Park Se-ri, the teen lead character from the Netflix Korean romantic comedy “Love Untangled” portrayed by Shin Eun-soo from “Light Shop”, strongly believes that her curly hair is the root of all her romantic difficulties. She dreams of having straight, glossy hair like her twin sister Hye-ri, as she thinks it would land her a loving boyfriend, particularly high school heartthrob Kim Hyun (Cha Woo-min from “Melo Movie”). If only that were the case, her life would become perfectly organized.
In a new development, Se-ri’s determination to straighten her hair and turn her life around receives an unexpected boost when Han Yun-seok, played by Gong Myung from “Mercy For None,” arrives as a quiet, seemingly non-career-oriented transfer student from Seoul. Interestingly, his mother, Baek Jang-mi, is a hair stylist. With Jang-mi offering to provide Se-ri with the famous “Seoul magical straightening treatment” free of charge in exchange for assisting Yun-seok, who’s injured his foot, in moving around, the two begin spending more time together and their bond grows stronger. The question remains whether Se-ri will remain loyal to confessing her feelings to Kim Hyun or if Yun-seok has captured her heart instead.
Although Korea is widely recognized for its romantic comedy series, the film “Love Untangled,” currently streaming on Netflix, stands out as a less common, humorous Korean-language movie that receives global distribution. In contrast to cinema from East Asia, South Korea is more commonly associated with violent revenge dramas like Park Chan-wook’s “Old Boy” or thought-provoking class critiques such as Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite.
Director Sun Namkoong explains to TIME that Korean romantic comedies in television dramas are famed for their extravagant and unashamed romanticism, as well as fantasy aspects. He suggests that perhaps due to film being a more formal medium, there’s less space for the exaggerated emotional responses typical of Korean rom-coms compared to their counterparts in the West.
Netflix has been releasing an increasing number of Korean romantic features, but so far, the most successful may be the 2022 release “20th Century Girl.” Unlike typical rom-coms, this film does not end on a happy note. Now, a new movie called “Love Untangled,” set in the ’90s and focusing on teenage romance, could potentially offer some healing from the emotional impact of “20th Century Girl.” Let’s delve into its ending to see if it provides solace.
Park Se-ri straightens her hair, and realizes she doesn’t love Kim Hyun
Se-ri’s romantic dilemmas aren’t primarily linked to her hair style being curly or not, but rather they stem from her personal beliefs about what love entails. When Yun-seok expresses his fondness for Se-ri’s voluminous, frizzy hair, it makes her think about how she doesn’t feel compelled to alter herself in his presence. With Yun-seok, Se-ri experiences a sense of being appreciated for who she truly is: a woman who loves manhwa, has voluminous, frizzy hair, and strives hard for the people she values deeply.
Even so, Se-ri undergoes the enchanting hair-straightening process, and it suits her wonderfully! Her peers take notice, and appear to generally appreciate the change. With her freshly straightened hair, Se-ri prepares everything to express her feelings to Kim Hyun during their school trip overnight.
High school trips play a significant role in shaping the overall high school experience, according to Sun, as portrayed in the movie ‘Love Untangled’. These trips often involve gatherings around a campfire for communal singing sessions. One popular song during these events is ‘Sarang-eu-ro (With Love / 사랑으로)’ by the folk group ‘Hae-ba-ra-gi’, which is featured in our film, as it can be sung repeatedly without ending.
As everyone else sings by the campfire, Se-ri’s friends assist her in preparing a secluded, candlelit spot in the forest for her to confess her love to Kim Hyun. A disappointed Yun-seok helps with the preparations reluctantly, choosing instead to stay away from the woods and observe the confession from afar. However, when the moment arrives, Se-ri finds it difficult to go through with her feelings. She acknowledges to herself and Hyun that she harbors affection for someone else, and they part ways amicably.
Sun explains that the film’s core themes revolve around the experiences associated with growing up or transition phases in life. She shares a fondness for American teen movies such as “The Breakfast Club,” “Clueless,” and “Mean Girls.” Additionally, she draws inspiration from films created by directors like Gus Van Sant (USA), Sōmai Shinji (Japan), and Edward Yang (Taiwan) in the art-house genre for her work.
In the novel “Love Untangled”, Sun employs the structure of a teen romantic comedy to narrate a tale that is both universally relatable and uniquely Korean. She explains, “The adolescent years are marked by extreme self-consciousness, often centered around physical appearance, particularly for girls.” She adds, “Korean school culture places an unusual amount of pressure on individuals to conform visually, which makes Se-ri’s preoccupation with her own curly hair understandable.” Though everyone else in the story likely sees no issue with Se-ri’s curls, we can empathize with her struggle to accept aspects of herself she cannot change.
