3670 – Movie Review & Ending Explained

What is 3670?

For most of us, 3670 seems like a mystery. We don't know what it means before this movie. The film reveals it's like gay lingo. 3670 is a secret code that men use to meet up in a specific part of the city. Each number stands for a different instruction. The 3 is for the train station number (Station #3), the 6 is for the exit number (Exit #6), and the 7 means the meeting time (7 PM). The last number, 0, counts how many people are participating. If you're the first person to join, you say 1 (3671). If you're the second, you say 2 (3672).

According to the secret code, 3670 means no one is showing up for the meeting. Sorry, there's a big fat zero in attendance! It's a very lonely number, which mirrors how Cheol Jun feels at the start of the movie. Our protagonist has zero gay friends, zero family nearby, and feels like he has zero importance in this foreign city. At the gay mixer, Cheol Jun realizes how unpopular he is. While the others seem interested in his background as a North Korean refugee, no one cares enough to leave their contact info. They see him as the quiet guy who doesn't fit in. Around the local gay community, Cheol Jun feels like a total 3670.

Loneliness

As a gay North Korean refugee, there are multiple layers to Cheol Jun's loneliness. The first layer is being a North Korean in South Korea. Even though they speak the same language, the cultural gap is massive. Cheol Jun has very different life experiences from South Koreans, so he can't relate to their normal conversations. Take karaoke songs, for example. Cheol Jun has missed out on years of mainstream music. Whenever he's asked to sing, it makes him feel self-conscious about being an outsider in a foreign country.

The second layer is being gay among his North Korean friends. Cheol Jun has a few friends. Straight friends from church. These are his fellow North Korean defectors who understand what he went through as a refugee. Their small group sticks close together, but Cheol Jun must hide his sexuality from them. Church communities aren't typically accepting of LGBTQ+ people, and his friends come from a traditional background. Cheol Jun can't talk to them about the guys he likes. Even when he's with his friends, he's still kind of alone. Cheol Jun is surrounded by people who only know half of who he actually is.

The third layer is losing his family forever. When Cheol Jun escaped, he had to leave without his parents. He can't call them. He can't visit them. He doesn't even know if they're okay. That connection is gone permanently. Throughout the movie, the storyteller constantly reminds us of Cheol Jun's homesickness. We see him staring at a location pin on Google Maps, where his old house used to be. Most people can't imagine cutting off their entire family just to be free. Cheol Jun carries that loss every single day, and it's a loneliness that never goes away.

Exile

Cheol Jun's experiences are even more poignant when you consider how much he sacrificed to be here. Firstly, he risked his life. Escaping North Korea isn't like moving to a new country. It's dangerous and illegal. If you get caught, you're thrown into a prison camp or worse. Cheol Jun had to sneak out, knowing that one wrong move could get him killed. The scene where he describes his escape is harrowing. Hearing his whole story makes us realize how easily he could've died. The fact that he's here now, still standing, feels like a miracle.

Secondly, Cheol Jun must leave his parents behind. He couldn't convince them to defect with him. They considered North Korea their home, despite everything. In one of the movie's darkest scenes, Cheol Jun holds a funeral for his parents at his aunt's home. That moment hits us hard because the gravity of the situation sinks in. Cheol Jun is mourning his family because he won't see them again, almost like they died the moment he left home. The reality is that Cheol Jun will never arrange a proper funeral for his parents. He can't honour them the way a son should. This makeshift ceremony is all he gets…

If Cheol Jun regrets leaving or misses home, too bad. His exile is forever. There's no "what if I made a mistake" option. Even when good things happen, there's always that underlying sadness that his family isn't there to share it. His parents will never know how their son is doing or if leaving home was worth it. Plus, the fact that Cheol Jun is gay adds an extra layer of tragedy to his situation. Cheol Jun's aunt says his parents want him to settle down, find a wife, and have kids. But Cheol Jun can't fulfill that wish. He carries this guilt without ever finding peace with it.

