Smiling through tears in Lee Sung-min's human drama Memory

47 March 2, 2016March 2, 2016

Smiling through tears in Lee Sung-min’s human drama Memory

by girlfriday

If Lee Sung-min (Misaeng) is already making me teary-eyed in 30-second trailers, I really don’t know how I’m going to get through all the hours of this drama. Armed with tissues, I’m sure. He just makes that perfect smile-through-your-tears face and I get all choked up. Here’s a peek at tvN’s new Friday-Saturday series Memory, a poignant human drama about a man who starts to lose his memory and rediscovers what’s important in his life.

The project comes from the writer-director team behind Devil, Resurrection, and Shark, and stars Lee Sung-min as an insufferable workaholic lawyer at a large firm. The worse he is at the start, the better the transformation (just ask Kim Myung-min in A New Leaf). When he’s diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, he’ll use his remaining time to fight one last case, and in the process he’ll learn what’s truly precious to him.

Kim Ji-soo (Warm Words) plays his wife who puts on a brave face despite the tragedy that their family will endure, and Park Jin-hee (Gu-am Heo Jun) plays his ex-wife, a prosecutor with whom he’ll have a contentious relationship. Lee Ki-woo, Yoon So-hee, Jeon No-min, Song Sun-mi, and 2PM’s Junho co-star.

The teasers are moody and evocative, showcasing some stellar acting in very short moments. They all feature the tagline: “The more [it] disappears, the more the precious things began to appear. Memory.” In the first, Lee Sung-min appears lost as he looks out at the sea, but a text from his wife about what’s for dinner puts a smile on his face.

In the second, wife Kim Ji-soo gets a text from the doctor letting her know that her husband’s memories are disappearing at a rapid pace. When he returns to the car, she smiles sweetly and agrees to a date, but he notices her silent tears in the rearview mirror. In the third teaser, he gets to his front door to find a note there from his ex-wife Park Jin-hee, which tells him that he doesn’t live here anymore because they’ve divorced. His new address and phone number are written below, and she watches him leave, probably for the umpteenth time.

The last one shows what kind of character he was before the diagnosis, and his breakdown at the news. He wonders, “Did I live that badly?” And it ends with that heartbreaking smile as tears fall, which will probably become his signature expression in this drama.

Memory follows Signal and premieres March 18.

Via My Daily

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1 junichyung

March 2, 2016 at 3:10 AM

tvN, I will trust you again this time. Please don't fail me with this drama.

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Nads

March 2, 2016 at 7:33 AM

I think tvN does really well with non-romances, like Misaeng, Signal, etc. This one seems to have that same moody feel as those two, so I hope its as good. The dramas people seemed to have been burned the most by are Reply 1988 and CIIT, and they strike me as very different from this one.

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zzmarie

March 2, 2016 at 8:57 PM

They do get some of their romances right. I remember enjoying Twenty Again

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genfunk

March 2, 2016 at 10:16 PM

Oh My Ghostess was pretty good... Just these last 2 projects, especially this last one had a huge hiccup

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madame kim

March 3, 2016 at 7:34 AM

Marriage Not Dating is still one of my fav romcoms.

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2 crazyahjummafan

March 2, 2016 at 3:20 AM

Don't know if I can watch this drama! My mum's been diagnosed with Dementia too. So it'll be heart-breaking.

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Rachel

March 2, 2016 at 4:49 AM

So sorry to hear that about your mum! Well, sometimes watching a character go through a similar experience as you are in real life can be relieving and therapeutic in a small way.

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August

March 2, 2016 at 10:30 AM

I'm so sorry to about your Mom's Dementia diagnosis crazyahjummafan. I sympathize with you about what you are going through. My Aunt passed away in January after a long battle with Alzheimer's.

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maryofbethany

March 2, 2016 at 11:03 PM

dear crazyahjummahfan, i know you for a longtime, maybe u won't know me. ohdear, and i didn't know what you going thru. i was reading up some info on dementia and Alz's because i was touched and moved by the drama Remember by Yoo Seungho and Park Minyoung. found something very moving.
its take alot of neverending loyalty, longsuffering, and selfless love to perservered on, its not something we normal people can hear say and read and understand. my heart goes out to you, since i know and felt more for Alz's patient and caretakers because of Remember.
will attached a poem for you, crazyahjummafan. i can never understand you, which is not important, but you must be strong, fall and pick up again.

