Encounter

 

Encounter is a 2018 South Korean television series starring Song Hye-kyo and Park Bo-gum. It aired on tvN's Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:30 (KST) time slot from November 28, 2018 to January 24, 2019 for 16 episodes. It is one of the highest rated Korean dramas in cable television history airing on weekdays.

Internationally, the series streams via ViuTV and Viki, and has been sold to Now TV of Hong Kong, tvN Asia of Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia When Shown Telecast within 24 Hours Express From Korea, Starhub of Singapore, 8TV of Malaysia, Channel 7 of Thailand, FOX, iQiyi and TTV of Taiwan and ABS-CBN of the Philippines, as well as Mnet Japan which will air it in over 100 countries.

 

Plot

Brought together by fate, a woman who seems to have everything and a young man who seems to have nothing decide to give up an ordinary life to be together. Cha Soo-hyun (Song Hye-kyo), daughter of a politician, lives a pathetic life guided by others. She was sold off (married to) to a rich family, only to divorce her husband because of his affairs. As a divorce condition of her former mother-in-law, Soo-hyun has to attend all her functions.

One day while on a business trip in Cuba, she meets Kim Jin-hyuk (Park Bo-gum), a free-spirited guy. They spend time together. After they go back to South Korea, he meets her again but as an employee in the Donghwa Hotel, which she received as alimony. They are attracted to each other, yet only their fate will decide whether they can live with each other.

 

Main Cast

Song Hye-kyo as Cha Soo-hyun

A daughter of a prominent politician and former daughter-in-law of a wealthy family.

Park Bo-gum as Kim Jin-hyuk

A freewheeling, ordinary young man who finds joy in the simplest things.

Supporting

People around Cha Soo-hyun

Jang Seung-jo as Jung Woo-seok

Cha Soo-hyun's ex-husband.

Moon Sung-keun as Cha Jong-hyun

Cha Soo-hyun's father.

Nam Ki-ae as Jin Mi-ock

Cha Soo-hyun's mother.

Ko Chang-seok as Nam Myeong-sik

Cha Soo-hyun's driver.

Kwak Sun-young as Jang Mi-jin

Cha Soo-hyun's secretary.

Cha Hwa-yeon as Chairman Kim Hwa-jin

Jung Woo-seok's mother.

 

People around Kim Jin-hyuk

Shin Jung-geun as Kim Jang-soo

Kim Jin-hyuk's father.

Baek Ji-won  as Joo Yeon-j

Kim Jin-hyuk's mother.

P.O as Kim Jin-myung

Kim Jin-hyuk's younger brother.

Shin Soo-yeon as Ji-yoo

Kim Joo-hun as Lee Dae-chan

Kim Jin-hyuk's friend who opens a restaurant.

 

Donghwa Hotel

Kim Hye-eun as Kim Sun-joo

Kim Jin-hyuk's PR department leader at work.

Jeon So-nee as Jo Hye-in

Kim Jin-hyuk's friend and senior at work.

Kim Ho-chang  as Lee Jin-ho

Kim Jin-hyuk's workmate.

Lee Si-hoon  as Park Han-gil

Kim Jin-hyuk's workmate.

Park Jin-joo as Eun-jin

Kim Jin-hyuk's workmate who has an interest in him.

Park Sung-geun  as Choi Jin-cheul

 

The first script reading was held on August 23, 2018. Principal photography began in September 2018, with part of the filming taking place in Cuba.

A 8.7% viewership rating was recorded nationwide for the series first episode, making it the second-highest premiere rating of the network after Mr. Sunshine.

In the Philippines, Viva Television and Cignal Entertainment will produce a local adaptation titled Encounter, set to air in 2021 via TV5.