Actors Kim Seon-ho (left) and Go Youn-jung on Jan. 13 pose for a photo at a media event for their new Netflix K-drama "Can This Love Be Translated?" at the hotel Joseon Palace in Seoul's Gangnam-gu District. 

By Xu Aiying
Photos and video = Netflix

Netflix's first original Korean series of the new year depicts a fairytale-like love story.

A media event for "Can This Love Be Translated?" was held on Jan. 13 at the hotel Joseon Palace in Seoul's Gangnam-gu District. The rom-com's director Yoo Young-eun and actors Kim Seon-ho and Go Youn-jung shared behind-the-scenes stories brimming with excitement.

The series features the dilemma of two people unable to understand each other despite speaking the same tongue. Joo Ho-jin (played by Kim) is a multilingual interpreter who is clueless in the "language of love" and high-profile actor Cha Mu-hee (Go), who is loved by the public but clumsy in romance.

The K-drama also gained a lot of hype from fans as the latest work written by sisters Hong Jeongeun and Hong Miran, who wrote the hit series "Alchemy of Souls" (2022) and "Hotel Del Luna" (2019).

"This is the first pure romantic comedy presented by the writers in a long time since their previous works in the fantasy genre," Yoo said. "The emotional dilemma arising from the interpretation process is interesting to watch."

"As the director, I found it incredibly pleasurable to work with the writers and share their pure, fairytale-like perspectives."

To play a multilingual interpreter, Kim studied foreign languages for four months before production started. "I speak four languages in the drama: Japanese, English, Italian and Korean," he said. "I embodied the role through repeated practice to convey emotions in my lines."

Go called her character "someone who transparently shows her emotions without hiding them." 

"I believe that interpretation focuses on smooth understanding and communication," she said. "I tried to portray the process of empathy and understanding on a multidimensional level rather than simply taking each other's words at face value."

Creating the chemistry between the two actors, Yoo said, "Kim is an irreplaceable actor who portrays well everything from comedy, romance or even a cold-hearted character."

On Go, the director said, "Her purity, loveliness and sense of spirit resonated extremely well with Cha Mu-hee," adding, "Watch the drama until the end to discover a side of Go never before seen."

This is a scene from the original Netflix series "Can This Love Be Translated?"

The rom-com offers a visual feast at locations in Korea, Japan, Canada and Italy, which heightens the immersive quality of the work and captures viewers' eyes and hearts.

"I'm honored and glad to introduce this drama to people around the world in each country's language," Yoo said. "This drama depicts the universal emotion of love while featuring the beautiful sceneries of several countries, so I hope that many enjoy it."

"I hope that this work brings good energy in the new year."

"Can This Love Be Translated?" was released on Jan. 16 on Netflix worldwide.

xuaiy@korea.kr