From Hear Me: Our Summer to You Are the Apple of My Eye, beloved Chinese-language romance films are being reinterpreted with a Korean sensibility and hitting theaters again. With the Korean remake of You Are the Apple of My Eye hitting screens, let’s explore other Chinese-language romances that have been reimagined through a Korean lens.
You Are the Apple of My Eye
The 2012 Taiwanese film You Are the Apple of My Eye returned as a Korean remake on February 21st, 2025. The original film is set in the late 1990s at a high school in Taiwan. Ching Teng Ko (Ko Chen Tung), a mischievous student uninterested in academics, spends his days fooling around with his friends, living in a completely different world from the model student Chia Yi Shen (Michelle Chen). One day, when Ching Teng Ko forgets his textbook, he gives it to Chia Yi Shen and ends up getting punished instead. This small moment sparks a gradual attraction between them. However, the film doesn’t just tell a sweet first love story—there’s always a subtle boundary between them. Ching Teng Ko likes Chia Yi Shen but never says it, while Chia Yi Shen keeps her emotions guarded.
The Korean remake shifts the setting from 1994 Taiwan to Chuncheon in 2002, against the backdrop of the summer when the World Cup fever was at its peak. While staying true to the essence of the original, the adaptation makes adjustments to suit the Korean setting. In the remake, high school student Jinwoo (Jinyoung) navigates his feelings for his first love, Seon Ah (Dahyun), through his years in college and military service. Jinwoo’s narration guides the audience through his emotional journey. While the original film carries a bittersweet tone, the Korean version feels more youthful and refreshing. The level of mischief has been toned down, and a gentler charm has been added. If you’re looking for a break from emotionally draining stories, the warm and nostalgic Korean remake of You Are the Apple of My Eye might be just what you need.
Hear Me: Our Summer
The original Hear Me (2010) beautifully captures the delicate complexities of relationships. Tian Kuo (Eddie Peng), the son of a lunchbox shop owner, meets Yang Yang (Ivy Chen) while delivering food to a swimming pool, where she’s cheering for her sister in sign language. As they grow closer, they communicate through a mix of sign language and text messages. Yang Yang works tirelessly to support her sister. She isn’t well-off, but she takes pride in her hard work. However, she suddenly feels smaller than ever before when Tian Kuo hands her a bill as she instinctively reaches for coins to pay during their date.
The 2024 Korean remake follows the same storyline, with one key difference—the sister character is now a younger sibling (Kim Min Ju). Aside from that, the structure remains largely the same. Most of the dialogue is expressed through sign language, staying true to the film’s central theme of “listening” beyond words. While the remake faithfully preserves the original’s big twist, it swaps the humid summer atmosphere for a fresher, more vibrant tone. Plus, as the romance unfolds, Ga Eul (the younger sibling) gets her own meaningful coming-of-age arc, adding an extra layer to the story. Fans of the original will likely enjoy this faithful adaptation, but if you were hoping for a more modern reinterpretation, you might be left a bit underwhelmed.
>> ‘Hear Me: Our Summer’ Review: A Remake That Preserves the Spirit of the Original
Secret: Untold Melody
The original Secret, released in 2008, is best known for its iconic “piano battle” scene. Directed, written and starred in by Jay Chou, the film follows piano prodigy Ye Xiang Lun (Jay Chou) as he transfers to an art school. There, he meets a mysterious girl, Lu Xiao Yu (Gwei Lun Mei), playing the piano in an old music room. The two quickly grow close, but Ye Xiao Yu is actually from 20 years in the past and must return once her performance ends.
The Korean remake of Secret struggled at the box office initially but gained momentum in its third week, surpassing 714,000 cumulative admissions and reaching No. 1 (as of February 20). The remake was heavily adapted, with changes to the setting and characters. The story now unfolds between 1999 and the present day, with the characters reimagined as university students instead of high schoolers. Unlike the more passive original characters, the Korean leads—Kim Yoo Jun (Do Kyung Soo) and Yoo Jung-ah (Won Jin Ah)—are more expressive and proactive. The asthma subplot from the original was removed, and the film features an entirely new original piano score. Some of the intense, suspenseful elements were toned down to create a different kind of emotional impact. The biggest difference is the ending. If you haven’t seen the original, starting with the Korean version might be an interesting choice.
>> ‘Secret: Untold Melody’ Review: A Remake That Preserves the Original’s Heartfelt Emotions
Soulmate
The original Soul Mate led by the outstanding young actresses Zhou Dongyu and Ma Sichun, offers a deep and intimate exploration of female friendships. Lin Qiyue (Ma Sichun) is a model student with dreams of a stable future, while Li Ansheng (Zhou Dongyu) is a free spirit, restless yet lonely. The two meet at the age of 13 and become inseparable, but their bond is tested when Qiyue’s boyfriend, Su Jiaming (Toby Lee), enters the picture. Jealousy, insecurity, and a tangled mix of love and resentment create a relationship as intense as any romance. Eventually, they drift apart as they step into adulthood, yet the traces they leave in each other’s lives remain unforgettable.
The Korean remake stays true to the original’s essence while carefully adapting the setting to a Korean context. In the original, Ansheng leaves for Beijing. In the remake, Ha Eun (Jeon So Nee) is rewritten as having a fear of heights, preventing her from making such a move. Instead of Ansheng’s cross-country travels, Ha Eun drifts between various jobs in Seoul. There were concerns about the remake given Zhou Dongyu’s powerful performance in the original. However, Kim Da Mi delivered an intuitive portrayal of a free-spirited soul by carving out her own version of the character.
Director Min Yong Geun reduced the love triangle and focused more on the central relationship. He described their bond as something that transcends words like friendship or love: “They are simply people who can never be forgotten—someone who comes to mind the moment you close your eyes.” Watching Soulmate might just make you want to reach out to an old friend you’ve lost touch with.
Us and Them
Us and Them marks Koo Kyo Hwan’s first foray into the romance genre. The 2018 original Us and Them follows Lin Jianqing (Boran Jing ) and Xiaoxiao Fang (Zhou Dongyu), former lovers who unexpectedly reunite on a flight home. Though their present has faded into black and white, their past remains vivid.
They were once young dreamers chasing success in a big city, full of hope but unprepared for the harsh realities of life. Fang Xiaoxiao had to start working early to support herself, eventually setting her sights on marrying a man who owned a home in Beijing. Lin Jianqing dreamed of making it in the IT industry but ended up selling pirated software on the streets. When they return to their hometown, their friends seem to have found their place in life, but Lin and Fang struggle to confront their own realities. Even their attempts to hide their desperation only end up hurting them.
Drained of all motivation, Lin Jianqing retreats into video games, and eventually, Fang Xiaoxiao walks away. Years later, they cross paths again—Lin is now a successful game developer and finally owns the kind of home Fang once dreamed of. But is it too late for them to find their way back to each other? It will be interesting to see how the Korean version explores their struggles and unfolds the story.
