Love in the Big City (Korean: 대도시의 사랑법) is a 2024 South Korean melodrama coming-of-age slice of life television series based on the novel of the same name by Sang Young Park, it depicts the journey of a gay man living with HIV as he navigates life and love in Seoul. The screenplay is written by Park, and co-directed by Hur Jin-ho, Hong Ji-young, Son Tae-gyum and Kim Se-in. The series stars an ensemble cast including Nam Yoon-su, Lee Soo-kyung, Oh Hyun-kyung, Kwon Hyuk, Na Hyun-woo, Jin Ho-eun, and Kim Won-joong. It was released on TVING on October 21, 2024. It is also available for streaming on Viki in selected regions.
| Love in the Big City | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Hangul | 대도시의 사랑법 |
| Hanja | 大都市의 사랑法 |
| Literal meaning | How to Love in the Big City |
| Revised Romanization | Daedosiui sarangbeop |
| McCune–Reischauer | Taedoshiŭi sarangbŏp |
| Genre | |
| Based on | Love in the Big City by Sang Young Park |
| Screenplay by | Sang Young Park |
| Directed by |
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| Starring |
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| Country of origin | South Korea |
| Original language | Korean |
| No. of episodes | 8 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 47–53 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | TVING |
| Release | October 21, 2024 |
| Related | |
| Love in the Big City (film) | |
Synopsis
editGo Young, a gay man, and Choi Mi-ae, a straight woman, live together and become each other's best friend. Young then sets out on a 10-year journey of self-discovery. He faces difficulties in his relationship with his mother, who denies his sexual orientation, and is compelled by social pressure to break up with his lover Sim Gyu-ho. While recuperating from his breakup, Young travels back to Thailand with a stranger named Habibi and discovers more about himself.[1]
Cast and characters
edit- Nam Yoon-su as Go Young[2]
- A college student who becomes a writer.
- Lee Soo-kyung as Choi Mi-ae[3]
- Young's female best friend from university.
- Oh Hyun-kyung as Yeom Eun-suk[3]
- Young's mother.
- Young's old-fashioned boyfriend who is a photographer.
- Na Hyun-woo as No Yeong-su[5]
- Young's boyfriend whom he meets in a philosophy class.
- Jin Ho-eun as Sim Gyu-ho[4]
- Young's boyfriend who is a part-time bartender and a nursing student.
- Kim Won-joong as William Habibi[3]
- A Japanese man shrouded in secrecy.
- Do Yu as Park Ji-tae[6]
- Young's "gym rat," free-spirited friend.
- Lee Hyun-so as Han Ho-min[7]
- Young's friend and a fan of T-ara.
Episodes
edit| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Mi Ae" Transliteration: "Miae" (Korean: 미애) | Son Tae-gyum | Sang Young Park | October 21, 2024 | |
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Go Young, a gay, carefree university student in Seoul, leads a frivolous life with friends Jeon Eun-soo, Park Ji-tae, and Han Ho-min, routinely getting wasted at gay clubs. After modeling for photographer Kim Nam-kyu through a friend's recommendation, Young unexpectedly meets Nam-kyu at a gay club and drunkenly kisses him. They are seen by Young's classmate Choi Mi-ae, an equally frivolous young woman with a reputation for promiscuity. Young and Mi-ae become quick friends, bonding over their shared experiences as outcasts of society. Young and Nam-kyu begin dating, though Young remains hesitant about committing to long-term despite several dates and exchanging promise rings. After introducing Nam-kyu to his friends at a noraebang, Young ends the relationship. He moves in with Mi-ae, who breaks ties with her family. Young briefly dates a social media influencer but is soon dumped, while Mi-ae discovers she is pregnant. | |||||
| 2 | "Mi Ae" Transliteration: "Miae" (Korean: 미애) | Son Tae-gyum | Sang Young Park | October 21, 2024 | |
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Mi-ae decides to have an abortion, the cost of which Young helps to cover. Nam-kyu, still in love with Young, frequently calls and drunkenly waits for him outside Mi-ae's apartment one night. Over time, Mi-ae reduces her drinking, graduates, and lands a job at a major company. Meanwhile, Young follows Mi-ae's advice to take up writing. Mi-ae introduces him to her new boyfriend, Lee Jun-ho, shortly after which their relationship becomes serious. However, when Jun-ho discovers that Mi-ae is living with Young, Mi-ae is forced to reveal Young's sexuality. Furious, Young temporarily moves out and drunkenly calls Nam-kyu. They revisit a past date spot, where Young apologizes for not being ready to accept Nam-kyu's love. Ten months later, Young publishes a book titled Blueberries and Cigarettes, reflecting on his friendship with Mi-ae, and wins a writing contest. The two reconnect over the phone; Mi-ae announces she is engaged to Jun-ho. Soon after, Young receives news of Nam-kyu's death and attends his funeral, where he learns that Nam-kyu died in a car accident while speeding. As Mi-ae moves in with Jun-ho, Young returns to her apartment and sings at her wedding the same song Nam-kyu played on their first date. | |||||
