Japanese bestseller adaptation becomes first Korean film of 2026 to break even, set for worldwide streaming with 31 subtitle languages

Poster image of 'Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight' (provided by BY4M Studio)

Korean youth romance "Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight" (Korean title: Oneulbam, Sesang-eseo I Sarangi Sarajindahaedo) has been sold to Netflix for global release. The film will launch on the streaming platform worldwide immediately after its theatrical run concludes, with subtitles in 31 languages and dubbing in 8 languages.

Released on December 24, the film surpassed 800,000 admissions within 23 days, becoming the first Korean film of 2026 to break even (break-even point: 720,000). It has now overtaken the final tally of "Hear Me: Our Summer" (802,000 admissions, 2024) and is expected to surpass "Secret" (824,000 admissions, 2025) soon. Buoyed by sustained support from teenage and young adult audiences during winter vacation, the film continues its extended run, with attention now turning to whether it can cross the one million mark.

The Netflix deal is expected to boost the international profiles of lead actors Choo Young-woo and Shin Si-a. Choo, in particular, has emerged as one of Korea's hottest actors in 2025, starring in four major productions including JTBC's "The Story of Oksoo," Netflix's "Trauma Code: Heroes on Call" and "The Square," and tvN's "The Cowherd and the Heavenly Maiden." This marks his feature film debut.

"Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight" is based on the bestselling novel by Ichijo Misaki, which has sold over 1.3 million copies worldwide. The story follows Seo-yoon (Shin Si-a), a young woman who loses her memories of each day following an accident, and Jae-won (Choo Young-woo), who fills in her memories every day. The youth melodrama combines a fantasy premise of memory loss with a pure and poignant love story, resonating deeply with teenage and young adult audiences.

Director Kim Hye-young helms the project. Having served as assistant director on hit films including "Extreme Job" (2019) and "Twenty" (2014), she made her directorial debut with "It's Okay!" (2023), which was also distributed by BY4M Studio. "Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight" is her second feature.

Lead actor Choo Young-woo debuted in a web drama in 2021 and has risen to the top tier of Korean television in just four years. In 2025, he gained widespread recognition playing dual roles in JTBC's "The Story of Oksoo," then demonstrated his range across Netflix medical drama "Trauma Code: Heroes on Call," noir series "The Square," and tvN fantasy romance "The Cowherd and the Heavenly Maiden." He received the Best New Actor awards at both the Baeksang Arts Awards and Blue Dragon Series Awards. This film marks his theatrical feature debut, meaning his first big-screen leading role will reach global audiences via Netflix.

Female lead Shin Si-a made her debut in "The Witch: Part 2. The Other One" (2022) after beating odds of 1,408:1 in auditions, immediately drawing attention for her striking presence. Following a three-year hiatus, she returned in 2025 with tvN's "Wise Resident Life" and the film "Wicked Roots." In "Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight," she delivers a nuanced portrayal of a heroine who is both vulnerable and resilient. She recently signed with Management SOOP, home to actors Jeon Do-yeon and Gong Yoo, with upcoming projects including Kim Jee-woon's "The Hole" and the Hong Sisters' "Grand Galaxy Hotel."

The film is invested and distributed by BY4M Studio, a company that started in publishing and music marketing in 2017 before entering the film business in 2022. Known for its SNS-based viral marketing strategies, BY4M has achieved consecutive hits including "Firefighters" (3.84 million), "Hitman2" (2.54 million), "The Match," and "Noise" (1.7 million), capturing the top distributor market share in the first half of 2025 (13.1% by revenue). The company has also attracted attention for its one-source multi-use (OSMU) strategy, re-releasing Japanese films and linking them with book and OST sales. In 2024, BY4M partnered with Japanese publishing giant KADOKAWA to enter the Korean publishing market.

The Netflix sale of "Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight" marks a successful case of a Japanese IP Korean remake achieving both theatrical success and global streaming distribution. Following Korean remakes of Asian youth romances such as Taiwan's "Hear Me: Our Summer" (800,000 admissions in 2024) and "Secret" (820,000 admissions in 2025), this film has secured an additional revenue stream through global streaming sales.

This trend reflects structural changes in the Korean film market. With annual theater attendance halved since COVID-19, mid-to-low budget romance films targeting young audiences have emerged as a viable niche. A business model is taking shape where films with break-even points around 700,000-800,000 admissions steadily build audiences through SNS marketing and word-of-mouth, then generate additional revenue through streaming sales.

The Netflix release is also expected to expand the global reach of the cast. Choo Young-woo has already held solo fan meetings in Seoul and Bangkok, with additional events planned in Taipei, Osaka, and Tokyo. When the film launches in 31 languages worldwide, his Asian fanbase built through television dramas is likely to grow further. Shin Si-a, who has maintained global fan interest since "The Witch: Part 2," is also expected to see increased international recognition through this release.

Industry observers will be watching whether the film can reach one million admissions before its theatrical run ends, and how it performs on Netflix global charts after release. If global demand for Asian youth romance is confirmed, interest in similar IP remake projects and Korea-Japan co-productions is expected to increase.

Sources

• Sports Seoul, "'Even If This Love Disappears' Surpasses 800,000 in 23 Days", 2026.01.14

• ize, "[Exclusive] Choo Young-woo and Shin Si-a's Film Sold to Netflix for Global Release", 2026.01.14