Im Sung-han | |
---|---|
Born | Im Young-ran August 24, 1960 |
Other names | Lim/Yim Sung-han Im Hyang-ran Phoebe |
Education | Chungju National University - Computer Science |
Occupation | Screenwriter |
Years active | 1990-2015 2021-present |
Agent | Jidam Inc. [1] |
Spouse | Son Moon-kwon (2007-12; his death) |
Korean name | |
Hangul | 임성한 |
Revised Romanization | Im Seong-han |
McCune–Reischauer | Im Sŏng-han |
Birth name | |
Hangul | 임영란 |
Revised Romanization | Im Yeong-nan |
McCune–Reischauer | Im Yŏngnan |
Im Sung-han (born Im Young-ran on August 24,1960) is a South Korean television screenwriter. Her best-known dramas include Miss Mermaid and Dear Heaven .
Im Sung-han began her career writing for single-episode anthologies. Her first known work was the 1991 episode "Standing in a Maze" for KBS's Drama Game,then she moved on to MBC's Best Theater in 1997,with "Definitely" (for which Im won a screenplay award). She also used another pseudonym,Im Hyang-ran (Korean : 임향란),in writing other Best Theater episodes.
This led to her first television drama series in 1998,See and See Again (also known as Looking Again and Again and Can't Take My Eyes Off You),about two families doubly related by marriage. Despite its popularity (its peak rating of 57.3% was the highest ever recorded for a daily soap opera [2] ),it was considered by TV critics as one of the worst dramas that year. Im's follow-up Foolish Princes (2000) was about four half-brothers,and she and director Jo Jung-hyun had conflicts over her writing.
Miss Mermaid (2002) starred Jang Seo-hee as a TV writer whose father left her and her blind mother years ago,so she decides to wreak revenge by writing a thinly veiled autobiographical series and casts her unsuspecting stepmother,an actress,in the role of the blind,deserted wife;she also steals her half-sister's fiancé. [3] It recorded high ratings of 40%,resulting in several extensions for the drama. At the MBC Drama Awards,Jang won Best Actress and the Grand Prize. But Miss Mermaid also attracted criticism,and the Anti Im Sung-han Café was established, [4] an Internet community club whose thousands of members are vehement critics of Im. It was the first ever "anti-café" to target a Korean drama writer. Their online posts mocked the drama's "nonsensical" plot,along with scenes which implied that a baby's autism was caused by his mother's stress during a divorce,and that washing each strawberry with a toothbrush is described as normal. [5]
Lee Da-hae rose to fame in Heaven's Fate (also known as Lotus Flower Fairy,2004),in her role of a woman who loses everything when she becomes possessed by spirits as a Korean shaman,called a "mudang." The drama questioned whether it's possible to overcome one's fate. [6] When ratings remained in the 20% range,Im was later replaced by another writer,Kim Na-hyun.
Dear Heaven (2005-2006) starred Han Hye-sook as a middle-aged woman who wants to atone to the biological daughter (Yoon Jung-hee) she'd abandoned,by deliberately matchmaking the latter with her current stepson (Lee Tae-gon). Viewers were divided on whether it was "immoral" and "incestuous," [7] and the controversy propelled it to becoming the 5th highest rated TV program in Korea for the year 2006. [8] Han won the Grand Prize at the SBS Drama Awards.
