The Snow Queen

This is a beautiful and heart-breaking story of the love between two broken souls who find a meaning in life with each other.

Hyun Bin as Han Tae Woong/Han Deuk Gu
Han Tae Woong is a math genius. He lives with his mother who makes a living hawking noodles at street side stand. He is a simple fellow with a pure heart. Life deals him a hard blow and he struggles to live from day to day after the death of his best friend.

Sung Yu Ri as Kim Bo Ra
Kim Bo Ra is a lonely soul. Her brother, whom she had adored, died when she was 14. She suffers from myasthenia gravis and has to receive regular medical attention at the hospital. While her father indulges her materially, he is aloof towards her as he battles his own demons. Bo Ra is lonely and scared but she hides it all with her haughty exterior and unreasonable ways.

Im Ju Hwan as Suh Gun Woo
Suh Gun Woo is introduced to Kim Bo Ra at a marriage meeting. He takes an interest in her, even though she tells him haughtily that she is ill, her father made his money by illegal means before his business became legit and that she has no interest in him.

Yoo In Young as Lee Seung Ri
Lee Seung Ri is the daughter of Lee Dong Sul, the owner of the boxing gym who takes Tae Woong in. She is in love with Han Deuk Gu and is willing to do anything for him.

Kim Tae Hyun as Choi Choong Shik
Choong Shik is Han Deuk Gu’s best friend. He is unaware of Deuk Gu’s past. He is hurt when he learns of Deuk Gu’s identity as he felt deceived.

Go Doo Shim as Park Yeong Ok (Tae Woong's mother)
Yeong Ok places all hopes on her son Tae Woong. Her hopes are dashed when he refuses to continue with his studies after his best friend’s death. She tells him that she will never in her lifetime be able to afford to send him abroad to study that his win at the Math Olympiad has brought about. To Tae Woong, however, his win is tainted as it brought about his friend’s death.

Kim Weung Soo as Lee Dong Sul (Seung Ri's father)
Lee Dong Sul was a boxing champion during his time. He takes Tae Woong in and gives him the name Han Deuk Gu (after a famous Korean boxer who died during a match).

Ho Jin as Kim Jang Su (Bo Ra's father)
Kim Jang Su is a successful businessman. He is cold towards his daughter and neglects her. He lies to her that her mother had died when in reality, his wife had left him and the children for another man. He was hard on his son as he pinned high hopes on him to live up to his potential as a child genius. He loses his son in the end as the boy was not able to live to his expectations.

Lee Sun Ho (not Andy from Shinhwa) as Kim Jeong Kyu
Kim Jeong Kyu became famous as a child genius with an IQ of 180. His father pushes him hard and he can never forget his father’s words that “people only remember the first place winner”. These words ultimately caused his early demise.

Kim Beol Rae as the College Math Professor
Kim Boel Rae provides comic relief in this otherwise sad drama. He becomes Tae Woong’s mentor and pushes him on to pursue his interest in mathematics.

In the beginning...

Tae Woong and Jeong Kyu
Jeong Kyu and Tae Woong had a shaky start. Jeong Kyu was the acknowledged genius throughout his school life and felt threatened when Tae Woong came onto the scene. Tae Woong was just as smart and a genius himself - although he was not aware of it. While Jeong Kyu enjoyed basking in the adulation of his peers, Tae Woong had a quiet charm about him. When Tae Woong was praised for his ingenuity in subject matter of his thesis, Jeong Kyu was quick to accuse him of plagiarism. However, to his credit, Jeong Kyu was also quick to find the opportunity to apologise to Tae Woong when he discovered that it was all a mistake on his part. Tae Woong and Jeong Kyu became good friends thereafter.

The boys spend alot of time together and shared their hopes and dreams. Jeong Kyu wants to win the Nobel Prize. Tae Woong’s dreams reflect the harsh realities of life - all he wants is a white collar job with regular income, marry and have children. Jeong Kyu tells Tae Woong that he will introduce him to a pretty and sweet girl who looks like an angel.

Both Jeong Kyu and Tae Woong are chosen to take part in the Math Olympiad. On the day of the results, Tae Woong hugs Jeong Kyu and tells him to remember that Tae Woong was the first to congratulate him for winning. The shock comes when TV reporters ask for “Han Tae Woong” instead of Kim Jeong Kyu.

Jeong Kyu is upset that he lost. His father’s words hang on him like a death toll - “People only remember the first place winner”. Tae Woong tries to comfort him but Jeong Kyu takes it as an insult. Hurt and angry that Jeong Kyu would accuse him of being hypocritical, Tae Woong tells Jeong Kyu that he would rather not have Jeong Kyu as his friend if Jeong Kyu could not be happy for him.

Jeong Kyu is filled with pain. He knows that he should not have reacted the way he did at Tae Woong’s win but he cannot bear to face his own loss. A week before the Olympiad, he had asked Tae Woong if they would still be friends if Jeong Kyu wins - Jeong Kyu and knew that Tae Woong would have regarded them as friends even so. Nevertheless, the thought never occurred to him that he would lose. He is torn by his loss and in his misery, he meets with a car accident and dies.

