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| "Lovely Runner" |
"Lovely Runner", which aired in 2024, combined the romantic fantasy genre with a time-slip theme, adding a fresh twist. Frankly, I don't think even the drama industry could have anticipated this level of success. Beyond simply captivating viewers, the drama is recognized for its systematic approach to perfection, from strategic direction and directing techniques to the use of soundtracks and global distribution.
Time-Slip Theme and Narrative Originality
Fantasy themes have been constantly evolving in the drama industry. However, Lovely Runner goes beyond simply traveling back in time. It centers on the universal emotions of youth, first love, stars, and fans.
In particular, the premise of the protagonist traveling back in time to save a singer connects with "fandom culture," a concept uncommon in time-slip dramas, creating a fresh and engaging experience. This aligns with the recent globalization of Hallyu fandom and can be seen as a strategic decision made from the drama's planning stage, with a global audience in mind.
Lovely Runner also captures the universal human desire to change the past. Through the main character, Im Sol, viewers naturally pondered the question, "If I had another chance, what would I change?" and were deeply emotionally immersed in the drama. This success is not only evidenced by the originality of the story, but also by its narrative structure, which possesses universality and expandability.
Directing and Music: Sensual Perfection
Lovely Runner is praised for demonstrating the epitome of a "visual romance drama" in terms of directing.
First, the filming techniques showcased the outstanding use of light and color. In the time-slip scenes that transcend the past and present, a distinct color palette was applied, allowing viewers to intuitively sense the passage of time. The visual contrast was maximized by using warm, dreamy colors in the past scenes and cool, sophisticated colors in the present. My favorite scene was the slow-motion cut on a rainy day, with Younha's "Umbrella" playing. This yellow umbrella is a crucial element in the drama.
The soundtrack strategy was also key to the film's success. Lovely Runner utilizes music as a key element within the drama, utilizing the drama's OST not simply as background music but as an extension of the storytelling. The songs featured in the drama also achieved success on music charts, demonstrating the complementary nature of the drama and music. This demonstrates once again the potential for global expansion of the K-drama OST industry.
Casting and Characters: A Successful Casting Story
One of the key factors in Lovely Runner's success is the flawless casting of its lead actors.
Prior to this drama, neither the supporting actors nor the two leads had received significant attention. Lead actor Kim Hye-yoon had already gained recognition in "Sky Castle" and "Extraordinary You", while Byun Woo-seok hadn't starred in any notable projects. I heard that other actors were initially considered, but these two were ultimately chosen. The drama's chemistry was so perfect that I couldn't have imagined it without them. To be perfectly objective, there are some scenes that are a bit childish or even cringeworthy, but since this isn't a serious genre drama, and these are the sorts of things that typical Korean drama fans expect, I was able to laugh them off.
The lead actors immersed themselves in their respective characters, vividly expressing realistic emotions. From an industry perspective, this drama is considered a successful example of selecting actors who could simultaneously showcase "fresh faces" and "steady acting." This strategic decision by the production team, prioritizing both artistic quality and character interpretation over relying solely on star marketing, was also a key factor.
In particular, the relationship between the main characters, Im Sol and Ryu Seon-jae, transcended simple romance and embraced a multi-layered narrative of stardom and fandom, love and redemption, fate and choice, leaving a powerful impression on viewers. This was made possible by the actors' nuanced performances and chemistry.
Industry Impact and Global Expansion
Lovely Runner generated significant buzz both domestically and internationally immediately after its premiere, achieving significant success in terms of industry impact.
First, simultaneous broadcasting across global platforms enabled real-time communication with international viewers. Simultaneously airing on OTT platforms like Netflix and Wavve, Lovely Runner quickly established a fandom not only in East Asia but also in North America and Europe. This demonstrates that K-dramas are growing beyond regional content into global, universal content.
Secondly, the secondary content derivative effect was remarkable. Lovely Runner's signature scenes and lines were quickly re-edited into short videos on short-form social media platforms (TikTok, InstaReels, YouTube Shorts, etc.), quickly spreading the word, effectively promoting the drama. Industry insiders can see this as a case of maximizing the ripple effect relative to marketing costs.
