Love Alarm

Love Alarm imagines a near future where a widely used smartphone app reveals if someone within ten meters has a crush on you. The idea sweeps through school and city life, turning attraction into data and social currency. Jojo, a thoughtful girl with a cautious heart, declines to download the program and watch affection measured by alerts. Her stance is tested when she begins to feel something real for Sun-oh, a charming classmate, while Hye-yeong pursues her with unwavering persistence. As friendships bend under rumors and competitive vibes, the trio must learn to trust and speak honestly about their needs and boundaries. Jojo's choice to stay offline contrasts with constant connection, revealing how the app shapes desire.

Released in 2019 on Netflix, the series is directed by Kim Jin-woo. It adapts the popular webtoon by Chon Kye-young, with Yu Bo-ra, Cha Yeon-su, and Kim Seo-hee shaping its modern teen romance for a global audience and style.

Love Alarm helped spark conversations about how dating apps shape expectations and privacy in modern relationships, and contributed to Korea's growing footprint in global streaming of teen dramas. It also produced memorable visuals and lines that echoed beyond the screen, fueling discussion on authenticity and online connection, long after.

Critics praised its brisk pacing and strong performances from Kim So-hyun, Song Kang, Jung Ga-ram, and Go Min-si, with the show tackling teen longing, social pressure, and the ethics of surveillance in romance. It balances hopeful moments with real world consequences while staying grounded in authentic teen experience.

Awards: The series drew recognition from critics and earned nominations across several major television awards, highlighting the ensemble cast and the bold approach to a tech driven romance. It was praised for direction, writing, and timely themes that sparked discussion beyond the screen, influencing subsequent streaming dramas.