The drama "I Miss You" is a classic melodrama that aired on MBC in 2012. It depicts the love and reunion of a man and a woman who live with the wounds of their childhood. I also worked on this drama as a staff member on the production team. Nowadays, dramas begin filming with a complete script before filming begins, but back then, we didn't have a complete script. As a result, we filmed without knowing the ending. I remember everyone rushing to read each new script, holding their breath, to see what would happen in the next episode. With its challenging subject matter and strong cast, including Park Yoochun, Yoon Eun-hye, and Yoo Seung-ho, along with emotional directing, it brought tears to the eyes of many viewers and became a huge hit. In this article, I'll discuss the full plot, memorable lines, key features, must-see points, and its social implications.
Plot Summary
The drama "I Miss You" begins with the first love of 15-year-old Lee Soo-yeon (Kim So-hyun) and Han Jung-woo (Yeo Jin-goo). Su-yeon was a lonely and wounded girl, burdened by the pain of her past, and Jung-woo was a source of warm comfort to her. Unfortunately, Su-yeon went missing after an incident, and Jung-woo, unable to find her, lived with guilt. Fourteen years later, Jung-woo has become a detective and is still searching for Su-yeon, while Su-yeon is starting a new life as a fashion designer under the name "Joy." The two meet again in an unexpected incident, and amidst a tangled web of truths and emotions, they experience repeated conflicts and reunions. The drama expands into a love triangle, revenge, and forgiveness, with the obsessive love of Kang Hyung-joon (Yoo Seung-ho) for Su-yeon intervening.
Introduction to Famous Lines
"I Miss You" is also renowned for its emotionally moving lines. Here are a few that have left a deep impression on viewers.
- “I miss you. I wanted to see you every single day, every single day.” - Jung-woo
- “I'm still stuck in that day. Even though you've forgotten, I haven't.” - Sooyeon
- “Love is about waiting. If you're sincere enough to wait endlessly.” - Hyungjun
These lines, implicitly capturing the emotions and relationships of each character, played a significant role in heightening the drama's immersion. Beyond mere melodrama, many lines effectively portray the inner wounds and longings of human nature, earning it a high literary quality.
Key Characteristics Analysis
"I Miss You" is characterized by its emotionally-driven narrative structure. It focuses on the emotional arc between characters rather than the events themselves, allowing viewers to empathize with the characters. Furthermore, it effectively weaves weighty themes like childhood trauma, guilt, forgiveness, and healing into the melodrama genre. The use of soundtracks is another key strength. Songs like "I Miss You" by Jung Dong-ha and "Love" by Huh Gak maximize the drama's atmosphere and embody the characters' emotions. The directing successfully utilized color, lighting, and camerawork to visually portray the characters' inner world. Park Yoochun, Yoon Eun-hye, and Yoo Seung-ho all received rave reviews for their performances.
Key Points to Watch
This drama will be even more engaging and moving when viewed with the following in mind:
- Intersection of Past and Present: A flashback structure visually depicts how memories of first love impact the present.
- Emotional Density: Characters convey emotions through gazes, facial expressions, and actions, rather than words.
- Evolution of the Love Triangle: While a typical love triangle, each character's wounds and choices add depth to the story.
- Epilogue of Sub-Characters: In addition to the main characters, supporting characters convey messages through their own stories.
- Harmony of Soundtrack and Directing: The combination of emotionally charged music and mise-en-scène enhances immersion.
Social Significance and Message
"I Miss You" goes beyond a simple love story to convey multiple social messages. First, it delves into the sensitive topic of child sexual abuse, deeply examining the psychological aftereffects of victims and those around them. This drama generated significant social resonance when it first aired, reminding viewers of the importance of "seeing the incident from the victim's perspective." Another theme is "forgiveness and healing." The drama conveys a message of inner human growth through the characters' journey of maturing through trauma, forgiving themselves, and accepting others. In particular, the scene where Soo-yeon finally confronts and accepts her painful past left a deep impression on many viewers. In this respect, "I Miss You" transcends mere melodrama and becomes a work of social significance.
"I Miss You" depicts the unchanging nature of emotions, the pain of first love, and the potential for healing within human relationships. With its emotional directing, outstanding acting, and social message, this drama resonates deeply even after rewatching, allowing viewers to truly experience the essence of a classic melodrama.
Review
When I first received the script as a member of the production team, I remember being taken aback by the somewhat soap opera-like plot from the very first episode. The abduction of a minor and the sexual violence, both of which are not common in Korean dramas, were controversial at the time of its broadcast. However, the storyline was not overtly provocative or explicit, and it was a crucial element of the plot, which helped convince viewers as it unfolded. The daughter of a death row inmate falsely accused of murder and executed, the young people who are left with indelible scars from kidnappings and crimes stemming from property disputes, and the main characters who struggle with trauma even as adults were all heartbreaking the more I immersed myself in the drama. But this drama doesn't just deal with trauma. I witnessed the daughter of a detective who died while investigating a case in which the main characters were victims, the missing mother of the female protagonist, and the male protagonist, who was also a kidnapping victim, living together as a family and supporting each other as adults. Furthermore, the process by which the female protagonist, suffering from greater trauma than anyone else, meets the male protagonist, who believes he abandoned her and runs away, and resolves misunderstandings and heals his wounds was a crucial part of the drama. Furthermore, the series's revolving narrative, with past events unfolding in the present and a series of related incidents that resurface, along with another independent incident that resurfaces the female protagonist's trauma, kept the drama gripping. While solving multiple mysteries simultaneously, the two main characters' love story also unfolded, ensuring there was never a dull moment, despite its lengthy 20-episode run. The acting of the two main characters, Yoon Eun-hye and Park Yoo-chun, both singers, was somewhat disappointing from the production team's perspective, but it was offset by the passionate performance of the other main character, Yoo Seung-ho, and I think the overall harmony was good. At the time, it was Yoo Seung-ho's last project before he enlisted in the military, and even watching from the sidelines, the way he poured his all into his acting was truly impressive. I hoped to see him in another great project after his discharge, and seeing him actively working in various dramas these days makes me feel truly proud and happy.
