The Taiwanese Hit Reimagined in Korea
What happens when you blend summer nostalgia, silent conversations, and a whole lot of youthful yearning? You get ‘Hear Me: Our Summer’ — a tender Korean remake of the 2009 Taiwanese classic Hear Me that just hit Japanese theaters under the title Let Me Hear Your Voice.
The film, which first wowed audiences at the Busan International Film Festival, quickly rose to become Korea’s box office champ upon its local release. With soft cinematography, a cast of rising stars, and a narrative stripped of loud declarations of love, it’s a rom-com redefined — more feelings, fewer words.
Love Speaks Louder When You Can’t Hear
At the heart of the story is Yeonjun (played by Hong Kyung), a university grad unsure of his future who helps at his family’s lunchbox delivery shop. Everything changes when he meets Yoreum (Noh Yoonseo), a young woman who communicates through sign language and supports her younger sister’s Paralympic swimming dreams. Cue the stammering attempts at signing, the accidental hand gestures, and the type of love story that plays out more in glances than grand gestures.
Former IZ*ONE member Kim Minju makes her silver screen debut as Yoreum’s younger sister, Gaeul, showing off surprising emotional range beyond her idol roots. The chemistry among the three leads is pure serotonin, with behind-the-scenes stills showing playful antics and a bond that feels real enough to believe they’re off-screen besties too.
Behind the Scenes: Sound Without Words
One of the film’s most talked-about aspects is its sound design — or rather, the intentional lack of it. With many scenes unfolding in sign language, director Cho Sungho leans heavily into ambient cues and environmental noise over dialogue. The result? A more intimate, almost ASMR-like experience that lets silence do the emotional heavy lifting.
Actor Hong Kyung even got hands-on behind the scenes, spotted holding a boom mic during takes and chatting with the sound crew. “You can tell he’s not just acting for the camera,” a production staffer noted. “He’s genuinely into how the story gets told, even through silence.”
A Story That Feels Like Summer
Between the delicate storytelling and the summery visuals — think sun-drenched afternoons and poolside tension — Hear Me: Our Summer earns its rep as a “detox movie” among fans. Early audiences in Japan have called it “unbelievably pure” and “a comfort watch,” and it’s easy to see why.
The film reminds us that sometimes, the loudest feelings come through the quietest moments. Whether you’re here for the love story, K-drama darlings in their film glow-up, or just need a break from sensory overload, Hear Me: Our Summer is a beautifully muted shout into the void of youth and love.
Now Playing in Japan
‘Let Me Hear Your Voice’ (international title: Hear Me: Our Summer) is now showing in Japanese theaters nationwide, including TOHO Cinemas Hibiya. Bring tissues… the emotional kind, not for jump scares.
