A Love So Beautiful (Korean: 아름다웠던 우리에게; RR: Areumdawotdeon Uriege; lit. To Us Who Were Beautiful) is a South Korean streaming television series based on the 2017 Chinese series of the same name, which is based on novel To Our Pure Little Beauty by Zhao Qianqian, which aired on Tencent Video.[1] The series, starring Kim Yo-han, So Joo-yeon, Yeo Hoe-hyun, Jo Hye-joo and Jeong Jin-hwan, is directed by Seo Min-jeong and written by Choi Yoo-jeong and Jang Yu-yeon.[2]
The plot of this coming-of-age drama revolves around the life of three high school students and their friends from youth to adulthood.[3] It premiered on KakaoTV on December 28, 2020, and aired new episodes every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday at 17:00 (KST). It is available worldwide for streaming on Netflix.[4]
The web series aired its last episode on February 20, 2021, garnering 37.3 million cumulative views over its run of 24 episodes.[5]
Synopsis
The series is a story of five high school friends and their journey through high school to adulthood. Seventeen-year-old Shin Sol-i (So Joo-yeon) is a cheerful female student from Chun Ji High School. She has a crush on her fellow student and neighbor Cha Heon (Kim Yo-han). She repeatedly confesses her love to Cha Heon, who appears distant, but is in fact awkward when it comes to expressing his feelings. Woo Dae-seong (Yeo Hoe-hyun), a national swimmer, transfers to Chun Ji High School and falls in love with Shin Sol-i.
Cast
Main
Kim Yo-han as Cha Heon, an awkward, quiet teenage boy with a warm heart [6]
So Joo-yeon as Shin Sol-i, a bubbly high school student who has a crush on her neighbor, Cha Heon[7]
Yeo Hoe-hyun as Woo Dae-seong, a transfer student and good swimmer who falls in love with Sol-i
Jo Hye-joo as Kang Ha-young, Shin Sol-i's best friend, Jeong Jin-hwan's crush, his future wife
Jeong Jin-hwan as Jeong Jin-hwan, Shin Sol-i's best friend, Kang Ha-yeong's husband
Supporting
Yang Yoo-jin as Seo Ji-soo, Cha Heon's fellow doctor
It is summer of 2020, and Shin Sol-i (So Joo-yeon) is standing in front of Yuil High School. The flashback begins in the spring of 2006, when she was seventeen. She and Cha Heon (Kim Yo-han), who live in the same building, are classmates. She has a crush on him and tries to express her feelings many times in different ways. Jeong Jin-hwan, her close friend, helps her in her efforts. Woo Dae-seong (Yeo Hoi-hyun), an athletic swimmer, joins the class as a transfer student. From day one he starts liking her and calls her his brother. Cha Heon is very reserved and is a warm-hearted and has a soft spot for Sol-i.
2
"At the Karaoke"
Seo Min-jeong
Choi Yoo-jeong &
Jang Yu-yeon
December 31, 2020 (2020-12-31)
The friend group of Sol-i goes to karaoke. Sol-i loses her bike. Dae-seong invites all his friends to his swim meet, where he wins a silver medal. Heon holds his father's memorial service alone as his mother is not able to come to Korea. Sol-i goes to Heon's house to give him a bottle given by her mother. She finds Heon deliriously lying on the sofa, burning with a fever. She gives him cold compresses.
3
"Pick Me Up!"
Seo Min-jeong
Choi Yoo-jeong &
Jang Yu-yeon
January 2, 2021 (2021-01-02)
Sol-i runs for class president. On election day she delivers a sincere speech, committing to do her best and improve herself. She loses the election by the deciding vote of Heon, who votes for Hui-ji. Sol-i kicks Heon on the shin for not voting for her. As class vice president, she is assigned to collect money for field day t-shirts. She loses the money envelope kept in her notebook by mistakenly giving it as her assignment to her teacher. Heon recovers the money from the staff room. When Miss Moon asks for the money, she admits her mistake of losing it and thanks Heon for recovering it. Miss Moon praises her saying that everyone makes the mistakes but it is courageous to admit them.
4
"Field Day"
Seo Min-jeong
Choi Yoo-jeong &
Jang Yu-yeon
January 4, 2021 (2021-01-04)
Sol-i wonders how to afford a birthday present for Heon. The class finds out that the prize money for the winning class in the field day is a lot of money. She participates in a hurdle race to win. Dae-seong and Heon try to help her out. The crew help Ha-young to skip class to go meet her father.
5
"Drama Festival (feat. Let's Go, Baby)"
Seo Min-jeong
Choi Yoo-jeong &
Jang Yu-yeon
January 7, 2021 (2021-01-07)
The class forms groups to perform plays for the drama festival. Sol-i and Hui-ji both attempt to recruit Heon for their team. Dae-seong and Sol-i practice their lines for the play together. Dae-seong admits that he enjoys his time at this new school very much, since he gets to do many things that he never did before. Ha-young realizes she might have a crush. At the drama festival, a mix-up occurs.
