Stairway to Heaven (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Stairway to Heaven is a South Korean television drama
series broadcast by SBS
between late 2003 and early 2004. It stars Choi Ji-woo
, Kwon Sang-woo
, Kim Tae-hee, and Shin Hyun Joon.
) and her best friend, Cha Song-joo (Kwon Sang-woo
) are childhood friends and have a special bond that blossoms into love. They both share the pain of losing a loved one: Song-joo's father died in a traffic accident and Jung-suh's mother dies of cancer. Jung-suh's father marries an actress and brings her real daughter, Han Yoori, and her son, Han Tae-hwa. Yoori is jealous of Jung-Suh and would make her look terrible in front of her mother who begins to turn on Jung-suh. When Jung-suh's father left for work, her stepmother assaulted Jung-Suh. She thwarted Jung-suh's attempts to study abroad with Song Joo, who then left to America to study abroad alone. Her stepmother plotted for Yoori, to win the affections of Song Joo. All the while, Jung-suh tried to be nice to her step brother, Tae-Hwa, who mistook this friendship for affection and falls in love with her.
Three years later, Song-joo comes back from America and Jung-suh rushes to greet him. A jealous Yoori (Kim Tae-hee) tries to stop them from reuniting. As they race to the airport, Yoori intentionally runs her over with her car. Jung-suh is taken to the hospital where a group of people had just died in fire. Yoori swaps Jung-suh's ID with one of the people to fake her death. She took the real Jung-suh to her biological father's home. Tae-Hwa, still in love with Jung-suh, finds out what Yoori had done, but saw the accident as a chance to run away with Jung-suh. Jung-suh loses her memory, and Tae-Hwa moves them away and changes their names.
Five years later, Yoori is soon to be engaged to Song Joo. Song Joo decides that he needs to let go of Jung-suh. He goes to the carousel they used to ride as children and whispers a wish to see Jung-suh just once more. He looks up and sees her on the carousel. Jung-suh, now named Kim Ji-soo works at a small clothing shop while living with Tae-Hwa, now named Chun-soo. Song Joo rushes to Ji-soo and tells her that she is Jung-suh, but she doesn't believe him. Song Joo is determined to make her remember her past and through a series of events, he and Jung-suh become close.
One day, Jung-suh regains her memory when Yoori nearly hits her with her car again. She rushes to tell Song Joo. She forgives Tae-Hwa as she knew he did it out of love. Jung-suh and Song Joo are happy together, until she discovers she has eye cancer. She asks Tae-Hwa to take her away from Song Joo, since she can't bear to see him in pain. Gradually, Jung-suh's vision deteriorates into blindness. Tae-Hwa tells Song Joo and his family the truth. Yoori is arrested and her mother becomes crazy, going to a mental hospital.
Song Joo marries Jung-suh, who is now blind, with the blessing of his and her parents. Jung-suh tells Tae-Hwa that her one wish is to see Song Joo's face one last time. Both Song Joo and Tae-Hwa ask a doctor to let them give Jung-suh one of their corneas, but the doctor tells them that they can't take corneas from live donors. Tae-Hwa wants to grant her wish at all costs and commits suicide in order to donate his cornea to her. He creates a car accident to cause his death. After his death, Jung-suh had the operation and is able to see again. However, Song Joo finds out about Tae-Hwa's death and later on tells Jung-suh. The doctor stated that the tumor has spread to her brain and she has no chance of living. Jung-suh realizing this forgives Tae-Miri (her evil stepmother) and Yoori because of Tae-Hwa. Both Yoori and Tae-Miri feel remorse and apolegetic for Jung-suh. Jung-suh dies a few days later from the same uncurable illness as her mother, at the seaside near her childhood house, in the arms of Song-Joo. The ending scene reverts back to the beginning scene where Song-Joo plays his piano by the ocean of the memorable beach house. He says something like, "that person (Tae-Hwa) might have loved that girl (Jung-suh) more, but i still love her."
In Korea, "Stairway to Heaven" was the second most popular drama in 2004, and one of the most popular Korean dramas in Asian countries. This drama also became quite popular in some Latin-American countries, including Ecuador
, Chile
and Peru
, where it was also broadcast.
made a Philippine version of the series also titled Stairway to Heaven
, the lead characters are named Cholo, Jodi, Tristan, and Eunice. Spanish-language
U.S.
television network Telemundo
planned to produce its adaptation entitled Escalera al Cielo, the Spanish translation of its title.
Korean drama
Korean drama refers to televised dramas, in a miniseries format, produced in the Korean language. Many of these dramas have become popular throughout Asia and have contributed to the general phenomenon of the Korean wave, known as "Hallyu", and also "Drama Fever" in some countries...
series broadcast by SBS
SBS (Korea)
Seoul Broadcasting System is a national South Korean television and radio network. It is the only private commercial broadcaster with a wide regional Network to operate in the country. On March 17, 2009, the company legally became known as SBS, changing its corporate name from Seoul Broadcasting...
between late 2003 and early 2004. It stars Choi Ji-woo
Choi Ji-woo
Choi Ji-woo is a South Korean actress.- Career :Choi was first discovered when she won a talent audition organized by MBC in 1994, and made her debut in the 1995's War and Love, after which she adopted the stage name Choi Ji-woo....
