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Phoenix 2020

2020 South Korean television daily drama

Wikipedia contributorsAdapted for Fathomly · View authors
10 min read
Source updated July 26, 2026
Image credit is listed at the end of this article.

Phoenix 2020 (Korean: 불새 2020; RR: Bulsae 2020) is a South Korean television romantic drama series directed by Lee Hyun-jik starring Hong Soo-ah, Lee Jae-woo, Seo Ha-jun and Park Young-rin. The series is a reboot of the 2004 MBC series of the same name and includes 120 episodes. The story follows a rich woman and a poor man who marry, get divorced, and meet again after their fortunes have reversed. It premiered on SBS TV on October 26, 2020, and aired on weekdays at 8:35 a.m. KST until April 9, 2021.

01Synopsis

Wealthy chaebol, Lee Ji-eun (Hong Soo-ah) falls in love with the poor Jang Sae-hoon and marries against their families' wishes. Ji-eun was engaged to Sae-hoon's family friend, Seo Jeong-in (Seo Ha-jun), but he was in a committed relationship with another woman. The couple was expecting a child despite the lack of approval from Jeong-in's father. Ji-eun and Sae-hoon eventually divorce, and Jeong-in later dies. After ten years, Ji-eun and Sae-hoon meet again but with swapped lifestyles. Once affluent, Ji-eun lost her fortune while Sae-hoon became a rich entrepreneur. Their changes in wealth allow them to view the world differently and understand each other leading to their reunification.

However, they both have other love interests. Ji-eun meets Seo Jeong-min (Seo Ha-jun), heir to the Seorin Group and Jeong-in's twin brother, and they start going out while Sae-hoon is dating his girlfriend, Mi-ran. At the same time, Jeong-min's ambitious stepmother, Choi Myung-hwa, wants to hang on to Seorin Group at all costs. She is Mi-ran's mother but living under an assumed name and has not seen Mi-ran in years. Jeong-min dislikes Myung-hwa, and Seo Moon-soo (chairman of Seorin Group, Jeong-min's father, and Myung-hwa's husband) plans to remove her.

The show ends with a series of legal cases against Seorin Group, ironically brought to court by Jeong-min himself after he tires of his father's controlling tendencies. Seo Moon-soo is angry at his only living son after Jeong-in's death. In the legal chaos, Moon-soo jettisons Myung-hwa but she kills him and stays with her daughter. Ji-eun and Jeong-min break up, and Ji-eun and Sae-hoon start to work together again.

02Cast

Main

Supporting

  • Yang Hye-jin as Cho Hyun-sook
  • Kim Seung-hyun as Cho Hyun-min Lee Ji-eun's maternal uncle
  • Lee Chung-mi as Ji-eun's younger sister
  • Jeong Seo-ha as Lee Young-eun, Lee Ji-eun's sister
  • Ok Ji-young as Nam Bok-ja, Lee Ji-eun's best friend
Jang Se-hun's family and people around him
  • Shin Seong-gyun as Jang Ji-wook, Jang Se-hoon's father
  • Kim Ho-chang as Kim Ho-jin, Jang Se-hun's best friend
Seo Jeong-min's family and people around him
Others
  • Oh Cho-hee as Hannah Na-kyung
  • Kim Byung-chun as Park Kwang-cheol
  • Kang Sung-jin as Lecturer

03Production

On June 30, 2020, SBS announced their remake of the 2004 drama Phoenix with the original writer, Lee Yoo-jin. The remake ran for 120 episodes, a much longer run compared to the original's 26 episodes. Lee Yoo-jin commented on the story, "It seems to be a different story from the original. The setting of reunion between Lee Ji-eun and Jang Se-hoon is changed, but the reunion and love journey of the two are different from the original. After reuniting the once-loved man and woman, the process of recovering and understanding the wounds that have been inflicted on each other has been depicted, rather than the ending of achieving love again." The filming started in the second half of 2020 and a production presentation was held on October 20, 2020.

04Release

The television series first aired on October 26, 2020, on SBS TV and aired on weekday mornings until April 9, 2021.

