A Year-End Medley
Set in the luxurious Hotel Emros, A Year-End Medley weaves multiple love stories that unfold as the New Year approaches. Park So Jin (Han Ji Min), the hotel’s dedicated manager, finds herself reflecting on past relationships while secretly harboring feelings for her longtime friend Kim Yong Jin (Lee Dong Wook), a charming CEO who struggles with his own romantic dilemmas. Meanwhile, talented musician Kang Jae Yong (Kang Ha Neul) checks into the hotel with a broken heart, only to discover an unexpected connection with radio DJ Mo Su Yeon (Im Yoon Ah). As fate brings together strangers, old lovers, and new acquaintances, the hotel becomes a place of serendipitous encounters. Actress Baek I Yeong (Won Jin A) crosses paths with her former love, stirring up emotions she thought were long gone. Meanwhile, Son Seung Hyo (Kim Young Kwang) and Lee Gang (Seo Kang Joon) find themselves entangled in love stories that challenge their perspectives on relationships and destiny. At the same time, Katherine (Lee Hye Young) shares a heartfelt reunion with her lost love, proving that true feelings never fade. With a stunning ensemble cast including Lee Kwang Soo, Go Sung Hee, Lee Jin Wook, and more, A Year-End Medley beautifully captures the emotions, hopes, and bittersweet moments that come with the turn of the year. Through chance meetings, heartfelt confessions, and nostalgic reunions, the film showcases the magic of love in its many forms. Will these characters find closure, rekindle lost connections, or step into new romances? As the clock strikes midnight, A Year-End Medley delivers an emotional and uplifting story about love, destiny, and the power of new beginnings.
Details
🙂 Native Title: 해피 뉴 이어
🌎 Also Known As: Happy New Year
🎭 Genres: Romance, Drama
🏷 Tags: Multiple storylines, Hotel setting, New Year’s Eve, Ensemble cast, Interwoven lives
✍ Screenwriters: Not specified
🎬 Directors: Kwak Jae-yong
🇰🇷 Country: South Korea
🎬 Release Date: December 29, 2021
📺 Original Network: TVING
⏰ Duration: 138 minutes
🔞 Content Rating: Not specified
Best Scenes
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Emotional Reunion: Catherine (Lee Hye-young) reconnects with her first love, Sang-gyu (Jung Jin-young), after decades, delivering a poignant moment that resonates with themes of enduring love.
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Unexpected Confession: Jae-yong’s (Kang Ha-neul) heartfelt confession to hotelier Soo-yeon (Im Yoon-ah) showcases vulnerability and the courage to embrace new beginnings.
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Musical Performance: Lee Young’s (Won Jin-ah) impromptu musical performance in the hotel lobby captivates guests and staff, highlighting her passion and the film’s celebration of art.
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Midnight Countdown: The ensemble cast gathers for a New Year’s Eve countdown at Hotel Emross, symbolizing hope, renewal, and interconnected destinies.
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Serendipitous Encounters: Multiple characters experience chance meetings in the hotel’s elevator, emphasizing the film’s motif of fate and unexpected connections.
Filming Locations
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Hotel Emross: The primary setting, Hotel Emross, is a luxurious establishment where all characters’ stories intertwine, serving as a microcosm of diverse lives converging.
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Grand Lobby: The hotel’s opulent lobby, with its grand staircase and elegant décor, provides a backdrop for key character interactions and pivotal scenes.
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Rooftop Garden: A serene rooftop garden offers characters a tranquil escape, symbolizing reflection and personal growth amidst the bustling hotel environment.
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Hotel Suites: Lavishly designed suites reflect the personalities and stories of the guests, enhancing the narrative through meticulous set design.
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Ballroom: The hotel’s grand ballroom hosts the climactic New Year’s Eve party, where storylines converge in a celebration of new beginnings.
Visual Design and Costumes
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Elegant Wardrobe: Characters are dressed in sophisticated attire that reflects their personalities and social statuses, enhancing the film’s aesthetic appeal.
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Festive Décor: The hotel’s interiors are adorned with luxurious New Year’s decorations, creating a warm and celebratory atmosphere.
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Color Symbolism: The use of a rich color palette in both set design and costumes symbolizes themes of love, hope, and renewal.
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Lighting: Soft, ambient lighting enhances the romantic and introspective moods of various scenes, contributing to the film’s emotive storytelling.
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Seasonal Elements: Winter motifs, such as snow and cozy interiors, are incorporated to evoke the essence of the holiday season and its associated emotions.
Themes and Messages
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Interconnectedness: The film explores how seemingly unrelated individuals’ lives intersect in meaningful ways, highlighting the interconnected nature of human experiences.
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Second Chances: Characters are presented with opportunities to rekindle past relationships or start anew, emphasizing the possibility of second chances in life and love.
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Self-Discovery: Through their interactions at the hotel, individuals embark on journeys of self-discovery, confronting their fears and desires.
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Hope and Renewal: Set during the New Year, the narrative underscores themes of hope, renewal, and the optimism that comes with new beginnings.
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Love in Various Forms: The film portrays diverse expressions of love—romantic, familial, and platonic—demonstrating its multifaceted nature.
Interesting Facts
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Ensemble Cast: The film features a star-studded ensemble cast, including Han Ji-min, Lee Dong-wook, Kang Ha-neul, and Im Yoon-ah, bringing together some of South Korea’s top actors.
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Director’s Vision: Directed by Kwak Jae-yong, known for “My Sassy Girl,” the film showcases his signature storytelling style that blends romance with heartfelt narratives.
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Simultaneous Release: “A Year-End Medley” was released simultaneously in theaters and on the streaming platform TVING, adapting to contemporary viewing preferences.
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Extended Version: Due to its popularity, an extended six-part version of the film was released, offering deeper insights into the characters’ stories.
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Critical Acclaim: The film has been praised for its heartwarming storytelling and the chemistry among the ensemble cast, drawing favorable comparisons to classic romantic comedies.
Awards
“A Year-End Medley” has not received any major awards. However, the film has been appreciated for its ensemble cast and heartwarming storytelling.
Real-Life Loves on Set
There are no confirmed reports of real-life romantic relationships among the cast members of “A Year-End Medley.” While some actors, such as Han Ji-min, have experienced unrequited love in their personal lives, these experiences are separate from their professional collaborations. Additionally, co-stars like Yoona and Lee Jun-ho have faced dating rumors; however, these speculations are unrelated to “A Year-End Medley” and have been denied by their respective agencies. Therefore, it appears that no real-life romances have developed among the cast members of this film.
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