convoluted and entertaining

I agree that the plot lost its way, and was further hamstrung by multiple jumps in time. But I was never bored, and not once did I think of dropping it. I became a fan of the Uncle Han Son character, and Song Sun Mi (who was similarly delightful in Start Up) does arch b*tchiness like no other.
It's hard to believe that the two leads could maintain their innocence and naivete after years of grifting and going undercover, but sure, why not? The main value of Private Lives for me was that it led me to the writer's masterpiece, Heartless City. Having binged on that, I can forgive the zigs and zags of Private Lives, which lacked the former's compelling leads and big budget cinematography. Netflix - I beg of you to do Heartless City Season 2!!

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an early gem

I see a lot of hate for the depressing storyline and ending, but this is the harsh reality of making a living in South Korean society on a middle-class salary (they're not day laborers or entrepreneurs) when your family doesn't have the resources for hospital bills or rental deposits. But remarkably, in just 75 minutes, you're left with the hope that it is possible to give and receive love generously regardless of debt. The two actors do a credible job of making their relationship believable.

Not all of the characters are fully fleshed out, but that's ok; you can still understand what drives one character to end everything. The final scene is just heartbreaking.

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