Juggling between your love life and work life could be difficult at times. Netflix’s upcoming movie “Sweet & Sour” (새콤달콤) delves into the characters’ experiences on how they cope with the bittersweet phases of love.
The film stars Jang Ki Yong, Chae Soo Bin and also f(x)’s Krystal Jung. It centres on a pair of young couple (portrayed by the first two actors) who fell in love at first sight, but drifted apart due to work commitments. The story deals on relationships and how it affects their lives. The paradoxical title itself suggests the sweet and sour taste of it.
To get all of you pumped up for the premier of the romance movie, we’ve listed down 9 fun facts that fans need to know about “Sweet & Sour”. Check them out:
1. It’s a story that a lot of viewers can relate too
“Sweet & Sour” is a far cry from a rosy romantic fantasy tale that the audience have been treated to. Director Lee Kae-byeok shared, “Today’s young people face too many obstacles in finding love and keeping that love alive. I think that these are hard times to love. I wanted that reality reflected in the situations the characters face, and I focused on expressing those aspects in the story.”
Note: This is why the director chose the characters to be a nurse working rotating shifts and a temporary employee dreaming of working full-time at a large corporation. That brings us to the next point.
2. Relatable & realistic characters
Since “Sweet & Sour” portrays a realistic story, the characters are also realistic and very relatable. In the film, Jang Hyeok (played by Jang Ki Yong) is a hard worker who receives an opportunity to work at a large company and tries his best to become a full-time staff there. His GF Jung Da Eun (Chae Soo Bin) is a nurse who works many shifts with long hours.
Han Bo Yeong, who’s in a similar situation as Jang Hyeok, finds herself attached to him the more they spend time together. Krystal commented, “I found myself being able to relate to all three characters.” Soo Bin chimed in by saying, “I hope people can be comforted as they find themselves relating to the characters and understanding their emotions.”
3. The title was named after a candy flavour
Lee Kae Byeok revealed, “While I was working on the scenario, I had purchased some candy, and one of them was the chewy candy called “saekomdalkom” (which means sweet and sour). The candy was very tart and sweet that it blew my mind, but also melted away so quickly in my mouth that I wanted more.”
“It was such a mystery; a situation where you find yourself repeatedly reaching for something new. I decided then that this candy, which provided me with such a fascinating experience, should be the title of the film,” the 50-year-old was quoted as saying.
4. The cast on what drew them to star in the romantic flick
Lead actor Jang Ki Yong revealed, “As soon as I read the scenario, I immediately knew it would be so fun to play the part of Jang Hyeok. The scenario was so true to life. I began imagining how I’d play the part and looked forward to it. I’ve never been in a romance film before, so I wanted to try it out as well.”
Chae Soo Bin, who played the character Da Eun then shared, “After reading the scenario, I felt it was special and intriguing. There is a uniqueness to Sweet & Sour in how the film presents romance so realistically. I was drawn to that.”
“The story was so real that it felt like something one of my friends would say, ‘That actually happened to me!’ That kind of realism intrigued me. At the same time, the character Bo-yeong appealed to me
because she is the character who provides the show’s dramatic element. I also liked that her story is about someone in my own generation,” Krystal (Bo Young) commented.
5. Jang Hyeok is not just a cool guy, but he’s a real dude
According to Ki Yong, “Jang Hyeok, unlike the characters I played before, is not just a cool guy. He is a real guy, he has a lot of merits, but also shortcomings at the same time. I focused on making him down to earth, nothing too elaborate.”
He continued, “Director Lee Kae Byeok told me to just be myself. He wanted me to use my own tone of voice, my smile and my natural gestures. On set the director and I discussed constantly how to interpret the character, and I relied a lot on him.”
6. What resonates with them the most during this project
“The film well reflects mentally exhausted workers, especially temporary employees,” the 29-year-old actor said. “It may seem like you can never win approval no matter how hard you try, and you put in so much effort without an idea what it is you’re working for. Regardless of the career field, so many people suffer from this anxiety and restlessness. I’m sure the characters’ stories will resonate with a lot of the audience.”
Chae Soo Bin then shared, “For my character, love and career cannot easily be separated. Today’s younger generation is living such hectic lives, so it’s challenging to cram romance in that schedule. That itself was distressing and relatable.”
She continued, “In one memorable scene, Jang Hyeok and Da Eun are on a date and talking in a car. The ennui of this longtime couple could be felt, as well as Da Eun’s fear that her boyfriend no longer enjoys spending time with her. The scene was disheartening and relatable at the same time.”
Krystal also recalled a scene where her character is obsessed with perfecting her task. “She doesn’t go home, shower or change her clothes. She explains in tears that she is driven to succeed, even to the point of risking her peace of mind. I could relate because I am similar — maybe not to the extent that she is. When I want or have to do something, I really throw myself into achieving it,” she explained.
7. Unique love triangle
The film features an interesting love triangle where viewers can see Jang Hyeok and Da-eun struggle to adjust and maintain their new long-distance relationship when the former has to commute to his new job. Da-eun’s irregular schedule as a nurse, as well as Jang Hyeok’s long working hours make it difficult for the couple to make time for each other.
Jang Hyeok finds himself spending more time with Bo Yeong as they work on projects together, and they become closer to each other, threatening his existing relationship with Da Eun. The “Electric Shock” singer jokingly remarked, “It’s like a triangle kimbap (Korean sushi roll). You don’t know what’s inside until you peel everything.”
8. Romantic chemistry between the cast members
One of the things fans can look forward to is the romantic chemistry displayed by the actors onscreen. Krystal recalled, “I didn’t have any scenes with Soo Bin, so we only saw each other twice.” The “I’m Not A Robot” actress then added, “Since we’re the same age, we felt sad that we couldn’t see each other more (throughout the filming).”
On the other hand, Ki Yong revealed that he had a great time working with both actresses. “I felt like the chemistry between Jang Hyeok and Bo-yeong was very fun,” the model-turned-actor shared. “Soo Jung (Krystal) mentioned she has a goofy side, and her energy was great. We had to do retakes because we laughed so much.”
Soo Bin then joked about how she and her leading man had more scenes of them fighting rather than lovey-dovey scenes. In particular, her most favourite scene would be the one where they filmed at the beach.
9. The key message in “Sweet & Sour”
Lee Kae Byeok told the press, “It’s not easy to start a new romance, to bring it to fruition, or even to forget an old one. For those beginning their journey, I hope you cherish and fulfil that love. If one love has ended for you, then please don’t forget to keep the faith that new love will come for you.”
“Sweet & Sour” will be available on Netflix starting 4th June (this Friday). Watch the trailer here.
Images courtesy of Netflix.