Opposites Attract (also known as Ahyeon-dong Madam and Queen of Ahyun,2007) explored age differences in relationships,when a female public prosecutor (Wang Hee-ji) falls for a male colleague (Kim Min-sung) who is 12 years younger. [9]
Assorted Gems (also known as Jewel Bibimbap,2009) portrayed the ups and downs of a family with four brothers and sisters named after jewels:Jade,Ruby,Coral,and Amber (played by Go Na-eun,So Yi-hyun,Lee Hyun-jin and Lee Il-min,respectively). [10]
The premise of New Tales of Gisaeng (2011) was that "gisaeng"—the Korean equivalent of courtesans equipped with wide knowledge in poetry,culture and politics,who entertained noblemen and royalty of the Joseon Dynasty—continue to exist in modern-day Korea. Newcomers Im Soo-hyang and Sung Hoon played the lead roles. [11] Despite ratings of over 20%,it was criticized for Im's abrupt inclusion of supernatural elements which were considered "pointless" to the plot by viewers. [12]
Princess Aurora (2013) was about the romance between the youngest daughter (Jeon So-min) of a wealthy family who owns a food conglomerate,and an irritable novelist (Oh Chang-seok). [13] But the show gained notoriety when Im abruptly killed off 12 characters and was accused of nepotism. [14]
This was followed by Apgujeong Midnight Sun (2014-2015),about four people (and their families) whose lives intersect while working at a cable TV station. But the series received scrutiny from the Korea Communications Standards Commission for a revenge storyline that the review board deemed too "violent" and "unethical." [15]
On April 23,2015,MBC released a statement that the network would no longer work with Im in future projects;Im responded by announcing her retirement,saying she had intended to quit the TV industry after writing 10 dramas. [15]
In January 2019,Im launched her first book,"Cancer Cells Are Part of Life" (literal translation),which chronicled her health issues and habits. Published by her own company Book Soopulim,the title was based on a controversial line from Princess Aurora. [16]
On August 6,2020,Im signed an exclusive management contract with Jidam Inc. In an earlier press release,the company stated that her next project may happen in 2021, [1] however,it was eventually confirmed that her comeback drama titled Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce) will air in December 2020 via TV Chosun. [17]
Im is considered a hitmaker,as most of her projects reach 20-30% television ratings on average. But she is divisive,becoming a target of criticism from viewers and the media for her excessive use of provocative storylines (called "makjang" in Korean,this typically involves adultery,revenge,rape,birth secrets,fatal illnesses and incest). [7]
Im met assistant director Son Moon-kwon [18] while filming Dear Heaven ,and the couple married in January 2007. They later collaborated on Opposites Attract (like the protagonists,Im and Son also had a 12-year age difference), Assorted Gems ,and New Tales of Gisaeng . [19]
On January 21,2012,the 40-year-old Son committed suicide by hanging himself from a staircase with a necktie,at his house in Ilsan,Gyeonggi Province. [19] Im was the one who found him,and she requested the police that the death be kept a secret from his family and colleagues. News about Son's death broke nearly a month later on February 13. [20] [21]
In March 2012,Son's family filed a ₩50 million lawsuit against Im for psychological injury because she told them of his death three weeks after the fact,and held the funeral secretly,preventing an opportunity for family and friends to pay their respects. In an interview,Son's sister alleged that her brother and Im were married in name only (in order to further Im's career),and never lived together in their five years of marriage. [22] Finding it suspicious that Im lied to them that their son had died of a heart attack,and doubting the authenticity of his will, [23] Son's parents asked the police for a re-investigation,in case of foul play. In October 2012,prosecutors cleared Im over her husband's death,and officially ruled Son's death a suicide. [24] The psychological injury lawsuit is ongoing.
Sung Yu-ri is a South Korean actress and singer. She made her entertainment debut in 1998 as a member of the now-defunct K-pop group Fin.K.L. Sung turned to acting in 2002,starring in television dramas such as Thousand Years of Love (2003),The Snow Queen (2006),Hong Gil-dong (2008),and Feast of the Gods (2010).
Han Hyo-joo is a South Korean film and television actress,model and singer. She is best known for her leading roles in television series such as Heaven &Earth (2007),Iljimae (2008),Brilliant Legacy (2009),Dong Yi (2010) for which she won the coveted Best Actress award at the 47th Baeksang Arts Awards,W (2016) and Happiness (2021),as well as the films Masquerade (2012),which is one of the highest grossing Korean films of all-time,Cold Eyes (2013),for which she won Best Actress at the 34th Blue Dragon Film Awards,Love 911 (2012),The Beauty Inside (2015),and The Pirates:The Last Royal Treasure (2022).
Lee So-yeon is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her roles in the films Untold Scandal (2003) and Feathers in the Wind (2004),and the television series Spring Waltz (2006),Temptation of an Angel (2009) and Dong Yi (2010).
Sung Hyun-ah is a South Korean actress and former Miss Korea.
