Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Kim Seon-ho, Go Youn-jung spark global rom-com frenzy with 'Can This Love Be Translated?'
Actors Go Youn-jung, right, and Kim Seon-ho pose during a promotional event for their new Netflix series “Can This Love Be Translated?” in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday. Courtesy of Netflix
By Baek Byung-yeul
Netflix’s new romantic comedy “Can This Love Be Translated?” is gaining rapid momentum here and abroad, fueled by the immense star power of lead actors Kim Seon-ho and Go Youn-jung.
The series was released Friday and topped the streaming platform’s series chart on Sunday. The 12-part series also entered the top five in the global Netflix TV show category the same day, according to FlixPatrol data, signaling another major win for Korean romantic comedies.
Unlike typical romantic comedies, the drama keeps viewers interested by adding a touch of mystery to the sweet moments. The unique way the characters express their feelings through different languages provides a fresh experience for fans of the genre.
The drama, penned by the celebrated screenwriting duo Hong Jung-eun and Hong Mi-ran, tells the story of Joo Ho-jin (Kim), a professional interpreter who is fluent in several languages.
His life takes a turn when he begins working for global superstar Cha Mu-hee (Go), leading to a series of misunderstandings and emotional discoveries across scenic locations in Japan, Italy and Canada.
To add a fresh layer, the writers introduced a psychological element as Cha struggles with lingering anxieties from her past roles.
Kim also delivers an impressive performance as an interpreter who speaks six languages such as English, Japanese and Italian. The approach helps the two main characters get closer as they learn to understand each other's real emotions despite their different lives.
The show's global popularity was clear at a massive promotional event in Jakarta on the day of its release.
About 30,000 fans applied for a chance to attend the fan event, with 2,000 attendees ultimately gathering at Kasablanka Hall to meet the stars in person. The actors also visited a special pop-up zone in Jakarta that recreated the various international filming locations seen in the series.
During the event, Kim expressed his gratitude, saying he felt the sincerity of fans who waited for the series and received great energy from their support, according to Netflix.
Go also shared her excitement, saying she was deeply moved by the loud cheers at the pop-up zone and promised the series would provide a rewarding experience for viewers.
Director Yoo Young-eun expressed her honor in meeting global audiences through this series. "I was excited for fans to experience the story as if they were traveling alongside the characters," the director said.