Can This Love Be Translated? () is a South Korean romantic comedy television series written by the Hong sisters and directed by Yoo Young-eun. Produced by Netflix, Imaginus, and its subsidiaries, Trii Studio and Studio Sot, the project utilized full pre-production with filming taking place in South Korea, Japan, Canada, and Italy. The series features an international cast including Kim Seon-ho, Go Youn-jung, Sota Fukushi, Choi Woo-sung, and Lee E-dam. It depicts the relationship between Joo Ho-jin, a multilingual interpreter, and Cha Mu-hee, a top actress.
The Hong sisters originally developed the series for tvN in 2019, but the project was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic preventing scheduled overseas filming. Planning resumed in 2023, and by June 2024, it was officially announced as a Netflix original.
The 12-episode series was released globally on Netflix on January 16, 2026, and proved to be a major commercial success. Following its premiere, it debuted at number two on the Netflix Tudum global non-English charts before claiming the top spot for two consecutive weeks, leading viewership rankings in 60 countries and amassing more than 271 million viewing hours and 20.6 million cumulative views over its first seven weeks. On July 17, 2026, Netflix released its engagement report for the first half of the year, highlighting Can This Love Be Translated? among its most successful Korean series as it ranked 19th overall globally and second among Korean content with 28.6 million views and 377.7 million hours viewed. Furthermore, the series successfully boosted sales for featured brands and increased international tourism to its filming locations in Japan, Canada, and Italy.
The series received generally positive reviews, despite some criticism regarding its pacing. Praised for its central theme that every person has their own language, it earned critical acclaim for its direction, cinematography, and the chemistry between the lead actors, as well as their individual performances. The series received critical acclaim, including nomination for Best Director at the 62nd Baeksang Arts Awards, as well as multiple nominations at the KISF Global OTT Awards, the Blue Dragon Series Awards, and the Seoul International Drama Awards.
Synopsis Joo Ho-jin is a genius polyglot who speaks eight languages. He lives by logic. He works as a highly skilled multilingual interpreter but finds it hard to understand people. Ho-jin first encounters Cha Mu-hee in Tokyo, Japan, when she is still an unknown actress. Mu-hee rises to global stardom after her breakout role as Do Ra-mi in a hit zombie film. The two are reunited in Seoul during an international interview where Ho-jin becomes her interpreter.
His predictable life changes when he accepts a job as an interpreter for a global dating show titled Romantic Trip. Filmed on location in Canada and Italy, the program features Mu-hee and a Japanese actor named Hiro Kurosawa. As Ho-jin gradually falls for Mu-hee, he struggles to maintain professional composure. The two possess fundamentally opposite personalities and communication styles; Ho-jin is characteristically straight to the point, while Mu-hee tends to be roundabout. After a series of miscommunications, he realizes his biggest challenge is navigating Mu-hee's complicated emotions and the painful secrets she is hiding.
Cast and characters Main
Kim Seon-ho as Joo Ho-jin A former writer and a skilled multilingual interpreter, he utilizes his talent as a polyglot fluent in Korean, Chinese, English, Japanese, French, and Italian, with some proficiency in Spanish and German. He values precision in both his professional and personal life. Go Youn-jung as Cha Mu-hee / Do Ra-mi An aspiring actress who became a world-famous celebrity overnight through her title role as Do Ra-mi in the zombie film Quiet Woman. Following her sudden fame, she earned the moniker "Horror Queen." Ahn Tae-rin as child Cha Mu-hee Fukushi Sota as Hiro Kurosawa A famous Japanese actor who joins Mu-hee on the dating show Romantic Trip. He is widely known as the "Prince of Romance." Choi Woo-sung as Kim Yong-u A former shooting athlete who now serves as a manager at Ahn Entertainment, he becomes Cha Mu-hee's manager since her rookie era. Lee E-dam as Shin Ji-seon A reality television director known for her outstanding abilities, she is the director of Romantic Trip. At the beginning of the series, she is engaged to Na Jin-seok (Joo Ho-jin's older brother).
Supporting
Special appearances
Episodes
Production
Development In 2019, the Hong Sisters began developing the project alongside director . By December 5 of that year, the series was in development for tvN under the working title . The project was later renamed , with overseas filming scheduled in China, however it was canceled due to the COVID-19. The Hong Sisters and Park subsequently pivoted to collaborate on a different tvN drama, Alchemy of Souls.
The production resumed in 2023 under Trii Studio, a label under Imaginus, which also serves as the parent company of the Hong sisters' own label, Studio Sot, with new director Yoo Young-eun. The creative team included Keeha Choi as director of photography, who previously worked with director Yoo on Bloody Hearts. Production designer Seo Seong-gyeong, costume designer Jo Sang-gyeong, and makeup director Song Jong-hee also joined the project. Visual effects were handled by Studio Hi, a subsidiary of Hive Media Corporation. Original score were handled by Studio MaumC, with Ma Joo-hee acted as music producer, and Choi In-hee served as music director.
