Encounter (South Korean TV series)

Encounter (Korean: 남자친구) is a 2018 South Korean television series starring Song Hye-kyo and Park Bo-gum.^[3] It aired on tvN from November 28, 2018, to January 24, 2019, every Wednesday and Thursday at 21:30 (KST).^[4][5] It is one of the highest-rated Korean dramas in cable television history.^[6][7]

Encounter
Promotional poster
Hangul	남자친구
Hanja	男子親舊
Literal meaning	Boyfriend
Revised Romanization	Namjachin-gu
Genre	Melodrama[1] Romance[2]
Created by	Studio Dragon
Written by	Yoo Young-ah[2]
Directed by	Park Shin-woo[2]
Starring	Song Hye-kyo Park Bo-gum
Music by	Nam Hye-seung
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language	Korean
No. of episodes	16
Production
Producers	Moon Seok-hwan Oh Kwang-hee
Production locations	Seoul, South Korea, Havana, Cuba
Production company	Bon Factory Worldwide[2]
Original release
Network	tvN
Release	November 28, 2018 (2018-11-28) – January 24, 2019 (2019-01-24)

A commercial success, Encounter's broadcasting rights were sold to several countries outside South Korea,^[8] and is also available for streaming globally in over 100 territories via Viki in Europe and the Americas, Viu in Southeast Asia, and IQIYI.^[9][10] In 2021, it was made available worldwide on Netflix.^[11]

Synopsis

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" by marrying to a rich family, only to divorce her husband because of his affair. Her former mother-in-law adds as a condition to her divorce that Soo-hyun must attend that family's functions when called.

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 end up together.^[12]

Cast

Leads Song Hye-kyo and Park Bo-gum

Main

• Song Hye-kyo as Cha Soo-hyun^[13]

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^[14]

Soo-hyun's ex-husband

• Moon Sung-keun as Cha Jong-hyun^[15]

Soo-hyun's father

• Nam Gi-ae as Jin Mi-ock^[16]

Soo-hyun's mother

• Ko Chang-seok as Nam Myeong-sik^[17]

Soo-hyun's driver

• Kwak Sun-young as Jang Mi-jin

Soo-hyun's secretary

• Cha Hwa-yeon as Chairman Kim Hwa-jin

Woo-seok's mother

People around Kim Jin-hyuk

• Shin Jung-geun as Kim Jang-soo^[18]

Jin-hyuk's father

• Baek Ji-won as Joo Yeon-ja^[18]

Jin-hyuk's mother

• Pyo Ji-hoon as Kim Jin-myung^[19]

Jin-hyuk's younger brother

• Kim Joo-hun as Lee Dae-chan^[20]

Jin-hyuk's friend who opens a restaurant

• Gil Hae-yeon as teacher Ms. Lee

Donghwa Hotel

• Kim Hye-eun as Kim Sun-joo

Jin-hyuk's PR department leader at work

• Jeon So-nee as Jo Hye-in^[21]

Jin-hyuk's friend and senior at work

• Kim Ho-chang [ko] as Lee Jin-ho

Jin-hyuk's workmate

• Lee Si-hoon [ko] as Park Han-gil^[22]

Jin-hyuk's workmate

• Park Jin-joo as Eun-jin^[23]

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

• Park Sung-geun [ko] as Choi Jin-cheul
• Shin Soo-yeon as Ji-yoo

Sun-joo's daughter

Production

The first script reading was held on August 23, 2018.^[24][25][26] Principal photography began in September 2018,^[27] with part of the filming taking place in Cuba.^[28][29][30]

Original soundtrack

Encounter OST
Soundtrack album by Various artists
Released	2019
Genre	Soundtrack
Language	Korean English
Label	Genie Music, Stone Music Entertainment

Part 1

Released on November 29, 2018 (2018-11-29)

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"The Day We Met" (영화 같던 날)	Nam Hye-seung, Park Jin-ho	Nam Hye-seung, Park Jin-ho	Cheeze	03:56
2.	"The Day We Met" (Inst.)		Nam Hye-seung, Park Jin-ho		03:56
Total length:					07:52

Part 2

Released on December 6, 2018 (2018-12-06)

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Into My Heart" (그대가 이렇게 내 맘에)	Hen	Hen	Lee So-ra	03:21
2.	"Into My Heart" (Inst.)		Hen		03:21
Total length:					06:42

Part 3

Released on December 13, 2018 (2018-12-13)

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Don't Hesitate" (망설이지 마요)	Nam Hye-seung, Park Jin-ho	Nam Hye-seung, Park Jin-ho	Yong Jun-hyung (Highlight)	03:35
2.	"Don't Hesitate" (Inst.)		Nam Hye-seung, Park Jin-ho		03:35
Total length:					07:10

Part 4

Released on December 20, 2018 (2018-12-20)

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"The Night" (그 밤)	Lee Shin-hyung, d.ear	d.ear	Eric Nam	03:40
2.	"The Night" (Inst.)		d.ear		03:40
Total length:					07:20

Part 5

Released on December 26, 2018 (2018-12-26)

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Flutter" (설렘)	Dong Woo-seok	Dong Woo-seok	O.WHEN	03:54
2.	"Flutter" (Inst.)		Dong Woo-seok		03:54
Total length:					07:48

Part 6

Released on January 3, 2019 (2019-01-03)

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Take Me On" (나를 데려가 라)	Nam Hye-seung, JELLO ANN	Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee	SAya	03:41
2.	"Take Me On" (나를 데려가 라)	Nam Hye-seung, JELLO ANN	Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee	SALTNPAPER	03:41
Total length:					07:22

Part 7

Released on January 10, 2019 (2019-01-10)

