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Tatler Asia
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
From ‘Our Unwritten Seoul' to ‘Daily Dose of Sunshine': 5 recent Park Bo-young titles you need to binge-watch
'Melo Movie' In this slice-of-life healing melo K-drama, Park Bo-young plays Kim Moo-bi opposite Choi Woo-shik's Ko Gyeom. The appropriately named Moo-bi (i.e. movie) is a film director whose career is built on her resentment toward an absentee father whose life revolved around the industry. Gyeom, a film buff since childhood and a one-time aspiring actor, is now a famous film critic, a job he took on to give him time to take care of his older brother. The two had a short-lived romance that ended when Gyeom unceremoniously ghosted Moo-bi. Five years later, they are back in each other's orbits, but before they can rekindle the romance, they must each first confront past personal traumas and unresolved emotional baggage that could prevent them from building a genuine and lasting connection. 'Light Shop' In Light Shop , Park Bo-young joins an impressive ensemble cast including Ju Ji-hoon, Seol Hyun, Um Tae-goo, Lee Jung-eun, Kim Min-ha and Shin Eun-soo. She portrays Kwon Young-ji, a caring and attentive nurse in the ICU whose unique ability makes her especially suited for the job. Young-ji possesses a rare gift, unlocked after her own traumatic near-death experience: the power to see souls stuck in the space between life and death. Now, she uses this insight to guide these lost individuals toward finding their light, whether that means returning to the world of the living or moving on to the next. Don't miss: 9 K-dramas with shocking plot twists fans never saw coming 'Daily Dose of Sunshine' In the Netflix healing K-drama, Park Bo-young plays Jung Da-eun, a nurse who requests to be transferred from the internal medicine department to the psychiatry department. The move exposes Da-eun to the different patients in the ward and a range of mental health conditions, from schizophrenia to depression. Deeply nurturing and empathetic, she cannot help but internalise her patients's struggles and triumphs, feeling personally responsible and accountable for their mental health. This eventually leads to her own struggle with burnout, anxiety and depression, powerfully highlighting the importance of self-care and support for our caregivers. The drama was praised for its sensitive take on mental health and earned Park Bo-young Best Actress and the series Best Drama at the Blue Dragon Awards. 'Concrete Utopia' Playing yet another nurse and co-starring with another member of the Wooga Squad, Park Bo-young and Park Seo-joon play husband and wife in this South Korean disaster movie that highlights the brutal realities of a post-apocalyptic world. After a massive earthquake levels Seoul, only Hwanggoong Apartment is left standing. Inside, the residents—led by the charismatic yet dangerous Young-tak (Lee Byung-hun)—enforce harsh rules and a strict no-outsiders policy. In this increasingly violent environment, Myeong-hwa (Park Bo-young) and Min-sung (Park Seo-joon) must find a way to not only survive but keep their humanity intact.
Time Magazine
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Magazine
Breaking Down the Heartfelt Ending of 'Our Unwritten Seoul'
Warning: This post contains spoilers for the ending of Our Unwritten Seoul. For a K-drama series that begins with a somewhat outlandish twin-swap conceit, Our Unwritten Seoul remains surprisingly grounded throughout its 12-episode run. The clues were there from the beginning, of course. Underachieving 30-something Mi-ji (Melo Movie's Park Bo-young) offers to switch places with her identical twin sister, burnt out office worker Mi-rae (also Park), because Mi-rae is distressed enough to injure herself by jumping out of a third-story window to avoid returning to her toxic workplace. Hijinks, these are not. In writer Lee Kang's slice-of-life script, the melodrama-like set-up is merely an excuse to jumpstart the exploration of some heavy, complex, and relatable themes, including learning to live with disability, workplace harassment, and moving past the kind of grief that gets its claws into you. The Netflix series released its final episode on June 29, bringing to a close one of the most quietly affecting Korean dramas of 2025. Let's break down Our Unwritten Seoul's heartfelt ending… Mi-ji finally leaves her room When Mi-ji was a teen, she dreamed of using her athleticism to carve a life path for herself—and, in the process, to finally get the kind of attention from her mother, Kim Ok-hui (Love Next Door's Jang Young-nam), that Ok-hui always seemed to reserve only for Mi-rae. However, when