Secret Garden (2010 South Korean Television Series)
Secret Garden is a South Korean television series that aired on SBS from November 13, 2010, to January 16, 2011. The 20-episode fantasy-romance drama was directed by Shin Woo-cheol, Kwon Hyuk-chan, and Kim Jung-hyun, with a screenplay written by Kim Eun-sook.
Plot Synopsis
The story centers on Kim Joo-won (Hyun Bin), a wealthy and arrogant CEO of a luxury department store, and Gil Ra-im (Ha Ji-won), a dedicated but impoverished stunt woman. Their lives intersect unexpectedly when Joo-won mistakes Ra-im for an actress during a request from his cousin, the popular singer Oska (Yoon Sang-hyun). Despite their vastly different social standings, Joo-won finds himself increasingly drawn to Ra-im.
The narrative takes a supernatural turn when the characters visit Jeju Island. After becoming lost and encountering a mysterious restaurant owner, they are given a floral wine. Upon consuming it, they wake up to discover that their souls have switched bodies, forcing them to navigate each other's lives and personal challenges.
Production
The production process for Secret Garden began with its first script reading on August 14, 2010, with filming commencing in September 2010. The casting process involved several changes; notably, Jay Park and Jang Hyuk were initially considered for roles before Hyun Bin was finalized as the male lead. The series occupied the Saturday and Sunday 22:00 time slot on SBS, succeeding Life is Beautiful and preceding New Tales of the Gisaeng.
Cast
The series features a large ensemble cast, including:
- Ha Ji-won as Gil Ra-im
- Hyun Bin as Kim Joo-won
- Yoon Sang-hyun as Oska
- Kim Sa-rang as Yeun-sul
- Lee Jong-suk as Han Tae-sun
- Yoo In-na as Min Ah-young
- Phillip Lee as Im Jong-soo
Reception and Awards
Secret Garden achieved significant commercial success and high viewership ratings throughout its run, concluding with a nationwide rating of 31.4% for its final episode. In 2011, the series received recognition at the 6th Seoul International Drama Awards, winning in categories including Outstanding Korean Drama, Outstanding Korean Director, Outstanding Korean Screenwriter, and Outstanding Korean Drama OST for the song "That Woman" by Baek Ji-young.