Heartstrings is a youth melodrama about love, friendship and dreams, set against the backdrop of a performing arts college.[2][3][4][5] The drama reunited Jung Yong-hwa and Park Shin-hye, who both starred in the TV series You're Beautiful (2009).[6]
Synopsis
A series of misunderstandings causes Lee Shin (Jung Yong-hwa), the cocky leader of "The Stupid" and Lee Gyu-won (Park Shin-hye), a college student majoring in Traditional Korean Music, to start on the wrong foot. Gyu-won does not understand why Lee Shin is so popular, until one day she is forced to go the band's concert with her friends, who are fans of The Stupid. There, she sees Lee Shin performing live, and is immediately captivated by him.
When Gyu-won decides to join the performance group for the upcoming 100th anniversary performance for the university, everyone sees her potential and talent, particularly Kim Suk-hyun (Song Chang-eui), a Broadway composer-turned-music director. She competes with Han Hee-joo (Kim Yoon-hye), the spoiled daughter of the university chairman, for the role of the leading actress (but loses to her, as Hee-joo had previously bribed the judges). Lee Shin also decides to join the musical due to his crush on the dance professor, Jung Yoon-soo (So Yi-hyun), who is also the choreographer and muse of the musical. As Gyu-won and Lee Shin spend more time together, they begin to fall for each other.
Fearing that Gyu-won might outshine her daughter, Hee-joo's mother schemes with Im Tae-joon (Lee Jung-heon), one of the school's administrators; they plot to destroy Gyu-won's image to force her to quit the performance. Lee Shin works with Suk-hyun in order to clear Gyu-won's name. Meanwhile, Joon-hee (Kang Min-hyuk) struggles between his ever-growing feelings for Hee-joo, and helping his friends as she threatens their university lives.
When Hee-joo is found to be suffering from a vocal chord infection, Gyu-won is given the chance to replace her and go on stage. However, the kind-hearted Gyu-won chooses to let Hee-joo stand on stage instead, while she sings for her backstage. When the media finds out that Gyu-won is the actual singer, she is offered a chance to go overseas to record an album. A new conflict occurs as Gyu-won is made to choose between her dreams and love. At the same time, Lee Shin is hurting from a broken wrist that was caused by a fall he suffered with Gyu-won. Worried that she might forfeit her dreams to stay with him, he lies to her and insists that he is fine, even after crouching in pain during a performance with The Stupid. Gyu-won eventually decides to go to the United Kingdom to fulfill her dreams, while Lee Shin undergoes surgery to fix his broken wrist.
A student majoring in Traditional Korean Music, born to a prestigious musical family. She later discovers her passion for musicals and fights to realize her dreams.
Lead singer and guitarist of "The Stupid", known for his good looks and musical talent. Perceived as cold and distant, Lee Shin harbors a soft side within him. He initially has a crush on Yoon-soo, but later falls for Gyu-won.
The chairman's daughter. An arrogant and spoiled woman who has a crush on Lee Shin. She sees Gyu-won as her rival, and attempts to sabotage her multiple times.
Gyu-won's grandfather. A strict and traditional man. He is a famous pansori master, and one of the top 3 traditional musicians of his age. His biggest wish is to see his granddaughter become a traditional music prodigy.
Seo Beom-seok as Lee Hyun-soo
Lee Shin's father. A famous guitarist who later dies from alcohol poisoning. He was Sun-ki's best friend, and stole Ji-young away from him.
Lee Shin's younger sister. A spoiled brat who often extorts money from Lee Shin and Gyu-won. She is later shown to develop an interest for pansori, which delights Lee Dong-jin.
Others
Lee Jung-heon as Im Tae-joon
Department head. He has a crush on Yoon-soo, and favors Hee-joo due to her being the chairman's daughter.
The series initially had the working titleFestival (Korean: 페스티벌), until broadcaster MBC announced an online contest held from March 30 to April 10, 2011 to give it a new title. Among over 4,000 suggestions submitted to the MBC website, You've Fallen for Me (Korean: 넌 내게 반했어) was chosen as the Korean title.[7] A second online contest for the international English title was held on the digital American distribution platform DramaFever, and Heartstrings won the fan poll.[8]
Soundtrack
The Heartstrings soundtrack was released in four installments every week starting from June 29, 2011, and concluding on July 20, 2011.
