# Cinderella's Stepsister

Cinderella's Stepsister (Korean: 신데렐라 언니; lit. Cinderella's Sister) is a 2010 South Korean television series starring Moon Geun-young, Chun Jung-myung, Seo Woo, and Ok Taec-yeon. Applying a modern twist to the classic fairy tale, the story follows the contentious relationship between two stepsisters as their lives and loves intertwine. Written by Kim Gyu-wan, and directed by Kim Young-jo and Kim Won-seok, it aired on KBS2 from March 31 to June 3, 2010 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 20 episodes.

## Synopsis

Ever since she was young, Eun-jo (Moon Geun-young) has learned to trust no one and live strong on her own. Used to being dragged from one broken home to another by her manipulative, money-grabbing mother (Lee Mi-sook), Eun-jo doesn't know what to make of her mother's latest catch Dae-sung (Kim Kap-soo), the solemn head of a traditional rice wine brewery. Both Dae-sung and his daughter, bubbly spoiled princess Hyo-sun (Seo Woo), warmly welcome wary young Eun-jo into their sprawling home, and treat her with a kindness that she simply can't stomach. Instead, she forms a bond with brewery staff Ki-hoon (Chun Jung-myung), the first person to see past her tough act, and it is his betrayal that will hurt the most. However, Dae-sung's genuine kindness to her eventually melts Eun-jo's defenses, and she learns to trust and love her stepfather. Naive Hyo-sun, meanwhile, stubbornly seeks affection at every turn, only to slowly realize she's losing Ki-hoon and everything else in her life to her cold stepsister. Eight years later, Jung-woo (Ok Taecyeon) reappears in Eun-jo's life, a boy she used to treat as her little brother who is now a young man determined to win her heart. Reluctant sisters Eun-jo and Hyo-sun both experience angst and rivalry, as their polar-opposite personalities and love-hate relationship bring them through many ups and downs from adolescence to adulthood.

## Cast

* Moon Geun-young as Song Eun-jo/Goo Eun-jo - A cynical and shy young woman, Eun-jo is good at hiding her emotions and does not get attached to people easily. She is skeptical of her stepfather's kindness; however, she later realizes that it is genuine and this realization begins to break her hard exterior. Eun-jo is in love with Ki-hoon, and is hurt when he leaves, leading her to be cold and reject him when he returns 8 years later. She later mourns her stepfather's death.
* Seo Woo as Goo Hyo-sun - A gentle and brilliant girl who has been treated like a princess her entire life. However, she is lonely and becomes excited when she learns that she'll be getting a new mother and sister. When her new family members are different from what she expected, it takes a toll on her. Hyo-sun is slightly spoiled and becomes jealous of her new stepsister.
* Chun Jung-myung as Hong Ki-hoon - Gentle, handsome, and kind, Ki-hoon sees much of himself in Eun-jo. However, when his difficult and broken family situation causes him to leave the winery, he disappears, leaving Eun-jo a letter that she never receives. Ki-hoon returns 8 years later and appears to be a spy for his evil step-family's company, but not everything is as it seems.
* Ok Taec-yeon as Han Jung-woo - Jung-woo is the adopted son of one of Song Kang-sook's ex-lovers. Eun-jo is the first person to care for him when he was a child, which creates a deep affection in him. Jung-woo finds Eun-jo at the winery 8 years later in order to be near her and declare his love for her. Jung-woo is selfless, reliable and always cares for Eun-jo.
** Moon Suk-hwan as young Han Jung-woo
* Lee Mi-sook as Song Kang-sook - Eun-jo's mother. Knows how to get what she wants, and marries Go Dae-sung for his wealth. Though initially an evil stepmother who fakes affection for her new family, Kang-sook does love her daughter Eun-jo in her own way and begins to change as a result of Dae-sung's love for her.
* Kim Kap-soo as Goo Dae-sung - Hyo-sun's father and Eun-jo's stepfather. Dae-sung is kindhearted, genuine, and loving. His character and goodness causes changes in everyone around him for the better.
* Kang Sung-jin as Yang Hae-jin
* Choi Il-hwa as Chairman Hong
* Yeon Woo-jin as Dong-soo
* Go Se-won as Hong Ki-jung, Ki-hoon's manipulative and calculating older half-brother, who does not even acknowledge Ki-hoon as his brother.
* Seo Hyun-chul as Kang-sook's true love
* Kim Chung as Ki-hoon's stepmother

## Original soundtrack

* 너 아니면 안돼 (It Has To Be You) - Yesung of Super Junior
* 불러본다 (Calling Out) - Luna and Krystal of f(x)
* 스마일 어게인 - Lee Yoon-jong
* 너 였다고 - JM
* 내 사랑을 구해줘! - Pink Toniq
* 신데렐라언니
* 미소지으면
* 보사노바
* 그때 그 자리에
* 사랑한다면
* 뒷동산
* 마이너 왈츠
* 느리게 걷기
* 후회
* 모정
* 내 사랑을 구해줘! (Rock version) - Pink Toniq