Third, sales of OSTs and merchandise also generated significant added value. Songs from the drama climbed the charts, and fan-centric merchandise was produced and sold, demonstrating the potential for success of a multi-IP strategy.
Original web novel <Tomorrow's Best>: Differences between the original and the drama (see Namu Wiki)
- In the original, Ryu Seon-jae and Im Sol are 23 years old, traveling back six years to their 18th birthdays. In the drama, they are 34 years old, traveling back 15 years to their 19th birthdays.
- Before time travel, in the original, Im Sol is a job seeker. However, in the drama, she becomes paralyzed from the waist down in a sudden accident during high school. After giving up her dream of becoming a film director, she now works part-time editing YouTube videos in hopes of becoming a film editor. The accident and paralysis are not part of the original.
- In the original, Im Sol is an assistant director at a broadcasting station. However, in the drama, she becomes paralyzed from the waist down in a sudden accident during high school. After giving up her dream of becoming a film director, she now works part-time editing YouTube videos in hopes of becoming a film editor. The accident and paralysis are not part of the original. However, thanks to a change in circumstances after going back to the past, she regains her legs in 2023 and becomes an employee at a film production company.
- In the original, Ryu Seon-jae was an idol trainee. In the drama, she's a former swimmer. After suffering a shoulder injury, she gives up her dreams and follows her friend Baek In-hyeok to an audition, where she catches the eye of the agency CEO and makes her debut.
- The drama also features a character not present in the original, the handsome Kim Tae-sung. He is Im Sol's former crush, forming a love triangle with Ryu Seon-jae.
- In the original, the team Ryu Seon-jae is a member of is the idol group "Gamjajeon," but in the drama, it's the band "Eclipse." Furthermore, the original debuted as a four-member group, but Ryu Seon-jae joined two years later, changing the team's music style and causing some fans to dislike him. However, in the drama, the group debuted as a four-member group with Ryu Seon-jae included from the beginning, but the other members' fans still harbored a dislike for him.
- In the original, Lee Hyun-joo attended the same high school as Sol, but they transferred schools and parted ways. However, in the drama, they remained close throughout high school and even went to college together. After their first time-travel, they fell in love with Sol's older brother, Im-gwang. After their second time-travel, they married Geum, and they have a son and a daughter.
- In the original, Im Sol time-slipped twice, but in the drama, she time-slipped four times: three times with her own watch and once with Ryu Seon-jae's watch.
- In the original, Ryu Seon-jae's parents are both alive and run a gamjatang (spicy beef stew) restaurant together. In the drama, Ryu Seon-jae's mother has passed away and her father runs a rib restaurant. Furthermore, in the original, Im Sol's parents are both alive, with her mother being a stay-at-home mom and her father visiting the house once a month for work. However, in the drama, Im Sol's father has passed away and her mother runs a video store.
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| "Lovely Runner" |
Review
Personally, I believe the key to this drama lies in the first episode. The dramatic plot twist, which begins with the main character's death in the first episode and then the subsequent time travel, kept viewers intrigued and intrigued. Of all the episodes, I believe the first episode is the most well-written. The addition of crime and thriller elements further immersed viewers. And personally, the highlight of this drama wasn't the drama itself, but rather the scene at the MAMA awards ceremony held long after the show concluded, where Byun Woo-seok sang "Shower" live. Byun Woo-seok introduced himself not as actor Byun Woo-seok, but as Eclipse, creating a special moment that blurred the line between drama and reality. However, except for dramas I really enjoy, I recommend putting down your phone and focusing on the drama. I missed the time travel part of this drama and had to rewatch it halfway through... haha. Also, if I had to translate the Korean title, it's "Piggy-back Sunjae and get away."😝
This is an especially long article because it was such a popular drama and there were so many things to talk about. "Lovely Runner" is a drama that has proven to viewers that the show was strategically designed with the global market in mind from the planning stage, that the directing was exquisite, that the actors were talented, and that it had the potential for multi-IP expansion. It's highly regarded by the industry for not simply remaining a "romance fantasy" genre but also for demonstrating a successful model for the industry. Lovely Runner can be said to be a work that suggests the direction K-dramas should take going forward—a combination of universal emotions and global scalability.
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