first love

Ranked as the highest-rated Korean drama of all time, First Love scored a monstrous 65.8 percentile in TV ratings during its broadcast in 1996 to 1997. Written by the late Jo So Hye whose filmography includes Mothers and Sisters and Paper Crane, the drama features a star-studded cast that includes Bae Yong Joon, Choi Soo Jong, Choi Ji Woo, Lee Seung Yeon, and Cha Tae Hyun, all appearing before their heyday. Depicting the afflictions of youth, the drama brings you the moving story of two brothers, Sung Chan Woo and Sung Chan Hyuk, who live in the poor suburbs of Seoul with their father, trying to get through the hardships of life. Bae Yong Joon plays the younger brother of Choi Soo Jong, a rebellious law student who gives up a promising career and joins a gangster so he can seek revenge on his family's suffering. A classic triangle love story, the drama sees the two brothers in love with the same woman (played by actress Lee Seung Yeon). Bae would go on to star in such hit dramas as Hotelier and Winter Sonata, eventually earning him the nickname of Yon-sama and becoming one of today's leading hallyu stars. Incidentally, his Winter Sonata partner Choi Ji Woo also stars in First Love, playing a rich college student who falls in love with Bae's character.

When Chan Woo (Bae Yong Joon) finds out that his high school crush Hyo Kyung (Lee Seung Yeon) is seeing his own brother Chan Hyuk (Choi Soo Jong), his heart falls to the ground. But not all is rosy between Hyo Kyung and Chan Hyuk, as Hyo Kyung's rich gangster father and uncle are unhappy about their precious girl and niece dating a poor aspiring artist, and wreak havoc in their relationship. When a mysterious accident by Hyo Kyung's uncle leaves Chan Hyuk in a paralyzed state, Chan Woo plots revenge against Hyo Kyung's family by joining the underground world of the mafia. Waiting patiently in the wings is Suk Hee (Choi Ji Woo) who has never given up on her love for Chan Woo.

Eventually, Chan Woo returns back to studying law, giving up his revenge plan and his position in the company as his older brother pleads forgiveness for his first love and also because he remembered his promise to Suk Hee. Chan Woo's close friend in university, Hyong Ki, also harbored feelings for Suk Hee because of her kind nature and caring attitude towards friends. Hyong Ki somehow acted as a bridge in the relationship between Suk Hee and Chan Woo.