''My Heart Puppy'' () is a 2022 South Korean film directed by

Jason Kim Jason Kim (born Kim Ju-hwan on 1981) is a South Korean film director and screenwriter. Career Kim, born in 1981, majored in international politics from Georgetown University in the United States. He served for three years as an interpreter in ...

, starring

Yoo Yeon-seok Yoo Yeon-seok (born Ahn Yeon-seok on April 11, 1984) is a South Korean actor. After making his acting debut in 2003 with a small role in '' Oldboy'', he resumed his acting career in 2008. His notable works include the films '' Re-encounter'' (2 ...

and

Cha Tae-hyun Cha Tae-hyun (; born March 25, 1976) is a South Korean actor, singer, television personality, radio DJ and director. He is best known for his lead roles in the box-office hit comedies ''My Sassy Girl'' (2001), ''Scandal Makers'' (2008), ''Hello ...

. The film revolves around two men who are going to be separated from their family-like pet dog, and their journey to find a new owner. It was released theatrically on March 1, 2023.

Synopsis

Min-soo (

) is an ordinary office worker who dreams of a perfect family. He has a dog, Rooney, whom he treats as a younger brother. Unexpected circumstances arise in Min-soo's life, when he can no longer live with Rooney ahead of his marriage with his fiancée who is allergic to dogs. Together with his cousin, Jin-guk (

) who owns a cafe that went bankrupt, Min-soo decides to find a new family for Rooney. On their journey that starts in Seoul and continues to Jeju Island to find the perfect owner, the two encounter the heartbreaking reality of abandoned pets.

Cast

as Min-soo *

as Jin-guk *

Jung In-sun Jung In-sun (born April 25, 1991) is a South Korean actress. Filmography Film Television series Web series Television show Music video appearance Ambassadorship * Public Relations Ambassador for the 41st International Contempo ...

as Seong-gyeong, Min-soo's girlfriend *

Kang Shin-il Kang Shin-il (born November 26, 1960) is a South Korean actor. Kang graduated from Kyung Hee University with a degree in electronic engineering, but he soon put aside his studies and spent most of his time in Daehangno, Seoul's theater district, ...

as Jin-guk's uncle *

Park Jin-joo Park Jin-joo (born December 24, 1988) is a South Korean actress. She starred in television series such as ''Jealousy Incarnate'' (2016), and ''Something About 1 Percent'' (2016). Filmography Film Television series Web series Television ...

as the first interviewee *

Woo Do-hwan Woo Do-hwan (born July 12, 1992) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in the television dramas '' Save Me'' (2017), ''Mad Dog'' (2017), '' Tempted'' (2018), '' My Country: The New Age'' (2019), and '' The King: Eternal Monarc ...

as the husband of the first interviewee * Tae Won-seok as the second interviewee * Jung Ji-hoon as middle school student * Kim Ji-young as director of the abandoned dog center *

Ryu Soo-young Ryu Su-young (born Eo Nam-seon on September 5, 1979) is a South Korean actor. He made his first appearance on television as a college student on a cooking show in 1998, then starred in the controversial film '' Summertime'' (2001). This was follo ...

as a father * Lee Ho-jung as girl on boat *

Kim Yoo-jung Kim Yoo-jung (; born September 22, 1999) is a South Korean actress. She debuted as a model for a confectionery brand at the age of four. After her acting debut in 2003, she became one of the best known child actresses in Korea since then, aft ...

as Ah-min

Production

Development

Director-screenwriter

wrote the story of the film based on his experience of separating from his dog, which he had been raising since childhood. Rooney, the name of the pet dog in the film, is also the name of his dog. Kim began writing the script of the film in 2018.

Casting and filming

Initially, in June 2019, Choi Woo-sik and

Gong Myung Gong Myung (born Kim Dong-hyun on May 26, 1994) is a South Korean actor. He is a member of 5urprise. He is known for his roles in the television series ''The Bride of Habaek'' (2017), ''Revolutionary Love'' (2017), ''Be Melodramatic'' (2019), and ...

were confirmed to star in the movie and the filming was expected to start in the second half of that year. But in August 2019, it was reported that production companies had decided to step down from the film and the production was put on hold. Later, Choi and Gong withdrew from the project. In March 2020, Cha Tae-hyun was confirmed to appear in the film, Yoo Yeon-seok joined the film in May and filming began in June. The film reunited actors Cha and Yoo after their 2008 drama ''General Hospital 2''. Director Kim revealed that actors Cha and Yoo agreed to lower the amount they would normally get paid for appearing in the film, while Kim Yoo-jung, who makes a cameo appearance, stars in the film without pay.

Release

The film was selected as the closing film of the 5th Seoul Animal Film Festival where it premiered on October 31, 2022. It was released on March 1, 2023, in theatres in South Korea.

References

External links

* * * {{Daum movie, 139547 2020s Korean-language films 2020s South Korean films Films about dogs Films set in Jeju South Korean comedy films 2022 comedy films 2022 films