Familiar Wife

Familiar Wife
Promotional poster
Also known as
  • Wife That I Know
  • Wife I Know
Hangul
아는 와이프
Literal meaningKnowing Wife
Revised RomanizationAneun Waipeu
Genre
Created byStudio Dragon[1]
Written byYang Hee-sung
Directed byLee Sang-yeob
Starring
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes16
Production
Executive producers
  • Cho Hyung-jin
  • Kim Sang-heon
Camera setupSingle-camera
Production companyChorokbaem Media[1]
Original release
NetworktvN
ReleaseAugust 1 (2018-08-01) –
September 20, 2018 (2018-09-20)

Familiar Wife (Korean아는 와이프; RRAneun Waipeu) is a romantic fantasy South Korean television series starring Ji Sung, Han Ji-min, Jang Seung-jo, and Kang Han-na. It aired on tvN from August 1 to September 20, 2018.[2][3]

Synopsis

A married couple suddenly finds themselves living entirely different lives after their fates magically change through an unexpected incident.

Cha Joo-hyuk works at a bank and has been married to Seo Woo-jin for five years. When a strange incident happens one day, Joo-hyuk makes a decision that impacts his life and those around him in unexpected ways. Suddenly, the life he had with Woo-jin and his best friend, Yoon Joong-hoo are gone and he is leading a very different life.

How will his first love, Lee Hye-won, factor into his new life? And will it be possible to get his old life back?

Cast

Main

An ordinary bank employee that becomes unhappy with his life because of his family's financial struggle and constant pressure by both his wife at home and his direct superior at office.
A married woman who tries her best to balance between career and family life. She has been married to Joo-hyuk for five years. During those years, she developed anger issues and easily gets agitated with her husband's simple mistakes.
Joo-hyuk's best friend who is also an ordinary bank employee with a handsome face. His life is changed completely along with Joo-hyuk due to an unexpected incident.
Cha Joo-hyuk's first love but due to an incident with Woo-jin, both of them became separated. She is a daughter of an influential businessman and also a cello player.

Supporting

People around Cha Joo-hyuk

  • Park Hee-von as Cha Joo-eun, Joo-hyuk's sister who tries to pass a bar examination
  • Oh Eui-shik as Oh Sang-sik,[8] Joo-hyuk's friend who owns a noodle shop and works there alone

People around Seo Woo-jin

  • Lee Jung-eun as Woo-jin's mother[9] with severe Alzheimer's disease. Woo-jin decided to put her in a nursing home because of her worsening situation.

Bank employees

  • Son Jong-hak as Cha Bong-hee,[10] Branch manager of the bank where Joo-hyuk works at. He is kind toward the employees of the branch, especially to Joo-hyuk because of their same surname.
  • Park Won-sang as Byeon Sung-woo. Joo-hyuk's direct superior in the branch's loan department. Unlike Bong-hee, he consistently pressurizes his subordinates, especially Joo-hyuk.
  • Cha Hak-yeon as Kim Hwan,[11] New recruit at the branch and being assigned as Joo-hyuk's subordinate. He is seen slacking around and making mistakes, becomes a further burden to Joo-hyuk's office life.
  • Kim Soo-jin as Jang Man-ok The supervisor of transfer department of the branch.
  • Kim So-ra as Joo Hyang-sook.[12] Bank teller on the deposit team.
  • Gong Min-jeung as Choi Hye-jung. Bank teller on the deposit team.
  • Kang Hui as Jung Min-soo, a security guard who is mostly seen handling rude customers

Special appearances

Production

The first script reading was held on May 9, 2018 at the conference room of Studio Dragon's main office at the 17th floor of DDMC Building in Sangam-dong, Seoul, South Korea.[16]

Original soundtrack

Familiar Wife OST
Soundtrack album by
Various Artists
Released2018
GenreSoundtrack
LanguageKorean
LabelStone Music Entertainment

Part 1

Released on August 9, 2018 (2018-08-09)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Love Me Again"Ji Pyeong-kwon, TaibianJi Pyeong-kwon, TaibianSF903:16
2."Love Me Again (Inst.)" Ji Pyeong-kwon, Taibian 03:16
Total length:06:32

Part 2

Released on August 16, 2018 (2018-08-16)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Let Me Stay"Lee Jong-won, Ji Pyeong-kwonYeom Seung-jae, Ji Pyeong-kwonJohn Park02:51
2."Let Me Stay (Inst.)" Yeom Seung-jae, Ji Pyeong-kwon 02:51
Total length:05:42

Part 3

Released on August 23, 2018 (2018-08-23)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."No Longer Mine" (왜 몰랐을까)DingoDingoRoy Kim03:36
2."No Longer Mine (Inst.)" Dingo 03:36
Total length:07:12

Part 4

Released on September 6, 2018 (2018-09-06)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Let Me Show You"Cho MichelleDamon Sharpe, Rob Persaud, Adam Argyle, Cho MichelleN.Flying03:06
2."Let Me Show You (Inst.)" Damon Sharpe, Rob Persaud, Adam Argyle, Cho Michelle 03:06
Total length:06:12

Part 5

Released on September 13, 2018 (2018-09-13)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."You In My Dream" (꿈 속의 너)Lee Jong-won, NamooJi Pyeong-kwonDamsonegongbang03:01
2."You In My Dream (Inst.)" Ji Pyeong-kwon 03:01
Total length:06:02

