One of the hottest topics of discussion currently in the Korean entertainment industry is the name Love in the Big City. A movie and a drama adaptation from a novel of the same name by author Park Sang Young are soon to be released and the anticipation for both these versions is high amongst the fans. Nam Yoon Su, whom we have loved in dramas like Extracurricular and Queen’s Affection, will be donning a new avatar as a queer man named Go Young in this drama adaptation. Joining him are Jin Ho Eun and Lee Soo Kyung. The movie version will see Kim Go Eun of Goblin and Soundtrack #2 and Pachinko fame alongside Steve Noh aka Noh Sang Hyun.
Love In The Big City: Explaining how Kim Go Eun – Steve Noh starrer is connected to Nam Yoon Su’s K-drama; promises exploration of love and queer identity
MOVIE ADAPTATION
Love in the Big City follows two friends as they navigate love, life, and everything in between in the city of Seoul. In the movie, Kim Go Eun and Noh Sang Hyun play the lead roles as Jae Hee and Heung Soo respectively. Jae Hee is a spirited woman with a daring attitude who often finds herself the hot topic of scandalous rumours. Heong Soo is a closeted gay man who wants to keep his sexuality a secret but one day she finds out. The two soon move in together and navigate their life in the city. Based on the acclaimed novel, the film offers a relatable and accessible portrayal of the challenges faced by young people navigating love, identity, and self-discovery in a fast-paced city. The film is helmed by E.oni.
Love in the Big City movie had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival 2024 on September 5. It is slated for a theatrical release on October 1 in South Korea while the international release is yet to be announced. Watch the trailer for Kim Go Eun and Noh Sang Hyun starrer Love in the Big City here:
DRAMA ADAPTATION
Love in the Big City is also being adapted into a drama. The drama will focus on Go Yeong’s (played by Nam Yoon Su) love story with Gyu Ho (played by Jin Ho Eun). Go Yeong is a gay man who lives with Mi Ae (Lee Soo Kyung), his best friend and roommate. His story will be narrated through the eyes of Mi Ae. Go Yeong has to let go off Gyu Ho. Later, Go Yeong finds himself in Thailand on a vacation, reminiscing old days and growing as a person. The central idea of the drama will be navigating love and life in the city as experienced by gay men. Love in the Big City drama will be released on October 21 on TVING and will run for eight episodes.
Watch the teaser for Love in the Big City starring Nam Yoon Su here:
How are movie and drama connected?
For starters, both adaptations are based on the novel “Love in the Big City” by Park Sang Young. Both adaptations have a different cast and character list but the central idea remains the same – navigating life, exploring queer identity, and working on oneself all while living in the big bustling city of Seoul. While the movie focuses on the roommates more, the drama focuses on one particular individual and his journey as he finds love and learns how to deal with his emotions.
It is said that while the movie covers the first few chapters of the novel where the protagonist lives with Jae-hee, the drama will focus on the consequent few where he deals with some personal issues and meets Gyu Ho. The novel covers four pivotal chapters from the protagonist’s life. The drama and the movie cover two perhaps three of those sections, though the entire scope of coverage will only be revealed once we watch the adaptations.
In the novel, the protagonist and the narrator are simply named “Young”, we are not told about his full name or his childhood in detail. In the movie, the character is named Heung Soo. Perhaps the idea to name that character differently in the movie was to isolate one particular chapter and bring it to life.
Nam Yoon Su and Jin Ho Eun faced a lot of negativities for their roles in the drama. The South Korean community while seemingly progressive, is still reserved and orthodox when it comes to same-sex or queer identities and relationships. Fans poured in support of the actors and the story, justifying the need for an honest and realistic representation of the queer community in mainstream media.
Through the movie and the drama, we will get to see a narrative that delves into the complexities of a post-modernist queer man as he comes to terms with his reality, gets in touch with his emotions, and figures out the next step in his life. The month of October carries answers to all our curious questions and expectations regarding Love in the Big City.
Also Read: Kim Go Eun and Noh Sang Hyun explore modern romance in Seoul in Love in the Big City teaser; to premiere at TIFF on September 13
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