Heavenly Ever After
| Heavenly Ever After | |
|---|---|
Promotional poster | |
| Hangul | 천국보다 아름다운 |
| Lit. | More Beautiful Than Heaven |
| RR | Cheongukboda areumdaun |
| MR | Ch'ŏn'gukpoda arŭmdaun |
| Genre | Romantic fantasy |
| Written by |
|
| Directed by | Kim Sok-yoon |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Kim Tae-seong[1] |
| Country of origin | South Korea |
| Original language | Korean |
| No. of episodes | 12 |
| Production | |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | JTBC |
| Release | April 19 – May 25, 2025 |
Heavenly Ever After (Korean: 천국보다 아름다운) is a 2025 South Korean romantic fantasy television series written by Lee Nam-kyu and Kim Su-jin, directed by Kim Sok-yun, and starring Kim Hye-ja, Son Suk-ku, Han Ji-min, Lee Jung-eun, Chun Ho-jin, and Ryu Deok-hwan. The series centers around the unconventional reunion of an elderly woman and her deceased husband in Heaven. It aired on JTBC from April 19, to May 25, 2025, every Saturday and Sunday at 22:30 (KST). It is also available for streaming on Netflix in selected regions.
Synopsis
An elderly woman named Lee Hae-sook died at the age of 80. Since her husband's accident, she has provided for her family on her own. Hae-sook makes an odd choice when she first arrives at the Heaven Admission Counseling Office: she decides to keep her 80-year-old appearance for her afterlife. Her husband's affectionate remarks that she was gorgeous at all ages, but particularly now, had an impact on this choice. Hae-sook and her husband, Ko Nak-joon, are reunited in Heaven. But she is shocked to see him in his younger, thirty-year-old self, and he is equally shocked to see her looking older. As it happens, Hae-sook is the only individual in Heaven who has decided against going back to their younger self. In the meantime, Nak-joon delivers letters of well wishes from Earth while working as a postman in Heaven. While he waited for Hae-sook, he constructed a stunning home in Heaven and died before her.
Cast and characters
- Kim Hye-ja as Lee Hae-sook[2]
- An 80-year-old wife who reunites with her husband who returned to his 30s in heaven.
- Son Suk-ku as Ko Nak-joon[2]
- The heavenly postman who delivers letters of wishes from earth.
- Han Ji-min as Som-yi/Young Lee Hae-Sook[2]
- A mysterious woman who suddenly appears in heaven one day.
- Lee Jung-eun as Lee Young-ae[2]
- A person who followed Hae-sook like a parent and teacher when she was alive.
- Chun Ho-jin as Center Director[2]
- The head of the Heaven Support Center who is a godfather-like figure who treats Hae-sook warmly and without formality.
- Ryu Deok-hwan as Pastor[2]
- One of the people with nothing to do in heaven where repentance is meaningless, meets the formidable believer Hae-sook and begins a second life.
Production
Development
The series is written by Lee Nam-kyu and Kim Su-jin, who both wrote The Light in Your Eyes (2019), and directed by Kim Sok-yun, who helmed The Light in Your Eyes (2019) and Behind Your Touch (2023).[3][4] Studio Pheonix and SLL managed the production.[5]
Casting
In January 2024, Kim Hye-ja confirmed to appear as the lead actress.[3] In May 2024, it was reported that Han Ji-min, Lee Jung-eun, Son Suk-ku, and Ryu Deok-hwan were cast and positively reviewing the offer.[4][6][7][8]
Filming
Principal photography began in May 2024.[3]
Release
In December 2024, JTBC unveiled Heavenly Ever After as one of the dramas to be released in the first half of 2025.[9] Two months later, it was reported that the series would air in April 2025.[10] In March 2025, it was confirmed to be broadcast on a Saturday and Sunday timeslot at 22:30 (KST).[11] It will also be available for streaming on Netflix in selected regions.[12]
Viewership
| Season | Episode number | Average | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |||
| 1 | 1.400 | 1.514 | 1.511 | 1.535 | 1.399 | 1.675 | 1.622 | 1.628 | 1.448 | 1.175 | 1.745 | 2.007 | 1.554 | |
| Ep. | Original broadcast date | Average audience share (Nielsen Korea)[13] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | Seoul | ||
| 1 | April 19, 2025 | 5.763% (1st) | 6.782% (1st) |
| 2 | April 20, 2025 | 6.126% (1st) | 7.156% (1st) |
| 3 | April 26, 2025 | 5.962% (1st) | 6.751% (1st) |
| 4 | April 27, 2025 | 6.381% (1st) | 7.222% (1st) |
| 5 | May 3, 2025 | 5.918% (1st) | 6.363% (1st) |
| 6 | May 4, 2025 | 6.692% (1st) | 7.134% (1st) |
| 7 | May 10, 2025 | 6.410% (1st) | 7.466% (1st) |
| 8 | May 11, 2025 | 6.885% (1st) | 7.640% (1st) |
| 9 | May 17, 2025 | 6.108% (1st) | 6.666% (1st) |
| 10 | May 18, 2025 | 4.946% (1st) | 5.275% (1st) |
| 11 | May 24, 2025 | 7.013% (1st) | 7.099% (1st) |
| 12 | May 25, 2025 | 8.345% (1st) | 8.851% (1st) |
| Average | 6.379% | 7.033% | |
References
- ^ Kim, Tae-seung (February 12, 2025). 열심히 작업중입니다 [I'm working hard]. Kim Tae-seong & Monopole. Retrieved April 17, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Hong, Se-young (February 26, 2025). 김혜자♥손석구 진짜 부부, 엄마와 아들 아님! (천국보다 아름다운) [Kim Hye-ja♥Son Suk-ku Real Couple, Not Mother and Son! (More Beautiful than Heaven)]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Retrieved April 16, 2025.
