Love and Leashes

Love and Leashes (2022) is a free-spirited South Korean romantic drama film by Park Hyun-jin. The film revolves an unusual element of BDSM and at the same time retains a touch of humor and romance. Love and Leashes is, after all, an adaptation of Gyeoul’s webtoon Moral Sense and as such, it has a tender approach towards love, trust, and acceptance, set within the narrative of an office romance.

🌟 Plot Summary:

The central character of the movie is Jung Ji-hoo (immaculately portrayed by Lee Jun-young), an office worker who seems perfect in all respects, be it good looks, a charming personality or great work ethic. Ji-hoo, however, has an unpopular preference of mastering BDSM, and therefore wishes to submit instead of taking the responsibility of a dominant. To make matters worse, Ji-hoo’s secret is revealed to his colleague Ji-woo (a well known member of the Girls Generation, Seohyun), who opens his package containing a leather leash intended for Ji-hoo.

Ji-woo takes a step further into his colleagues life rather than turning away from it as expected. This exploration forces her, as well as Ji-hoo, to challenge their professional and personal boundaries. Rather than falling apart, faking formal emotions soon turns into attempts to build trust and eventually, affection for one another.

🎬 Cast Highlights:

Seohyun as Jung Ji-woo – An office worker with a peculiar sense of curiosity which prompts her to investigate the unconventional desires of her colleague.

Lee Jun-young as Jung Ji-hoo – A soft-spoken and attractive worker who has a submissive trait in his personal life.

Seo Hyun-woo as Hwang* – Ji-hoo’s friend providing much needed comic relief to the story.

💡 Why You Should Watch It:

“Love and Leashes” stands out of the crowd by combining heart and humor along with an authentic depiction of kink culture, all without any judgment. Seohyun and Lee Jun-young’s chemistry is very believable and makes their characters’ slow-burn relationship heartwarming and fun at the same time. The sweetness and awkwardness of romance elevated by the unconventional approach to needing and wanting makes the film highly entertaining. This is a perfect movie for those seeking something different in the rom-com category.