bae Yong-joon as Kang Joon-sang / Lee Min-hyung
- Choi Ji-woo as Jeong Yoo-jin
- Park Yong-ha as Kim Sang-hyuk
- Park Sol-mi as Oh Chae-rin
- Lee Hye-eun as Kong Jin-sook
- Ryu Seung-soo as Kwon Yong-gook
- Kwon Hae-hyo as Kim seonbae
- Song Ok-sook as Kang Mi-hee, Joon-sang's mother
- Jung Dong-hwan as Kim Jin-woo, Sang-hyuk's father
- Kim Hae-sook as Lee Yeong-hee, Yoo-jin's mother
- Ha Ji-hye as Jeong Hee-jin, Yoo-jin's younger sister
- Jung Won-joong as Park Jong-ho, "Gargamel"
- Jang Hang-sun as Supervisor Min
- Lee Hyo-chun as Park Ji-young, Sang-hyuk's mother
- Park Hyun-sook as Lee Jeong-ah, Yoo-jin's colleague at Polaris
- Son Jong-bum as Yoo-jin's colleague at Polaris
- Yoo Yul as Radio broadcaster
- Maeng Ho-rim as Dr. Ahn
- Ha Jae-young as Jeong Hyeon-soo, Yoo-jin's father
Reception
The series shot actor Bae Yong-joon into stardom in Asia, and he became especially popular among middle-aged Japanese women. When he first visited Japan in 2004, more than 3,000 women guarded by 350 policemen gathered at the airport to welcome him. Junichiro Koizumi, the Japanese prime minister at the time, was quoted saying that Bae was more popular in Japan than himself.
The series was also aired in the Philippines from November 17, 2003 through March 5, 2004, via GMA Network's primetime block under the title Endless Love II: Winter Sonata and one of the highest rated shows at that time. As a result, it also brought the Korean Wave to the Philippines. Just like in Japan, Bae Yong-joon became popular among middle-aged women.
The series was a success in Asia and the America as well.
Ratings
In this table, represent the lowest ratings and represent the highest ratings.Original soundtrack
# | Title | Artist | Notes |
1 | 처음부터 지금까지 | Ryu Si-won | |
2 | "My Memory" | Ryu Si-won | |
3 | 처음 | ||
4 | 그대만이 | Ryu Si-won | |
5 | 처음부터 지금까지 | Instrumental version | |
6 | "My Memory" | Piano and violin version | |
7 | 보낼 수 없는 사랑 | Kim Wan-sun | |
8 | 시작 | ||
9 | 그대만이 | Piano and violin version | |
10 | "My Memory" | Piano version | |
11 | 잊지마 | Ryu Si-won | |
12 | 기억속으로 | ||
13 | 연인 | Ryu Si-won | |
14 | 제비꽃 | Ryu Si-won | |
15 | 그대만이 | Piano version | |
16 | 처음 | Piano version | |
17 | 제비꽃 | Instrumental version | |
18 | "Love Hurts" | Yiruma | Ep. 1 |
19 | "When The Love Falls" | Yiruma | Ep. 2 |
In addition, "Moment" performed by Ryu and available on his album Ryu 2 is included on some bootleg versions of the Winter Sonata soundtrack.
International broadcast
The drama first aired in Japan on NHK in 2004; it was dubbed in Japanese and edited into 60-minute episodes. The final episode recorded ratings of 20.6% in Kanto, 22.5% in Nagoya, and 23.8% in the Kansai regions. The series as a whole had an average viewership in the 14% to 15% range. Due to overwhelming demand from viewers to watch the series in its original format, it was re-aired on NHK's satellite channel BS2 unedited, beginning December 20, 2004.It was the first Korean drama that ushered in the Korean Wave in Malaysia, when it aired in 2002 on TV3 dubbed in Mandarin with Malay subtitles. PMP Entertainment later released the drama in VCD and DVD format under the Bahasa title, Kisah Cinta Musim Salju. A Malay cover version of the theme song was released with the title "Sonata Musim Salju".
The drama aired in Nepal on Kantipur Television Network in the mid-2000s dubbed in Nepali. The drama triggered the Korean Wave in the country and its lead star Bae Yong-joon became very popular amongst women in the country.
In 2006, pan-Asian American network AZN Television bought the rights to air Winter Sonata in a 24-hour marathon with other Korean dramas.
