Heirs/Inheritors stars Lee Min-ho as Kim Tan, son of his father’s mistress and half-brother to Kim Won (Choi Jin-hyuk). In order to be a legitimate heir to the large conglomerate Jeguk Group, Tan is listed as the son of his father’s second wife. But, everyone – including Won – wants Tan out of the way. As the drama starts, Tan attends school in California. There he meets Cha Eun-sang (Park Shin-hye), a high school student visiting the US from South Korea for the first time. Tan falls immediately for Eun-sang.
On her return to South Korea, Eun-sang learns that her mother is the housekeeper of Tan’s mom- and has moved into Tan’s house. Working Mutiple part time jobs to make ends meet, she has no choice but to move in as well. Then, Tan’s father decides to grant Eun-sang a hardship scholarship to the prestigious Jeguk Highschool. Because Tan has returned to Korea to finish out his out school at Jeguk Highschool, she is now his classmate!
At Jeguk, Eun-sang comes under the notice of Tan’s former childhood friend and heir to the Zeus Hotel Group, Choi Young-do (Kim Woo-bin), the biggest bully at the school. This sets up a rivalry between Tan and Young-do over Eun-sang’s affections. Other heirs and children of influential people also attend Jeguk starting with Tan’s fiancé, Yoo Rachel (Descendants of the Sun’s Kim Ji-won) and Eun-sang’s childhood friend, Yoon Chan-young (Kang Min-hyuk), son of the Jeguk Group Secretary. Chan-young’s girlfriend is Lee Bo-na (Krystal Jung) and Jo Myun-soo, whose father is CEO of the largest law firm in the country.
- Series Title: Heirs/Inheritors (Korean: 왕관을 쓰려는 자, 그 무게를 견뎌라 – 상속자들)
- Starring: Lee Min-ho, Park Shin-hye, Choi Jin-hyuk, Kim Ji-won, Kim Woo-bin
- Written by: Kim Eun-sook
- Directed by: Kang Shin-hyo, Boo Sung-chul
- Network: SBS TV
- Where to watch in the US: Netflix
- Year Released: 2013
- # of episodes: 20
- KafeNook Rating: 4.2 sips
Heirs/Inheritors Review — !!Spoilers Ahead!!
Watching Heirs/Inheritors is part of my recent Lee Min-ho filmography journey. This includes the dramas Legend of the Blue Sea (2016), Pachinko (2022), The King: Eternal Monarch (2019/2020) and Boys Over Flowers. I’ve enjoyed seeing how Lee Min-ho’s acting has changed and not changed over the years. After viewing hours and hours of episodes featuring Lee Min-ho, I’ve come to recognize the sudden downturn of the head look, the mischievous glint in the eye look, the troubled eyelid closing what have I done (or I should rethink what I just said/did) look. In each new drama, Lee Min-ho continues to sharpen his acting skills with increasingly complex and nuanced roles. Just look at Episode 7, in the first Season of Pachinko. Wow! It’s no wonder he is a global sensation. Now on to Heirs—
Heirs/Inheritors is one of the many outstanding dramas written by the talented Kim Eun-sook. Hers is a resume any writer would envy – Descendants of the Sun, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (Goblin), Mr. Sunshine, The King: Eternal Monarch and The Glory. Kdrama fans new and old relish her dramas for the level of storytelling and her mastery of dialog. (Oh, to be able to write dialog so well!) Heirs/Inheritors came along after she had several hits under her belt and is her first show about teenagers.
Kim Tan and Eun-Sang
Airing four years after Boys Over Flowers (BOF), Heirs/Inheritors also stars Lee Min-ho, which may be why I can’t help comparing it to Boys Over Flowers. Kim Tan comes across as a mash up of Goo Joon Pyo, the hot-headed heir to a large corporation in Boys Over Flowers, and Kim Hyun-joon’s Yoon Ji-Hoo, BOFs soulful emergency bell. Kind of the best of both worlds. In Heirs/Inheritors, he’s pitted against this drama’s hot head, Choi Young-do, who has fallen in love with someone for the first time, heroin Eun-sang. Unfortunately, Young-do doesn’t know how to show his budding affection in an appropriate way. Like BOFs’ heroin, Geum Jan-di, any bad thing that can happen to Eun-sang happens. This leaves Kim Tan and Young-do taking turns protecting her – including from themselves and each other.
