Pure Love (film)

This article is about the 2016 South Korean film. For the 2013 South Korean TV series, see Pure Love (2013 TV series). For 2014 Philippine TV series, see Pure Love (2014 TV series).
Pure Love
Promotional poster
Directed byLee Eun-hee
Screenplay byHan Chang-hoon
Lee Eun-hee
Produced byJeong Mun-gu
Bang Mi-jung
Joo Pil-ho
StarringDoh Kyung-soo
Kim So-hyun
CinematographyLee Joon-gyoo
Edited byKim Hyeong-joo
Production
company
Jupiter Film
Distributed byLittle Big Pictures
Release date
  • February 24, 2016 (2016-02-24)
Running time
113 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
Box officeUS$1.5 million[1]

Pure Love (Korean: 순정; RR: Sunjeong), released internationally as Unforgettable, is a 2016 South Korean romantic drama film starring Doh Kyung-soo and Kim So-hyun. It is based on the short story titled '저 먼 과거 속의 소녀 (The Girl in the Distant Past)' by novelist Han Changhoon.[2] The film was commercially successful.

Plot

In 2014, a radio DJ gets a letter from his first love that brings up almost-forgotten memories of the past.

23 years ago in 1991, five friends spend the summer together. One of them, shy and innocent Beom-sil falls in love with Soo-ok. Beom-sil has a noticeable crush on Soo-ok and waits by the girl's window during the summer. Soo-ok suffers from a leg injury that renders her unable to walk properly so she is always carried by Beom-sil. The love blossoms and how he always sees her as the girl he had want to marry.[3]

Cast

Production

Pure Love is based on a short story by Han Changhoon, who based it on a true story. Initially, the film was set to take place in Geomundo, Yeosu, as Han was from there. However, director Lee Eun-hee decided to film in her hometown of Goheung instead, which was in a recession at the time.[4] The main idea of the film came from her realization "what if a 40-year-old man recalls the moment when he was 17?".[5] This was also her directorial debut.[4]

Park Yong-woo was among the first actors to be cast.[6] On May 29, 2015, Doh Kyung-soo, Kim So-hyun, Lee David, Yeon Joon-seok, and Joo Da-young were announced to be joining the cast.[7] Park Hae-joon and Kim Ji-ho were confirmed to round out the cast, with a cameo from Lee Beom-soo.[8] A month before filming, the actors were trained in Jeolla dialect. Producer Joo Pil-ho encouraged the use of this dialect to correct stereotypes of this dialect, which had been associated with "gangsters" and "poor people" in mass media.[2]

Filming began on 22 June 2015 in Goheung County, South Jeolla Province.[9] During days when there was no filming, Kim So-hyun would explore Goheung and listen to the residents' stories in order to get to know the village better. Throughout filming, whether the cameras were rolling or not, director Lee Eun-hee encouraged the main leads to always hold hands. In one of the scenes where Doh Kyung-soo had to carry Kim So-hyun, he did it on a broken ankle, as he had injured it during Exo's concert overseas.[4]

The film used a mix of popular English and Korean songs from the 1980s including Kansas's "Dust in the Wind", A-ha's "Take on Me", Shin Hae-chul's "Summer Story", and Kang Soo-ji's "Purple Fragrance".[10] "Purple Fragrance" was sung by Kim So-hyun featuring drums by Park Yong-woo.[11]

50% of the film's profits were donated to UNICEF.[2]

Release

Pure Love premiered in theaters on February 24, 2016.[12][13] It was released internationally as Unforgettable.[14] Fans of Doh Kyung-soo opened a temporary movie theater in CGV Yeouido to celebrate the film's release.[15]

Reception

The Hollywood Reporter described it as "a bittersweet coming-of-age tragic romance", but with less emotional impact due to its direction and performances. Doh's performance was called out, as he "...never manages to infuse Bumsil with anything beyond surly teen angst".[15]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Recipient Result
2016
 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards Most Popular Actor (Film)
Do Kyung-soo
 Won

Legacy

Photographer Song Jeong-geun published a photo book titled 'Pure Love' containing the scenery of the filming locations.[2]

References

  1. ^ UNFORGETTABLE (2016)
  2. ^ a b c d Jeon, Se jong (2016-02-23). [인터뷰]영화 '순정' 주필호 주피터필름 대표. The Asia Business Daily (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  3. ^ Unknown
  4. ^ a b c Yoo, Seul-gi (February 24, 2016). 연기 경력 11년 '멜로 신동'. topclass.chosun.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2016-09-20. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  5. ^ "EXO's D.O. and Kim So-hyun 'in a mood of first love' filming the upcoming movie". Kpop Herald. 2016-01-06. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  6. ^ "Interview with Doh Kyung-soo of EXO on new movie Pure Love". Get It K. 4 January 2016. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  7. ^ "EXO's D.O, Kim So Hyun, and Lee David to star in upcoming film "Pure Love"". Koreaboo. 2015-05-29. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  8. ^ 도경수 부터 박용우까지..영화 '순정' 라인업 확정. Star News (in Korean). 2015-06-24. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  9. ^ Jones, Julie (22 June 2015). "Filming Has Started For D.O. and Kim So Hyun's Pure Love". KDramaStars. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  10. ^ Choi, Jae (December 23, 2015). 도경수 김소현 주연 '순정', 2016년 2월 개봉 확정!. 데일리한국. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  11. ^ '순정' 김소현이 부른 '보라빛 향기', 박용우가 드럼 연주를?. February 23, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  12. ^ "EXO's D.O. wants to play evil role". K-pop Herald. 4 February 2016. Archived from the original on 5 August 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  13. ^ Team, The Korea Daily Digital (2016-02-24). "[Kmovie Spotlight] New Movie 'Pure Love' Released Today, Starring D.O and Kim So Hyun". The Korea Daily. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  14. ^ Kerr, Elizabeth (2016-06-22). "'Unforgettable': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-06-19.
  15. ^ a b "EXO fans to open "Do Kyung-soo Theater"". The Korea Times. 22 February 2016. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2016.j
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