Korean actors, story, music....still anime?

Winter Sonata 0! anime version of the 2002 kdrama. Episode 0 starts off feeling a lot like the drama; maybe it was the background music which sounds eerily similar to the original, plus all the songs are kpop. Joon-sang is seen leaving Korea for New York with Yu-jin angsting at the airport.

+ Excellent animation and overall production
+ Yon-sama and Choi Ji Woo are voicing their original characters
- A tad slow...

Quick impression~ I think until the past few years or so, all kdramas seemed to be modeled after this story. It's a basic boy meet girl, separation, reunion, love triangles, angstx10 set-up. I'm impressed at the level of detail in the animation. In episode 0, both Joon-sang and Yu-jin are separately going about their lives occasionally reminiscing about their high school days with each other. At first, it seems like a touching story, but halfway through, I'm wondering why they are pumping up the production for such snoozy scenes. Aren't they going to attempt to get attract new fans? Anime-pacing, please. and *spoilers* why are they giving away the end? The angst level was pretty high...and it's not even episode 1 yet.

Gotta love the random 'french' book in the French bookstore. WTF...haha...does one of the animators have something against the French?