Crash Landing on You wins over Hong Kong, Taiwan fans by being more than the usual K-drama love story
- A South Korean heiress paraglides into North Korea, where she falls in love with a soldier who protects her until she can return home
- Although some details of the wildly popular Netflix romance may be unlikely, the K-drama sensation offers a more nuanced depiction of life in North Korea
Crash Landing On You presents the unlikely tale of a South Korean heiress caught in a freak paragliding accident that hurls her across the border to North Korea right into the arms of a dashing, elite North Korean soldier. They fall in love and he risks his life to protect her and send her home.
The finale of the 16-episode series broke ratings records in South Korea when it aired last month, making it the most watched drama of all time for cable television channel tvN, according to market research firm Nielsen Korea.
The hype spread beyond South Korea to other parts of Asia as the show – also broadcast on Netflix – drew in audiences with its novel premise.
“Movies or dramas about North Korea before were always about spies and serious stuff, so as a love story it was very refreshing to watch,” said Wang Ting-chih, a 23-year-old fan from Taiwan.
Featuring Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin in the lead roles, Crash Landing On You was filmed in South Korea, Switzerland and Mongolia, making for dreamy landscape backdrops.
“It’s hard to beat a show where beautiful people are in beautiful places,” said Anne Lim, 23 from Singapore.
