Our Unwritten Seoul

Another Korean romance.  If you are in to them they are among the best.  In "Our Unwritten Seoul" as a tool they use identical twins so similar their mother can't tell the difference.  In addition another tool for romances is the misunderstandings that here are compounded by identical twins.  First reaction might be to expect a comedy, but it is more dramatic.

Looking at the photo all the apparent differences are cosmetic--they are the same actress.

The two women, Mi-Ji and Mi-Rae are in different circumstances and have different personalities.  Mi-rae is in a big corporation in Seoul and feels uncomfortable with corruption.  Mi-ji is more at loose ends, but staying with her mother so she could help her grandmother.  Getting together the twins cook up a scheme to switch roles.  They do have only a rough outline of the other's situation.  They cover it up, but leave a little wondering doubt.

The romance comes from their new job situations.  Mi-ji working in the corporate environment deals with an old acquaintance, Ho-su, a company lawyer she went to high school with.  Ironically he had a fixation on Mi-ji, but pretending to be the sister she is truly surprised.  They both are upset with a move to push out small businesses for a new shopping mall.  One lady resists and she at first is suspicious of both of them and all feel caught in the middle.  This dilemma has more complications and a few twists.  

Mi-Rae moves back home and her mother thinks she is strange, but still accepts her as Mi-ji.  The grandmother is the one not fooled, but keeps it quiet.  Mi-rae takes a job at a strawberry farm.  Eventually we learn that the owner, Se Jin had once been a financier, but gave it up because he was upset about corruption.  They rub each other the wrong way.  When he reveals his background he is surprised she even recognizes his name and she has to lie to not reveal how she knows it.

Both men are lied to, but gradually the truth comes out.  Most romance followers can anticipate sparks, but there really is more to the story.  The two sisters are quite different, although at times the viewer will be confused.  

The quality of the series is top notch.  Here are some of the contributors.

Park Shin-woo is the director.  He has 10 directing credits including "It's Okay Not To Be Okay" (2020) and "When The Stars Gossip" (2025).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/03/its-okay-not-to-be-okay.html and  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/02/when-stars-gossip.html

Lee Kang was the writer.  She has 5 writing credits.

Nam Hye-Seung was the music director.  She is noted as a multi instrumentalist.  In the early days she was involved with children's programs, but was careful to not to copy Disney that was common at the time.  She has 20 composing credits and 49 for the Music Department including "Crash Landing on You" (2019), "It's Okay Not to be Okay" (2020), "Queen of Tears" (2024) and "When the Stars Gossip" (2025). see http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/05/queen-of-tears.html and  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/02/crash-landing-on-you-very-addicting.html

A quote that perhaps other composers would also feel and illustrates her dedication to music in films: "All scenes deserves a touch up or entirely new music because a different scene might need more detailed music work. Audiences might not catch it all the time but it is needed to deliver the message to their heart as close as I can do because I know the importance and how much minor things can do to the whole picture." 

Park Bo-young had the difficult role of playing identical twins Mi-ji and Mi-rae.  While in middle school she was in a short film.  At high school she had done a tv. commercial.  She has 25 acting credits including "A Werewolf Boy" (2012) and "Daily Dose of Sunshine" (2023).     See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/11/daily-dose-of-sunshine.html

Park Jin-young played the lawyer Ho-Su.  An early interest was dancing and later was part of a boy group.  Jin-Young came to this role after his army release.  He has 62 acting credits and 2 for soundtrack.  

 Kim Sun-young played Ho-su's step mother who had stepped in despite contrary advice when her husband killed in auto accident that also seriously injured Ho-soo.  She has had an extensive career in theatre.  She has 47 acting credits including "When The Camellia Blooms" (2019),  "Crash Landing on You" (2019), "Broker" (2022) and "Queenmaker" (2023).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/05/queenmaker.html

Jang Young-nam played the mother of the twins.  She has a strong background in theatre that includes the solo role in "Vagina Monologues" (2006).  She has 85 film acting credits including "A Werewolf Boy" (2012), "It's Okay Not To Be Okay" (2020) and "Love Next Door" (2024).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/10/love-next-door.html

Im Chul-so played a handicapped and corrupt lawyer.  He has 19 acting credits including "Signal" (2016) "Crash Landing on You" (2019), "Vincenzo" (2021), "Queen of Tears" (2024) and "When the Phone Rings" (2024).   See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2025/01/when-phone-rings.html

Ryu Kyung-soo played the former fund manager turned to strawberry farmer.  He has 19 acting credits including "Itaewon Class" (2020) and "Broker" (2022).  See  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/07/broker-japanese-korean-collaboration.html  

Kim Mi-kyung played the elderly restaurant owner.  she has 80 acting credits including "Secret Sunshine" (2007), "Glove" (2011), "It's Okay not to be Okay" (2021), "Trolley" (2022- 2023), "Doctor Cha" (2023) and "Agency" (2023),  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/06/agency.html 

"Our Unwritten Seoul" is available on Netflix subtitled and dubbed.  A brilliant series.