Se-ri generally keeps silent about her freshly acknowledged feelings towards Yun-seok, as she is deeply engrossed in preparing for her CSATs, the exams crucial for every student’s future in Korea. However, while they are in her father’s manhwa hideout, she shares with him that she isn’t involved romantically with Kim Hyun. This information gives Yun-seok a glimmer of hope and an opportunity. Drawing inspiration from Se-ri’s “grand love confession” approach, he decides to plan a thoughtful gesture to celebrate her CSAT day.
Yun-seok expresses his feelings for Se-ri
In Korea, the CSAT day is considered a significant and highly anticipated event due to the considerable educational pressure within the culture. As Sun explains, “This test was essentially the most crucial aspect of our high school experience because of our cultural emphasis on education.” Historically, an entire academic year was often focused on preparing for this test, particularly in 1998. At testing sites, there were enthusiastic cheerleaders supporting the senior students, and everyone felt anxious about the outcome.
To ensure the all-day test’s significance for Korean youth isn’t disrupted, nearby communities will temporarily halt construction or close businesses to reduce potential disturbances. During a 25-minute window specifically during the English-listening section of the test, commercial and military aircraft are grounded due to concerns that their engine noise might distract test-takers. On this day, families and loved ones will bring students to the test site in the morning and wait for them at the end, often with gifts like flowers to celebrate their efforts.
In the story “Love Untangled”, Se-ri asks Yun-seok to locate the largest piece of a special Korean candy called ‘yeot’ for the upcoming test. This candy is regarded as a symbol of good fortune, particularly for the CSAT. On the eve of the test, Yun-seok presents Se-ri with a life-sized yeot as a gift. The following day, Yun-seok decides to don a giant teddy bear costume and surprises Se-ri at the entrance of the exam hall with gifts, including one of her favorite snow globes. He sends his well wishes for luck and expresses his affection towards her.
The next day, Yun-seok and Se-ri take a stroll along the beach where they initially crossed paths. Yun-seok shares that on the day Se-ri rescued him from the water, he was deeply depressed and contemplating the idea of drowning. However, Se-ri’s vibrant spirit captivated him, and since then, it has been consistently lifting his spirits. He confessed his feelings for Se-ri, revealing that he has kept her school name tag all this time. Although Se-ri doesn’t reciprocate openly, they walk hand in hand back to her house. They exchange a goodnight kiss and arrange their first date together.
Yun-seok’s family situation causes estrangement
Initially, when Gong Myung transfers to Busan, the other students only know him as someone from Seoul and someone not planning to take the CSAT. They speculate that he might be a troublemaker, thinking he doesn’t care about his future. However, as the story unfolds, it is revealed through conversations overheard by Se-ri that Yun-seok’s father, who is a prominent doctor in Seoul, mistreats his family. This forces Yun-seok and Jang-mi to move to Busan for safety, and he opts out of the CSAT due to stress. Sun, who was responsible for casting the role, notes that Gong Myung’s usual bright and innocent image hinted at a weariness suitable for portraying the melancholic transfer student.
Se-ri has a special plan to express her feelings to Yun-seok during their first official date, which involves a romantic setup on the beach. Her friends pitch in by arranging sparklers and balloons, and even choreograph a surprise announcement dance. However, before they reach the scene, Yun-seok receives an urgent call that his mother has been admitted to a hospital in Seoul. He rushes to check on her, but upon arrival, finds his father dominating the hospital room. It seems that Yun-seok’s father may have inflicted harm on his mother. His intention is to regain control over both of them.
As a devoted movie enthusiast, I found myself embarking on an unexpected journey when Se-ri’s heart pounded with worry after days of silence from Yun-seok. Driven by concern, I set off for the bustling city of Seoul in search of him. My footsteps led me to a hospital room where Jang-mi was recuperating, and there, I overheard a heart-wrenching conversation between Yun-seok and his mother, filled with tears and longing.
The suggestion of a fresh start in America came from Jang-mi’s aunt as an escape route from the shadows cast by Yun-seok’s father. However, in a surprising turn, Yun-seok expressed his desire to return to their life in Busan instead of venturing into the unknown.
In an attempt to simplify his decision and prioritize their safety, I made a painful choice. Knowing that America would provide a sanctuary for them both, I hastily departed the hospital and purchased a train ticket back to our shared home in Busan, without exchanging any words with them.
In a series of attempts, Se-ri leaves two voicemails for Yun-soek. On the first try, instead of expressing her breakup intentions, she expresses her missed feelings towards him. She hangs up without checking if the message was saved correctly. Thinking it wasn’t, she calls again and this time conveys that she feels they work better as friends. Unaware to Se-ri, the initial voicemail did get through, allowing Yun-soek to hear her heartfelt confession. However, the two won’t meet or communicate for a while following these events.
