Alone in Love

2006 • Drama

Alone in Love is a 2006 South Korea television series, starring Gam Wu-seong, Son Ye-jin, Gong Hyung-jin and Lee Ha-na. It aired on SBS from April 3 to May 23, 2006 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 for 16 episodes. The ratings it received were not very high, but the series won acclaim for its subtle and realistic portrayal of love, marriage and divorce. The story follows Eun-ho and Dong-jin, two ordinary people - not particularly attractive or successful - as they come to terms with their relationship. Although already divorced for three years, they are unable to leave each other alone, persistently meeting, bickering, and offering support, comfort, even matchmaking for the other. The two seem destined to be together, but they are unwilling to face their past and confront the tragedy they have spent years trying to forget. It was based on the Japanese novel Love Generation by Hisashi Nozawa, which was published in 1996 and won the 4th Shimase Literary Prize for Romance in 1997. The Korean adaptation was written by Park Yeon-seon. This was the first TV series directed by film director Han Ji-seung.

Why you should read the novel

If you enjoyed the touching narrative of the TV series Alone in Love (2006), consider reading Love’s Emergency Landing by Kim Do-woo, the novel that inspired the show. The book dives deeper into the emotional landscape of its characters, offering readers a more nuanced exploration of love, heartbreak, and reconciliation that is sometimes lost in translation to screen. By reading the original novel, you’ll gain insight into character motivations, inner dialogues, and subtle cultural contexts that enrich the story far beyond what the series provides. Turning to Love’s Emergency Landing allows you to appreciate Kim Do-woo's evocative prose, which captures the gentle melancholy and hopeful undertones of everyday love. The novel is a literary exploration of what it means to part and perhaps reconnect, inviting readers to reflect on their own relationships with honesty and vulnerability. If you’re seeking a more immersive and contemplative understanding of Eun-ho and Dong-jin’s journey, the book is a must-read. For true fans of the genre, the novel provides exclusive background details, unique scenes, and character development missing from the adaptation. Experience the emotional journey as the author intended, savoring the detailed storytelling that makes reading the source material far more rewarding than simply watching the TV series.

Adaptation differences

One of the most noticeable differences between Alone in Love (2006) and the novel Love’s Emergency Landing is the way the characters’ inner lives are portrayed. While the TV series relies heavily on visual storytelling and subtle acting, the novel immerses you in the protagonists’ thoughts and feelings, providing a richer context for their actions and decisions. Eun-ho and Dong-jin’s internal dialogues are far more detailed in the book, giving readers a unique perspective on their struggles and aspirations. Another significant departure lies in the pacing and inclusion of subplots. The adaptation streamlines certain events, omitting or compressing background stories that are well-developed in the novel. Key relationships and emotional conflicts are explored at greater length in the book, allowing readers to fully understand how past traumas and misunderstandings shape the characters’ actions in the present. These additional layers can make the original story feel more complete and emotionally resonant than its on-screen counterpart. Furthermore, the ending of the TV series differs subtly from the novel, both in tone and in detail. While the series offers one interpretation of the characters’ possible reconciliation, the book leaves their futures more open-ended, inviting personal reflection and interpretation. This literary ambiguity encourages readers to engage more deeply with the story’s themes and consider multiple possible outcomes. In addition, certain cultural nuances and everyday life details in Seoul are more vividly depicted in Kim Do-woo’s original prose. By reading the novel, fans of Alone in Love gain access to a more authentic Korean experience, as the book conveys place, tradition, and atmosphere with a depth that television cannot fully achieve. These distinctions make Love’s Emergency Landing a valuable and enriching read for anyone interested in going beyond the adaptation.