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Love in the Big City – A Journey of Growth and Acceptance
While Love in the Big City revolves around both leads, my attention was drawn more toward the female lead (FL) and her personal journey. She is an optimistic, easy-going person who falls in love easily but also gets hurt multiple times throughout the movie. Her biggest flaw is her poor taste in men—she tends to attract and fall for the wrong people. Yet, step by step, she learns and improves, becoming more honest with herself and her emotions.In her first relationship, she liked a man simply because he liked her, showing how easily flattered and naïve she was. She isn’t calculative, which makes her an easy target for men who take advantage of her innocent nature. However, the film beautifully portrays how love isn’t about adjusting to others but about being accepted for who you truly are.
By her third attempt at love, she starts dating a co-worker who genuinely understands and accepts her. Unlike her second boyfriend, the lawyer, who was possessive and obsessive, her new partner trusted her and her friendship with the male lead (ML). The lawyer’s reaction, while aggressive and wrong, was somewhat understandable—he discovered his girlfriend was living with another man and was only later told that ML was gay. His trust issues were expected, though his violent behavior was inexcusable.
Her first boyfriend, however, was truly awful—someone who used her due to the image she had in college. The film highlights how both leads struggle to fit into societal norms—ML hiding his sexuality and FL being judged for her free-spirited, carefree attitude. Their unconventional living arrangement only fuels the judgment they face.
What makes Love in the Big City brilliant is its realistic portrayal of relationships, personal growth, and societal expectations. KIM GO EUN delivers an exceptional performance, bringing depth and authenticity to her character. She makes FL’s journey of self-discovery and emotional maturity incredibly compelling to watch.
A must-watch for those who appreciate character-driven storytelling and heartfelt performances!
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A COMFORT QUEER FILM THAT FEELS REAL
Love in the Big City captures the messy, beautiful, and painfully real side of growing up, loving freely, and holding on to the people who truly understands you. The two bestfriends, Jae Hee and Hong Su, whose bond feels so genuine that it mad me a little jealous of their friendship.Jae Hee is vibrant and strong willed yet deeply vulnerable underneath. Hong Su, on the other hand, is calm, gentle, and quietly emotional. The contrast between them makes their connection feel even more special.
Their chemistry feels effortlessly real, it's not over the top kind, but the subtle, comforting kind that say "you get me". Watching them share moments, fight, laugh, and support each other made the story heartfelt and personal.
I love how realistic the story feels, showing love, friendship, and queerness in a way that doesn't feel forced and idealized. It's honest and comforting.
And I have to mention the soundtrack, it's perfect. Overall, this is a comfort queer film that's easy to love.
Plot 8/10
Acting and Characters 9/10
Cinematography 8.5/10
Writing 8.5/10
Pacing 9/10
OST/Score 10/10
Overall 9/10
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ME ENCANTO DE INICIO A FIN!
Vi varios clips en tik tok y tenia tantas ganas de ver la película para saber porque tanto hype 👀Me pareció atrevido el modo en que hicieron una historia de este tema siendo que sabemos que la sociedad Kr. no tiene avanzando del todo el ser gay abiertamente, los actores que salen al ser reconocidos hace que el peso del mensaje sea mucho mas alcanzable que si no lo fueran me encantó que ahora se atrevan a tomar estos papeles y que es parte de la sociedad igualmente 😊
AMO LA DINAMICA DE AMISTAD de ellos es tan REAL y bella que me quedo con ese mensaje muchas veces se habla del AMOR de pareja pero el AMOR de amigos es igualmente AMOR ☝️☝️☝️... en todas sus facetas y el mas incondicional que puedas tener si tienes una amistad como la de ellos.
Los amigos son la familia que uno elige y los lazos son tan fuertes cómo los mismo de sangre...
SUPER RECOMENDADA💯💯💯💯💯 al final ver cómo una amistad madura junto con ellos en todas las etapas de la vida de un adulto joven me parece tan adecuado que la volveria a ver sin dudarlo, los que tenemos la dicha que tener este tipo de amistades creo que van a amar esta pelicula tanto como lo hice yo.
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This review may contain spoilers
One of the most beautiful queer friendship movie,
Everything about this movie was amazing. From the cinematography to the acting and story. Every scene is extremely strong. As a gay man myself I feel like Heung Su is extremely relatable and well portrayed, unlike many Korean 'bl's'. It's realistic, with actual representation and homophobia. I didn't know what to expect at first, but you know a show is good when Primary is the composer. This is my first time watching a movie that Lee Eon Hee has directed but I'm for sure tempted to watch more of her work.The opening scene was extremely strong, just like many other scene's. Their friendships had up and downs, just like every realistic friendship. I really like how Koo Jae Hui was protective over Jang Heung and how she did not let any homophobia slide. They clearly cared about each other without romantic feelings attached. When they fight, they make up and come together again. I really need a friendship like this.
