Tune in for Love
A nostalgic romantic drama tracing a decade of missed connections and fragile hopes, where the static of a radio frequency mirrors the flickering warmth of two souls searching for the right frequency to love.
Tune in for Love
Tune in for Love

유열의 음악앨범

"Let me get what I want."

28 August 2019 South Korea 122 min ⭐ 7.8 (308)
Director: Jung Ji-woo
Cast: Kim Go-eun, Jung Hae-in, Park Hae-joon, Kim Guk-hee, Jung Yoo-jin
Drama Romance
Timing and Fate Trauma and Redemption Communication and Technology Nostalgia and Resilience
Box Office: $8,631,781

Tune in for Love - Symbolism & Philosophy

Symbols & Motifs

Yoo Yeol's Music Album (Radio Show)

Meaning:

It symbolizes a constant thread of continuity in a rapidly changing world. It is the "frequency" that links the characters' souls even when they are physically apart.

Context:

The show plays in the background of every pivotal meeting and separation, eventually providing the medium for the final reconciliation.

Tofu

Meaning:

A traditional Korean symbol for a clean slate and the desire to live a "white" (sinless) life after being released from prison.

Context:

Hyun-woo enters the bakery asking for soy products immediately after his release, signaling his desperate wish to start over.

The Email Password

Meaning:

Represents the small, human errors that can alter the course of a lifetime. It is a symbol of the "missed connection" that defines their early relationship.

Context:

Mi-soo creates an account for Hyun-woo but forgets to give him the password, leading to years of one-sided communication as she sends emails he cannot read until much later.

The Bakery

Meaning:

Symbolizes warmth, family, and the lost innocence of their youth.

Context:

It is the place where they first meet and the place they both return to in their minds when life becomes difficult.

Philosophical Questions

Is love a matter of character or a matter of timing?

The film suggests that even two people with perfect chemistry cannot succeed if the world around them is in chaos or if they are not at peace with themselves. It posits that 'destiny' is simply the alignment of timing and personal readiness.

Does the past define our right to be happy?

Through Hyun-woo's struggle, the film asks if a single mistake should haunt a person forever. It explores the idea that self-forgiveness is a prerequisite for allowing someone else to love you.

Core Meaning

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.