# Love in the Big City (TV series)

Love in the Big City (Korean: 대도시의 사랑법) is a 2024 South Korean melodrama coming-of-age slice of life television series based on the novel of the same name by Sang Young Park, it depicts the journey of a gay man as he navigates life and love in Seoul. The screenplay is written by Park, and co-directed by Hur Jin-ho, Hong Ji-young [ko], Son Tae-gyum and Kim Se-in. The series stars an ensemble cast including Nam Yoon-su, Lee Soo-kyung, Oh Hyun-kyung, Kwon Hyuk, Na Hyun-woo, Jin Ho-eun, and Kim Won-joong. It was released on TVING on October 21, 2024. It is also available for streaming on Viki in selected regions.

## Synopsis

Go Young, a gay man, and Choi Mi-ae, a straight woman, live together and become each other's best friend. Young then sets out on a 10-year journey of self-discovery. He faces difficulties in his relationship with his mother, who denies his sexual orientation, and is compelled by social pressure to break up with his lover Sim Gyu-ho. While recuperating from his breakup, Young travels back to Thailand with a stranger named Habibi and discovers more about himself.

## Cast and characters

* Nam Yoon-su as Go Young
    A gay young man who becomes a writer.
* Lee Soo-kyung as Choi Mi-ae
    Young's straight female best friend from university.
* Oh Hyun-kyung as Yeom Eun-suk
    Young's mother and a deacon.
* Kwon Hyuk as Kim Nam-kyu
    Young's old-fashioned boyfriend who is a photographer.
* Na Hyun-woo [ko] as No Yeong-su
    Young's boyfriend whom he meets in a philosophy club.
* Jin Ho-eun as Sim Gyu-ho
    Young's boyfriend who is a part-time bartender and a nursing student.
* Kim Won-joong as William Habibi
    A Japanese businessman.
* Do Yu as Park Ji-tae
    Young's flamboyant, free-spirited friend.
* Lee Hyun-so as Han Ho-min
    Young's friend and a fan of T-ara.

