My Love Patji was a 2002 production, starring popular rising stars Jang Na-ra, Kim Rae-won and Kim Jae-won. This was a pretty short series, considering that it is only 10 episodes, compared to other miniseries which are normally 16 episodes, or more.
One might try to relate this show to the Korean fairytale, "Kongji and Patji", a sort of Korean version of Cinderella. Kongji is the nice girl in the story, whereas Patji is the mean sister. However, in this series, it comes with a twist, in which Patji, who is the hot-tempered and nasty girl that everyone detests, is in fact a kind-hearted girl deep down. Kongji on the contrary, appears to be the nice, kind, friendly girl, but in fact is jealous of Patji and tries hard to scheme against her.
Jang Nara is Yang Song-yee, the so-called Patji in the show. She is hot-tempered and does not hide her thoughts. Hence, her forthright personality often brings her loads of trouble, as many misunderstandings are caused by her candidness. Kim Jae-won is Kang Seung-joon, who is the son of a rich amusement park owner. He falls in love with Song-yee as he thinks that she is a good girl who does not try to hide her real self. Kim Rae-won is Kim Hyun-sung, a seal trainer working at the amusement park. He has a heart problem and hides it from others and also vows not to fall in love again, as he thinks that his ill health will bring agony to the other party. Another main character that must not be missed is Eun Hee-won, ( played by actress Hong Eun-hee ) the nice, pretty Konji that everybody likes. However, deep down, she is scheming, and tries in lots of ways to hurt Song-yee.
The show starts with a younger version of Song-yee, Hee-won and Hyun-sung at elementary school. Song-yee likes Hyun-sung, and when Hee-won finds out about it, she tells Song-yee that she will not like the same guy Song-yee likes. Later, during a class exercise one day, when the teacher asks the children to choose a boy they like, Song-yee immediately grabs Hyun-sung's hand. However, at the same time, Hee-won goes forward to Hyun-sung as well. Hyun-sung then breaks away from Song-yee's grip and grabs Hee-won. Song-yee, furious with her friend for snatching the boy she likes, throws a shoe at her and beats her up. The same thing repeats as they grow up...
The show then fast forwards years later, when the children have grown up. Hee-won helps Song-yee to get a job at the amusement park, after Song-yee screws up at her previous job. However, as Hee-won snatches the guy that Song-yee likes from her again, Song-yee then plans for revenge. However, she commits arson unknowingly, and Seung-joon is trapped inside a parade vehicle. She then saves him and runs away. After the incident, Seung-joon keeps looking for the "angel" who saved him. At the same time, Hyun-sung also falls in love with Song-yee, and Hee-won schemes to snatch Seung-joon away from her once more...
This is a typical Korean drama. Boy meets girl, boy likes girl, third party comes in. However, this is no tragic fairy tale like Autumn Fairy Tale or Glass Slippers. Director Lee Jin-suk (of All about Eve and A Star in My Heart fame) might have decided to give the drama an ambiguous ending, leaving the audience hanging at the end of the show. To conclude, My Love Patji is as good a comedy as has come out for a long time. If you are in need for a quick, good laugh, My Love Patji is the show for you. (Review by Kit Lim)
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