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Bread, Love and Dreams (TV series)

Bread, Love and Dreams (Korean: 제빵왕 김탁구) is a 2010 South Korean television drama starring Yoon Shi-yoon, Joo Won, Eugene and Lee Young-ah. It tells the story of how a determined young baker overcomes many trials towards his goal of becoming the best baker in Korea. This story takes place in the 1970s to 1990s, starting after his conception and finishing when he reaches his mid-20s. The series aired on KBS2 from June 9 to September 16, 2010, on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 22:00 (KST) for 30 episodes.

The series was one of the most watched shows in South Korea in 2010, with a final episode viewership rating of 50.9% and becoming the 25th highest rated drama of all time. It is considered the breakout role of lead actor Yoon Shi-yoon, catapulting him to immense popularity as well as receiving much praise for his sincere acting.

Synopsis

Kim Tak-gu (Yoon Shi-yoon) is the eldest son of Gu Il-jong, the chairman of Geosung Foods Enterprise, and Kim Mi-sun, his mistress. The chairman's wife, In-sook, is furious with her husband and shuns Tak-gu. When his mother is kidnapped, Tak-gu runs away from home and spends the next 12 years looking for her.

In his journey, he enters a baking school owned by Pal-bong who is a legend in the baking industry. Coincidentally, he was also Tak-gu's father's teacher. In said school, Tak-gu also finds Jo Jin-goo, the man who kidnapped his mother. Jo Jin-goo tells Tak-gu that his mother accidentally fell off a cliff. Tak-gu decides to stay at the bakery and learn the art of making bread, like his father did before him. Gu Ma-jun (Joo Won), Tak-gu's half-brother, is also at the school, hoping to learn baking to win his father's approval and take over the family business. He lives under an assumed name and never reveals his true identity. Ma-jun still nurses a hatred for Tak-gu from their childhood.

It is later revealed that Tak-gu's mom is not dead and that she is looking for him. The chairman, who also spent the past 14 years looking for Tak-gu, eventually finds out that he is at the bakery and is furious at Ma-jun for not telling him. The chairman wants Tak-gu, his eldest son, to take over the family business instead of Ma-jun. Rejected, Ma-jun plots to steal Tak-gu's childhood friend, Shin Yoo-kyung (Eugene), and embarrass his family in the process. Tak-gu eventually finds his mother, but In-sook and her lover, Han (the chairman's assistant), plot to rob Tak-gu of his inheritance to let Ma-jun take the chairman's position. When the chairman finds out, Han attempts to murder Tak-gu, but Tak-gu is saved by Jo Jin-goo. Meanwhile, Ma-jun's plan to embarrass his family works, but it doesn't give him the satisfaction he expects. He reaches a truce with Tak-gu and the two agree to let their older sister, Gu Ja-kyung, run the company. The show ends with Tak-gu continuing to work at the bakery with his girlfriend, Yang Mi-sun (Lee Young-ah), while Ma-jun decides to travel around the world with his new bride, Shin Yoo-kyung. Manager Han is imprisoned and the chairman is happy that at last, his loved ones found happiness.

Cast

Main

Yoon Shi-yoon as Kim Tak-gu
- Oh Jae-moo as young Kim Tak-gu
Joo Won as Gu Ma-jun / Seo Tae-jo
- Shin Dong-woo as young Gu Ma-jun
Eugene as Shin Yoo-kyung
- Jo Jung-eun as young Shin Yoo-kyung
Lee Young-ah as Yang Mi-sun

Supporting

Gu family

Jun Kwang-ryul as Gu Il-jong
Jeon In-hwa as Seo In-sook
Choi Ja-hye as Gu Ja-kyung
- Ha Seung-ri as teenage Gu Ja-kyung
- Kang Ye-seo as young Gu Ja-Kyung
Choi Yoon-young as Gu Ja-rim
- Kim So-hyun as young Gu Ja-rim

Yang family

Jang Hang-sun as Pal-bong (Yang Mi-sun's grandfather)
Park Sang-myun as Yang In-mok (Yang Mi-sun's father)
Hwang Mi-sun as Oh Young-ja (Yang Mi-sun's mother)

Others

Jung Sung-mo as Han Seung-jae
Park Sung-woong as Jo Jin-goo
Lee Han-wi as Heo Gab-soo
Jeon Mi-seon as Kim Mi-sun
Jung Hye-sun as Madam Hong (Grandmother)
Kwon Yong-woon as Shin Bae (Yoo-kyung's father)
Park Yong-jin as Go Jae-bok

Soundtrack

At The End of The Day (하루의 끝에) – V.O.S
Love You to Death (죽도록 사랑해) – KCM feat. Soul Drive
That Person (그 사람) – Lee Seung-chul
Only One (단 한사람) – Bada
Hope is a Dream That Doesn't Sleep (희망은 잠들지 않는 꿈) – Kyuhyun (Super Junior)
For Me (나를 위해) – Michelle Yoo-jin
Only You (너 하나만) – Yoon Shi-yoon
It Was Love (사랑이야) – Lee Young-ah
My Love (내사랑) – Joo Won
Now Go and See (지금 만나러 간다) – Code V

Awards

2010 3rd Korea Drama Awards

Best New Actor (Yoon Shi-yoon)
Best Director in a Serial Drama (Lee Jung-sub)
Best Writer in a Serial Drama (Kang Eun-kyung)

2010 18th Korean Culture and Entertainment Awards

Popularity Award, Actor (Yoon Shi-yoon)

2010 KBS Drama Awards

Top Excellence Award, Actress (Jeon In-hwa)
Excellence Award, Actor in a Special Production Drama (Yoon Shi-yoon)
Excellence Award, Actress in a Special Production Drama (Eugene)
Best Writer (Kang Eun-kyung)
Best Young Actor (Oh Jae-moo)
Best Couple Award (Yoon Shi-yoon and Lee Young-ah)

2011 47th Baeksang Arts Awards

Best TV Director (Lee Jung-sub)

Reception

The show was well received in South Korea, receiving a record viewer rating of 50.8%. Audiences were attached to the show because of its underdog vs. society theme. Naver listed it as the most searched for item in South Korea of 2010.

On December 20, 2010, the series received presidential honors in a ceremony that thanked cultural content producers for their achievements.