From Side Characters to Center Stage
Get ready to meet the next breakout star of Korean cinema: Hong Kyung. Best known for intense roles in D.P. and Weak Hero Class 1, the 27-year-old actor finally gets his romantic lead moment in Hear Me: Our Summer. The Korean remake of the 2009 Taiwanese hit Hear Me casts Hong as Yeon-jun, a directionless college grad who falls in love in the most unexpected way—through sign language.
Young Love with New Language
Hear Me: Our Summer (Korean title: 청설) adds a fresh dimension to your typical summer romance. Yeon-jun crosses paths with Yeo-reum (played by rising actress No Yoon-seo), a hearing-impaired swimmer who communicates through sign language. Instead of awkward pickup lines, their bond grows through gestures, glances, and lots of heart.
“It’s not about what you say — it’s what you feel,” the film quietly suggests. And honestly? That hits harder than any K-drama confession scene at a beachside bus stop.
Why This Film Is Making Waves
- Festival Favorite: Premiered at Busan International Film Festival, topping Korean box office charts on release.
- Inspired Casting: Hong Kyung delivers a nuanced performance as a boy-next-door who’s slowly discovering his purpose.
- A Visual Treat: Think golden summer sunsets, scooter rides, and poolside moments that feel straight out of a youth diary.
Joining Hong are No Yoon-seo, celebrated for her role in Crash Course in Romance, and Kim Min-ju, former IZ*ONE member making her silver screen debut as Yeo-reum’s Olympic-bound younger sister.
More Than Just Romance
This isn’t your average boy-meets-girl story. The focus on sign language adds a layer of vulnerability and intimacy that makes each scene feel personal. Most of the dialogue is delivered through signing—a quiet but powerful choice that drives the emotional arc without the need for words.
Hong Kyung: Ready for His Close-Up
Hong is no stranger to acclaim—he’s impressed critics in thrillers and dramas alike. But this could be the role that pushes him into leading man territory. Fresh off a red carpet appearance at the Toronto International Film Festival for Netflix’s Good News, where he co-stars with film icons like Sol Kyung-gu and Japanese A-listers, he’s clearly on a major career upswing.
Mark Your Calendars
Hear Me: Our Summer opens across Japan on September 26, 2025. With its emotional truth and visual poetry, it’s more than a romcom—it’s a meditation on connection, youth, and learning to listen with your heart.
So, will Hong Kyung be the next breakout face of the Korean Wave? All signs point to yes.
