“Love Untangled” is a youth romance set in 1998. It follows Park Se Ri, a 19-year-old girl with frizzy hair and a big plan. She wants to straighten her hair before making an important confession. At the same time, she meets Han Yun Seok, a transfer student from Seoul. Their paths cross in a way neither expects.
Se Ri has been through unrequited love before. She knows how much it can hurt. This time, she wants to get it right. Her goal is to confess her feelings to Kim Hyeon, the most popular boy in school. She teams up with Yun Seok to make it happen. They call it “Operation Love.” The plan sounds simple, but nothing ever goes exactly as planned in high school.
The movie turns these moments into light and funny scenes. Se Ri’s personality shines. She is lively, a little stubborn, and full of awkward charm. Her friends add even more energy. Yoon Sang Hyeon plays Baek Seong Rae, one of her close friends. Kang Mi Na plays In Jeong, another key part of her group. Together, they create a picture of friendship that feels warm and familiar.
Director Namkoong Sun is behind this story. He is known for films like “Ten Months of Future” and “Time to Cheer Up.” His style is realistic but full of small emotional details. In this movie, he combines humor with nostalgia. The setting in 1998 is not just decoration — it’s part of the story. Old-school gadgets, music, and school life create a time capsule for viewers.
Namkoong Sun has said that “Love Untangled” is about happiness in small moments. He wanted the film to reflect how those little experiences shape us. He even looked back at his own teenage years while working on it. That mix of personal memory and research helps the film feel genuine.
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A Look Back at 1998 and Teenage Love
One interesting part of the production is how much effort went into recreating 1998. The team studied old photos, news, and even school exam sheets from that era. They added small details that only people from that time might notice. For younger viewers, it’s a window into a different world. For older ones, it’s a reminder of their own school days.
The film also touches on self-image. Se Ri’s frizzy hair is not just a joke. It represents teenage insecurity — something almost everyone has felt. The story doesn’t try to make her perfect. Instead, it shows how she deals with her flaws. That makes her relatable.
Han Yun Seok’s character brings a balance to Se Ri. He’s from Seoul, which makes him a little mysterious in her small-town school. The way he joins her plan feels natural. He doesn’t take over. He just supports her, even when things get messy.
Namkoong Sun has talked about how the cast and crew shared their own teenage memories during filming. Many of those memories found their way into the script. That might explain why some scenes feel oddly familiar — like something you might have experienced yourself.
Netflix will release the movie on August 29, 2025. It runs for 1 hour and 59 minutes. That gives plenty of time for the story to unfold without feeling rushed. The cast includes Shin Eun Soo as Se Ri, Gong Myung as Yun Seok, and Cha Woo Min as Kim Hyeon.
For those who enjoy lighthearted romance with a nostalgic twist, “Love Untangled” offers both. It’s not just about a confession. It’s about friendship, courage, and the strange ways people connect. Whether or not Se Ri’s plan works, the journey is what makes it worth watching.
This film is not trying to be a huge drama. It’s small in scale but full of detail. That’s why it might stand out in the crowded world of romance films. Sometimes, the simplest stories are the ones that stay with you the longest.
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Kavita Mishra is a dynamic writer and passionate Korean entertainment enthusiast, combining her love for K-pop and K-drama with a flair for storytelling. With a keen eye for the latest trends, Kavita crafts articles that capture the pulse of K-pop idols, chart-topping hits, and the most buzz-worthy dramas taking over screens worldwide.
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