What Is My Girl and I About?
The premise of My Girl and I in 289 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a quiet coastal town where the rhythm of the sea echoes through everyday life, a high‑school reunion becomes a portal to the past. The town’s familiar streets, the lighthouse that watches over the harbor, and the lingering scent of nostalgia set a gentle, almost reverent tone. It feels as if each breeze carries whispers of stories left unfinished, inviting both residents and returning strangers to linger a little longer in the moments that define them.
Su‑ho returns to this world after a decade away, carrying the ordinary concerns of a student yet haunted by a sense that something crucial remains unresolved. He moves through familiar corridors with a mix of curiosity and hesitation, his thoughts often sparked by a faint, inexplicable voice that seems to call his name. Alongside him, Su‑eun—a bright, beautiful classmate—navigates the same halls, her presence a quiet, constant point of focus for those who notice her subtle glances.
There is an unspoken history beneath their interactions: a day when the sea claimed Su‑ho and a mysterious rescuer appeared, leaving behind only a lingering question. Su‑eun harbors a secret admiration that blossoms silently, their exchanges marked by shy humor and lingering looks that hint at something deeper than casual friendship. The lighthouse, the ever‑watchful sentinel, becomes a backdrop for their tentative connection, its light casting long shadows that mirror the uncertainties they both feel.
The film envelops these characters in a mood that is both wistful and hopeful, blending the simplicity of small‑town life with the weight of hidden emotions. Themes of memory, fate, and the quiet courage required to acknowledge one’s feelings swirl beneath the surface, inviting the audience to wonder how the tide of the past will shape the currents of their present.
What Happens in My Girl and I?
The complete story of My Girl and I, from the first scene to the last, in 704 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 2 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Kim Su-ho Cha Tae-hyun returns to his hometown after a decade to attend a high school reunion in modern-day Korea. Along the walk, a female voice seems to call his name, echoing in his head as he moves through familiar streets. His old friends doubt his presence, noting that he hasn’t fully moved on from a girl and that the reunion will mark the anniversary of Bae Soo-eun Song Hye-kyo’s death. To everyone’s surprise, Su-ho shows up, and after the celebratory moment, they drift toward a lighthouse where a sharp remark about Soo-eun unsettles him, sending him into tears. In a flashback, a younger Su-ho is rescued from drowning by a pretty girl who loses her pager in the process but leaves before the rescue is complete; Su-ho wakes believing his friends were the ones who saved him.
In class, Su-ho is drawn to Soo-eun as she stares often in his direction. He notices her, and when she asks him to buy her a croquette, their exchange quickly shifts from casual to intimate. They eat together in defiance of the gossiping onlookers, and the moment they share makes it clear that they are seen as a couple by their peers. The captain of the judo club, who is interested in Soo-eun, confronts Su-ho, and a tense escalation follows. Soo-eun steps in, confirming their relationship, and the captain roughs Su-ho up. Su-ho’s friends intervene, and they escape on bicycles, the mood between them thick with new, fragile trust.
Soon after, near the lighthouse, Soo-eun hints she saved him long ago, a detail he misreads as a simple gesture rather than the truth of their intertwined destinies. They watch the sunset together, deepen their bond, and on the way home she slips him her number in a moment that feels both ordinary and fated. That night, they confess their feelings for one another, marking the beginning of something powerful and fragile.
The next day brings a sudden summons: Su-ho’s grandfather has collapsed. He rushes to his grandfather’s side only to discover he’s fine, having feigned illness to speak with him privately. Soo-eun arrives with Su-ho’s bag, and the moment widens to reveal a long, personal history. Su-ho’s grandfather shares his own love story—how he joined the army, was separated from his first love Soon-im Moon Jeong-hee, and left her a necklace as a keepsake. Years later, he becomes an undertaker, arranging a funeral for Soon-im’s husband and eventually marrying another woman, Su-ho’s grandmother, in the process. This family memory unsettles and also clarifies for Su-ho the depth of his own feelings for Soo-eun. He writes her a note confessing his heart, not realizing she stands behind him; she softly answers, “Me too,” and the couple becomes officially together.
