Latest news with #Mi-ji
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Unwritten bonds, unspoken pain
A slow-burn drama about identity and emotional healing, Our Unwritten Seoul, directed by Kim Yun-joo, proves not all stories need fireworks to make an impact. The 2025 tvN series, also available on Netflix, is a deeply introspective piece powered by subtle performances and a quietly poignant script. Dual lives of twin sisters At the centre of this tender narrative are Yoo Mi-ji and Yoo Mi-rae, twin sisters who could not be more different, both played with extraordinary precision by Park Bo-young. Mi-ji is a reclusive writer battling panic attacks and professional burnout, while Mi-rae is an energetic drama script coordinator masking her emotional fatigue with forced optimism. A surprise reunion leads the estranged sisters to impulsively swap lives. What begins as escapism turns into a revealing emotional journey, as each sister is forced to confront not only the life the other lives but also the emotional burdens they have tried to ignore for years. This is not a dramatic identity switch in the conventional sense, but more a study of empathy and long-suppressed pain. The writing leans into psychological realism, gently pulling viewers into the emotional lives of its characters with patience and care. Cast and characters Bo-young is unquestionably the heart of the series. Known for her expressive eyes and emotionally resonant performances, she steps into two completely distinct roles and she disappears into both. As Mi-ji, she captures the heavy stillness of someone suffocating under her own thoughts while as Mi-rae, she reveals the fatigue of a woman trying too hard to hold herself together. The transition between these characters is seamless, never once feeling like a performance trick. Supporting her is Park Jin-young, who plays Ji-won, Mi-rae's co-worker and a man who learns to see beyond surface identities. His portrayal is grounded and gentle, serving as a steady emotional counterbalance to the chaos the sisters navigate. Ryu Kyung-soo also shines as Han, someone with a restrained presence that slowly unravels as he bonds with Mi-rae. Their scenes are filled with quiet intensity. Every performance, no matter how minor, feels emotionally real, never exaggerated, never hollow. Even the fleeting characters that pass through the twins' lives are written with a purpose, adding to the show's emotional richness. Beautiful slow burn Visually, Our Unwritten Seoul is shot in warm tones and natural light, leaning into minimalist cinematography that reflects the characters' inner solitude. Scenes are often slow, filled with silence or subtle expressions rather than exposition-heavy dialogue. This, however, is also where the series may test viewers' patience. The pacing in the first few episodes is undeniably slow, and it takes time before the emotional momentum builds. But when it does, the payoff is moving and memorable. That said, the drama's core themes of healing and the messy love between siblings are delivered with sincerity and depth. Our Unwritten Seoul airs every Saturday and Sunday on tvN, with new episodes available to stream on Netflix at the same time. PLOT: 7 ACTING: 7
The Review Geek
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Our Unwritten Seoul – K-drama Episode 8 Recap & Review
An Unconventional Whole Episode 8 of Our Unwritten Seoul begins with a look at Ho-su's past. He was never fully happy with Bun-hong being part of their family, given he was always so close with his father. After the death of his mother, the 'three eyes' in his family became two, and it upset the equilibrium of their group. When Bun-hong ended up as his step-mum, Ho-su wasn't particularly happy, wishing it could go back to 'two eyes' once again. Ho-su and his father wind up in a car accident not long after, explaining Ho-su's injuries. He moved in to this house with Bun-hong, opposite the twins, and did his best to seem fine on the outside. He didn't want to seem like a burden to her and tried to sail through without causing drama. Back in the present, Ho-su and Mi-ji are officially seeing each other but things are awkward between them. Mi-ji heads back to Seoul for the time being while Mi-rae stalls and learns from her mum that having one unemployed daughter 'is enough'. This doesn't help her case for quitting her job! Mi-rae shows up at the strawberry farm and winds up with a big plan about helping his farm to thrive. In return, he offers to bring her out on a stargazing expedition that night. It's a nice moment and the pair certainly grow closer during this time. Ro-sa is discharged and offered to enrol in the Adult Guardianship program. She doesn't know who