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maryofbethany

March 2, 2016 at 11:04 PM

An Alzheimer’s Request
(by Owen Darnell)
Do not ask me to remember,
Don’t try to make me understand,
Let me rest and know you’re with me,
Kiss my cheek and hold my hand.
I’m confused beyond your concept,
I am sad and sick and lost.
All I know is that I need you
To be with me at all cost.
Do not lose your patience with me,
Do not scold or curse or cry.
I can’t help the way I’m acting,
Can’t be different though I try.
Just remember that I need you,
That the best of me is gone,
Please don’t fail to stand beside me,
Love me ’til my life is done.
-------------------
(by Albert Reinsch, Sr.)
(This poem is a humble response to the inspirational and informative poem,
An Alzheimer’s Request, by Owen Darnell.)
I shall do my best beloved,
To do all you’ve asked of me.
When I fail you must forgive me,
For where you are I cannot see.
What I know is that I love you,
More than the world can ever know.
Yet, so often I fail to show it,
I’m so ashamed that this be so.
Please forgive me for my failings,
It is not for lack of trying.
I know you need me to be strong,
But it’s so hard when I am crying.
I, too, need you so much my darling,
Until we’re renewed in heaven above.
Your smiles reward and give me courage,
Our hugs and kisses seal our love.

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marybethany

March 2, 2016 at 11:18 PM

have you seen "Remember: war of the son", is about Alzheimer’s too, i fought hard with some fans who rant that don't mind sad endings, as long as it make the story meaning or give some depth to story...or make story exciting.. i always disagree when story line touched tragedies that mirror we fans in our real life, it easy to say sad ending is beautiful and memorable, but when tragic happened to your own household, it changed you, and you never see 'sad ending' with the same eyes any more. it cruel to ask for sad ending for artistic story crafting. infact, i wept more than 10 times watching the beautiful ending of Remember, its not sad ending, jsut open ending that hint to good ending.
crazyahjummah, never feel bad about yourself, how little you did, or how lousy or how unfaithful, or how useless... just look forward, its worth the journey when the journey over, the happy memories you are leave behind, is worthit. my heart goes out to you and the many silent lurkers who watch these Alz dramas and wept secretly.

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3 cupkate

March 2, 2016 at 3:20 AM

Lee Sung Min why so good? Btw are you guys still gonna recap YOF Africa?

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Mimi

March 2, 2016 at 8:27 AM

That's what i want to ask too. I hope they do. I've been waiting for the recap..

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neener ~ Inside the Magic Shop ~

March 2, 2016 at 8:35 AM

Thinking about the same thing. Maybe they both needed time to process the ending of CITT. ?

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stuffed

March 2, 2016 at 9:38 PM

It's in the list for the next recap at the bottom of the page ^_^

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neener ~ Inside the Magic Shop ~

March 3, 2016 at 1:24 AM

ohmaayyy I never thought that existed in the DB HAHAHA Silly me. Thank you Thank you stuffed!

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cupkate

March 3, 2016 at 4:18 AM

Yay! tnx for that info! it's actually nt avail if ur on mobile option..

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4 amy

March 2, 2016 at 3:23 AM

not going to watch, i feel sour about cheese and tvn, besides cant stand memory loss plot already.

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Kathia

March 2, 2016 at 11:51 AM

Don't be sour about TvN. Forget Cheese and go see Signal, one of the best dramas I've seen!!!

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5 enkeys

March 2, 2016 at 3:28 AM

My body is ready. Oh wait, I need to stock up on tissues first.

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6 Kaylie

March 2, 2016 at 3:33 AM

Beautiful cinematography! Reminds me of Misaeng's rooftop scenes.

