Melo Movie (2025)

Melo movie

Well Park Bo Young is the main lead - of course that I would watch this. And of course I love her here - maybe not my favourite role but still really like her, a little something different, more bossy? Her character is like mix of Doom at your service (where's SIG to take cigarettes away as PBY did for him?!) and Daily dose of sunshine. Love her friendship with Cha Woo Min - he actually was a highlight of the drama.
Chemistry with Choi Woo Shik was cute - maybe more as friends to be honest but at the same time there are two kiss scenes which simply are one of my favourite from her - like Days and this have the best kisses in my opinion. Also his scene at the beginning - I need him in action like that
About second couple - hmm I was not really into it, not bad, they have a lot of good scenes - spoiler - I do think that the way they ended was pretty realistic although at the same time I think that in the future they would be friends again, maybe not lovers but still they would be close.
There were some really funny scenes but also a lot of sad, so if you think that you will not cry and it is easy to watch, then you would be dissapointed - but that is what made me like this more. The biggest problem this drama shows is miscommunication or just lack of communication.
Also visuals/colors/aesthethic of this was soo beautiful.
The only thing that bothered me a lot was how much they were smoking.
In conclusion - I am probably a little biased cause PBY is in it and since the beginning I wanted to like it, I considered if it should be 7/10 and I did not feel good with this rating, that is why it is 8/10, personally it was fun,healing and worth watching.

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Love is All You Need

I found myself quickly relating with Ko Gyeom, because much like this character, I’ve loved movies and TV shows since was about 5-6 years old. Also much like him, I vowed to watch every “Best Picture” winner ever made. I’ve come close except for the more recent films which I haven’t liked very much. Hence, more foray into K-dramas!

There may not be a genre of films and TV series that gets more appeal as well as flack than melodramas, or romantic dramas. When they are done well, they can be incredible. But, when they are done badly, they are so cliched and tiresome that you find yourself wishing you’d done something else with the time you’ve lost. In this genre, it’s the unique stories that stand out. For the bad ones, it follows a template that tends to be done to death.

Over the years, many people have grown to love movies. They can be a wonderful escape. However, too often, people get too caught up in them, wishing that their own lives were more like a movie’s. In short, people find themselves unable to sort reality from fiction.

So, why is the melodrama have such appeal? Perhaps because it provides a story with a universal theme as well as a universal desire: to love and be loved. Such is the central theme of this series as well. We have four wounded characters who are desperately trying to find love in all of the wrong places. Such is the illusion and delusion of filmmaking and movie stories. They always make you think that love and happiness lie with someone else.

Ko Gyeom is a young man whose only true connection is with his sickly, older brother Ko Jun. It’s obvious that he loves and admires his brother very much, after the two become orphaned when Gyeom is a young boy. Jun is much older than he is and views him as much as a parent as he does a sibling.

Kim Mu Bi is a young woman who grew up loving her father, who was a film actor. However, he constantly left her to go work on his film projects, and soon Mu Bi develops a tremendous resentment toward her father for always neglecting her, despite the fact that he obviously loves her. Too often, parents fail to realize that there is no substitute for their presence. “Things” cannot replace a parent. While Mu Bi still has her mother, her mother is cold and distant with her daughter. Too often being rejected and abandoned by those she loves most, Mu Bi vows not to allow anyone to get too close to her. Initially, she trusts Gyeom until he ends up leaving her unexpectedly and without explanation either.

Hong Si Jun is another young man who has a talent for composing music. Unfortunately, like so many people, he ends up trapped in the past at a time when he was happiest with his girlfriend, Son Jua, until at least she broke up with him. There is always a danger of living in the past as well as making someone else completely responsible for your happiness and well-being. He easily the most immature of the four. When Son Jua resurfaces years later asking for his help, he's cold and resentful towards her.

Finally, we have Son Jua, a young up-and-coming screenwriter who is anxious to get her script off the ground. Ironically, her script shares many of the same experiences that she had with Hong Si Jun. She, too, is much like Hong Si Jun in which she is caught up in the past. She makes the mistake of assuming that Hong Si Jun is over her.

