Based on the events occurring around "Route 1", which lies between Seoul and Pyongyang. The story about Officer Lee Jang Woo who finds himself in a war that he is not prepared for in order to protect Soo Yeon, the woman he has known and loved since youth. However, he is able to put it past him and he displays extraordinary survival skills, friendship, cooperation and ideology under brutal war conditions. Soo Yeon awaits Jang Woo's return, but eventually gets engaged to Tae Ho. When Jang Woo returns alive, however, Tae Ho discovers Jang Woo and Soo Yeon's unbreakable bond and feels betrayed.

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  Kim Ha Neul (Kim Su Yeon)

  Main Role

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  So Ji Sub (Lee Jang Woo)

  Main Role

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  Yoon Kye Sang (Shin Tae Ho)

  Main Role

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  No Hyung Wook (Heo Chan Shik)

  Supporting Role

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  Son Chang Min (Oh Jong Ki)

  Supporting Role

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  Kang Julien (U.S. Marine Corps Platoon Leader)

  Supporting Role

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  A Stalkers Guide to: So Ji Sub

  Writer Purplenette goes through why you should be a fan of So Ji Sub...

  • Nov 20, 2012

• Nov 21, 2012 20 of 20 episodes seen

  purplenette
  5 of 8 people found this review helpful
  Other reviews by this user
  • Overall  7
  • Story  8
  • Acting/Cast  10
  • Music  7
  • Rewatch Value  1

  Let me preface this by stating that I don't like war dramas/movies. I don't watch dramas that are based on events that actually happened like war. I am trying to escape reality not live it vicariously through dramas and movies.
  
  Now the story is more than just about the war. It is love, camaraderie, hate and anguish. I'm not squeamish and I like a good action show that is based in fiction. It is hard to get past the blood/gore, and the pain that war obviously brings to all involved. WARNING: There is a lot of death in this drama and it isn't pleasant. It took me a while to get through all 20 episodes because I had to stop for days and then come back to it, because it is emotionally draining. It has a love story between the male lead and female lead, but I think that the love between the men that were in action together was a far better love story. I won't tell you how it ends. I will just state that I understand that the writers were trying to remind the current and future generations of what occurred during the Korean War. However, they could have found a better way to do it. It drove me crazy. Plus, once again the last two episodes had tons of filler like the audience is too stupid to understand what the characters were thinking about at that time. Whatever.
  
  On to the acting...So Ji Sub as Lee Jang Woo and Yoon Kye Sang as Shin Tae Ho were outstanding!!! Their happiness, pain, laughter, and tears are easily felt. I was fully invested in their characters and that is why I made it through 20 episodes of this heart-wrenching drama. I just couldn't leave their stories behind. Kim Ha Neul also played her part well. However, the writers made a doctor into an idiot so she really didn't have much to work with. I had a hard time feeling sorry for her character even through the emotions of the male leads. Mostly I just wanted to slap her. ALL of the men that played the parts of the Second Company were great. I loved everything about their friendships. It was beautiful. If I could have just seen that part and not the war, then I would have liked this drama a lot more.
  
  The music is appropriate.
  
  Thank whatever deity you prefer that I never have to watch this again. If I need a heavy dose of So Ji Sub, then I have plenty of other projects of his from which to pick.
  
  Honestly, the only reason why I watched this was for So Ji Sub. If you are a fan, then you won't be disappointed in his acting for sure. If you like war movies, then this is definitely one for you. Just realize that the directors make it REAL. read more

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• Nov 21, 2012 20 of 20 episodes seen

  Melwill28
  4 of 7 people found this review helpful
  Other reviews by this user
  • Overall  5
  • Story  10
  • Acting/Cast  10
  • Music  5
  • Rewatch Value  3

  I watched this only b/c my Unni wanted 2. She is totally in love w/ So Ji Sub & I totally get that b/c he is hot. But OMG it was a strugle 2 get through. It was a good drama w/ a good story, but man that shit got real @ times! I can deal w/ it, but some ppl won't be able 2 handle all the trama that the characters face. There were some things that just pissed me off about the story, like the last episode. & y do the writers always make the "smart" female lead do stupid shit like run out in the middle of a gun fight. I mean come on, u make all this "real" shit happen then all of a sudden they make her do something that no person would ever do. Anyways, the acting totally killed (except some scenes w/ the American troops)! I was totally blown away by the acting. I also loved how the characters r not ashamed 2 show their emotions. I was filled w/ so many emotions that I had 2 take a few days of a break in order 2 finish it! I will most likely never watch this again simply b/c of the strong emotions felt & the mental trama that is felt through the charactes. I suggest that others watch it b/c there is an excellent story there, but be prepared 4 the difficult emotions b/c like I said b-4 this shit is like real! It will totally get 2 u & make u feel like u understand what soilders go through in war-time. read more

  report I found this review Helpful Not Helpful

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