Lee Hanee,also known as Honey Lee,is a South Korean actress,model,classical musician as well as beauty pageant titleholder where she represented her country at Miss Universe 2007. She has acted in several films and television series.
Lee Bo-young is a South Korean actress. She is best known for starring in the television dramas My Daughter Seo-young (2012),I Can Hear Your Voice (2013),Whisper (2017),Mother (2018),When My Love Blooms (2020),and Mine (2021). Lee was Gallup Korea's Television Actor of the Year in 2013.
Gong Hyo-jin is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her leading role in the film Crush and Blush (2008),as well as for her popular television series Sang Doo! Let's Go to School (2003),Thank You (2007),Pasta (2010),The Greatest Love (2011),Master's Sun (2013),It's Okay,That's Love (2014),The Producers (2015),Don't Dare to Dream (2016),and When the Camellia Blooms (2019).
Im Ye-jin is a South Korean actress. Affectionately called the original "Nation's Little Sister,Im debuted as a teenage actress taking on roles of the “pretty teenaged student”in several movies and TV series –helping her win the title of everyone’s favorite “dongseng ”in her time. She reached the peak of her popularity in the 1970s with the "Really Really" film trilogy,which includes Never Forget Me,I Am Really Sorry,and I Really Really Like You. She is currently active in television.
Lee Min-woo is a South Korean actor. He began his career as a child actor in 1981,then starred as the titular lead character in the 1997 teen movie PpilKu. Lee has since appeared in numerous television series,notably the 2011 historical drama The Princess' Man.
My Rosy Life is a 2005 South Korean television drama series starring Choi Jin-sil,Son Hyun-joo,and Lee Tae-ran. It aired on KBS2 from August 24 to November 10,2005 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 24 episodes.
Kim Nam-joo is a South Korean actress. Kim rose to stardom in the 1990s in television series such as Model,The Boss and Her House. After 2001,Kim went into semi-retirement,only appearing in commercials,particularly after she married actor Kim Seung-woo in 2005 and they started a family. Then in 2009,she made her comeback with Queen of Housewives,written by Park Ji-eun. Housewives was a rating hit,and Kim went on to collaborate with Park on Queen of Reversals (2010) and top-rated series My Husband Got a Family,which established Kim's continuing star status. In 2018,Kim received critical acclaim for her role in the series Misty.
Lim Soo-hyang is a South Korean actress. She rose to fame playing leading roles in the television series New Tales of Gisaeng (2011) and Inspiring Generation (2014). After a series of supporting roles,she gained wide recognition for her performances in the campus romance My ID is Gangnam Beauty (2018) and the smash-hit mystery drama Graceful Family (2019). She then starred in When I Was the Most Beautiful (2020),Woori the Virgin (2022),and Doctor Lawyer (2022).
Shim Yi-young is a South Korean actress.
Lee Kyung-hee is a South Korean television screenwriter.
Kim Soo-hyun is a South Korean screenwriter and novelist.
Princess Aurora is a 2013 South Korean television series starring Jeon So-min,Oh Chang-seok,Seo Ha-joon,Park Yeong-gyu,Son Chang-min,Oh Dae-gyu,Kim Bo-yeon,Park Hae-mi,Kim Hye-eun,Lim Hyuk,and Kim Young-ran. The daily drama aired on MBC from May to December,2013.
Go Doo-shim is a South Korean actress.
Kwon Oh-joong is a South Korean actor. He is best known for starring in Gourmet (2008),as well as the television series The Secret Lovers (2005),Freedom Fighter,Lee Hoe-young (2010),and Miss Ajumma (2011). Kwon has also appeared in films such as To Catch a Virgin Ghost (2004) and Mr. Kim vs. Mr. Kim vs. Mr. Kim.
Huh Joon-ho is a South Korean actor. His name was previously officially romanized as Hur Joon-ho and is sometimes romanized unofficially as Heo Joon-ho.
Miss Mermaid is a South Korean television series starring Jang Seo-hee and Kim Sung-taek. It aired on MBC from June 24,2002 to June 27,2003 on Mondays to Fridays at 20:20 for 248 episodes.