Tune in for Love

Set against the backdrop of a changing South Korea from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, Tune in for Love follows the intermittent romance between Mi-soo and Hyun-woo. Their story begins in 1994, on the day singer Yoo Yeol takes over as the DJ of a popular radio show. Hyun-woo, a young man recently released from a juvenile detention center, wanders into the small bakery where Mi-soo works. Despite an awkward start, a gentle bond forms between them, only to be abruptly severed by a sudden incident involving Hyun-woo's past.

The narrative unfolds through several time jumps—1997, 2000, and 2005—as the characters navigate the 1997 Asian financial crisis, military service, and the dawn of the digital age. Each time they manage to reconnect, external circumstances or internal insecurities pull them apart. The film focuses less on dramatic twists and more on the quiet, realistic struggles of two people trying to align their lives while carrying the weight of their own histories and the passage of time.

The core of Tune in for Love lies in the concept of "frequency"—the idea that love is not just about finding the right person, but about finding the right time when both individuals are tuned into the same emotional wavelength. Director Jung Ji-woo explores the resilience of the human spirit and the way first love matures through hardship. It suggests that while the past can be a heavy anchor, the act of persistently reaching out to someone else is what eventually allows a person to forgive themselves and move forward.

While many viewers see the film as a straightforward happy ending, some critics interpret the final scene as more ambiguous. The 'Visual Radio' setting at the end suggests that while they have found their 'frequency' for now, their relationship is fundamentally tied to a nostalgic medium that is itself fading away. Another interpretation suggests that the film is not about love at all, but about the impossibility of ever truly escaping one's social class and past in Korea; despite their love, the characters spend more time apart than together, suggesting that their 'timing' is permanently fractured by the social forces surrounding them.

Tune in for Love tapped into a powerful wave of 'Newtro' (New Retro) nostalgia in South Korea. It was praised for its authentic recreation of the 1990s, from the fashion to the specific software (Windows 95) and the rise of PC Bangs. The film also addressed the trauma of the 1997 IMF crisis, which remains a defining historical scar for the generation depicted. Critically, it was hailed for its 'analogue' sensibility—focusing on slow-burn emotions and physical presence in an era dominated by fast-paced digital content. It reinforced Jung Hae-in's status as a top romantic lead and showcased Kim Go-eun's range in more grounded, realistic roles.

The film received generally positive reviews, particularly for the chemistry between Kim Go-eun and Jung Hae-in, which many described as 'electric' and 'natural.' Audiences in their 30s and 40s praised the nostalgic elements and the realistic depiction of the late 90s. However, some critics and younger viewers found the pacing too slow and the 'bad timing' plot devices to be repetitive or frustrating. The ending was a point of contention—some found it deeply moving and earned, while others felt it was too abrupt given the long years of separation.