Joo Ho-jin (; born 1991) is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the Netflix romantic comedy series Can This Love Be Translated?, created and written by screenwriters Hong Jung-eun and Hong Mi-ran (the Hong sisters). Portrayed by Kim Seon-ho, marking his return as a romantic comedy lead, the character made his debut when all 12 episodes of the series premiered globally on January 16, 2026.
Directed by Yoo Young-eun, the series features Ho-jin as a polyglot working as a freelance simultaneous interpreter. The plot follows his evolving relationship with global top star Cha Mu-hee (Go Youn-jung) while working as an interpreter during the international production of the dating reality show Romantic Trip in Canada and Italy.
Media outlets described the high social-media engagement surrounding the character as "Joo Ho-jin fever." The series subsequently spent two consecutive weeks at number one on its global non-English chart and ranked as the second most-watched South Korean Netflix original series in the first half of 2026.
Kim's performance received critical praise, with reviewers highlighting his foreign-language dialogue execution, vocal tone, and on-screen chemistry with Go. The role earned him several Best Actor nominations. Beyond the screen, the character was linked with increased set-jetting tourism to the series filming locations across South Korea, Japan, Canada, and Italy. The dialogue spoken by Ho-jin was featured on the 2026 10th Grade Literature Exam in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Storyline overview
Joo Ho-jin is a professional interpreter who maintains a neat and structured life. During one of his annual trips to Shonan, Japan, he meets aspiring actress Cha Mu-hee. After a few months, they reunite in South Korea after Mu-hee becomes a global superstar, following the success of her film, The Quiet Woman.
Ho-jin joins the crew of the dating reality show Romantic Trip. Filming takes place in Canada and Italy. Tasked with interpreting for Mu-hee and Japanese actor Hiro Kurosawa (portrayed by Sota Fukushi), Ho-jin finds his professional boundaries compromised by his growing feelings for Mu-hee.
Relationships
Cha Mu-hee Mu-hee was introduced in the first episode of the series. During a day trip to Shonan, Japan, Ho-jin meets her by chance. After an incident that requires Ho-jin to interpret, Mu-hee witnesses his skills and gives him the nickname . Ho-jin helps her resolve a personal issue, and the two spend time touring Shonan together, before he leaves her at the Enoden railway crossing. He later learns that Mu-hee has posted his picture on her Instagram. He takes an interpretation job for her international interview with the intention of asking her to delete his picture. Their paths cross again at a hotel in Japan, where Ho-jin discovers that Mu-hee struggles with hallucinations of Do Ra-mi, the character from her horror film. He helps her secure an appointment with a Japanese psychiatrist and serves as her interpreter.
When offered the interpreter job for Romantic Trip, Ho-jin ultimately decides to go after Mu-hee asks him. In Canada, the two grow closer after watching the aurora together. Following their first kiss, Ho-jin drives Mu-hee to the airport and promises to think seriously about their relationship. However, Mu-hee soon learns that Ji-sun has cancelled her wedding, leading to a misunderstanding. After their argument, Ho-jin leaves her at an intersection in Calgary. Back in Seoul, Ho-jin discovers Do Ra-mi frequently takes over Mu-hee's consciousness and realizes the severity of her condition. In Italy, he acts as Mu-hee's daytime interpreter and Do Ra-mi's secret nighttime handler. Do Ra-mi eventually confides in him about her childhood trauma. Meanwhile, the show crews suspect Ho-jin has an Italian girlfriend after seeing them together, triggering Mu-hee's jealousy. During the final shoot, Ho-jin translates Hiro's love confession. The next day, Park PD sends Mu-hee footage of a devastated Ho-jin, causing her to regain her memories of Do Ra-mi. The couple reconciles and spends their final night in Italy together.
In Seoul, Mu-hee's uncle informs Ho-jin about her childhood incident. Ho-jin then tells Mu-hee what he has learned: her family has deceived her, and her parents are actually still alive. She decides to find her mother abroad, prompting a temporary breakup with Ho-jin. Near Christmas, she returns, and they reunite at a star observatory. Kim summarized their dynamic with metaphors: Ho-jin as a "tree that doesn't sway" and Mu-hee as "grass swaying in the wind," noting that as they get to know each other, "their colors mix and dye each other." Another source likened their falling in love to "clothes getting wet in a drizzling rain."
Shin Ji-sun
Shin Ji-sun (portrayed by Lee E-dam) is introduced in flashback scenes as Ho-jin's first love. He meets her by chance while vacationing in Japan and develops feelings for her. In a twist of fate, she later reappears in his life as the girlfriend of his older half-brother, Na Jin-seok (portrayed by Sung Joon). Kim interprets Ho-jin's feelings for Ji-sun as "a regrettable first love." Director Yoo further explained that from Ho-jin's perspective, there needs to be a strong reason why he cannot freely approach her, describing it as a case of "mismatched timing." Keeping his feelings hidden, Ho-jin makes an annual trip to Enoshima Island on Ji-sun's birthday to reflect on his unrequited love.
