Curtain Call (South Korean TV series)

Curtain Call (Korean: 커튼콜; RR: Keoteunkol) is a 2022 South Korean television series starring Kang Ha-neul, Ha Ji-won, Go Doo-shim, Sung Dong-il, Jung Ji-so, Noh Sang-hyun, and Kwon Sang-woo. The series revolves around a man who plays the role of a grandson who defected to fulfill his grandmother's last wish from the North, a woman who falls in love with that man, and the people involved in the play. It premiered on KBS2 on October 31, 2022, and aired every Monday and Tuesday at 21:50 (KST).^[1] It is also available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video in selected regions.^[2]

Curtain Call
Promotional poster
Hangul	커튼콜
Literal meaning	Curtain Call
Revised Romanization	Keoteunkol
Genre	Romance Family drama
Written by	Jo Sung-geol
Directed by	Yoon Sang-ho
Starring	Kang Ha-neul Ha Ji-won Go Doo-shim Sung Dong-il Jung Ji-so Noh Sang-hyun Kwon Sang-woo
Music by	Kim Soo-hyun Kim Woo-jung Yang Chae-eun Won Ye-na Cheon Min-jeong
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language	Korean
No. of episodes	16
Production
Executive producers	Kwon Gye-hong (KBS) Ahn Su-jin (CP) Chu Jae-soon (CP)
Producers	Jo Yoon-jung Shin Kyung-gyun Woo Yeo-su-ran
Running time	60 minutes
Production company	Victory Contents
Original release
Network	KBS2
Release	October 31 (2022-10-31) – December 27, 2022 (2022-12-27)

Synopsis

During the Korean War, while attempting to escape North Korea, Geum-soon (Go Doo-shim) is separated from her husband and infant son. She manages to make it to South Korea where she begins her new life, running Nakwon Inn on Korea's southern coast, while waiting for her lost family. She remarries, has a son and grandchildren and builds the Nakwon Group, the top hotel chain in the country. Years later, at a reunion between separated families, Geum-soon gets a chance to meet her grown-up North Korean son and his son named Ri Moon-sung. But at the next reunion, she is informed about the death of her son, losing any contact with the grandson as well.

In the present day, Geum-soon is dying of cancer and has only three months left. Geum-soon's granddaughter and the manager of the hotel, Park Se-yeon (Ha Ji-won), works hard to protect Nakwon's name and keep the chain in the family while her elder brother tries to sell it. Meanwhile, Geum-soon's trusted right-hand man, Jeong Sang-cheol (Sung Dong-il) who has been searching for her North Korean grandson for years, finally tracks him down only to learn that he has become a smuggler and a violent criminal operating in China. Jeong decides to keep this truth from Geum-soon but comes up with a plan to grant her last wish to meet her grandson again.

Jeong then approaches Yoo Jae-hoon (Kang Ha-neul), a struggling actor of an unknown theater company who does several part time jobs to make ends meet, after watching his performance as a North Korean soldier in a play. Jeong asks Yoo to impersonate Geum-soon's North Korean grandson. In exchange for 500 million won, Yoo begins to play that role for three months.

Cast

Main

• Kang Ha-neul as Yoo Jae-heon / Jung-moon^[3][4]

1. Yoo Jae-heon: A theater actor in a local theater company. He receives a sudden offer from an old gentleman to play the defecting grandson of a certain grandmother, and he faces a major turning point in his life.
2. Jung-moon: Geum-soon's North Korean husband from whom she separated decades ago.

• Ha Ji-won as Park Se-yeon^[5]

Geum-soon's granddaughter. The youngest daughter and the general manager of Hotel Nakwon. She and her brothers lost their parents at a young age and were raised by their grandmother.

• Go Doo-shim as Ja Geum-soon^[6]
  • Ha Ji-won as young Geum-soon^[4]

The founder of Hotel Nakwon, a leading hotel chain in Korea. During the Korean War she descends to the South and is separated from her husband and child. She grows a hotel while waiting for the two of them. She wishes to see her grandson Moon-sung one last time.

• Sung Dong-il as Jeong Sang-cheol^[7]
  • Dawon as young Jeong Sang-cheol^[8]

The former manager of Hotel Nakwon and the right-hand man of Geum-soon. Even after retiring from his managerial position, he looks after and assists Geum-soon.

• Jung Ji-so as Seo Yoon-hee^[9]

A theater actress in Yoo Jae-heon's theater company. She is asked to play the wife's role of the defecting grandson played by Yoo Jae-heon.