The series is much about love, healing, and learning how to move on from past experiences. It’s easy to blame our parents for not giving us the things we feel we’re entitled to as children. Perhaps the biggest flaw in parenthood is trying to keep our children from seeing our flaws and faults. Parents are people too who often make mistakes. Children need to see and understand this. Children also need to realize that everyone is different and people are only capable of giving what they have. Quite often, those feelings are expressed in unexpected ways, which is why there is often disappointment in how those feelings are shared and expressed.

Perhaps the truest piece of wisdom comes from Hong Si Ju’s boss and he asks Hong Si Ju, “What do you think completes love?” Most people in the world would say, “Being with someone.” However, when Hong Si Ju is unable to think of anything, his boss says, “Love is already complete as is.” Of course, the path to such love is within each person, not in someone else.

The series is a fairly light one, that quite frankly, I wish had gone deeper. At only ten episodes, I would have loved to have seen it stretched to the usual sixteen. I wanted more of Gyeom and his brother as well as Mu Bi and her parents. I also found the relationship between Hong Su Ji and Son Jua more compelling and intriguing than the one between Gyeom and Mu Bi, probably because it felt more real and authentic. Two people stuck at different points in the past and trying to figure out if they can move on. Because each was each other’s first love, we can empathize with the possibility of them recapturing what they had in the past, but as we know, this too often leads to disappointment. The key to living any kind of a successful life is to learn how to be in the moment. The past can a wonderful stroll down memory lane as long we don’t get caught up in it, and only healing and forgiveness can help us let go of the past. There are two great scenes that speak to this: between Gyeom and his brother in a dream and between Mu Bi and her mother.

Performances in this series are fantastic. Choi Woo Shik is easily my favorite. He has a natural gift of facial expressions which he’s so adept at utilizing as an actor. So often, with those soulful eyes, he looks like a lost puppy. Not many actors or actresses are capable of pulling off such expressions as deftly as Choi Woo Shik.

Bo Young Park has been one of my favorites for a long time. However, acting across Choi Woo Shik, I realized that sometimes, she lacks the ability to act with her eyes, especially in scenes across from a romantic interest. If you look at many of the scenes between herself and Choi Woo Shik, it becomes all too apparent. Choi Woo Shik isn’t afraid to let himself feel and feel that connection. Bo Young Park can be too guarded sometimes.

Overall, this is a nice series. It’s enjoyable with one or more characters that you’re likely to relate to on some level.

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A ten hour movie disguised as a K-Drama

A really long, satisfying cinematic ten hour movie where one episode might break your heart and the next episode gets you choking and laughing.

Unlike other audiences who may have watched the same piece, I came in foolishly thinking it was an actual movie and expected the first episode to be the last. When the episode ended, I thought: “what the heck? This is how it ends?”

With this unique yet foolish expectation, I felt a deep sense of gratitude and desire to finish this “movie.” The high quality production was worth my continued pursuit. I was extremely grateful for the beautiful breathtaking visuals of the scenes, backgrounds: a movie within a movie but in a drama. The audience coming into this show expecting it to be a normal Korean Drama will be absolutely disappointed. This is a masterpiece 10 hour movie is what it is! Please don’t treat this as a Korean drama—it is a masterpiece artsy movie for melo lovers.

I see a lot of reviews on here talking about “realisticness” of the plots and character tendencies. As someone who has experienced many of these plots in real life, I can tell you that these types of situations and timelines do exist. People stubbornly live their life thinking they are right and believe they make the right decisions for themselves and for others. We can easily be objective when analyzing other people’s lives, but we are always going to be biased towards our own perspectives.

Ko Gyeom: My top favorite scene has to be his optimism on set. Gyeom acting very poorly yet still touching people’s hearts with his relentless passion for movies. I definitely felt cringe when I saw him, as Mubee saw him. He was good at being annoying and nerdy about movies, but it all makes sense when you hear about his trauma and upbringing with his brother. He did the best with what he had available to him. He actually excelled - ended up making a living as a critic. Also, the child actor deserves an award.