One main problem I have with Korean queer movies/series is how unrealistic it is compared to the reality in Korea. Korea is not the most LGBTQ friendly country and I liked how this movie showed the reality instead. I don't like how the homophobia topic is often ignored, and this show just showed it amazing. I also like how they made Koo Jae have realistic experiences as a female. How she is being called a sl/t for sleeping with men for example.
I'm extremely shocked by the acting. Everything feels real, relatable and I really lived along with Jang Heung. I feel like he acted amazing. Whether Steve Noh is straight or not doesn't matter. Either way he portrayed being gay extremely well. As for Kim Go Eun, she acted extremely well aswell. I love how she played the crazy friend. I'm gonna be honest but I wasn't super interested in her love life since she always ended up with red flags and honestly, I'm surprised Jang Heung was able to keep up with her, because I wouldn't. The homophobic mother being extremely absent was also a nice detail.
The whole French made my rating drop a bit because, as someone who is half French, this was extremely weird. Like sure Jae Hui has lived in Paris but the stereotypes were kinda crazy. I would've loved if they had chosen another city and less stereotypes. Also the French is a bit weird to listen to but that's okay. Calling her French because she lived in France made it confusing for me in the beginning.
I like how the movie had an open ending. You can make whatever you want to with it. I'm defiantly interested in seeing the actors and directors in/with other projects involved and I'm just extremely impressed. Just really happy about the actual representation and not just what the media shows you about Korea.
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A woke movie
i though this would be a good movie, but it turned out to be a woke story of a mentally deranged slut and a gay justifying their actions. I guess now i know why this has such a high rating: aggressive push by the gay and woke community.i though this would be a good movie, but it turned out to be a woke story of a mentally deranged slut and a gay justifying their actions. I guess now i know why this has such a high rating: aggressive push by the gay and woke community.
i though this would be a good movie, but it turned out to be a woke story of a mentally deranged slut and a gay justifying their actions. I guess now i know why this has such a high rating: aggressive push by the gay and woke community.
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This is a love story—a love that doesn’t always need romance to be meaningful.
A friendship that feels like home. Nothing loud or dramatic, just steady and real. Almost love? No… I think it is real love.
One true best friend is all you really need… but what are the odds of ever finding one?
Probably not great—but that’s kind of the point. Finding a friend like that—the kind built on trust and loyalty, who understands you fully and chooses you consistently—is rare, but not impossible. Heung Soo and Jae Hee make it feel possible.
They’ve been through ups and downs, both literally and figuratively, yet they still choose to be each other’s confidants. Who and what they are to each other feels so powerful—it exists in that in-between space where labels don’t fully capture it.
Most love stories come with “I love yous” and “I dos,” but this one had neither—yet it’s still one of the greatest I’ve ever seen. And for the record, it’s my favorite. What Heung Soo and Jae Hee have is a kind of platonic love—a love that doesn’t need romance to be profound—and it’s something to be envied.
I know the movie wasn’t marketed as a love story, but that’s what I felt throughout—it quietly screams true love in another form. Because of that, I had to write my first review. This film made me do it, lol.
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Unconditional friendship.
The best thing there is, unconditional friendship. I may call myself lucky to have several of this kind of friends.A story about a gay guy and a girl who encouter in life en become best friends for life.
It's beautiful, funny and a bit sad.
The visuals and music are good.
The actors are amazing and great dynamics between the leads.
Definatly a must watch!
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This review may contain spoilers
An absolute gem! “How can being yourself possibly be a weakness?”
What an incredible cinematic surprise! Love in the Big City exceeded all my expectations with its excellent screenplay, direction, performances, and beautifully developed story. Engaging and fast-paced, full of life and humour, it explores difficult social issues without ever losing its warmth or becoming unnecessarily heavy. The narrative feels rich and purposeful, with a natural flow that keeps you invested in the characters and their journey.
Through two people who face different forms of social prejudice, the film explores the freedom to live authentically: his right to be himself as a gay man, and her right to explore her sexuality and make her own choices without being judged. Both challenge society’s expectations in their own ways, revealing the emotional cost of having to hide who you are simply to be accepted.
“How can being yourself possibly be a weakness?”
This question captures the heart of the film. Being yourself should never be something to apologise for. Freedom, self-acceptance, and the ability to live without fear of judgment are essential to our psychological well-being. The film conveys this message not through preaching, but through the characters’ experiences and, above all, their friendship.
