Love and Leashes (Korean) is a 2022 South Korean romantic comedy film, based on the webtoon Moral Sense by Gyeoul. The film directed by Park Hyun-jin and starring Lee Jun-young, Seohyun and Seo Hyun-woo, depicts a romance between Ji-hoo, who has everything perfect but has a unique sexual taste, and Ji-woo, a competent public relations team member who finds out about his secret. It was released on Netflix on February 11, 2022, to coincide with Valentine’s Day.
Review: ‘Love and Leashes’ is another attempt by a streaming major to woo audiences through Korean content. Sadly, this time the effort pays off only partially. Full marks to Love and Leashes for putting a taboo subject under the spotlight and talking about sexual freedom and acceptance. But the treatment, for the most part, is boring and drab and by the time it shows sparks, it’s already late and your interest is completely over. Nevertheless, it deserves recognition for tackling a subject that people are not very vocal about in a frothy and light manner.
This romantic comedy revolves around two office colleagues incidentally sharing the same name – Jung Ji Hoo and Jung Ji Woo. Jung Ji Hoo joins an online educational firm as its PR manager where his co-worker Jung Ji Woo reports to him. When Woo accidentally opens a package meant for the other Hoo, secrets come tumbling out. The products in the box reveal the PR manager’s sexual fetishes and his attraction towards BDSM (sexual aspects that include dominance, submission and masochism).
Attraction as opposed to love bites both of them and then enter into a pact that they will start a romance where the lady will be his master and together will explore their sexual fetishes without being physical. The story takes a turn when the PR manager says no to a date offer.