Closer to Heaven (Korean: 내 사랑 내 곁에; RR: nae sarang nae gyeote; lit. 'My Love by My Side') is a 2009 South Korean romantic drama film written and directed by Park Jin-pyo, starring Kim Myung-min and Ha Ji-won.
Contents
Plot
Lee Ji-soo is a twice-divorced funeral director, and no stranger to death or loss. She reunites with old friend Baek Jong-woo when he arranges for funeral services for his deceased mother. Jong-woo has been battling Lou Gehrig's disease since he was a teenager. The two fall in love and get married. As Jong-woo's symptoms continue to worsen and he begins to lose control over his body, he lashes out at Ji-soo. Despite her hurt, all Ji-soo wants is to stay by his side and hope for a cure.
Cast
Kim Myung-min as Baek Jong-woo
Ha Ji-won as Lee Ji-soo
Nam Neung-mi as Joo Ok-yeon
Im Ha-ryong as Park Geun-sook, Choon-ja's husband
Choi Jong-ryeol as Ok-yeon's husband
Shin Shin-ae as Jin Hee Mo (Jin-hee's mother)
Im Jong-yoon as Bae Seok-joong
Im Hyung-joon as Bae Seok-won
Im Seong-min as Choon-ja
Gain as Seo Jin-hee
Jang Won-young as Mr. Choi
Hong Seok-yeon as Elder Son
Kim Yeo-jin as Professor Son Young-chan
Kim Kwang-kyu as Kook Dong-sik
Jung Eui-chul as Yoo Seung-wook
Son Young-soon as Jong-woo's mother
Yoo Seung-mok as Ex-husband Kim Eun-ho
Kim Young-pil as Jong-woo's friend, Wook-joong
Kim Young-hoon as Jong-woo's friend, Kwan-young
Choi Yo-han as Jong-woo's friend, Jae-ho
Jeon Su-ji as Kim Jong-do's wife
Yoo Ji-yeon as Head nurse
Kang Shin-il as Lee Hak-cheon, Ji-soo's father (cameo)
Sul Kyung-gu as Kim Jong-do (cameo)
Song Young-chang as Therapist (cameo)
Seo Hyo-rim as Reporter (cameo)
Release
Closer to Heaven was released in South Korean theaters on 24 September 2009, and it topped the box office chart for 3 consecutive weeks. It was the first melodrama to surpass the 2 million admissions mark since Maundy Thursday in 2006. Closer to Heaven received a total of 2,153,068 admissions at the end of its run, making it the 10th highest grossing film of 2009.