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Netflix continues to expand its Korean drama collection by drawing inspiration from the popular Korean webtoon Joahamyeon Ullineun (좋아하면 울리는) by Chon Kye-young. On August 22, 2019, the streaming service released the long-anticipated adaptation, Love Alarm, marking Netflix's very first original K-drama series. Set in a world where a phone app rings whenever someone within a 10-meter radius likes you, the story follows three young people whose hearts collide because of the technology that was supposed to make love easier.
A Refreshing Twist on the Classic K-Drama Romance
Love Alarm brings a refreshing twist to the romantic worlds typically found in K-dramas. What makes the series so unique is how unpredictable it is. Usually, you can pinpoint who is part of the love triangle, predict the heartbreak, and expect your favorite couple to end up together. However, with two strong male leads pulling at Kim Jo-jo's heart, it is genuinely difficult to tell who will end up with whom. At one point, you may find yourself rooting for both. The story explores how a small piece of technology can change the way an entire generation experiences crushes, confessions, and rejection.
The Love Alarm App: A High-Tech Heart Tracker
The series focuses on a newly released app that tells the user who, within a 10-meter radius, likes or is attracted to them. With this technology at their fingertips, people begin to lose touch with the dating world, skipping the thrill of the chase. While many are excited about hearing their love alarm ring, others are overcome with jealousy or anxiety. The Love Alarm app soon becomes more than a game. It becomes a social pressure cooker that decides who is popular, who is wanted, and who feels left behind. On August 6, 2019, the first official trailer was released, featuring the modern, technological visuals. The graphics look like they are pulled straight out of a video game, crisp, clear, and colorful, yet blended into the romance without feeling cheesy.
Kim So-hyun as Kim Jo-jo: Korea's Nation's Little Sister Grows Up
Kim So-hyun takes the female lead role as Kim Jo-jo, a high school student who lost her parents at a young age and now lives with her aunt's family. You may recognize her as Park So-yoon from the popular K-drama While You Were Sleeping. She is also known affectionately as the Nation's Little Sister thanks to her cute and innocent image. To connect with her character, Kim So-hyun read the webtoon ahead of filming, sharing that she could relate to Kim Jo-jo because the story reminded her of the first time she experienced love. Her quiet, layered performance gives the show its emotional anchor.
Song Kang and Jung Ga-ram: The Two Friends Caught in the Middle
Song Kang plays the charming Hwang Sun-oh, one of his first major roles after debuting as an actor in 2017. He previously appeared in When the Devil Calls Your Name and Beautiful Vampire, and since 2018 he has been a host on the popular SBS music program Inkigayo. Jung Ga-ram brings Lee Hye-yeong to life as Hwang Sun-oh's best friend. Like Song Kang, Jung Ga-ram was relatively new to the entertainment world, debuting in 2016 and winning Best New Actor at the 53rd Grand Bell Awards for his work in the film Fourth Place. The chemistry between the two best friends is the show's beating heart, and their off-screen friendship made every painful scene hit harder.
More Than a Love Triangle: Why Love Alarm Resonated With Young Adults
What lifts Love Alarm above the average teen romance is how openly it touches on real struggles faced by young adults. Family pressure, financial hardship, pride, loneliness, and self-doubt all show up in the eight episodes, weaving through the romance instead of decorating it. The show acknowledges these themes without lecturing, giving viewers the feeling that they are not alone in facing them. As Netflix Original's first Korean drama series, Love Alarm easily ranks as one of the most talked-about K-dramas of 2019, and the show was renewed for a second season just two months after release. Season 2 eventually premiered in March 2021, with the trio returning as young adults navigating love after graduation.
Should You Watch Love Alarm?
If you love K-dramas that mix high-concept ideas with grounded teen feelings, Love Alarm is a binge worth pressing play on. The eight-episode first season is the perfect weekend watch, fast enough to fly by, slow enough to make you feel every glance and missed text. By the end of episode eight you will be left with a deep desire for more, which is exactly why Netflix went on to greenlight Season 2. Whether you find yourself on Team Sun-oh or Team Hye-yeong, the show captures what it feels like to be young, hopeful, and a little bit terrified of being seen.
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