else to ring so she calls Ho-su. Unfortunately, Chung-gu shows up and questions Ro-sa about Sang-wol. He gives her an ultimatum to sell her restaurant to the company, promising to bring up Sang-wol again before stirring the pot further. He explains his ties to Ho-su, calling him one of his 'favourite junior colleagues'. Ro-sa, as a result, is frosty toward Ho-su. Ok-hui's behaviour with the twins though is the complete opposite to Bun-hong and Ho-su. The pair over-indulge and go over the top with their affection, and it's clear there's an undercurrent of uncomfortableness that's never fully been addressed. Bun-hong tries to compensate for the void in their life, while Ho-su wants her to live freely without his 'burden'. Further flashbacks do help to flesh out this awkwardness. On the anniversary of the ancestral rites for his mum and dad, Ho-su was hurt and saw this as performative. He called out Bun-hong for this and pushed her away, encouraging her to leave him alone. But then when she did leave the house one night, having got the wrong bus, he realized how alone he actually is. As for Bun-hong, the reason for her delay was actually because she learned her mum was in hospital. Her sister, unfortunately, completely snubbed her and refused to help, leaving her in an unenviable position. Kicked out of one family and struggling to fit into another; Bun-hong ended up in an impossible position. Interestingly, this is also the first time that a young Mi-ji wound up seeing how vulnerable Ho-su actually was. Mi-ji and Ho-su's ties are very different now though and they awkwardly navigate their newfound romance. The pair hang out and while Ho-su is happy to call her his girlfriend, Mi-ji lies and pretends to be Mi-rae when a couple of Ho-su's old work friends show up. Mi-ji explains after that she didn't want to be an embarrassment to him but this only feeds into what he said earlier about being a burden, so they cut their day short. Mi-ji bemoans how she's ruined the day but things get worse at work when Mi-ji notices that a returning Park Sang-yeong looks exactly like her father. This now puts Mi-rae's words before about their father into more perspective, and Mi-ji begins spiralling. After composing herself, she speaks to Park at lunch about the HQ project. He wants one of them to stop working on this (namely Sang-yeon himself) so it'll give people less reason to gossip. He promises to take care of the repercussions and do what he can to help her. Mi-ji appreciates the sentiment but instead decides that she's going to drop out and wants him to make sure that she doesn't get penalized in any way. He also has a gift for her too, which happens to be a bookmark. To make things even more awkward, this guy also has a daughter called Mi-rae too. Park Sang-yeong is in the pocket of senior management though, and they scheme between Mi-ji's back that night. Park explains that she won't be a problem anymore now that she's dropped out (clearly using reverse psychology with her) and they contemplate moving her out to the Childal Branch 'before she causes trouble'. They suss that the identical twins may have switched and intend to test them later on in the episode. That night, after all the awkwardness, Mi-ji rings her sister and questions her about Park. She demands to know her side of the story. Mi-rae has kept this a secret because she obviously misses their father so much, and Mi-ji feels the exact same way. They've both kept this pain from each other and they break down crying on the phone together. At work, Tae-i is surprised that Mi-ji has dropped out of the HQ Project. Given she and Mi-rae are about to switch back again, she tells him to be nicer to her (ie. Mi-rae) in the future. Ok-hui shows up to see Bun-hong and helps wash her hair. Midway through, Bun-hong admits that she's been trying to act like Ho-su's mum all this time and only realized what a bad impression she's done until now. Ok-hui is surprisingly encouraging to her, pointing out what a great family they have. Meanwhile, Ho-su clears the air with Mi-ji and explains he just wanted them to have a normal date and it wound being really weird and awkward. He hands over a guidebook and instead of a handshake, the pair wind up hugging. Mi-rae shows up to see Se-jin and they aren't quite on the same wavelength. The thing is, Se-jin was earlier visited by Director Yoon and apparently there are plans for someone taking over for him as he's not sure he'll be able to finish this year's farming. Apparently he's thinking about leaving to go back to the States to work again. However, Mi-rae hears this through someone else so it's unclear if that's actually true or not. That night, Tae-i shows up and confronts Mi-ji. He arrives