In Asia, the drama is available to stream via Iflix with English, Indonesian, Malay, Simplified Mandarin, Sinhalese, Vietnamese and Burmese subtitles.
Anime
An anime adaptation of Winter Sonata premiered on Japan's SKY PerfecTV! on October 17, 2009, consisting of 26 episodes subtitled in Japanese. Directed by Ahn Jae-hoon and written by Kim Hyeong-wan, the program featured 23 members of the original Korean cast voicing the characters, including Bae and Choi who reprised their roles. The role of "Sang-hyuk", originally played by Park Yong-ha, was voiced by singer Kang Yo-hwan and "Chae-rin" was dubbed by newcomer Lee Se-na in place of Park Sol-mi. During October 2011, Animax Asia aired the anime in Korean audio and English subtitles across South and Southeast Asia. In 2019, Allen's Television Network revived the anime with Tagalog subtitles in the Philippines. Allen Cañada revived the theme song of Di Ko Na Kaya by Faith Cuneta.Voice cast
Korean version
- Bae Yong-joon as Kang Joon-sang / Lee Min-hyung
- Choi Ji-woo as Jeong Yoo-jin
- Kang Yo-hwan as Kim Sang-hyuk
- Lee Se-na as Oh Chae-rin
- Ryu Seung-soo as Kwon Yong-gook
- Seon Jeon-hui as Kong Jin-sook, Catalina and Marianne
- Bae Han-seon as Kim Jin-woo
- So Hye-jyeon as Kang Mi-hee and Anne
- Yoon So-ra as Kim Yeong-hee and Mother superior
- Lee Young-yoo as Jeong Hee-jin
- Lee Jang-won as Park Jong-ho
- Choi Seon-woo as Park Ji-young
- Min-ji as Lee Jeong-ah
- Park Yeong-jae as Hang Seung-ryong and DJ
- Kim Chang as Kim Hyo-sook and Jeong Hyeon-soo
- Kim Gyu-sik as Dr. Ahn
- Seo-yeong as Jane
- Cho Gyun-joon as Manager Kim
- Im Chae-hong as Claude
- Nam Do-hyeong as Louis
- Hong Seong-min as Chang
- Kim In-jeong as Manufacturing manager
Japanese version
- Masato Hagiwara as Kang Joon-sang / Lee Min-hyung
- Misato Tanaka as Jeong Yoo-jin
- Kazuma Horie as Kim Sang-hyuk
- Sayaka Kinoshita as Oh Chae-rin
- Fuminori Komatsu as Kwon Yong-gook
- Makoto Tsumura as Kong Jin-sook
- Mitsuru Takakuwa as Kim Jin-woo, Sang-hyuk's father
- Chika Mizuno as Kang Mi-hee, Joon-sang's mother
- Kaoru Katakai as Kim Yeong-hee, Yoo-jin's mother
- Michiko Komatsu as Jeong Hee-jin, Yoo-jin's younger sister
- Binbin Takaoka as Park Jong-ho, teacher
- Kikue Umimoto as Park Ji-young, Sang-hyuk's mother
- Tatsuya Kamijo as Radio DJ
- Aki Yasunaga as Lee Jeong-ah
- Seiro Ogino as Kim Hyo-sook, Min-hyung's seonbae
- Yasuhiro Mamiya as Dr. Ahn
- Kumi Tanaka as Jane
- Katsunori Kobayashi as Manager Kim, Mi-hee's manager
- Kenji Sugimura as Claude
- Ryo Agawa as Anne
- Yuto Suzuki as Louis
- Masanori Machida as Chang
- Koki Yamada as Manufacturing manager
- Kanako Hirano as Catalina
- Sayuri Sadaoka as Mother superior
- Rinko Hayashi as Marianne
- Keiichi Nakagawa as Jeong Hyeon-soo, Yoo-jin's father
Episode list
Soundtrack
Version 1
- 最初から今まで - instrumental 2009
- サラハムニダ:初めて2
- たった一歩だけでも
- いつでもただ君だけを - Lee Se-jun
- 聞きなれない声
- 凍りついた視線
- To My Dearest
- サラハムニダ:初めて2
- 逢いたい - Yoo Hae-joon
- Mystery Episodes
- 氷の湖
- RUN
- ソナタ - Kang Yo-hwan
- 最初から今まで - Ryu Si-won
Version 2
- 雪の森
- サラハムニダ:初めて2
- 届かない想い - Kang Yo-hwan
- 真冬の散歩道
- 記憶と願い
- 踊らないオルゴール
- サラハムニダ:初めて2
- Polaris
- 思い出づくり
- Invisible Love
- サラハムニダ:初めて2
- ソナタ
- 君と永遠に - Shin Min-chul
- Believe You - Yoonji
Documentary cast (episode 26)
- Bae Yong-joon as Kang Joon-sang
- Choi Ji-woo as Jeong Yoo-jin
- Kang Yo-hwan as Kim Sang-hyuk
- Lee Se-na as Oh Chae-rin
- Ryu Seung-soo as Kwon Yong-gook
- Seon Jeon-hui as Kong Jin-sook
Musical theatre
The Winter Sonata musical first premiered in 2006 in several cities in Japan, including Sapporo, Tokyo and Osaka, and popular crossover tenor Im Tae-kyung drew crowds. It also completed a run in Busan and Seoul, from late 2010 to early 2011, with stage direction by Im Do-wan and musical score by Lee Ji-soo.
