1

Artificial intelligence is no longer confined to the realm of science and technology—it is increasingly finding a place in art and emotional storytelling. Heartflutter Algorithm, a new romantic comedy set to premiere at Platform74 in Daehangno from May 27 to June 1, explores the growing intersection of AI and human emotion through the fantastical premise of a voice assistant stepping into the real world.

At the heart of the play is Siri—yes, that Siri—who emerges from a smartphone and takes human form. This transformation sets the stage for a gently humorous yet poignant meditation on loneliness, connection, and the boundaries between technology and humanity.

While Heartflutter Algorithm presents itself as a lighthearted love story, it quietly poses deeper questions beneath the surface: What does it mean to be understood? How are identity and love shaped in a digital age? If human beings can be interpreted as emotional algorithms, can an algorithm, in turn, learn to feel?

The protagonist, Min-sik, finds solace in daily interactions with Siri—until she appears before him as a real person. What follows is more than a fantasy twist; it becomes a reflection of a generation longing for meaningful connections in an increasingly mediated world.

Visually, the production hints at a compelling theatrical language to express its themes. The blending of real and virtual, human and machine, suggests a staging approach that plays with digital textures, lighting, and sound design to evoke a contemporary sensory experience. How these audiovisual elements heighten or complicate the emotional atmosphere remains to be seen on opening night.

The role of Siri is played by three actors—Lee Bom, Lee Semi, and Hwang Soo-ah—through a triple casting. To portray an AI navigating human emotions, each actor focused on balancing robotic detachment with growing sensitivity, using shifts in tone, gaze, and movement. Their individual interpretations offer the audience multiple windows into what it might mean for a machine to become emotionally sentient.

Supporting actors Lim Do-yoon, Lim Ji-an, and Hwang Yeon-joo appear in multiple roles, enriching the narrative with a dynamic rhythm and emotional diversity. Their presence adds texture to the world surrounding Siri and Min-sik, capturing the layered experience of an AI encountering humanity from different angles.

Heartflutter Algorithm is ultimately more than a quirky comedy about love in the AI era. It uses its genre framework to explore how deeply technology is entwined with our emotional lives. As digital tools increasingly shape our experiences and relationships, this play dares to ask: can machines feel? And what, then, does that say about us?

With its unique blend of wit and inquiry, Heartflutter Algorithm may leave audiences not just entertained, but quietly introspective—prompting them to consider how love, identity, and connection are evolving in an age where the artificial is becoming startlingly intimate.