an ankle injury abruptly ends Mi-ji's track career, she falls into a deep depression, only graduating from high school because Mi-rae attends classes for her. Mi-ji develops a severe agoraphobia, and spends three years in her room. It's not until her grandmother falls and injures herself in their family home that Mi-ji forces herself to leave, walking miles to get her halmoni help. Years later, when Our Unwritten Seoul begins, Mi-ji still feels stuck in that room. She may go out and about, visiting her grandmother at the nursing home, working odd jobs around town, and hanging out with neighborhood friends, but she's still afraid to take a chance. She stays in her rural hometown because it feels safe. Because, in many ways, she's still afraid to leave her room. Her decision to swap places with Mi-rae is driven by sisterly concern, but it also pushes Mi-ji out of her comfort zone for the first time in years. Heading into the final few episodes of Our Unwritten Seoul, Mi-ji and Mi-rae have already switched back. But Mi-ji is still in Seoul, and is starting to ask herself what she truly wants to do with her life. It helps that she has someone there to support her… Mi-ji and Ho-su choose to stay by each other's side Mi-ji and Lee Ho-su have loved one another since high school. Their classmates and parents always assumed it was bookworms Mi-rae and Ho-su that clicked, but it was actually polar opposites Mi-ji and Ho-su. Mi-ji brought Ho-su out of his shell when he was the intense new kid in school who, unbeknownst to his classmates, was learning how to live with the disabilities he developed after the car accident that killed his father. Mi-ji and Ho-su meant a great deal to one another, but through a series of miscommunications, they never realized their love was requited. Ho-su left for Seoul to go to school and become an elite lawyer, and Mi-ji stayed in their hometown. When Mi-ji comes to Seoul years later, Ho-su is one of the first people who realizes that Mi-ji has swapped places with Mi-rae. Even before that knowledge is revealed, Ho-su becomes Mi-ji's closest confidante. Mi-ji eventually admits who she is, and the two confess their feelings to one another. For a while, everything is great. However, when Ho-su realizes his hearing loss is accelerating, he breaks up with Mi-ji, convinced that he will become a burden to her. Ho-su's issues with relying on loved ones didn't start with Mi-ji. After Ho-su's parents died, he was raised by his stepmother, Yeom Bun-hong (Crash Landing On You's Kim Sun-young), and he never truly dealt with his survivor's guilt. That guilt is compounded by the fact that the car accident that killed Ho-su's father left Ho-su with disabilities that require accommodations. When Bun-hong finds out about Ho-su's additional hearing loss from his doctor, she confronts her son for not telling her. When he confesses he has always assumed Bun-hong resented having to take care of him, Bun-hong sets him straight. After her husband's death, Ho-su is what kept her going. She loves Ho-su, and love means staying by someone's side through the wins and the losses. The conversation helps Ho-su realize that he wants Mi-ji by his side, if she wants to be there. Meanwhile, Ho-su's initial decision to push Mi-ji away has Mi-ji reflecting on how it must have felt for her loved ones when she isolated herself during her depression. The two reunite, and commit to one another. They want to be together, through it all. Mi-rae brings her company to justice Like Mi-ji, Mi-rae has been struggling in adulthood. She has always felt a pressure to be the smart, successful twin, and has prioritized living up to those expectations above all else. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't come easily to her; she works hard for every success. After failing to pass the civil service exam several times, Mi-rae gives up and finds a solid job working at a state-owned financial management company called KFMC. Mi-rae may not love her life, but she is surviving. Then, a married manager makes an unwelcome advance one night. She tries to move on without fanfare, but rumors about her promiscuity are encouraged by the manager, leading to further workplace bullying. Inspired by her supportive colleague Kim Su-yeon (Park Ye-young), who has also faced workplace bullying, Mi-ji files an official complaint. Then, Su-yeon leaves, and Mi-rae begins to feel truly alone. Mi-ji's offer to temporarily swap places with Mi-rae, like they did when they were young, gives Mi-rae a much-needed break. She starts a seasonal job Mi-ji has lined up: as a worker on a strawberry farm owned by successful investment entrepreneur Han Se-jin (Ryu Kyung-soo). Se-jin has