The Wedding Scheme

The Korean drama "The Wedding Scheme" is a production from CJ Entertainment aired in 2012, starring Kang Hye-jung. This engaging series is a blend of traditional Korean familial values and modern romantic entanglements.

At the center stage of the series is the bright and determined Yoo Gun-hee, portrayed by the talented Kang Hye-jung. Gun-hee is the second daughter of Yoon Shi-daek (Cha Hwa-yun), the CEO of a successful food company. A free-spirited young woman, she yearns to escape from the constraints of her wealthy background and puts her dreams into establishing her career as a businesswoman. She strives to prove that her competence isn’t merely derived from her influential family's support, which is a mission that hides her vulnerability and fear of loneliness.

The plot begins its intriguing twist, when Shi-daek, a widowed mother of four unmarried daughters, decides to sketch a secretive matrimonial scheme. As an old-bed Korean mother, she harbors concerns for her daughters' futures, especially when they prefer chasing after their dreams over settling down. Driven by motherly love and the traditional belief that marriage brings happiness to women; she crafts an elaborate plan that involves pairing her daughters each with a potential suitor.

However, the elder siblings, Ga-eul, Gun-hee, and Min-jung, do not share their mother’s perspective, as they have different priorities: Ga-eul is an ambitious woman focused solely on building her career; Gun-hee is fiercely independent and dreams of establishing her own business empire; and Min-jung is a secretive, silent artist who is not keen on sharing her feelings, let alone in a marital relationship. The youngest daughter, Mi-jung, though initially hesitant, eventually plays along with Shi-daek’s plan.

The effectiveness of Shi-daek’s matrimonial scheme lies not in a forceful arrangement but in a covert manipulation, leading each daughter into a love scenario. Piquing their interest further, each suitor is skillfully chosen to best match the respective daughter’s personality and preference. This selection includes a range of different personalities, from the comical yet determined Seo Jang-won (Lee Gyu-han), the dreamy and gentle Lee Kang-jae (Seo Jae-ryong) to the kind-hearted and charming Kim Soon-dol (Kim Young-kwang), who add complex layers to the overarching storyline.

Throughout the series, the narrative oscillates between seriousness and comedy, tragedy and joy, thus presenting a roller-coaster ride of emotions to the viewers. Each daughter’s journey of understanding, opposing, and eventually accepting love provides an insightful exploration of different views on marriage, family ties, career ambitions and self-dependence in modern society. Further, Shi-daek’s pressure for her daughters to marry is depicted with warmth and a great sense of humor which makes the series lively and engaging.

"The Wedding Scheme" also offers a thoughtful distinction between love and marriage. The romance between the characters is portrayed as Divine, unpredictable, and beyond human control while marriage is depicted as a life-changing experience accepted with readiness and a sense of responsibility. It also peels away from the societal expectations that encumber women, to deliver a poignant message about the importance of choice, self-determination, and respect for differing aspirations and dreams.

Overall, "The Wedding Scheme" is a delightful romantic comedy that captures the essence of familial bonds, love, individualism, and freedom of choice. The 16 episodes fly by as the engaging storyline, dotted with well-timed comic reliefs, romances, and intriguing obstacles, keeps the viewers glued till the end. Above all, the diverse, dimensional characters and the splendid performances of the cast, led by Kang Hye-jung, enrich the series and make it worth the watch. Ideal for anyone who enjoys a good blend of laughter and tears, "The Wedding Scheme" is an endearing illustration of the modern Korean society, where traditional customs and contemporary aspirations coexist.