Big (TV series)
A body-swap romantic comedy from the Hong sisters.
Big (Korean: 빅) is a 2012 South Korean romantic comedy television series that blends romance with a body-swap premise. It stars Gong Yoo and Lee Min-jung, and aired on KBS2 from June 4 to July 24, 2012, with episodes broadcast on Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55, totaling 16 episodes. The series was written by the Hong sisters and marked Gong Yoo’s return to television after his role in *Coffee Prince* in 2007, following his completion of mandatory military service. While the drama was generally well-received, its ending drew criticism.
The story follows Gil Da-ran (Lee Min-jung), a substitute teacher struggling to earn her teaching certificate. She is engaged to the kind and handsome doctor Seo Yoon-jae (Gong Yoo), a seemingly perfect fairy-tale romance. However, one month before their wedding, Yoon-jae becomes inexplicably distant. Around the same time, Da-ran meets Kang Kyung-joon (Shin Won-ho), an 18-year-old transfer student from the United States who has a brash attitude toward everyone, including Da-ran, though his behavior grows more complex over time. Kyung-joon and Yoon-jae are involved in a car accident that sends their vehicle over a guardrail into deep water. Yoon-jae attempts to save Kyung-joon but appears to die, while Kyung-joon falls into a coma. When Kyung-joon wakes up, he finds himself inhabiting Yoon-jae’s body.
The main cast includes Gong Yoo as Seo Yoon-jae and also as Kang Kyung-joon (after the body swap), Lee Min-jung as Gil Da-ran, Bae Suzy as Jang Ma-ri, and Shin Won-ho as Kang Kyung-joon (before the swap). Supporting roles feature Baek Sung-hyun as Gil Choong-shik (Da-ran’s brother), Jang Hee-jin as Lee Se-young, Kim Seo-ra as Ahn Hye-jung (Yoon-jae’s mother), Ahn Suk-hwan as Gil Min-kyu (Da-ran’s father), Yoon Hae-young as Lee Jung-hye (Da-ran’s mother), Jo Young-jin as Seo In-wook (Yoon-jae’s father), Choi Ran as Kim Young-ok (vice principal), Moon Ji-yoon as Na Hyo-sang (PE teacher), Shin Ji-soo as Lee Ae-kyung (math teacher and Da-ran’s friend), Jang Hyun-sung as Kang Hyuk-soo (Kyung-joon’s uncle), Go Soo-hee as Lee Kyung-mi (Kyung-joon’s aunt-in-law), Im Ji-eun as Kang Hee-soo (Kyung-joon’s mother), and Lee Hee-jin in a cameo as a bride in episode 1.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Romance / Comedy / Drama / Fantasy
- Writer
- Hong Jung-eun / Hong Mi-ran
- Director
- Ji Byung-hyun / Kim Seong-yoon
- Starring
- Gong Yoo / Lee Min-jung / Bae Suzy / Shin Won-ho
- Country
- South Korea
- Language
- Korean
- Num Episodes
- 16
- Runtime
- Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:55 (KST)
- Company
- Bon Factory Worldwide
- Network
- KBS2
- First Aired
- 2012-06-04
- Last Aired
- 2012-07-24
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series follows Gil Da-ran (Lee Min-jung), a struggling substitute teacher engaged to the kind and handsome doctor Seo Yoon-jae (Gong Yoo). One month before the wedding, Yoon-jae becomes inexplicably distant. Da-ran also meets an 18-year-old transfer student from the United States, Kang Kyung-joon (Shin Won-ho), who has an attitude towards everyone, including Da-ran, though his behavior is more complex than simple rudeness. Kyung-joon and Yoon-jae get into a fateful car accident, driving over a guard rail into deep waters. Yoon-jae tries to save Kyung-joon but ostensibly dies, and Kyung-joon ends up in a coma. When Kyung-joon wakes up, he finds himself in Yoon-jae's body.
Reader's Guide
Big is notable as Gong Yoo's return to television after a five-year hiatus following Coffee Prince and his mandatory military service. The drama was well-received, though it was criticized for its ending. The series features a body-swap premise typical of the Hong sisters' work, blending romantic comedy with supernatural elements. Its cast includes Bae Suzy as Jang Ma-ri and Shin Won-ho as the original Kang Kyung-joon. The show aired in a Monday-Tuesday time slot on KBS2 and ran for 16 episodes.
Did You Know?
- Big was Gong Yoo's first television series after Coffee Prince in 2007 and after being discharged from mandatory military service.
- The drama was criticized for its ending.
- Shin Won-ho played the original Kang Kyung-joon, while Gong Yoo played the character after the body swap.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Big (TV series)?
Big is a 16-episode South Korean romantic comedy that aired on KBS2 during the summer of 2012. Built around a body-swap premise, it follows a young woman whose consciousness ends up living inside a wealthy CEO's body, turning his corporate and romantic life upside down.
How does the body-swap work in Big?
After a freak accident, substitute teacher Gil Da-ran's soul transfers into the body of Kang Chi-wol, a successful businessman. She must then manage his existing relationships and business dealings while searching for a way to reclaim her original body.
How does Big (TV series) end?
The series wraps its romantic subplots across its final episodes, but the concluding resolution drew considerable criticism from viewers who found it rushed or emotionally unsatisfying. Despite that backlash, the show completed its 16-episode run on July 24, 2012.
Why is Big (TV series) notable in Korean television?
The drama served as Gong Yoo's first TV appearance after completing his mandatory military service, picking up where he left off after Coffee Prince in 2007. It also highlighted the Hong sisters' writing in a lighter, comedic register that set it apart from their more dramatic productions.
Who stars in Big and when did it broadcast?
Gong Yoo and Lee Min-jung lead the cast, with episodes airing on Monday and Tuesday nights at 9:55 PM on KBS2. The full 16-episode season ran from June 4 through July 24, 2012.
More in South Korean fantasy television series 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced