Crash Landing on You beautifully tells the story of two star-crossed lovers, Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin), a South Korean chaebol heiress to Queen’s Group, and Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin), a member of the North Korean elite and a captain in Korean People’s Army. Most surprising aspect of this show is that Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin are real-life husband and wife. Talk about a beautiful translation of love from screen to a real-life couple.
Hyun Bin & Son Ye-jin on their wedding day/Vast Entertainment
The writer of the second-highest-rated cable drama in South Korea, Park Ji Eun revealed that the plot of the show is based on a real-life incident. According to Ji Eun, in 2008, actor Jung Yang and her friends were sailing on the shores of Incheon to test-run a boat. Eventually, her ship was swept away due to bad weather and was close to crossing the Northern Limit Line, separating the two Koreas.
Unlike the events in the series, Jung Yang turned the boat around when they heard the fishermen speak in a North Korean accent. In her distress, the actress sent an emergency message to the North Korean coast guard chasing after her.
The whole incident inspired Park Ji Eun to write the actual plot of Crash Landing On You. Talk about real life inspiring your work.
The squad, Yoon Se-ri & Ri Jeong-hyeok/ Netflix
Crash Landing on You is a typical K-drama romance in many ways but has been widely praised for its well-researched and nuanced portrayal of North Korea. It was achieved by having a real-life North Korean defector on its writing team.
The divide between North and South Korea is inherently depressing looking at the stark difference between the quality of life, amenities and the general sense of freedom in the South. Crash Landing on You realistically portrays the divide with leaving the audience pray for unification, so Yoon Se-ri & Ri Jeong-hyeok can be together. Like many more families torn apart with the dirty politics of country divide despite the South being the same, they are different to North Koreans.
Without giving any spoilers, stream Crash Landing on You on Netflix and if you are an instant fan be sure to check out K-Drama reviews for other shows on streaming platforms.
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