As usual I have bolded the first mention of films I have seen.  Some of them are among my favorite Korean films and a big part of my Korean obsession.  If you follow the links you should be able to determine if any film is worth following up.

Love Next Door

Koreans must love romance films and they do a good job on them. "Love Next Door" is typical, but not so typical.  The focus is really on two lovers who go through misunderstandings.  The parents are a very important part of the story and the side stories are engaging.

From an age of five the two characters lived next door to one another.  The girl was protective of the boy who was late learning Korean.  The two mothers were very close friends.  The parents thought of the youngsters as part of their family.  The two youngsters became very close friends and a theme was the fear of losing their best friend if they were to pursue a love interest.  Yet, the young woman left for America and got engaged to a very likable guy who many viewers would think more deserving.  The two main families have their own problems.  Another character was a friend to the two youngsters who had her own romance and whose mother was part of the same group as the two others.

 At the beginning Seok-Ryu shows up unannounced, having broken off her engagement.  Of course there is a big secret which is not revealed for awhile.

From there the viewer sees the fear of losing a best friend, mother rivalries, marital misunderstandings and a secondary romance with lots of surprises.  The humans display a wide range of emotions.

Kissing is a very big deal and when one finally happens the cinematography is spectacular. 

It takes a really good cast and crew.  Here are a few.

Je Won Yu was the director.  He has 9 directing credits plus 8 credits as assistant directing including "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" (2021).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/10/hometown-cha-cha-cha-another-delightful.html

Ha Eun Shin was the writer.  She had aspired to be a poet.  She has 5 writing credits, also including "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" (2021).

Lim Ha-young was responsible for the music.  Ha-young has music credits including "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" (2021) and "Twenty-five Twenty-one" (2022).

Jung Hae-in played Choi Seung-hyo, the leading male.  He has 25 acting credits including "Something in the Rain" (2018), "Tune in For Love" (2019) and "D.P." (2021).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/04/dp-stands-for-deserter-pursuit.html  

Jung So-min played Bae Seok-ryoo  the leading lady.  She has 25 acting credits including "Because This is My First Life" (2027)

Kim Ji-eun played Jung Mo-eum, a paramedic and a female secondary romantic interest.  She has 15 acting credits.

Yoon Ji-on plays Kang Dan-ho, a reporter and a male secondary romantic interest.  He has 15 acting credits including "You Are My Spring" (2021).

Han Joon-Woo played Song Hyeon-jun, the very likeable former fiance.  He has 9 acting credits including "Hyena" (2020) and "Agency" (2023).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2023/06/agency.html

Jun Suk-ho plays Yoon Myeong-won, Seung-hyo's boss .  He has 30 acting credits including ""Hyena" (2020).

Seo Ji Hye plays Jang Tae-hui, an earlier romantic inteerst for Seung-hyo.  She has 32 acting credits including "Crash Landing on You" (2019).  See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/02/crash-landing-on-you-very-addicting.html

Lee Seung-joon played Choi Kyeong-jong father to Seung-hyo  He has 44 acting cresits including "Behind Your Touch" (2023), "Castaway Diva" (2023) and "Doctor Slump" (2024).   See  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/03/doctor-slump.html

Park Ji-young, plays Na Mi-sook, She has 55 acting credits including "The Housemaid" (2010), "Little Women" (2022) and "The Roundup" (2022). See http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2024/06/little-women-korean-version.html

Jo Han-chul played Bae Geun-sik, father to Seok Ryoo.  He has 66 acting credits including "Vincenzo" (2021) and "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" (2021)

Jang Young-nam played Seo Hye-sook, mother for Seok Ryoo.  She has extensive theatre experience.  She has 77 film acting credits including "A Werwolf Boy" (2012). 