A now iconic scene from the drama is featured while Tan and Eun-sang are in a movie theater. Tan turns to Eun-sang and says, “Do I… like you?”, leaving Eun-sang bemused. The 2023 Kdrama, True to Love cleverly borrows this dialog from Heirs/Inheritors. When posed the same questions, Yoo In-ha’s character gives the hilarious response, “How would I know?”
Some of the best scenes in Heirs/Inheritors occur after Tan loses Eun-sang (in spite of all his efforts to be with her and protect her) and he goes on a self-destructive spree. Until this point, Tan has been a steady rock, firm in the belief he will overcome any obstacle thrown his way. His character has been shaped by loss and rejection, but losing Eun-sang is too much for him. It’s Tan’s brother Won who beautifully sums this up. He tells their father that Tan is “ . . .kind and honest. You can’t even imagine how strong he was. But that strong-minded kid is breaking down.” This scene gives hope for the Tan/Won relationship since up until this point, Won has only pushed his brother away.
Supporting Storylines
Good guy, Chan-young is much like his good guy dad, Jeguk group secretary, Yoon Jae-ho (Choi Won-young). Their father/son moments are some of the best in the series. Chan-young and girlfriend Lee Bo-na (Krystal Jung) win the award for most adorable couple. He truly seems to love Bo-na unconditionally. (Even when she does something that makes him mad.) Bo-na flourishes under that love, growing into a better version of herself. I wanted more of the two of them in this show. Or better yet- a show of their own!
Kim Ji-won as Rachel has mastered the art of the pout. For her breakout role in Descendants of the Sun, she plays a strong, yet emotionally vulnerable career soldier. In Heirs/Inheritors, she perfectly conveys the jealous fiancé – showing her anger and frustration through her expressive eyes – and the pout. Will Rachel’s future include a relationship with Lee Hyo-Shin (Kang Ha-neul of Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo), the budding filmmaker whose parents want him to become a lawyer like his father? His story showcases the horrible results of pressure parents can place on their children. He and Rachel deserve their own happy ending.
Eun-sang’s mute mother, Park Hui Nam, is played by the wonderful Kim Mi-kyong (Healer). She often steels the scene in the show through overly honest words written on note pads to her employer, Kim Tan’s real mother, Han Ki-ae (Kim Sung-ryung). Her role is contrasted with that of Tan’s mother, Ki-ae, the hidden mistress who is practically a prisoner in her own home. It’s clear that much of Tan’s goodness and love comes from his mother. Seriously, what did anyone see in Tan’s father?
Heirs/Inheritors Ending
Heirs/Inheritors ended well, especially with the inclusion of the “Ten Years Later” scene. The short sequence provides a glimpse into the future lives of the characters I had come to know and love during the drama. Heirs Season 2 anyone? How fun would it be to see the characters twenty years later with high school children of their own?
Best Tear-jerker Moments
This one goes to brother Won. Having bartered his way – at the expense of his happiness with the woman he loves- to the head up the Jeguk Group, he sits at the desk in his father’s study and breaks down. Only now does he realize what his love said to him is true – while he made the Jeguk company his world, Tan made his world Eun-sang. Won finds himself as a lonely man at the top of the world he thought he wanted. At least he will have Tan by his side. How nice it is to see him smiling in the “10 years from now” epilogue.
Random Things I Liked
All the scenes of Choi Young-do eating noodles. Boy, can he slam those puppies down!
How Lee Min-ho (Tan) and Choi Jin-hyuk (Won) look so much like brothers in this show. Their similar haircuts and height certainly help – but kudos to the casting department!
The affection and love that Tan shows for his mother made me wish for a son of my own. (Just kidding my daughters – I wouldn’t trade you for anything. But if I did have son….) The first time he sees Eun-Sang and his mother together he says, “all of my favorite woman in one spot”.
Rumor (i.e. the internet) has it that when Lee Min-ho attended the wedding of his Heirs co-star, Park Shin-hye to Choi Tae Joon (So I Married My Anti-Fan), he hilarious posted – “Do I . . . congratulate You?” in pure Kim Tan fashion. Love it!
Heirs/Inheritors Soundtrack
The original soundtrack for Heirs/Inheritors is filled with a number of good songs. Some of my favorites include Bite My Lower Lips sung by Esna, and Painful Love with vocals by Lee Min-ho. Known primarily for his acting, it’s easy to forget Lee Min-ho is also a very good singer. This song shows off his lovely voice, especially in the chorus.