A plan for an overnight stay on Fog Island is proposed by Su-ho’s friends, who orchestrate the trip to give the couple space. At the pier, Su-ho discovers their scheme, but the chance to be alone with Soo-eun on the island strengthens their bond as they share their first kiss. The next day, Soo-eun suddenly faints and she is rushed to the hospital, where she is diagnosed with terminal leukemia. Her last wish is to return to their island, a request that adds a poignant urgency to their love.
Meanwhile, Soon-im’s own last wish had been to be reunited with Su-ho’s grandfather, and the grandfather’s memory of that reunion provides a quiet, resonant parallel to the young lovers’ fate. While Su-ho visits Soo-eun in the hospital, she expresses her deepest wish to see the sea again. He reveals two ferry tickets, but a typhoon shuts down all ferries, blocking their passage. Su-ho pleads with authorities to grant them passage, but the storm and the demand for time test their resolve. In the tense moment, Soo-eun collapses, leaving Su-ho to confront an impossible choice.
Back in the present, Su-ho returns to Fog Island and finds Soo-eun’s bag. A diary entry reveals that she planted seeds on a hill during their earlier visit. He goes to the hill and discovers it covered in purple flowers, a living, final gift from Soo-eun that stands as a testament to their love and to the memory of Soon-im and the grandfather’s enduring history.
My Girl and I Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Return to hometown for a high school reunion” to “Final gift: seeds on the hill”. 14 events name a place, across 14 locations.
- 1
Return to hometown for a high school reunion
Kim Su-ho travels back to his hometown to attend the long-awaited high school reunion. The emotional weight of the gathering hints at unfinished business and a lingering memory of Soo-eun. The mood blends nostalgia with tension as old friends question whether he has truly moved on.
When:present day, reunion day Where:Hometown streets and reunion venue
- 2
A voice calls his name as he walks
During his walk to the reunion, a female voice seems to call Su-ho's name, echoing through the familiar streets. The encounter foreshadows the lingering pull of Soo-eun and the fate that binds them. The eerie call unsettles him as he moves toward the night’s events.
When:present day, during the walk to reunion Where:Familiar hometown streets
- 3
Reunion night and the death anniversary hint
At the reunion, friends note that Soo-eun’s death casts a long shadow over the event. They mention that the evening also marks an anniversary tied to Soo-eun, setting a somber tone. Su-ho feels the weight of others' gossip and his own unresolved feelings surface.
When:reunion night Where:Reunion venue, town center
- 4
Lighthouse moment and tears
After the celebrations, Su-ho and Soo-eun drift toward a lighthouse, where a sharp remark unsettles him and brings him to tears. The location serves as a turning point, revealing the depth of their bond and the social tensions around them. The moment hints at fate and their fragile future together.
When:same night Where:Lighthouse by the coast
- 5
Flashback: childhood rescue
In a flashback, a younger Su-ho is rescued from drowning by a pretty girl who loses her pager. He wakes up believing his friends saved him, a misinterpretation that foreshadows the intertwined destinies to come. The scene explains the emotional undercurrents that guide Su-ho’s later feelings for Soo-eun.
When:childhood flashback Where:Shoreline/sea
- 6
Croquette moment and social defiance
In class, Su-ho notices Soo-eun watching him, and she asks to buy her a croquette. Their exchange shifts from casual to intimate, and they share a meal in defiance of the gossiping onlookers. Their moment marks them as a couple in the eyes of their peers, even if the town talks.
When:during school day Where:Classroom and nearby eatery
- 7
Judo captain confrontation
The judo captain, intrigued by Soo-eun, confronts Su-ho and roughs him up. Soo-eun steps in to defend him, and Su-ho’s friends intervene, leading to a quick escape on bicycles. The incident deepens their fragile trust and bonds them closer.
