Encounter is one more of the many Korean TV serials with 16 episodes (2018) gaining large audiences. (Photos: Song and Cha.)
It is about a young man, Kim Jin-hyuk (Park Bo-gum), of no noteworthy status (son of a greengrocer and an employee in the classy Donghwa hotel) and an elder divorced woman (Song hye-kyo) from a wealthy family (owner, or president, of the classy hotel). They meet by chance in Cuba where young Kim Jin-hyuk enjoys his vacation taking photographs (but without evident purpose) while she, Cha Soo-hyun is there with her secretary, Jang Mi-jin, on a business trip to establish a hotel in Havana, a branch of their Seoul enterprise. The encounteris due to fate – a very common theme in most Korean movies. Their initial friendship becomes (platonic) love, Cha changes from a woman almost without will to a self-confident joyful lady. She had been “sold” by her own family (father politician, mother ambitious) to a very powerful but oppressive family (Junk/Kim) through marriage to the only son and heir. Her mother-in-law (admirably played by Cha Hwa-yeon) is certainly a commanding wilful woman who takes “no” from nobody. Soo-hyun decides now to be completely independent and live a carefree life with Jin-hyuk. We hear of the oppression and do see Soo-hyun somewhat reserved and hesitant but see nothing of what happened.
Eventually, after several (temporary) separations and reunions, and overcoming the plots of her widowed mother-in-law, President Kim Hwa-jin who is secretly helped by Mr Choi, the hotel manager, and of her former husband, but also Jin hyuk’s parents, she gets married to her lover. Her secretary too falls in love and marries Lee Dae-chan, Jin-hyuk’s friend, owner of a small restaurant. This is a parallel subplot and from a realistic point of view a much more convincing and pleasant development. These two, actress Kwak Sun-young and actor Kim Joo-hun are very good in their respective roles.
Another parallel subject concerns Cha’s father’s career in politics. He had progressed with illegal donations from President Kim and is now thinking of going for President of the country. But suddenly he has feelings of guilt, and we learn that earlier he was honest and had comrades a man now dead and Nam Myeong-sik who now works as driver and good friend of Cha Soo-hyun. He confesses his dishonest dealings and causes the arrest of President Kim and so relieves his daughter from the pressure exercised by her former mother-in-law.
Cha’s former husband, Jung Woo-seok the son of President kim, is still in love with her and continues to court her despite their divorce which he had sought to marry another woman and gave to her the hotel Donghwn as recompense. At the beginning he tells his mother to leave alone Cha and so gives the impression that he is good and honourable but soon he changes, and the plot goes misty as he ends his relationship with the other lady. He appears now as cowardly and devious but does not regain Cha’s esteem.
Although this serial is later than Descendants of the Sun, a film in which starred Song Hye-kyo, and looks on the surface more mature it is far less coherent and satisfying.
In the 2nd episode, we have a silly incident where young Jin-hyuk, drunk and ludicrous is trying to convince Cha, who is driving the car, that dried squid has miraculous powers. Some spectators probably find this very funny, but it is utterly stupid. At a later stage the two go out to dine but, with heads covered so as not to be recognised, they sit by the large front window of the restaurant! And of course, they get photographed since Cha belongs to high society, and the photos appear in next day’s tabloids. Why did they try disguise themselves at all?
Needless to say, the published photos provoked the anger of Cha’s former husband and mother-in-law. This is a minor lapse.
There are two very big and insuperable difficulties.
First, the very bad acting of Park Bo-gum (but this may be due to the director as well). He’s a younger actor who had had training in music, song and piano but ended up in acting. He is regarded as handsome, has gained many prizes and, no doubt, has many fans in the female teen-age population. But his constant smiling betrays silliness rather than a good work-loving son and a “free spirit”, which does not appear convincingly anywhere in the 16 episodes. The difference shows itself in the first meeting with Soo-hyun outside the hotel in Seoul (beginning of 2nd episode) at the park Hongje Dong. His behaviour as he grabs his more mature employer’s arm (whom he should respect) is not that of a carefree youth but that of spoiled brat. Song’s behaviour, her simple expression with a brief pause and gently surprised look is so very different. He also does not open the car door for her! In fact, his constant effort to appear a youthful carefree spirit is rather crude and tiresome. When in the end of episode 4, Mr Choi, the manager, attacks verbally (and convincingly) Mrs Cha in front of many employees, she shows both dignified unconcern and some embarrassment with a simple turn of the body and facial expression. But Bo-gam with his stupid smile (and those spotless white teeth) and with decisive steps (on which the camera focuses) comes to her defence. Here the camera focuses for a long time on Song’s beautiful face, but to no useful purpose! It is, I should add, a common theme in Korean movies to have the man declare that he will “protect” his beloved. Here it is very difficult to see how young Jin-hyuk will “protect” the more mature and wealthy Mrs Cha!
Second, Cha’s decision to separate from Jin-hyuk in 14. The scriptwriter (Yoo Yeong-ah who also scripted Miracle in cell 7, 2013) tries from early on, to have material for his 16 episodes, to separate the couple: the scandal with the photos in the tabloid, former mother-in-law and husband scheming, some friend’s advice, Jin-hyuk’s father. But finally, the young man’s mother succeeds as she is rather foolishly influenced by a neighbour who wants to have her son get a job at the hotel and asks for a favour. So, she tells Mrs Cha, not her son, that it is better to separate now rather than later since the relationship causes difficulties and pain in other people. Of course, nothing of the sort is happening, but Cha convinces herself that this is true (ep. 14) and that she causes suffering to people she cares about. It is a stupid conviction and maudlin condition. And this is presented at a stage when, in fact, all real external difficulties have been surpassed, and Cha’s father has entrusted her to Jin-hyuk’s care all unbeknown to her. But the formula demands 16 episodes!.
If the series had finished with 12, or better still, 8 episodes, it might have been a fair production despite Park Bo-gam’s uninspired performance. (I have seen him also in Love in the Moonlight ,2013, and in the worse Record of Youth, 2020).
Most of their secondary actors are good but President Kim does stand out (Cha Hwa-yeon). Song Hye-kyo dominates the series with her superb acting, her natural ease and grace and her expressiveness. There are other good Korean actresses like Kim Ji won (doctor in Descendants of the Sun, 2021 and lady protagonist in Queen of Tears, 2024) and Han So-hee My Name 21/20/21 and the two seasons of Gyeongseong Creature 2023. But I think Song is very good, indeed. She is regarded as one of the best actresses and most beautiful Korean women. I shall write another article about her other films (very different roles in Full House 2004, That Winter the Wind blows 2013, The Glory 2022).
