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Drama Information
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Producer:
Bu Seong-cheol
Cast:
Choi Ji-woo, Yoo Ji-tae, Lee Ki-woo, Cha Ye-ryeon
Broadcast Network: SBS
Broadcast Period: December
10, 2008 ~ February 12, 2009
Website: http://tv.sbs.co.kr/starlover/
(Korean)
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Synopsis
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| Lee Ma-ri is a top
star in Korea and throughout Asia. Seo Tae-seok, the
head of Mari’s management firm, hires a ghostwriter
to help transform Ma-ri’s image. The poverty-stricken
lecturer Kim Cheol-soo becomes her ghostwriter in order
to earn money for his sister’s surgical operation,
and whilst they are in Japan he falls in love with Ma-ri.
However, when the novel ‘Lovers in Asuka,’ written
by Cheol-soo on Ma-ri’s behalf, becomes a hit, Ma-ri
gets caught up in the controversy generated by the ghost
writing. The two lovers try to continue their relationship
away from media attention, but they end up breaking
up. Ma-ri decides to leave the Seo Tae-sook’s management
firm as he tries to control everything in her life.
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Cast
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Lee Ma Ri played by Choi Ji-woo
Ma-ri is a top star in Korea and throughout Asia. She
is a very talented actress who can play many different
roles. In fact she is often referred to as the Angelina
Jolie of Korea and is followed by hoards of press wherever
she goes. In the past her first love suddenly vanished
from her life, and as a result she has come to think
of love as a game and has broken many hearts. She has
a strong professional personality, but can also be genuine,
open, and affectionate.
 Kim
Cheol-soo played by Yoo Ji-tae
Cheol-soo is a graduate student and lecturer in the
Korean Department of Seoul National University. When
he was a child his mother left, and since then he and
his sister have lived with his aunt. He is very sensitive
and cold, and can be quite standoffish to people other
than his sister. Since childhood he dreamed of becoming
a novelist; but because of opposition from his family,
he entered the Korean department in college. He had
a crush on Eun-young who was in the same department
but he was too shy to reveal his feelings. He becomes
a ghostwriter to make money for his sister’s medical
operation and through this he meets Ma-ri and falls
in love.
 Jung
Woo-jin played by Lee Ki-woo
Woo-jin
has the same name as Ma-ri’s first love. His good manners
help him to win her affection. He excels in his studies,
music, sports, and everything he sets his mind to. As
the nephew of the CEO of conglomerate M, he is a member
of Korea’s elite, and he has an MBA degree from Stanford.
He now is the head of a media firm. He saw Ma-ri easily
reject the proposal of his conceited cousin Ha Young,
and he falls for her confidence and beauty.
 Choi
Eun-young played by Cha Ye-ryeon
Eun-young is born into an affluent family. Her father
is a professor of Korean literature and a famous critic,
while her mother is also an important figure in Korean
society. In college, Eun-young attracted a lot of attention
from men, but she ends up falling for the withdrawn
Cheol-soo. Exhausted from the emotional tug-of-war between
her and Cheol-soo, she leaves Korea to study in Japan.
Then one day, Cheol-soo suddenly appears in Japan and
causes her feelings to resurface. She knows him better
than anyone else, and is both concerned and jealous
by his developing relationship with Ma-ri. |
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Filming Locations
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 Ilsan
Il Mare
After breaking up with Cheol-soo, Ma-ri receives
a proposal from Woo-jin. However, Ha-young, Woo-jin’s
cousin who also likes Ma-ri, comes to see her and tells
her that he and Woo-jin made a bet over who could put
a ring on Ma-ri’s finger. When Ma-ri hears that Woo-jin
will leave for the United States in two weeks, she cannot
hide her confusion. This scene was filmed in the Italian
restaurant Il Mare, which is stylishly decorated in
black and white. Other scenes which were filmed there
include one in episode 19 where Seo tae-seok and Ma-ri
bump into each other, and one from episode 8 where she
meets Eun-young. Il Mare is located in front of Ilsan
Lake Park and serves pasta, pizza, salads, and wine.
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Address:
Samsung Merhen Building F1, 752 Janghang-dong,
Ilsan-gu district, Goyang city, Gyeonggi-do
province
Tel:
+82-31-905-1772
Hours:
11:30~22:30
How to Get There:
Exit 2, Jeongbalsan station, Seoul
subway line 3 cross the street and turn
left in front of Lotte department store
in the direction of Lake park Walk straight
ahead at the three-way intersection in front
of the park
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Ilsan
Lake Park
In the last episode, five years have passed,
and Ma-ri and Cheol-soo are now a happily married couple.
You see them in a park with their daughter. Cheol-soo
takes her in his arms and holds Ma-ri’s hand. The final
scene, where they are walking together, was filmed at
Lake park in Ilsan. The park has the largest artificial
lake in Asia, as well as a beautiful promenade road
and bicycle path. It’s home to a large variety of wild
flowers and plants grow. Every year, the park is the
venue for the annual Goyang World Flower Fair, and concerts,
skateboard competitions, and other events are held here.
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Address:
752 Janghang-dong, Ilsan-gu district, Goyang
city, Gyeonggi-do province
Korea
Travel Phone: +82-31-1330 (Korean,
English, Japanese, Chinese)
How
to Get There: Exit
2, Jeongbalsan station, subway line 3
cross the street and turn left in front
of Lotte Department Store in the direction
of Lake Park Cross the street at the three-way
intersection in front of the park
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Seoul
National University
This is the university where Cheol-soo
is a graduate student and lecturer. The university is
60 years old and is the leading university in Korea,
educating some of the nation’s leading figures. This
is the first time the university has allowed its campus
to be used as a filming location. Scenes of Cheol-soo’s
lectures and Ma-ri’s visit to the school were filmed
in locations such as the gallery, Gyujanggak, and museum
roads. The gallery, which was designed by internationally
renowned architect Rem Koolhaas, displays approximately
250 works of art. First opened in 1776, Gyujanggak was
the royal library in the Joseon Dynasty and is now the
pride of the university. The Global House bar, located
at the rear gate serves beer until 2am. Located at the
foot of beautiful Mt. Gwanaksan, the university is also
a place of leisure and relaxation for local residents.
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Address:
599 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu district,
Seoul
Tel: +82-2-880-5114
Website: http://www.snu.ac.kr
(Korean, English)
How
to Get There: Exit
3, Seoul National University station (please
note it is not Seoul National University
of Education station), subway line 2 Take
a taxi to the campus
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Busan
Haeundae
When Cheol-soo is lecturing in Busan,
Ma-ri comes to see him and confesses that she also loves
him. This emotional scene takes place against the backdrop
of a deep blue sea and the striking Nurimaru APEC House
with its circular dome. It was filmed on Dongbaekseom
Island in Busan. Nurimaru, which was the venue for the
2005 APEC Summit Meeting, is open to the general public
from 10 am to 5 pm. Ma-ri and Cheol-soo take a walk
on the beach, and Ma-ri urges Cheol-soo to write her
name in the sand. This scene was filmed at Haeundae
Beach, where the long stretch of beautiful white sand
and excellent facilities make it one of Busan’s most
popular tourist destinations. A trip to Haeundae Beach
and Dongbaekseom Island, which is located at the end
of the beach, would take half a day. Visitors can find
information on the area at the Tourist Information Center
located near the entrance to the beach.
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Korea
Travel Phone: +82-51-1330 (Korean,
English, Japanese, Chinese)
How
to Get There: From
Seoul station take a train to Busan At
Busan station, take the subway Exit 3,
Haeundae station, subway line 2. Walk straight
ahead
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