Cast
2006
- Im Tae-kyung and Lee Sang-hyeon as Kang Joon-sang / Lee Min-hyung
- Park Hong-joo and Im Kang-hee as Jeong Yoo-jin
- Lee Pil-sung as Kim Sang-hyuk
- Jiny as Oh Chae-rin
- Lee Jin-kyu as Kwon Yong-gook
- Kim Gyung-hwa as Kong Jin-sook
- Shin Bok-ja as Kang Mi-hee, Joon-sang's mother
- Yang Joon-mo as Spirit
- Nam Moon-chul as Dr. Oh, Chae-rin's father
2011
- Kim Tae-han as Kang Joon-sang / Lee Min-hyung
- Park Woo-ne and Choi Soo-jin as Jeong Yoo-jin
- Jeong Jae-hong and Kim Gyeong-soo as Kim Sang-hyuk
Soundtrack
2006
# | Title | Artist |
1 | "Overture" | |
2 | "Endless Song" | Park Hong-joo |
3 | "My Great Proposal" | Lee Pil-sung |
4 | "I Will Be Always Waiting For You" | Lee Pil-sung |
5 | "I'm Your Girl" | Jiny |
6 | "Confusion" | Lee Sang-hyeon |
7 | "Light Of The Life" | Shin Bok-ja |
8 | "Is This Love" | Im Tae-kyung |
9 | "Can't Love Another Day + I Won't Alone" | Lee Sang-hyeon |
10 | "For Your Memory" | Im Tae-kyung |
11 | "Now I Remember" | Im Tae-kyung |
12 | "Eternal Love" | Lee Sang-hyeong |
13 | "Missing You" | Lee Pil-sung |
14 | "Remember" | Lee Sang-hyeon |
15 | "My Memory" | Im Tae-kyung |
Manga
A Japanese comic has also been published of this story, using photos of the series as covers.Issue | ISBN | Publish date |
1 | July 8, 2004 | |
2 | July 8, 2004 | |
3 | August 20, 2004 | |
4 | October 20, 2004 | |
5 | December 20, 2004 | |
6 | March 1, 2005 | |
7 | April 28, 2005 | |
8 | June 30, 2005 |
Video games
Two pachinko simulation games called Pachitte Chonmage Tatsujin 10: Pachinko Fuyu no Sonata and Pachitte Chonmage Tatsujin 15: Pachinko Fuyu no Sonata 2 were made by Hack Berry and released on January 25, 2007 and December 25, 2008, respectively and for the PlayStation 2.A Nintendo DSi enhanced called Fuyu no Sonata DS was released in Japan by D3Publisher on December 17, 2009.
In popular culture
In episode 5 of Da Capo II's first season, two main characters go to a movie called Fuyu no Anata, which is clearly Fuyu no Sonata. One of the Fuyu no Anata posters visible in the Da Capo anime episode looks exactly like the first Fuyu no Sonata manga cover.In the Family Guy episode Candy, Quahog Marshmallow, Peter, Cleveland and Joe become obsessed with a Korean drama called Winter Summer, a parody of Winter Sonata.