The series depicts the zeal of three poor sisters; In-joo, In-hye, and In-kyung for money, independence, and love. One of the sister's supposedly dead friend left her 70 billion won but the people behind it, Korea's richest family, will do anything to stop them.[6][7]
The eldest sister. She grew up in a terribly poor environment and is still poor. Ever since she was a young child, In-joo realized that money was the most important thing to protect herself and her family. Her dream is to live an ordinary life like other people. She gets involved in a case that could change her life.
The middle sister. She is an enthusiastic reporter at a news station. In-kyung believes in doing the right thing. She also has always been poor, but grew up in a more comfortable environment, so money doesn't rule her life. She begins to dig into a mysterious case that she encountered when she first became a reporter.
The youngest sister, who studies at a prestigious art high school due to her natural drawing skills, and sometimes feels that her sisters’ love for her is too much. Her foolishness lets others expoit her financial situation. Her sisters are her de facto parents and are fiercely protective of her.
General's daughter, politician's wife and Director of the Museum of Art. Her relationship with the three sisters begins when Sang-ah's daughter Hyorin becomes involved with Oh In-hye.
He graduated from a prestigious university and becomes involved with Oh In-ju. He is a mysterious character whose true allegiance is unclear. His father was part of the Jeongran Society, however, he was murdered for betraying them and his mother was framed for his father's death. Though his true allegiance is unclear for most of the part of the series, he is shown to be protective of In-ju.
In an interview with Tatler Asia on November 25, 2021, screenwriter Jeong Seo-kyung disclosed her involvement, "I'm working with the director of Vincenzo for a Korean adaptation of Little Women. The leading actresses are Kim Go-eun and Nam Ji-hyun while the male lead is Wi Ha-joon from Squid Game. I actually read the book, Little Women, when I was young and I really loved it."[25]
Casting
On December 23, 2021, it was confirmed that tvN's series titled as Little Women directed by Kim Hee-won, written by Jeong Seo-kyung and produced by Studio Dragon, with Kim Go-eun, Nam Ji-hyun and Park Ji-hu as main leads.[26] On October 19, 2021, MS Team Entertainment revealed that Wi Ha-joon was offered a role in the series.[27] On the same day, it was reported that casting for the series was complete.[28]
Filming
On March 3, 2022, it was confirmed that actor Wi Ha-joon had tested positive for COVID-19. He was expected to be released from quarantine on the 8th, and the diagnosis was confirmed when he was released.[29]
Filming took place from June to July 2022; filming locations include various locations around Singapore.[30][31]
Controversies
Plagiarism
On September 5, 2022, the staff issued an apology for the poster's resemblance to a Japanese beauty brand.[32]
On September 8, 2022, the drama's poster maker Propaganda issued an official apology for the plagiarism of the poster similar to the exhibition poster of a Japanese cosmetics brand from 2016.[33]
On October 3, 2022, Vietnam's Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information requested that Little Women be removed from the Vietnamese version of Netflix due to historical falsification of the Vietnam War. According to the Director of Authority, Lê Quang Tự Do, the series breached the Vietnamese media and cinema laws due to inaccurate statements about the Vietnam War in episodes 3 and 8, which distorted Vietnamese history by glorifying South Korea's involvement in the Vietnam War, including war crimes committed by South Korean soldiers.[34][35]
On October 7, 2022, the drama staff apologized and promised to be more careful with both the social sensitivity and the production process in the future.[36]
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^Kim Ga-young (August 2, 2022). "'작은 아씨들' 김고은X남지현X박지후 세 자매 포스터 공개" ['Little Women' Kim Go-eun, Nam Ji-hyun, and Park Ji-hu, three sisters poster released] (in Korean). E Daily. Archived from the original on August 2, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022 – via Naver.
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^Kang Da-yoon (December 23, 2021). "김고은X남지현X박지후, '작은 아씨들' 캐스팅 확정 [공식]" [Kim Go-eun X Nam Ji-hyun X Park Ji-hoo confirmed for 'Little Women' [Official]]. My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2021 – via Naver.
^ abcKim Myung-mi (August 16, 2022). "작은 아씨들' 단체 포스터 공개, 의문의 700억 둘러싼 8인" [Little Women' group poster released, 8 people surrounded by questionable 70 billion won] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2022 – via Naver.
^Park Ah-reum (July 21, 2022). "공민정 '천원짜리 변호사→작은 아씨들' 합류 열일 행보[공식]" [Gong Min-jung joins 'Won-Won Lawyer → Little Women' [Official]] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on July 21, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022 – via Naver.
^Hong Se-young (September 21, 2022). "돈→난초 촘촘한 미스터리 '작은 아씨들', 잘 나간다" (in Korean). Sports DongA. Archived from the original on September 21, 2022. Retrieved September 21, 2022 – via Naver.
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^Park So-young (April 29, 2022). "엄기준, '펜트하우스' 이어 tvN '작은아씨들' 확정..김고은 만난다 [공식]" [Um Ki-joon confirms tvN's 'Little Women' following 'Penthouse'.. Meet Go-eun Kim [Official]] (in Korean). OSEN. Archived from the original on April 29, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022 – via Naver.
^Park Soo-in (February 10, 2022). "엄지원 '작은 아씨들' 출연 확정, 김고은 남지현 박지후와 호흡" [Uhm Ji-won confirmed to appear in 'Little Women', Kim Go-eun and Nam Ji-hyun and Park Ji-hoo work together] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022 – via Naver.
^Hwang So-young (August 29, 2022). "이도엽, tvN '작은 아씨들' 출연‥엄지원 父 역으로 변신" [Lee Do-yeop to appear in tvN's 'Little Women'… transforms into the role of Ji-won Um] (in Korean). JTBC. Archived from the original on August 29, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022 – via Naver.
^Cha Hye-rin (September 10, 2022). "협상하자" 위하준, 20억+비자금 장부 가진 김고은에 동업 제안 (작은아씨들)" [Let's negotiate" Wi Ha-joon proposes a partnership with Kim Go-eun, who has 2 billion won + slush funds (Little Women)] (in Korean). iMBC. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022 – via Naver.
^Moon Ji-yeon (January 27, 2022). "[공식] 위하준, '작은 아씨들' 합류 확정..김고은과 호흡" [[Official] Ha-jun Wi, confirmed to join 'Little Women'... Breathing with Go-eun Kim] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2022 – via Naver.
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