Endless Love is the unofficial title for a set of four Korean drama series directed by Yoon Seok-ho, and produced by KBS from 2000 to 2006.
Structure It featured four parts, with each named after the seasons of the year. Each part of the series had its own plotlines, characters, and actors. The series was widely viewed in Asia and continued the Korean Wave that had gripped the region since the late 1990s and early 2000s. Later on, as the series progressed and was marketed outside of Korea, the moniker 'Endless Love' stuck and was used to identify all the series as one.
Endless Love series The series was widely known in South Korea as director Yoon Seok-ho's pet project, dealing with four different seasons of love. In Korea, however, it is not totally put together as a series but is arranged as four separate shows. All the seasons run 20 episodes except for the first which ran only 16 as they were shown on KBS2, in more than 76 episodes. The show's endings not only have evolved with the times (tragedy used to be the trend, but now lighter, happier endings are preferred), but have kept with the theme, getting progressively more positive as 'spring' approaches. A few of the actors who portray the show's supporting characters return in different roles as the series progressed, such as Kim Hae-sook, but only Song Seung-heon played two different characters, both as leads for Autumn and Summer.
Here are the four parts of the 'series': Autumn in My Heart Winter Sonata Summer Scent Spring Waltz
Running similarities Many elements of the 'formula' of Korean drama are evident in the shows but are retained even more clearly in all four shows.
The shows mainly begin with a love that begins at some point in the early childhood or teen years and continues on until adulthood, usually after a long separation. This is slightly bent in the 3rd series as the main character's first loves are not the main characters, but still goes by 'first love' involving the heart of the main male character's first girlfriend having been transplanted onto the main female lead.
The shows also seem to emphasize the scenery, making it into one of the main characters (the rice fields in Autumn, the lake in Winter, the tea garden in Summer and the island in Spring).
The show also follows a pattern of having a 'third-wheel', the second male lead; and the jealous girl, the second female lead. There was also a 3rd 'couple' in each show, mostly to provide comic relief from the otherwise dreary situations presented in each show (leading to 3 couples- the leads, the second leads and the 'funny' couple).
Also, all the characters in all the series have had the leads endure the disagreement of the parents of both leads. As for the soundtrack, main instrumental themes for all the series are known classics such as 'Romance' in Autumn, 'Moonlight Sonata' in Winter, 'Serenade' in Summer and 'Clementine' in Spring.
Broadcasting outside Korea In the Philippines, Endless Love: Autumn in My Heart became a tearful and heart-touching drama. This drama received much positive feedback. Also the main actor and actress' of the first series garnered positive comments from people. Endless Love II: Winter Sonata and Endless Love III: Summer Scent also aired on GMA Network, while Endless Love IV: Spring Waltz aired on ABS-CBN as Spring Waltz (without the Endless Love title) and also came out with a DVD Boxset containing all episodes Tagalog Dubbed. Endless Love, which was the first adaptation of the first series installment of the same title, spanned a remake in 2010 after the original series aired 10 years back it marked the 60 years of GMA Network then it became a rerun after 11 years in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. The series featured Dingdong Dantes as Johnny and Marian Rivera as Jenny which also became a hit through its initial run. In Indonesia, the serial was officially broadcast as Endless Love: Autumn in My Heart such: Indosiar (2002) Start aired: Monday, 1 July 2002 End aired: Wednesday, 7 August 2002 Monday and Tuesday at 18:00-19:00 WIB/19:00-20:00 WITA. RCTI (2003–2004) Live: Start aired: Chinese New Year 2003 End aired: Sunday, 11 May 2003 Weekends at 15:00-16:00 WIB/16:00-17:00 WITA/17:00-18:00 WIT. Rerun: Start aired: Tuesday, 16 November 2004 End aired: Thursday, 23 December 2004 Weekdays at 18:00-19:00 WIB/19:00-20:00 WITA/20:00-21:00 WIT. Deli TV Medan (2006) Start aired: Monday, 1 May 2006 End aired: Wednesday, 9 June 2006 Weekdays at 20:00-21:00 WIB. Dubbed (Audio): Korean. Subtitle (Captions): Indonesian. ANTV (2012) Start aired: Monday, 29 October 2012 End aired: Friday, 7 December 2012 Weekdays at 20:30-21:30 WIB/21:30-22:30 WITA/22:30-23:30 WIT. In Puerto Rico, Endless Love II: Winter Sonata and Endless Love IV: Spring Waltz run with Spanish dubbing, and the two are currently being broadcast at the same time. They have gained much popularity with their viewers.
