'Winter Sonata' sequel due later this year

Starring Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo, the KBS soap opera about a woman whose lover suffers from amnesia was written by Yoon Seun-gyeong and Kim Eun-hee and directed by Yoon Seok-ho.

The sequel is currently in the planning stage with Yoon expected to take part in the project as an executive producer.

 The synopsis of the new soap series is scheduled to be out next month, and the cast and the main producer of the sequel have yet to be decided.

"I've been planning the sequel for a long time. I've always thought I'll make a sequel after 10 years have passed since the first series aired, and I think now is the time for this," Park said. "I'm planning to have as many staff members from the first series take part in the new project as 'Winter Sonata' is very meaningful in many ways."
 

Broadcast on KBS 2TV from January to March in 2002, "Winter Sonata" was a big hit at home for its story of sad but pure love, beautiful visual images, catchy music and fresh fashion styles.

Landing in Japan the following year, the drama captivated Japanese TV watchers, creating a boom of South Korean TV dramas and sending its lead actor Bae to fame.

Some 2 million copies of "Winter Sonata" OST CDs and 450,000 DVD sets were sold in Japan.

In 2004, South Korean economic research centers estimated the economic impact of the drama at 3 trillion won ($2.72 billion): 840 billion won in tourism, 20 billion won in sales of Bae's photo books and 10 billion won in sales of calendars featuring him.

"I hope the sequel has a positive impact on the poor relations between South Korea and Japan," Park said. (Yonhap)