To avoid attending Jin-seok and Ji-sun's upcoming wedding, Ho-jin accepts the offer to work as interpreter on the dating reality show Romantic Trip. However, she unexpectedly appears in Canada as the show's replacement director, forcing him to carefully weigh his past feelings for her against his growing affection for Mu-hee. He soon discovers that her marriage has been cancelled.
After Ho-jin begins dating Mu-hee, he runs into Ji-sun on a train to Busan. He finally confesses his past feelings for her. The two part ways amicably, having fully moved on with their respective new relationships. Reflecting on their arc, the Hong Sisters noted that the relationship between Ho-jin and Ji-sun is quite nuanced: "It is a relationship where they assumed the other person was a certain way based on past memories and simply let things be. While they thought they knew each other well, those lingering memories meant they actually understood each other's true feelings the least."
Family Ho-jin comes from a wealthy family. His maternal grandfather owned a publishing house and collected books and antiques; their family home resembles a private museum. Ho-jin's mother, Yoon Mi-jung, is also a polyglot. This background helps explain Ho-jin's mastery of multiple foreign languages.
Ho-jin's mother was an undergraduate student when she married his father, a professor and a divorcee with a son from a previous relationship, Na Jin-seok. Ho-jin is close with his older half-brother. Following his parents' divorce, Ho-jin lives alone in his maternal grandfather's house. His mother moves to Italy to run a winery, while his father moves to Florida, United States, to train for space travel. Kim explained that Ho-jin carries an emotional void from his family circumstances. His relationship with his mother fractured after she burned a book he wrote, causing him to abandon his promising career as a novelist.
When Romantic Trip suddenly moves its filming location to his mother's winery, Ho-jin finally sees his estranged mother for the first time after 13 years. Director Yoo explained that without a chance encounter, their rift likely would have remained unaddressed. Deep-seated family misunderstandings and misdirected emotions are often far more difficult to resolve than conflicts between strangers. She added that the chaos involving Dario, his mother's younger Italian fiancé, helps break down the wall between mother and son. Mu-hee also plays a part. This reconciliation occurs before her remarriage to Dario. After a while, Ho-jin's mother returns to Seoul to look after her father's collection, saying she will need several visits to finish decluttering and donating them.
Characterization
According to Netflix promotional materials, Joo Ho-jin is characterized as a "language genius," highlighting his role as a polyglot proficient in multiple languages, including Japanese, English, and Italian, in addition to his native Korean. He works as a simultaneous interpreter, traveling globally for his work. Netflix Tudum further describes Ho-jin as reserved, introspective, and highly rational, stating that he "prioritizes exactitude above all else in his work and personal life" and "prefers to deal with the complexities of language rather than his own emotions."
Kim Seon-ho explained that Ho-jin developed defense mechanisms to act as though nothing is wrong and remains largely unaccustomed to expressing his true feelings. Kim added that despite being affectionate, Ho-jin is emotionally restrained and deliberates carefully before speaking or taking action. He has a contrasting personality with his emotionally driven parents and half-brother. Director Young-eun echoed this view, describing him as grounded and rational, processing the world logically like "zero or one." Ho-jin stays polite and kind, but keeps firm boundaries until he can fully process his feelings.
Ho-jin's personality closely influences his communication style. Within the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator framework, Kim identified Ho-jin as a "T" (thinking type), while Go Youn-jung categorized him more specifically as an ISTJ. Kim noted that these personality traits manifest in a communication style that is neat, sharp, and direct, often delivered with a formal, literary cadence. Director Yoo highlighted the character's linguistic choices, such as the use of the term dangshin, noting that it reflects a traditional, elevated manner of speech.
Kim described the character as capable and intelligent, noting that while Ho-jin may seem indifferent at times, he possesses an underlying warmth and stands firmly on his own as a mature man. Director Yoo sought to portray him as a refined, classic figure rather than a follower of contemporary trends, a design philosophy reflected in both his wardrobe and living environment. Ho-jin's house, inherited from his maternal grandfather, serves as a space filled with books and antiques that acts as a metaphor for his lingering ties to the past. She conceptualized the residence as a blend of Western and traditional Hanok architectural styles, to emphasize that the property was passed down rather than newly built.
Character development, casting and portrayal
Concept and creation
In 2019, the Hong sisters began developing a tvN television series centered around an interpreter, with attached as director. Plans for international filming in China were initially set, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced their cancellation. Production restarted in 2023 under Trii Studio, a subsidiary of Imaginus, which is the parent company of the Hong sisters' label, Studio Sot. Yoo Young-eun took over as director for this phase. By June 2024, the series was officially confirmed as a Netflix original series, marking the first time for both the Hong sisters and Yoo.
The Hong sisters collaborated closely with Yoo during the development phase. Their initial aim was to produce a romantic comedy about contrasting personalities who bridge their gaps through language, a concept that influenced the title, scenarios, and character professions. As the work developed, the story shifted from overcoming mere linguistic boundaries into a profound exploration of truly understanding another person.