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7 Aigoooo

March 2, 2016 at 3:39 AM

I'm really happy for him. I'm finally gonna see him headlining his own drama. Now if only TvN can get one for Kim Seul Gi, I'll be forever grateful. TvN, get to it!

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8 neko

March 2, 2016 at 3:47 AM

Basically I will watch anything Lee Su Ming is in, because even if the drama is bad, he will still be good. Trailer looks good, glad to have something to look forward to when Signal ends.
Oh, it's my first time commenting but I've lurk here a lot for your drama recaps ;)

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9 nyemba

March 2, 2016 at 3:50 AM

"Memory follows Signal .... "

the thought of signal ending makes my heart ache aigoo

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news

March 2, 2016 at 4:15 AM

Me too :-( Hopefully Memory will fill the void.

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10 mggmmggm

March 2, 2016 at 4:39 AM

Tearing up watching these trailers alone. How am I to handle the actual drama then? :/ trusting Lee Sung-min on this one.

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11 Porcelain

March 2, 2016 at 4:54 AM

Omg, I love me some Chief Oh.

However premise reminds me a lot of this Ken Watanabe movie - Memories of Tomorrrow.

I hope to survive this and not be a crying mess when watching this...

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12 Kiara

March 2, 2016 at 4:58 AM

Lee Sung-min <3.

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13 gaeinalee

March 2, 2016 at 5:07 AM

Oh God. That smile and the tears. T.T
He is so good. I'll watch for him, through the tears and teary smile and memory loss. Uh heart.. be strong.

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14 Peach

March 2, 2016 at 5:23 AM

Sounds heartbreaking. I think I'll have to watch something a little more sugary after Signal ends.

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15 Anarik

March 2, 2016 at 5:54 AM

That last teaser tho.. How can a mere 3-4 seconds shot of someone's face be that heartbreaking and tear-jerking. I was surprised to find myself choked with tears

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16 Cafe

March 2, 2016 at 6:14 AM

This looks SO GOOD. I can already feel the melancholy and sadness from the posters and stills.

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17 nayan

March 2, 2016 at 6:28 AM

+1, waiting for yof africa recap badly... Lee Ung Min is just so good..

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18 blo

March 2, 2016 at 7:08 AM

I am trusting only because of the pd writer duo. I can't wait.

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19 Nads

March 2, 2016 at 7:38 AM

I dont think its possible for me to ever stop seeing Lee Sung-min as Chief Oh. Even now I want to watch this mostly because, memory loss aside, the characters are so similar, and you could easily imagine something like this happening to Chief Oh.

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20 BROWNCOAT_78

March 2, 2016 at 8:01 AM

Decisions. I don't like these kinds of dramas. BUT I love Lee Sung Min. I think I will have to watch just to see his performance.

Anyone else think he is one of the best actors in the world? I do.

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21 fatraspberry

March 2, 2016 at 10:07 AM

can't wait for this!

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22 alpha

March 2, 2016 at 11:07 AM

As good and tempting as this looks, I think I pass it. I am too weak for this. I will literally be depressed for weeks if I watch super-melo dramas.

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23 Ela

March 2, 2016 at 11:32 AM

Not sure if I can handle this so soon after Remember - Son's War.

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24 shanghello

March 2, 2016 at 6:11 PM

on the one hand cheese has made my heart and brain hurt...on the other, signal/misaeng were absolute masterpieces... tvn why won't you be consistent ><

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25 sskuwair

March 2, 2016 at 6:49 PM

Lee Sung Min is definitely one of the best Korean actors!
I hope Memory will follow the success of his previous drama, Misaeng. Really looking forward to this one!

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26 Unnie55

March 2, 2016 at 8:35 PM

agree with GF, its only teaser but it already make me cry..

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27 bd

March 2, 2016 at 10:26 PM

Have seen LSM in a # of roles (such as in "Triple" and "My Princess"), but he really leave any impression on me until I saw him in the vastly underrated and under-appreciated "Miss Korea" where he had a meatier role as "Teacher" Jung.

The next year, LSM was in "Misaeng" where he really broke thru (altho, previously, he did have a secondary lead role in "Golden Time" - which eventually got pretty decent ratings).