The Han River or Hangang 한강 is a river that flows through Seoul dividing the north and south parts of the city before ultimately flowing into the Yellow Sea. It is the river of life for the Koreans since ancient times, with the Baekje Kingdom first laying claim on the Han River. Buyeo was the capital of Baekje during the time of the Three Kingdoms, so, is Park Sihoo-ssi is a Baekje descendant?
The Hangang saw the rise and fall of great kingdoms as this commanding body of water is a strategic waterway linking the central western region of the Korean peninsula with the Yellow Sea and to mainland China. Its river banks are fertile grounds for agriculture and the river saw the evolution and growth of Korea from olden days to its current business and cultural powerhouse. Other than business, the Hangang is a place for rest and relaxation for urban Seoulites with 12 Hangang Parks offering leisure options for the young and old, sporty and not so sporty.
The Hangang is the river of life for South Koreans. It was where Park Sihoo’s Lee Kangsuk and Ha Dana in “Family Honor” spent a glorious day when they decided to live life one day at a time and to enjoy the romance of dating instead of merely acting. They cycled along the river and then watched the sunset and sunrise together at the Hangang. This river was where life was kindled into their relationship.
In “Cheongdamdong Alice”, the Hangang provided the background to two life changing events for both Cha Seungjo and Han Sekyung. It was around the Banpo (Rainbow) Bridge where a worried Cha Seunjo witnessed Han Sekyung breaking down in tears as she bade goodbye to a six-year relationship with her long time boyfriend who absconded with her life savings to start a new life in Brazil.
On one of the coldest winter days, Cha Seungjo caught up with the runaway Han Sekyung at the Hangang near the Heritage Club. It was where he threw away his rehearsed script and instead sincerely declared his love for her. That he was scared and always had been because he had been abandoned by people whom he loved – his mother when he was young and the one person he had ever loved. He was afraid that Han Sekyung would do the same. He was not the perfect and suave CEO others thought him to be, but just a simple man who loved her. It was here, at the Hangang, that the two of them decided to live life together going forward…or so they thought.
For Park Sihoo-ssi personally, outside of his reel life, the Hangang is part of his everyday life too. He loves this river. It is a place for release for him. He mentioned in an early interview that he would go to the Hangang and let go of his frustrations by screaming at the top of his voice at the river. This river is a also a part of his daily routine. He lives near the Hangang and wakes up early in the morning to go for his morning exercise along the river, be it jogging or biking. And my guess is, during his most difficult period, the Hangang might also have been a place for respite and to lick his wounds.
The Hangang, it is the river of life for the Koreans. It is also the river of life for Park Sihoo-ssi, reel and real.
朴施厚的生命之河
汉江(한강)流过首尔, 划分城市的北部和南部,最终流入黄海。自古以来它是韩国生命之河,百济王国是第一个占有汉江。扶余是百济在三国时期的首都,所以,施厚君是否是百济的后代呢?
做为韩国主要的河流,连接朝鲜半岛的中西部地区与黄海和中国大陆,汉江经历过许多韩国伟大的王国的兴衰。它河岸肥沃的土壤助于农业的发展,韩国的转变和发展,成为目前的商业和文化中心,汉江扮演了重要的角色。除了商业,汉江也是首尔市民休闲和放松的地方。年轻和老年人,运动和不那么运动的市民,有12个可选择休闲的汉江公园。
汉江是韩国人的生命之河。在“家门的荣光”里,当朴施厚扮演的李江石和何丹雅决定不再演戏,过着看一天,过一天的生活,享受约会的浪漫时,他们就在汉江度过了快乐的一天。他们在汉江骑着双人脚踏车沿着汉江游玩,然后一起看日落和日出。这条河点燃了他们生命之火花。
在“清潭洞爱丽丝”里,汉江就是车胜祖和韩世景两个生命改变事件的地方。其中一景是在彩虹桥附近拍摄,车胜祖担心,目睹韩世景在那桥下,以泪洗面,告别了与她6年交往的男友,男友拿了她一生的积蓄,潜逃到巴西,开始他新的生活。
在最寒冷的冬天里,在靠近Heritage Club 的汉江边上,车胜祖赶上了逃走的韩世景。在这里,他扔掉了自己排练的台词,而以真诚宣称他对她的爱。他一直很害怕,因为他已经被他所爱的人遗弃 – 他的母亲在他年幼时,还有一位他曾经爱过的人。他害怕韩世景也会一样遗弃他。他不是其他人认为的完美,风度翩翩的会长,只是一个简单爱着韩世景的男人。就在汉江边上,车胜祖告白后,这两人就决定在一起生活……至少那时是他们的想法。
对于施厚君本人,银光幕之外,汉江是他日常生活的一部分。他热爱这条河。这是他可以放松的地方。他初时接受采访提到,他受委屈时,会到汉江,让自己尖叫发泄内心的烦恼。这条河也是他每天生活的一部分。他住在汉江附近,一早醒来,就去河边晨练,无论是跑步或骑自行车。而我的猜测是,在他最困难的时期,汉江也可能是他喘息和修复创伤的地方。
汉江,它是韩国人的生命之河。它也是施厚君银光幕上和现实里的生命之河。
Photo Credits – Many thanks! Banpo Bridge photos by Seoul Metropolitan Government and www.visitkorea.or.kr, Weibo, Twitter, Dramabeans, Nance –
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