taken over the farm from his late grandfather, but has no idea what he is doing. With Mi-rae's help, the two get the farm running, and heal some of their unresolved trauma in the meantime. With Se-jin's support, Mi-rae feels able to return to Seoul and face the toxic management she left behind. Not only does Mi-rae file the harassment claim again, but she uses evidence gathered by Tae-i (Hong Sung-won) to expose KFMC's corrupt deal with a construction company. Tae-i is the younger brother of Mi-rae's former colleague, Su-yeon. He began working at the company to find a way to get justice for his sister, who has sequestered herself in her room after being bullied out of KFMC. While the plot's conclusion feels a bit rushed, especially knowing how much Mi-rae suffered at her office, Mi-rae gets her justice. The manager who sexually harassed loses his job and gets a suspended sentence in court. The department head who prioritized his corrupt, money-making scheme over a safe office for his workers is transferred to the regional office no one wants to work at. And Su-yeon leaves her room, much to her brother's relief. Kim Ro-sa and Sang-wol's love story One of the major subplots in Our Unwritten Seoul concerns Kim Ro-sa (Won Mi-kyung), an older woman who runs a restaurant in the block KFMC wants to develop. When Mi-ji first replaces Mi-rae at the company, she is tasked with convincing Kim Ro-sa to sell her restaurant for the development deal. Ro-sa, who has been running the restaurant for 35 years, refuses. However, Kim Ro-sa has been hiding a major secret. As we learn in Episode 10, Kim Ro-sa's real name is Sang-wol. She and the real Kim Ro-sa grew up together in an orphanage and it is implied that they were in love. Temporarily torn apart by life's circumstances, Sang-wol finds Ro-sa again when Ro-sa is married with a baby. Her husband has abused her, leading to her son being born with developmental disabilities. Sang-wol takes Ro-sa and her son and they build a life together. When Ro-sa's husband catches back up with them, Ro-sa and Sang-wol kill him in self-defense. Because of the baby, Sang-wol takes the fall. When they are reunited again after Sang-wol's release, Sang-wol struggles to find work because of her label as a murderer. Ro-sa convinces Sang-wol to use her name. They share it, really, until Ro-sa's death from cancer. Before she dies, Ro-sa admits her son to a facility, and asks Sang-wol to keep using her name. Officially, Sang-wol dies and Kim Ro-sa lives on. Sang-wol, who is illiterate due to her dyslexia and poor upbringing, plans to bring this secret to her grave. But, when the KFMC lawyer tasked with getting Kim Ro-sa to sell her restaurant uncovers the truth, he frames Sang-wol as a killer and an identity thief. It doesn't help that Sang-wol has not only been using Ro-sa's name to run the restaurant, but also taking credit for Ro-sa's poetry, which has gained recognition after the real Ro-sa's death. With Mi-ji and Ho-su's help, Sang-wol is finally able to tell the true story of her life with Ro-sa. Sang-wol has been using the money garnered from Ro-sa's poetry book sales to fund a college scholarship. Over the years, dozens of kids, including Lee Ho-su, have benefitted from the fund. Mi-ji and Ho-su read the documents Ro-sa left for Sang-wol. They include an official letter making it clear that everything Ro-sa had belongs to Sang-wol. Later, Mi-ji and Ho-su encourage Sang-wol to learn how to read. By series' end, she is able to read Ro-sa's poetry, some of which is about Ro-sa's love for her Sang-wol. Mi-ji and Mi-rae's grandmother dies To Mi-ji, Kang Wol-sun (The Potato Lab's Cha Mi-kyung) isn't just her grandmother. She is the person who helped raise Mi-ji and Mi-rae after the death of their dad. She is the person who saw an act of survival in Mi-ji's three-year isolation. She is the person who understood Mi-ji when no one else seemed to be able to. So, when Wol-sun has a serious heart attack in the final episode, Mi-ji is devastated. At first, she refuses to accept that her grandmother is dying, but Wol-sun's request that Ok-hui, Mi-ji, and Mi-rae bring her home is granted. When Wol-sun dies, Mi-ji is sleeping next to her. She dreams of her grandmother saying goodbye. In the dream, Wol-sun is able-bodied and clear of mind in a way that she hasn't been in the years since her fall. She speaks excitedly to Mi-ji of the adventures she is planning to go on, but tells Mi-ji that she will hold on longer, if Mi-ji needs her to. Mi-ji lets her go. Mi-ji finds her way forward Sang-wol offers to pass on her restaurant to Mi-ji when she retires, but Mi-ji decides she wants to take on a different career path. She goes to college to become