Yeong Jun

After his unsuccessful night at the mixer, life was looking bleak for Cheol Jun. He hadn't made any new friends. None of the guys seemed romantically interested in him. It's such a lonely feeling to be surrounded by other gay men, just like himself, yet he can't connect with them. At least when you're alone, you can tell yourself that things would change once you found the right people. But when you've met them and you still don't fit in? It crushes your hope that things will get better. You're destined to be an outsider forever.

Just when Cheol Jun walks away from the gay community feeling lonelier than ever, Yeong Jun shows up. Like a gay fairy godmother, Yeong Jun is here to save Cheol Jun. He waves his magic wand (so to speak) and suddenly Cheol Jun has access to a whole social world he couldn't enter before. As the resident social butterfly, Yeong Jun invites Cheol Jun to hang out and introduces him to his friends. Even though Cheol Jun is still shy in big groups, Yeong Jun always includes him in these events. With a good buddy by his side, Cheol Jun eventually feels comfortable enough to open up around others.

When I first watched 3670, I didn't recognize Yeong Jun. Who's this random character? I don't remember seeing this guy at the mixer! After rewatching the scene, I realize the movie hid him on purpose. Yeong Jun was there the whole time, just blurred out or tucked away in the background. At the time, Cheol Jun was focused on Hyeon Taek, the stud sitting across from him. As viewers, we end up having the same tunnel vision. Cheol Jun doesn't recognize Yeong Jun until they meet later at the convenience store. Despite his importance, Yeong Jun was overlooked at first.

Feelings

As they spend time together, Cheol Jun catches feelings for Yeong Jun. It's easy to see why, because his friend has many attractive qualities. Yeong Jun's warm, bubbly personality draws everyone to him. He's charming and knows how to talk to people, which is basically a superpower to someone like Cheol Jun who struggles with every word. Yeong Jun is also witty, making Cheol Jun laugh when his life has been so serious. More than anything, Yeong Jun is kind. He goes out of his way to ensure Cheol Jun always feels welcome in the group.

Most of all, Yeong Jun makes Cheol Jun feel so special in a way that nobody else has. Yeong Jun is the first person in the gay community to actually notice him. The first person to be nice to him. The first person to compliment his looks and admire his work ethic. After feeling invisible for so long, this type of recognition means everything to Cheol Jun. Having someone finally see his worth changes how he thinks about himself. It proves that Cheol Jun isn't unlovable or unwanted like he feared. Cheol Jun can feel more confident because Yeong Jun believes in him.

At first, Cheol Jun still kept his guard up. Even though they're becoming fast friends, he's protective of his private life. He wouldn't let Yeong Jun go to church with him. Religion is sacred for Cheol Jun, so he may have wanted to keep his faith separate from his gay lifestyle. As his feelings grow stronger, Cheol Jun changes his mind. He invites Yeong Jun to come watch him give a big speech. This is a huge deal! It's the equivalent of saying, "I trust you enough to bring you into my inner world." It shows that Yeong Jun has become an important part of Cheol Jun's life.

Insecurities

Despite his many attractive qualities, Yeong Jun is deeply insecure. He has a bad habit of comparing himself to others. We see it during the birthday party. Even though his gift seems perfectly fine, he gets embarrassed and hides it. Yeong Jun assumes it isn't valuable enough compared to what other guests bought. He does the same thing in multiple areas of his life. Yeong Jun measures himself by how he stacks up against other people, and he always feels inferior in his own mind.

When it comes to his looks, Yeong Jun sees himself as ugly. The other gay guys have all friend-zoned him. They may think of him as the life of the party, but not as a desirable romantic partner. His personal achievements are another sore spot. Yeong Jun's university application got swiftly rejected, making him feel like a failure. On top of that, his financial status bothers him. As an adult, he's still dependent on his parents for money. When everyone around him seems to be doing better, earning more, and achieving more, Yeong Jun feels woefully inadequate.

These insecurities poison his relationship with Cheol Jun. Even though Cheol Jun likes him romantically, Yeong Jun doesn't believe it. He has already convinced himself that he isn't good enough. Not hot enough. Not successful enough. Yeong Jun keeps waiting for Cheol Jun to realize he can find a better boyfriend and leave him. His lack of self-worth becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Yeong Jun pushes away a promising romance because he can't accept that someone might want him exactly as he is.

