Debut director Seo Jeong-min teams with proven talent to add a decade-long love story to Netflix Korea's romance lineup

Still of ‘Pachinko' (provided by AppleTV+)

Netflix officially announced on February 23 the greenlight of romantic comedy film Messily Ever After, with Kim Min-ha and Noh Sang-hyun confirmed as leads. The two actors previously starred together as a married couple in Apple TV+'s Pachinko, making their reunion a natural talking point. The project also marks a new addition to Netflix's growing Korean romance lineup, which has included A Wonderful Story, 20th Century Girl, and This Love Needs a Star.

Messily Ever After centers on a couple who met as art school classmates and have been together for ten years — loving each other fiercely and fighting just as hard. Kim Min-ha plays Suhyeon, a curator who chases perfection in her career but unravels completely when it comes to love and jealousy. Noh Sang-hyun plays Hyuntae, an installation artist with an uncompromising artistic vision. The push-and-pull between their contrasting personalities is set to drive both the film's humor and emotional tension.

Kim Min-ha has established herself as an actor of quiet intensity through Typhoon Sister, One Week Before I Die, and Pachinko, each demanding a nuanced command of period atmosphere and emotional restraint. Noh Sang-hyun swept the Best New Actor prizes at major Korean film awards for Love in the Big City, and has since expanded his range through Pachinko and All Will Be Well. Their on-screen relationship in Pachinko — a love cut short by circumstance — left a lasting impression on audiences, and the prospect of seeing them reunite as a decade-long couple carries built-in emotional resonance.

The film will be directed by Seo Jeong-min, an emerging filmmaker who trained at the Korea National University of Arts (K-Arts). Production is handled by Bombaramfilm, the company behind A Wonderful Story (dir. Namgung Seon) and Kim Ji-young, Born 1982 (dir. Kim Do-young) — both collaborations with first-time or early-career directors that achieved strong commercial and critical results.

Messily Ever After fits squarely within Netflix's sustained investment in Korean romance content, a genre the platform has used to build consistent global viewership. What distinguishes this project is its choice of subject matter: rather than the first-love narratives that have defined much of the genre, it takes on the messier, more relatable terrain of a long-term relationship. The shift suggests Netflix is looking to broaden its Korean romance audience beyond younger demographics.

The casting strategy is equally telling. Kim Min-ha and Noh Sang-hyun are among the most recognizable faces from a flagship title on a competing platform — their move to a Netflix original reflects how fluidly talent now circulates across streaming services in the Korean market. The combination of a debut director, proven lead actors, and an experienced production house also points to a deliberate formula: minimizing creative risk while leaving room for a new voice. With no release date announced yet, the global simultaneous rollout typical of Netflix originals means the film will reach international audiences immediately upon completion.

Sources

• Netflix Korea Official Press Release, "Messily Ever After — Production Confirmed", 2026.02.23

• BNT News, "Netflix Film 'Messily Ever After' Confirmed — Kim Min-ha and Noh Sang-hyun Cast", 2026.02.23

• Sports Chosun, "Kim Min-ha × Noh Sang-hyun Reunite After 'Pachinko' in All-Out Rom-Com", 2026.02.23