That Winter, the Wind Blows (2013) ~ Warm Desire Thaws Chilly Deception

“That Winter, the Wind Blows” is a 2013 Korean drama, 16 episodes, categorized as Romance and Melodrama, and streaming on Viki and Netflix. It is based on the 2002 Japanese manga series and is a remake/adaptation of a previously adapted into the 2006 Korean film.

• Memorable Quote: “Even if the world betrays you, I will not.”

SUMMARY: A con man who poses as the long-lost brother of a blind heiress. As their lives intertwine, he discovers that genuine affection and emotional healing await beyond his deceptive intentions.

♦ Deception Versus Desire

In “That Winter, the Wind Blows”, the lives of two wounded individuals intersect through deception, loneliness, and an aching desire for connection.

• Oh Soo is a skilled gambler and con artist who drifts through life with little attachment, shaped by childhood abandonment and the death of his first love. Living on the margins, he survives through high-stakes risks and emotional detachment, believing trust is a liability rather than a comfort.

• Oh Young is a wealthy heiress isolated by both her visual impairment and her family’s emotional coldness. Orphaned young and estranged from her brother, she lives surrounded by privilege yet deprived of genuine affection. Guarded and suspicious, she struggles to distinguish sincerity from exploitation, knowing many people approach her for her wealth rather than her heart.

Their paths collide when Oh Soo, burdened by a dangerous debt, seizes an opportunity to impersonate Oh Young’s long-lost brother. What begins as a calculated scheme to gain access to her fortune draws him deeply into her secluded world. Oh Young, yearning for familial connection, cautiously accepts him, clinging to the hope that the brother she lost has returned.

As they grow closer, their relationship gets complicated. Or rather, the con man’s feelings for his “fake” sister become emotionally complicated. Oh Young’s loneliness and quiet strength begin to soften Oh Soo’s hard heart. His unexpected protectiveness offers her a sense of safety she has long lacked. Torn between guilt and growing affection, Oh Soo’s carefully constructed emotional armor starts breaking down.

But of course, family can always add to the complexity of any relationship. Especially when your relative is a wealthy heiress. The couple is surrounded by manipulative relatives and uncertain allies. Ultimately, this K-drama asks two questions:

1. Can two people shaped by loss heal each other?
2. When the truth is revealed, will there be room for forgiveness and love?

Main Characters:

• Oh Soo (played by Zo In-Sung, “Moving”, “Escape from Mogadishu”)
• Oh Young (played by Song Hye-Kyo, “Dark Nuns”, “The Glory 1 and 2”, “Descendants of the Sun”)
• Park Jin-Sung (played by Kim Beom, “Tale of the Nine Tailed 1 and 2”, “Ghost Doctor”, “Detective K: Secret of the Living Dead”, “Jung-Yi, Goddess of Fire”, “Law School”)
• Moon Hee-Sun (played by Jung Eun-Ji, “Blind”, “Miss Night and Day”, “Pump Up the Healthy Love”)
• Wang Hye-Ji (played by Bae Jong-Ok, “Wonderful Mama“, “Kingmaker”, “The Chase”, “Black Out”, “Dare to Love Me”, “Secret Royal Inspector & Joy”, “Mr. Queen”, “Designated Survivor: 60 Days”, “Elegant Family”, “Longing for You”)

Where to Watch: Viki and Netflix

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb: 7.5 out of 10 stars
• My Drama List: 7.9 out of 10 stars
• Viki viewers rate this series: 9.2 out of 10 stars
• Google users shared a public rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars

My personal rating is the same as the Viki viewers.

“That Winter, the Wind Blows” is based on the 2002 Japanese manga series “Ai Nante Irane Yo, Natsu” (“I Don’t Need Love, Summer”) and is a remake/adaptation previously adapted into the 2006 Korean film “Love Me Not”.

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Review: That Winter, The Wind Blows |The Fangirl Verdict

Kdrama Review: That Winter, The Wind Blows | KOREA SMILE

Series Review – K-Drama – That Winter, The Wind Blows | Vishy’s Blog,

First Impression Review: SBS’ Poetic and Engaging That Winter, the Wind Blows | DryedMangoez.Com

Friday Drama Review – ‘That Winter, the Wind Blows.’ | K-Connect!

TRAILER/TEASER:

KoreanDramaClassics. “SAVE HER OR KILL HER? – That Winter The Wind Blows – Song Hye Kyo, Jo In Sung.” YouTube, 23 Jul. 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImymvXMYq-0.

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