Love Untangled is a 2025 Korean teen romance film that brings a sweet dose of first-love nostalgia. Directed by Namkoong Sun and starring Shin Eun-soo, Gong Myung, and Cha Woo-min, the Netflix original runs for about two hours and is set in Busan in 1998. It tells the story of Park Se-ri, a 19-year-old convinced that straightening her stubbornly curly hair is the key to finally confessing to her crush Kim Hyun. When Han Yun-seok, a transfer student from Seoul whose mother owns a salon, gets caught up in her plan, the stage is set for a heart-fluttering first love. Pagers, paper cranes, and late-90s school vibes infuse the film with gentle humor and vivid nostalgia as Se-ri slowly realizes she doesn’t need to change herself to be loved.
The story unfolds with an affectionate attention to teenage life of the era. Se-ri and her friends trade notes in class and linger at bus stops, while neighborhood hair salons bustle with the latest trends. Her quest for the perfect “Seoul magic straightening” hairstyle becomes both a comedic and symbolic journey. Yun-seok, shy and observant, helps her plan succeed but gradually reveals feelings of his own. Through late-night walks, shared snacks, and quiet conversations, their friendship blossoms into something deeper. A subplot about Yun-seok’s strained relationship with his family adds emotional texture and explains his sudden disappearance, which sets up the film’s moving second half.
After a short time jump to their college years, the movie shifts into a tender reunion. A voicemail Se-ri once left and a jar of origami messages Yun-seok kept hidden become the keys to reconnecting their lives. Their final meeting on a windswept beach is heartfelt and visually striking, bathed in soft sunset colors that underline the film’s message that love grows best when both people can be themselves.
Performances are warm and natural. Shin Eun-soo captures Se-ri’s comic energy and vulnerable moments, while Gong Myung lends Yun-seok an understated sincerity that makes their relationship feel authentic. Cha Woo-min’s portrayal of Kim Hyun, the original crush, stays sympathetic and believable, never turning into a caricature. Careful direction and detailed production design recreate the late 90s with pagers, cassette players, handwritten letters, and the warm glow of small cafés and arcades. The soft, golden cinematography and a soundtrack full of mellow pop complete the atmosphere.
Overall, Love Untangled is a cute and charming school-romance movie about first love. It doesn’t try to reinvent the genre; instead it leans into its simple, feel-good story. By combining coming-of-age warmth with rich period details, it offers a comforting watch for anyone who loves young romance wrapped in 90s nostalgia, showing how self-acceptance and genuine affection can untangle even the most complicated feelings.
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