"Love Next Door" follows in the tradition of Korean romance series, but will provide a few surprises and viewers will be drawn to some of the inter-twining side stories.  Available subtitled on Netflix.

As usual I have bolded the first mention of films I have seen.  They are not necessarily a recommendation, but generally I found them worthy of my time.  If you follow the links you should be able to determine if a particular film is worth following up.

It's Okay Not to be Okay

I am not sure where the phrase comes from, but the Koreans latched onto it and turned it to a very popular tv series.  In the romance category "It's Okay Not to be Okay" was a winner across Asia, including Australia and seems to have had an impact in North and South America.  The New York Times declared it one of the best international shows.  It is lauded as a "Healing film." The core of the series is the development of a threesome.  Korean fashion designers did well off the dresses and jewelry of the female lead.

It is modeled as a romance, but set in a psychiatric hospital.  The leading male is a psych ward caretaker.  The leading lady is an anti social children's book author.  An autistic older brother is a key character.  A female psych nurse who spent a significant part of her youth with the other three is tied into a love triangle.  There is a mystery that slowly unravels and relationships that develop and intertwine with others.  The supporting cast is well developed.  

Sex is underlying in almost all films, but in Korea there is a television code that only allows suggestive sex, not actually simulated or nudity.  It is charming as the viewer can easily imagine the sexual tension that is eventually released with a kiss and even lying in bed together.  It is danced around in this series in a delightful manner.  If you crave nudity and more simulated sex you had better avoid Korean tv. dramas, but might be surprised by Korean movies.  But if you crave romance and all the tensions involved this will be very engaging for you.

Animation is well used.  Flashbacks from different perspectives advance the story and understanding.    They also like to substitute a younger version on one actor in action with a current actor so the viewer cqn appreciate the signficance. 

Jo Yong with only her second script based it on her own love story with a man with a personality disorder.  She acknowledges she didn't handle it well.  She studied autism through talking to siblings of autistic children.   From the series she has been encouraged by Park Shin Woo, the director and the illustrator Jam San to publish five books that were used for the script. 

Park Shin Woo, director had now done nine television series.

Nam Hye-Seung, composer and musical director took a music degree from Yonsei University.  She has been very prolific with films including one of my favorites "Crash Landing on You" (2019).  Read more; http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/02/crash-landing-on-you-very-addicting.html 

Kim Soo-Hyun plays the psyche ward caretaker.  At the beginning he did not seem like a typical male lead (too youthful and leaden), but as the series progressed one could appreciate his versatility and understand his enormous popularity.  His role called for a emotionally depleted younger brother of an autistic man.  He has won numerous Korean awards and is popular all over east Asia.  Some of his films include, "The Thieves" (2012), "Miss Granny" (2014) and a cameo with "Crash Landing on You" (2019).   He came to this film after his obligatory military service. 

Seo Ye-Ji plays the children's book author and frankly she plays a bitch in some ways right up to the end.  But she is glamorous and also shows a wide range of acting.  She has appeared in numerous tv. series since 2013 plus a few movies including "The Throne" (2015).

Oh Jeong-Se plays the autistic older brother and is very key.  Has appeared in "Swing Kids" (2018) for which he won a best supporting actor award.  He has been in films since 2003.  In "It's Okay Not to Be Okay" he describes himself as younger than he looks.

Park Gyuyoung plays the nice girl who you root for and completes the foursome that are inter acting with one another.

Kim Mi-Kyung plays the mother of the nice girl and manages to advise and console almost all of the other characters.  Been in many television series and movies including "Secret Sunshine" (2007).    

Kim-Joo Heon plays the publisher who starts out as the boss bribing people to protect the book author but becomes more likable towards the end of the series.  He has appeared in numerous tv. series and films including "Train to Busan" (2016). 

Jang Young-Nam plays the head nurse at the psychiatric hospital and perhaps provides the biggest character range of any.  Keep a close view.  She has won several awards including for "A Werewolf Boy" (2012).

Kang Ki-Doong played the friend who also grew up in the same town and operated a small restaurant.. 

I have now seen over ten Korean tv. series and can recognize patterns, but also have seen a lot of unique ideas.  They are addicting.  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2020/04/an-addiction-to-korean-tv-mini-series.html

As usual I have bolded movies I have seen and would add they are all worth watching. 

A more recently viewed series:  http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2021/04/heavens-garden-cheonsangui-hwawon.html