The 2004 phenomenon 'I'm Sorry, I Love You', which created the "Misaeng" syndrome, has been reborn as a 6-episode director's cut after 20 years.
'I'm Sorry, I Love You' tells the story of Cha Mu-hyuk (played by So Ji-sub) and Song Eun-chae (played by Im Soo-jung), who, after being adopted to Australia in childhood and growing up as a street child, experience a love so intense that they are not afraid of death. It was a 16-episode drama that aired on KBS 2TV in 2004. At the time of airing, it recorded a peak viewership rating of 28.6% in the metropolitan area and 29.2% in non-metropolitan areas, producing a significant number of "Misaeng" fans with its unprecedented sad ending.
The local OTT platform Wavve has reborn 'I'm Sorry, I Love You', one of the representative dramas of the 2000s that is often mentioned as a masterpiece, into a 6-episode series through its 2024 'New Classic Project'.
Director Lee Hyung-min, who directed 'I'm Sorry, I Love You', stated, "I felt honored when I received Wavve's proposal. Once a drama is aired, it quickly disappears, and I think Wavve has caught that point well." He added, "I heard that many people watch classic dramas on YouTube. I thought it would be nice if dramas with fandoms were remade so that both those who loved the original and new viewers could enjoy it together."
Given the immense love the original work received, there must have been considerable pressure regarding its rebirth as a 6-episode series. There were also concerns about the reactions from the existing fandom.
Director Lee Hyung-min explained, "There was no guideline on how many episodes to edit it into. We discussed various options, including making it into a movie." He continued, "We set a basic principle not to touch the core scenes. We preserved every important expression of So Ji-sub and Im Soo-jung. For 'Misaeng' fans, it might raise the question, 'Where did my favorite scene go?' Since the original exists, I hope you can see it as a slightly different version. I am a bit worried about how it will be received."
He also mentioned the striking fashion of So Ji-sub and Im Soo-jung that became a hot topic at the time. Director Lee Hyung-min praised, "In the past, exaggerated or stereotypical acting was common, but So Ji-sub and Im Soo-jung acted as if they were their characters." He added, "The costumes and hairstyles were actually styles that were not easy to accept at that time. It seems to fit better with today's trends."
Regarding Im Soo-jung's rainbow knitwear that became a topic of discussion, he said, "After filming a scene in Australia, we needed to shoot it again later, but the actress couldn't find the outfit. It was all sold out." He also mentioned, "So Ji-sub, being a street guy, wore a hip-hop style blanket-like ragged outfit, which wouldn't have worked if it weren't for So Ji-sub." He added, "At that time, there was a passion to 'give it a try,' and I think we matched well."
Director Lee Hyung-min stated, "While editing this time, I watched 'I'm Sorry, I Love You' from start to finish again. Trends have changed a lot, but the emotions back then were realistic and relatable. In some ways, it might seem outdated, but it definitely has its strengths."
He continued, "I thought a little about why there aren't dramas like this these days. Nowadays, there are many fantasy and webtoon-based stories, as well as genre pieces." He added, "While it's good to keep adjusting to new needs, I hope that stories that provide fun and emotion to viewers can coexist with new trends."
[Shin Young-eun, Star Today Reporter]
