Call It Love – A Quiet Storm of Emotion and Redemption
Call It Love – A Quiet Storm of Emotion and Redemption
Introduction
If love begins where resentment ends, Call It Love is its perfect, bittersweet proof. Released on Disney+ in 2023, this Korean melodrama blends aching silence with tender storytelling to portray the emotional wreckage left behind by betrayal—and the unexpected warmth that emerges in its aftermath. More meditative than dramatic, it’s a show that whispers its pain, making its emotional punch all the more profound.
Overview
Title: Call It Love(사랑이라 말해요)
Year: 2023
Genre: Melodrama, Romance, Psychological Drama
Main Cast: Lee Sung-kyung, Kim Young-kwang, Sung Joon, Ahn Hee-yeon (Hani), Kim Ye-won
Episodes: 16
Running Time: Approx. 60 minutes per episode
Available On: Disney+ (Worldwide)
Overall Story (No Major Spoilers)
Shim Woo-joo (Lee Sung-kyung) is a woman carrying the weight of emotional betrayal. When her estranged father dies, she is not only left out of the inheritance, but is also cruelly evicted by her father’s mistress. In a moment of icy resolve, Woo-joo begins to plot revenge—not through violence, but through proximity. She targets the mistress’s son, Han Dong-jin (Kim Young-kwang), a reclusive, emotionally worn CEO who seems oblivious to the sins of his mother.
Woo-joo’s plan is simple: get close to Dong-jin, earn his trust, then break him. But what she doesn’t anticipate is how fragile and deeply wounded he already is. Far from being a villain, Dong-jin is a man buried under silence—lonely, forgotten, and quietly breaking. And as Woo-joo observes his sincerity, her plan begins to dissolve into something she can neither control nor fully understand.
The relationship that unfolds is one built on silence more than words. Their dynamic is subtle, filled with glances, hesitation, and emotional distance. Yet beneath the cold exteriors, a tenderness begins to grow—rooted in shared pain, cautious empathy, and a longing neither of them dares name. It is not a conventional romance, but one that feels all the more powerful for its restraint.
Around them orbit other damaged souls: Yoon-jun (Sung Joon), Woo-joo’s childhood friend and quiet protector; Min-young (Ahn Hee-yeon), Dong-jin’s ex-lover who regrets her choices; and Hye-sung (Kim Ye-won), Woo-joo’s older sister who masks her sorrow with sarcasm. Each character’s emotional scars echo through the main narrative, layering the show with resonance and quiet devastation.
Call It Love is not about grand gestures or tearful confessions. It’s about hesitation, restraint, and the courage to feel after being broken. The series challenges viewers to sit in discomfort—to lean into slow pacing, long silences, and unresolved tensions. And in doing so, it offers something rare: a drama that feels emotionally honest, patient, and utterly human.
Beneath its muted tone and minimalist dialogue lies a profound meditation on love, not as passion—but as kindness, recognition, and emotional survival. It asks: If love emerges in the least likely place, can it still be real? And if two broken people come together—can they heal each other, or only deepen the wounds?
Highlight Moments / Key Episodes
- Episode 1: Woo-joo's silent devastation as she’s evicted from her home sets the tone with breathtaking stillness.
- Episode 3: The first emotionally charged encounter between Woo-joo and Dong-jin feels less like meeting, more like circling.
- Episode 5: Woo-joo opens up about her family—just a little—and Dong-jin listens without judgment.
- Episode 7: A shared walk in the rain turns into a metaphor for vulnerability neither of them can express.
- Episode 11: The truth about Woo-joo’s motive begins to surface, threatening to break the delicate bond they’ve formed.
- Episode 14: A heartbreaking conversation in the car—two people trying not to hurt each other, but failing anyway.
- Episode 16: In the final scene, a quiet gaze says everything they couldn’t put into words.
Memorable Lines
Episode 2: “I didn’t come to forgive. I came to understand how people live after ruining others.” — Woo-joo, voice flat but trembling.
Episode 4: “I’ve been alone so long, I don’t remember what safe feels like.” — Dong-jin, in rare honesty.
Episode 6: “We’re all pretending not to feel. That’s how we survive.” — Hye-sung to Woo-joo.
Episode 10: “He’s not a good man. But he’s not the man I wanted to hate.” — Woo-joo, quietly breaking.
Episode 16: “If this wasn’t love, then what was it?” — Dong-jin, barely audible in the final scene.
Why It’s Special
One of the most remarkable aspects of Call It Love is its daring use of silence. Instead of overloading scenes with dramatic dialogue, it allows characters to breathe—letting us feel their emotions rather than just hear them. This narrative restraint makes every glance and word feel meaningful, and the show's pacing becomes its strength, not a flaw.
The chemistry between Lee Sung-kyung and Kim Young-kwang is subtle but deeply affecting. Their performances are nuanced, rooted in stillness and controlled pain. Rather than perform love, they embody it—through the ache in their eyes and the quiet vulnerability in their voices.
