Love in the Big City poster
#1028 This Week

Love in the Big City

Love in the Big City  ·  2024, South Korea
7.9
2,225 ratings
8
Episodes
0
Watchlisted
● Completed 🕑 2024

A gay man, Ko Yeong, and his straight roommate, Mi Ae, navigate love, societal judgment, and personal growth. Ko Yeong's love story unfolds through Mi Ae's perspective, as he faces his mother's denial of his sexuality…

Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Episodes
Reviews (7)

In the neon-lit heart of Seoul, *Love in the Big City* is a bold, intimate, and painfully human exploration of what it means to love, lose, and learn to live authentically. The series follows Ko Yeong (Nam Yoon Su in a career-defining performance), a witty, free-spirited gay man whose life is a kaleidoscope of passionate romances, fierce friendships, and quiet heartbreaks. From the vibrant chaos of college nights to the sobering responsibilities of adulthood, Yeong’s journey is narrated through the eyes of his straight roommate and soulmate-best friend, Choi Mi Ae (Lee Soo Kyung). Their unbreakable bond provides the emotional anchor as Yeong navigates a string of significant relationships—each one a mirror reflecting his deepest fears and desires. There’s the earnest, steady photographer who wants forever; the charismatic but closeted activist who brings both heat and hurt; and the tender, accepting nurse who finally makes him feel safe. But Yeong’s greatest struggle isn’t just finding love—it’s the weight of his mother’s denial, the sting of societal judgment, and a secret he carries that threatens to define him. This isn’t a conventional romance; it’s a raw, unflinching portrait of a man learning to accept himself, even when the world refuses to. With stunning cinematography, a genre-defying narrative that lets each love story breathe, and the courage to tackle themes like HIV stigma and chosen family, *Love in the Big City* is a groundbreaking series that celebrates the messy, beautiful, and sometimes devastating reality of queer life in modern Korea.

E01
1
Love in the Big City Episode 1
Season 1 · Oct 21, 2024
~ min
E02
2
Love in the Big City Episode 2
Season 1 · Oct 21, 2024
~ min
E03
3
Love in the Big City Episode 3
Season 1 · Oct 21, 2024
~ min
E04
4
Love in the Big City Episode 4
Season 1 · Oct 21, 2024
~ min
E05
5
Love in the Big City Episode 5
Season 1 · Oct 21, 2024
~ min
E06
6
Love in the Big City Episode 6
Season 1 · Oct 21, 2024
~ min
E07
7
Love in the Big City Episode 7
Season 1 · Oct 21, 2024
~ min
E08
8
Love in the Big City Episode 8
Season 1 · Oct 21, 2024
~ min
7.9
out of 10
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111
QH
queer_heart_throb
November 2024
9/10
I am completely shattered and rebuilt. Gyu Ho is the most beautiful love interest I've ever seen in a BL—the way he looks at Go Yeong with those soft eyes, the quiet acceptance of 'Kylie,' the kitchen dancing... my heart can't take it. Yeong is infuriating and self-destructive, but I understood every single one of his fears. This isn't a fluffy love story; it's a scarred, aching, real romance that made me cry for hours. Nam Yoon Su and Jin Ho Eun gave everything. I'll never recover.
PP
plot_police_101
January 2025
6/10
I appreciate the ambition, but the execution is flawed. The show drags in the middle episodes—too many repetitive club scenes and circular arguments with his mother. The HIV plot is introduced as a twist and then barely affects the story; it feels like a shock value checkbox rather than an integrated theme. Also, the narrative device of Mi Ae's perspective pretty much disappears after episode 3. The ending is an anti-climax. Great acting wasted on inconsistent writing.
LA
lens_and_light
October 2024
8/10
Visually, this is a masterpiece. Every frame is drenched in meaning—the warm neon glow of the club, the harsh fluorescent lights of the hospital, the soft golden hour in Yeong's tiny apartment. Episode 3 and 4 are the most beautifully lit sequences I've seen in any BL; the use of shadows to represent Yeong's isolation is brilliant. Even the fashion evolves subtly. A treat for anyone who loves cinematic storytelling through visuals alone.
NP
novel_purist_seoul
December 2024
7/10
Having read Park Sang Young's novel, I was both excited and nervous. The drama captures the emotional core and the raw voice of Go Yeong, but it compresses and rearranges the timeline. The 'Habibi' storyline feels rushed and less impactful than in the book. I also missed the deeper exploration of Yeong's writing process. However, the actors embody the characters perfectly—especially the chemistry between Yeong and Mi Ae. A solid adaptation that stands on its own, even if it loses some nuances.
MO
melody_of_seoul
March 2025
6/10
I was hoping for a soundtrack that would stay with me, but honestly, I can't recall a single song except the opening theme. The background music is often too sparse or generic. There's a jazz piece playing during the bar scenes that fits the mood, but overall the OST feels like an afterthought. For a drama that relies so heavily on atmosphere, the music should have been more distinctive. Disappointing for someone who lives for the music in dramas.
CA
critical_ally
February 2025
7/10
This series takes important steps by making a gay man the explicit center and showing his struggles with homophobia and HIV. But I have concerns: the female best friend as the 'straight gatekeeper' narrative device is tired—why not a queer female friend? Also, Yeong's failure to disclose his HIV status to multiple sexual partners is passed over without ethical scrutiny. The show doesn't fully address the burden of internalized shame or promote safe sex message. It's a brave work, but it could have been more accountable.
FG
friend_group_lover
November 2024
8/10
Forget the main romance—the real heart of this show is the friendship squad. Yeong's chaotic, loyal, hilarious gay friends who are there for every break-up, every club night, every meltdown. They are the true 'found family' and I loved every second of their screen time. And Mi Ae? Her quiet support through the years, even when they drift apart, is devastatingly beautiful. If you love side characters who steal the spotlight, this is for you. The main romance is fine, but the friendships are everything.