| 3 | "A Piece of Rockfish, a Taste Out of This World" Transliteration: "Ureong han jeom ujuui mat" (Korean: 우럭 한 점 우주의 맛) | Hur Jin-ho | Sang Young Park | October 21, 2024 | |
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Young's mother and deacon Yeom Eun-suk is diagnosed with uterine cancer. Her condition worsens despite undergoing costly surgery, and Young becomes her carer at the hospital. Seeking grounding, Young attends philosophy classes, where he befriends No Yeong-su despite an unpleasant start. Young begins to develop a crush on Yeong-su. Eun-suk pressures Young about marriage, though flashbacks reveal the trauma of his own parents' divorce. On Halloween, Young takes Yeong-su to a club, but Yeong-su finds the experience unenjoyable. They have a deep philosophical conversation about the universe over dinner, culminating in Yeong-su's confession and a passionate kiss; the two begin dating. | |||||
| 4 | "A Piece of Rockfish, a Taste Out of This World" Transliteration: "Ureong han jeom ujuui mat" (Korean: 우럭 한 점 우주의 맛) | Hur Jin-ho | Sang Young Park | October 21, 2024 | |
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Eun-suk discovers a Polaroid of Young and Yeong-su. Despite undergoing a second surgery, her health continues to decline. Weeks into their relationship, Young grows frustrated with Yeong-su's strong aversion to any public displays of their relationship. One night, Young finds an unfinished research report on Yeong-su's laptop revealing deep-seated homophobic beliefs. Still, Young invites Yeong-su to meet his mother, but the latter never arrives. Over dinner the following night, Yeong-su reveals he is relocating to the United States for a job and ends their relationship. A heartbroken Young strikes him, then returns home and attempts suicide, though he survives. One year later, Young, now an accomplished writer, receives an apology letter from Yeong-su and a piece titled A Bite of Rockfish, A Taste of the Universe, referencing their first night together; Young discards both. Discovering the Polaroid in his mother's belongings, Young realizes her quiet acceptance and shares a heartfelt moment with her in the park as she expresses her love and regret. | |||||
| 5 | "Love in the Big City" Transliteration: "Daedosiui sarangbeop" (Korean: 대도시의 사랑법) | Hong Ji-young | Sang Young Park | October 21, 2024 | |
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Eun-suk passes away. After her funeral, Young signs her death certificate and claims the insurance she had arranged following her initial diagnosis. Later, an altercation at a club instigated by Ji-tae leaves Young with a bleeding lip. He is helped by Sim Gyu-ho, a bartender, whom Young impulsively kisses. The following night, Gyu-ho returns a brooch Young dropped and they go for drinks. Gyu-ho spends the night at Young's place but leaves early in the morning, missing the chance to exchange numbers. After meeting with Mi-ae and her sister-in-law, Young visits Gyu-ho at his club. They have sex and become closer over time. Eventually, while strolling along the Seoul City Wall, Gyu-ho proposes they officially date. Young confesses he is HIV positive, a diagnosis he refers to as "Kylie," named after an artist he was listening to on the night he contracted it. Gyu-ho is the first person he shares this with. As Young walks away, Gyu-ho tearfully chases after him, nicknaming him "Crabby Tabby." | |||||
| 6 | "Love in the Big City" Transliteration: "Daedosiui sarangbeop" (Korean: 대도시의 사랑법) | Hong Ji-young | Sang Young Park | October 21, 2024 | |
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Young introduces Gyu-ho to his friends, who take a liking to him—something Young admits has never happened in any of his previous relationships. To secure an office job, Young has Gyu-ho impersonate him for a required blood test to conceal his HIV status. The ruse works, and Young is hired. Gyu-ho moves in with Young and begins working full-time as a nurse's aide. As the year passes, the couple's relationship becomes strained due to constant arguments, Young's preoccupation with writing, and a lack of intimacy. Following Eun-soo's advice, Young and Gyu-ho take a trip to Bangkok, but the rekindled passion proves fleeting, and they quickly revert to their old patterns. Gyu-ho receives a promotion to head nurse along with a placement in China. Initially set on joining him, Young discovers that his company's China office placements require an HIV blood test and is immediately discouraged. Despite Gyu-ho's wish to remain with Young, Young insists that he take the opportunity and feigns a supportive front, masking his true emotions until Gyu-ho's departure at the airport. Alone on the train ride home, Young finally allows himself to cry. | |||||
