Worlds Within[2] (Korean그들이 사는 세상; RRGeudeuli Saneun Sesang; lit. The World That They Live In) is a 2008 South Korean television series starring Song Hye-kyo and Hyun Bin. It centers on the personal and professional lives of those in the broadcasting industry, offering a realistic look at Korean drama production through the work and romance of two TV directors.[3] The series aired on KBS2 from October 27 to December 16, 2008, on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:50 (KST) for 16 episodes.

Worlds Within
Promotional poster
GenreRomance
Drama
Written byNoh Hee-kyung
Directed byPyo Min-soo
Kim Kyu-tae
StarringSong Hye-kyo
Hyun Bin
ComposerChoi Wan-hee[1]
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes16
Production
Executive producerAhn Jae-hyung
ProducerHwang Eui-kyung
Production locationsSouth Korea
Indonesia
CinematographyKim Jae-hwan
Kang Jang-soo
EditorKim Young-joo
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time60 minutes
Production companyYEG Film Book
Original release
NetworkKorean Broadcasting System
ReleaseOctober 27 (2008-10-27) –
December 16, 2008 (2008-12-16)
Korean name
Hangul
그들이 사는 세상
Hanja
그들이 사는
Revised RomanizationGeudeuli Saneun Sesang
McCune–ReischauerKŭdŭli Sanŭn Sesang

Song previously worked with director Pyo Min-soo on Full House (2004).[4][5]

Synopsis

edit

Jung Ji-oh (Hyun Bin) and Joo Joon-young (Song Hye-kyo) are two people with vastly different backgrounds. Joon-young is a daughter from a rich family who faces problems regarding her mother's gambling habits and affairs with multiple men; while Ji-oh is a son from a poor family of farmers, though he loves his mom dearly. They were lovers back in their college days, but later had a complicated break-up due to their separate relationships with other people.

When they eventually got back together, Ji-oh and Joon-young began to learn from each other and eventually Joon-young becomes more expressive, warm and understanding. However, Joon-young's mother doesn't approve of Ji-oh, due to his poor background. Ji-oh's pride is deeply wounded by the treatment of Joon-young's mother, so he decides to break up with Joon-young. Joon-young is deeply hurt and doesn't realize the reason of their break-up, and Ji-oh constantly pushes her away. Though he still loves her, he is bothered by their differences in wealth, values and personality. Later, Ji-oh suffers an eye disease which requires an operation and results in him not being able to film. Many conflicts stand in the way of Ji-oh and Joon-young, will they overcome them and make their relationship work?

Cast

edit

Main

edit
A rookie director who is now attracting attention in broadcasting circles. She is strong-willed, grumpy and clumsy, but is honest and passionate about work and love, and has a confident and refreshing personality.
A director who is sharp, full of humanity, and has a warm and passionate personality, making him the envy of his juniors. In addition, the works he directed are evaluated as being excellent in terms of viewership ratings and quality.

Supporting

edit

Broadcasting Station

edit
Her nickname among her directors, staff, and juniors is 'Grandma Devil'. She was a top actress in the past, but after several divorces, she became single again and is enjoying a second heyday in her career as an actress, as well as managing her planning and production company.
A snobbish PD who is selfish and will stop at nothing to get viewership ratings. He is the most popular PD in the three broadcasting companies. His father is a member of the National Assembly and a leading presidential candidate, and his younger brother is the head of an organized crime group. Although he is abrasive and rude, his skills are outstanding. He gradually changes when he encounters innocent and bright rookie actress Hae-jin.
Director of the drama department. At a young age, he created quality works and achieved enough viewership ratings, and even while working at the desk, he achieved both viewership ratings and artistic quality, leading to further success, and is called the best director of the broadcasting station's history.
CP of the drama department. Although he is not of much help to the company, he is compassionate and understanding, likes to joke, and makes everyone work in a comfortable atmosphere. Thanks to this, he is popular among juniors.
He has been working as an assistant director for two years. He has a quick-tempered personality and is the same age as Joon-young.
Drama assistant director. She has a boyish tone, personality, and clothes. She respects Joon-young and Ji-oh.
She started acting at a young age and is a former child actress. Although she has never been in the spotlight as she mainly works as a supporting actor, she is an actress that everyone admires for her modern acting as she gets older.
She is a rookie actress who just debuted, and was the president of the fan club of a celebrity she liked during her school days. She has a pure and bright personality. She changed Gyu-ho, who had a rough and rude peresonality.
Drama writer. She is a workaholic who does not date. She has a reputation for being meticulous in everything and writing scripts exactly on time. She is outspoken and has a unique way of speaking in daily life and scripts.
  • Pan Yoo-geol as Chul-yi
Ji-oh's assistant director.

Others

edit
Joon-young's ex-boyfriend. He is a surgeon at a university hospital.
Ji-oh's ex-girlfriend during college.
  • Yoon Jong-hwa as Song Yoo-min
Gyu-ho's younger brother. He lives as a gangster and is admitted to a mental hospital to avoid interfering with his father, a presidential candidate.
Actor.

Extended

edit

Special appearances

edit
A devoted mother to Ji-oh.
A cruel and immature mother.
A mother who is hospitalized with dementia.
  • Lee Ho-jae as Jung Il-woo
Actor. His ailing wife is in a long-term hospital stay.
Actress. She has a backbreaking husband and son.

Ratings

edit
Ep. Original broadcast date Average audience share
Nielsen Korea
(Nationwide)
Special October 21, 2008 4.8%
1 October 27, 2008 7.1%
2 October 28, 2008 5.8%
3 November 3, 2008 5.5%
4 November 4, 2008 6.5%
5 November 10, 2008 6.2%
6 November 11, 2008 6.2%
7 November 17, 2008 5.1%
8 November 18, 2008 5.6%
9 November 24, 2008 4.8%
10 November 25, 2008 6.5%
11 December 1, 2008 6.5%
12 December 2, 2008 6.1%
13 December 8, 2008 6.5%
14 December 9, 2008 6.4%
15 December 15, 2008 6.9%
16 December 16, 2008 7.7%
Average 6.5%
  • In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.

Awards and nominations

edit
Year Award Category Recipient Result
2008
Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries Hyun Bin Nominated
Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries Song Hye-kyo Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Um Ki-joon Won
Best Supporting Actress Bae Jong-ok Won
Best New Actress Seo Hyo-rim Nominated
Popularity Award, Actor Hyun Bin Nominated
Popularity Award, Actress Song Hye-kyo Nominated
2009 Best New Actor (TV) Um Ki-joon Nominated

References

edit
  1. ^ "Luxurious Set-Up for The World They Live In". KBS Global. 30 October 2008. Archived from the original on 2023-08-07. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
  2. ^ "Worlds Within". KBS World. Korean Broadcasting System. Archived from the original on November 24, 2017. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  3. ^ "Song Hye-go, Hyun Bin Star in New KBS Drama Series" Archived 2016-03-23 at the Wayback Machine. KBS Global. 28 October 2008. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
  4. ^ "Song Hye-kyo Goes Behind the Scenes in New Drama" Archived 2012-05-17 at the Wayback Machine. The Chosun Ilbo. 25 October 2008. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
  5. ^ Interview from the drama set with Song Hye-gyo Archived 2023-04-08 at the Wayback Machine. Dramabeans. 6 October 2008. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
edit