SECRET: UNTOLD MELODY (말할 수 없는 비�) (2025)

Genre: Drama
Director: Seo You-min
Cast: Doh Kyung-soo, Won Jin-a, Shin Ye-eun, Kang Kyung-hun, Kang Mal-geum
Runtime: 1 hr 42 mins
Rating: TBA
Released By: Golden Village Pictures
Official Website:

Opening Day: 20 February 2025

Synopsis: Yu-jun is a promising pianist who had been studying abroad. On the other day, however, he gets a wrist injury and no longer be able to play piano due to the aftereffects. To concentrate on his treatment, he returns home as an exchange student at the college of music in Korea where his father teaches. Then one day, Yu-jun has a chance meeting with Jung-a while she plays a mysterious piece in an old practice room on campus. As they spend more time together, they develop feelings for each other. However, unlike Yu-jun, who wants to get closer, Jung-a repeatedly pulls away and confuses him with her secretive actions. Searching for Jung-a’s whereabouts when she vanishes one day, Yu-jun comes across Jung-a’s hidden secret.

Movie Review:

This writer remembers how the directorial debut feature film of Taiwanese musician Jay Chou caused quite a stir when it was released in 2007. Besides starring as the male lead of the movie, the King of Mandopop was also the co writer. This naturally boosted his already popular status.

The movie, with a title that literally translates to “The Secret That Cannot Be Told” was a hit. It received six nominations at the 44th Golden Horse Awards, winning in three categories for Outstanding Taiwanese Film of the Year, Best Visual Effects and Best Original Song. The emotional titular song (performed by Chou, obviously) wriggled into fans’ heads, and the earworm was stuck on repeat.

The huge success meant that the phenomenon wouldn’t stop at just one movie. It was adapted into a stage musical in 2016. There was a 2024 Japanese remake directed by Hayato Kawai, starring Taiga Kyomoto and Kotone Furukawa. And the latest is this remake from Korea helmed by Seo You-min.

What’s notable about this remake is probably its male lead Doh Kyung-soo, who is known affectionately by his stage name D.O. He isn’t any artiste – the 32 year old is a member of the very popular South Korean boy band Exo. And that probably explains why female viewers (who are probably fans) were swooning during some scenes featuring extreme close ups of the actor’s boyish face. He might have stolen some hearts, breath and maybe a few souls whenever he graced the screen.

Doh plays Yu-jun, a pianist who returns to South Korea from Germany after being hit with a wrist injury. He becomes an exchange student at a local college and fate has it that he crosses paths with the sweet Jung-a (Won Jin-a, who deserves as much attention as Doh for delivering an endearing performance) in a run down music practice room. As expected, the two grow closer and a romance blossoms.

Viewers who remember the plot of the original 2007 Taiwanese movie won’t be getting much surprises from this remake. For others like this reviewer, who has forgotten what the “secret that cannot be told” was about, it may be a déjà vu moment when the twist is revealed. Maybe because this writer is past his teenage years (it has been almost two decades since the Chou’s version, after all), there was a realisation how underwhelming the truth behind the Yu-jun and Jung-a’s romance felt.

Fans of the genre would get their fix of the lovey dovey moments where the good looking pair hang out at different locations with pretty backdrops. The lovebirds create beautiful memories at a park, in a record store and playing piano together. The most iconic sequence may be Yu-jun ferrying Jung-a on a bicycle. Under the soft golden glow of the sun, her arms are gently wrapped around his waist while she rests her head on his back. The world has slowed down for them, while they embrace this fleeting yet tender moment. What would you pay to experience a moment like this with your other half in real life?

For audiences who have not seen the original movie, we will not spoil the ending. It’s suffice to say that when the last scene is played, die hard romantics will smile, or even be moved to tears, by the sweetness of Yu-jun and Jung-a’s undying love. 

Movie Rating:

(This Korean remake of the successful Taiwanese movie is for die-hard fans of the romance genre, and also for unwavering supporters of the popular and boyish D.O.)

Review by John Li