05Original soundtrack

Phoenix
Soundtrack album by Various Artists
Released4 November 2020
GenreSoundtrack
Languages
Label
  • Warner Music

Part 1

Released on November 4, 2020 (2020-11-04)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Call your name" (박지용)Yang Gyeong-seok, Park Ji-yong (Honey), WoosideYang Kyung-seokPark Ji-yong (Honeyji)3:41
2."Call your name (Inst.)" Yang Kyung-seok 3:41
Total length:7:22

Part 2

Released on November 12, 2020 (2020-11-12)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Will we be able to meet again" (기현 (Kihyun))ALMOND필승불패Kihyun4:00
2."Will we be able to meet again (Inst.)" 필승불패 4:00
Total length:8:00

Part 3

Released on January 5, 2021 (2021-01-05)
No.TitleArtistLength
1."Sight"Jeok Woo3:22
2."Gaze (Inst.)" 3:22
Total length:6:44

Part 4

Released on January 11, 2021 (2021-01-11)
No.TitleArtistLength
1."Beautiful days...and us"DooBoo, Jincheol (Round About)3:39
2."Beautiful days...and us (Inst.)" 3:39
Total length:7:18

Part 5

Released on January 19, 2021 (2021-01-19)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Love is leaving like this"Victory and Defeat, ALMONDVictory and DefeatKim Minwool3:17
2."Love is leaving like this (Inst.)" Victory and Defeat 3:17
Total length:6:34

Part 6

Released on January 25, 2021 (2021-01-25)
No.TitleLyricsArtistLength
1."This mind wanders aimlessly"Victory invincible, AlmondGabin Han3:47
2."This mind wanders aimlessly (Inst.)"  3:47
Total length:7:34

Part 7

Released on February 1, 2021 (2021-02-01)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."A stuffy heart"Victory and Defeat, ALMONDVictory and Defeat, 1L2LLydia3:27
2."A stuffy heart (Inst.)" Victory and Defeat, 1L2L 3:27
Total length:6:54

Part 8

Released on February 8, 2021 (2021-02-08)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Hold my hand"Victorious and unsuccessful, ALMONDVictorious and unsuccessful, LACONICMoon Songhee3:25
2."Hold my hand (Inst.)" Victorious and unsuccessful, LACONIC 3:25
Total length:6:50

Part 9

Released on February 15, 2021 (2021-02-15)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."You can't draw"HaeunHaeun, Park JungjunDamu3:16
2."You can't draw (Inst.)" Haeun, Park Jungjun 3:16
Total length:6:32

Part 10

Released on February 22, 2021 (2021-02-22)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."The Day We Loved Each Other"Victory and Undefeated, Jamie, ALMONDUndefeated, Jamie12DAL4:39
2."The Day We Loved Each Other" (Inst.) Undefeated, Jamie 4:39
Total length:9:18

Part 11

Released on March 1, 2021 (2021-03-01)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Destiny"Oh Heung-seon, Lee Yong-gyu, Shin Seong-jinOh Heung-seon, Lee Yong-gyu, Shin Seong-jinSoo-ah, Park Jung-min5:02
2."Destiny" (Inst.) Oh Heung-seon, Lee Yong-gyu, Shin Seong-jin 5:02
Total length:10:04

Part 12

Released on March 8, 2021 (2021-03-08)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Your memories, our memories"Victory invincible, Yuk sang-hui, AlmondVictory invincible, Yuk sang-hui, AlmondMorning Coffee3:34
2."Your memories, our memories" (Inst.) Victory invincible, Yuk sang-hui, Almond 3:34
Total length:7:08

Part 13

Released on March 15, 2021 (2021-03-15)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Until today"Victorious and unsuccessful, Yoo-Kyung- hee, AlmondVictorious and un-defeated, Yoo-Suk-hee, 1L2LNa-eun Seol3:32
2."Until today" (Inst.) Victorious and un-defeated, Yoo-Suk-hee, 1L2L 3:32
Total length:7:04

Part 14

Released on March 22, 2021 (2021-03-22)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Every day I Love You"Victory and Undefeated, Yoo, Yuk, and AlmondUn-defeatedCherryBerry3:22
2."Every day I Love You" (Inst.)   3:22
Total length:6:44

Part 15

Released on March 29, 2021 (2021-03-29)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."I Still Remember" (feat. Eun Chae)Victory and Undefeated, Yoo, Yuk, and AlmondUn-defeatedEspresso3:04
2."I Still Remember" (Inst.)   3:04
Total length:6:08