• Noh Sang-hyun as Ri Moon-sung^[10]

Geum-soon's North Korean grandson. A smuggler from North Korea and a member of a Korean-Chinese drug organization.

• Kwon Sang-woo as Bae Dong-jae^[11]

Se-yeon's ex-fiancé. The successor of a giant conglomerate Samwoo who owns a distribution chain.

Supporting

Geum-soon's family

• Ji Seung-hyun as Park Se-jun^[12]

The first grandson and the major shareholder of Hotel Nakwon founded by his grandmother Geum-soon.

• Choi Dae-hoon as Park Se-gyu^[12]

The second grandson of Hotel Nakwon's founder.

• Hwang Woo-seul-hye as Hyun Ji-won^[13]

Park Se-jun's wife who is a former announcer.

• Bae Hae-sun as Yoon Jung-sook^[12]
  • Park Ji-won as young Yoon Jung-sook^[14]

A housekeeper of Hotel Nakwon for a long time, now serving as Geum-soon's housekeeper.

Others

• Kim Hyun-sook as Hong Ra-kyung^[15]

Manager of Hotel Nakwon who works under Park Se-yeon's direct management.

• Jung Yoo-jin as Song Hyo-jin^[16]

Park Se-yeon's close friend and the youngest daughter of a large construction company.

• Son Jong-hak as Kim Seung-do^[17]

A longtime employee and managing director of Hotel Nakwon.

• Han Jae-Young as Jang Tae-joo

A former detective who has been tracking the whereabouts of the real grandson of Geum-soon at the request of Jeong Sang-cheol.

Special appearances

• Ahn Nae-sang as a doctor^[16]
• Lee Yi-kyung as Park No-kwang^[16]

A close friend of Yoo Jae-heon.

• Kim Young-min as Ri Young-hoon^[16]

Geum-soon's son who was separated from her during the war when he was a child.

• Choi Jung-won as Song Hyo-jin's acquaintance^[18]
• Jang Hye-jin as Oh Ga-young^[18]

Seo Yoon-hee's mother.

• Hong Ki-joon as a Korean-Chinese^[19]
• Jung Eui-jae as Mu-jin^[20]

Geum-soon's South Korean husband.

• Baek Jin-hee as Jin-sook^[8]

Wife of Ri Moon-sung.

• Choi Jung-woo as Cheol-jin^[8]

A judge. When he was a child, his mother fled with him from the North to the South during the Korean War.

• Kim Kang-hyun as a reporter^[8]
• Lim Sa-rang as Staff of Nakwon Hotel^[21]

Production

The early working title of the series was A Tree Dies Standing (Korean: 나무는 서서 죽는다; RR: Namuneun Seoseo Jungneunda). The roles of Park Se-yeon and Geum-soon were first offered to Son Ye-jin and Youn Yuh-jung respectively.^[22] In July 2022, it was reported that filming was under progress.^[15]

The press conference of the drama which was scheduled to be held on October 31, 2022, was canceled due to the aftermath of the Itaewon Halloween crowd crush.^[23]

Original soundtrack

Part 1

Released on October 31, 2022^[24][25]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Waiting For You" (오지 않는 사람아)	Gadeul	KingMing	Baek Ji-young	4:06
2.	"Waiting For You" (오지 않는 사람아; Inst.)		KingMing		4:06
Total length:					8:12

Part 2

Released on November 1, 2022^[26][27]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Dandelion" (민들레야)	Red Anne	Red Anne	Sumi Jo	3:14
2.	"Dandelion" (민들레야; Inst.)		Red Anne		3:14
Total length:					6:28

Part 3

Released on November 7, 2022^[28][29]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Oh, It's Love" (그래 사랑이야)	Kim Se-jin Gadeul	Kim Se-jin Midnight	Song Yuvin	3:56
2.	"Oh, It's Love" (그래 사랑이야; Inst.)		Kim Se-jin Midnight		3:56
Total length:					7:42

Part 4

Released on November 8, 2022^[30][31]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"You Are The Sea" (너는 바다)	Mokusura (CLEF) CLEF Crew	Mokusura (CLEF) CLEF Crew	Kim Na-young	4:06
2.	"You Are The Sea" (너는 바다; Inst.)		Mokusura (CLEF) CLEF Crew		4:06
Total length:					8:12

Part 5

Released on November 14, 2022^[32][33]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"For A Long Time" (오랫동안)	Score (13) Megatone (13)	Score (13) Megatone (13)	Sung Si-kyung	3:45
2.	"For A Long Time" (오랫동안; Inst.)		Score (13) Megatone (13)		3:45
Total length:					7:30

