EXCLUSIVE: Korean coming-of-age film Love in the Big City is set for a streaming release in North America on Rakuten Viki on December 24.
Adapted from a novel of the same name, the film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, released domestically in South Korea on October 1 and was also named as the closing film for the London Korean Film Festival.
Love in the Big City stars Kim Go-eun (Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, Yumi’s Cells series) and Steve Sang-hyun Noh (Pachinko).
The novel was also adapted into an eponymous drama series in Korea on TVING, and available in North America and other territories on Rakuten Viki.
Love in the Big City tells the story of free-spirited Jae-hee (played by Kim), who stumbles upon a secret about Heung-soo (Noh Sang-hyun). Jae-hee and Heung-soo move in to live together, and the two “misfits” bond as they navigate the ups and downs of love and life.
“As the interest in Asian film continues to grow in North America and globally, we are building out a library of not only iconic titles, but also hits fresh from the box office,” said Jaehee Hong, SVP of Content at Rakuten Viki. “Love in the Big City is not only critically acclaimed, but also a title that has been at the center of a lot of cultural conversation, and many of our North American viewers are eager to have the opportunity to see it.”
Kyung Joon Lee, Managing Partner at 815 Pictures, the North American distributor of the film, said: “Love in the Big City is a work that beautifully portrays the story of two unique yet strong-willed young individuals living in the vast metropolis of Seoul in the 21st century. Through these two characters, the film blends touching moments, humor, and a very realistic depiction of navigating love and relationships in a bustling urban environment. I am so happy that this movie is finally being introduced to North America through Viki.”