Single in Seoul

Single in Seoul is a 2023 South Korean romantic comedy film directed by Park Beom-soo, starring Lee Dong-wook and Im Soo-jung. The film follows Yeong-ho, who likes to be alone, and Hyeon-jin a gregarious publisher, who writes an essay about single life. It was released theatrically on November 29, 2023.

Synopsis

The story revolves around two people who have different temperament and lifestyle. They meet via an essay about single life, and then old memories are rekindled, opening the past wounds.
Park Yeong-ho is an instructor and influencer with 300,000 followers, who enjoys being single. Joo Hyeon-jin is Park Yeong-ho's college junior and an editor-in-chief of a publishing company and in-charge of the essay series titled "Single in the City".

Cast

Lee Dong-wook as Park Yeong-ho, a successful essay instructor and power influencer.
Im Soo-jung as Joo Hyeon-jin, chief editor of a publishing company.
Esom as Agatha Hong, best-selling author of a mysterious romantic novel.
Jang Hyun-sung as Jin-pyo, president of the publishing company.
Kim Ji-young as co-owner of the publishing company.
Lee Mi-do as Yoon Jeong, Joo Hyeon-jin's coworker, senior employee of the editorial team.
Lee Sang-yi as Byeong-soo, an intern.
Ji Yi-soo as Ye-ri, member of editorial team.
Yoon Jung-eun as member of editorial team.
Ryu Hye-rin as Park Joon-hee
Special appearance
Yoon Kye-sang as Seon-woo
Production

Casting

In June 2020, Lee Dong-wook and Im Soo-jung were offered to play Park Yeong-ho, an instructor and influencer, and Lim Soo-jung, the editor-in-chief of a publishing company respectively. Lee Dong-wook and Im Soo-jung worked in Search: WWW, though Dong-wook's appearance was short.

Filming

The principal photography began on November 14, 2020, and is scheduled to last for three months.

Music

OST of the film was released on November 23, 2023. The OST features Kim Hyeon-cheol's "After a Long Time" and Akdong Musician's "Long Day, Long Night".

Release

The film theatrically released on November 29, 2023, by Lotte Entertainment.

Reception

Box office

The film was released on November 29 on 917 screens. It opened at first place on the Korean box-office with 71,003 cumulative admissions and a collection of US$460,615.
, it is at 25th place among the Korean films released in 2023, with gross of US$2,834,842 and 394,683 admissions.

Critical response

Park Ji-yoon writing in The Fact criticised the story but praised the performance of actors, writing, "it was the actors' passionate performances that saved the somewhat sloppy story." Park Jae-hwan wrote in review that "the film shows the sensibility between coldness and passion and does not have the same gap as "Men are from Venus, Women are from Mars"." Park praised the performances of Lee Dong-wook and Lim Soo-jung, Jang Hyun-seong, Kim Ji-young, Lee Mi-do, Ji I-soo, and Lee Sang-i. Park concluded, "It cannot be denied that this is a work that reveals the true skills of Myeong Film."