| 7 | "A Vacation in the Late Rainy Season" Transliteration: "Neujeun ugiui bakangseu" (Korean: 늦은 우기의 바캉스) | Kim Se-in | Sang Young Park | October 21, 2024 | |
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A year after Young and Gyu-ho's separation, Young quits his job to pursue writing full-time. His novel, Love in the Big City, a supposedly fictional account of his relationship with Gyu-ho, garners massive success and wins the International Dublin Literary Award. Young's estranged father and CEO of a mattress company, Go Jin-chul, sends him a mattress as a gift, only for Young to discover it is linked to carcinogenic reports. Eun-soo celebrates his engagement at a club with Ji-tae, Ho-min, and Young, where a bartender tells Young that Gyu-ho is set to return to Seoul. In the meantime, Young matches with someone named "Q" on a dating app and, intrigued by references to "Kylie Wilde"—the artist associated with his HIV diagnosis—hopes that "Q" might be Gyu-ho. However, "Q" turns out to be an older Japanese man named Takahashi Ikuo, who goes by William Habibi. During their second meeting, William asks Young to join him in Bangkok. | |||||
| 8 | "A Vacation in the Late Rainy Season" Transliteration: "Neujeun ugiui bakangseu" (Korean: 늦은 우기의 바캉스) | Kim Se-in | Sang Young Park | October 21, 2024 | |
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While William attends business meetings, Young explores Bangkok alone, reminiscing about his previous visit with Gyu-ho and various moments from their relationship. He wonders how different his life might have been without "Kylie" and blames it for his and Gyu-ho's failed sex life. Later in the evening, Young and William meet and get inebriated. Young finds message notifications from William's partner on William's phone, as well as a wallpaper photo of his family. He leaves a letter, convinced that he came to Bangkok with William seeking familiarity rather than love, before leaving. Back in Seoul, Young moves out of his apartment and relocates. He narrates that he wrote about his past relationships as novels to understand why they failed, yet still feels he has much to learn about love. | |||||
Production
editIn October 2023, Love in the Big City began its production after casting Nam Yoon-su as the lead actor.[2] The screenplay was directly written by Sang Young Park, the original author of the same-name novel the series is based on, while four film directors – namely Hur Jin-ho, Hong Ji-young, Son Tae-gyeom, and Kim Se-in took – directed two episodes each; Merrychristmas and Big Stone Studio co-produced it.[8]
Release
editLove in the Big City was scheduled to be released on an OTT platform in the second half of 2024.[8] In August 2024, TVING confirmed that the series would premiere on its platform on October 21, 2024.[9] On October 8, the series was confirmed to release all eight episode on its premiere date, instead of two episodes a week for four weeks, to capitalize on the drama's strengths as a film that blends various genres.[10] It was also made available to stream on Viki in 190 countries.[11]
Reception
editControversy
editLove in the Big City faced backlash from conservative groups in South Korea who started protesting to cancel the broadcast, claiming that its "glamorization and promotion" of homosexuality would "significantly affect" children.[12] This is despite an age restriction imposed by South Korean laws on the series due to the display of sex, drugs, and self harm.[12] During a press conference to promote the drama, Nam Yoon-su commented that he didn't care about the negative reactions as people's perspectives are ever-changing.[13]
References
edit- ^ Delgado, Sara (October 15, 2024). "Love in the Big City K-Drama: Where to Watch, Release Date, Cast, and Everything You Need to Know". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on October 29, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
- ^ a b Yoo, Eun-bi (October 11, 2023). [단독]남윤수, '대도시의 사랑법' 주인공 발탁 [[Exclusive] Nam Yoon-soo, selected as the lead role in 'How to Love in the Big City'] (in Korean). SPOTV News. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024. Retrieved September 30, 2024 – via Naver.
