The narrative is framed through the recollections of an elderly woman, (played in the present by Lee Young-ran and in the past by Park Bo-young), who returns to a rural cottage she lived in 47 years prior.
(Korean: Neukdae Sonyeon ) is a landmark 2012 South Korean fantasy romance film that redefined the melodrama genre. Directed by Jo Sung-hee, the movie tells a poignant, century-spanning story of "pure love" between a sickly teenage girl and a feral, genetically altered boy. It became the most successful Korean melodrama of all time, amassing over 7 million admissions and cementing its place as a cultural touchstone. Plot Overview: A Bond Beyond Time
Unlike many supernatural romances where the male is the powerful protector, A Werewolf Boy features a vulnerable male lead who relies on the female protagonist for his humanity and education. Critical Reception and Impact a werewolf boy movie
In the 1960s, a young Sun-yi moves to the countryside to recuperate from a lung condition. There, she discovers a mute, feral boy (Song Joong-ki) hiding on the property. Her family takes him in, naming him . Using a dog-training manual, Sun-yi begins the patient process of "taming" him—teaching him to wait for meals, wear clothes, and eventually read and write.
The film explores the contrast between the unwavering, "animalistic" loyalty of Cheol-su and the calculated cruelty of human characters like Ji-tae. The narrative is framed through the recollections of
As their bond deepens, Cheol-su’s supernatural origins as a "werewolf boy"—genetically spliced with wolf DNA—surface when he must protect Sun-yi from a jealous and abusive suitor, Ji-tae. To save Cheol-su from villagers who fear his bestial side, Sun-yi is forced to leave him with a final promise: "Wait for me. I’ll come back for you" .
The film received high praise for its emotional resonance and the performances of its leads. Song Joong-ki, in particular, was lauded for conveying complex emotions through eyes and gestures despite having almost no dialogue. While some reviewers noted that the CGI for the werewolf transformation was less than stellar, they agreed that the "heartwarming story" more than made up for technical shortcomings. A Werewolf Boy (2012) - IMDb It became the most successful Korean melodrama of
Some critics view the feral boy as a political allegory for the orphans and trauma left behind by the Korean War.