a therapist, perhaps inspired by her own struggles with agoraphobia and depression. Meanwhile, both Ho-su and Mi-ji are learning Korean sign language. Ho-su uses the language ability to serve clients with hearing loss. Do Mi-ji and Ho-su end up together? Yes. Following a one-year time jump in the series finale, we learn that Ho-su has bought an engagement ring for Mi-ji. However, when Mi-ji accidentally finds it, the two discuss not getting married until after Mi-ji finishes her graduate degree and gets her first paycheck. In the meantime, however, they play on moving in together. But don't tell their mothers. Do Mi-rae and Se-jin end up together? The relationship status of Mi-rae and Se-jin is less conclusive at the end of Our Unwritten Seoul. They remain 'business partners,' with Mi-rae running Se-jin's grandfather's strawberry farm and acting as an investor in Mi-rae's financial investment advice blog. In the final episode, Se-jin returns from his time in America and immediately goes to find Mi-rae in Seoul. Mi-rae blows off her plans with Mi-ji and Ho-su to travel back to the strawberry farm with Se-jin. It is implied the two will start a romantic relationship, but never confirmed. The viewer can choose for herself. Does Our Unwritten Seoul have a happy ending? Yes, Our Unwritten Seoul has a happy ending—and a pretty realistic one, too. The characters face their share of hardship in the final episode, most notably the death of Wol-sun, and the story recognizes that there will be more reasons to grieve in the future. However, the series main character, Mi-ji, has been able to move past the depression that kept her from chasing her ambitions for years. She has plans to start grad school to become a therapist. She is in a happy and healthy relationship with boyfriend Ho-su. She is loved by her family and friends, including her mother, sister, and Sang-wol. She is no longer afraid of what's next.
Pink Villa
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Our Unwritten Seoul star Park Bo Young's international fan meetings postponed days before show
Park Bo Young has long been celebrated not only in South Korea but also internationally for her memorable roles in hit series like Strong Woman Do Bong-soon, Melo Movie, Doom at Your Service, and more. The actress from Our Unwritten Seoul was scheduled to meet her international fans, but those plans now appear to be on hold. Originally, the tour was planned to start with a domestic fan meeting in Seoul on May 7, followed by visits to Macau, Bangkok, and Taiwan. However, on May 2, BH Entertainment, her agency, announced that the overseas fan meeting tour would be temporarily postponed due to internal circumstances. The agency said, " Park Bo Young' s overseas fan meeting tour has been temporarily postponed due to internal circumstances." The agency expressed its deep regret for the delay and sincerely apologized to fans who had been eagerly waiting for the chance to see Park Bo Young. They also assured fans that all tickets already purchased will be fully refunded and asked for understanding during this unexpected postponement. BH Entertainment promised they would work hard to come back with an improved event and share better news soon. The agency thanked fans once again for their continued support and patience, promising to keep everyone updated on plans. Fans are encouraged to monitor official announcements for refund procedures and the rescheduling of the tour. Park Bo Young is set to hold a solo fan meeting called "Written BY" on May 7, with sessions at 2 PM and 7 PM (KST). at YES24 LIVEHALL, where she will connect with her domestic fans. Currently, Park Bo Young is engaging viewers with her role in the new tvN drama Unknown Seoul, where she stars alongside male lead Park Jiyoung. The show has been gaining attention for its intriguing plot and strong performances, further boosting her popularity both at home and overseas. About Our Unwritten Seoul Our Unwritten Seoul is a touching drama that follows the intertwined lives of two identical twin sisters who decide to swap their lives. Against the lively backdrop of Seoul, the story explores themes of identity, personal growth, and the complexities of relationships. Enter Park Jiyoung, their longtime friend who has now become a lawyer. As he reconnects with the twins, he faces the challenge of figuring out who's who and navigating the romantic twists that follow. Park Bo Young takes on the challenging double role of the twins, Mi Ji and Mi Rae, bringing both characters vividly to life.
Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Our Unwritten Seoul first impression: Does Park Bo Young even need a male lead in her K-dramas anymore?
