“You once told me that every person speaks their own language. I don’t think I understand her language very well.”
Netflix’s Can This Love Be Translated? (2026) tells the blossoming romance between a top star and a multilingual interpreter who get lost in translation as they navigate the complex language of love, while traveling across borders filming a TV show.
It started streaming on January 16th on Netflix worldwide and instantly gained top ratings in several countries within 24-hour of release, making it to Top 10 in 36 countries and landing at no.1 in South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
According to Netflix, the series ranked second in the Global Top 10 Non-English TV list in its first week, dated January 12 to 18, garnering 4M cumulative views or 53.2M viewing hours.
Having seen the full twelve episodes, here are some key points and insights about the Korean series:
A whole new level of chemistry
A romance drama revolves around the main lead and their chemistry, a legitimate and crucial aspect to play as they translate the characters from the written script. When they serve the viewers a believable attraction on-screen, it elevates the whole show experience into a memorable one.
Surprisingly, actors Kim Seonho and Go Youn-jung delivered this chemistry in a whole new level — not forced, but natural and genuine — a connection that goes beyond camera, an interaction that pierces through the screen, and an indescribable spark that leaves the fans deeply invested, asking for more.
| Photo: Netflix Korea |
It’s crazy yet so beautiful to watch the Papago couple fall in love with each other in a slow, cogitative process as they both struggle to navigate the perfect timing of mutual confession — all the while silently burning and deeply longing for each other amid misunderstandings, hesitations, and delusions. The cycle of parting ways frustrates yet intensifies the yearnings that the moment their hearts finally meet as one in surrender, it just explodes your screens! Aigoo!
It’s the duo’s intense dynamic that made the on-screen romance convincing overall, and to add their supreme visuals and notable performances to the mix, they become the hard-to-beat drama couple of the year thus far, and undeniably one of the most powerful and swoonworthy pairs of all time.
When warmth and sparks collide
Netflix’s Can This Love Be Translated? (2026) not only captures the off-the-charts chemistry between the two leads, but it also features the solid performances of Kim Seonho and Go Youn-jung.
Kim Seonho undeniably possesses this “It factor” when it comes to acting. He just makes you fall in love with his character every time, whatever role it may be. The way he translates emotions with his eyes, long looks, and silences is top-tier acting. The way he demonstrates skill, depth, and control with his body language is supremacy. The way he portrays his new character differently from his previous projects is mastery.
| Photo: Netflix Korea |
It’s awesome that you will never see Start-Up’s Han Ji-pyeong in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha’s Hong Dusik, and Hong Du-sik in Can This Love Be Translated’s Joo Ho-jin. He is able to serve a different vocal tone, gesture, and mannerism in each character, and even the way he walks and talks is different from each other. Grande! Bravo!
A multilingual interpreter in the drama, Kim Seonho excellently delivered various languages with the right diction, intonation, and emotions. He makes you believe that he’s a natural Japanese, English, and Italian speaker. He exudes superiority in the way he conveyed his lines and portrayed his character as the cool, calm, and collected Joo Ho-jin. Like Cha Mu-hee, you’ll be drawn to his neatness, calming voice, elegance, and reassuring presence, besides finding yourself smitten with those deadly dimples and freaking handsomeness.
Go Youn-jung stands out as the dual characters, Cha Mu-hee and Do Rami. We’ve seen her play various drama roles such as in Alchemy of Souls (2022), Moving (2023), and Resident Playbook (2025). While she delivered impressive performances in her previous projects, she showcased a whole new level of acting skills in Can This Love Be Translated? (2026).
In fact, she elevated the charm of the drama not just as the pretty top star Cha Mu-hee but also with her exceptional portrayal of the madwoman Do Rami in those doll-type clothes, zombie look, and thrilling tactics.
| Photo: Netflix Korea |
The way her aura lights up when she feels overjoyed just brightens your screens. The way she emotionally breaks down when triggered with negative energies within makes you empathize with her. The way she translates telltale signs of desolation, pre-occupation, delusion, and madness is dynamite. The way she transforms into a dangerous alter ego from her normal self is especially brilliant and noteworthy. Her vocal delivery, facial expressions, and emotional intensity are on point, enough to make you feel thrilled with the dual characters and root for Cha Mu-hee’s ultimate happiness.
In this series, Go Youn-jung is the spectacle — the stunning aurora in the sky that shakes you to the core, the radiant star lights that leave a trail of sparks, and the breathtaking fireworks display, driving you insane with her bright energy. Under the starry sky captures a quiet spectator, a melancholic yearner whose eyes warmly rests on and cheers for that one lonely star.