Baby duck

At the gay club, the crowd goes wild for Cheol Jun and his muscular body. For once, he has no trouble fitting in. The hot dudes, especially Hyeon Taek, are suddenly obsessed with him. Cheol Jun and Hyeon Taek head into a private backroom with all the other couples. They start making out and getting frisky. But then, Cheol Jun stops midway. Surprisingly, he goes back to join Yeong Jun on the dance floor. He'd rather be by his friend's side than hook up with an attractive guy. Cheol Jun has made his loyalties clear.

Feeling insecure, Yeong Jun tells his friend to go back to the hook-up. Be with the hot people, not him. Yeong Jun shares his theory that Cheol Jun is like a baby duck. These baby ducks attach themselves to the first thing they see after hatching, even if it's not their real mom. Yeong Jun believes Cheol Jun is doing the same thing. Cheol Jun only likes him because Yeong Jun was his first gay friend. Once Cheol Jun gains more experience and meets other guys, these feelings will fade. He'll move on and find a more attractive boyfriend than Yeong Jun.

Yet, Cheol Jun rejects this theory. If it were true, he would have stayed in that backroom with Hyeon Taek, taking this movie to an 18+ territory. But he didn't. Cheol Jun picked Yeong Jun. From the start, Cheol Jun doesn't match the stereotype of a shallow gay guy who only goes for looks. Based on his history as a North Korean refugee, his priorities are different. Cheol Jun values an emotional bond over a physical attraction. He's looking for loyalty and kindness. Cheol Jun genuinely wants Yeong Jun, someone who was there for him before he had anything to offer.

Rejection

Sadly, Yeong Jun's insecurities strike again. The couple's first meeting at the mixer comes back to haunt them. That night, Cheol Jun left behind his contact info for Hyeon Taek. After Yeong Jun finds out, he feels like a backup option. A sloppy second. He's basically the consolation prize since Hyeon Taek wasn't available. It's also a sensitive time for Yeong Jun, whose university application was recently rejected. Now, realizing he wasn't Cheol Jun's first choice in romance? It's like getting rejected twice.

The truth is that Cheol Jun did overlook Yeong Jun at the mixer. They didn't mingle much. They sat far from each other. Cheol Jun was also dealing with his own social awkwardness, which made him feel overwhelmed. Picking Hyeon Taek wasn't a deep choice. This nice-looking guy asked him a few personal questions, and that was enough. When Cheol Jun tries to explain his reasoning, it triggers another insecurity in Yeong Jun. Being unmemorable is one of Yeong Jun's fears. He has always felt like a background character in someone else's story, so this destroys his self-worth even more.

Yeong Jun saw Cheol Jun at the mixer when no one else did. He reached out first at the convenience store. He invited this quiet loner to hang out. Every step of their relationship happened because Yeong Jun has always prioritized Cheol Jun. But Cheol Jun didn't choose him first, and that triggers Yeong Jun's insecurities. He poured his heart into making his friend feel special. And what did he get in return? The painful truth that he was never special to Cheol Jun from the start. Yeong Jun is embarrassed about liking a guy who didn't want him or even notice him at first.

Pity

Cheol Jun never meant to hurt his friend. Even if he had an early crush on Hyeon Taek, his feelings have shifted since then. Now, he cares deeply about Yeong Jun, and that's what matters most. Yeong Jun's anger is unjustified, stemming from his own insecurities. It's a shame he focuses on a moment of rejection and not the relationship they built. Due to his low self-esteem, Yeong Jun has an easier time believing in the worst scenario. He thinks Cheol Jun finds him undesirable because Yeong Jun feels that way about himself.

Since Yeong Jun's feelings are hurt, he decides to lash out. Yeong Jun jokes that he only became friends with Cheol Jun out of pity. It's a really cruel statement. It's probably the meanest thing he has said in the entire movie. In his mind, making fun of Cheol Jun creates an emotional distance. If he can frame their relationship as something shallow, then the rejection can't hurt him as badly. Yeong Jun wants to pretend the bond was never real. Dismissing the relationship feels safer than admitting how much it meant to him.

