How Shin Eun-soo Mastered 'Love Untangled's' Kissing Scene and Dialect

Shin Eun-soo details the hard work behind her role in Love Untangled.
She built a comfortable dynamic with her co-star Gong Myung both on and off screen.
The film is now a top 5 hit on Netflix internationally.

Rising actress Shin Eun-soo takes center stage in the charming Netflix youth romance, ‘Love Untangled’ (also known as ‘Confession History’). Released at the end of last month, the film is a nostalgic trip to 1998, following the story of 19-year-old Park Se-ri, a self-proclaimed “professional confessor” with a shocking 0% success rate. Just as she’s planning a major life confession and a scheme to tame her lifelong complex—her stubbornly frizzy hair—her plans get wonderfully tangled up with the new transfer student, Han Yoon-seok. Portraying the endlessly determined and lovable Se-ri, Shin Eun-soo completely owns the screen, delivering a performance that is both hilarious and heartwarming.

For Shin, this role was a significant and welcome challenge. She openly shared that it had been a while since she had a character with such substantial screen time, which motivated her to give it her absolute all.

“It's been a while since I played a character with a lot of screen time, and I think I would have felt pressured if my brother wasn't there,” she admitted, referring to her co-star Gong Myung, quoted from Sports Chosun, September 9th.

This need to maximize the opportunity pushed her to delve deep into the character, not just in emotion but also in mastering the specific dialect required for the role.

Candid Confessions: Overcoming Challenges with a Trusted Co-Star

During a recent interview, Shin Eun-soo got candid about the specific challenges of the film and how her co-star was her anchor. She didn't feel the eight-year age gap with Gong Myung at all.

“He was so comfortable with me. During breaks, we'd film reels together and have fun, and when the camera came on, he would organize everything well like a senior. There were times when things got a little slow because there was a lot of laughter on set, but when he said, 'Let's focus,' we all tried to focus right away," she commented.

She even revealed they watched the completed movie together twice, and “He cried both times. I thought, 'He's such a sensitive guy.' I think he's definitely an MBTI F (feeling type). He's so empathetic and really cool.”

This comfort was crucial for her performance. She expanded on his supportive nature, such as her brother and family.

When the conversation turned to the kiss scene, Shin playfully explained her approach.

“At that moment, I tried to maintain a ticklish atmosphere. I think I joked around less at that point to focus on acting," explained Shin Eun-soo.

Mastering the Craft: Dialect, Perms, and Personal Connections

A huge point of praise for her performance has been her flawless use of the Busan dialect, a feat she prepared for meticulously.

“I meticulously prepared, even memorizing the entire script before filming began. The dialect teacher watched my performance on set, and I revised my lines accordingly,” she shared.

This isn’t her first time tackling a unique linguistic challenge, having previously performed in sign language for ‘Sparkling Watermelon’.

Comparing the two, she said, “Both the sign language acting in 'Sparkling Watermelon' and the dialect acting this time felt like completely different languages. I had to pour my heart and soul into it, like it was a second foreign language. If I had to pick which was more difficult of the two, it would be the dialect. There's a lot of dialogue, and it's difficult to convey a native vibe, so I put a lot of effort into it.”

Her hard work paid off, as she was thrilled to see positive reactions online, especially from native speakers who complimented her accent.

The character’s iconic curly hair also became a personal journey for Shin Eun-soo.

“When I first read the script, I actually had straight hair without bangs. I thought having bangs would make the character look more lovely, so I cut them. The makeup team was very meticulous, which is how Se Ri's hair came to be. It was much more comfortable than I expected. I liked it so much that after the three-month shoot, I got a perm.”

This physical transformation mirrored a deeper message she connected with. Just as Se-ri saw her curls as a complex, Shin Eun-soo had her own insecurities, revealing,

“I had atopic dermatitis during my school days… I used to feel embarrassed wearing short sleeves because of the scars. That's why I was happy that through this project, I was able to deliver the message that being just as you are is what's best.”

Fueled by Shin Eun-soo's dedicated and charming performance, Love Untangled has quickly become a viewer favorite, consistently ranking among the top 5 most popular films on Netflix this week. The movie has successfully held its own in a competitive global lineup, famously trading spots and vying for audience attention with other major releases like the animated action feature Kpop Demon Hunters. This impressive placement is a significant achievement and a clear testament to the film's widespread appeal and the relatable, heartwarming story it tells.

Source: Sports Chosun, My Drama List, Netflix's Love Untangled