Secret Garden (South Korean TV series)

Plot

A rationalizing Cinderella story between Gil Ra-im (Ha Ji-won), a stuntwoman, and Kim Joo-won (Hyun Bin), a high-end department store CEO. Through a misunderstanding while trying to resolve a scandal of his cousin, Oska (Yoon Sang-hyun), a famous singer, Ra-im and Joo-won meet and he finds himself stunned by her coolness. Joo-won does not understand why Ra-im is constantly on his mind, and decides to pursue her. Though she initially is repelled by him, Ra-im gradually starts reciprocating his feelings.

As two different worlds collide, Ra-im and Joo-won gradually learns about each other's worlds. Meanwhile, Oska reunites with his first love, Yoon Seul (Kim Sa-rang), who has made a successful directing career for herself. However, Yoon Seul wants nothing to do with Oska, and instead has her eyes set on Joo-won. The four become tangled in a love square, which becomes more confusing when Ra-im and Joo-won switched bodies.

Main

Ha Ji-won as Gil Ra-im

Tough but secretly lonely, Gil Ra-im works as a stuntwoman for an action school that is run by director Im Jong-soo. Due to her father's death when she was in high school, she works hard and doesn't like relying on other people. Her one obsession is Oska, a famous Hallyu star. She meets the arrogant CEO, Kim Joo-won and although she initially dislikes him, their body swap brings about confusing feelings.

Hyun Bin as Kim Joo-won

The CEO of a high-end departmental store, he is good-looking but arrogant. A childhood trauma caused him to have a defective memory and claustrophobia, causing him to be unable to take lifts. As a rational person, he always seeks answers and solutions to explain things that happen to him. When he meets the spunky Gil Ra-im, he is left confused as he does not understand why she is constantly on his mind.

Yoon Sang-hyun as Choi Woo-young (Oska)

A famous Hallyu star who is slowly losing his popularity. He is Joo-won's cousin, as well as the first love of Yoon Seul. Frivolous and free-spirited, Oska used to rely on his charming looks and money, but seeing Seul again and discovering new talent in a young man named Tae-sun triggers something inside him, causing him to change.

Kim Sa-rang as Yoon Seul

Oska's first love and Kim Joo-won's fiancée. She is a music video director. Unable to forgive Oska, she is bent on making him hurt as much as possible.

Supporting

Lee Phillip as Im Jong-soo

The director of an action school. Having studied abroad, Im Jong-soo speaks English fluently and is well connected with Hollywood. Despite his gruff and rough exterior, he cares about his stunt actors deeply and looks out for them. He holds a soft spot for Ra-im, who is oblivious to his feelings.

Lee Jong-suk as Han Tae-sun

A young genius musician discovered by Oska in Jeju Island. Prickly and cold, he initially rebuffs Oska's attempts to recruit him. It is later revealed that he is gay and Oska becomes his muse.

Yoo In-na as Im Ah-young

Ra-im's best friend who shares a loft with her. She works at the department store Joo-won owns.

Kim Sung-oh as Secretary Kim

Joo-won's long-suffering assistant who has a crush on Im Ah-young.

Park Joon-geum as Moon Boon-hong

Joo-won's mother.

Kim Ji-sook as Moon Yeon-hong

Oska's mother.

Ratings

In the tables below, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.

International broadcast

In January 2011, SBS Contents Hub announced that the drama had been purchased by a number of countries across Asia and the Americas: Peru and the United States. Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, the Philippines,Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia .

In the Philippines, it aired on GMA Network in 2011, and re-run in 2015. Then from October 17 to November 25, 2016, the series re-aired on GMA News TV replacing Coffee Prince.

In Indonesia, it aired on Indosiar in 2011. In 2015, it was re-aired on the same network replacing the Mexican telenovela Corazón indomable, shuffled with Two Mothers. It is also available to stream on Iflix with subtitles.

In Japan, it first aired on cable channel KNTV from August 29 to September 23, 2011. Reairings followed on cable channel BS Premium in 2012, and on major network NHK in 2013.

In Malaysia, it aired on 8TV (dubbed in Mandarin with Malay subtitles) later in NTV7 in original Korean; Astro Prima (in original Korean with Malay subtitles); Astro Shuang Xing (in both original Korean and dubbed in Mandarin, with Malay and Chinese subtitles); and ONE TV ASIA (in original Korean and dubbed in Mandarin or Malay, with English, Chinese and Malay subtitles). It is also available to stream on Iflix with subtitles.

In Vietnam, it began airing on October 29, 2012 on HTV2 under the name "Khu vườn bí ẩn".

In Chile, it began airing on 2012 on Etc...TV and sister station MEGA under the name "Jardín Secreto"

In the United States, it was dubbed in Spanish and aired on MundoFox retitled as Jardin secreto.

In Cuba, it aired on the state-run network Canal Habana in 2014.

In India, it aired on TV channel Puthuyugam TV, from 11 June 2015 dubbed in Tamil replacing To the Beautiful You.

In Thailand, it aired on Channel 7, from December 15, 2012 dubbed in Thai. It is also available to stream on Iflix with subtitles.

In Sri Lanka, the drama premiered on TV One on August 15, 2016. The Sinhalese language theme song, "Me Adambarakari" performed by Gayan & Shanika premiered on the network's official Facebook page on June 21, 2016. It is also available to stream on Iflix with subtitles.

Remake

In China, a film remake with the same title is released in 2012 starring Wallace Chung, Tan Weiwei and Korean singer Kangta.

In Thailand, a remake with the title Secret Garden Thailand is released in 2016 starring Ananda Everingham and Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul.