Soulmate (Korean: 소울메이트) is a 2023 South Korean romantic drama film directed by Min Yong-geun starring Kim Da-mi, Jeon So-nee and Byeon Woo-seok. The film, adapted from the Chinese film with the same name, deals with the essence of human relationships through 14 years of meeting and parting, friendship and love, longing and jealousy between two friends who first met at the age of 13. It was released theatrically on March 15, 2023. It premiered at the 28th Busan International Film Festival on October 5, 2023.
Contents
Overview
The film depicts the ups and downs of the relationship that two women born in 1988, Mi-so (Kim Da-mi) and Ha-eun (Jeon So-nee) go through as they grow up. The world between the two of them suffers a crack when there is a misunderstanding about their classmate, Jin-woo (Byeon Woo-seok) in their late teens. The free-spirited Mi-so leaves for the city to pursue an adventurous life while Ha-eun stays in her hometown to lead a stable life but still both remain in touch. Ha-eun continues her relationship with Jin-woo but decides to run away on their wedding day before exchanging vows and is pregnant with their child. Ha-eun and Mi-so get in touch soon after. Ha-eun dies during childbirth and Mi-so cares for her daughter and names her Ha-eun. Mi-so also finishes Ha-eun works and creates an exhibit to honour Ha-eun while keeping the death of Ha-eun a secret from Jin-woo.
Cast
Kim Da-mi as Ahn Mi-so, Ha-eun's best friend since childhood
Kim Soo-hyung as young Mi-so
Jeon So-nee as Go Ha-eun, Miso's bestfriend since childhood
Ryu Ji-an as young Ha-eun
Byeon Woo-seok as Ham Jin-woo, Ha-eun's crush and later became her boyfriend.
Heo Ji-na as Mrs.Ahn, Mi-so's mother
Jang Hye-jin as Mrs.Go, Ha-eun's mother
Park Chung-seon as Mr.Go, Ha-eun's father
Nam Yoon-su as Ki-hoon, Mi-so's boyfriend
Kang Mal-geum as a curator at an art museum
Oh Min-ae as Yeong-ok
Park Sung-yeon as Seong-yeon
Hyun Bong-sik as the owner of a fancy shop
Production
Principal photography began in August 2020 and ended in November 2020.
Reception
Box office
As of January 24, 2024, Soulmate has grossed $1.7 million with a running total of 234,775 tickets sold. (Kr: The movie achieved a cumulative audience of 234,556 people and a cumulative box office revenue of 2,266,169,069 won.)