Production and telecasting Telecasting: KBS Executive Producer: Kim, Jong Sik Chief Producer: Moon, Bo Hyun Producer: Lee, Jae Sang Production: YOON'S COLOR Director: Yoon Seok-ho Distributor: YOON'S COLOR
Soundtracks Korean soundtracks Autumn Tale soundtrack Also includes a compact disc for another Korean KBS show - Fireworks. The main title and "Reason" have the same melody and are the dominant themes of the show. "Romance", also known as "Forbidden Love", is the classic piece used for this soundtrack.
Main Title (Flute ver.) Reason - Jung Il-young Romance - Choi Tae-won Gi do (Prayer) - Jung Il-young Remember - Park Jung-won Uhl Ma Na Nae Ga (Sincerely) - Yoon Chang-gun Reason (Instrumental ver.) Romance (Piano ver.) - Lee Hong-rae Noon Mool (Tears) - Lee Hong-rae Uhl Ma Na Nae Ga (Sincerely) (Guitar ver.) - Guitar by Ham Choon-ho Ggoom suhk ae suh (In my dream) - Jung Il-young Uhl Ma Na Nae Ga (Sincerely) (Piano ver.) - Piano by Yoo Jung-young Gi Do (Prayer) (Piano ver.)
Autumn Tale: Episode 1 Romance (Instrumental) - Choi Tae Wan Sadness - Jung Chul In Crying - Jung Chul In Ja Jun Guh (Instrumental) - Jung Chul In Chun Nyun Dong Ahn - Jung Chul In I Love You, I Miss You, I Need You - Jung Chul In Epilogue (Instrumental) - Jung Chul In Nuh Eh Ge Mood Go Ship Eun Doo Ga Ji - Kim Soo Jin Bi Ae (Instrumental) - Jung Chul In Seul Peun Ye Gam - Lim Ok Moon Ja Yoo Rob Ge - Jung Chul In Sad Song - Kim Sang Hee, Kang Sung Gon Cafe Christman - Kim Yo Seb Gyuh Ool Ae Sang - Song Ji Hyun Sadness (Instrumental) - Jung Chul In
Winter Sonata soundtrack Predominantly features Ryu () as the official performer for Winter Sonata.
처음부터 지금까지 Cheoeumbuteo Jigeumkkaji (From the Beginning Until Now) - performed by Ryu "My Memory" - performed by Ryu 처음 Cheoeum (First Time) 그대만이 Geudaeman'i (Only You) - performed by Ryu 처음부터 지금까지 Cheoeumbuteo Jigeumkkaji (From the Beginning Until Now) - instrumental version "My Memory" - piano and violin version 보낼 수 없는 사랑 Ponael Su Eobsneun Sarang (The Love I Can Not Send) - performed by Seon () 시작 Shijak (The Beginning) 그대만이 Geudaeman'i (Only You) - piano and violin version "My Memory" - piano version 잊지마 Itjima (Don't Forget) - performed by Ryu 기억속으로 Gieoksog'euro (Inside the Memories) 연인 Yeon'in (Lover) - performed by Ryu 제비꽃 Jebikkoch (Violet) - performed by Ryu 그대만이 Geudaeman'i (Only You) - piano version 처음 Cheoeum (First Time) - piano version 제비꽃 Jebikkoch (Violet) - instrumental
In addition, "Moment" performed by Ryu and available on his album Ryu 2 () is included on some bootleg versions of the Winter Sonata soundtrack.
Winter Sonata Classics Chuh eum boo tuh ji geum gga ji - Oh Suk Joon, Yoo Hae Joon Tears In Your Eyes - Park Jung Won My Memory (Violin Version) - Park Jung Won Ye gam - Ho, Lee Ha yan yun in deul - Francis Lai Ah jik do - Lee Ji Soo Missing You (Violin Version) - Ho, Lee Sparks - Moszkowski Goodbye My Love - Ho, Lee My Memory (Piano Version) - Park Jung Won Bit ba raen gi uk - Lee Ji Soo Love Is Blue - Ho, Lee Missing You (Piano Version) - Ho, Lee Byul - Ha Kwang Suk Let's Dream, Once Again - Ho, Lee
Winter Sonata Orgel Sound Collection My Memory Shi jak Ah jik do Chuh eum boo tuh ji geum gga ji Goodbye My Love Bit ba raen gi uk Love Is Blue Byul Chuh eum Je bi ggot Moment Geu dae man ee Gi uk sok eu ro Bo nael soo uhb neun sarang It ji ma
Summer Scent soundtrack The main title and Bi Mil are interchangeably used in different airings of the show as the main theme.