Upon Yun-seok’s departure from Busan, Se-ri stumbles upon a declaration of love hidden amongst her father’s comic books. Yun-seok, in an affectionate gesture, compiled a scrapbook showcasing things Se-ri cherishes. This book features snapshots of their shared memories, captured on the disposable camera provided by Se-ri’s father. The title of the book, “Chronicles of Love,” sets the tone for Yun-seok’s heartfelt confession within it: “Se-ri, you saved me from a difficult time and my aspirations. I am deeply grateful for that. Your name, which I clung to in my hand, is now etched into my heart and can never be washed away. I am so fortunate to have met you on that windy day. I love you, Park Se-ri.” Upon reading it, she finds herself moved to tears.
The Love Untangled time jump
In approximately a year’s time, Se-ri can be found studying in the Marine Sports Department of a nearby college. Sun hints at this as the “imminent future.” Se-ri is thriving in her new environment, practicing swimming in the college pool and reuniting with her high school friends at a local cafe after her classes. Despite her success, she yearns for Yun-seok. Faced with encouragement from her companions to attend a blind date the next day, Se-ri hesitantly concedes.
The Gong Yoo and Jung Yu-mi Busan cafe cameo
Longtime fans of Korean dramas would likely recognize seasoned actors Gong Yoo (from ‘Squid Game’) and Jung Yu-mi (‘Wonderland’) as the couple operating a seaside cafe in the later stages of ‘Love Untangled’. Sun remarked that it was extremely thoughtful of them to take on these roles, supporting us. Our younger cast members were overjoyed to have their idols present on set.
Previously, actors Gong Yoo and Jung Yu-mi have shared the screen together in the film adaptation of “Kim Ji-young, Born 1982”, produced by Bombaram Film (also known as Spring Wind Film), as well as in “Silenced” from 2011 and the Hallyu success “Train to Busan” from 2016. According to Sun, these two actors, who hail from Busan, have played romantic couples on screen multiple times, which is why we decided it would be charming to include them in a love story set in Busan.
Sun ensured the cityscape of Busan was seamlessly woven into the movie. By primarily casting actors who were born in Busan, she filled the film with authentic and harmonious dialect from the region. Moreover, they filmed at locations showcasing the old-world charm of Busan before modern skyscrapers dominated, such as the Gwangandegyo Bridge (which was still under construction during filming) and the local Gwangalli beach. Great care was taken to preserve the authentic feel of this setting.
Does Love Untangled have a happy ending?
For anyone who may be left distraught by the conclusion of 20th Century Girl, take heart. The series Love Untangled concludes on a joyous note, as Sun explains: “It’s somewhat like a fairy tale ending in its own way.” As Se-ri finishes college, she embraces her natural curls and recognizes her strengths, yet there’s an emptiness in her heart. The discovery of the notebook signifies the closing of a significant phase in her life.
Despite initially attending the arranged date set by friends, Se-ri finds herself unable to continue. The location of the meeting – the same beach where she had intended to confess her love to Yun-seok – holds too much emotional weight for her. Instead, she goes to the beach and receives a call. This call turns out to be from her blind date, who surprisingly reveals himself as Yun-seok. He has returned and wishes to reconnect with Se-ri. He informs her that he listened to her first voicemail, and he has been aware all along that she harbors feelings for him.
He explains to Se-ri that he’s been continuously paying for his pager service because he didn’t want to lose her number, suggesting he’s been in the U.S., as pagers might not function there. Both of them have maintained a connection even when apart. Yun-seok presents Se-ri with a large jar filled with origami crane eggs, reminiscent of the ones they folded together during the time when he was supposed to confess his feelings to Kim Hyun. Yun-seok shares that he made one each time he thought about her, and then asks if she’ll be his girlfriend. Overwhelmed, Se-ri agrees. “At last,” she cries, in Yun-seok’s arms. Her friends who had been observing nearby join to celebrate with them.
In her interview with TIME, Sun explained that initially, the time jump in the story was considerably longer. She said, “In the original draft, they would have met much further into the future as adults, following the typical format of Asian dramas.” However, she decided against making them wait that long because she wanted to provide a genuine opportunity for them to be together if they were to meet again. She added that she aimed to offer viewers a refreshing change and a traditional ending, since reality can often be harsh enough.
In the last scene of the movie, Se-ri and Yun-seok are found cozily seated on the couch in their comic book hideout, playfully quarreling over slices of tangerines as they flip through comics. When asked about what she hopes viewers will derive from the film “Love Untangled“, Sun shares, “I was initially seeking a touch of happiness when I received the script for this movie.
Initially, it seemed odd, she goes on to say, but before long, I was chuckling over my past recollections. Surprisingly, it brightened my spirits in this somber existence. The movie primarily revolves around joy, the treasured instances with individuals who accept each other for who they truly are. I fervently hope the audience can experience and recall that joy, preferably in the company of friends and loved ones. Remember, it’s a Netflix production!
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2025-08-30 00:07