Part 16

Released on April 5, 2021 (2021-04-05)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Every Moment Is Happy"Victory and Undefeated, Yoo Yuk-hee, Min-hyuk JungVictory and DefeatJung Min-hyuk, Nakyung3:23
2."Every Moment Is Happy" (Inst.) Victory and Defeat 3:23
Total length:6:46

06Viewership

Phoenix : South Korea viewers per episode (thousands)
EpisodesEpisode number
1234567891011121314151617181920
Ep.01-20N/AN/AN/A748N/AN/AN/A700727N/AN/AN/AN/A760N/AN/A681N/AN/AN/A
Ep.21-40837811777819N/AN/AN/AN/A836N/AN/AN/A897895840N/AN/AN/A900N/A
Ep.41-60N/AN/AN/A795N/AN/AN/AN/A913N/AN/AN/A833897N/AN/AN/AN/A883N/A
Ep.61-80N/A943871912881N/AN/AN/A1021887N/AN/A849876795N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
Ep.81-100N/AN/AN/A845827N/AN/AN/A806N/AN/AN/A758901800N/AN/A788816N/A
Ep.101-120N/AN/A718799883N/AN/A710814811N/A869814864942884752767792853
Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by °Nielsen Korea.
Ep. Original broadcast date Average audience share
Nielsen Korea TNmS
°Nationwide °°Seoul Nationwide
1 October 26, 2020 5.4% , N/a 5.2%
2 October 27, 2020 4.6% 5.4%
3 October 28, 2020 4.7% 7.0%
4 October 29, 2020 4.8% 4.6% 5.4%
5 October 30, 2020 3.4% , N/a , N/a
6 November 2, 2020 5.0% 5.1%
7 November 3, 2020 5.2% 5.2%
8 November 4, 2020 4.7% 5.2%
9 November 5, 2020 5.2% 5.0% 4.9%
10 November 6, 2020 4.3% , N/a , N/a
11 November 9, 2020 5.1% 5.0%
12 November 10, 2020 4.5% 4.7%
13 November 11, 2020 4.7% 5.2%
14 November 12, 2020 5.1% 4.6% 5.4%
15 November 13, 2020 5.2% , N/a , N/a
16 November 16, 2020 4.8% 5.2%
17 November 17, 2020 4.5% 5.0%
18 November 18, 2020 4.1% 5.0%
19 November 19, 2020 4.6% , N/a
20 November 20, 2020 5.0%
21 November 23, 2020 5.5% 5.1% 5.5%
22 November 24, 2020 5.4% 5.1% 5.3%
23 November 25, 2020 4.9% , N/a 5.6%
24 November 26, 2020 5.3% 5.2% 5.7%
25 November 27, 2020 5.5% , N/a 5.6%
26 November 30, 2020 5.0% 6.0%
27 December 1, 2020 5.3% 5.6%
28 December 2, 2020 5.1% 5.4%
29 December 3, 2020 5.7% 5.3% 6.2%
30 December 4, 2020 5.1% , N/a 5.6%
31 December 7, 2020 5.4% 5.2%
32 December 8, 2020 5.1% 5.7%
33 December 9, 2020 5.8% 5.5% 5.1%
34 December 10, 2020 5.9% 5.6% 5.3%
35 December 11, 2020 5.3% 4.9% 5.9%
36 December 14, 2020 5.4% , N/a 5.8%
37 December 15, 2020 5.9% 5.4%
38 December 16, 2020 5.5% 5.4%
39 December 17, 2020 5.8% 5.4% 5.6%
40 December 18, 2020 5.8% 5.8% 5.4%
41 December 21, 2020 5.9% 5.9% 5.5%
42 December 22, 2020 5.7% , N/a 5.6%
43 December 23, 2020 5.0% 5.2%
44 December 24, 2020 5.5% 5.0% 5.8%
45 December 25, 2020 5.0% 4.8% 5.6%
46 December 28, 2020 5.7% , N/a 5.4%
47 December 29, 2020 5.6% 5.6%
48 December 30, 2020 5.5% 5.7%
49 December 31, 2020 6.4% 6.3% 6.3%
50 January 1, 2021 4.2% , N/a , N/a
51 January 4, 2021 5.8% 6.9%
52 January 5, 2021 5.8% 6.1%
53 January 6, 2021 5.4% 5.9%
54 January 7, 2021 6.1% 6.0%
55 January 8, 2021 6.2% 6.3%
56 January 11, 2021 5.7% 6.6%
57 January 12, 2021 5.9% 6.0%