Unfortunately, Cheol Jun overheard his comment. The poor guy already feels alone in the world. His life is very fragile. When Yeong Jun became one of his few close friends, Cheol Jun truly cherished their bond. He's grateful to find a genuine companion, or at least that's what he thought. Oh, it must be soul-crushing to hear that the relationship was fake! His best friend treated him like a charity case! My heart breaks for Cheol Jun. 😢 After their tense confrontation, these two have basically ruined their friendship. What a shame, what a shame…

Companion

Around this time, Cheol Jun meets another North Korean defector who's also gay. All along, Cheol Jun thought he was the only one out there. It turns out someone else is just like him. Since this guy is new to the gay scene in South Korea, Cheol Jun steps up as his unofficial guide. Interestingly, he takes his new buddy to the same places where Yeong Jun brought him. Except this time, the roles have reversed. Cheol Jun used to be a newcomer, but now he has enough experience to help others.

At the end of their meeting, the defector looks so happy. He mentions a sense of relief from confiding in someone. It reminds Cheol Jun of how grateful he once felt toward Yeong Jun. After guiding his new buddy, Cheol Jun remembers how much Yeong Jun had supported him. Every intimate chat they had… Every reassurance he received… All these positive memories have resurfaced. Walking in Yeong Jun's shoes makes Cheol Jun appreciate his friend's kindness. Even now, their bond still means a lot to him. One angry remark, said out of pain, can't erase months of their comforting companionship.

Cheol Jun also realizes he isn't helping the refugee out of pity. He just wants someone else to be happy. That makes Cheol Jun rethink Yeong Jun's actions. If his own kindness is sincere, then Yeong Jun probably was too. All the inside jokes, the compliments… Those weren't things Yeong Jun did out of obligation. He was simply being a nice guy who wanted to spend time with his friend. Even if Yeong Jun said something cruel later, their connection was genuine. Ultimately, Cheol Jun chooses to forgive Yeong Jun. He decides this relationship is worth more than his anger.

Separation

The good news? Cheol Jun and Yeong Jun are on speaking terms again. The bad news? Yeong Jun is leaving the country soon. He plans to study abroad and start over elsewhere. One of his reasons is that Canada offers more LGBTQ+ rights. The irony is that Cheol Jun fought so hard to get into South Korea and considers it the finish line for freedom. Yet, Yeong Jun wants to leave here because this conservative society doesn't have enough freedoms for gay men. Everyone's version of freedom is quite different!

Yeong Jun's real reason for leaving South Korea? He has no incentive to stay. Yeong Jun was rejected by a university, shutting down his idea of a successful future. The dating pool is small, and he has been friend-zoned by everyone, which chipped away at his confidence. And then, there's Cheol Jun… After all the drama, everything became too complicated. Yeong Jun invested so much energy into their relationship, only to end up feeling worse about himself. Staying in South Korea makes him feel small and hopeless. Canada represents a clean slate where he can reset his life without any past baggage.

Cheol Jun is heartbroken. He thinks their relationship is the reason Yeong Jun should want to stay. Why would they give up on their incredibly special connection? However, Yeong Jun still thinks Cheol Jun's feelings for him are misguided. The baby duck theory is back in full force. Once Cheol Jun meets more people and has more experiences, he'll realize there are better options out there. Guys who are more attractive, more successful, more interesting. Yeong Jun sees himself as a stepping stone, not someone Cheol Jun should settle for if he had other choices.

Zero

3670 started as a story about a man living in exile, and it ends with another man choosing his own exile. Did Yeong Jun make the right choice to leave? It's a massive gamble. Sure, things could be better for him in Canada. The dating pool is larger. Being openly gay is easier. There's less social pressure to follow one narrow version of success. But things could also be worse. Yeong Jun is still Yeong Jun, so he's leaving with the same insecurities. The language barriers and cultural differences may easily make him feel like an outcast.

