Beethoven Virus (Hangul: 베토벤 바이러스; RR: Betoben Baireoseu) is a 2008 South Korean television series starring Kim Myung-min, Lee Ji-ah, and Jang Keun-suk. The show drew attention for being the first Korean drama to depict the lives of classical musicians, an orchestra and ordinary people who dream of becoming musicians. It aired on MBC from September 10 to November 12, 2008 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 18 episodes.
Kang Gun-woo (or Kang Mae) is a world-renowned orchestra maestro who is a perfectionist in his work. He is not an easy person to work with and is feared by all his players. By chance, he comes across Du Ru-mi, a violinist, and a young cop who has the same name as his and discovers that even without formal training, the young Kang is a music genius. The three soon get tangled in a love triangle as Kang Mae attempts to salvage a local orchestra.
Main characters
Kim Myung-min as Kang Gun-woo/Kang Mae (Conductor)
Kang Gun-woo is an orchestra conductor who is a single forty-year-old man that lives with a dog named Toven (named after Beethoven). He is very talented and famous for his excellent skills in music. Conductor Kang feels that classical music is for the nobility and to play the noble classics, the talent of players should be brilliant. Because he believes in this, he insults many musicians who do not match his perfection. However, he has shown jealousy and hatred in the past for those who are naturally talented, or those who are prodigies in music, such as Maestro Jung. He also has shown that he hated the trumpet player Kang Gun-woo for being a genius in the beginning of the drama.
Kang Mae is notorious for his aggressiveness and sharp tongue. His nickname is "orchestra killer." His personality is mostly written in his face when he encounters trouble and he smirks to show he isn't weak. The reason that he has spent most of his time overseas is because he had once refused to perform in front of a large audience, which included the president.
Lee Ji-ah as Du Ru-mi (Violin)
Du Ru-mi is the concert mistress of the project orchestra. Despite her delicate appearance, she is actually hot-tempered, moody, and optimistic about everything. Her headaches and tinnitus are the symptoms of a tumor that is impinging on her cochlear nerve, an acoustic neuroma, perhaps, which will eventually cause complete hearing loss. Now, she has a resolute goal to continue to play the violin and continue to perform on stage until she loses her hearing completely.
Jang Keun-suk as Kang Gun-woo (Trumpet)
Kang Gun-woo is a traffic officer with a strong sense of justice. To help a pregnant woman get to the hospital, he moves a car by crashing it into another car, which causes him to be suspended from his position. Even though he cannot read music, he has a natural talent for playing the trumpet and for music itself. The project orchestra that he joins through Ru-mi’s recommendation gives him an opportunity to open his eyes and ears to music and conducting.
Lee Soon-jae as Kim Gab-yong (Oboe)
Juni as Ha Yi-deun (Flute)
Song Ok-sook as Jung Hee-yeon (Cello)
Park Chul-min as Bae Yong-gi (Trumpet)
Jung Suk-yong as Park Hyuk-kwon (Double Bass)
Lee Bong-gyu as Park Jin-man
Kim Young-min as Jung Myung-hwan
Jo Se-eun as Kim Joo-yeon
Park Eun-joo as Kim Joo-hee
Lee Han-wi as Kang Chun-bae
Park Kil-soo as Kim Kye-jang
Hwang Young-hee as Hyuk-kwon's wife
Baek Jae-jin as refugees' leader (ep 10)
Kim Ik as doctor (ep 10)
At the drama's press conference prior to airing, Kim Myung-min, who plays the talented yet difficult maestro Kang, actually conducted Ennio Morricone's Gabriel's Oboe, and Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dances with a full orchestra in front of reporters and fans who came to the venue. Kang is based on real-life conductor Shin-ik Hahm.
Several famous musicians made cameo appearances in the drama, including pianist Dong-Hyek Lim and violinist Richard Yongjae O'Neill.
The series aired in the Philippines on Q Channel 11 beginning April 12, 2010, on Mondays to Fridays at 2:00 p.m. It aired in Japan on Fuji TV beginning February 1, 2011, on Mondays to Fridays, at 2:07-3:57 p.m.
It aired in Thailand on Channel 3 beginning July 21, 2012, on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30-4:00 a.m.