outside her house and explains that he's Kim Su-yeon's brother. She's the Senior Specialist who left the company. Back at work, things take a horrible turn when the senior management confront Mi-ji about her identity and encourage her to scan her fingerprint to enter the data processing room, leaving things on a tenuous cliffhanger. The Episode Review Our Unwritten Seoul closes out this weekend's double-bill with a big episode that ends things on a huge cliffhanger. It's unclear whether Mi-ji will be able to get out of this in one piece, and what the repercussions could be if she's outed as the wrong twin. The situation at work is made that much more complicated by the revealed about Park Sang-yeong and the scheming between the upper-management too. It's clear he's not a nice person and very much forcing Mi-rae (when she was working there) to keep her head down and not make any trouble. Of course, Mi-ji is not that same twin, and she may have unintentionally caused trouble for her sister at work. The ties between Ho-su and Mi-ji are at least a little better and cleared up somewhat by the end of the episode, while the drama involving Bun-hong and Ok-hui takes an unexpected turn when the latter is actually nice to her neighbour. As for Mi-rae, we've got more misunderstandings when it comes to the strawberry farm and I can't help but feel this is just going to be resolved by Se-jin explaining it's only a temporary gig rather than a permanent position. Either way though, the ending certainly leaves things on a big cliffhanger and we'll have to wait and see where this one goes next week. Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
The Review Geek
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Our Unwritten Seoul – K-drama Episode 6 Recap & Review
The Silent, Ever-Present Fool Episode 6 of Our Unwritten Seoul begins with Mi-ji's confession that she likes Ho-su. Of course, he's still under the impression that this is Mi-rae. However, her drunken antics come back to bite her in the morning when she realizes her memory has big gaps and she wakes up at Ho-su's place. Although she tries to explain herself, apparently Ho-su has already sorted things out, which only causes her to spiral even more! Mi-ji shows up at work late, where Tae-i has already got her some hangover cure medicine. It's a nice gesture, especially after their chat at the bar the previous night. When Mi-ji leaves, Ho-su finds himself pursued by Ji-yun, who brings him out to a restaurant. He continues to snap photos of her and tries to make future plans but he's very clearly not interested in her romantically. Still, that doesn't stop Ji-yun, who even tells Mi-ji (as Mi-rae) that she's 'got dibs' on him. Before all of this though, the Director brings Mi-ji along for the landowner meeting with Gyeong-min. The idiot manager fumbles his words and struggles to hold his own. Mi-ji effortlessly steps up and usurps Gyeong-min though, leaving him with egg on his face. Given how hard she worked on the project, and despite Gyeong-min chewing her out, all of this has helped her shine in the meeting. The misunderstanding trope continues here though after work, when Ji-yun stops by with Ho-su to drop off her bag. Mi-ji is still mulling over what happened that night but through flashbacks, we see that it's a simple case of her falling asleep on his shoulder and him taking her back to his place. There is slightly more to it but we'll wait until the end of the episode for that! Meanwhile, Mi-rae decides to hang in bed after quitting her job at the strawberry farm. Everybody is noticing her downcast behaviour, and both her mother and Gyeong-gu struggle to get through to her. Mi-rae is shying away from the rumours about Se-jin and her dating him, which is partly why she's quit. She's also worried and feeling anxious, which is something she relays to Mi-ji later on when they talk on the phone. In fact, Mi-rae wants to switch back the next week, which catches Mi-ji off-guard. Some of this stems from her work project with the returning Park heading back to the office. Now, it would appear something has happened between them but we don't know what just yet. Instead, Mi-ji is thrown into the fire when Lee Chung-gu arrives wanting to discuss Ro-sa and the HQ Project. He hands over a confidential file, explaining how they're building an LRT station at the new HQ site. This is a big project but she's sworn to secrecy, which only makes things more awkward – especially with the switch-back occurring soon and her own moral compass swaying toward telling Ro-sa the truth. Her inner-turmoil is only made worse when she finds out Ho-su and Ji-yun are going to the wedding that weekend together. Seung-hyeon rings and suggests