Enter (played by Lee Yeon-hee). Eun-hwan is the antithesis of Jae-kyung. She is poor, innocent, hardworking, and the class president. She lives with her mentally challenged brother and works tirelessly to make ends meet. When Jae-kyung arrives, he views the school and its students with disdain. He tries to bribe his way to an easy diploma, but the school's principal—and Eun-hwan—refuse to let him slide.

If the film remained a romantic comedy about a rich boy learning humility in the country, it would have been a pleasant, albeit forgettable, watch. However, The Millionaire’s First Love is remembered for its sudden, devastating pivot into tragedy.

The Millionaire's First Love is a 2006 South Korean romantic drama that remains a quintessential example of the "Hallyu" wave’s emotional storytelling. Directed by Kim Tae-kyun and starring a young Hyun Bin, the film blends the tropes of extreme wealth, rural simplicity, and tragic romance to create a narrative that continues to pull at heartstrings nearly two decades later.

Absolutely—if you know what you are signing up for. is not a subtle film. It is a sledgehammer of emotion. It does not apologize for its clichés; it owns them.

Here’s a useful, balanced review of the 2006 Korean movie The Millionaire’s First Love (original title: Mapado 2: Back to the Basics — though often marketed simply as The Millionaire’s First Love ).

The film follows Kang Jae-kyung (played by Hyun Bin ), an arrogant and spoiled high school senior set to inherit his grandfather's vast fortune upon his 18th birthday. However, a specific clause in the will forces him to relocate to a rural village in Gangwon Province and graduate from a local high school to claim the money. Initially resentful, Jae-kyung soon meets Choi Eun-hwan ( Lee Yeon-hee ), a spirited girl who harbors a heart-wrenching secret that eventually transforms his worldview and priorities. A Millionaire's First Love Reviews - MyDramaList