A bittersweet coming of age romance story starring a great team of attractive newly established stars at the time, Smile Again (2006), although somewhat predictable, was still worth watching because of the great chemistry between the four main leads. Lee Dong Gun (Stained Glass, Lovers In Paris), Kim Hee Sun (Sad Love Story, Faith), Lee Jin Wook (Nine: Nine Time Travels, Beyond The Bar), and Yun Se Ah (A Gentleman's Dignity, Snowdrop) were all sympathetic characters overall, even if sometimes they behaved in less than ideal ways to accomplish their ultimate goals. However, all of us make mistakes in our lives, so I don't feel we should automatically dismiss K-drama characters who don't always walk the straight and narrow; there's always great character growth in Korean dramas (unlike most Hollywood TV dramas!) so you can't really judge a drama fairly unless you stick it through to the end.

I originally watched this drama on YouTube; someone kindly uploaded the entire drama there since it hadn't been streamed anywhere on the usual streaming sites at the time, like Dramafever, Viki, or Netflix. Hopefully it remains there for some time to come.

The Story:

Our drama begins in the year 1999. At a high school in Gyeongju City and province (a gorgeous historical setting!) we meet Oh Dan Hee (Kim Hee Sun) who is famous among her classmates as an eccentric, popular girl who enjoys playing softball on the high school team, and Park Ha Jin (Lee Dong Gun) who is well respected in the school as a good student and a good class president who has struggled to overcome his troubling, lonely past as an orphan. In flashbacks we see how he has tried to mature through past family tragedies and how he looks forward to a brighter future. He also likes sports ... and begins to respect the popular Dan Hee as a good player. Will that basic respect turn into something more romantic over time? Dan Hee hopes so, for sure, but Ha Jin seems scared of an increased emotional commitment to her. (Or to anyone, really).

On the opposite end of the spectrum we meet Choi Yoo Kang (Yun Se Ah) who is a loner and is often teased and ostracized by her student peers because of her melancholy character; she develops a secret crush on Ha Jin too. He doesn't seem to notice her either, which causes her pain similar to the heartache Dan Hee feels toward him as well.

Years pass. We jump to the Spring of 2006, and ambitious Ha Jin has become even closer friends with his former high school male classmate, named Yun Jae Myung (Lee Jin Wook), when he faces a personal crisis and is need of help. Jae Myung is the son of the President of the rich corporation Mirae Chemicals, and his recommendation to his Dad lands his friend Ha Jin a prestigious job with the company. Both men have a good time working together for the benefit of the company. At first.

Then the autocratic Mirae President orders Jae Myung to coach the company’s softball team, in the hope that it will discipline him more to help the company succeed in new challenging ways, socially and economically. Dan Hee, who is also working at Mirae, has respected Jae Myung as a baseball player for a long time and has high hopes for him to succeed as a coach with the company.

At first Jae Myung scoffs at the new company softball team, having been an exceptional baseball player previously, but he begins to find new motivation while working with the team, specifically through Dan Hee’s diligence and talent. He sets new goals to transform his company team into a champion team and to make Dan Hee into the best pitcher in the game. During this process, Jae Myung falls in love with her. Dan Hee is also attracted to Jae Myung, but finds it difficult to open up to him after the emotional scars left in her heart by her first love Ha Jin after he failed to commit to her.

Jae Myung becomes curious about who this man could possibly be who had hurt Dan Hee so deeply. What will his reaction be when he finally discovers that the man is actually his longtime best friend Ha Jin? Will the two male friends' relationship be destroyed? If so, how will Dan Hee react to those powerful stresses? And jealous Yoo Kang, watching from a distance, how will she try to take advantage of the situation so that she could possibly win Ha Jin's heart instead of Dan Hee?

Star Lee Dong Gun Sings This Beautiful OST Song

The development of the relationships between these former high school classmates takes some surprising turns, some rewarding, some stressful. I think the acting of the four principle actors keeps us interested in watching until the end. I never once wanted to turn the drama off early. These superb actors know instinctively how to capture ... and keep! .... your attention riveted. The OST was also lovely, just as so many classic K-dramas display. I give the drama a B+ overall, merging an A+ for acting with a B grade for the screenplay. Check it out yourself and see if you like it. Some folks don't really care much for a drama with an underlying competitive sports' theme, but others like these kinds of dramas a lot. Your choice! :)

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