My Golden Life[1] (Korean황금빛 내 인생) is a 2017–18 South Korean television series starring Park Si-hoo, Shin Hye-sun, Lee Tae-hwan, and Seo Eun-soo. The series was originally broadcast on KBS2 every Saturday and Sunday from September 2017 to March 2018 between 19:55 to 21:15 (KST).[2]

My Golden Life
Promotional poster
Hangul
황금빛 내 인생
Hanja
黃金빛 내 人生
Revised RomanizationHwanggeumbit Nae Insaeng
Genre
Created byKBS Drama Production
Written bySo Hyun-kyung
Directed byKim Hyung-seok
Creative directorChoi Yoon-seok
Starring
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes52
Production
Executive producers
  • Bae Kyung-soo (KBS)
  • Choi Jin-hee
  • Park Ji-young
  • Kim Jin-yi
Producers
  • Kang Min-kyung
  • Kim Ki-jae
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time65 minutes
Production companyStudio Dragon
Original release
NetworkKBS2
ReleaseSeptember 2, 2017 (2017-09-02) –
March 11, 2018 (2018-03-11)

Synopsis

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Revolves around a woman who has a chance to rise in status but falls into a bottomless pit, and eventually finds a chance to seek happiness. It also involves a man who tries to find happiness in her.

Cast

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Main

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He is the only heir to Haeseong Group and the head of Strategic Planning Team. He is a third generation chaebol who has returned from the US after finishing his MBA. He is a gentleman with admirable physique and elegance. He takes pride in the fact that he practices Noblesse Oblige unlike other chaebols who like to power trip. When the "perpetrator" of an accident involving his car, Seo Ji-An, is later revealed to be his younger sister, 'Choi Eun-seok', his life takes a new turn.

She is on a probationary two-year contract with the marketing team of Haeseong Group. Before her father went bankrupt 10 years ago, she used to be the original 'girl crush'. Everyone admires her competitive spirit and cheerful personality. Now she only dreams of being a full-time employee of the Haeseong Group. When that dream is shattered by a friend with wealth and connections, she hits rock bottom. Then, like a miracle, she gets a chance to reverse her life as the daughter of Haeseong Group, Choi Eun-seok. She chooses to take the silver spoon, mainly because she is at her wits' end. But unexpected challenges are waiting for her.

He is Seo Ji-an's high school friend. With a major in interior design, he runs a DIY furniture shopping mall. He has a cheerful and feisty personality, but he also has a cranky side and his likes and dislikes are very clear. Ever since he fell in love with Ji-an at first sight in high school, he has had a crush on her. He does not realize that Ji-soo, who has a crush on him, is Ji-an's twin sister.

Ji-an's twin sister. After graduating from vocational college, she has been making a living as a part-timer for years. She is without a worry in the world. Since she loves bread so much, she gets a job at a local bakery. Without knowing the relationship between Ji-an and Hyuk, she has a secret crush on Hyuk. When her twin sister enters the chaebol family, she learns the secret behind her birth and becomes confused as she is the real Choi Eun-seok.

Supporting

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Seo Ji-an's family

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Tae-soo has been the breadwinner for his family for his entire life. He previously had a successful life as a self-made businessman, but after going bankrupt some years earlier, he has been working as a day laborer but struggles with discrimination due to his older age and his wife being vocal of her shame at his plight.

She lived as a housewife with love and dedication to her family. She constantly gives her husband Tae-soo a hard time due to his having gone bankrupt - she is upset and disappointed, and she is terribly worried about her children and how they struggle to survive. Reality makes her a pessimist. She prays that her daughter Ji-an, who enters a chaebol family, does not end up like her.

Ji-tae is the eldest of Tae-soo's four children. Having graduated from university abroad, he is the envy of his younger siblings as he has a full-time job and a steady girlfriend. Burdened with having to help pay off his father's debt, he hides his own struggles from his family and will do anything for them, including sacrificing his own happiness.

Ji-ho is the youngest of Tae-soo's four children. At the beginning of the series, he was a high school student preparing for the college entrance exam and worked part-time to save up for his college tuition. Cheerful and happy-go-lucky by nature, he is doted on by his family and is fiercely protective of his siblings.

