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지나쌤

Top stars billed for ‘Like for Likes’

Omnibus romantic comedy brings together big names, young and old

By KH디지털2

Published : Jan. 12, 2016 - 15:28

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Veteran stars, rising stars and rookies are all coming together to form the cast of the highly anticipated omnibus romantic comedy “Like for Likes,” from director Park Hyun-jin.

Featuring accomplished actresses Lee Mi-yeon and Choi Ji-woo, 2015’s trendiest actor Yoo Ah-in (“Veteran,” “The Throne”), TV variety show star Kim Joo-hyuk (“1 Night, 2 Days”), Kang Ha-neul (“Twenty”) and model and actress E Som, the film shows how three different 21st century couples fall in love using social media.



The cast of “Like for Likes” pose at a press at CGV Apgujeong in Seoul on Tuesday. (Yonhap) The cast of “Like for Likes” pose at a press at CGV Apgujeong in Seoul on Tuesday. (Yonhap)


The “Likes” in the title is a play on the “Like” function on Facebook, which becomes a bridge for the couples in the story.

“The scenes portray how people today utilize social media, which should be fun and relatable. It’s a romantic film that reflects current trends,” explained director Park Hyun-jin at a press conference at CGV Apgujeong on Tuesday.

Each of the three couples portrays a different type of relationship. Lee Mi-yeon and Yoo Ah-in play a prickly, seasoned star drama writer (Gyeong-ah) and cocky A-list actor (Jin-woo), respectively. They bicker and fight, but eventually grow close. Yoo, who had said that Lee was his ideal woman even before he began acting, said their real-life professional relationship was quite similar to their on-screen romantic one.

“It would be a very one-sided interest, and (Lee) would back away,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lee said that it was “uncomfortable, yet something new” to work with Yoo, whom she described as being very “unique.”

Choi Ji-woo plays a flight attendant named Ju-ran who seems smart and well put together on the outside, but is actually quite naive and clumsy. When she is defrauded out of her home, she moves in with her neighbor. The neighbor, Seong-chan (Kim Joo-hyuk), is nosy but kindhearted, and tries to help Ju-ran with her personal life.

Kang Ha-neul plays Su-ho, a character very similar to his role in “Twenty,” an innocent young man with no experience with women. Su-ho is yanked around by the coy Na-yeon (E Som), and they eventually find love as well.

“Like for Likes” is an easy, relatable romantic comedy for 2016 that is expected to follow the cozy vibe of Park’s previous romance, “Lovers of 6 Years,” featuring Kim Ha-neul and Yoon Kye-sang. “Like for Likes” opens in theaters Feb. 18.

By Won Ho-jung (hjwon@heraldcorp.com)