Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Lovestruck in the City, which premiered on December 22, 2020 and became one of the most innovative Korean romantic series that revolutionized traditional K-drama storytelling through its unique documentary-style format.
Lovestruck in the City premiered on KakaoTV on December 22, 2020, and became available worldwide on Netflix, consisting of 17 episodes with 30-minute runtimes each, airing every Tuesday and Friday. Directed by Park Shin-woo, the series stars Ji Chang-wook as Park Jae Won and Kim Ji-won as Lee Eun Oh, alongside supporting cast members Kim Min-seok, So Joo-yeon, Ryu Kyung-soo, and Han Ji-eun. The series depicts the real love stories of young people who live fiercely in a complex city, making it the first in a multi-part series titled “City Couple’s Way of Love.”
This groundbreaking romantic drama uses an innovative documentary-style interview format where characters directly address the camera to tell their stories, creating an intimate and authentic feel that sets it apart from traditional K-drama storytelling. The show is a slice-of-life romance drama with elements of personal growth and identity, exploring how modern urban relationships develop and sometimes fall apart in contemporary Seoul.
A Summer Romance That Changes Everything
Lovestruck in the City begins when passionate architect Park Jae Won meets the mysterious and free-spirited Yoon Seon Ah during a spontaneous beach vacation. Their whirlwind summer romance seems perfect until Seon Ah suddenly disappears, taking Jae Won’s camera and leaving him heartbroken and searching for answers in the streets of Seoul.
Heart stolen by a free-spirited woman after a beachside romance, a passionate architect sets out to reunite with her on the streets of Seoul. The story unfolds through a unique storytelling approach where characters share their perspectives directly with viewers, creating multiple layers of truth and emotion as we discover that the woman Jae Won knew as Seon Ah is actually Lee Eun Oh, living under a false identity during their summer together.
Park Jae Won: An Architect’s Heart in Search of Closure
Ji Chang-wook delivers a nuanced performance as Park Jae Won, an architect with a passionate and honest personality who enjoys the small streets in the city and collecting different things. He cannot forget the woman who stole his heart and disappeared, spending months searching Seoul’s neighborhoods for any trace of the mysterious Seon Ah.
Jae Won’s journey throughout the series shows him grappling with obsession, healing, and the challenge of moving forward while holding onto hope. His character represents anyone who has ever been unable to let go of a profound but brief connection, struggling between the need for closure and the fear of what truth might bring. Chang-wook brings vulnerability and depth to every interview-style monologue, making viewers feel his pain and longing.
Lee Eun Oh: A Woman Divided Between Two Identities
Kim Ji-won plays Lee Eun Oh, an ordinary woman who reinvented herself as the carefree Seon Ah during a moment of escape from her real life. Her dual identity creates complex emotional territory as she must confront the consequences of her deception while dealing with her own genuine feelings for Jae Won.
Eun Oh’s character arc explores themes of authenticity, escapism, and the courage required to face the people we’ve hurt. Ji-won masterfully portrays both versions of her character – the responsible, cautious Eun Oh and the spontaneous, adventurous Seon Ah – showing how we all contain multitudes and sometimes need to explore different aspects of ourselves to understand who we really are.
When Truth Finally Surfaces: The Power of Honesty
The series builds to the inevitable confrontation between Jae Won and Eun Oh, where all deceptions must be revealed and both characters must decide whether their connection was real enough to survive the lies. These pivotal episodes explore forgiveness, authenticity, and whether love built on false pretenses can transform into something genuine.
The most powerful moments occur when characters must choose between comfort and growth, safety and vulnerability. The documentary-style format allows viewers to hear each character’s internal struggles and justifications, creating a complex portrait of modern relationships where people often present idealized versions of themselves before revealing their authentic selves.
Underrated Success Despite Netflix Global Reach
Lovestruck in the City was noted as one of 2020’s most underrated K-dramas, overshadowed by bigger productions despite its innovative storytelling format and strong performances. The series was praised for its refreshing approach to romance and its authentic portrayal of millennial relationships in urban settings.
Fans praised the storytelling format as refreshing, blending interviews with the characters’ personal lives, creating an almost documentary-like feel that makes the emotions and relationships feel real and raw. The series found particular success with international audiences on Netflix who appreciated its modern approach to traditional romantic themes.
Perfect Modern Romance for Contemporary Viewers
If you love innovative storytelling and realistic portrayals of modern relationships, Lovestruck in the City is the perfect series to binge on Netflix. This isn’t your typical K-drama romance – it’s a sophisticated exploration of how we connect, deceive, and ultimately find authenticity in an increasingly complex world.
Why You Should Watch: Love Requires Courage to Be Authentic
Lovestruck in the City reminds us that real love can only flourish when we have the courage to be our authentic selves, even when that truth is messy and complicated. It’s a series that celebrates both the magic of connection and the hard work of building genuine relationships.
Series Details
Number of Episodes: 17 episodes
Platform: Netflix, KakaoTV
Release/End Year: 2020-2021
Current IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Genre: Romance, Drama, Documentary Style
Status: Completed
Main Characters: Ji Chang-wook (Park Jae Won), Kim Ji-won (Lee Eun Oh/Yoon Seon Ah)
Supporting Characters: Kim Min-seok (Oh Sun Young), So Joo-yeon (Seo Rin Yi), Ryu Kyung-soo (Kang Geon)