During the Korean War, while attempting to escape North Korea, Geum-soon (Go Doo-shim) is separated from her husband and infant son. She manages to make it to South Korea where she begins her new life, running Nakwon Inn on Korea's southern coast, while waiting for her lost family. She remarries, has a son and grandchildren and builds the Nakwon Group, the top hotel chain in the country. Years later, at a reunion between separated families, Geum-soon gets a chance to meet her grown-up North Korean son and his son named Ri Moon-sung. But at the next reunion, she is informed about the death of her son, losing any contact with the grandson as well.
In the present day, Geum-soon is dying of cancer and has only three months left. Geum-soon's granddaughter and the manager of the hotel, Park Se-yeon (Ha Ji-won), works hard to protect Nakwon's name and keep the chain in the family while her elder brother tries to sell it. Meanwhile, Geum-soon's trusted right-hand man, Jeong Sang-cheol (Sung Dong-il) who has been searching for her North Korean grandson for years, finally tracks him down only to learn that he has become a smuggler and a violent criminal operating in China. Jeong decides to keep this truth from Geum-soon but comes up with a plan to grant her last wish to meet her grandson again.
Jeong then approaches Yoo Jae-hoon (Kang Ha-neul), a struggling actor of an unknown theater company who does several part time jobs to make ends meet, after watching his performance as a North Korean soldier in a play. Jeong asks Yoo to impersonate Geum-soon's North Korean grandson. In exchange for 500 million won, Yoo begins to play that role for three months.
Yoo Jae-heon: A theater actor in a local theater company. He receives a sudden offer from an old gentleman to play the defecting grandson of a certain grandmother, and he faces a major turning point in his life.
Jung-moon: Geum-soon's North Korean husband from whom she separated decades ago.
Geum-soon's granddaughter. The youngest daughter and the general manager of Hotel Nakwon. She and her brothers lost their parents at a young age and were raised by their grandmother.
The founder of Hotel Nakwon, a leading hotel chain in Korea. During the Korean War she descends to the South and is separated from her husband and child. She grows a hotel while waiting for the two of them. She wishes to see her grandson Moon-sung one last time.
The former manager of Hotel Nakwon and the right-hand man of Geum-soon. Even after retiring from his managerial position, he looks after and assists Geum-soon.
The early working title of the series was A Tree Dies Standing (Korean: 나무는 서서 죽는다; RR: Namuneun Seoseo Jungneunda).
The roles of Park Se-yeon and Geum-soon were first offered to Son Ye-jin and Youn Yuh-jung respectively.[22] In July 2022, it was reported that filming was under progress.[15]
The press conference of the drama which was scheduled to be held on October 31, 2022, was canceled due to the aftermath of the Itaewon Halloween crowd crush.[23]
^The dip in ratings for Episode 2 is due to the sudden extension of the 2022 Professional Baseball KBO League which aired in the earlier timeslot resulting to an hour delay in broadcast.
^The November 21 broadcast was canceled due to the 2022 World Cup broadcast and aired on November 22 instead.[46]
^The November 28 broadcast was canceled due to the 2022 World Cup and will air on November 29 instead.[47]
^Due to some ratings not recorded, the exact average rating is unknown.
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^Choi Ji-yoon (November 16, 2022). "음주운전 홍기준, '커튼콜'로 2년만 복귀…조선족 역" [Drunk driving Hong Gi-jun returns after 2 years with 'Curtain Call'... Korean-Chinese role] (in Korean). Newsis. Archived from the original on November 16, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022 – via Naver.
^Cha Hye-young (October 23, 2022). "정의제, 특별 출연에도 강렬한 존재감…설렘의 추억 그려 ('커튼콜')" [Chung Eui-je, strong presence even in special appearances... Draw thrilling memories ('Curtain Call')] (in Korean). Ten Asia. Archived from the original on January 6, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2022 – via Naver.
^Lee Ji-soo (December 6, 2022). "모태범♥' 임사랑, '커튼콜' 하지원 응대하는 호텔 직원이었네...배우 복귀 성공!" ['Mo Tae-bum♥' Lim Sa-rang, 'Curtain Call' Ha Ji-won Responding hotel staff...The actress returns successfully!] (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022 – via Naver.
^Lee Jung-hyun (September 29, 2021). "윤여정·강하늘·손예진, '나무는 서서 죽는다' 주연 물망" [Yoon Yeo-jeong, Kang Ha-neul, Son Ye-jin to star in 'Trees Stand and Die'] (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on May 1, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via Naver.
^Ahn So-yoon (October 30, 2022). "[공식입장] 하지원→강하늘 '커튼콜', 31일 제작발표회 취소..."이태원 참사 여파" [[Official Position] Ha Ji-won → Kang Ha-neul 'Curtain Call', production presentation canceled on the 31st... "Aftermath of the Itaewon disaster] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on October 30, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2022 – via Naver.
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