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Always Be With You" (그대여야만 해요)	Bily Acoustie	Bily Acoustie	Baek A-yeon	04:41
2.	"Always Be With You my baby" (Inst.)		Bily Acoustie		04:41
Total length:					09:22

Part 8

Released on January 17, 2019 (2019-01-17)

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Fairytale" (동화)	Nam Hye-seung, Park Jin-ho	Nam Hye-seung, Park Jin-ho	Ra.D	05:07
2.	"Fairytale" (Inst.)		Nam Hye-seung, Park Jin-ho		05:07
Total length:					10:14

Part 9

Released on January 24, 2019 (2019-01-24)

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Good Night" (안녕히 주무세요)	Han Jae-wan	Han Jae-wan	Seo Ji-an	03:37
2.	"Good Night" (Inst.)		Han Jae-wan		03:37
Total length:					07:14

Disc 2:

No.	Title	Artist	Length
1.	"Boyfriend (ver.1) (Opening Theme)"	Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee	1:11
2.	"I Never Knew"	Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee	2:56
3.	"Hongje-dong Playground"	Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee	2:13
4.	"Every Breathe"	Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee	4:4
5.	"Road To You"	Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee	3:26
6.	"Love Birds"	Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee	4:19
7.	"The Night Sky of Cuba"	Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee	3:33
8.	"Tomorrow We Meet Again"	Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee	3:08
9.	"The EvenFall"	Nam Hye-seung, Park Sang-hee	4:16

Episodes

No. in series	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date
1	"Enchanted"	Park Shin-woo	Yoo Young-ah	28 November 2018 (2018-11-28)
2	"We Sincerely Welcome You"	Park Shin-woo	Yoo Young-ah	29 November 2018 (2018-11-29)
3	"Yearning"	Park Shin-woo	Yoo Young-ah	5 December 2018 (2018-12-05)
4	"That's Why I'm Trying to Stop"	Park Shin-woo	Yoo Young-ah	6 December 2018 (2018-12-06)
5	"I'm Good at Holding Back"	Park Shin-woo	Yoo Young-ah	12 December 2018 (2018-12-12)
6	"It's Already Spring for Us"	Park Shin-woo	Yoo Young-ah	13 December 2018 (2018-12-13)
7	"Sudden Personal Appointment"	Park Shin-woo	Yoo Young-ah	19 December 2018 (2018-12-19)
8	"Party Must Go On"	Park Shin-woo	Yoo Young-ah	20 December 2018 (2018-12-20)
9	"Don't Be Afraid"	Park Shin-woo	Yoo Young-ah	2 January 2019 (2019-01-02)
10	"It Proves That I Was the First I Like You"	Park Shin-woo	Yoo Young-ah	3 January 2019 (2019-01-03)
11	"My Heart Is Full of You"	Park Shin-woo	Yoo Young-ah	9 January 2019 (2019-01-09)
12	"I Cherish You Very Much"	Park Shin-woo	Yoo Young-ah	10 January 2019 (2019-01-10)
13	"I Can No Longer Live Without You"	Park Shin-woo	Yoo Young-ah	16 January 2019 (2019-01-16)
14	"It's Your First Love Too"	Park Shin-woo	Yoo Young-ah	17 January 2019 (2019-01-17)
15	"I'm Sorry"	Park Shin-woo	Yoo Young-ah	23 January 2019 (2019-01-23)
16	"I'll Wait in My Place"	Park Shin-woo	Yoo Young-ah	24 January 2019 (2019-01-24)

Viewership

An 8.7% viewership rating was recorded nationwide for the first episode, making it the fourth-highest premiere rating of the network at the time.^[31][32][33]

Season		Episode number																Average
		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
	1	1.977	2.473	2.175	2.211	2.027	1.895	1.947	2.100	1.878	1.887	1.605	1.745	1.719	1.667	1.772	1.965	1.940

Encounter : South Korea viewers per episode (millions)

Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Media Research.^[34]

Average TV viewership ratings

Ep.	Original broadcast date	Average audience share
		AGB Nielsen[34]		TNmS
		Nationwide	Seoul	Nationwide
1	November 28, 2018	8.683% (1st)	11.454% (1st)	9.4%[35]
2	November 29, 2018	10.329% (1st)	12.868% (1st)	11.0% [citation needed]
3	December 5, 2018	9.251% (1st)	11.772% (1st)	10.2%[36]
4	December 6, 2018	9.264% (1st)	11.468% (1st)	9.2%[37]
5	December 12, 2018	8.513% (1st)	10.575% (1st)	10.5%[38]
6	December 13, 2018	8.594% (1st)	10.906% (1st)	8.1%[39]
7	December 19, 2018	8.592% (1st)	10.612% (1st)	8.6%[40]
8	December 20, 2018	9.166% (1st)	11.776% (1st)	7.7%[40]
9	January 2, 2019	7.810% (1st)	9.845% (1st)	7.2%[41]
10	January 3, 2019	7.962% (1st)	9.590% (1st)	7.7%[42]
11	January 9, 2019	7.513% (1st)	9.310% (1st)	7.5%[43]
12	January 10, 2019	7.623% (1st)	9.630% (1st)	7.3%[44]
13	January 16, 2019	7.927% (1st)	10.043% (1st)	8.0%[44]
14	January 17, 2019	7.702% (1st)	9.678% (1st)	7.4%[citation needed]
15	January 23, 2019	7.999% (1st)	10.590% (1st)	7.9%[45]
16	January 24, 2019	8.678% (1st)	11.161% (1st)	7.4%[45]
Average		8.475%	10.705%	8.4%
The blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings. This drama aired on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC and EBS).

Adaptation

In 2021, Viva Television and Cignal Entertainment produced a Philippine remake based on Encounter starring Cristine Reyes and Diego Loyzaga. It premiered on March 20, 2021 on TV5.^[46]