The final title—, abbreviated as —was chosen to directly merge the protagonist's profession with the central theme. By April 2024, reports indicated that the series would be released on Netflix. Netflix officially confirmed production on June 27, 2024, as a project planned for a 2025 release and revealed the official English title as Can This Love Be Translated? All production preparations were finalized that same month.
Concept The narrative was inspired by the unique nature of the interpreting profession. The writers observed how heavily people rely on mobile translation apps to solve language barriers. They believed that relying on a human would intensify that dependence dramatically, because complete trust in the interpreter is necessary. They imagine that the dynamic could ignite a powerful romantic connection. Central to their vision is the idea that love is fundamentally an act of communication. Yet because every person speaks their own "love language," a person may want to convey their true feelings, but the other person often cannot fully comprehend them. This vision led them to write the story around the following premise: What if a highly skilled interpreter encounters someone who expresses love in the complete opposite manner? The clash between their opposing love languages produces frequent misunderstandings. Confessions are misread and interpreted backward, resulting in repeated heartache.
Yoo noted that the writers sought out her specific directorial style, as seen in her previous works, to bring a unique color to the project's storytelling. Yoo explained that their initial goal was to craft a romantic comedy about two people with clashing personalities who overcome their misunderstandings through language. This theme shaped everything from the title and situations to the characters' professions. However, as the story progressed, it evolved beyond a simple narrative about words, ultimately focusing on the deeper journey of truly understanding another person.
Casting The casting process underwent several iterations, beginning in April 2023 when Son Suk-ku was reportedly offered the lead role, but ultimately declined in favor of Nine Puzzles. In July 2023, discussions began with Kim Seon-ho and Han So-hee, and Go Youn-jung entered talks by September 2023. The final lineup was officially made public on June 27, 2024, when Netflix confirmed the casting of Kim, Go, Choi Woo-sung, Sota Fukushi and Lee E-dam, alongside photos from the script reading. Later in September, Keep Alberta Rolling held auditions for extras to appear in the series.
Director Yoo explained that Kim and Go secured their roles because their respective performance styles matched the complex character traits developed alongside the screenwriters. Kim was chosen for his ability to balance Ho-jin's serious, restrained nature with the Hong sisters' signature comedic style, as well as his ability to convey the subtle emotional shifts required for a slow-burn romance, while Go was cast for her natural, bubbly charm and transparency, alongside the writers' established trust from earlier projects. Choi was recommended by the Hong sisters, who liked his performance in My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho, beginning auditions first among the cast and securing the role of Kim Yong-u after a ten-month process involving three meetings with Yoo and chemistry reads with both Go and Lee. Regarding the supporting cast, Yoo noted that Kim Won-hae brought vitality to the production while helping convey Ho-jin's unspoken emotions. He previously worked with Yoo in other drama. Italian television personality Alberto Mondi made a cameo appearance to serve as a cultural bridge between South Korea and Italy.
Filming Principal photography started in June 2024 with a target completion of early 2025. Overseas shoots began immediately, with lead actors Go Youn-jung and Kim Seon-ho filming in Japan from June 24 through July 10. They filmed at several locations, including Gokurakuji Station, Goryo Shrine, and Kamakura Seaside Park in Kamakura; and Grand Torii of Enoshima Shrine, Tenzan Lab, Enoshima Benzaiten Nakamize Street, Katase Fishing Port, and Enoshima Sea Candle on Enoshima.
The series began pre-production in Alberta, Canada, from August 12 to September 22, 2024, followed by filming from September 23 to October 11. Operating under the name Sailor Films Inc. with a crew of 150, the production filmed across multiple distinct regions of the province.| In the Calgary area, locations included Stephen Avenue, Lougheed House, Galaxie Diner, The Next Page Book and Coffee, Crossroads Market, Mount Pleasant Viewpoint, and Calgary Heritage Park.
Production then moved to the Canadian Rockies, where scenes were shot in Canmore and at nearby Quarry Lake on October 7. Filming continued in Banff National Park on October 8 and 9, covering the town Banff, Cascade of Time Garden, Banff pedestrian bridge, and Lake Louise. Additional filming occurred in Horseshoe Canyon, located in the Alberta Badlands. A pivotal aurora borealis scene between the leads in the drama was filmed in Upper Kananaskis Lake. While returning from this location, the leads shared social media updates documenting the aurora borealis visible during their commute to accommodations.
In late November 2024, production moved to Italy, with Kim Seon-ho departing for Rome on November 23. Initial scenes were captured at the Baths of Caracalla in Rome, before shifting to the hilltop village of Civita di Bagnoregio in the Lazio region. Working in collaboration with the Tuscany Film Commission, the crew spent a week across Tuscany through December 4, utilizing Montalcino's stone streets and scenic viewpoints overlooking the Val d'Orcia Historic landmarks in Siena provided a rich backdrop including the iconic Piazza del Campo, Teatro dei Rozzi, Torre del Mangia, Loggia dei Nove, and Contrada della Torre.