- ^ a b c 김혜자 "천국보다 아름다운 해숙이... 희망 줄 수 있기를" [Kim Hye-ja "Hae-sook is more beautiful than heaven... I hope she can give hope"]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). January 20, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
- ^ a b Chang, A-leum (May 10, 2024). [단독] 한지민 '천국보다 아름다운' 주연...김석윤 감독과 세번째 만남 [[Exclusive] Han Ji-min to star in 'More Beautiful than Heaven'...Third meeting with director Kim Sok-yun]. News1 (in Korean). Retrieved April 16, 2025.
- ^ SLL 2025년 상반기 라인업 공개, IP 경쟁력 강화 이어간다 [SLL 2025 First Half Lineup Revealed, Continues to Strengthen IP Competitiveness]. JTBC (in Korean). January 22, 2025. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
- ^ Chang, A-leum (May 14, 2024). [단독] 이정은 '천국보다 아름다운' 주연...한지민·김석윤 감독 재회 [[Exclusive] Lee Jung-eun to star in 'More Beautiful than Heaven'...Reunited with Han Ji-min and director Kim Sok-yun]. News1 (in Korean). Retrieved April 16, 2025.
- ^ Yoon, Hyo-jung (May 14, 2024). [단독] 손석구 '천국보다' 캐스팅...'해방일지' 감독과 재회 [[Exclusive] Son Suk-ku cast in 'More Beautiful than Heaven'...Reunited with director of 'My Liberation Diary']. News1 (in Korean). Retrieved April 16, 2025.
- ^ Yoon, Hyo-jung (May 21, 2024). [단독] 류덕환 '천국보다 아름다운' 합류...김혜자·한지민·손석구 함께 [[Exclusive] Ryu Deok-hwan joins 'More Beautiful than Heaven'...together with Kim Hye-ja, Han Ji-min, Son Suk-ku]. News1 (in Korean). Retrieved April 16, 2025.
- ^ Ahn, Tae-hyun (December 23, 2024). 이제훈·김혜자·박보검...JTBC, 2025 상반기 드라마 라인업 공개 [Lee Je-hoon, Kim Hye-ja, Park Bo-gum...JTBC reveals drama lineup for the first half of 2025]. News1 (in Korean). Retrieved April 16, 2025.
- ^ Park, Seo-yeon (February 6, 2025). 김혜자X손석구, '42세 차이' 부부 됐다..."우리 마누라 지금이 제일 예뻐요" [천국보다 아름다운] [Kim Hye-ja X Son Suk-ku, '42-year age gap' couple..."My wife is the prettiest now" [More Beautiful than Heaven]]. MyDaily (in Korean). Retrieved April 16, 2025.
- ^ Seo, Hyung-woo (March 14, 2025). '천국보다 아름다운' 김혜자♥손석구 부부, 따뜻한 감성 가득 ['Heavenly Ever After' Kim Hye-ja♥Son Suk-ku Couple, Full of Warm Emotions]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved April 16, 2025.
- ^ Chin, Carmen (April 7, 2025). "Netflix drops trailer for upcoming K-drama 'Heavenly Ever After', starring Son Seok-koo". NME. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
- ^ a b Nielsen Korea ratings:
- "Ep. 1". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). April 19, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2025.
- "Ep. 2". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). April 20, 2025. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
- "Ep. 3". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). April 26, 2025. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
- "Ep. 4". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). April 27, 2025. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
- "Ep. 5". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). May 3, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
- "Ep. 6". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). May 4, 2025. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
- "Ep. 7". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). May 10, 2025. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- "Ep. 8". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). May 11, 2025. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
- "Ep. 9". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). May 17, 2025. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
- "Ep. 10". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). May 18, 2025. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
- "Ep. 11". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). May 24, 2025. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
- "Ep. 12". Nielsen Korea (in Korean). May 25, 2025. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
External links
- Official website (in Korean)
- Production website at SLL (in English and Korean)
- Heavenly Ever After at IMDb
- Heavenly Ever After at HanCinema