Kim Mubee: She’s very cynical and had a cloud looming over her head the entire beginning of the drama. It was honestly so annoying to watch Bo Young in this character because she’s usually so cheerful or comedic in her other dramas even if she was portraying a tragic character. Boyoung did exceptionally well in this one because I felt so sad watching her, so much that it felt like she didn’t have the will to live and was only existing to take revenge on her father by being a “smart” and detached director. Gyeom likely sensed the darkness in her, and wanted to support her but realized he was limited by his own darkness. One could tell that Mubee was naturally so kind and hardworking, but was coping by drowning herself in work and avoiding intimacy with others. The child actress was amazing!!

Mubee’s Mother: I loved that her mother encouraged her to pursue this love and also opened up about their grief and love for each other—this was such a realistic and exceptionally well written scene. How many of us struggle to be intimate with our parents, especially after losing one of our core family members? No one wants to trigger the other person’s grief so no one says anything. We just try to keep each other safe and somewhat okay. Rarely in Asian culture do we acknowledge that deep grief. I would say this might be my top 1 mother daughter scene in a movie/show.

Son Ju A: I sat with myself for a long time reflecting on her character. I couldn’t understand her hesitation with the relationship. I think the writer could have included more of a backstory for her to help viewers understand better, but I get the feeling the director may be trying to convey that “Right time, wrong person.” This lady is extremely determined and ambitious. She chose her high school based on the boy she had a crush on. This means she amazing guts or is truly foolish. Based on this, you can safely assume that she’s a dreamer who is living to pursue her greatest desires, which she later on she discovered is not this boy, but rather her love for the arts (which is why she was such a fangirl). Maybe she wanted to be like her boyfriend and support him but was he the boyfriend she needed? A relationship is more than just passion.

Hong Si Jun: I think his character was the most cliche and boring, but it served a great purpose for the other characters. Dude had a rich family but didn’t want to pursue that rich people route and instead arrogantly pursued his interest while his parents reluctantly paid for his studio. His treatment of people around him makes sense since he was treated with zero respect and intimacy by his own family. He needs a lot of emotional growth.

Ko Jun: His character wasn’t anything new in the drama world, but it did remind viewers that not everyone gets the privilege to live a selfish life. He could have chosen to neglect his brother, but it could be that he was dealing with untreated PTSD and Depression since his parents died and his way of coping with it was avoiding. His character development was realizing that him not healing from his mental illness (I.e. being a little selfish) ended up hurting his little brother. His character also teaches viewers that if people choose to hide who they are, that’s their choice and circumstance. The people who are left behind do not need to blame themselves if their loved one chose to live selflessly or to hide their own desires.

Bartender Ajussi: “Love itself is complete.” This is going to be my quote for life!! I love it so much. This script was GOLD and I’m going to say it 10x more.

Director Ajussi: I feel like he deserves to be like godfather for all these kids. He inspired so many people by not only not giving up but also not taking things so seriously at times. He was a great role model for all these characters!

…And so many more amazing supporting characters

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A drama that justifies the title....

Melo movie is indeed a melodrama. A beautifully written story of love, second chances, farewell and healing.
It is slow paced drama ( though at times were a little too much slow) which beautifully shows the relationship dynamics between the characters. More than a love story I liked how it portrays the strains in relationships and how people overcome and heal. Though there were heavy topics in the drama it handles it in a very delicate and light manner for the audience. The love between the brothers is too good to bear for my little heart.
Choi Woo Shik and Park Bo Young in a drama ooyea sign me up for it. They are pros for a reason. Kim Jae Wook did a very good job playing the elder brother of Ko Gyum. Whole of the cast did an awesome job. The OST, cinematography in this drama was chefs kiss.
In short I loved this drama its a beautifully written story so do give it a watch :)

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Lovely drama

This may be a simple story but it gives you the feels. The acting, the visuals and ost all blend into a dream of a drama.

Amazing how the writer can incorporate the love for movies into the story of life. Each character is given the right amount of exposure and they all played their roles very convincingly. I have loved Choi Woo Sik since Our Beloved Summer. He is such a great actor! His grief in this drama, while not shown through any loud crying or whatever, is so palpable. So well suited for his role.


Park Bo Young, as always, she delivers. Her tone of voice, her expressions.... such a talented actress.

Would recommend this drama to anyone who just wants to watch a drama and feel real good.......

