The Korean drama “I’m Sorry, I Love You,” which aired in 2004, is still in the hearts of many people. This work, which combines the themes of birth secrets, revenge, and passionate love, has established itself as a masterpiece thanks to its sensual direction and the passionate performances of the actors. Why is that?
In the winter of 2004, there was a Korean drama that touched the hearts of many people. The title of this Korean drama was “I’m Sorry, I Love You,” and it was so popular that it became a buzzword throughout the country. In fact, the ratings were not very high at the time of its broadcast, in the mid-20s. This was due to the popularity of the drama “Love Story in Harvard,” which was aired on another network, and I actually missed the broadcast because I was watching that drama. However, “I’m Sorry, I Love You” won the best drama award at the Korean Broadcasting Awards that year, and it was rebroadcast the following summer to celebrate. Before watching this drama, I was more interested in historical dramas or comedies. For me, who used to watch dramas to relieve boredom, “I’m Sorry, I Love You” brought out the sensitivity in my heart that I had never tapped into. I usually didn’t like movies because I couldn’t concentrate on anything for more than two hours. However, this drama was so addictive that I have watched it 10 times so far, and I even watched it again on YouTube a month ago.
The drama starts in Melbourne, an urban area in Australia. The main character, Cha Moo-hyuk, who was adopted by an Australian family, has been living like a gangster since he was a child, but he has never been frustrated. His dream is to return to Korea and provide for his parents who abandoned him. However, he faces a life of terminal illness after taking two bullets to save the woman he loves. In the end, he returns to Korea to find his parents, but is filled with anger when he sees his mother living a wealthy life. After his hopes are cruelly shattered, Cha Moo-hyuk vows to take revenge on his parents for the rest of his life. Then he meets the female lead, Song Eun-chae, and what he thought was a coincidence turns into a relationship. He tries to dedicate the rest of his life to love with her, but his inner conflict grows day by day due to external circumstances that hinder him.
This drama can be summarized as the story of a man’s fateful revenge after being abandoned by his parents, and of a love so passionate that it is worth giving one’s life for. In fact, there are many works that deal with birth secrets or heartbreaking love. Although the ratings for “I’m Sorry, I Love You” were not very high at the time, the backlash was so great that VOD and animated remakes were made later. In addition, it has maintained a steady audience through reruns on various channels. What is the secret to cultivating “drama addicts” and receiving the love of viewers for a long time?
First of all, the excellent direction of “I’m Sorry, I Love You” stands out. The drama opens with a beautiful view of Australia and the bustling city of Melbourne. This made a strong impression at the beginning of the drama and helped to draw the viewers’ attention to the drama. In addition, the costumes of Cha Moo-hyuk and Song Eun-chae are also part of the staging and a tool to guess their personalities. Cha Moo-hyuk’s messy hair and long flowing clothes are symbolic of his rough personality. In addition, Song Eun-chae’s rainbow knit and ugg boots dramatically reveal her innocence. And the drama’s OST, “Snow Flower,” which plays in the background, has the effect of imprinting the first half of the drama on the viewers. Therefore, the first meeting between Cha Moo-hyuk and Song Eun-chae can be remembered as an impressive scene through these audiovisual images.
In fact, scenes are created in the drama that allow viewers to recall the first meeting of the main characters. Therefore, the audience can more easily relate to the vague memories of the main characters. In addition, at the end of the last meeting, Song Eun-chae returns to Australia to visit the grave of the deceased Cha Moo-hyuk. In this scene, Song Eun-chae recalls the streets she walked with Cha Moo-hyuk and shows the fond memories that flash through her mind. Through this scene, I could easily empathize with her feelings of regret and lingering emotions. This is due to the excellent direction of this drama.
Next, we hear Cha Moo-hyuk’s monologue, which is expressed through a well-written script. “I’m Sorry, I Love You” emphasizes Cha Moo-hyuk’s psychological state through monologues. Through this, viewers can feel his emotions, which are hot-tempered and restrained at the same time. In addition, the internal conflict that Cha Mu-hyuk feels is mentioned through repeated monologues. There is one line that clearly shows Cha Mu-hyuk’s psychology when he tries to take revenge on his parents for abandoning him through his love for Song Eun-chae.
“God, if you really exist, I promise you this. Song Eun-chae, if you let me be with her for the rest of my life, if you comfort me with her for the rest of my life, if you don’t touch me anymore, I’ll just stop here. I’ll throw all my hatred and anger into the trash and close my eyes quietly. I promise you that.”
Cha Mu-hyuk recites the above lines as a monologue whenever a situation arises that gets in the way of his love for her. Viewers can understand and empathize with his feelings through the monologue without having to speak. The following is a heartbreaking monologue by Cha Mu-hyuk as he faces death.
“I should never have come back. I should have just lived like a piece of trash and disappeared quietly like a piece of trash.”
This is a scene that allows viewers to feel Cha Moo-hyuk’s heart as he realizes that his anger and revenge against his parents, as well as his love for them, are all in vain in the face of death. I think this scene leaves a lasting impression because the audience can best understand his feelings.
Another reason why “I’m Sorry, I Love You” is so popular is that it deals with various themes of love. It not only deals with the love between the main characters, but also appropriately shows the love between parents and children and between siblings. The scene where the mother calls someone “son” and cries next to her photo is maximized through the combination of the play’s staging and monologues. In the end, viewers feel even more wistful as they watch Cha Moo-hyuk shed tears of regret for the anger and revenge that resulted from a misunderstanding, and for his mother’s boundless love.
The acting skills and performances of the main characters are also the reasons why this drama is loved by many. So Ji-sub as Cha Moo-hyuk and Im Soo-jung as Song Eun-chae, the two main characters, were able to blend into their roles in the drama, making it easier for viewers to immerse themselves in the drama. It is impressive that both actors consider “I’m Sorry, I Love You” to be their most memorable work. I think the viewers felt the same way because they had a special affection for their characters in the drama.
In order to become a drama that people will remember for a long time, it must be produced with perfection. To achieve perfection, as mentioned above, the production, the content, and the acting of the actors must be flawless. In addition, the selection of suitable background music, which many people point out, plays the role of “seasoning” for the drama. “I’m Sorry, I Love You” was made with all these elements, which is why it has become a popular work. If fans of “I’m Sorry, I Love You” go beyond their love for the drama and develop a fondness for the characters in the drama, it is probably because they still feel a sense of regret and longing for the love that could not be realized.
If we look at recent dramas, we can see that exaggerated staging and dialogue are often created for the purpose of being topical and box-office hits. While we cannot ignore the commercial nature of the drama itself to increase ratings and sales, this can be a factor that reduces the quality of the work. Excessive brand advertising and indiscriminate use of background music in the drama also reduce the concentration of the drama. Instant drama production may be commercially successful, but it will not be welcomed by self-proclaimed drama fanatics. Although standards may change with the times, it is worth considering why a drama that is well over 10 years old, such as the drama “I’m Sorry, I Love You,” remains an unforgettable masterpiece.