Choi Do-kyung's family

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  • Jeon No-min as Choi Jae-sung, Do-kyung's father. He and Myung-hee were university sweethearts and he married her even after finding out about her background as a chaebol heiress. Although he works for his in-laws' company, he feels suffocated and despises the cold mannerisms and lack of personal relationships between his in-laws.
  • Na Young-hee as Noh Myung-hee, mother of Do-kyung & Seo-hyun and elder daughter of Noh Yang-ho. She is portrayed in the story unsympathetically as a rather self-centered lady, possibly because of her upbringing and manipulation of her overbearing father. She tends to be uncaring towards others, especially people of inferior wealth and influence in comparison with her.
  • Lee Da-in as Choi Seo-hyun, Do-kyung's younger sister. Although appearing to be a typical "golden child", she hides a more rebellious side of her from her brother and parents and wishes to explore the world outside of her family's bubble of wealthy friends and connections. She feels left out when her parents, especially the mother, fuss so much over the return of her missing sister.
  • Shin Hye-sun / Seo Eun-soo as Choi Eun-seok, long lost daughter of Haesung Group. Seo Ji-an enters the Haesung Group chaebol family as Choi Eun-seok. But later it is revealed that Seo Ji-soo, fraternal twin of Ji-an may be the actual Choi Eun-seok.

Haesung Group

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  • Kim Byung-ki as Noh Yang-ho, the family patriarch and former chairman of Haesung Group
  • Jeon Soo-kyeong as Noh Jin-hee, Noh Yang-ho's younger daughter
  • Yoo Ha-bok as Jung Myung-soo, Noh Jin-Hee's husband
  • Seo Kyung-hwa as Min Deul-lae, Choi family's household manager
  • Wi Ha-joon as Ryu Jae-shin, Choi Seo-hyun's former driver

Extended

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  • Jung So-young as Sunwoo Hee , Sunwoo Hyuk's elder sister
  • Choi Gwi-hwa as Kang Nam-goo, Seo Ji-soo's boss
  • Kwon Hyuk-poong as Sunwoo Seok, Sunwoo Hyuk & Hee's father
  • Park Joo-hee as Lee Soo-ah, Seo Ji-tae's longtime lover and then wife
  • Lee Jong-nam as Shin Hae-ja, Yang Mi-jung's friend
  • Lee Gyu-bok as Yoo secretary
  • Kim Sung-hoon as Lee Yong-kook
  • Baek Seo-yi as Yoon Ha-jung, Seo Ji-an's frenemy
  • Kim Sa-kwan as Kim Ki-jae
  • Shin Min-kyung as departmental student representative
  • Yoo In-young as Jang So-ra, Choi Do-kyung's fiancée.[8]
  • Gong Min-jeung as Song Mi-heon

Original soundtrack

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Track listing for My Golden Life OST[9]
No.TitleArtistLength
1."Beautiful Girl"Sosimboys (소심한 오빠들)3:20
2."나 그거하나봐 연애" (I Think I'm in Love)ROO ()3:56
3."어쩌면 내일은" (Maybe Tomorrow)Dream Girl (동경소녀)3:29
4."바람이 불어와" (The Wind Blows)Park Sun-ye (박선예)3:54
5."머물러" (Please Stay)Lee Ki-chan3:55
6."너에게 닿기를" (I Hope It Reaches You)Siwoo (시우)3:31
7."Love You"Chae Min (채민)3:27
8."Golden My Life Title"Kim Ji-soo (김지수)1:49
9."Stay with You"Kim Ji-soo (김지수)2:36
10."Candy"Park Young-ik 박영익2:06
11."Lonely Load"Kim Ji-soo (김지수)2:54
12."A Faint Heart"Park Min-ji (박민지)2:35
13."Lovely Whisper"Kim Ji-soo (김지수)2:09
14."Doubtful"Heo Sang-eun (허상은)1:52
15."Show Time"Park Young-ik 박영익1:50
16."Going Back"Kim Ji-soo (김지수)2:06
17."My Heart is Beating"Park Ji-min (박민지)2:37
18."Something to You"Kim Ji-soo (김지수)2:20
19."Who Are You"Kim Ji-soo (김지수)2:25
20."Golden World"
  • Kim Ji-soo (김지수)
  • Park Young-ik 박영익
2:38
Total length:55:29

Reception

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The drama became one of the fastest-growing in ratings among KBS2 TV series in the same timeslot, starting with 19.7% for the first episode and surpassing 30% mark (30.9%) in 8 episodes.[10] It went on to become the fastest to reach the National Drama level of 40% rating (41.2% in 30 episodes) among KBS2 TV series in the same timeslot.[11][12]

The drama was praised as an atypical family drama, avoiding cliches such as family conflicts and typical "Cinderella stories" with "happily-ever-after" endings, instead focusing on pursuing personal happiness based on one's own decision.[13] There was more thorough characterization and focus on characters' emotions and personal journeys, which were praised by viewers as making the characters much more relatable.[14][15] The series has been noted for highlighting current social issues in South Korean society, such as the breaking down of the traditional family unit in more recent times, discrimination against older and lower to middle-income workers and the struggles faced by the "N-po" generation.[16]