Their relationship is beautifully portrayed: intimate, imperfect, full of life, and deeply meaningful without needing to become romantic. It shows how precious it is to have someone who accepts you as you are, stands beside you, and gives you the freedom to be yourself. Interestingly, the opening scene, with the two of them dressed as bride and groom and their matching initial tattoos, even made me wonder whether they might eventually fall in love!
What impressed me most was how naturally the film balances substance with entertainment. The writing, direction, and performances work together to create an authentic, emotionally engaging story that never sacrifices its rhythm or humour. A wonderful reminder that love takes many forms, and that the freedom to be ourselves is priceless.
A truly authentic and thoroughly enjoyable crafted film with substance, heart, and a wonderful sense of rhythm. It challenges social expectations without sacrificing its entertainment value, with excellent storytelling, leaving you with a powerful reminder that the freedom to be yourself is priceless. An absolute gem and a well-deserved 10/10!
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A Story That Understands What We Don’t Say About Friendship
I really loved this movie, and what stayed with me the most is how real it felt. The female lead is beautifully written, not perfect, not always easy but deeply human. She makes mistakes, she feels things intensely and she moves through life in a way that feels honest rather than polished. That’s what made me connect with her so much.What truly touched me, though, was the relationship at the center of the story. It felt genuine in a quiet, almost familiar way.
I’ve always believed that friendship breakups can hurt even more than romantic ones and this film captures that feeling with so much care. It hit something very personal for me, especially since I haven’t always been lucky when it comes to friendships. Watching it felt comforting and a little painful at the same time like it understood something I’ve never really been able to put into words.
I also loved how grounded everything was especially the ending. It didn’t try to force anything dramatic or overly neat. It just let things exist as they are, and that made it feel even more sincere.
It’s a beautiful film that touches on so many things without ever going too far in one direction, not too heavy, not too light, just the right amount.
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Watching for the Queer Narrative
Based on the celebrated novel by Park Sang-young, the Korean cinematic version of Love in the Big City (2024) is a refreshing, modern look at youth and urban life in Seoul. To be completely honest, my main motivation for hitting play on this movie was purely to follow the gay protagonist and see how South Korean cinema handles a prominent queer storyline. While the film balances a unique platonic friendship, it is the struggles, hidden life, and emotional journey of the gay lead that completely anchor the experience and make it a highly rewarding 8/10 watch.The absolute standout element of the film is Jang Heung-soo (played beautifully by Noh Sang-hyun), a closeted university student trying to survive in a deeply conservative society. The movie shines when it explores his perspective—the anxiety of keeping his identity a secret from his mother, the dual life he leads in the clubs at night versus campus by day, and the exhausting effort it takes to stay hidden. His vulnerability, quiet loneliness, and gradual steps toward self-acceptance provide the strongest emotional beats of the entire narrative. Watching his character navigate love, heartbreak, and identity is incredibly moving and rings profoundly true.While the queer storyline is the main attraction, it is beautifully complemented by Heung-soo’s relationship with his chaotic, free-spirited roommate, Jae-hee (Kim Go-eun). After she accidentally discovers his secret, instead of judging him, she becomes his ultimate confidante and shield against rumors. Their dynamic is refreshing because it never forces a fake romance between them. Instead, they act as each other's platonic soulmates through their 20s and early 30s. Having that fierce female ally by his side makes Heung-soo’s journey feel less tragic and gives the film a warm, comforting tone.Ultimately, Love in the Big City earns a solid 8/10. If you tune in strictly for the gay representation, you will find a highly respectful, realistic, and touching portrayal that avoids cheap stereotypes or forced drama. Steve Noh delivers a stellar performance that carries the emotional weight of the film effortlessly. It is a beautiful, slice-of-life comedy-drama that proves why queer narratives in mainstream Korean media are becoming absolutely unmissable.Was this review helpful to you?
tackles social issues in such a beautiful way
you can actually feel the struggle of the characters in an intimate way. their friendship is everything, you see how they grow as people, how they nurture and support each other. I felt like I watched years of their lives when it's only been 2 hours. I especially love how each character is representative of the deeper societal issues within Korea. I wish this was a longer series. though there is one, it doesn't meet the standards of the movie. please watch it. it's perfect. I will always come back to this movie I love it so muchWas this review helpful to you?
Best Friendship relationship
This series is basically best friends relationship, like ML being gay and he think he is wierd and FL being supportive. I almost hated it when they when separated but I happy when they met. This is worth of watchWas this review helpful to you?
