Can This Love Be Translated? is the first major South Korean original series for Netflix in 2026. The romantic comedy is highly anticipated as it marks the return of Kim Seon-ho to the rom-com genre and features a script by the legendary Hong Sisters.
The series is written by Hong Jung-eun and Hong Mi-ran (creators of Alchemy of Souls and Hotel Del Luna) and directed by Yoo Young-eun (Bloody Heart). After being delayed from its initial 2025 slot, it is now officially scheduled to open Netflix’s 2026 K-Drama slate.
Can This Love Be Translated? Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Series Title | Can This Love Be Translated? |
| Lead Actor | Kim Seon-ho (as Joo Ho-jin) |
| Lead Actress | Go Youn-jung (as Cha Mu-hee) |
| Supporting Cast | Sota Fukushi (as Hiro Kurosawa), Lee Yi-dam, Choi Woo-sung |
| Director | Yoo Young-eun |
| Writers | The Hong Sisters |
| Filming Locations | Seoul, Perugia (Italy), Banff/Canmore (Canada), Japan |
| Format | Binge-release (12 Episodes) |
Can This Love Be Translated? OTT Release Date
Release Date: January 16, 2026 (All episodes available)
OTT Platform: Netflix
Can This Love Be Translated? Storyline
The story follows Joo Ho-jin (Kim Seon-ho), a genius multilingual interpreter fluent in English, Japanese, and Italian. Despite his ability to translate complex conversations for others, he is famously “emotionally illiterate” and struggles to express his own feelings.
Ho-jin is hired as the personal interpreter for Cha Mu-hee (Go Youn-jung), a globally famous Korean actress who became a superstar after a breakout role in an international project. As they travel through visually stunning locations in Japan, Italy, and Canada for a high-profile television project, their professional relationship begins to blur.
The core conflict arises from their polar-opposite views on love: Ho-jin interprets everything literally and cautiously, while Mu-hee is more expressive but hides her vulnerability behind her “top star” persona. Their journey explores how love is the one language that doesn’t need a dictionary—but is often the most difficult to translate correctly.