they go too, and she reluctantly agrees. Ho-su rings though and asks to meet, given he's found her watch that she left at his the previous night. As they sit and talk, Mi-ji discusses the dilemma regarding Ro-sa's building and the confidential planning looking to take place. Ho-su encourages her to drop it when she brings it up, reiterating that she could get in massive trouble and he needs to keep her mouth shut. At work, Mi-ji is awkward and even more so when she believes Ro-sa might be keeping secrets too about her university days. For now, she plays dumb with Chung-gu but this is definitely going to come up in the episodes ahead! Speaking of secrets, the wedding goes ahead and all the guests attend… but there's a problem. No only has Mi-ji been invited, but so too has Mi-rae. And it's here where secrets are revealed. When Gyung-gu 'kidnaps' Mi-rae to get her to tag along, he mentions how he's got them a hotel room together. Mi-rae is livid and points out their boundaries and how it's not right. Of course, Mi-rae is unaware that Gyung-gu is gay, which spills out in dramatic fashion. Not only has Mi-ji known about Gyung-gu's sexuality, but so too has Ho-su. Back in school, Seung-hyeon convinced Gyeong-gu to give a public confession about his feelings to Mi-ji but Ho-su told him not to. Gyeong-gu didn't listen and instead, Seung-hyeon recorded the whole thing so he could make fun of him and get a kick out of the snubbed proposal. Ho-su, ever the loyal man, beat Seung-hyeon down in the classroom. Back at the wedding, Seung-hyeon talks smack about Gyeong-gu and Mi-ji at the table, eventually leading to our titular character leaving the wedding and ringing Ho-su. Funnily enough, when Ji-yun tries to stop him, bringing up how the twins have switched, he shrugs it off and tells her he already knows. Turns out, that drunken night at his place, Mi-ji answered Ho-su with her own name, which explains why he 'figured it out'. Mi-ji has always liked him and his foolish side, and its taken until now to figure that out. While they head home together, Mi-rae goes back to the strawberry farm, where Se-jin is struggling in the rain. We heard about the bad weather earlier in the episode, and she encourages him to head inside with her. He warns that them staying the night together is only going to fuel the rumours between them, but Mi-rae admits this is the only place for her that feels real, at least to her. Se-jin admits he likes the rumours between them, which is as good as a love confession I guess! As they stare at one another, the episode comes to a close. The Episode Review So this week's double bill of Our Unwritten Seoul comes to a close with a movement with both Mi-rae and Mi-ji's romantic endeavours. The swapping lives has been eye-opening for them both, better understanding what the other twin has been through and how difficult their lives are. The toxic work situation that Mi-ji has been thrown into looks like it could get a whole lot worse with this Park character returning, while Mi-rae has felt a bit directionless until she's met Se-jin. The idea of healing, growing and learning by switching lives with someone whom you believe has it better than you (and then eating humble pie when you realize their life is just as hard) is nicely realized and one of the stronger components of this show. The twins have been misunderstood their entire life and the fact their own mother can't tell them apart, but their grandmother can, from one single look at both Mi-ji and Mi-rae speaks volumes. Park Bo-young deserves a lot of credit here too because even without the hairstyles, the way she plays both Mi-ji and Mi-rae is instantly recognizable and distinguishable. This is definitely shaping up to be one of the stronger dramas this year and the chemistry between the two love interests is palpable. Roll on the next episode! Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
Straits Times
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
TV & Film Picks: Nine Puzzles, Our Unwritten Seoul, Lost In Starlight