## Episodes

| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
| 1 | "Mi Ae" Transliteration: "Miae" (Korean: 미애) | Son Tae-gyum | Sang Young Park | October 21, 2024 (2024-10-21) |
| Go Young, a gay, carefree university student in Seoul, leads a frivolous life with friends Jeon Eun-soo, Park Ji-tae, and Han Ho-min, routinely getting wasted at gay clubs. After modeling for photographer Kim Nam-kyu through a friend's recommendation, Young unexpectedly meets Nam-kyu at a gay club and drunkenly kisses him. They are seen by Young's classmate Choi Mi-ae, an equally frivolous young woman with a reputation for promiscuity. Young and Mi-ae become quick friends, bonding over their shared experiences as outcasts of society. Young and Nam-kyu begin dating, though Young remains hesitant about committing to long-term even after exchanging promise rings. After introducing Nam-kyu to his friends at a noraebang, Young ends the relationship. He moves in with Mi-ae, who breaks ties with her family. Young briefly dates a social media influencer but is soon dumped, while Mi-ae discovers she is pregnant. |||||
| 2 | "Mi Ae" Transliteration: "Miae" (Korean: 미애) | Son Tae-gyum | Sang Young Park | October 21, 2024 (2024-10-21) |
| Mi-ae has an abortion, the cost of which Young covers. Nam-kyu, still in love with Young, frequently calls and drunkenly waits for him outside Mi-ae's apartment one night. Over time, Mi-ae reduces her drinking, graduates, and lands a job at a major company. While Mi-ae is away at an off-site workshop, Young follows her advice to take up writing. Returning home, Mi-ae introduces Young to her new boyfriend Lee Jun-ho. However, when Jun-ho later discovers that Mi-ae is living with Young, Mi-ae is forced to reveal Young's sexuality. Furious, Young temporarily moves out, eventually finding closure with Nam-kyu. Ten months later, Young publishes a book titled Blueberries and Cigarettes, inspired by his friendship with Mi-ae, and wins a writing contest. The two reconnect over the phone; Mi-ae announces she is engaged to Jun-ho. Young attends Nam-kyu's funeral, learning he had died in a speeding accident. After Mi-ae relocates with Jun-ho, Young moves back into her apartment and sings at her wedding the same song Nam-kyu played on their first date. |||||
| 3 | "A Piece of Rockfish, a Taste Out of This World" Transliteration: "Ureong han jeom ujuui mat" (Korean: 우럭 한 점 우주의 맛) | Hur Jin-ho | Sang Young Park | October 21, 2024 (2024-10-21) |
| Young's mother and deacon Yeom Eun-suk is diagnosed with uterine cancer. Her condition worsens despite undergoing costly surgery; Young becomes her caregiver at the hospital. Seeking grounding, Young joins a philosophy club, where he befriends No Yeong-su despite an unpleasant start. Over time, Young develops a crush on Yeong-su. Meanwhile, Eun-suk pressures Young about marriage, though flashbacks reveal the trauma of his own parents' divorce. On Halloween, Young and Yeong-su engage in a deep philosophical conversation about the universe over dinner, culminating in Yeong-su's confession and a passionate kiss. The two shortly begin dating. |||||
| 4 | "A Piece of Rockfish, a Taste Out of This World" Transliteration: "Ureong han jeom ujuui mat" (Korean: 우럭 한 점 우주의 맛) | Hur Jin-ho | Sang Young Park | October 21, 2024 (2024-10-21) |
| Eun-suk discovers a Polaroid print of Young and Yeong-su. Despite undergoing a second surgery, her health continues to decline. Weeks into their relationship, Young grows frustrated with Yeong-su's strong aversion to any public displays of their relationship. One night, he finds an unfinished research report on Yeong-su's laptop, revealing deep-seated homophobic beliefs which uncover his own buried traumas from being sent to conversion therapy by his mother. Over dinner, Yeong-su reveals he is relocating to the United States for a job and ends their relationship. A heartbroken Young strikes him, then returns home and attempts suicide, though he survives. One year later, Young, now an accomplished writer, receives an apology letter from Yeong-su and a piece titled A Bite of Rockfish, A Taste of the Universe, referencing their first night together; Young discards both. Discovering the Polaroid print with his mother, Young realizes her quiet acceptance and shares a heartfelt moment with her as she expresses her love and regret. |||||
| 5 | "Love in the Big City" Transliteration: "Daedosiui sarangbeop" (Korean: 대도시의 사랑법) | Hong Ji-young [ko] | Sang Young Park | October 21, 2024 (2024-10-21) |
| Eun-suk passes away. After her funeral, Young signs her death certificate and claims the insurance she had arranged after her initial diagnosis. Later, an altercation at a club instigated by Ji-tae leaves Young with a bleeding lip. He is helped by Sim Gyu-ho, a bartender, whom Young impulsively kisses. The following night, Gyu-ho returns a brooch Young dropped and they go for drinks. Gyu-ho spends the night at Young's place but leaves early in the morning, missing the chance to exchange numbers. After meeting with Mi-ae and her sister-in-law, Young visits Gyu-ho at his club, and the two become closer over time. Eventually, while strolling along the Seoul City Wall, Gyu-ho officially asks Young out. Young confesses he is HIV positive, a diagnosis he refers to as "Kylie," after an artist he was listening to on the night he contracted it. Gyu-ho tearfully embraces him, nicknaming him "Crabby Tabby." |||||
| 6 | "Love in the Big City" Transliteration: "Daedosiui sarangbeop" (Korean: 대도시의 사랑법) | Hong Ji-young | Sang Young Park | October 21, 2024 (2024-10-21) |
| Young introduces Gyu-ho to his friends, who take a liking to him—something Young admits has never happened in any of his previous relationships. To secure an office job, Young has Gyu-ho impersonate him for a required blood test to conceal his HIV status. The ruse works, and Young is hired. Gyu-ho moves in with Young and begins working full-time as a nurse's aide. As the year passes, the couple's relationship becomes strained due to constant arguing, Young's preoccupation with writing, and a lack of intimacy. Following Eun-soo's advice, Young and Gyu-ho take a trip to Bangkok, but the rekindled passion proves fleeting. Gyu-ho receives a promotion to head nurse along with a placement in China. Initially set on joining him, Young discovers that his company's office placements require an HIV blood test and is immediately discouraged. Despite Gyu-ho's wish to remain with Young, Young insists he go alone and feigns a supportive front, masking his true emotions until Gyu-ho's departure at the airport. Alone on the train ride home, Young finally allows himself to cry. |||||
| 7 | "A Vacation in the Late Rainy Season" Transliteration: "Neujeun ugiui bakangseu" (Korean: 늦은 우기의 바캉스) | Kim Se-in | Sang Young Park | October 21, 2024 (2024-10-21) |
| A year after his separation from Gyu-ho, Young quits his job to pursue writing full-time. His novel, Love in the Big City, a fictionalized account of his relationship with Gyu-ho, garners massive success and wins the International Dublin Literary Award. Young's estranged father and CEO of a mattress company, Go Jin-chul, gifts him a mattress, only for Young to discover it is linked to carcinogenic reports. Eun-soo celebrates his engagement at a club with Ji-tae, Ho-min, and Young, where a bartender tells Young that Gyu-ho is returning to Seoul. In the meantime, Young matches with "Q" on a dating app and, seeing references of "Kylie Wilde," the artist associated with his HIV diagnosis, hopes "Q" is Gyu-ho. However, "Q" is revealed to be Takahashi Ikuo, a Japanese man who goes by William Habibi. During their second meeting, William invites Young join him in Bangkok. |||||
| 8 | "A Vacation in the Late Rainy Season" Transliteration: "Neujeun ugiui bakangseu" (Korean: 늦은 우기의 바캉스) | Kim Se-in | Sang Young Park | October 21, 2024 (2024-10-21) |
| While William attends business meetings, Young explores Bangkok alone, reminiscing about his previous visit with Gyu-ho and moments from their relationship. He contemplates how his life might have been different without "Kylie" and attributes his failed relationship with Gyu-ho to his insecurities. After a night out drinking, Young discovers messages from William's partner on William's phone, along with a family photo as his wallpaper. Convinced that he sought familiarity rather than love in Bangkok, Young leaves a letter before departing while William is asleep. Back in Seoul, Young moves out of his apartment and relocates. He reflects that he wrote about his past relationships to understand their failures, but still feels he has much to learn about love. |||||