6
"Don't go"
Seo Min-jeong
Choi Yoo-jeong &
Jang Yu-yeon
January 9, 2021 (2021-01-09)
Sol-i is very upset over the mishap at the drama festival, and Heon's reaction afterward. Her friends try to cheer her up, but their efforts are in vain. Sol-i considers transferring to a new school, and discusses this with her parents and her teacher. Heon asks her not to go.
7
"Game of Truth"
Seo Min-jeong
Choi Yoo-jeong &
Jang Yu-yeon
January 11, 2021 (2021-01-11)
The crew all start a new school year, and they are again in the same class. Jin-hwan decides to participate in a song competition and manages to pass the first audition. All of them travel to the callback round to cheer him on. They decide to stay out for a night after the audition is finished. Each of them tell their parents that they are staying over at their friend's house. They decide to play a game where they write a truth on a piece of paper each, and then pick up a random one, with the promise that they will never reveal the truth to anyone. Sol-i finds out this way that someone in the group likes her.
8
"Happy Birthday"
Seo Min-jeong
Choi Yoo-jeong &
Jang Yu-yeon
January 14, 2021 (2021-01-14)
Sol-i asks Heon to hang out with her the next week, and he agrees. It also happens to be Sol-i's birthday. Ha-young and Jin-hwan try to think of a present for her. Sol-i tries to get tickets to a MUFC match, since it is Heon's favourite team. Heon becomes jealous when he sees their friends planning for Sol-i's surprise and upsets her. Sol-i manages to get tickets for the match from her dad. Things do not go as expected, but Sol-i and Heon still manage to have a good time together.
9
"We Need to Talk"
Seo Min-jeong
Choi Yoo-jeong &
Jang Yu-yeon
January 16, 2021 (2021-01-16)
Sol-i is uncomfortable after discovering the note was actually from Dae-seong. He brushes it off by saying it was only a joke. Ha-young saves Jin-hwan from some bullies taking his money. Heon helps Sol-i make a good impression during a class debate, finally he warms up to her charms.
10
"Don't Worry.mp3"
Seo Min-jeong
Choi Yoo-jeong &
Jang Yu-yeon
January 18, 2021 (2021-01-18)
A flu outbreak at the school disrupts the daily routine. Heon continues to notice Dae-seong doing nice things specifically for Sol-i. Sol-i is comforted during her short stay in the infirmary due to Heon's efforts. Hui-ji's efforts to win Heon's attention are unsuccessful.
11
"White Christmas"
Seo Min-jeong
Choi Yoo-jeong &
Jang Yu-yeon
January 21, 2021 (2021-01-21)
Christmas is fast approaching, and Sol-i wonders about a present for Heon. Ha-young tells her a card alone might not suffice since Hui-ji is knitting a scarf for him. Sol-i's parents find Sol-i's card for Heon at home and wonder who Sol-i has a crush on. Everyone eagerly waits for snow on Christmas Eve, and it finally does. Sol-i gifts Heon a wish bracelet and a card.
12
"Declaration of Love"
Seo Min-jeong
Choi Yoo-jeong &
Jang Yu-yeon
January 23, 2021 (2021-01-23)
At the beginning of the new school year, the class goes on a volunteer trip, which ends with a barbeque. Sol-i plans for a grand proposal to tell Heon her feelings at the barbeque with the help of Ha-young and Jin-hwan. At the moment Heon is supposed to arrive, Hui-ji appears, and this leads to a misunderstanding on Sol-i's part, which leaves her disappointed.
13
"Raindrop"
Seo Min-jeong
Choi Yoo-jeong &
Jang Yu-yeon
January 25, 2021 (2021-01-25)
Sol-i is still very disappointed about what happened at the picnic. Her friends try to get to cheer her up. Dae-seong helps cheer her up, while also confronting a shoulder injury hampers his training. Heon tries to get back on Sol-i's good side. Hui-ji is found hiding some secrets.
Ha-young finds Hui-ji collapsing in the restroom, after she has been found stealing from the nurse's office. Girls in the class look for a four-leaf clover to give to their crushes. Jin-hwan finds out Ha-young actually has a crush on someone else, and isn't him. This realization worsens Jin-hwan's heart condition and he is hospitalized.
15
"University, University, University!"
Seo Min-jeong
Choi Yoo-jeong &
Jang Yu-yeon
January 30, 2021 (2021-01-30)
The students begin to developing shortlist the universities they would like to attend after graduation from high school. Sol-i worries when the university Heon wants to attend would take him far away. Ha-young visits Jin-hwan at the hospital.
16
"Collect Our Dreams"
Seo Min-jeong
Choi Yoo-jeong &
Jang Yu-yeon
February 1, 2021 (2021-02-01)
Heon tells his mother his plans to attend a different university than she intended for him. When Dae-seong's grandmother goes missing, and he frantically searches for her. It forces him to rethink his priorities in for his future. He chooses to pursue swimming wholeheartedly and leave Sol-i behind.
