Sweet Temptation: Romance in the Winter -- Winter Sonata

After I blogged for my #2 favourite K-actor, Bae Yong-Jun in my last post, now I would like to story for his TV series. No doubt, "Winter Sonata" is a TV series that made him a heat throughout the Asia. I remember when this TV series was airing on TV in many years back, many people, especially lady, are crazy for this series and Bae Yong Jun. All the working people were went back home sharp (after the working hours) to catch this series. So, you would know how heat it was at that time! :P

Anyway, "Winter Sonata" is the second part of the Endless Love installment directed by Yoon Seok-Ho. It stars Choi Ji-woo (from The Stairway to Heaven) and Bae Yong Joon. Filming also took place on the resort island of Namiseom. It has also been adapted into an anime series.

The story of "Winter Sonata" is about Joon-sang moves to a new high school in search for his biological father. Yu-jin and Sang-hyuk are close childhood friends, although Sang-hyuk wants to be more than a friend, Yu-jin sees him as a brother. On a trip together with other high school mates, Oh Chelin , Jin-suk and Yong-kuk , Yu-jin is saved after an accident by Joon-sang. They become close and she opens up his cold heart. However, circumstances and fate dictate that their love will never be. He abruptly disappears from their lives. Ten years later, the old High School buddies gather to celebrate Yu-jin and Sang-hyuk's soon-to-be wedding. Yu-jin, who was deeply in love with Joon-sang, still has a fire in her heart for him. But at the party, Oh Chelin's new boyfriend arrives, who appears the same as Joon-sang.

Title         : Winter Sonata / Winter Ballad / Winter Love Song / Endless Love 2 / 겨울연가 /
                    Gyeoul Yeonga / 冬季恋歌
Genre       : Drama, Romance
Episodes : 20
Story         :
The story begins when Joon-Sang, the son of an eminent musician, moves to Chooncheon, a rural city in South Korea. As an extraordinarily talented student, Joon-Sang is welcomed by his fellow students as well as teachers, but remains a quiet, introverted young man. As a result of his belief that his father is dead, as well as conflict with his mother, Joon-Sang believes that no one truly loves him.
One day on the ride to school, Joon-Sang's classmate Yoo-Jin interrupts him on the bus. Joon-Sang soon falls in love with Yoo-Jin, who opens herself to him with an innocent heart. Their love, however, is cut short after Joon-Sang is involved in a serious auto-accident and, due to brain damage, is unable to recall his past life.
Joon-Sang's mother, desiring 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-Hyeong. His friends and teachers are told that Joon-Sang is dead.
Ten years later, Min-Hyeong 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 Yoo-Jin sees him on the street, prompting her to put off her engagement to childhood friend Sang-Hyeok. Little does she know that Min-Hyeong is dating her friend and sometime rival Che-Rin. The story's plot intensifies when Yoo-Jin begins work at the firm where Min-Hyeong is employed, and tries to find out if he is her lost lover Joon-Sang.

Cast :
Bae Yong-joon as Kang Joon-sang / Lee Min-Hyeong
Choi Ji-woo as Jeong Yoo-jin
Park Yong-ha as Kim Sang-Hyeok
Park Sol Mi as Oh Che-Rin
Lee Hye Eun as Jin Seok
Ryu Seung Soo as Yong-Gook

Choi Ji-woo & Bae Yong Jun

Park Yong-ha

Park Sol-mi

It is a sad news that one of the actors in this series, Park Yong-ha had committed suicide in year 2010. Actually his acting was not bad in this series. He also had became popular after this series has out. Like I mentioned above, this series was filming at the Nami Island. I visited this place before and no doubt, it is a very beautiful place. I visited there in year 2007, I was so excited and happy when I reached there due to I was standing on place where this series, which is also my favourite series was filming. :P I was taken many pictures here.

As per the tile of the series, " Winter", this series is having snow scenes most of the time. This makes the series so romantic and beautiful. Moreover the songs of the series are also very beautiful. The theme song of this series, " My Memory" performed by Ryu, I like this song very, very much as I think it is a very beautiful ballade.

OK, let us take a peek of some of the beautiful scenes of "Winter Sonata" here.

Animation series has been made after few years of the TV series. The story is quite similar to the TV series. Provides here some scenes of the anime series for you.