The film 'Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight' shot straight to No.1 on Netflix Korea’s “Today’s Top 10 Movies” chart just one day after its release.
The movie began streaming on Netflix on February 4 and quickly claimed the top spot. According to Netflix Korea’s movie rankings on February 5, 'Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight' ranked first, followed by Park Chan Wook’s 'No Other Choice' in second place and 96 Minutes in third. Other titles in the Top 10 included 'Karate Kid: Legend,' 'Missing You,' 'Despicable Me 4,' 'The Rip,' 'Cosmic Princess Kaguya!,' 'The Ugly,' and 'A Quiet Place: Day One.'
The film initially drew attention when it premiered in theaters on December 24, Christmas Eve. Directed by Kim Hye Young, the movie stars Choo Young Woo and Shin Si Ah in leading roles. It has a runtime of 106 minutes and is rated suitable for viewers aged 12 and up.
Released in theaters ahead of its streaming debut, the film ranked third on the daily box office chart on opening day, attracting 63,729 viewers. By its 17th day in theaters, it surpassed its break-even point and was seen as a positive early indicator for Korean box office performance in 2026. On its 23rd day, total admissions exceeded 800,000, with a final tally of 860,000 moviegoers.
The story centers on Han Seo Yoon (played by Shin Si Ah), a high school girl suffering from anterograde amnesia that causes her to lose all memories from the previous day whenever she falls asleep, and Kim Jae Won (played by Choo Young Woo), a boy drifting through life without goals or emotional connection. By chance, Jae Won begins a fake relationship with Seo Yoon, who sets strict conditions due to her illness. Through diaries, notes, and photographs, the two work to recover memories that vanish each day, gradually developing genuine feelings for one another. However, as Seo Yoon’s memory loss worsens and the secrets Jae Won has been hiding come to light, along with a tragic fate that awaits them, the couple is forced to face a painful choice.
The film is a Korean remake of a Japanese movie based on the bestselling novel by Ichijo Misaki. The original Japanese version drew a cumulative audience of 1.25 million in Korea, earning a reputation as an “essential MZ-generation romance.”
One key difference between the Japanese and Korean versions lies in emotional expression. While the Japanese film embraced restraint and subtlety, allowing space and silence to convey feeling, the Korean adaptation portrays the pain of memory loss and the agony of starting over each day in a more direct and emotionally intense way. Director Kim Hye Young previously emphasized her intention to reimagine the story as “the most Korean-style youth melodrama,” tailoring the emotional arc to resonate with local audiences.
For Choo Young Woo, this film marks his big-screen debut. He shared that he felt both nervous and deeply moved, calling it a project he had long wanted to take on. As a fan of both the original novel and the Japanese film, he expressed special affection for the story. Describing his character, Kim Jae Won, Choo Young Woo said the role depicts someone who appears cold and cynical but gradually reveals hidden warmth after meeting Seo Yoon, adding that he hoped to present a “textbook youth romance.” He also praised Shin Si Ah, noting that while she had often played strong roles, she is bright and lovable in real life, and said he was very satisfied with their on-screen chemistry.
Shin Si Ah, who plays Han Seo Yoon, explained that she approached the role with the mindset that “every moment has to feel like the first.” She focused on expressing emotions as if experiencing them anew each time and shared that she felt happy to portray a character she had admired in the original story. She emphasized balancing the playful, positive energy of a teenage girl with the sorrow of someone living with a devastating illness.
At the heart of the film is its central premise: a life where memories reset every day. In a world where even the person you love is forgotten after sleep, the narrative explores how emotions and relationships must be rebuilt again and again. The process of reviving love through records - diaries, notes, photographs, and videos - forms the emotional backbone of the story.
While maintaining the quiet, delicate tone characteristic of Japanese romance films, the Korean version weaves in local elements such as high school life, family dynamics, and friendships, reshaping the story into a distinctly Korean coming-of-age romance. The Christmas Eve release date and winter setting were also carefully chosen to align with domestic audience preferences.
The film has drawn additional interest as the first full-fledged romance pairing on the big screen for Choo Young Woo, known for dramas such as 'Mercy for None' and 'The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call,' and Shin Si Ah, who has appeared in 'Resident Playbook' and the film 'The Witch: Part 2. The Other One.' Their strong rapport, described in press screenings and interviews as “warm” and “adorable,” has made date scenes and everyday moments key highlights for viewers.
In its latter half, the film poses deeper questions: “If memories disappear, does love remain?” and “Is choosing what hurts less truly for the other person’s sake?” Through its melodramatic narrative, the movie has been praised for thoughtfully examining self-sacrifice, memory, and identity.
Following its successful theatrical run and strong word of mouth, the film arrived on Netflix relatively quickly, giving viewers who had seen the Japanese original, or read the novel, a chance to compare and reflect on the remake.
The Japanese version holds a domestic viewer rating of 7.94 out of 10, with comments such as “quiet and pure in emotion,” “the pacing accelerates too quickly at the end, but the emotional arc holds,” and “a guaranteed tearjerker.”
As of February 5, the Korean remake has earned a real-audience rating of 8.52. Viewers have shared reactions including, “If you’re an emotional type, you’ll sob… my sleeves were soaked,” “It beautifully translates the pure, aching mood into Korean sensibility,” “A classic melodrama that even fans of the original can accept,” “The Korean version hits much harder emotionally. I’m completely drawn into Choo Young Woo’s performance,” and “I watched it after seeing the Japanese version, and it was still excellent. A well-made remake.”
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