Song Hye Kyo and Park Bo Gum's 'Encounter' Drama: A Reassessment of Its Cuban Romance

The 2018 tvN drama 'Encounter', starring Song Hye Kyo and Park Bo Gum, is currently being re-evaluated online. The series garnered significant attention from the start due to the pairing of two top stars and its Cuban location filming, achieving an impressive 8.7% viewership for its first episode. The drama tells the story of Cha Soo-hyun (Song Hye Kyo), a former chaebol daughter-in-law who has never lived life on her own terms, and Kim Jin-hyuk (Park Bo Gum), a free-spirited young man, whose paths cross in Cuba and later reunite in Korea as hotel representative and new employee.

'Encounter' initially reached a peak viewership of 10.3% in its second episode but subsequently faced criticism for its lack of plot coherence and a cliché Cinderella-like narrative, leading to a decline in ratings and concluding with an average of 7.8%. At the time, it was widely believed that the drama's viewership was sustained primarily by the star power of Song Hye Kyo and Park Bo Gum. The supporting cast included Jang Seung-jo, Go Chang-seok, Kwak Sun-young, and P.O (Block B).

Over time, the focus has shifted from the narrative's shortcomings to a re-appreciation of the drama's exotic cinematography, particularly the beautiful Cuban landscapes, and the strong chemistry between Song Hye Kyo and Park Bo Gum. Many bloggers highlight how the sunset in Havana, Cuba, provided a stunning backdrop for their initial encounter, enhancing the romance. Bloggers generally praise the drama's visual appeal and the actors' performances, suggesting it is worth revisiting.