Alone in Love

2006 South Korean TV series

Alone in Love (; lit. Love Generation) is a 2006 South Korean television series starring Kam Woo sung, Son Ye jin, Gong Hyung jin and Lee Ha na. It is based on the Japanese novel Love Generation (恋愛時代) by Hisashi Nozawa, which was published in 1996 and won the 4th Shimase Literary Prize for Romance in 1997, and tells the story of two ordinary people, as they come to terms with their relationship. The series aired on SBS from April 3 to May 23, 2006, on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 (KST) for 16 episodes. The series won critical acclaim for its subtle and realistic portrayal of love, marriage and divorce.

Yoo Eun ho (Son Ye jin) and Lee Dong jin (Kam Woo sung) meet one day at the bookstore where he works and they are immediately drawn to each other. They fall in love after subsequent meetings, and are eventually married. Two years later, they are divorced. Dong jin still works at the bookstore, while Eun ho works at a fitness club. Even so, a year and a half after their divorce, the two still meet in their favorite bakery for breakfasts, quarrel over trivial things like a married couple, and eat dinner on their wedding anniversary with a free meal coupon provided by the hotel where they got married. The narrative is punctuated by either character's internal monologue on their past and current relationships, as new love interests enter their lives. All of this makes them wonder whether these lingering feelings are love, although both are too afraid to start over, and even more afraid to end the relationship completely. With neither brave enough to confront each other about the misunderstanding on the day Eun ho had a stillborn baby, they are unable to move on.

Actor Character Description Kam Woo sung Lee Dong jin 33 years old, born in Seoul. He has a laid back personality, and has loved books since he was a child. He works in a major bookstore located in the commercial district. Cool headed and decisive in his professional life, Dong jin is indecisive when it comes to his love life. He falls in love with Eun ho, a customer in his bookstore, and succeeds in winning her heart, but their marriage does not last. Son Ye jin Yoo Eun ho 29 years old, born in Busan. Eun ho is a retired swimmer who won national competitions in her prime years as an athlete. She now works as a swimming instructor at a sports center. Outgoing and tomboyish on the outside, she has a feminine sentimentality and a soft heart on the inside. She doesn't like to express her feelings, but is very stubborn once she has made a decision. Gong Hyung jin Gong Jun pyo 33 years old. A gynecologist in a university hospital, Jun pyo has been Dong jin's best friend since elementary school. When Eun ho was pregnant, he was her gynecologist. He is the only person who knows why the two got divorced. After a traumatic experience, Jun pyo faints every time one of his patients is giving birth. Lee Ha na Yoo Ji ho 24 years old. Eun ho's younger sister. Like Eun ho, Ji ho headed to college in Seoul and is now a senior. She has already given up hope of getting a good job because of the high unemployment rate. She has an odd and "alien like" personality, and plots with Jun pyo to get her sister back together with Dong jin. Moon Jeong hee Jung Yoo kyung She is a chef, specializing in traditional Korean food. She was Dong jin's first love in middle school, and after they reconnect years later, they fall for each other and get married. Oh Yoon ah Kim Mi yeon 29 years old. She is an old friend of Eun ho's, and has a daughter from a previous marriage. Though attractive, her brittle like cheerfulness masks an insecurity caused by her divorce. Lee Jin wook Min Hyun joong 26 years old. Eun ho's charming stalker is secretly a second generation chaebol, but decided to turn his back on his father's money. Seo Tae hwa Jung Yoon soo 38 years old. He is a psychology professor and is taking swimming lessons from Eun ho to overcome his extreme aquaphobia. Kind and gentle, he gathers the courage one day to ask Eun ho out. Go Hye young Choi Young in Elegant and rich, she and Yoon soo have a troubled marriage and are currently separated. Jin Ji hee Cho Eun sol 7 years old. Mi yeon's daughter. Too solemn and precocious for her age, she unexpectedly bonds with Dong jin while he's dating her mom. Ha Jae sook Na Yoo ri 28 years old. She is a pro wrestler and one of Eun ho's close friends. They often have dinner at a local restaurant where the barman never talks. Kim Kap soo Yoo Ki young Eun ho and Ji ho's widowed father. He is a pastor and a talk radio host. Eun ho often calls in anonymously on his show to ask for advice. Gi Ju bong Lee Dae hoon Dong jin's father.

The Korean adaptation was written by Park Yeon seon (screenwriter for My Tutor Friend and Too Beautiful to Lie). This is the first TV series directed by film director Han Ji seung (who won a Grand Bell award in 2001 for A Day).

The series aired in Japan on Hallyu cable channel KNTV in April 2007. It also aired in the United States with English subtitles on MHz WorldView in January 2010. In Thailand, the series aired on Channel 7 from September 13, 2008, to November 2, 2008, on Saturdays and Sundays from 09:15 to 11:00 (ICT).