All In is a 2003 South Korean television drama series that aired on SBS from 15 January to 3 April 2003 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 24 episodes. Inspired by the life of professional poker playerJimmy Cha, it starred Lee Byung-hun and Song Hye-kyo in a story about one's man's rise through the fiercely competitive world of casino gambling as he clashes with his rivals over money, success, and love. The drama was a ratings success in South Korea, with its final episode reaching a peak viewership rating of 47.7%, which is the 42nd highest-rated Korean drama episode of all time. It also won several awards, notably the Grand Prize for Lee Byung-hun at the 2003 SBS Drama Awards.
Synopsis
Orphaned then taken in by his gambler uncle, Kim In-ha often hangs out with his friends in the basement of a movie theater. He unexpectedly befriends Choi Jung-won, a model student and the rich son of the theater owner. In-ha and Jung-won both fall for Min Su-yeon, the daughter of the projectionist at the theater. When Su-yeon's father was killed by loan sharks, In-ha and Jung-won hatch a plan to avenge Su-yeon by setting fire to a gangster's hideout. But the fire spreads, accidentally killing the gang leader. In-ha is sentenced to seven years, while thanks to his family connections, Jung-won avoids jail time. As In-ha serves his sentence, Jung-won goes to the United States to study and Su-yeon decides to become a nun. Seven years pass, and by pure chance, the three all end up working at the same casino. In-ha and Su-yeon fall in love, but are later separated when In-ha is forced to illegally immigrate to the U.S. He finds a job as a mafia hitman, and by a stroke of luck, again meets Su-yeon, and the two plan to get married. However, on their supposed wedding day, In-ha suffers a near-fatal gunshot wound and becomes comatose for 8 months. Unaware that In-ha is alive, the grieving Su-yeon returns to Korea. In-ha eventually recovers, but Jung-won intervenes, saying that he is unworthy to love Su-yeon. In-ha decides to turn his life of misery around and becomes a professional gambler. He meets a business partner, and betting everything he has, returns to Korea to win back Su-yeon's love.
Cast
Main
Lee Byung-hun as Kim In-ha
*Jin Goo as young In-ha
Song Hye-kyo as Min Su-yeon/Sister Angela
*Han Ji-min as young Su-yeon
Ji Sung as Choi Jung-won
*Go Dong-hyeon as young Jung-won
Park Sol-mi as Seo Jin-hee
*Shin Ah as young Jin-hee
Supporting
Lee Deok-hwa as Choi Do-hwan, Jung-won's father
Sunwoo Eun-sook as Yoon Hye-sun, Jung-won's mother
Im Hyun-sik as Kim Chi-soo, In-ha's uncle
Park Won-sook as Jang Hyun-ja
Jo Kyung-hwan as chairman Seo Seung-don, Jin-hee's father
Kim Tae-yeon as Jenny
Heo Joon-ho as Yoo Jong-gu, In-ha's friend from prison
Choi Jung-won as Yoo Jung-ae, Hyun-ja's daughter
Choi Joon-yong as Park Tae-joon, In-ha's hometown friend who became a detective
Yoon Gi-won as Woo Yong-tae, In-ha's hometown friend who became a waiter
Baek Seung-hyeon as Yang Shi-bong, In-ha's hometown friend who is crippled
It first aired in Japan on cable channel KNTV from 8 March to 25 May 2003. Re-airings followed on terrestrial channelNHKonce a week starting 16 April 2004. According to a poll conducted by TV Asahi variety show SMAP Station in May 2007, All In ranked as the seventh most popular Korean drama in Japan.
