Even Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung Couldn’t Save This Film—Now It’s a Netflix Top 10 Hit

A Korean film that barely crossed 76,000 theatergoers during its original run has made a remarkable comeback—landing a spot in Netflix Korea’s Top 10 six years after its release.

The film Trade Your Love (directed by Park Ho-chan and Park Soo-jin), which premiered on February 27, 2019, was released on Netflix on April 26, 2025. Despite its poor box office performance at the time, it recently ranked 9th on Netflix Korea’s “Top 10 Movies Today,” sparking a surprise reverse-trend phenomenon.

Trade Your Love follows Seong-seok (Kim Dong-wook), the heir to an airline empire, and Hae-joo (Go Sung-hee), a former track star, who agree to a fake marriage for three years to gain personal freedom. He needs to marry to claim his inheritance, while she wants to escape her family’s pressure to wed. Together, they navigate their sham relationship with comical and heartfelt consequences.

While the plot might sound like a typical rom-com, the film stands out for its perspective on marriage—not as an end goal, but as a process. Through the lens of two individuals seeking autonomy and self-growth, it offers a modern take on love, independence, and societal expectations. This progressive message has resonated with younger Netflix viewers, contributing to its unexpected resurgence.

Kim Dong-wook brings charm and wit to the role of Seong-seok, while Go Sung-hee delivers a strong, relatable performance as Hae-joo. Their chemistry adds depth and emotional pull to the story.

The film’s newfound popularity also reflects a broader trend in the streaming era. Much like Stellar (2022), which flopped in theaters but found success on Netflix, Trade Your Love has benefited from the platform’s expansive user base and powerful recommendation algorithm. These factors make it possible for previously overlooked films to be “rediscovered” and appreciated by new audiences.

Viewer reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, with comments like:

“Kim Dong-wook carried the film.”

“Surprisingly meaningful message.”

“It struck a nice balance—funny but not over-the-top.”

“The ending wasn’t predictable, which made it even better.”

Strong performances from the supporting cast—featuring Hwang Bo-ra, Kim Eui-sung, Yum Jung-ah, Lim Ye-jin, Jo Woo-jin, Lee Jung-jae, and Jung Woo-sung—have also been praised.

Directors Park Ho-chan and Park Soo-jin reportedly co-wrote ten pages of the script daily, giving each scene individual attention and revisions for quality.

This Netflix success story demonstrates how Korean cinema can thrive in the digital age. While Trade Your Love was once labeled a box office failure, it now represents a turning point—proof that great content can find its audience, even years later.

Current Netflix Korea Top 10 Movies (May 2025):

The Match (Lee Byung-hun)

Lost Bullet 3

Exterritorial

The Culprit

Harbin (Hyun Bin)

About Family (Lee Seung-gi)

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning

Haebok

Trade Your Love

Lim Young-woong: I’m Hero – The Stadium

With Netflix audiences giving it a second life, Trade Your Love is fast becoming a case study in how digital platforms can revitalize overlooked cinema—and possibly set a precedent for future K-content breakthroughs globally.

Film Info – Trade Your Love (2019):

Release Date: February 27, 2019

Rating: 12+

Genre: Romance / Comedy

Runtime: 87 minutes

Distributor: CGV Arthouse

Country: South Korea

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