## Production

In October 2023, Love in the Big City began its production after casting Nam Yoon-su as the lead actor. The screenplay was directly written by Sang Young Park, the original author of the same-name novel the series is based on, while four film directors – namely Hur Jin-ho, Hong Ji-young [ko], Son Tae-gyeom, and Kim Se-in took – directed two episodes each; Merrychristmas and Big Stone Studio co-produced it.

## Release

Love in the Big City was scheduled to be released on an OTT platform in the second half of 2024. In August 2024, TVING confirmed that the series would premiere on its platform on October 21, 2024. On October 8, the series was confirmed to release all eight episode on its premiere date, instead of two episodes a week for four weeks, to capitalize on the drama's strengths as a film that blends various genres. It was also made available to stream on Viki.

## Reception
### Controversy

Love in the Big City faced backlash from conservative groups in South Korea who started protesting to cancel the broadcast, claiming that its "glamorization and promotion" of homosexuality would "significantly affect" children. This is despite an age restriction imposed by South Korean laws on the series due to the display of sex, drugs, and self harm. During a press conference to promote the drama, Nam Yoon-su commented that he didn't care about the negative reactions as people's perspectives are ever-changing.

### Accolades
#### Listicles

Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement :
| Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement |
| Cine21 | 2024 | Top 10 Series of 2024 | 4th place |
| Teen Vogue | 2024 | 13 Best BL Dramas of 2024 | Included |
| Teen Vogue | 2024 | 13 Best K-Dramas of 2024 | Included |
| Time Magazine | 2024 | The 10 Best K-Dramas of 2024 | 3rd place |