"That Winter, The Wind Blows" What is it like for Song Hye Kyo to take on the role of a disabled person?
The way disabled people are perceived in Korea has changed dramatically from the past.
In the SBS drama "That Winter, The Wind Blows", Song Hye Kyo portrays the character named Oh Young, who is blind. Her character however, does not have any financial difficulties because of her father's wealth that has been passed onto her.
In reality, physically disable people have a very difficult time carrying out ordinary activities in their day without help from aids or family members. Also, they are unable to work to earn money for various reasons. They must live from the money that is given to them by the government.
Oh Young however, had been surrounded by people to help her throughout her whole life. Oh Young even has a driver who takes her everywhere she needs to go. Aside from being blind, she is able to do whatever she wants.
In the drama, the realities of Oh Young being a disabled character have not been portrayed very well since she could do anything she wants and had access to whatever she wants.
Recently however, Oh Young tells everybody around her to leave. She says goodbye to Oh Soo (Jo In Sung), her driver, her lawyer and her secretary, who has been living with her to take care of her like a mother.
For the first time in her life, she is left alone to do everything on her own. For the first time since the drama began airing on television, the realities of living life as a disabled person can be seen. Even while Oh Young is sitting on the stairs inside of her side, viewers are concerned about her safety. Without Secretary Wang (Bae Jong Ok) or Oh Soo to guide her or help her, everything Oh Young does is making viewers worry.
For the first time, viewers have a chance to see how difficult it is for disabled people to live each and every day of their lives. One can only imagine how difficult it is for disabled people to live on their own, trapped in their own bodies.
Oh Young seems like a lost person who is lost in space. With every step she takes, it gets harder and harder to watch. Within a matter of minutes, Oh Young's giant mansion becomes a huge maze of darkness.