Part 6

Released on November 22, 2022^[34][35]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Love Alone" (사랑하면 안 되는 사람)	Gadeul	Bigguyrobin	Onestar	3:27
2.	"Love Alone" (사랑하면 안 되는 사람; Inst.)		Bigguyrobin		3:27
Total length:					6:54

Part 7

Released on December 5, 2022^[36][37]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Stand By Your Side"	Gadeul	Kim Se-jin Heo Sung-jin	Lee Su-hyun	4:30
2.	"Stand By Your Side" (Inst.)		Kim Se-jin Heo Sung-jin		4:30
Total length:					9:00

Part 8

Released on December 6, 2022^[38][39]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Love is" (사랑이란 게)	Nautilus New York King	Choi Sang-eon Kim Hong-joon	Nautilus	3:43
2.	"Love is" (사랑이란 게; Inst.)		Choi Sang-eon Kim Hong-joon		3:43
Total length:					7:26

Part 9

Released on December 12, 2022^[40][41]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Love Is Blooming" (사랑이 피어나)	Gadeul	Nine Nap!er	Han Seung-yun	3:44
2.	"Love Is Blooming" (사랑이 피어나; Inst.)		Nine Nap!er		3:44
Total length:					7:28

Part 10

Released on December 19, 2022^[42][43]

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"We Were" (우린; (feat. (Halim)))	Lee Chan-hyuk	Lee Chan-hyuk	Jung Ji-so	3:56
2.	"We Were" (우린; Inst.)		Lee Chan-hyuk		3:56
Total length:					7:42

Viewership

Season		Episode number																Average
		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
	1	1272	558	954	1009	856	966	739	752	733	898	980	1093	N/A	829	981	969	N/A

Curtain Call : South Korea viewers per episode (thousands)

Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Korea.^[44]

Average TV viewership ratings

Ep.	Original broadcast date	Average audience share
		Nielsen Korea[44]		TNmS[45]
		Nationwide	Seoul	Nationwide
1	October 31, 2022	7.2% (3rd)	7.2% (2nd)	5.9% (7th)
2	November 1, 2022[a]	3.1% (13th)	3.1% (14th)	2.7% (19th)
3	November 7, 2022	5.6% (11th)	5.4% (12th)	4.7% (17th)
4	November 8, 2022	6.0% (6th)	5.5% (7th)	5.8% (9th)
5	November 14, 2022	4.7% (16th)	4.2% (16th)	4.3% (18th)
6	November 15, 2022	5.6% (9th)	5.3% (6th)	5.2% (13th)
7	November 22, 2022[b]	4.3% (15th)	3.9% (16th)	4.2% (16th)
8	November 29, 2022[c]	4.3% (17th)	4.0% (17th)	N/A
9	December 5, 2022	4.2% (21st)	4.0% (19th)	4.3% (18th)
10	December 6, 2022	5.4% (12th)	5.2% (13th)	4.3% (18th)
11	December 12, 2022	5.5% (12th)	5.4% (13th)	3.9% (17th)
12	December 13, 2022	6.1% (7th)	5.9% (6th)	4.6% (16th)
13	December 19, 2022	4.6% (19th)	5.0% (17th)	N/A
14	December 20, 2022	5.2% (10th)	5.1% (9th)
15	December 26, 2022	5.3% (14th)	5.1% (14th)
16	December 27, 2022	5.7% (8th)	5.0% (11th)
Average		5.2%	5.0%	—[d]
In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings. N/A denotes that the ratings were not known.

Awards and nominations

Award ceremony	Year	Category	Nominee / Work	Result	Ref.
KBS Drama Awards	2022	Top Excellence Award, Actor	Kang Ha-neul	Won	[48]
		Top Excellence Award, Actress	Ha Ji-won	Won
		Best Supporting Actor	Sung Dong-il	Won
		Best New Actor	Noh Sang-hyun	Nominated	[49]
		Best New Actress	Jung Ji-so	Won	[48]
		Popularity Award, Actor	Kang Ha-neul	Won
		Best Couple Award	Kang Ha-neul and Ha Ji-won	Won

Notes

1. The dip in ratings for Episode 2 is due to the sudden extension of the 2022 Professional Baseball KBO League which aired in the earlier timeslot resulting to an hour delay in broadcast.
2. The November 21 broadcast was canceled due to the 2022 World Cup broadcast and aired on November 22 instead.^[46]
3. The November 28 broadcast was canceled due to the 2022 World Cup and will air on November 29 instead.^[47]
4. Due to some ratings not recorded, the exact average rating is unknown.