When:post-school Where:Near the school
- 8
Sunset, confession, and a number
Near the lighthouse, Soo-eun hints that she saved Su-ho long ago, a truth he misreads. They watch the sunset together, share a tender moment, and she slips him her number as a sign of their growing connection. The moment feels fated, both ordinary and extraordinary.
When:evening Where:Lighthouse vicinity at sunset
- 9
The couple becomes official
That night, Su-ho and Soo-eun confess their feelings for one another and commit to being together. Their relationship gains official status as the reality of their bond sinks in. The town’s gossip fades in the glow of their new commitment.
When:that night Where:Various locales in town
- 10
Family history revealed at the grandfather's house
The next day, Su-ho’s grandfather feigns illness to speak privately. He reveals his own love story with Soon-im and shows the lasting impact of past choices, including a cherished necklace. This revelation helps Su-ho understand his own feelings for Soo-eun more clearly, and he discovers the depth of his family’s history that mirrors their own romance.
When:the next day Where:Grandfather’s house
Show the other 4 events of My Girl and I Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Fog Island plan for privacy and first kiss
Su-ho’s friends arrange an overnight stay on Fog Island to give the couple space. At the pier, Su-ho realizes the plan but chooses to seize the moment with Soo-eun, sealing their bond with a kiss. The moment marks a new, deeper commitment between them.
When:the planned overnight Where:Fog Island pier
- 12
Soo-eun collapses and leukemia diagnosis
The next day Soo-eun faints and is rushed to the hospital, where she is diagnosed with terminal leukemia. Her last wish is to return to Fog Island, adding urgency and heartbreak to their romance. Su-ho vows to fight for every moment they have left together.
When:the day after the kiss Where:Hospital
- 13
Typhoon blocks ferries; time runs out
As Su-ho begs authorities for passage, a typhoon shuts down all ferries, forcing them to confront the limits of time. Soo-eun collapses again, and Su-ho faces an almost unbearable choice between life and departure. The natural disaster intensifies the emotional stakes of their love.
When:during the attempted hospital visit Where:Coastal town and sea approaches
- 14
Final gift: seeds on the hill
In the epilogue, Su-ho returns to Fog Island and finds Soo-eun’s bag, along with a diary entry about planting seeds on a hill. He discovers the hill is now covered in purple flowers, a living testament to Soo-eun’s love and to the intertwined histories of Soon-im and his grandfather. It becomes a lasting memorial of their bond.
When:present day, after her death Where:Hill on Fog Island
Who Are the Main Characters in My Girl and I?
11 characters, among them Soon-im (Moon Jeong-hee), Soo-eun (Bae Soo-eun) and Soo-ho (Kim Soo-ho): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- S(
Soon-im (Moon Jeong-hee)
Played by Moon Jeong-hee
Soon-im is the elder first love whose memory casts a long shadow over the family history. Though she appears primarily in memory, her story provides a moral and emotional anchor for the grandfather’s past. Her presence emphasizes how one life’s ripple can shape generations.
- 🕰️ Memory
- 💞 Love
- S(
Soo-eun (Bae Soo-eun)
Played by Song Hye-kyo
Soo-eun is the young woman who deeply affects Su-ho’s life and becomes the source of their intense bond. Her battle with terminal leukemia drives the plot toward urgent choices and a poignant farewell on Fog Island. Her last wishes propel the couple to confront time and fate together.
- 💔 Illness
- ❤️ Love
- S(
Soo-ho (Kim Soo-ho)
Played by Cha Tae-hyun
Soo-ho is the male lead who returns to his hometown after a decade, carrying unresolved feelings and a longing for Soo-eun. He navigates love, memory, and family history while facing decisive moments that threaten to tear them apart. His emotional arc centers on sacrificial devotion and the search for a second chance.
- ❤️ Love
- 🧭 Memory
- J(
Jong-goo (Park Jong-goo)
Played by Song Chang-eui
Jong-goo is the judo club captain who pursues Soo-eun, creating tension with Su-ho. He embodies social pressure and possessive competition, challenging the couple’s bond and heightening the drama around their relationship.
