Kim Jung Eun has shared how the controversial ending of “Lovers in Paris” continued to follow her even after the drama became one of South Korea’s biggest television hits.
The actress reunited with Lee Dong Gun on the July 19 episode of SBS’s “My Little Old Boy,” where they looked back on the success of the popular 2004 romance drama.
Kim Jung Eun recalled how quickly the cast became famous as the series gained nationwide attention.
“We became popular in such a short time, so I think we were confused,” she said. “The ratings reached 57.6%.”
Despite the drama’s massive success, Kim Jung Eun admitted that she was unable to fully enjoy the moment.
“I felt nervous and wondered whether it was really okay for us to receive that much attention,” she explained.
Lee Dong Gun also remembered the demanding filming schedule, saying, “What I remember most is feeling sleepy. I was only focused on memorizing my next lines.”
The actors then discussed the drama’s ending, which received strongly divided reactions from viewers at the time.
Lee Dong Gun said, “The ending caused a lot of mixed opinions. The drama became such a major topic and received so much attention that I think it may have affected the final decision.”
Kim Jung Eun revealed that some viewers were so disappointed that they personally questioned her about the ending.
“Many people became angry with me,” she said.
She recalled meeting a restaurant owner who asked, “Why was it all fake?” When Kim Jung Eun tried to explain, the owner replied, “Do not make me laugh. It was fake.”
Kim Jung Eun added with humor, “Back then, I tried to make excuses. But these days, when people ask me about it, I simply say, ‘I was wrong.’”
Her story showed how deeply viewers were invested in “Lovers in Paris,” which remains widely remembered for both its record breaking popularity and its much discussed ending.