Revolves around a woman who has a chance to rise in status but falls into a bottomless pit, and eventually finds a chance to seek happiness. It also involves a man who tries to find happiness in her.
He is the only heir to Haeseong Group and the head of Strategic Planning Team. He is a third generation chaebol who has returned from the US after finishing his MBA. He is a gentleman with admirable physique and elegance. He takes pride in the fact that he practices Noblesse Oblige unlike other chaebols who like to power trip. When the "perpetrator" of an accident involving his car, Seo Ji-An, is later revealed to be his younger sister, 'Choi Eun-seok', his life takes a new turn.
She is on a probationary two-year contract with the marketing team of Haeseong Group. Before her father went bankrupt 10 years ago, she used to be the original 'girl crush'. Everyone admires her competitive spirit and cheerful personality. Now she only dreams of being a full-time employee of the Haeseong Group. When that dream is shattered by a friend with wealth and connections, she hits rock bottom. Then, like a miracle, she gets a chance to reverse her life as the daughter of Haeseong Group, Choi Eun-seok. She chooses to take the silver spoon, mainly because she is at her wits' end. But unexpected challenges are waiting for her.
He is Seo Ji-an's high school friend. With a major in interior design, he runs a DIY furniture shopping mall. He has a cheerful and feisty personality, but he also has a cranky side and his likes and dislikes are very clear. Ever since he fell in love with Ji-an at first sight in high school, he has had a crush on her. He does not realize that Ji-soo, who has a crush on him, is Ji-an's twin sister.
Ji-an's twin sister. After graduating from vocational college, she has been making a living as a part-timer for years. She is without a worry in the world. Since she loves bread so much, she gets a job at a local bakery. Without knowing the relationship between Ji-an and Hyuk, she has a secret crush on Hyuk. When her twin sister enters the chaebol family, she learns the secret behind her birth and becomes confused as she is the real Choi Eun-seok.
Tae-soo has been the breadwinner for his family for his entire life. He previously had a successful life as a self-made businessman, but after going bankrupt some years earlier, he has been working as a day laborer but struggles with discrimination due to his older age and his wife being vocal of her shame at his plight.
She lived as a housewife with love and dedication to her family. She constantly gives her husband Tae-soo a hard time due to his having gone bankrupt - she is upset and disappointed, and she is terribly worried about her children and how they struggle to survive. Reality makes her a pessimist. She prays that her daughter Ji-an, who enters a chaebol family, does not end up like her.
Lee Tae-sung as Seo Ji-tae, the twins' older brother
Ji-tae is the eldest of Tae-soo's four children. Having graduated from university abroad, he is the envy of his younger siblings as he has a full-time job and a steady girlfriend. Burdened with having to help pay off his father's debt, he hides his own struggles from his family and will do anything for them, including sacrificing his own happiness.
Shin Hyun-soo as Seo Ji-ho, the twins' younger brother
Ji-ho is the youngest of Tae-soo's four children. At the beginning of the series, he was a high school student preparing for the college entrance exam and worked part-time to save up for his college tuition. Cheerful and happy-go-lucky by nature, he is doted on by his family and is fiercely protective of his siblings.
Choi Do-kyung's family
Jeon No-min as Choi Jae-sung, Do-kyung's father. He and Myung-hee were university sweethearts and he married her even after finding out about her background as a chaebol heiress. Although he works for his in-laws' company, he feels suffocated and despises the cold mannerisms and lack of personal relationships between his in-laws.
Na Young-hee as Noh Myung-hee, mother of Do-kyung & Seo-hyun and elder daughter of Noh Yang-ho. She is portrayed in the story unsympathetically as a rather self-centered lady, possibly because of her upbringing and manipulation of her overbearing father. She tends to be uncaring towards others, especially people of inferior wealth and influence in comparison with her.
Lee Da-in as Choi Seo-hyun, Do-kyung's younger sister. Although appearing to be a typical "golden child", she hides a more rebellious side of her from her brother and parents and wishes to explore the world outside of her family's bubble of wealthy friends and connections. She feels left out when her parents, especially the mother, fuss so much over the return of her missing sister.
Shin Hye-sun / Seo Eun-soo as Choi Eun-seok, long lost daughter of Haesung Group. Seo Ji-an enters the Haesung Group chaebol family as Choi Eun-seok. But later it is revealed that Seo Ji-soo, fraternal twin of Ji-an may be the actual Choi Eun-seok.
Haesung Group
Kim Byung-ki as Noh Yang-ho, the family patriarch and former chairman of Haesung Group
Jeon Soo-kyeong as Noh Jin-hee, Noh Yang-ho's younger daughter
Yoo Ha-bok as Jung Myung-soo, Noh Jin-Hee's husband
Seo Kyung-hwa as Min Deul-lae, Choi family's household manager
Wi Ha-joon as Ryu Jae-shin, Choi Seo-hyun's former driver
Extended
Jung So-young as Sunwoo Hee , Sunwoo Hyuk's elder sister
The drama became one of the fastest-growing in ratings among KBS2 TV series in the same timeslot, starting with 19.7% for the first episode and surpassing 30% mark (30.9%) in 8 episodes.[10] It went on to become the fastest to reach the National Drama level of 40% rating (41.2% in 30 episodes) among KBS2 TV series in the same timeslot.[11][12]
The drama was praised as an atypical family drama, avoiding cliches such as family conflicts and typical "Cinderella stories" with "happily-ever-after" endings, instead focusing on pursuing personal happiness based on one's own decision.[13] There was more thorough characterization and focus on characters' emotions and personal journeys, which were praised by viewers as making the characters much more relatable.[14][15] The series has been noted for highlighting current social issues in South Korean society, such as the breaking down of the traditional family unit in more recent times, discrimination against older and lower to middle-income workers and the struggles faced by the "N-po" generation.[16]
Because of its popularity, it was also the first KBS2 drama in the same timeslot to have a special episode. The 2½-hour program consisted of behind-the-scenes footage, cast and staff interviews, director's cuts of the first 10 episodes. It aired on October 4, 2017, from 3:25 to 6 pm (KST) during the Chuseok national holiday period.[17]
Viewership
My Golden Life : South Korea viewers per episode (millions)
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
