Did You Know? 🎬☀️
Our Beloved Summer is basically a walking, talking film festival. Almost every single episode sneaks in a reference to a famous or fan-favorite movie. Let’s take a fun (and informative) stroll through all those cinematic Easter eggs—popcorn optional.

Episode 1: I Know What You Did Last Summer
The 1997 crime/horror film I Know What You Did Last Summer follows four friends who get into an accident while returning from a trip. Instead of taking the injured person to the hospital, they hide the incident by dumping the body into a ravine. Much later, strange things begin to happen in their lives—events clearly linked to that buried accident.
Similarly, in the drama, a documentary filmed 10 years ago suddenly goes viral, bringing Ung and Yeon-su—who broke up 5 years ago—face to face once again.

Episode 2: 1791 Days of Summer
This episode references the 2009 romantic film 500 Days of Summer. The core message of the movie is simple: your happiness should never depend on another person. Tom’s entire world revolves around Summer, so when she leaves, he completely loses himself.
In the drama, we see the same pattern—Ung’s life falls apart after Yeon-su leaves.

Episode 3: 10 Things I Hate About You
The 1999 teen comedy 10 Things I Hate About You ends with Kat confessing that she hates Patrick for many reasons—but still loves him.
Likewise, Ung lists ten reasons why he hates Yeon-su, yet somehow, despite everything, still loves her.

Episode 4: The Boy, or the Girl, We Liked Then
This episode references the Taiwanese film You Are the Apple of My Eye (2011), based on the Japanese manga Na Xie Nian, Wo Men Yi Qi Zhui De Nu Hai by Giddens Ko. The story shows the class’s most foolish boy falling in love with the smartest girl.
The drama mirrors this perfectly: the most serious girl falls for the most whimsical boy.

Episode 5: A Secret That Can’t Be Told
A reference to the 2007 Taiwanese film Secret (also known as A Secret That Can’t Be Told), which tells an impossible love story where the male lead falls for a mysterious girl he cannot speak about to anyone.
Here, Ji-ung falls in love with his friend’s girlfriend but chooses to suppress his feelings for the sake of friendship.
Note: This film is remade in Korea, starring EXO’s D.O. in the lead role, titled Secret: Untold Melody.

Episode 6: Pride and Prejudice
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, translated into countless languages and adapted multiple times, portrays a love story divided by social class—where social norms prevent the lovers from being together.
Yeon-su leaves Ung for the very same reason: they belong to different social worlds.

Episode 7: Catch Me If You Can
The 2002 Leonardo DiCaprio–Tom Hanks classic Catch Me If You Can is a never-ending game of chase, where no one ever truly catches the other.
Ung and Yeon-su almost confess that they still haven’t forgotten each other—but to avoid peak embarrassment, both of them literally run away from the shoot.

Episode 8: Before Sunset
The second installment of the Before trilogy, Before Sunset (2004), shows Jesse and Céline meeting again during a trip, rekindling their old romance.
Ung and Yeon-su are practically kidnapped into a trip together, where they revisit memories of their past journey.

Episode 9: Just Friends
This episode references Ryan Reynolds’ 2005 romantic comedy Just Friends. In the film, Jamie friend-zones Chris in school because he isn’t “attractive enough.” Ten years later, they meet again and realize they’ve always loved each other.
Ung and Yeon-su decide to forget everything and remain friends.
Just friends. Sure.

Episode 10: Hello, My Soul Mate
The drama references the 2016 Chinese film Soulmate, which is being remade in Korea as Hello My Soulmate, starring Kim Da-mi—yes, the same actress from Our Beloved Summer and Itaewon Class. The movie focuses on the lifelong friendship between two women.
In the drama, the spotlight is on the friendship between Choi Ung and Ji-ung. Meanwhile, Yeon-su sees Ung with NJ and gets jealous. Very jealous.

Episode 11: Our Nights Are More Beautiful Than Your Days
This episode references the 1989 French film My Nights Are More Beautiful Than Your Days, an impossible love story between a physically disabled man and a mentally ill woman.
Ung and Yeon-su reunite. Ung finally shares the pain he has hidden all his life, and Yeon-su pulls him into a warm embrace.

Episode 12: Begin Again
In Begin Again (2013), a young singer heartbroken after being dumped meets a music producer, and together they start life anew.
Ung and Yeon-su also begin dating again—from the very beginning.

Episode 13: Love Actually
The 2003 classic Love Actually weaves together multiple stories of love and friendship.
Yeon-su starts behaving awkwardly with Ung after receiving dating advice from a coworker. Meanwhile, Assistant Director Chae-ran references Love Actually and asks Ji-ung, “What’s your ending?”

Episode 14: Life Is Beautiful
Who hasn’t watched the 1997 classic Life Is Beautiful? The film teaches us how to transform pain into joy.
Everything finally settles: Ung and Yeon-su are stable, Ji-ung and NJ find peace, and Sol-i discovers a new romance.
Life is beautiful.

Episode 15: Three Idiots
The 2009 Bollywood hit 3 Idiots, starring Aamir Khan, R. Madhavan, and Sharman Joshi, tells a story of friendship, struggle, success, and love.
The drama focuses on the personal journeys of Ung, Yeon-su, and Ji-ung. Yeon-su finally lets go of all hesitation and chooses Ung. Ung, in turn, decides to leave behind his carefree ways and become serious.

Episode 16: Our Beloved Summer
No reference this time—just itself.
A life without love is like a year without summer. In the end, everyone finds love, meaning, and warmth. Not spring. Not autumn.
Pure summer heat. ☀️❤️