Visually, the drama is beautifully composed. The color palette is soft and washed-out, mirroring the emotional numbness of the characters. Lighting is often dim or natural, reinforcing the themes of shadow, memory, and unspoken pain. It’s a show that knows when to linger on a face, a hand, or a silence.
The music also plays a crucial role, especially its sparse but haunting soundtrack. The instrumental pieces do not intrude but rather melt into the atmosphere—adding just enough melancholy to highlight what words can't say. The OST, particularly "Call It Love" by Taeil of NCT, became a quiet anthem for many fans.
Thematically, the drama explores emotional neglect, grief, and redemption with rare depth. It doesn’t offer easy answers or tidy resolutions but instead encourages reflection. Love here is not a solution—it is a quiet act of resilience.
Finally, Call It Love gained acclaim for presenting a kind of love that doesn’t need to shout. In an age of loud romance tropes, this show whispers. And in that whisper lies something unforgettable—an emotional truth that lingers long after the credits roll.
Popularity & Reception
Though not a ratings juggernaut domestically, Call It Love found a strong following among international audiences, especially on Disney+. On global platforms like MyDramaList and Reddit, fans praised it as an “underrated gem” and a “masterclass in emotional storytelling.” Viewers compared it to a Korean version of a Wong Kar-wai film—minimalist, moody, and deeply poetic.
Critics highlighted its “cinematic direction” and “restraint in storytelling” as rare among modern K-dramas. Lee Sung-kyung’s performance, often previously associated with energetic roles, was noted for its controlled intensity and depth. Kim Young-kwang’s stoic portrayal earned similar praise, with several reviewers calling it his “career-defining role.”
The OST also played a role in the show's staying power, with several fans creating fan edits, Spotify playlists, and even TikTok tributes to the scenes accompanied by the main theme. Its international appeal was especially strong in Southeast Asia and parts of Europe, where fans connected with the show’s visual beauty and emotional subtlety.
While some viewers found the pacing slow, many others countered that this slowness was necessary—and deeply meditative. In fact, the phrase “slow but worth it” became a common comment on review sites, with multiple fans stating it “healed something inside them.”
Cast & Fun Facts
Lee Sung-kyung (as Shim Woo-joo) delivers a career-defining performance. Known for her bubbly roles in series like Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo and Shooting Stars, this drama sees her take on a brooding, almost silent character. She prepared for the role by studying trauma responses and even kept a personal journal in-character to internalize Woo-joo’s suppressed rage and grief.
Lee’s portrayal of pain and moral ambiguity was praised for its subtlety. Fans noted how she conveyed entire emotional arcs through just her expressions. This role shifted perceptions of her as merely a rom-com lead and positioned her as a serious dramatic actress.
Kim Young-kwang (as Han Dong-jin) also broke from his usual roles as charming male leads or playful romantics. Having starred in shows like On Your Wedding Day and Somebody, his role in Call It Love demanded a much quieter intensity. To portray Dong-jin’s reserved and wounded character, Kim reportedly spent time isolating himself during shooting breaks and avoided chatting on set to maintain his withdrawn energy.
Many fans and critics called this Kim’s most emotionally nuanced role to date. His stoic exterior gradually cracks through the series, and his understated performance was seen as “incredibly moving” and “beautifully restrained.”
Sung Joon (as Yoon-jun) brings an understated loyalty to the story. Known for his roles in Shut Up Flower Boy Band and High Society, his character in this drama remains quietly supportive without interfering—an emotional anchor. His scenes, though brief, were often described by fans as the “safe space” within the narrative.
Ahn Hee-yeon (Hani, as Min-young) continues to prove her range after debuting as a K-pop idol with EXID. Her portrayal of a regretful ex-lover adds necessary friction and complexity to Dong-jin’s past. Hani previously gained praise for her acting in You Raise Me Up, but her turn in Call It Love solidified her credibility as a serious actress.
Kim Ye-won (as Hye-sung) adds warmth and sarcasm as Woo-joo’s older sister. She is known for stealing scenes in shows like Suspicious Partner and Welcome to Waikiki 2. In this series, she plays a more grounded role—part comic relief, part moral compass.
The drama was directed by Lee Kwang-young, whose minimalist style focuses on emotional realism. The screenwriter, Kim Ga-eun, revealed in interviews that the concept was inspired by a real-life story of someone who tried to take revenge but ended up falling in love with the "enemy." They aimed to explore how grief, once confronted, can lead to unexpected redemption.
Conclusion / Warm Reminders
Call It Love isn’t a drama you binge for thrills—it’s one you absorb slowly, like a letter you’re not ready to finish reading. It’s not about whether love triumphs, but whether it’s possible to feel again after being broken. Through aching silences and quiet empathy, it offers no clear answers—only the warmth of emotional honesty.
If you're seeking a show that challenges the noise of modern romance, Call It Love is a must-watch. It invites you to sit still, to listen closely, and to recognize that healing sometimes begins in the softest places.
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