The biggest tragedy is that Yeong Jun has what most people spend their whole lives looking for: someone who truly loves him. Cheol Jun is standing right there, offering his heart. He sees Yeong Jun's flaws. He knows Yeong Jun isn't the hottest guy in the club. But Cheol Jun still wants him! Unfortunately, Yeong Jun is so insecure that he won't believe this relationship will work. He uses the baby duck theory to convince himself that Cheol Jun's feelings aren't real. Yeong Jun also lies about his own feelings, claiming he was being nice out of pity. Yet, the flashback shows that he was interested in Cheol Jun since the mixer.

In 3670, the "0" in the code means nobody is coming to the party. It's a lonely digit, and it describes how Yeong Jun feels on the inside. He sees himself as a total zero to the people around him. At some point, he almost believed he could be Cheol Jun's #1. After his confidence was shaken, he realizes he's just an inconsequential zero. There are bigger, better numbers than him. His self-imposed exile is also a version of 3670. In Canada, he has zero friends, zero romances, and zero history. Sadly, Yeong Jun wants to isolate himself in a world where no one is waiting for him.

Bittersweet ending

3670 has a sad ending. Cheol Jun is heartbroken after Yeong Jun leaves for Canada. In their final moments together, there's some tenderness as they exchange farewell gifts. There's also unresolved tension when Cheol Jun leaves without saying goodbye. Ooh, that's icy! Yeong Jun has made it clear that he wants his friend to move on and meet new people. He crushes the last bit of hope that they could have a long-distance relationship. Cheol Jun has to accept the truth: Yeong Jun doesn't want to be with him.

After Yeong Jun's departure, Cheol Jun makes a few positive changes to his life. He decides to come out to his North Korean friends. In the past, they wanted to set him up with a nice girl from church. Cheol Jun felt awkward as he avoided the matchmaking attempts. Eventually, they got into an argument over his secret. Since Cheol Jun had already lost one close friend, he didn't want to lose Hak Min and Jeong Hak too. So, he decides to go for total honesty. Thankfully, his friends are super cool with him being gay. They even ask about his type and help him check out guys, proving there are no issues.

Cheol Jun's other changes are more subtle. We see him quietly adapt to life in South Korea. He picks up a few popular habits, like drinking Starbucks, taking selfies, and listening to music. While these seem like minor activities, they represent freedoms he never had in North Korea. Simple pleasures that we take for granted are things Cheol Jun couldn't do in his old life. Each mundane moment is actually a small victory, a reminder that he's living the free life he risked everything to have. Cheol Jun is settling into his new country and claiming a happily ordinary existence.

Last scene

The final scene of 3670 finds Cheol Jun surrounded by a new group of gay friends. Instead of shrinking into the background, he's holding the mic and singing MERRY-GO-ROUND by Sokodomo. Earlier in the movie, karaoke made him self-conscious. Cheol Jun didn't grow up with these popular Korean songs, so he felt out of place. Before leaving, Yeong Jun gave him a playlist of trendy music as a farewell gift. Cheol Jun listens to it constantly. It equips him with the cultural knowledge he lacked, helping him become more confident.

This last scene is meaningful because it shows Cheol Jun's character growth. Look at where he is! Look at what he's doing! He meets a group of strangers and even sings a song in front of them. It's a gutsy move, especially when you're shy. In the past, Cheol Jun might not have the courage to do this. But now, he's comfortable enough to socialize with other gay guys, even if Yeong Jun isn't by his side. He doesn't need his fairy godmother anymore to make introductions or ease him into social situations. Best of all, the audience is supportive. They sing along and cheer for him, especially when he tackles that rap segment!

Cheol Jun has changed a lot since the start of the movie. At first, he was so lonely. This awkward loner stayed quiet and sat by himself, hoping someone will notice him. But now? Cheol Jun has learned to take the initiative. He's an active participant, willing to put himself out there. Even if it feels scary, Cheol Jun wants to meet new people and open up to them. He's making an effort to connect with others. This story finishes by reassuring us of Cheol Jun's confidence. We don't have to worry about him anymore, because he can adapt and fit in with the group.