- ^ a b c Park, Jung-sun (August 30, 2024). "좋아해요, 당신이라는 우주를"...남윤수가 알려주는 '대도시의 사랑법' ["I like you, the universe that is you"...Nam Yoon-soo reveals 'How to Love in the Big City'] (in Korean). JTBC. Retrieved September 30, 2024 – via Naver.
- ^ a b Park, Jung-sun (September 23, 2024). 드라마 '대도시의 사랑법', 원작 소설 모두 담았다 [Drama 'How to Love in the Big City' Contains All Original Novels] (in Korean). JTBC. Retrieved September 30, 2024 – via Naver.
- ^ Son, Bong-suk (August 31, 2024). 배우 나현우, 티빙 드라마 '대도시의 사랑법' 주연 발탁 [Actor Na Hyun-woo selected as lead in TVING drama 'How to Love in the Big City'] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang – via Naver.
- ^ Kang, Nae-ri (August 30, 2024). 도유, 새 드라마 '대도시의 사랑법' 출연...10월 21일 티빙 공개 [Do Yu to appear in new drama 'How to Love in the Big City'...Released on TVING on October 21st] (in Korean). YTN. Retrieved September 30, 2024 – via Naver.
- ^ Kim, Na-yeon (September 26, 2024). 이현소, '커넥션'→'대도시의 사랑법' 연이은 작품 출연...열일ing [Lee Hyun-so, consecutive appearances in works such as 'Connection'→'How to Love in the Big City'...Hard working] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Retrieved September 30, 2024 – via Naver.
- ^ a b Hwang, So-young (October 11, 2023). 남윤수 드라마 '대도시의 사랑법' 주연 확정 [Nam Yoon-soo confirmed to star in drama 'How to Love in the Big City'] (in Korean). JTBC. Retrieved September 30, 2024 – via Naver.
- ^ Park, Ah-reum (August 28, 2024). 남윤수 '대도시의 사랑법' 10월 티빙 첫방송 확정[공식] [Nam Yoon-soo's 'How to Love in the Big City' confirmed for first broadcast on TVING in October [Official]] (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on September 18, 2024. Retrieved September 30, 2024 – via Naver.
- ^ Park, Jung-sun (October 8, 2024). 드라마 '대도시의 사랑법', 10월 21일 티빙 전편 동시 공개 [Drama 'How to Love in the Big City', all episodes simultaneously released on TVING on October 21st] (in Korean). JTBC. Archived from the original on October 8, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2024 – via Naver.
- ^ Son, Bong-suk (October 8, 2024). 해외에서 뭐가 흥할까? 라쿠텐 비키, K-콘텐츠 라인업 공개 [What's hot overseas? Rakuten Viki reveals K-content lineup] (in Korean). Sports Kyunghyang. Archived from the original on October 9, 2024. Retrieved October 20, 2024 – via Naver.
- ^ a b ""동성애 미화·조장 드라마 세금 지원? 전액 환수·방영 중단을"" (in Korean). October 14, 2024. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ^ Kang, Joo-hee (October 16, 2024). "'대도시의 사랑법' 남윤수 "성소수자 연기, 부담감 NO...악플 신경 안썼다"" (in Korean). Retrieved October 23, 2024.
External links
edit- Production website at Bigstone Studio (in Korean)
- Love in the Big City at IMDb
- Love in the Big City at HanCinema