## Ratings

| Episode # | Original broadcast date | Average audience share | Average audience share | Average audience share | Average audience share |
| Episode # | Original broadcast date | TNmS Ratings | TNmS Ratings | AGB Nielsen | AGB Nielsen |
| Episode # | Original broadcast date | Nationwide | Seoul National Capital Area | Nationwide | Seoul National Capital Area |
| 1 | 31 March 2010 | 16.7% | 16.2% | 15.8% | 15.9% |
| 2 | 1 April 2010 | 16.4% | 15.8% | 14.5% | 15.5% |
| 3 | 7 April 2010 | 16.8% | 16.4% | 16.1% | 17.7% |
| 4 | 8 April 2010 | 18.0% | 17.3% | 17.7% | 18.2% |
| 5 | 14 April 2010 | 19.7% | 19.1% | 19.1% | 20.7% |
| 6 | 15 April 2010 | 18.6% | 17.8% | 18.2% | 19.1% |
| 7 | 21 April 2010 | 18.5% | 17.8% | 17.9% | 18.2% |
| 8 | 22 April 2010 | 19.0% | 18.6% | 18.0% | 18.2% |
| 9 | 28 April 2010 | 19.2% | 18.8% | 18.7% | 19.6% |
| 10 | 29 April 2010 | 20.8% | 20.6% | 19.2% | 20.4% |
| 11 | 5 May 2010 | 18.8% | 18.4% | 18.3% | 19.7% |
| 12 | 6 May 2010 | 20.5% | 20.3% | 19.2% | 20.7% |
| 13 | 12 May 2010 | 18.1% | 18.4% | 17.3% | 17.5% |
| 14 | 13 May 2010 | 18.7% | 18.4% | 16.7% | 17.4% |
| 15 | 19 May 2010 | 19.0% | 19.1% | 17.1% | 17.9% |
| 16 | 20 May 2010 | 16.8% | 17.1% | 14.8% | 15.1% |
| 17 | 26 May 2010 | 23.2% | 23.8% | 20.2% | 21.0% |
| 18 | 27 May 2010 | 21.0% | 22.1% | 19.4% | 20.1% |
| 19 | 2 June 2010 | 22.3% | 23.6% | 20.0% | 21.3% |
| 20 | 3 June 2010 | 22.7% | 23.7% | 19.4% | 20.6% |
| Average | Average | 19.2% | 19.2% | 17.9% | 18.7% |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
| 2010 | BGM Cyworld | Hall of Fame | "It Has To Be You" | Won |
| 2010 | 5th Cyworld Digital Music Awards | Song of the Month (April) | "It Has To Be You" | Won |
| 2010 | 25th Golden Disk Awards | Digital Bonsang | "It Has To Be You" | Nominated |
| 2010 | 25th Golden Disk Awards | Popularity Award | "It Has To Be You" | Nominated |
| 2010 | 2nd Melon Music Awards | Special Song OST Award | "It Has To Be You" | Nominated |
| 2010 | 3rd Korea Drama Awards | Best Actress | Moon Geun-young | Nominated |
| 2010 | 3rd Korea Drama Awards | Best New Actress | Seo Woo | Won |
| 2010 | KBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actor | Kim Kap-soo | Won |
| 2010 | KBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actress | Moon Geun-young | Won |
| 2010 | KBS Drama Awards | Top Excellence Award, Actress | Lee Mi-sook | Nominated |
| 2010 | KBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid-length Drama | Chun Jung-myung | Nominated |
| 2010 | KBS Drama Awards | Excellence Award, Actress in a Mid-length Drama | Moon Geun-young | Nominated |
| 2010 | KBS Drama Awards | Best New Actor | Ok Taecyeon | Nominated |
| 2010 | KBS Drama Awards | Best New Actress | Seo Woo | Nominated |
| 2010 | KBS Drama Awards | Netizens' Award, Actor | Ok Taecyeon | Nominated |
| 2010 | KBS Drama Awards | Netizens' Award, Actress | Moon Geun-young | Nominated |
| 2010 | KBS Drama Awards | Netizens' Award, Actress | Seo Woo | Nominated |
| 2010 | KBS Drama Awards | Popularity Award, Actress | Moon Geun-young | Won |
| 2010 | KBS Drama Awards | Best Couple Award | Moon Geun-young and Chun Jung-myung | Nominated |
| 2011 | 6th Cyworld Digital Music Awards | Best OST | "It Has To Be You" | Won |
| 2011 | 47th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best New Actor (TV) | Ok Taecyeon | Nominated |
| 2011 | 47th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Screenplay (TV) | Kim Gyu-wan | Nominated |
| 2011 | 47th Baeksang Arts Awards | Most Popular Actor (TV) | Ok Taecyeon | Nominated |
| 2011 | 47th Baeksang Arts Awards | Most Popular Actress (TV) | Moon Geun-young | Won |

## Adaptation

A Chinese remake of Cinderella's Stepsister, called Symphony of Fate, was produced in 2011.