Jo Hyun Jae

In Part 2, set to See Ya’s song “Ice Lady” (which is about love and parting), the story continues with the eloping lovers. Actually the See Ya songs have nothing to do with the dramatic story. The director is really ingenious in coming up with such a storyline that transcends time.

In Part 1 (See Ya’s “Love’s Greeting”) the JHJ character, the archaeologist, discovers a book clutched in the mummy’s grasp. He reads her story and asks the Lee Yo Won character, the forensic sculptor, to restore her likeness. As she works, it becomes increasingly clear that the face that will emerge in the end is hers (in her past self.) No wonder she faints when she first sees the mummy. Lee and JHJ keep having flashbacks in their minds of their past lives long ago.

The lovers in the past come to a tragic end, or rather, the JHJ character is killed by his pursuers. The lady is forcibly taken back to her folks, and she spends her days writing her “diary”. That is the book that is unearthed with the mummy and which tells their love story.

When the JHJ character, the archaeologist, sees the finished head, he understands at once. Lee leaves and he runs after her. His final words are: “The past must not be repeated. I’ll never let you go again. Never!” At least in this life they may have a happy ending. (But I’m not sure, because Lee is wearing a wedding ring. I don’t understand why this little detail is included.)

The two MVs together tell a beautiful and moving story. I like JHJ’s acting here, however brief, only 11 minutes altogether, but it’s like a mini-drama. And the See Ya songs are pretty catchy and melodious. The MVs are supposed to dramatise the songs, but the songs are just background music. It’s the love story (past and present) that is so absorbing and attractive.

(Credit: johyunjae.cn for the Chinese subtitles.)