17
"First Kiss"
Seo Min-jeong
Choi Yoo-jeong &
Jang Yu-yeon
February 4, 2021 (2021-02-04)
As all her friends get into college, Sol-i feels down about herself. Heon encourages her to keep trying, and promises he'll help. With his help, Sol-i is able to retake the CSAT, and gets accepted into Hankuk University as a result. The friends gather for drinks to celebrate her acceptance, and afterwards, Heon and Sol-i have their first kiss.
18
"Love Generation"
Seo Min-jeong
Choi Yoo-jeong &
Jang Yu-yeon
February 6, 2021 (2021-02-06)
Sol-i is elated when Heon makes their relationship official. Not wanting to worry Ha-young, Jin-hwan keeps a secret from her.
19
"Farewell Formula"
Seo Min-jeong
Choi Yoo-jeong &
Jang Yu-yeon
February 8, 2021 (2021-02-08)
Struggling with her job search, and with putting up with Heon's demanding work schedule, Sol-i snaps when she finds out he may be leaving for America.
20
"It's Been A While"
Seo Min-jeong
Choi Yoo-jeong &
Jang Yu-yeon
February 11, 2021 (2021-02-11)
Hearing her dad's been hospitalized, Sol-i hurries over - and bumps into Heon, who returns to Korea. All the friends gather for drinks.
21
"Your Wedding"
Seo Min-jeong
Choi Yoo-jeong &
Jang Yu-yeon
February 13, 2021 (2021-02-13)
Sol-i calls Heon about his actions the night before. Everyone comes together for Ha-young and Jin-hwan's wedding.
22
"Begin Again"
Seo Min-jeong
Choi Yoo-jeong &
Jang Yu-yeon
February 15, 2021 (2021-02-15)
Heon shows up to a gathering in his old school uniform and gets honest about his feelings. Dae-seong decides it's time to bare his heart to Sol-i.
23
"Dear My Honey"
Seo Min-jeong
Choi Yoo-jeong &
Jang Yu-yeon
February 18, 2021 (2021-02-18)
A lovely surprise awaits Sol-i outside Heon's hospital. The next day, Sol-i's parents come to visit her without notice.
24
"From, Honey"
Seo Min-jeong
Choi Yoo-jeong &
Jang Yu-yeon
February 20, 2021 (2021-02-20)
Looking back on all they've endured together, Heon recounts to Sol-i how he came to fall in love with her.
Production
Development
On July 1, 2020, Kakao M announced it would broadcast a remake of the 2017 Chinese series A Love So Beautiful in the form of a miniseries which was in the early stages of production.[8] Produced by WhyNot Media, it is scheduled to air for 24 episodes of 20 minutes each.[9]
Casting
On July 6, 2020 it was reported that Kim Yo-han and So Joo-yeon were considering appearing in the series.[10] On July 27, Kakao M confirmed that So Joo-yeon, Kim Yo-han and Yeo Hoe-hyun were cast in lead roles. In August, Jo Hye-joo joined the cast of the series as the protagonist's best friend.[11]
Promotion
In December 2020, a preview video was released by Kakao M along with character sketches.[12][13]
^Mo Siqige (December 19, 2017). "网剧《致我们单纯的小美好》收官 胡一天人气急升" [The net drama "To Our Simple Little Beauty" ends with Hu Yitian's rising popularity]. Guangzhou Daily (in Chinese). Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
^Lee, Woo-joo (July 27, 2020). "김요한·소주연·여회현, '아름다웠던 우리에게' 출연 확정...中 드라마 리메이크 [공식]" [Kim Yo-han, So Joo-yeon and Yeo Hoe-hyun confirmed to appear in'To Us Who Was Beautiful'...Chinese drama remake [Official]]. Chosun. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
^"김요한X소주연X여회현, '아름다웠던 우리에게' 캐스팅…첫사랑 소환 [공식입장]" [Kim Yo-han x So Joo-yeon x Yeo Hoe-hyun, cast 'To Us Who Was Beautiful'... First Love Summon [Official Position]]. Xports News (in Korean). July 27, 2020. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
^"조혜주, '아름다웠던 우리에게' 캐스팅! 걸크러시 여고생 변신" [Cho Hye-joo, cast'To Us Who Was Beautiful'! Girl Crush School Girl Transformation]. YTN (in Korean). August 10, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
^Seo, Sang-hyun (December 16, 2020). "'아름다웠던 우리에게'김요한X소주연X여회현, 메인 예고 공개" ['To us who were beautiful' Kim Yo-han x So Joo-yeon x Yeo Hoe-hyun, the main notice revealed]. Top Daily (in Korean). Retrieved December 16, 2020.
^Shin, Young-eun (December 15, 2020). "'아름다웠던 우리에게' 김요한X소주연X여회현, 캐릭터 포스터 공개" ['To us who were beautiful' Kim Yo-han x So Joo-yeon x Yeo Hoe-hyun, character poster released]. Daily Economy Star Today (in Korean). Maekyung. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
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