Because of its popularity, it was also the first KBS2 drama in the same timeslot to have a special episode. The 2½-hour program consisted of behind-the-scenes footage, cast and staff interviews, director's cuts of the first 10 episodes. It aired on October 4, 2017, from 3:25 to 6 pm (KST) during the Chuseok national holiday period.[17]

Viewership

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My Golden Life : South Korea viewers per episode (millions)
EpisodesEpisode number
12345678910111213
1–133.8374.2513.8534.9024.3585.0464.2145.2054.1065.1154.5525.3264.751
14–265.7045.0576.1574.9396.1315.4656.4205.7996.8845.9696.7366.0917.148
27–396.206N/A6.3697.4506.2857.3436.1726.9056.8727.8916.9917.8866.606
40–527.8507.0538.2457.1008.3667.7346.4687.4105.3496.6588.0376.7008.156
Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Media Research.[18]
Average TV viewership ratings
Episode Original broadcast date Average audience share
TNmS[19] Nielsen Korea[20]
Nationwide Seoul Nationwide Seoul
1 September 2, 2017 20.7% (1st) 17.5% (4th) 19.7% (1st) 19.5% (3rd)
2 September 3, 2017 22.5% (1st) 20.0% (1st) 23.7% (1st) 23.5% (1st)
3 September 9, 2017 23.2% (1st) 19.4% (2nd) 22.4% (1st) 22.2% (2nd)
4 September 10, 2017 29.6% (1st) 26.0% (1st) 28.4% (1st) 28.2% (1st)
5 September 16, 2017 25.2% (1st) 20.9% (1st) 25.3% (1st) 24.5% (1st)
6 September 17, 2017 28.8% (1st) 24.5% (1st) 29.7% (1st) 29.7% (1st)
7 September 23, 2017 25.8% (1st) 22.0% (2nd) 26.2% (1st) 25.6% (1st)
8 September 24, 2017 31.2% (1st) 28.4% (1st) 30.9% (1st) 30.5% (1st)
9 September 30, 2017 24.4% (1st) 21.0% (3rd) 25.4% (1st) 24.3% (1st)
10 October 1, 2017 28.1% (1st) 23.9% (1st) 29.6% (1st) 29.8% (1st)
11 October 7, 2017 24.8% (1st) 20.3% (3rd) 27.2% (1st) 26.7% (1st)
12 October 8, 2017 30.3% (1st) 27.4% (1st) 30.9% (1st) 30.1% (1st)
13 October 14, 2017 27.9% (1st) 23.3% (3rd) 27.4% (1st) 26.5% (1st)
14 October 15, 2017 31.2% (1st) 27.5% (1st) 32.4% (1st) 31.7% (1st)
15 October 21, 2017 30.2% (1st) 27.8% (1st) 29.7% (1st) 29.5% (1st)
16 October 22, 2017 34.2% (1st) 31.4% (1st) 35.0% (1st) 34.8% (1st)
17 October 28, 2017 30.3% (1st) 26.8% (1st) 30.2% (1st) 30.2% (1st)
18 October 29, 2017 34.2% (1st) 30.3% (1st) 34.5% (1st) 34.2% (1st)
19 November 4, 2017 31.1% (1st) 27.1% (1st) 31.2% (1st) 30.8% (1st)
20 November 5, 2017 35.5% (1st) 31.3% (1st) 36.0% (1st) 36.0% (1st)
21 November 11, 2017 32.2% (1st) 30.1% (1st) 32.3% (1st) 32.1% (1st)
22 November 12, 2017 37.1% (1st) 34.0% (1st) 37.9% (1st) 36.6% (1st)
23 November 18, 2017 31.4% (1st) 27.9% (1st) 35.0% (1st) 34.6% (1st)
24 November 19, 2017 36.3% (1st) 33.6% (1st) 37.7% (1st) 37.5% (1st)
25 November 25, 2017 30.7% (1st) 27.0% (1st) 34.7% (1st) 34.3% (1st)
26 November 26, 2017 35.9% (1st) 32.1% (1st) 39.0% (1st) 38.6% (1st)
27 December 2, 2017 32.7% (1st) 29.9% (1st) 35.7% (1st) 35.4% (1st)
28 December 3, 2017 38.7% (1st) 35.7% (1st) 38.8% (1st) 38.9% (1st)
29 December 9, 2017 32.2% (1st) 29.0% (1st) 35.6% (1st) 35.5% (1st)
30 December 10, 2017 40.2% (1st) 36.3% (1st) 41.2% (1st) 40.8% (1st)
31 December 16, 2017 34.2% (1st) 30.7% (1st) 35.7% (1st) 34.7% (1st)
32 December 17, 2017 39.6% (1st) 35.5% (1st) 40.7% (1st) 40.1% (1st)
33 December 23, 2017 32.8% (1st) 29.1% (1st) 34.7% (1st) 33.1% (1st)
34 December 24, 2017 35.9% (1st) 31.6% (1st) 37.8% (1st) 36.9% (1st)
35 January 6, 2018 37.3% (1st) 34.4% (1st) 37.6% (1st) 37.2% (1st)