(Clockwise from left) Park Bo-young in Our Unwritten Seoul, Kim Da-mi and Son Suk-ku in Nine Puzzles, and Lost In Starlight features the voices of Kim Tae-ri and Hong Kyung. PHOTOS: NETFLIX, DISNEY+ Nine Puzzles Disney+ Those who love solving puzzles will enjoy this cerebral crime thriller, which has become Disney+'s most-viewed South Korean title globally in 2025 – just nine days after the show's May 21 premiere. Kim Da-mi is Yoon E-na, a kooky crime profiler on the trail of a serial killer who leaves behind puzzle pieces at the crime scenes. Joining her in the cat-and-mouse game is Son Suk-ku's cynical detective Kim Han-saem. They may butt heads, but both are determined to catch the potential mastermind behind a decade-old cold murder case. If bingeing on Nine Puzzles is not enough, viewers can try their hand at solving crimes inspired by the series at the Nine Puzzles: Decoded interactive escape room experience. Find hidden clues and crack codes, and receive a personalised keepsake at the end of the nine challenges. The Nine Puzzles: Decoded pop-up is at Plaza Singapura (B2-17/18) until June 10. Entry is free, from 3 to 9pm on weekdays and 11am to 10pm on weekends. Our Unwritten Seoul Netflix With only four episodes in since its debut on May 24, Our Unwritten Seoul has already claimed the third spot on Netflix's global top 10 non-English shows chart. In the coming-of-age K-drama, South Korean actress Park Bo-young plays identical twins Yu Mi-ji and Yu Mi-jae, who happen to be polar opposites. Portraying two unique characters is already a challenge. Yet, the premise sees the sisters swopping identities, so Park is technically tasked to bring four distinctive personas to life. Elder twin Mi-jae works in a government agency in Seoul. Eager to please and always striving to be the best, the submissive woman falls from grace after a workplace incident and becomes a victim of office bullying. Meanwhile, bubbly and assertive Mi-ji lives in the countryside with their single mother and ailing grandmother. The over-achieving Mi-jae is favoured over the aimless Mi-ji, but the younger twin is the quiet pillar of strength in the family. Our Unwritten Seoul also stars K-idol Jinyoung from boy band Got7 as the twins' neighbour and Mi-ji's love interest. The 12-episode series about finding oneself is a slow-burner, and it works purely because of Park's versatile performance. Lost In Starlight 98 minutes, Netflix Lost In Starlight features the voices of Kim Tae-ri and Hong Kyung. PHOTO: NETFLIX Set in a futuristic Seoul, Lost In Starlight follows astro-scientist Nan-young and musician Jay's budding romance. Their relationship is put to the test when Nan-young gets accepted into a space programme that will take her to Mars. Can the star-crossed lovers make it through space and time, and achieve their dreams? These are some questions raised by South Korean film-maker Han Ji-won in this animated film. Oscar-winning South Korean director Bong Joon-ho praised Lost In Starlight as 'a visual masterpiece that takes you around the universe' in a statement accompanying the film's global release on May 30. Lost In Starlight is Netflix's first South Korean animation, and features the voices of award-winning actress Kim Tae-ri as Nan-young and actor Hong Kyung as Jay. Incidentally, both Kim and Hong first starred together in the acclaimed K-horror series Revenant (2023). Joanne Soh is a lifestyle correspondent at The Straits Times, with a special interest in entertainment and pop culture. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Mint
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
What to watch this week: ‘Eileen', ‘Karate Kid: Legends'
Eileen (Thomasin McKenzie) is a shy secretary at a corrections facility in the early 1960s, starved of excitement in a small town, having to take care of her alcoholic father. Her life changes when she comes under the spell of a mysterious and glamorous psychologist, Rebecca (Anne Hathaway). Hathaway radiates old-movie star charisma, Shea Whigham is wonderful as Eileen's father, and the atmosphere is straight out of Patricia Highsmith novel. Directed by William Oldroyd. (Netflix) A still from 'Our Unwritten Seoul'. Mi-ji and Mi-rae (played by Park Bo-young) are identical twins but differ in temperament. While Mi-ji lives with her mother, Mi-rae works in Seoul but is going through a rough patch, facing harassment from her boss. The sisters decide to switch places. The K-drama also stars Jinyoung. (Netflix) A still from 'Fountain of Youth'. An archaeologist teams up with his sister, a museum curator, to look for the fabled fountain of youth. This globe-trotting adventure stars Natalie Portman and John Krasinki, with a supporting cast of Eiza González, Arian Moayed and Stanley Tucci. While it doesn't exactly promise a deep philosophical experience, this sort of material is custom-made for director Guy Ritchie. (Apple TV+) A still from 'Karate Kid: Legends'. A potentially awkward merging of the universes of The Karate Kid, a 2010 film with Jackie Chan, and Cobra Kai, a spinoff series from the original trilogy that had its sixth and final season this year. Chan and Ralph Macchio star in Jonathan Entwistle's film along with Ben Wang, the latest kid who'll receive an exacting but life-changing training in martial arts. Also starring Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley and Ming-Na Wen. (In theatres)
