3670 – Movie Review & Ending Explained

Cheol Jun used to live in North Korea. He left his parents and his whole world behind to flee the country. Now, he lives alone in South Korea, where his only relative in the area is a distant aunt. Cheol Jun is trying to make ends meet with a government scholarship and a part-time job at a convenience store. His social life consists of attending church and meeting up with other refugees. For his long-term goals, Cheol Jun hopes to apply to a university and get accepted.

Cheol Jun spends most of his time with Hak Min and Jeong Hak, two other guys who defected from the North. Out of the group, Hak Min is financially struggling. He's desperate to save enough money to get his parents across the border, so he's constantly short on cash. Cheol Jun is happy to lend him money. To settle the score, Hak Min decides to play matchmaker. He wants to set Cheol Jun up with Ji Ye, a girl from their class. Cheol Jun isn't actually interested in her, or any woman for that matter. He's attracted to men, but that's a side of himself he keeps hidden from his friends.

Cheol Jun has been using apps to meet guys, but it's always the same story. They're just looking for something quick and disappear as soon as it's over. Tired of feeling lonely, Cheol Jun attends a mixer for gay men. He's awkward and out of his element, but the other guys seem curious about his North Korean background. When the night winds down, everyone is supposed to exchange numbers with the people they liked. Cheol Jun leaves his info for Hyeon Taek, a handsome guy who sat across from him. Yet no one at the mixer asked for Cheol Jun's number.

The next day, Cheol Jun is working at the convenience store when a customer walks. It's Yeong Jun, one of the guys from the mixer. He recognizes Cheol Jun and seems happy that they live near each other. After work, Yeong Jun invites Cheol Jun to talk more. Away from the pressure of the mixer, the conversation gets more personal. Cheol Jun opens up about what it was like back home. He explains that being openly gay in North Korea was unthinkable. However, Cheol Jun admits he did discreetly experiment with a few guys behind closed doors.

Yeong Jun brings Cheol Jun along to meet his inner circle at a gay karaoke bar. It's a small, low-key gathering. The group is nice enough, asking Cheol Jun questions to know him better. As the night goes on, Cheol Jun's shyness kicks in. He fades into the background. Meanwhile, Yeong Jun is totally in his element. He talks to everyone and even hops on stage to sing. Even though Cheol Jun is struggling to stay social, Yeong Jun doesn't give up on him. He keeps bringing his new friend to events, patiently nudging him out of his shell.

3670 is a very unique movie with a meaningful story. I promise you, there aren't many LGBTQ+ films about defectors from North Korea! The main character, Cheol Jun, risked his life to flee an authoritarian regime. For viewers in free countries, his journey is unlike anything most of us will ever experience. Think about the sacrifices he made or the courage it took to escape. Wow, his hardships are so much bigger than ours! 3670 offers such an interesting perspective, showing what it's like to be gay and living in exile.

Even though Cheol Jun's situation seems extraordinary, his struggles are relatable. At first, he felt like an outsider in South Korean society. Cheol Jun found the gay community, yet he still can't connect with them. His inability to fit in with people similar to him might be one of the loneliest feelings ever… 😢 Argh! My heart breaks for Cheol Jun in those scenes where he's shy and awkward. I've been there, I know how it feels, and many of you will understand him too. The movie is excellent at making us care about the protagonist. We grow attached to this underdog and get emotional over his painful moments.

Yeong Jun swoops in like a fairy godmother to rescue Cheol Jun from his isolation. He's exactly the kind of friend Cheol Jun needs, pulling him into a social circle and helping him open up around others. Their scenes together are just like Yeong Jun's bubbly personality. He makes every moment feel playful and casual. As we watch these two grow closer and get along so well, it's easy to ship them as a couple. Many BL fans are probably cheering for them. Confess already! Make your relationship official! They're one honest conversation away from being boyfriends. 

What makes 3670 a complex movie is that it won't give us the easy, feel-good love story we want. Instead, we watch the couple's deep-rooted insecurities wreck their relationship. At times, it's so frigging frustrating to watch! I wanna scream at these two dummies to sort out their damn issues! Their conflict takes over the second half of the film. The storyline is actually well-written and tackles meaningful themes. Yet, it also kills my enthusiasm for the romance. The more they fight, the less I'm shipping them. By the end, I'm not even sure if I want them together anymore.

Quite impressively, Cheol Jun's actor (Cho You Hyun) has won a critic's award for his debut in 3670. Yeah, he's really convincing in his role. He captures the character's vulnerability and social awkwardness, but you still see an underlying strength in him. Also, can we talk about when he takes his shirt off? Those abs are a total revelation! His co-star (Kim Hyun Mok) shines as Yeong Jun. He can be incredibly charming during the movie's lighthearted moments. And he's even better in the emotional scenes, handling all the heavy drama like a seasoned pro.

3670 has a bittersweet ending. Even though the romance is left unresolved, I love Cheol Jun's character growth. The final scenes show how much he has changed, and it makes me proud of him. Overall, I adore this movie for telling a powerful LGBTQ+ story with a complex protagonist and his beautifully written journey. The emotional moments got to me. The thoughtful themes stuck with me. And the unique North Korean perspective is something I've never seen in a gay film before. Everything comes together perfectly to make 3670 feel like a special piece of cinema.