Our Beloved Summer (2021)

December 11, 2022

Our Take: A love story focused on the essence of youth, growth, and progression.

The Premise

Our Beloved Summer centers around the unique love story of high school frenemies turned sweethearts Kook Yeon Soo (Kim Da Mi) and Choi Woong (Choi Woo Shik).

From the start, it's clear that Kook Yeon Soo and Choi Woong are opposites with drastically different personalities and approaches to school and life. In a twist of fate, both students get persuaded to participate in a documentary that contrasts the lives of the best and worst students in the class together. Their on-screen love-hate relationship goes viral, and by the end of filming, they fall for each other and start dating for several years before breaking up for an unknown reason.

Years later, their friend, documentary PD Kim Ji Woong (Kim Sung Cheol) convinces them to film a reunion special that follows them in the present day. Initially reluctant, Yeon Soo and Woong ultimately decide to participate in the film together, allowing them to finally address their lingering feelings for each other and potentially find closure.

The Story of Yeon Soo and Woong

On the outside, Yeon Soo and Woong couldn't be further apart.

Yeon Soo is strong-willed, independent, and extremely hardworking. An impoverished orphan raised by her grandmother, she masks her insecurities and poverty behind a cold exterior and self-righteous attitude. In her relentless drive to create a better life for herself and her grandmother, she consistently excels both in school and work. But in her ambitious pursuit for success, she finds herself living an unfulfilling life.

Woong is free-spirited, nonchalant, and introverted. He comes from a loving and financially well-off family who unconditionally loves him and supports his decision to become an artist. Because of his laid-back attitude, he comes off as someone without ambition or direction in life. But, he hides the trauma of getting abandoned by his biological father, hence his obsession with drawing buildings and their surroundings, which are timeless and permanent.

Despite their surface-level differences, it's clear that Yeon Soo and Woong are similar in that both are trying to make sense of the world and heal from past traumas and wounds. But, when they first started dating, they were not mature enough to be honest and open their hearts to each other. Instead, they tucked their insecurities away to protect themselves.

However, with a second chance at rekindling their relationship, they learn to lower their defenses and be vulnerable with each other. In doing so, they find solace in each other and emerge as two people who wholeheartedly love and accept each other despite their flaws and differences. They choose to see the good in each other and let go of their insecurities and fears of being abandoned or judged.

Letting Go of Your Pride

Being vulnerable is hard, scary, and may even feel dangerous. But what's even scarier is living a life full of regret and wondering how different our lives would be if we chose to be brave and show up.

Yeon Soo and Woong learn this lesson the hard way through the trials and tribulations they face together as a couple and as individuals navigating the world.

As the breadwinner, Yeon Soo shoulders the weight of having to take care of her family from a young age. When that burden becomes too much for her, she chooses to fight alone and abandon her relationships to survive, telling Woong, "You are the only thing I can throw away." In the process, she builds a tall wall around herself and carries the pressure and sadness of her responsibilities solo.

Woong's fears of abandonment lead him to live a lonely and secluded life despite being a famous artist. Outside of Yeon Soo, Ji Woong is his only real friend, and he seems unbothered by that. He purposefully chooses solitude because he doesn't have confidence in himself and his relationships with others. Like Yeon Soo, he would rather build a wall around himself than be vulnerable to avoid getting hurt.

But, as they both eventually learn, by being brave, you permit yourself to pursue a rich and honest life. Even if you fail or stumble along the way, at least you know that you're trying your best, and you won't have any regrets.

Normalizing Unconventional Career Paths

In many cultures, society prioritizes achievements and honors over pursuing your passions, which puts pressure on young people, in particular, to follow traditional career paths and conventional definitions of success. Kook Yeon Soo is a prime example of this as she focuses on building a career that can lift her out of poverty and improve her social standing.

Unlike most traditional Asian parents, Woong's parents fully support his decision to pursue his passion for art and tend to all his needs while he builds his career as an artist. With the luxury of his parents' support, after spending years honing his craft, he becomes a famous and successful artist. His success compared to Yeon Soo's illustrates that you can take the unconventional path and still be successful, perhaps even more successful than if you were to take the prescribed paths society tells you to.

The Power of Relationships

As humans, we are incredibly social creatures, but sometimes we forget about our relationships with others when we're busy chasing our careers and all the exciting and shiny things in life. Despite their successes, Yeon Soo, Woong, and Ji Woong remind us to cherish our relationships with our family and those we love.

The three of them always find time for the people they care for. Yeon Soo spends a lot of time with her grandmother and always does her best to make her feel special. Woong spends time lying next to his mom while she prepares food for her restaurants while Ji Woong always stops by to help the family manage their restaurants.

As we grow older, we inevitably spend more and more time alone. But, if we learn to slow down and be present, we can build healthier habits and make room for the people that matter to us.

The Price of Being Famous

NJ (Roh Jeong Eui) is a high-profile pop star who is always in the spotlight. Because of her celebrity status, she is subject to constant public ridicule and has zero privacy. Thus, even with all the fame and wealth, she often feels lonely and bored. When she meets Woong, she is drawn to his simple, easygoing lifestyle and naturally gravitates toward him.

Her perseverance and backstory remind us that celebrities are people too, and we should respect their privacy. It's easy to bully people through the Internet for whatever reason because we're not face-to-face with them. But, NJ's struggles call attention to the fact that directing hateful comments at people has consequences, and there are people on the opposite end receiving them. So, we need to remember to be kind always.

Final Thoughts

Our Beloved Summer is a heartwarming and comforting drama that explores the different seasons of life and the wisdom that comes with time. Throughout the show, we get space to slow down and reflect on our lives, to chase our dreams, and to know that it's okay to not be okay. Even when life gets tough, we can still find the strength to keep going from within us and from our friends and family, and know that something good will come.

If you are in need of comfort or a new perspective in life, I recommend giving Our Beloved Summer a try.