36 January 7, 2018 42.3% (1st) 38.2% (1st) 42.8% (1st) 42.5% (1st)
37 January 13, 2018 36.4% (1st) 32.5% (1st) 37.8% (1st) 37.9% (1st)
38 January 14, 2018 39.6% (1st) 35.7% (1st) 43.2% (1st) 42.9% (1st)
39 January 20, 2018 35.3% (1st) 31.9% (1st) 36.8% (1st) 35.4% (1st)
40 January 21, 2018 41.7% (1st) 37.0% (1st) 41.9% (1st) 41.2% (1st)
41 January 27, 2018 37.5% (1st) 34.1% (1st) 38.8% (1st) 39.3% (1st)
42 January 28, 2018 42.5% (1st) 38.9% (1st) 44.2% (1st) 44.6% (1st)
43 February 3, 2018 39.6% (1st) 35.8% (1st) 40.3% (1st) 40.5% (1st)
44 February 4, 2018 43.9% (1st) 40.4% (1st) 44.6% (1st) 44.1% (1st)
45 February 11, 2018 39.9% (1st) 36.4% (1st) 41.9% (1st) 41.5% (1st)
46 February 17, 2018 30.0% (1st) 26.1% (1st) 34.7% (1st) 34.8% (1st)
47 February 18, 2018 35.1% (1st) 31.3% (1st) 38.7% (1st) 38.9% (1st)
48 February 25, 2018 30.7% (1st) 27.2% (1st) 29.3% (1st) 28.8% (1st)
49 March 3, 2018 41.2% (1st) 36.7% (1st) 38.1% (1st) 37.6% (1st)
50 March 4, 2018 45.8% (1st) 41.9% (1st) 43.9% (1st) 43.0% (1st)
51 March 10, 2018 39.4% (1st) 35.0% (1st) 38.1% (1st) 36.7% (1st)
52 March 11, 2018 47.5% (1st) 43.7% (1st) 45.1% (1st) 44.3% (1st)
Average 34.0% 30.2% 34.8% 34.4%
Chuseok
Special I
October 4, 2017 1.9% (NR) 2.2% (NR)
Chuseok
Special II
3.4% (NR) 3.4% (NR)
Behind the Scenes
Special I
December 30, 2017 23.4% (1st) 20.2% (1st) 22.1% (1st) 21.5% (1st)
Behind the Scenes
Special II
December 31, 2017 19.9% (1st) 17.1% (1st) 17.5% (1st) 17.3% (1st)
  • In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
  • KBS2 aired two special episodes on October 4, 2017 from 15:25 onwards, to celebrate Chuseok holiday.[21]
  • Surpassed 40% ratings starting from the 30th episode, became a new "National Drama".
  • On January 11, 2018, extension of 2 episodes was confirmed and thus making up to total of 52 episodes.
  • Episodes 46-47 aired at 22:00 due to the coverage of the 2018 Winter Olympics.
  • Episode 48 did not air on February 24 due to the coverage of the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
2017 31st KBS Drama Awards Grand Prize (Daesang) Chun Ho-jin Won [22]
Top Excellence Award, Actor Nominated
Top Excellence Award, Actress Shin Hye-sun Nominated
Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama Won
Kim Hye-ok Nominated
Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama Park Si-hoo Won
Chun Ho-jin Nominated
Best New Actor Lee Tae-hwan Nominated
Best New Actress Seo Eun-soo Nominated
Netizen Award Shin Hye-sun Nominated
Best Writer So Hyun-kyung Won
Best Couple Award Park Si-hoo and Shin Hye-sun Won
2018 54th Baeksang Arts Awards Best Drama My Golden Life Nominated [23]
Best Actor Chun Ho-jin Nominated
Best Actress Shin Hye-sun Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Na Young-hee Nominated
Best New Actress Seo Eun-soo Nominated
11th Korea Drama Awards Grand Prize (Daesang) Chun Ho-jin Nominated [24][25]
Best Drama My Golden Life Nominated
Best Screenplay So Hyun-kyung Nominated
Top Excellence Award, Actor Park Si-hoo Nominated
Top Excellence Award, Actress Shin Hye-sun Nominated
Best New Actress Seo Eun-soo Won
6th APAN Star Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Serial Drama Park Si-hoo Nominated [26][27]
Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Serial Drama Shin Hye-sun Won
2nd The Seoul Awards Best Drama My Golden Life Nominated [28]
Best Actress Shin Hye-sun Nominated