, Kwon Sang-woo
Kwon Sang-woo
-Career:Kwon Sang-woo, the most visible example of the so-called "mom-zzang" movement, started his career as a fashion model in the late 1990s. His first acting experience was in the TV drama Delicious Proposal, and for the first few years of his entertainment career he received only minor roles...
, Kim Tae-hee, and Shin Hyun Joon.
Plot
Han Jung-suh (Choi Ji-wooChoi Ji-woo
Choi Ji-woo is a South Korean actress.- Career :Choi was first discovered when she won a talent audition organized by MBC in 1994, and made her debut in the 1995's War and Love, after which she adopted the stage name Choi Ji-woo....
) and her best friend, Cha Song-joo (Kwon Sang-woo
Kwon Sang-woo
-Career:Kwon Sang-woo, the most visible example of the so-called "mom-zzang" movement, started his career as a fashion model in the late 1990s. His first acting experience was in the TV drama Delicious Proposal, and for the first few years of his entertainment career he received only minor roles...
) are childhood friends and have a special bond that blossoms into love. They both share the pain of losing a loved one: Song-joo's father died in a traffic accident and Jung-suh's mother dies of cancer. Jung-suh's father marries an actress and brings her real daughter, Han Yoori, and her son, Han Tae-hwa. Yoori is jealous of Jung-Suh and would make her look terrible in front of her mother who begins to turn on Jung-suh. When Jung-suh's father left for work, her stepmother assaulted Jung-Suh. She thwarted Jung-suh's attempts to study abroad with Song Joo, who then left to America to study abroad alone. Her stepmother plotted for Yoori, to win the affections of Song Joo. All the while, Jung-suh tried to be nice to her step brother, Tae-Hwa, who mistook this friendship for affection and falls in love with her.
Three years later, Song-joo comes back from America and Jung-suh rushes to greet him. A jealous Yoori (Kim Tae-hee) tries to stop them from reuniting. As they race to the airport, Yoori intentionally runs her over with her car. Jung-suh is taken to the hospital where a group of people had just died in fire. Yoori swaps Jung-suh's ID with one of the people to fake her death. She took the real Jung-suh to her biological father's home. Tae-Hwa, still in love with Jung-suh, finds out what Yoori had done, but saw the accident as a chance to run away with Jung-suh. Jung-suh loses her memory, and Tae-Hwa moves them away and changes their names.
Five years later, Yoori is soon to be engaged to Song Joo. Song Joo decides that he needs to let go of Jung-suh. He goes to the carousel they used to ride as children and whispers a wish to see Jung-suh just once more. He looks up and sees her on the carousel. Jung-suh, now named Kim Ji-soo works at a small clothing shop while living with Tae-Hwa, now named Chun-soo. Song Joo rushes to Ji-soo and tells her that she is Jung-suh, but she doesn't believe him. Song Joo is determined to make her remember her past and through a series of events, he and Jung-suh become close.
One day, Jung-suh regains her memory when Yoori nearly hits her with her car again. She rushes to tell Song Joo. She forgives Tae-Hwa as she knew he did it out of love. Jung-suh and Song Joo are happy together, until she discovers she has eye cancer. She asks Tae-Hwa to take her away from Song Joo, since she can't bear to see him in pain. Gradually, Jung-suh's vision deteriorates into blindness. Tae-Hwa tells Song Joo and his family the truth. Yoori is arrested and her mother becomes crazy, going to a mental hospital.
Song Joo marries Jung-suh, who is now blind, with the blessing of his and her parents. Jung-suh tells Tae-Hwa that her one wish is to see Song Joo's face one last time. Both Song Joo and Tae-Hwa ask a doctor to let them give Jung-suh one of their corneas, but the doctor tells them that they can't take corneas from live donors. Tae-Hwa wants to grant her wish at all costs and commits suicide in order to donate his cornea to her. He creates a car accident to cause his death. After his death, Jung-suh had the operation and is able to see again. However, Song Joo finds out about Tae-Hwa's death and later on tells Jung-suh. The doctor stated that the tumor has spread to her brain and she has no chance of living. Jung-suh realizing this forgives Tae-Miri (her evil stepmother) and Yoori because of Tae-Hwa. Both Yoori and Tae-Miri feel remorse and apolegetic for Jung-suh. Jung-suh dies a few days later from the same uncurable illness as her mother, at the seaside near her childhood house, in the arms of Song-Joo. The ending scene reverts back to the beginning scene where Song-Joo plays his piano by the ocean of the memorable beach house. He says something like, "that person (Tae-Hwa) might have loved that girl (Jung-suh) more, but i still love her."
