Fireworks is a South Korean teledrama produced and broadcast by SBS from 2 February to 18 May 2000.
| Fireworks | |
| Hangul | 불꽃 |
|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | Bulkkot |
| McCune–Reischauer | Pulkkot |
Story edit
Ji-hyun (Lee Young-ae), a television screenwriter, meets plastic surgeon Kang-wook (Lee Geung-young) while on a trip to Thailand. Kang-wook is about to get married to a dermatologist named Min-kyung (Jo Min-su), while Ji-hyun is engaged to Jong-hyuk (Cha In-pyo), a second generation chaebol. A forbidden love forms between Ji-hyun and Kang-wook, and the drama explores the conflict between the two, with their existing lovers and each other.[1][2][3]
Cast edit
- Lee Young-ae as Kim Ji-hyun
- Lee Geung-young as Lee Kang-wook
- Cha In-pyo as Choi Jong-hyuk
- Jo Min-su as Huh Min-kyung
- Jang Seo-hee as Na Hyun-kyung
- Kim Na-woon as So Yoo-ja
- Jung Hye-sun as Ji-hyun's mother
- Baek Il-seob as Ji-hyun's father
- Seo Woo-rim as Madam Seo
- Kang Boo-ja as Madam Noh
- Park Geun-hyung as Choi Chang-soon
- Kim Bok-hee as Kang-wook's mother
- Shin Choong-sik as Kang-wook's father
- Kim Hae-sook as Min-kyung's aunt
- Choi Sang-hoon as Lee Kang-shik
- Yang Mi-kyung as Cho-hee
- Song Sun-mi as Heo Min-ji
- Maeng Sang-hoon as Coach Jung
- Won Ki-joon as Park Han-soo
- Song Young-chang
- Choi Soo-rin
- Kim Min-sang
- Lee Jong-rae
- Yoo Ji-yun
Production edit
Fireworks was written by Kim Soo-hyun, and was his first work of the new millennium. Jeong Eul-young, who Kim had previously worked with in Men of the Bath House, directed the series. The script was written as filming progressed with no concrete synopsis.[4] Early filming took place in Thailand starting from 15 January 2000, in spots like downtown Bangkok and Pattaya Beach.[2]
Ratings and reception edit
Fireworks was initially unsuccessful—its first episode achieved ratings of 10.7%, a low for the time. The series' low ratings were attributed to popularity of MBC's Truth, which aired in the same timeslot.[3][5] Early episodes drew criticism from viewers, who found the development of Ji-hyun and Kang-wook's relationship implausible and thought Lee Geung-young and Lee Young-ae unfit for their roles.[6][7] After staying on an average rating of 15%, the drama passed the 20% mark for the first time with its 10th episode.[8] The final episode exceeded the 30% mark with a 36.7%, the show's highest rating yet.[9] Audiences were critical of its ending, which was panned as unrealistic.[9] The Citizens' Coalition for Democratic Media picked Fireworks as the worst program of April 2000, proclaiming that the show depicted "a twisted view of love".[10]
References edit
- ^ 김수현 '통속 마술' 또 불꽃 피울까. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 2000-01-21. Archived from the original on 2024-03-15. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ a b 김수현사단 안방강타 ‘예감’. Seoul Shinmun (in Korean). 2000-01-21. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ a b 김수현의〈불꽃〉초라한 출발. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 2000-05-17. Archived from the original on 2024-03-15. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ 김수현 새작품 "내용이 뭐길래". Kukmin Ilbo. Archived from the original on 2024-03-19. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ 드라마 '불꽃', 뒤집기 성공할까. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 2000-03-28. Archived from the original on 2024-03-15. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ 드라마 ‘불꽃’초반 불길 시원찮네. Seoul Shinmun (in Korean). 2000-02-11. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ SBS '불꽃' 시청률 10%대 부진…시청자 비판만 줄이어. Kukmin Ilbo. Archived from the original on 2024-03-19. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ SBS '불꽃' 3월엔 활활 타오를까…극중 갈등구조 본격화. The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). 2000-03-07. Archived from the original on 2024-03-15. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ a b SBS 드라마 '불꽃' 18일 끝나. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 2000-05-18. Archived from the original on 2024-03-15. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
- ^ [방송가] 4월의 좋은 방송에 `PD수첩' (in Korean). Maeil Business Newspaper. Archived from the original on 2024-03-19. Retrieved 2024-03-19 – via Naver.
External links edit
- Fireworks Info Archived 2022-02-20 at the Wayback Machine
- SBS Fireworks Official Website