References

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  1. ^ My Golden Life | 황금빛 내인생 [Preview]. KBS World TV via Youtube. August 25, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2017.
  2. ^ "Drama reveals demise of families in Korea". The Korea Times. December 10, 2017.
  3. ^ "Park Si-hoo returns in 'My Golden Life'". Kpop Herald. August 30, 2017.
  4. ^ Park, Jin-hai (November 8, 2017). "Tough cookie Cinderellas win viewers' hearts". The Korea Times. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  5. ^ "Actress Shin Hye-sun Finds Success Brings New Pressures". The Chosun Ilbo. March 31, 2018.
  6. ^ "'My Golden Life' gave Lee Tae-hwan the boost he needed". Korea JoongAng Daily. March 30, 2018.
  7. ^ "Actress Seo Eun-su Finds Breakthrough in Latest TV Series". The Chosun Ilbo. April 7, 2018.
  8. ^ "Yoo In Young to appear as Park Si Hoo's fiancée in 'My Golden Life'". KBS World. November 24, 2017.
  9. ^ "황금빛 내 인생 OST" [My Golden Life OST]. Melon (in Korean). Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  10. ^ Ko, Seung-ah (September 27, 2017). '황금빛 내 인생', 8회만에 시청률 30% 돌파…흥행 포인트 넷. Herald Pop (in Korean).
  11. ^ Park, Ah-reum (December 11, 2017). "[이슈와치]'황금빛 내인생' 역대 KBS 주말극 최단 기간 40% 돌파". Newsen (in Korean).
  12. ^ "'My Golden Life' tops viewer ratings of 41.2%". Kpop Herald. December 11, 2017.
  13. ^ "TV series 'My Golden Life' didn't follow Koreanovela formula". The Korea Times. March 14, 2018.
  14. ^ "K-drama My Golden Life is a rich melodrama". The Straits Times. November 8, 2017.
  15. ^ "KBS 2TV's weekend drama 'My Golden Life' ranks first in TV weekly ratings". Yonhap News Agency. November 21, 2017.
  16. ^ "[인터뷰①] '황금빛' 이태성 "위축된 서지태役, 실제 성격과 정반대"". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). March 28, 2018.
  17. ^ 황금빛 내 인생 추석맞이 스페셜방송. Korean Broadcasting System (in Korean). October 3, 2017.
  18. ^ "Nielsen Korea". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  19. ^ "TNMS Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu". TNMS Ratings (in Korean). Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  20. ^ "AGB Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 17, 2017. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
  21. ^ "황금빛 내 인생 추석맞이 스페셜방송".
  22. ^ Lee, Kyung-ho (January 1, 2018). "김영철·천호진,KBS 연기대상 공동 수상..아버지의 힘!(종합)". Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 3, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  23. ^ "제54회 백상예술대상, TV·영화 각 부문별 수상 후보자 공개". JTBC (in Korean). April 6, 2018.
  24. ^ 2018코리아드라마어워즈 후보 공개. KDFO.org (in Korean). September 22, 2018.
  25. ^ Jeon, Aram (October 2, 2018). [종합] '2018 KDA' 유동근, 대상 영예…'같이 살래요' 4관왕 '쾌거' [[Comprehensive] '2018 KDA' Dong Keun Lee, Grand Prize 'Let's live together' 4 crowns 'comfort']. Xports News (in Korean) – via Naver.
  26. ^ "이병헌·손예진·아이유 APAN스타어워즈 노미네이트". Star News (in Korean). September 27, 2018.
  27. ^ Park, Pan-seok (October 13, 2018). 이병헌, '미스터 션샤인' 대상 수상..정해인 2관왕(종합)[2018 APAN] [Lee Byung-hun, 'Mr. Sunshine' Grand Prize .. Hae-in Jeong, 2nd Crown (General) [2018 APAN]]. Osen (in Korean) – via Naver.
  28. ^ ‘제2회 더 서울어워즈’ 10월27일 개최, 드라마-영화 각 부문별 후보공개. iMBC (in Korean). September 28, 2018.
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