Tae Woong and Bora
Tae Woong meets Bora for the first time at the library where she insisted on buying the book “The Snow Queen”. She is feisty and haughty for a girl of 14 and insists on offering the librarian 10 times the value of the book if she would sell it to her. She is unsuccessful in her bid to buy the book but meets with a gang of girls who spied the money she had. Tae Woong “saves” her from them and although she was too proud to admit it, she was grateful to Tae Woong. She asks him for money to return home and in return, she gives him her pager.

Tae Woong was running away from home when Bora pages him. He had been accused of plagiarism and his mother had expressed her disappointment in him. He rushes to Bora’s aid as she had said it was a matter of life and death. Instead, he finds her at the airport trying to buy a ticket to Lapland. They were unsuccessful in buying the ticket but she treats him to lunch only to drag him onto the runway when they are chased by police officers who had probably been alerted to her running away by her father.

They spend a memorable day at the amusement park and she tells him that she wants to go to Lapland to look for her mother. She tells him of the story of how the Snow Queen took Kai away from his best friend Gerda. Gerda believes that Kai is alive and with all her faith, love and courage, she journeys to Lapland to seek out Kai in the Snow Queen’s palace where there is only cold and loneliness.

Tae Woong remembers Bora’s story and searches for the book for her. He calls her and arranges a meeting at the amusement park to give her the book - an appointment which he fails to keep.

8 years later...

Tae Woong’s world collapses with Jeung Kyu’s death. He feels responsible that his win caused Jeung Kyu’s death. He gives up the chance of a scholarship and drops out of school. He gives up on life and tries hard to “make up” to Jeung Kyu by fulfilling his dream of being a boxer. From boy genius, Tae Woong becomes “Han Deuk Gu”, the third rate boxer.

Han Deuk Gu is a shadow of what Han Tae Woong was. He lives like a walking corpse. He has lost contact with his mother as he had run away soon after Jeung Kyu’s death. He had told his mother that he could not continue with his studies and she expressed her disappointment at him throwing away the chance given to him to study abroad. In anger, she turns him to leave. By the time he returns a year later, his mother had left their home.

Deuk Gu’s and Bora’s path cross when he stops her from “killing” herself at the hospital. They meet again when she gets him to drive her to visit her brother’s grave. Some time later, Deuk Gu saves Bora from committing suicide at her brother’s grave and gains the appreciation of her father. Her father tells Deuk Gu that he can come to him if he ever needed help.

Deuk Gu finally manages to find his mother. Instead of the warm reception he expected from her, she taunts him and blames him for the state she is in. She tells him that she no longer has a son. She tells him that he would only be useful to her if he could give her a large sum of money to fend off her creditors. Deuk Gu thinks of Bora’s father’s promise and he seeks him out for a loan and ends up working as Bora’s driver.

Deuk Gu accompanies Bora to school everyday and watches her throughout the day. Their relationship grows and Bora soon realises from Deuk Gu’s conversation that he was the “oppa” that she met 8 years ago and her “first love”. Deuk Gu only realises his later. Bora is upset with Deuk Gu when he tells her that he did not keep the appointment with his "friend" but had forgotten the reason. In truth, he could not bear to tell her that it was the day that he learned of his best friend's death.

Deuk Gu meets his high school friend who happens to be Bora’s doctor/suitor’s colleague. Dr Suh Gum Woo is interested in Bora and pursues her despite knowing her interest in Deuk Gu. Through a series of events, he manages to piece together that Han Deuk Gu and Han Tae Woong are the same person. In the meantime, Deuk Gu learns through his high school friend that Bora’s brother was none other than Jeong Kyu. He retreats from her and resigns from his position.

Dr Suh manages to piece together the puzzle and discovers Han Deuk Gu’s true identity. He confronts Deuk Gu who asks that Dr. Suh keep his secret so as not to hurt Bora.

Bora accidentally learns the true identity of Han Deuk Gu. She is in shock but at the same time, she has sympathy for Tae Woong even though she has been told by her father that Tae Woong was the cause of Jeong Kyu’s death. She confronts Tae Woong with the truth and he tells her a story: his friend had died because of him. He felt guilty for telling his friend that he “did not need a friend like him” on the day this friend died. He wished he could take back those words and has been spending the last 8 years trying - it was only when he met a girl and fell in love with her that he felt for the first time in his life that he wanted to be happy.

Tae Woong tells Bora to hate him. She is unable to do so. She goes against her father’s wishes and continues her relationship with Tae Woong.

Bora’s father tells her that he will not accept Tae Woong. Bora's father tells Tae Woong that he cannot see him because he is reminded of Jeung Kyu whenever he sees Tae Woong. Bora leaves home to be with Tae Woong. Tae Woong tells Bora's father that he will continue to visit him until he gives his permission for Bora and Tae Woong to be together.

