Guide to Cast and Characters in Love in The Big City: Who’s Playing Who in the Romance Drama

On October 21, 2024, TVING unveiled its latest K-drama, Love in The Big City, featuring an ensemble cast including Nam Yoon-su, Jin Ho-eun, Kwon Hyuk, and others. This series is adapted from Sang Young Park’s hit novel, which chronicles the life of an HIV-positive gay man seeking romance in the vibrant city of Seoul.

In the drama, Nam Yoon-su portrays the charming and spirited Go Young, a gay man who resides with a straight female friend, Choi Mi-ae (played by Lee Soo-kyung). Their unexpected bond adds a layer of depth and heart to the storyline. Accompanying Go Young are three inseparable gay friends: Eun-soo, Ji-tae, and Ho-min, who embody the loyalty of lifelong friendships.

Below is the main cast of the acclaimed TVING series Love in The Big City:

Nam Yoon-su: Go Young
Jin Ho-eun: Shim Gyu-ho (Go Young’s ultimate love interest)
Kwon Hyuk: Kim Nam-gyu (One of Go Young’s romantic prospects)
Na Hyun-woo: No Young-su (Another of Go Young’s love interests)
Lee Soo-kyung: Choi Mi-ae (Go Young’s roommate)
Oh Hyun-kyung: Yeom Eun-sook (Go Young’s mother)
Jung Chan-young: Jeon Eun-soo (Go Young’s closest friend)
Do Yu: Park Ji-tae (Go Young’s second best friend)
Lee Hyun-so: Han Ho-min (Go Young’s third best friend)

A Multifaceted Adaptation: From Bestselling Novel to Film and K-drama

Love in The Big City has been brought to life both as a cinematic release and a K-drama adaptation, remaining true to the essence of Sang Young Park’s acclaimed work. The film premiered on October 3, 2024, and stars Kim Go-eun (known for Little Women) and Noh Sang-hyun (from Pachinko). This version consists of eight episodes, with the drama airing shortly after.

The film tells the story of Heung-soo, an HIV-positive gay man, portrayed by Noh Sang-hyun, who lives with a straight woman named Jae-hee (Kim Go-eun). This movie captures their unique camaraderie as two individuals navigate the realities of love against the backdrop of Seoul.

In contrast, the K-drama adaptation alters the characters’ names and delves deeper into Go Young’s narrative of love and self-discovery. Nam Yoon-su embodies Go Young, who has been sharing a home with Choi Mi-ae since their university days. However, life takes a turn when Mi-ae secures a job and eventually marries a senior colleague.

Go Young remains in the same apartment for nearly ten years, during which he experiences love and heartbreak, grappling with profound personal struggles. Unlike the film, this series places less emphasis on his dynamic with Mi-ae and instead focuses on Go Young’s exploration of his emotions, unhealthy traits, and sexual identity.

You can catch the K-drama Love in The Big City streaming on TVING, a popular South Korean OTT platform, and on Viki.

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