Love Story in Harvard

Love Story in Harvard  is a 16-episode romantic Korean television drama broadcast in 2004, set in the United States and South Korea. It stars Kim Rae-won, Kim Tae-hee and Lee Jeong-jin.
It was well-received both in its native South Korea and throughout East Asia, although many viewers criticized the generally poor English language skills of the Korean cast.

Synopsis

The first half of the series is set at Harvard University and is mainly concerned with the burgeoning relationship between a Harvard Law School student, Kim Hyun Woo (Kim Rae Won), and a Harvard Medical School student, Lee Soo In (Kim Tae Hee).
Kim Hyun Woo and Alex Hong (Lee Jeong-jin) are two first-year students at Harvard Law School, both from South Korea. Alex applies himself more and as such is the favorite of Professor John H. Keynes (Frank Gorshin). Hyun Woo, who initially has a hard time adjusting to the workload, falls into the bad graces of the professor, who repeatedly humiliates or ignores him. However, Hyun Woo perseveres and eventually wins the respect of Professor Keynes and his classmates. Both men meet and fall for Lee Soo-In, a third-year Korean student at Harvard Medical School. This intensifies the rivalry between them.
Hyun Woo and Soo-In grow closer and eventually start dating. However, their relationship is short-lived as Soo-In's application to join OEP, an organization that provides medical care to patients in Third World countries, is accepted. After spending a night together, Soo In breaks off all contact with Hyun Woo and leaves to work in South America, leaving him devastated.
The second half of the story takes place mainly in Seoul, after Hyun Woo and Alex have graduated from Harvard Law School. Hyun Woo is now an idealistic lawyer, refusing to take on lucrative corporate cases and only defending people he feels have no voice in the legal system. Alex, who remained in the US after graduation, returns to Korea to take on a case for an international chemicals company, which is being accused of dumping toxic substances. Hyun Woo becomes involved in the same case, although on the side of the victims demanding compensation. In addition, Soo-In also returns to Korea at around the same time to conduct some medical research. Unknown to her at first, the research is related to the chemicals case that Alex and Hyun Woo are both working on, and predictably the three meet up again.
Although Hyun Woo is still angry at Soo-In for leaving him so abruptly, he still has feelings for her, as does Alex. Alex eventually reconciles with both Hyun Woo and Soo-In, helping them to win the case against the chemicals company. He returns to the United States to take up a teaching post at Harvard Law, while Hyun Woo and Soo-In marry and have children.

Cast

• Kim Rae Won as Kim Hyun-woo - 1st year law student
• Kim Tae Hee as Lee Soo-in - 3rd year medical student
• Lee Jeong-jin as Hong Jung-min
• Kim Min as Yoo Jin-ah

Extended Cast

• Frank Gorshin as Professor John H. Keynes
• Joo Hyun as Lee Yong-goo (Soo-in’s father)
• Kang Nam Gil as Oh Yung-jae (law professor)
• Jung Sol Hee as Han Seul-gil
• Ben Wells as Ricky Don (Jung-min's friend)
• Suh Ji Hee
• Lee Yoo Jung

 

Production

Although the drama is set at Harvard University, it was filmed at University of Southern California and UCLA.