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More Than Romcom I loved Brotherhood❣️

I believe the story is endearing. Speaking of the main characters, the male and female appear quite cute together. The narrative of the second main couple, who break up and do not reunite after numerous meetings, seems quite real.His brother's passing, in my opinion, marked an incredible shift in the narrative. I shed a lot of tears. I can really identify with his older brother, as I experienced anxiety and depression. My personal favorite was the bond between the main character and his older brother. I thought the tale was great overall. The story contains all of these elements: cuteness, humor, and emotion.

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A Well-Acted Drama with a Story That's masterpiece

Melo Movie (2025) had the potential to be a truly compelling drama, but while it excels in acting and production, the story itself feels somewhat underwhelming.

The plot isn't necessarily bad, but it lacks depth and excitement. It flows smoothly, like still water—calm and unproblematic, yet not particularly engaging. There are no glaring flaws, but at the same time, nothing that truly captivates or surprises the audience.

Character Depth & Performances

Instead of focusing on the overall narrative, I found myself drawn more toward the individual characters and their journeys.

1. Ko Jun – The Most Compelling Character
Among all the characters, Ko Jun stood out the most. His story was by far the most emotionally gripping, even though he had relatively limited screen time. His struggles, inner conflicts, and tragic undertones made him the heart of the drama. Perhaps it's because I have a soft spot for tragic characters, but his arc was undeniably the most well-written and engaging.

2. Kim Mubee & Hong Sijun – A Decent Tie
Kim Mubee’s character had an interesting backstory, especially regarding her complex relationship with her father and her attempts to ‘win’ over him. Meanwhile, Hong Sijun’s storyline—centered on his family issues and his relationship with Son Jua—was also intriguing, though not explored to its full potential. Both had promising narratives, but they fell short of being truly outstanding.

3. Ko Gyeom & Son Jua – Characters That Lacked Impact
Son Jua’s character felt dependent on the storylines of others, particularly Hong Sijun and Kim Mubee. She never really had a plotline of her own, which made her feel somewhat sidelined. On the other hand, Ko Gyeom had multiple independent storylines, yet none of them felt particularly engaging. The most compelling moment in his arc was when he obsessively repeated the car motion in the rain, trying to determine whether an accident was truly accidental.

The Good and the Not-So-Good

The acting was, without a doubt, phenomenal. Every actor delivered their role with excellence, bringing emotional depth to their characters despite the script’s shortcomings. The music was also well-composed, enhancing the mood of each scene beautifully.

However, my main issue lies with the storytelling. Even the strongest character, Ko Jun, had an ending that felt rushed and unsatisfying. While I understand the constraints of a 10-episode format, there were several unnecessary scenes that could have been cut in favor of better-paced character development.

Final Verdict

Story: ★★★★★ (10/10) – Decent but lacks excitement and depth

Acting/Cast: ★★★★★ (10/10) – Stellar performances across the board

Music: ★★★★★ (10/10) – Beautifully composed and fitting for the drama’s tone

Rewatch Value: ★★★★★ (10/10) – Not compelling enough for a second watch


Melo Movie (2025) is an enjoyable watch, but it could have been so much more. If you appreciate strong performances and emotional character arcs, you may still find it worth your time. However, if you're looking for an engaging, well-paced story, this drama might leave you wanting more.

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Good for one time watch. All of its sound tracks are healing me.

To be honest it was a beautiful drama for me except for the thing that there could have been more chemistry between the main leads. I don't think people should compare this drama to Our Beloved Summer because this drama contains its own uniqueness.
The story was okay as it focused on each character's story beautifully, (specially the brothers' relationship). This drama conveyed every emotion to the audience gracefully be it romance, comedy, youth, sorrow, friendship, family relationship or anything.
To some people this drama may seem a bit slow till 4th episode but the episodes afterwards are up to the mark. This drama somewhat feels like a series of emotional roller coaster. You'll laugh one moment and bawl your eyes the another.
The only one thing I feel about the main leads is that they could've more screentime and chemistry together. If so, the drama would've definitely hit the ratings of 9/10.
Also, the music is great. It literally gets my soul levitating. Even if you don't like the drama, give a try to its music. It's a healing therapy for me.