Cast
| Character | Actor/Actress |
|---|---|
| Cha Song Joo | Kwon Sang-woo Kwon Sang-woo -Career:Kwon Sang-woo, the most visible example of the so-called "mom-zzang" movement, started his career as a fashion model in the late 1990s. His first acting experience was in the TV drama Delicious Proposal, and for the first few years of his entertainment career he received only minor roles... |
| Han Jung-Suh/ Kim Ji-soo | Choi Ji-woo Choi Ji-woo Choi Ji-woo is a South Korean actress.- Career :Choi was first discovered when she won a talent audition organized by MBC in 1994, and made her debut in the 1995's War and Love, after which she adopted the stage name Choi Ji-woo.... |
| Han Yoo-Ri | Kim Tae Hee Kim Tae Hee 'Kim Tae-hee is a South Korean actress and model. She has appeared in several Korean Dramas such as My Princess, Iris and Stairway to Heaven.- Career :... |
| Han Tae-Hwa / Han Chul-soo | Shin Hyun Joon |
| Han Soo Ha - Jung-Suh's father |
Ha Jae Young |
| Tae Mi-ra - Tae-Hwa & Yoo-Ri's mother |
Lee Hui Hyang |
| Han Pil-su - Tae-Hwa & Yoo-Ri's father |
Jung Han Yong |
| Director Jang | Lee Cham |
| Young Song Joo |
Baek Sung Hyun |
| Young Jung-Suh |
Park Shin-hye Park Shin-hye Park Shin Hye is a successful South Korean actress, singer and promotional model. She debuted in the 2003 music video "Ggot" . She is best known for the roles of "Go Mi Nam" in the popular television drama You're Beautiful and "Lee Gyu Won" in the 2011 drama Heartstrings... |
| Young Tae-Hwa |
Lee Wan Lee Wan Lee Wan is a South Korean actor.-Television series:*Swallow the Sun *Ryokiteki na Kanojo Cameo*In-Soon is Pretty *Tree of Heaven... |
| Young Yoo-Ri |
Park Ji Mi |
Popularity
Directed by Lee Jung-soo, "Stairway to Heaven" quickly increased the fame of the four lead characters, and won the hearts of millions of Korean drama fans worldwide, as evidenced by the thousands of viewers, who flocked to chat rooms and discussion forums to share their views and commentary on the drama.In Korea, "Stairway to Heaven" was the second most popular drama in 2004, and one of the most popular Korean dramas in Asian countries. This drama also became quite popular in some Latin-American countries, including Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
and Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, where it was also broadcast.
Soundtrack
- Chopin, Piano Concerto No. 1Piano Concerto No. 1 (Chopin)The Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11, is a piano concerto written by Frédéric Chopin in 1830. It was first performed on 11 October of that year, in Warsaw, with the composer as soloist, during one of his "farewell" concerts before leaving Poland....
Op.11 E Minor 2nd Mvt : Romanza - Cheongugui Gi-eok (KO: 천국의 기억, EN: Memory of the Heaven) - Jang Jung Woo
- Lette - Kang Woo Jin
- Ave Maria - Rebecca LukerRebecca LukerRebecca Luker is an American musical theatre actress and soprano who has appeared in several prominent Broadway productions.-Life and career:...
- Geugeotmaneun (KO: 그것만은, EN: Nothing But That) - Jang Jung Woo
- Eonjekkajina (KO: 언제까지나, EN: Forever)
- Na Man Eh Nuh (KO: 나만의 너)- Kim Hyun Ah
- Remember
- Seulpeun Sarang (KO: 슬픈 사랑, EN: Sad Love)
- Areumda-un Neo-ege (KO: 아름다운 너에게, EN: To You the Beautiful) - Moon Ji Hwan
- Neoreul Jikilkke (KO: 너를 지킬께, EN: I Will Protect You)
- Bogoshipda (KO: 보고싶다, EN: I Miss You) - Kim Bum SooKim Bum SooKim Bum Soo born January 26, 1979, is a South Korean R&B and soul singer famous for his smooth vocals and emotive ballads....
- Kkeuchi Animeul (KO: 끝이 아님을, EN: That It Is Not the End)
- Cheongugui Gi-eok (KO: 천국의 기억, EN: Memory of the Heaven) - Park Mook Hwan
- Sesang Kkeute Seo Isseodo (KO: 세상 끝에 서 있어도, EN: Though I Am At the End of the World)
- Yaksok (KO: 약속, EN: Promise)
- Geugeotmaneun (KO: 그것만은, EN: Nothing But That) - Park Mook Hwan
- Stairway to Heaven (taken from Led ZeppelinLed ZeppelinLed Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
)
Remake
In the Philippines, GMA NetworkGMA Network
GMA Network is a major commercial television & radio network in the Philippines. GMA Network is owned by GMA Network, Inc. a publicly listed company...
made a Philippine version of the series also titled Stairway to Heaven
Stairway to Heaven (Philippines TV series)
Stairway to Heaven is a Philippine drama adapted from a Korean drama with the same name; directed by Joyce E. Bernal and developed by Dode Cruz, their third team-up after the highly-successful MariMar and Dyesebel....
, the lead characters are named Cholo, Jodi, Tristan, and Eunice. Spanish-language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television network Telemundo
Telemundo
Telemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
planned to produce its adaptation entitled Escalera al Cielo, the Spanish translation of its title.