58 January 13, 2021 5.3% 5.7%
59 January 14, 2021 6.2% 6.2% 5.5%
60 January 15, 2021 5.3% , N/a 6.1%
61 January 18, 2021 5.4% 6.2%
62 January 19, 2021 6.5% 6.3% 6.2%
63 January 20, 2021 6.0% 5.8% 5.4%
64 January 21, 2021 5.5% 5.1% 6.0%
65 January 22, 2021 5.7% , N/a 5.5%
66 January 25, 2021 5.7% 5.2% 5.8%
67 January 26, 2021 6.1% , N/a 6.3%
68 January 27, 2021 5.1% 5.9%
69 January 28, 2021 6.5% 6.3% 6.0%
70 January 29, 2021 5.7% 5.5% 5.8%
71 February 1, 2021 5.4% , N/a 5.8%
72 February 2, 2021 5.6% 5.9%
73 February 3, 2021 5.5% 5.2% 5.7%
74 February 4, 2021 5.7% 5.1% 5.9%
75 February 5, 2021 5.0% , N/a 5.8%
76 February 8, 2021 5.1% 6.0%
77 February 9, 2021 5.3% 5.5%
78 February 10, 2021 4.9% 4.8%
79 February 11, 2021 4.7% , N/a
80 February 12, 2021 2.8% , N/a
81 February 15, 2021 5.8% 5.6%
82 February 16, 2021 5.3% 5.4%
83 February 17, 2021 5.2% 4.8% 4.9%
84 February 18, 2021 5.7% 5.6% 5.8%
85 February 19, 2021 5.4% 5.3% 5.5%
86 February 22, 2021 5.1% , N/a , N/a
87 February 23, 2021 5.1% 5.1%
88 February 24, 2021 4.8% 4.6%
89 February 25, 2021 5.5% 5.4% 4.8%
90 February 26, 2021 3.7% , N/a , N/a
91 March 1, 2021 5.0%
92 March 2, 2021 5.5% 5.4%
93 March 3, 2021 5.2% 5.3%
94 March 4, 2021 5.9% 5.3% 5.9%
95 March 5, 2021 5.3% , N/a 5.4%
96 March 8, 2021 5.1% 4.7%
97 March 9, 2021 5.9% 5.4% 5.2%
98 March 10, 2021 5.3% 5.3% 5.2%
99 March 11, 2021 5.4% 5.1% 5.1%
100 March 12, 2021 5.2% , N/a 5.7%
101 March 15, 2021 4.6% , N/a
102 March 16, 2021 5.5% 5.5% 5.7%
103 March 17, 2021 4.8% , N/a 5.2%
104 March 18, 2021 5.4% 5.1% 5.5%
105 March 19, 2021 5.8% 5.6% 6.4%
106 March 22, 2021 5.2% , N/a 6.2%
107 March 23, 2021 5.4% 5.5% 5.7%
108 March 24, 2021 5.0% 4.9% 5.7%
109 March 25, 2021 5.4% 5.6% 5.5%
110 March 26, 2021 5.2% 4.9% 6.1%
111 March 29, 2021 5.8% , N/a 6.3%
112 5.9% 5.6% 6.4%
113 March 30, 2021 5.8% 5.5% 6.3%
114 5.7% 5.4% 6.3%
115 March 31, 2021 6.3% 5.9% 6.9%
116 April 5, 2021 5.9% 5.8% 6.2%
117 April 6, 2021 5.3% 5.9%
118 April 7, 2021 5.4% 5.2% 4.8%
119 April 8, 2021 5.5% 5.4% 5.9%
120 April 9, 2021 5.7% 5.7% 5.5%
Average 5.33% , ,
  • In this table, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
  • N/A denotes that the rating is not known.
  • °(Analysis criteria: 13 regions nationwide, households, unit:%)
  • °°(Analysis criteria: metropolitan area, household, unit:%)

07Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2020 SBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid/Long-length Drama Lee Jae-woo Nominated
Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Mid/Long-length Drama Hong Soo-ah Nominated
Excellence Award, Actor in a Mid/Long-length Drama Seo Ha-joon Nominated
Watch videos about Phoenix 2020Explainers and documentaries on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Phoenix 2020”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

Images, from Wikimedia Commons:

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