Main Title (Serenade) Bi mil - Jung In Ho Missing U - Seo Jin Young Uh jjuh myun - Seo Jin Young Yuh reum hyang gi - Jung In Ho Serenade (Inst.) (Guitar) Second Romance - Seo Jin Young Yuh reum hyang gi 2 (Inst.) Doo bun jjae sarang - Seo Jin Young Uh jjuh myun (Inst.) (Piano) Serenade - Yoo Mi Sook Bi mil (Inst.) (Piano) Doo bun jjae sarang (Inst.) (Piano & Guitar) Love - Seo Jin Young Bi mil (Inst.) (Guitar) Sarang han da myun - Jung In Ho & Seo Jin Young Yuh woo bi (Inst.) Love (Inst.) (Piano & Guitar)
Spring Waltz soundtrack Teardrop Waltz One Love - Loveholic Childhood Cannonball - Damien Rice Clementine - Lee Ji Soo Flower - U-na Bom eh waltz Nae in saeng eh bom nal - S Jin A Sad Memory - Jang Se Yong Ee jen sarang hal soo it suh yo - Yurisangja Shadow Waltz - Jang Se Yong Moo ji gae - Bada Song Of Island - Lee Ji Soo Soo ho chun sa - S Jin Flashback Ma eum eu ro boo reu neun no rae - Myung In Hee Tears For Remembrance
Spring Waltz Classics Spring Waltz - Yoon Jae Ha
A double-disc piano collection packaged exactly like the male lead character's first Korean special release album, also bearing that character's name.
CD 1 Bom eh waltz (Spring Waltz) (Piano Version) - Yiruma Day Dream - Park Jong Hoon Sunday Afternoon Waltz - Park Jong Hoon Sum eh ee ya gi (Dreaming Island's Story) (Piano Version) - Yiruma Il uh buh rin sum (Lost In Island) (Piano Version) - Yiruma A Sad Motive - Park Jong Hoon Broken Blossoms (Vivace) - Yiruma To My Little Girl I (Clementine) - Yiruma I Think You Love Me - Park Jong Hoon Byul ee ji gi jun eh (Before The Star) - Yiruma Sum eh ee ya gi" (Dreaming Island's Story) (Clarinet Solo by Hee Jeong Lucia Kye) - Yiruma Ga eul eul dalm eun bom I (Autumn-Colored Spring I) (Guitar Solo By Minseok Kim) - Yiruma Men's Tears (Cello By Huh Yun Jung) - Park Jong Hoon Ga eul eul dalm eun bom II (Autumn-Colored Spring II) (Piano & Guitar Version) - Yiruma Il uh buh rin sum (Lost In Island) (String Version) (Cello By Huh Yun Jung) - Yiruma Silence - Park Jong Hoon Nuh eh dwit mo seub - Park Jong Hoon To My Little Girl II (Clementine) - Yiruma Guten Morgen - Park Jong Hoon Bom eh waltz (Spring Waltz) (String Version) (Clarinet By Hee Jeong Lucia Kye) - Yiruma To My Little Girl III (Clementine) (Bonus Track) - Yiruma Il uh buh rin sum (Lost In Island) (Free Version) (Bonus Track) - Yiruma
CD 2 Chopin, Nocturne in C # minor - Kim Jong Won Schumann, Humoreske - Kim Jong Won Chopin, Waltz in B minor - Kim Jong Won Chopin, Prelude in E minor, Op. 28-4 - Kim Jong Won Chopin, Etude in E major, op. 10-3 'Chanson de l'adieu' - Kim Jong Won Tchaikovsky, 'Autumn Song' - Kim Jong Won Chopin, Nocturne in E♭major, op. 9-2 - Kim Jong Won Chopin, Etude in E♭minor, op. 10-6 - Kim Jong Won Chopin, Prelude in D♭Major, op. 28-15 'Raindrop' - Kim Jong Won Tchaikovsky, Nocturne in C♯ minor - Kim Jong Won
Love Poem A maxi-single released with songs inspired by Spring Waltz.
Love Poem Flying Petals Nocturne For Clementine Ggoom sok eh suh Love Poem (Piano Solo) Ggoom sok eh suh (Piano Solo) Flying Petals (Piano Duet)
International releases Winter Sonata Piano Classic Version (Japan) Saisho kara ima made My Memory Yokan Shiroi koibitotachi Ima demo Missing You Sparks Goodbye My Love Love Is Blue Hajimete Anata dake ga Moment Koibito Hajimari Kioku no naka e Wasurenai go Sumire Hanasenai koi Let's Dream, Once Again