#five children

Summaries under the cut

To this day, I cannot believe that I actually sat and watched the entire 54 episodes of this drama. During the early episodes I was a bit confused, as there was so much to take in, and so many characters to get familiar with. 

However, I stayed with Five Children until the end, and I do not have a single regret. This drama sheds light on the concept of blended families, and how much change that families have to go through when two people decide to get together.

Lee Sang Tae and An Mi Sung works in the same fashion company, Sang Tae’s  wife had passed away and so he is a single father of two children. We first learn that Mi Sung’s husband is working in America, and so she lives with her three children and her grandmother. 

An Mi Sung works hard to provide for her children, and she also tries to teach them important lessons. With an absentee father, Mi Sung ensures that her children are well fed, and that the household is one where her children can freely express themselves.

Lee Sang Tae seems to have a good support system as he lives with his wife’s parents, who are always around to lend a helping hand with the kids. There are some scenes where Sang Tae seems awkward around his parents-in-law, as he tries his best to follow any suggestions they give to him.

We later learn that An Mi Sung’s father is no where near America, and that Mi Sung has been sprouting this lie to spare her children from being hurt. Yoon In Chul actually had an affair with Mi Sung’s friend, Kang So Young, and as a result, the married couple severed their ties.

Her ex-husband’s presence makes Mi Sung extremely angry, as she should be, and so when In Chul wants to be more involved in the children’s lives, Mi Sung strongly opposes this idea. It’s an altercation that leads Lee Sang Tae to be more curious about Mi Sung.

One thing about long dramas, is that we’re also introduced to many side characters, and a lot of attention is given to these characters. We later meet Lee Yeon Tae, Sang Tae’s younger sister who has been in love with her friend Kim Tae Min.

Yeon Tae is actually very shy, and so she has never found the courage to confess her feelings to Tae Min. Much to her disappointment, Tae Min becomes smitten with Yeon Tae’s sister-in-law Jang Jin Joo, and this deepens the rivalry between the two.

We also meet Sang Tae’s brother Lee Ho Tae, and he’s somewhat the black sheep of the family, as he has been unable to hold a stable job. His character acts as comedic relief to the plot, however he ends up getting his girlfriend pregnant, and as such he’s back where he started by living at home with his parents.

Okay, there are moments when Lee Sang Tae’s parents, or his mother perhaps, were a bit infuriating. As an avid watcher of this drama, I really wanted Sang Tae and Mi Sung to get together, however his parents were against the idea.

To some extent I could understand his mother’s refusal, due to the fact that Sang Tae is still living at his parents-in-law’s house even though his wife had died. Oh Mi Sook feels as if she is estranged from her son and grandchildren, and now here comes another person trying to take him away from her.

Lee Sang Tae’s parents-in-law are extremely proud of him and they shower him with praises at any chance they get. The two also treat him as if he is indeed their own flesh and blood, and so they are also against him remarrying.

Both Jang Min Ho and Park Ok Soon had to endure immeasurable pain when they lost their first child. Their grandchildren are the physical beings their daughter left behind, and so they cherish them dearly, the thought of another woman raising their children is enough to make them do crazy things.

Amidst all the drama going on, Yeon Tae has been going through a lot in her own life. She meets Kim Sang Min, a successful pro golf player, who happens to be the main model for the fashion company where her brother works. 

These two characters are in my opinion, have the most interesting story-line in the plot, and their chemistry is also off the charts. Even though they experience ups and downs within their relationship, they manage to stay together as they grow to love each other dearly.

It takes a while, and the two had to endure many hardships in their relationship, however they were able to overcome all of that. Sang Tae and Mi Sung were successful in convincing those around them that they should be married, and so with the approval of parents and grandmothers alike, they happily tied the knot.

Due to the fact that these two have been married before, as well how mature they are, their relationship can also be seen as one filled with understanding. The two know how to communicate their feelings well, and they also resolve any issues between them with ease.

Ahn Jae Wook plays the character of Lee Sang Tae, a devoted father who tries his best to ease his parents-in-law’s worries. Getting remarried wasn’t on Sang Tae’s mind, however he couldn’t help but to fall in love with Mi Sung. Ahn Jae Wook is no stranger to the screen, and although Five Enough is the most recent project he participated in; you can find him in the drama Lights and Shadows, and the movie Triangle.

So Yoo Jin plays the character of An Mi Jung, a mother who ensures that her children want for nothing. Mi Jung has been deeply hurt by her ex-husband’s infidelity, and so remarrying has never crossed her mind, until she met Lee Sang Tae. So Yoo Jin has been active for over a decade, so go check her out in the drama My Healing Love, and the movie Mai Ratima.

Five Enough was written by Jung Hyun Jung who also wrote the script for the dramas My First Time, and Romance is a Bonus Book. Kim Jung Kyu directed this drama, and he also worked on Secret Agent Miss Oh, and Inspiring Generation.

The actors and actresses who participated in this on-screen project received awards for their work:

2016 (5th) APAN Star Awards, Best Actor (serial drama)

Ahn Jae Wook

2016 (9th) Korea Drama Awards, Jury Award

So Yoo Jin

2016 KBS Drama Awards

Excellent Actor (long-length drama) - Ahn Jae Wook

Excellent Actress (long-length drama) - So Yoo Jin

Best New Actor - Sung Hoon

Best Child Actor - Jung Yoon Suk

Plot: 5/5 Acting: 5/5 Cinematography: 4/5 Total: 14/15