Park Bo Young may not be riding a major winning streak lately, but she never fails to surprise with her genre-hopping choices and magnetic chemistry with co-stars. In Our Unwritten Seoul, Netflix's latest K-content drop, she proves she's not just the queen of rom-coms for her leading men, but she also can have crackling chemistry with herself as well. The story revolves around twin sisters, Mi Rae and Mi Ji, both played by Bo Young. The show debuted to a modest 3% viewership in Korea, but pulled a dramatic U-turn, soaring to No. 1 on Netflix Korea's Top 10 Series list just three days post-premiere. Globally, it's already pulling more heat than her Daily Dose of Sunshine and the Melo Movie (her last two OTT hits). And what's a Seoul story without a little swoon? GOT7's Jinyoung is a scene-stealer in a sea of the same. Also read: Go Min Si's school bullying controversy explained: Is her new Netflix K-drama being axed? A typical twin story in the K-drama world would've gone the Shakespearean route, a modern-day Comedy of Errors spin, with rivalry and chaos between two identical sisters separated at birth. But when the maker is Park Shin Woo (Our Beloved Summer, Romance Is a Bonus Book), you know the script won't play by the rules. And though Seoul might be the backdrop, it's the soul of the two sisters that's truly interlinked. These sisters, who, as kids, playfully swapped lives to dodge punishments, always stayed in sync—Mi Rae, the studious one, would study for Mi Ji, while Mi Ji, who oddly enjoyed gulping medicines, would return the favour. But life, as always, had other plans. A tragedy hits the younger sister. Mi Rae moves to Seoul, and distance creeps in; soon, they're no longer the inseparable duo they once were. And just when they think they've drifted too far, fate brings them back together. Mi Ji sees the cracks in her sister's façade and proposes a familiar solution: swap lives again. Only this time, it's not a game, it's a high-stakes gamble. And there's way more at risk. Also read: Good Boy: Park Bo Gum says he'd 'love to do an Indian musical', talks Muhammad Ali as he gears to pack a punch in upcoming K-drama There's something oddly poetic about the names Mi Ji and Mi Rae. Maybe it's how they sound—or what they mean: 'unknown' and 'future'. Fitting. Like the names, they grow up, drift, bend, and break. Just two episodes in, and it's already circling the space that Kim Ji Won, Son Suk Ku's My Liberation Notes once held. Our Unwritten Seoul taps into that gut-level feeling of being an adult who suddenly realises they've stopped dreaming, not because they don't want to, but because the rent's due and survival is the dream now. Two sisters, two lives, carrying different kinds of weight. One's chasing a dream. The other's already in it, burnt out, stuck, can't quit, can't complain. If we have to to classify, Our Unwritten Seoul leans slice-of-life over rom-com or your usual sibling-centric K-drama. Life takes away Mi Ji's only talent, running, gone after a brutal injury kills her shot at becoming a national athlete. Mi Rae, meanwhile, climbs the ranks to become a senior specialist in Korea's finance department. She's got the title, the paycheck, the sharp wardrobe, while her twin's back in the village, juggling jobs, farming, cleaning schools, caring for their grandmother. Same face. Different worlds. But while Mi Rae quietly endures it all, drowning in thoughts she can't speak, Mi Ji still burns bright. Park Bo Young's switch-up is a rare move in her rock-solid career. She's always been familiar, safe, Healer, Strong Girl Bong-soon, Oh My Ghost. Not anymore. While it's too early to judge JinYoung's character, what we do know is this: he's the boy with partial hearing loss from an accident, burns from childhood, and a quiet place in the sisters' orbit. The only one who can tell Mi Ji and Mi Rae apart, even when their own mother can't. He carries a soft spot for Mi Ji, but something tells me he's going to carry a lot more by the time this wraps. His arc is far from done. Our Take Our Unwritten Seoul is a must-watch, especially if you've seen Bo Young's journey from the bubbly, petite girl next door to someone who still carries that charm, only now she's carrying the whole drama. This isn't just another pretty K-drama dipped in soft lighting, it digs into burnout, emotional fatigue, the daily job grind, and still makes space for love. And when the sisters start swapping places, you almost feel like you're switching with them, one moment you're Mi Ji, the next, Mi Rae. Torn between dreams and duty, burnout and hope, but somehow still whole. On the surface, it's a beautiful tale, but when you zoom out, it's a heartbreak. And yes, we'll absolutely be back for episode 3.
South China Morning Post
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Netflix K-drama Our Unwritten Seoul: Park Bo-young plays twins in character-driven drama
Lead cast: Park Bo-young, Park Jin-young Latest Nielsen rating: 5.05 per cent Looks can be deceiving, and Mi-ji and Mi-rae are counting on it. These are the twin sister protagonists of new Korean drama series Our Unwritten Seoul, both portrayed by Park Bo-young Melo Movie ). These twins are so identical that even their mother cannot tell them apart, but in many other respects they have grown into very different young women, each with their own problems and desires. Play When they were young, they would switch places if one of the sisters was better suited to a particular task. But when their mother caught them, she cut Mi-ji's hair to tell them apart once and for all.
