Kim Seon-ho and Go Youn-jung have united for a new project written by the Hong sisters.
On January 13, a production presentation for Netflix’s new series “Is This Love Translatable?” took place at the Josun Palace Seoul Gangnam in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Actors Kim Seon-ho, Go Youn-jung, and director Yoo Young-eun attended the event.
“Is This Love Translatable?” is an unpredictable romantic comedy centered on Joo Ho-jin, a multilingual interpreter who finds himself interpreting for global top star Cha Moo-hee. The series is a new work by the Hong sisters, beloved for their previous dramas “Alchemy of Souls” and “Hotel Del Luna,” and is directed by Yoo Young-eun, known for his sensuous direction in “Bloody Heart.”
Director Yoo Young-eun noted, “After the Hong sisters’ fantasy works, this is a pure romantic comedy being presented after a long time,” and added, “The emotional dilemmas that arise during interpretation were intriguing. As emotions get entangled, sometimes words that you don’t want to convey come about, and from Moo-hee’s perspective, there’s the dilemma of wishing the words were Ho-jin’s, even while knowing they are from another actor. We put our best efforts into capturing the romantic, comic, and melodious aspects of these two characters.”
The production of “Is This Love Translatable?” spanned four countries. Director Yoo explained, “We aimed to select distinctly different locations so that viewers can feel as if they are traveling. Rather than just being a backdrop, we paid great attention to ensure that the romantic comedy genre aligns with the emotions of the characters.”
Kim Seon-ho plays Joo Ho-jin, a multilingual interpreter skilled in various languages but clumsy in the language of love. He introduced his character by saying, “He is a multilingual interpreter fluent in Italian, English, Japanese, Chinese, French, and Korean, yet clumsy in expressing his own emotions.”
He further shared, “In the series, he speaks Japanese, English, Italian, and Korean. I followed the script as it was, and because I needed to convey emotions, I practiced repeatedly to integrate them. I studied grammar in my spare time,” revealing his dedication to the role of a multilingual interpreter.
Regarding his choice of Kim Seon-ho for Joo Ho-jin, Director Yoo Young-eun stated, “The character Joo Ho-jin is neat and simple, so delicate and detailed emotional expression was important. In that aspect, I could trust actor Kim Seon-ho. He portrayed comedy, romance, and the character’s coldness overall. I felt his casting was irreplaceable.”
Go Youn-jung transforms into Cha Moo-hee, a global top star loved by all but clumsy in her own love life. She described her character as “an actor who became a global star overnight from being a no-name actor.”
Regarding Go Youn-jung’s casting, director Yoo Young-eun noted, “Moo-hee is emotionally transparent and honest, which makes her character lovable. In that sense, the purity, loveliness, and boldness that actress Go Youn-jung possesses seem to align well with Moo-hee.”
What was it like working together in a romantic comedy? Go Youn-jung shared, “I only have joyful memories of filming. Watching Kim Seon-ho, I thought I’d like to be acting like that when I have his level of experience.”
To this, Kim Seon-ho added, “I was really surprised by how quickly she absorbed everything in a scene and with a sense of humor. When I made a mistake, Youn-jung warmly asked, ‘What are you doing?’ and drove off,” sharing an episode.
Finally, Go Youn-jung highlighted, “It’s a fairytale-like drama, with fantasy elements in between. I hope viewers watch it with warmth.” Kim Seon-ho added, “We ask for your great interest and love.”
Meanwhile, “Is This Love Translatable?” will be released on January 16 at 5 PM KST.
Image source: Reporter Park Ji-young