Part 6

Released on September 20, 2018 (2018-09-20)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Hello"Park Woo-sangPark Woo-sangU Sung-eun03:20
2."Hello (Inst.)" Park Woo-sang 03:20
Total length:06:40
Disc 2:
No.TitleArtistLength
1."Between us"Various Artists2:40
2."Eternally"Various Artists2:24
3."IF"Various Artists2:22
4."Memories"Various Artists2:14
5."Morning Walk"Various Artists2:54
6."One fine day"Various Artists2:57
7."The Beginning"Various Artists2:10
8."Time to remember"Various Artists2:23

Viewership

Familiar Wife : South Korea viewers per episode (millions)
SeasonEpisode numberAverage
12345678910111213141516
11.2541.5011.2061.5561.6901.7881.7761.6851.7602.0391.5921.9291.7761.9441.5851.7811.679
Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Media Research.[17]
Average TV viewership ratings
Ep. Original broadcast date Average audience share
(AGB Nielsen)[17]
Nationwide Seoul
1 August 1, 2018 4.680% (1st) 4.910% (1st)
2 August 2, 2018 5.535% (1st) 6.548% (1st)
3 August 8, 2018 5.104% (1st) 6.160% (1st)
4 August 9, 2018 6.209% (1st) 7.523% (1st)
5 August 15, 2018 6.621% (1st) 7.774% (1st)
6 August 16, 2018 7.259% (1st) 8.594% (1st)
7 August 22, 2018 6.506% (1st) 7.445% (1st)
8 August 23, 2018 6.950% (1st) 7.847% (1st)
9 August 29, 2018 6.879% (1st) 7.892% (1st)
10 August 30, 2018 8.210% (1st) 9.741% (1st)
11 September 5, 2018 7.096% (1st) 8.422% (1st)
12 September 6, 2018 8.106% (1st) 9.636% (1st)
13 September 12, 2018 7.449% (1st) 9.121% (1st)
14 September 13, 2018 7.875% (1st) 9.369% (1st)
15 September 19, 2018 6.709% (1st) 7.831% (1st)
16 September 20, 2018 7.870% (1st) 8.937% (1st)
Average 6.816% 7.984%
  • The blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
  • This drama aired on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC and EBS).

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
2018 11th Korea Drama Awards Best Original Soundtrack "No Longer Mine" (Roy Kim) Nominated [18]

References

  1. ^ a b c "지성, tvN '아는 와이프' 출연..로맨스 판타지로 컴백(공식)". Star News (in Korean). Money Today. February 23, 2018. Archived from the original on August 6, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  2. ^ "Ji Sung to Pair with Han Ji-min in Upcoming TV Series". The Chosun Ilbo. June 26, 2018. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  3. ^ "Fantasy romance 'Familiar Wife' reminds us of value of familiarity in relationships". Yonhap News Agency. July 25, 2018. Archived from the original on November 1, 2018. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  4. ^ "Actress Han Ji-min to return after three-year hiatus". Kpop Herald. July 6, 2018. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  5. ^ "'Angelic' Han Ji-min takes role of angry, 'Familiar Wife'". Kpop Herald. July 25, 2018. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  6. ^ "Jang Seung-jo to Star in "Knowing Wife"". HanCinema. Sports Donga. April 25, 2018. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  7. ^ 강한나, ‘아는 와이프’ 출연확정…지성·한지민과 호흡 [공식입장]. Naver (in Korean). Sports Donga. May 14, 2018. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  8. ^ "[공식] 오의식, tvN '아는 와이프' 출연 확정···지성·한지민과 호흡". Seoul Economic Daily (in Korean). July 4, 2018. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  9. ^ [공식] 이정은, '아는 와이프' 출연···지성-한지민 잇는 키 활약. Seoul Economic Daily (in Korean). July 23, 2018. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  10. ^ "손종학, tvN 새 수목드라마 '아는 와이프' 출연 확정…지성과 호흡". Star Hankook (in Korean). May 16, 2018. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  11. ^ "VIXX's N to Join Ji Sung & Han Ji Min's New Drama". SBS News. April 30, 2018. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  12. ^ "Kim So-ra to star in "Knowing Wife" as Joo Hyang-sook". HanCinema. Sports Khan. May 1, 2018. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  13. ^ "Lee You-jin Recruited for "Knowing Wife"". HanCinema. Nate. May 6, 2018. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  14. ^ "강기영, tvN '아는 와이프' 특별 출연..어떤 역할일까?". MK (in Korean). September 12, 2018. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  15. ^ '아는 와이프', 특별출연도 특급...조정석, '의리의리'한 카메오 현장 포착 '무슨 역할?'. iMBC (in Korean). 2018-09-18. Archived from the original on 2023-04-22. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  16. ^ "'아는 와이프' 지성X한지민, 설렘 지수 높인 '현실 부부 케미'". Sports Chosun (in Korean). May 29, 2018. Archived from the original on July 3, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  17. ^ a b "Nielsen Korea" (in Korean). Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  18. ^ 2018코리아드라마어워즈 후보 공개. KDFO.org (in Korean). September 22, 2018. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved September 27, 2018.