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a heartfelt journey through love, loss, and grief.

melo movie is a deeply emotional drama that goes beyond just romance, offering a raw and heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and grief. it portrays the harsh realities of life—how some people face endless misfortune, how others struggle to let go, how love can shift into resentment, and how many hide their pain behind a cheerful facade. the drama captures these emotions with striking realism, making it an experience that lingers long after the final scene.

one of the most impactful aspects of melo movie is its portrayal of grief. it conveys the overwhelming emptiness of losing someone—the longing to see and touch them again, the difficulty of moving on, and the quiet suffering of those who pretend to be okay while carrying unbearable sorrow. the narrative emphasizes the importance of simply having someone by your side, allowing you to mourn without judgment or pressure to heal too quickly.

the performances are powerful, bringing depth to characters who feel incredibly real. the way the drama handles grief feels authentic, making it easy for viewers to connect with the emotions on screen. one of the most heart-wrenching moments is when gyeom speaks to jun after his passing—a scene so raw and well-acted that it brought tears to my eyes. having recently lost my granddad, i found this moment especially moving, as it perfectly captured the deep yearning and helplessness that comes with grief.

while melo movie doesn’t necessarily break new ground in the romantic drama genre, it delivers a deeply engaging, character-driven story about relationships, personal struggles, and emotional growth. initially, i expected it to focus solely on romance, but it surprised me by offering comfort and understanding in ways i never anticipated. many lines resonated deeply with me, making the drama feel like more than just a story—it felt personal.

ultimately, melo movie is a beautifully crafted, introspective drama that authentically portrays the struggles and vulnerabilities of youth.

quotes :

“i’m not sure how much time has passed. the weird thing about death is that you expect it to change everything. but it changes nothing, really. no one’s life, including my own, has changed one bit.” – ko gyeom

“that’s the thing about the pain of a loss. at first, there’s so much going on that it doesn’t hit you. but when you need that person so desperately and you realize they can’t be there with you, that’s when the pain really sets in.” – director ma

— 10 ★ rating

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Melodrama of the year

Melo Movie is a heartwarming story with slice of life feel. The talented cast convey the emotions beautifully. Ost of the kdrama also stands out and Jun Young did a good job bringing his characters feelings out with the song!
The first ep is like a classic romcom and we can't really predict the story from there. Slowly we get to explore the stories of all the characters and for the highlight was the brotherhood. Jae wook as the elder brother brought a terrific performance and its the heart of the story. Keep a box of tissues handy. The main couples romance was just usual but the second couple's angst and love story felt more intriguing whilst also having a realistic end.

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Heartwarming Story

I thoroughly enjoyed this series.

Highlights:
- Layered characters that feels more realistic. No one is perfect and everyone have their own flaws, so all their emotions and issues feels more believable to me.
- Very pretty dialogues. There are a lot of good lines in this drama that makes me reflect and I appreciate that.
- Casting is great. Everyone really suit their roles, especially CWS and PBY.
- I really like the way they portray grief and loss in this drama, it's poignant and feels very close to home for me.
- The overall production is pretty good, some of the shots feels more like a movie, so that was pretty interesting to me.
- I really like the ending. The feeling that I get from watching Melo Movie, it's really about the journey of all the characters in navigating life and the romance is just one of the aspects of it. I feel like the ending perfectly captures that because it's showing that life just goes on and not everything needs to be tied together perfectly for the ending, which is such a good resolution for this drama imo.
- I really love Ko Jun's arc, it's so well written and I wish we get more of him.
- There is no overused tropes, it's just so normal in a good way. I really got tired of overused tropes in romance drama like childhood connection, serial killer, etc.. I'm just glad that Melo Movie doesn't have any of that.

I don't have much that I don't like about this drama, maybe just the pacing can be a bit too slow at times so some might find it boring. It's not a big issue to me but I definitely think it could be better. Other than that, I wish we get more of Ko Jun because he's such an interesting character to me.

Overall, it's one of my favourite korean modern romance dramas in recent years. It's really more like slice of life, so if you enjoy that genre, then I think this is one of the better ones.

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