- 🏹 Jealousy
- 🥋 Sports
- S(
Sung-jin (Oh Sung-jin)
Played by Park Hyo-joon
A member of Su-ho’s circle of friends who helps organize plans around the couple’s time on Fog Island. He represents the shared ambitions of youth and the lengths friends go to create space for love.
- 👥 Friendship
- 🗺️ Adventure
- J(
Juliet (Kang Bo-min)
Played by Kang Bo-min
A member of the social circle around Su-ho and Soo-eun, contributing to the group dynamics and the high-school era atmosphere of the story.
- 🎭 Drama
- 🧭 School
- SM
Soo-ho's Mother (Kim Hae-sook)
Played by Kim Hae-sook
A maternal figure who anchors the family’s emotional life, offering care and perspective on the aftermath of the lovers’ choices.
- 👪 Family
- 💙 Support
- BT
Biology Teacher (Kim Yun-seok)
Played by Kim Yun-seok
A school figure who appears in the younger chapters, contributing to the environment where Su-ho and Soo-eun’s romance unfolds.
- 🏫 Education
- 🧬 Science
- M(
Man-geum (Kim Man-geum)
Played by Lee Soon-jae
An elder family presence who anchors memory and tradition within the broader family history that informs the present.
- 👵 Elder
- 📚 Memory
- SS
Soo-ho's Sister (Soo-ho's Sister)
Played by Kim Shin-young
A sibling who provides familial perspective and support, reflecting the close-knit dynamics of the central family.
- 👧 Family
- 🤝 Support
- D(
DJ (Lee Moon-se)
Played by Lee Moon-se
A background presence that adds local color to the seaside setting and scenes around the town’s social life.
- 🎶 Music
Where and When Is My Girl and I Set?
My Girl and I is set in Fog Island and Hometown (Present-day Korea). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Present-day Korea
The narrative unfolds in modern-day Korea with flashbacks to the protagonists’ youth. It juxtaposes contemporary life and a seaside past, where memories of first love shape present decisions. The emotional arc stretches across generations, anchored by a grandfather’s reminiscences and the younger couple’s urgent romance.
Where
Fog Island, Hometown
Fog Island is the pivotal coastal setting where the central romance unfolds and the couple faces time's test. The story also moves through Su-ho's hometown and a hospital, highlighting the contrast between everyday life and the island’s memory-tinged atmosphere. The lighthouse and ferry routes symbolize memory, distance, and the desperate chances the lovers seek to seize.
- 🏝️ Fog Island
- 🗺️ Hometown
- 🏥 Coastal town
What Are the Themes of My Girl and I?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Love & Fate, Memory & Legacy and Mortality.
-
01
Love & Fate
A tender, fragile romance threads through social gossip, distance, and a looming illness. The relationship between Su-ho and Soo-eun grows under pressure, then faces a terminal reality that forces hard choices. The stormy impediments and a ferry-closure push their love toward a decisive, fateful moment.
-
02
Memory & Legacy
Memories bind generations: Soon-im’s memory, the grandfather’s past, and the present lovers converge to shape identity. The family history becomes a compass guiding present actions, while memories morph into enduring gifts. The story uses memory as a bridge that preserves love beyond loss.
-
03
Mortality
Illness and the specter of death heighten the stakes, turning happiness into urgency. Hospital scenes and Soo-eun’s leukemia amplify the need to seize time together. The final symbol—the seeds scattered and the flowers on the hill—embodies grief, memory, and meaning that outlive life.
What Kind of Film Is My Girl and I?
Bittersweet in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Bittersweet
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A poignant and nostalgic romance that moves steadily from innocent first love to profound tragedy, leaving a bittersweet feeling of beautiful memories overshadowed by inevitable loss.
- nostalgic
- melancholic
- romantic
- tragic
- reflective
- sentimental
- young love
- terminal illness
- grief and loss
- fate and destiny
Content notes: terminal illness, death of a loved one.
Quiz
How well do you remember My Girl and I? Test yourself on the story.
