Beautiful Days is a 2001 South Korean television drama series starring Lee Byung-hun, Choi Ji-woo, Ryu Si-won and Lee Jung-hyun. The drama is the first entry in director Lee Jang-soo's Heaven Trilogy which includes Stairways to Heaven in 2003 and Tree of Heaven in 2006. It aired on SBS from March 14 to May 31, 2001 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 24 episodes.
Synopsis
Similar to its drama contemporaries, Beautiful Days involves conflicts in family relationships, as well as a love triangle. Lee Min-chul returns from studying in the US, to take an active role in his father's prospering music business, Victory Records. It turns out that his father was involved in unethical practices in the past, as well as the murder of the father of Min-chul's stepbrother, Sun-jae. Into the scene comes two girls from the orphanage, Yeon-soo and Se-na, who share a sisterly bond. Se-na gets inspired to become a pop star after a visit by the Victory Records boss on a charity event. Years pass, and both girls arrive in Seoul to start their adult lives. However, they get separated. Yeon-soo finds a job working at Victory Records in hopes of one day meeting Se-na again and becomes involved in the lives of the stepbrothers, Min-chul and Sun-jae. Yeon-soo and Min-chul make a deal that they will help each other's siblings. Yeon-soo moves into Min-chul's family home as a tutor for his younger sister Min-ji, and Min-chul will help Se-na achieve her dream of becoming a singer. A complex drama unfolds, Min-chul and Sun-jae both fall for Yeon-soo. Yeon-soo chooses Min-chul, but their love is threatened by a terminal illness.
Cast
Main
Lee Byung-hun as Lee Min-chul
Choi Ji-woo as Kim Yeon-soo
Ryu Si-won as Lee Sun-jae - Min-chul's stepbrother
Café Pascucci in Apgujeong-dong was used as the office of "Muse Records" and venue where characters meet and talk.
Ending
The original script had intended that the character of Yeon-soo would die, but in response to a flood of protest letters from anguished viewers, the drama lets her live. Sena went on to succeed as a singer.
The series aired in Japan on NHK in October 2004; it was popular and well received by Japanese viewers. In Thailand first aired on Channel 3 every Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30 p.m., starting from January 6 to March 30, 2007.
