Mom's Friend

Seong Soo, a 20-year-old student, heads to Seoul after winning admission to Seoul University, only to be the victim of a real estate scam. With nowhere else to stay, he ends up living at the home of his mother's friend. The woman runs her own business and carries herself with a fierce, independent energy that fills the apartment. In a city that moves fast and can swallow newcomers, Seong Soo discovers a pull he didn’t expect, paired with awkward uncertainty about boundaries and age. The dynamic between them unfolds under a quiet tension that foregrounds longing, trust, and the precarious balance of proximity in a crowded urban life. The story unfolds on quiet evenings and in the clutter of shared spaces, gradually revealing how the younger man negotiates desire against his own ambitions.

Directed by Myeong Seok Hwan, Mom's Friend arrived in 2015 as a Korean drama feature. The film marks Hwan's foray into intimate storytelling through a lean, character driven approach that centers on a young man and a self employed mother in an urban setting.

Box office data for Mom's Friend isn't widely documented, reflecting its modest release and status as a niche title. It likely circulated within festival circuits or limited venues, rather than achieving broad commercial success.

No major awards or nominations are listed for this title, which seems to have remained a smaller release within its regional cinema scene. Its limited visibility means it did not attract the attention of the larger award bodies, though it may be of interest to fans of intimate dramas.

Reception to the film centers on its restrained tone and its willingness to explore difficult emotional terrain without sensationalism. Themes include desire and agency, the friction between youth and seasoned adulthood, and how proximity can complicate trust. The film asks what happens when affection clashes with social boundaries in a city that never stops.