Youth romance extends theatrical success to streaming, reaching No. 1 in Korea and No. 2 globally with 7.8 million views

Still of 'Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight' (provided by VIVO M Studio)

Shin Si-ah-led youth romance "Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight" (Korean title: "Oseisa") claimed the No. 1 spot in Netflix Korea's non-English films category and No. 2 globally in its first week, extending its success from theaters to streaming. The film, which opened during the Christmas season last December and attracted 860,000 admissions while surpassing its break-even point, has now reached audiences in 64 countries through Netflix, demonstrating the global appeal of Korean youth romance.

From Theatrical Success to Global Streaming

According to Netflix on the 11th, "Even If This Love Disappears" recorded 7.8 million views during the week of February 2-8, which included its February 4 release date, ranking No. 1 in Korea and No. 2 globally in Netflix's Top 10 non-English films category. The film's entry into the Top 10 in 64 countries worldwide marks a successful transition from theatrical success to global streaming expansion.

"Even If This Love Disappears" tells the story of Seo-yoon (Shin Si-ah), who loses each day's memories, and Jae-won (Choo Young-woo), who fills in her memories daily as they protect and remember each other. The film is a Korean adaptation of a Japanese novel, relocated to a Korean setting. Following its December 24, 2025 theatrical release, the film built steady word-of-mouth momentum and consistent audience turnout.

Lead actress Shin Si-ah earned praise for her nuanced portrayal of a character experiencing anxiety, excitement, and love despite losing all memories each day. Her natural chemistry with Choo Young-woo convincingly conveyed the flutter of young romance, establishing Shin's commanding presence in the melodrama genre.

Since gaining attention for her intense action performance in "The Witch: Part 2. The Other One" (2022), Shin has navigated diverse genres through "The Old Woman with the Knife" (2025) and the drama "Resident Playbook" (2025). Her delicate melodramatic performance in "Even If This Love Disappears" demonstrates her range and further solidifies her position as a next-generation actress.

A Successful Model for Theatrical-Streaming Hybrid Strategy

The success of "Even If This Love Disappears" represents an effective case study in Korean cinema's theatrical-streaming hybrid strategy. The approach of securing domestic audiences through theatrical release, then entering the global market via Netflix approximately six weeks later, is emerging as a new distribution model for mid-budget productions. Particularly notable is how a youth romance genre film entered the Top 10 in 64 countries, illustrating how universal emotions transcend language and cultural barriers.

While Korean youth films have traditionally achieved stable results in the domestic market, their overseas expansion has been relatively limited. The film's global No. 2 ranking demonstrates that Korean melodramas can reach new audiences through international streaming platforms. Netflix's subtitle and dubbing systems, combined with its recommendation algorithm, enabled access to markets that would have been difficult to reach through conventional theatrical distribution.

Shin Si-ah has confirmed her next project as the Netflix series "Grand Galaxy Hotel," where she will play a fearless hotel manager unafraid of ghosts in a story set in a hotel that comforts souls. Her trajectory across theaters and streaming while expanding her genre repertoire exemplifies how Korean actors' career paths are diversifying, marking a notable development in the industry's evolution.

Sources

• Munhwa Ilbo, "Shin Si-ah and Choo Young-woo's Youth Melodrama 'Oseisa' Netflix Korea No. 1", 2026.02.11

• bnt News, "'Oseisa' Netflix Non-English Films No. 1", 2026.02.11