Gong Myung, Shin Eun-soo lead nostalgic romance 'Love Untangled,' set in 1998 Busan

Director Namkoong Sun said her new Netflix movie “Love Untangled” is a work filled with small, relatable moments, adding, "It will be a movie that audiences can enjoy comfortably and with an open heart."

"Teenagers are obsessed with the little things. This film captures that feeling well," the director said during a press conference in Seoul Monday.

According to the director, curly hair plays a central role in the film.

"It's a setting that can reflect the feelings of teenagers, not just the protagonist, who suffers because of their appearance," she said.

"The curly hair is the protagonist's complex, something she can't control. Our film asks viewers if it's really necessary to change that."

"Love Untangled" is a teen romance set in Busan in 1998. It follows 19-year-old Park Se-ri (Shin Eun-soo) as she makes a plan to overcome her lifelong complex by straightening her curly hair and then confessing her love to her crush. But things get complicated when she gets entangled with a new transfer student, Han Yun-seok (Gong Myung).

"Han Yun-seok is a very gentle and emotional character," Gong said. "I wanted to show my most youthful and lovely image and express the character's feelings as realistically as possible."

Regarding playing a high school student despite being in his early 30s, Gong said, "I've actually seen reactions online saying I look like a student-teacher. But I don't think they'll think that once the film is released."

Shin, who leads the film alongside Gong, introduced her character as bright and full of energy.

"Park Se-ri has a very bright and positive energy, and she has a charm that makes people feel good just by seeing her," she said. "She's similar to my own personality that comes out when I get close and comfortable.”

Shin also took on her first Busan dialect acting challenge through Park Se-ri.

"Before filming, I met with a dialect coach two to three times a week for lessons. I even marked the pitch and kept listening to the coach's recordings," Shin said. "Also, I had help from the two Busan natives (Cha Woo-min, Yoon Sang-hyun)."

Regarding the choice of 1998 as the film's backdrop, the director said it was because that period was a culturally optimistic era.

"It wasn't a time without anxiety, but it was a period with a strange cultural optimism. It was the time when the first generation of idol singers came out in Korea, new things exploded in the pop culture scene and new doors were opening for young people," the director said.

Actor Cha Woo-min plays Kim Hyeon, the most popular boy in school. Cha revealed that he strived to fit the title of the undisputed popular guy who everyone knows at school.

"I was drawn to the fact that the film is set in Busan, and I thought it was a calm and cute script among the ones I've recently received, which was appealing," Cha said.

Yoon Sang-hyun plays Baek Seong-rae, a friend who helps Se-ri with her confession.

"Since I'm from Busan, the fact that the setting was Busan was appealing. It also had youth romance and comedy, which I found attractive," the actor said.

"Love Untangled" will be released on Netflix Aug. 29.