Bora moves in with Seung Ri and even takes a part-time job at a boutique owned by Seung Ri’s friend. Thus Bora begins a new life. For the first time in her life she feels independence. She tells Tae Woong that she has been living under her father’s shadow and she is happy that she is able to be independent. She even buys her father a pair of gloves with her first paycheck.

Tae Woong tells Bora that he has never been happier in his life. She has made him smile and dream again. She has given him a new lease of life.

Tae Woong and Bora are very happy together but their happiness is short-lived as Bora is soon diagnosed with late stage cancer. She hides this fact from Tae Woong. She cannot bear to let him suffer - she knows that she has to live in order for him to live.

The Professor gives Tae Woong a math problem to solve - it is a mathematic conjecture that has yet to be resolved in decades. Bora tells Tae Woong that if he solves it, she will grant him one wish.

Tae Woong manages to find a solution to the problem and he tells Bora that his only wish in the world is to have her by his side forever - and asks if she will marry him. By this time, Bora is convinced that she will not live long. In her eagerness to protect Tae Woong from suffering the pain of losing her, she lies and tells him that she cannot stand the grubbiness of his life and that she wants to return home.

Bora seeks out Dr. Suh and admits herself to hospital for treatment. The diagnosis is not good. She is rushed to the emergency room when she faints. Tae Woong is notified and gathers the truth about why she rejected him.

Bora’s father finally relents and allows Bora and Tae Woong to be together. Tae Woong takes Bora away and they spend some time alone. Bora remarks that it is as if they are on their honeymoon - as newlyweds. Both are well aware that their time together is short.

Tae Woong watches over Bora while she sleeps and prays that when it is time for her to go, he will be taken along with her. Bora regrets that she cannot continue to help Tae Woong make good memories of their time together. She apologies for having to leave him and says that she would feel worse if she did not have a chance to tell him so.

Bora passes on. Tae Woong gets ready to leave for his studies in the States. He buys a one way ticket to Lapland intending to join Bora. On the eve of his departure, he receives a parcel from Deuk Nam. He calls Deuk Nam and she tells him that it was something that Bora had entrusted her to pass to Tae Woong. Tae Woong finds Bora’s old pager in the box. He now realises why Bora gave him her password before she died - “1111”.

“I do not know when you will receive this message. But when you do, where would I be? I am sure I’d be in Lapland. I am sorry I was unable to keep my promise to you that we’d go there together. I will not be sad because I know that we will see each other and be together some day. I am returning the words you once said to me: Even if you’d feel like avoiding challenges that come your way, do not close your eyes; don’t run away; face them and live on. It is better to be alive.”

Deuk Gu and Jang Su

Jang Su felt a connection with Deuk Gu as Deuk Gu reminded him of his son, Jeong Kyu. He is grateful to Deuk Gu for saving Bora’s life and entrusts Deuk Gu to look out for Bora. Jang Su is shocked when he learns that Deuk Gu is non other than Han Tae Woong, the person he blames for his son’s death.

Jang Su finally accepts the love between Bora and Tae Woong. He is grateful to Tae Woong for bringing Bora a glimpse of happiness. In the end, he even attends the Fulkerson Prize ceremony where Dr. Han Tae Woong is being honoured for his work.

Comment

The love between Bora and Tae Woong is very touching. Tae Woong is a wounded soul but instead of being bitter, he is gentle and kind in his love for Bora. He tells her that he saw her hurt in her haughtiness and it only served for him to love her more. Bora knows that she has brought Tae Woong happiness and is unwilling to take it away from him. She prays to be able to live but it is something beyond her control. She leaves him a message on her pager telling him to go on living without her - and that it was better to be alive - as he had once told her when she tried to end her life. Tae Woong makes his peace when he visits Lapland.

Tae Woong’s loss of Jeong Kyu broke his heart and his spirit. Bora mended the pain and brought Tae Woong hope. Tae Woong’s loss of Bora brought him a sense of peace. He accepts Bora’s death although he misses her terribly. His love for her is strong even in death and the thought of being able to see her again drives him on....

Live, it is better to be alive
Some times alone, some times together -
It is all right even if we are not together all the time.
But I really miss you -- and I think of you.
What will I see when I open my eyes
Even though you are no longer here
Time stands still.

Every character in this drama is selfless in their love. Bora for Tae Woong, Dr. Suh for Bora, Bora’s father for Bora, Seung Ri for Tae Woong. This drama is guaranteed to make you cry buckets - so keep the Kleenex handy! Hyun Bin has grown into his looks and has a quiet and disarming charm that is sure to break many a heart! (There is a scene where he washes Bora's feet which mirrors the one in "Kim Sam Soon" where he washes the feet of Hee Jin. Hyun Bin seems to be very good at washing women's feet!!!) Sung Yu Ri looks a lot better here than in her earlier drama - "First Love of a Millionaire". This is definitely a drama well worth watching!