Kim Seonho serves as the indispensable warmth of the story, the safe space when the spotlights grow dim, the classic opera that soothes the turbulence of the inner soul, the romantic lights of ancient Italy that draws you to its receptive stillness and intimate charm — the drama’s solitude of heart that translates and remedies the complex language of love.
| Photo: Netflix Korea |
Put together, Kim Seonho and Go Youn-jung make pairing in this series a lavish festival of warmth and sparks. They both nailed every emotion, every pain, every hesitation and frustration and longing and willingness surrender to make the blossoming romance between Joo Ho-jin and Cha Mu-hee feel real and alive on-screen. What a perfect match!
| Photo: Netflix Korea |
Love, the most difficult language to understand
The theme of Netflix’s Can This Love Be Translated? (2026) may sound simple but the creators and production team managed to put depth and realistic elements into it to make the story engaging.
Can this love be translated? The drama seeks to answer this central question through Joo Ho-jin, the multilingual interpreter who unexpectedly finds himself entangled with top star Cha Mu-hee. Once leading a quiet life, his world begins to get shaken up where he has to choose to face the growing attraction he feels towards her and deal with the delusions she is battling with. Will he be able to translate the whirlwind of emotions displayed by Cha Mu-hee and convey every subtle gesture of kindness he pours into her?
The feeling is mutual between Joo Ho-jin and Cha Mu-hee but their language of love just won’t connect at the same time, with Cha Mu-hee feeling anxious if she’s someone to be loved and Jo Hoo-jin struggling to resolve if this growing attraction is something to pursue. They have to go through these internal conflicts before they can fully express how they truly feel for each other at the perfect moment — free from doubts, fears, and hesitations.
A slow-burn romance, the drama conveys that love is such a beautiful thing to pursue but it’s also the most difficult language to understand and translate. Will Joo Ho-jin and Cha Mu-hee find the right words to say with their hearts aligned at the perfect time?
| Photo: Netflix Korea |
“We’re seeing the aurora now because I wished for it. So from now on, Mr. Joo, every time you see an aurora, you’ll think of Cha Mu Hee. Don’t be scared. Auroras don’t show up in Korea. Isn’t that a relief?” – Cha Mu Hee
In his quest to set Cha Mu-hee free from her alter ego, Joo Ho-jin makes selfless efforts to dig deeper and fully fathom her deep-seated trauma in the form of Do Rami. While Cha Mu-hee tends to run away and believe that the existing zombie in her head is unconquerable, Joo Ho-jin willingly opens his heart to conquer her fortresses. He then begins to decode her language of happiness and realize that love isn’t difficult to understand, after all, when the heart embraces kindness.
This time, he’s fully dealt with his unresolved issues from the past, processed things out in his head, and completely settled in his heart. He loves her for who she is despite the crazy twists and turns, and the heightened sense of yearning that exists in the corner of his heart is louder than ever. With his protective walls down, he finally takes the courage to confess in Cha Mu-hee’s language, “I keep seeing auroras.”
A lasting cinematic experience
Netflix’s Can This Love Be Translated? (2026) offers a rich visual storytelling with its stunning locations and cinematography. It will lavish you with the beauty of Japanese culture, the cinematic landscapes of Canada, and the romantic atmosphere of Italy. You will be drawn to the drop-dead gorgeous cinematography, whether the scene is captured indoors or outdoors. The color tones used, the lighting, and composition in every frame are all immaculate!
The original soundtrack (OST) also perfectly sets the mood, making every romantic scene spellbinding. Lay Down Together by off the menu, Someday by SIYEON, Daydream by WENDY, Promise by Woinstein, Love Language by Kim Minseok, and Your Words, My Heart by Hodge, Oh Hye Joo are some of our favorite tracks.
Overall, the production value of the show stimulates a positive nostalgic effect, creating a strong bond with the viewers and a lasting cinematic experience for audiences.
Daydream by WENDY
| Video: Netflix Korea YT|
Why to watch
Netflix’s Can This Love Be Translated? (2026) is a Korean romance drama that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and ultimately leaves you spellbound with the Papago couple. It’s refreshing to watch since the idea of love story is entirely new, deviating from the typical trope of childhood connection, reincarnation, chaebol falling for an ordinary girl, or clumsy female tripping and falling into the arms of the male. It also helps you understand human behavior as it tackles the struggles of someone with delusional disorder.
We finished the whole season in one sitting upon its release and we can say that it’s definitely worth binge-watching since it’s a light-hearted and feel-good kind of show with its nice blend of romance, comedy, melodrama, thrill, and tension. We’re on a second rewatch mode and we’re surprised by the many details we’ve missed to notice or realize the first time we watched it. So it’s also a perfect rewatch material given its absorbing and moving quality on emotional appeal.
In fact, it’s hard to move on from this drama since the love story of Joo Ho-jin and Cha Mu-hee feels real and it just makes your heart full when watching them. Oh, the unexpected magic of Kim Seonho and Go Youn-jung!
“Then I guess you’ll remember this moment forever.” – Joo Ho-jin
Cast: Kim Seonho, Go Yoon Jung
Screenwriters:
Hong Jung Eun, Hong Mi Ran
Director: Yoo Young Eun
Cinematographers:
Keeha Choi, Kim Young-jin
Original network: Netflix
Photos: Netflix
About the creators: Hong Miran and Hong Jung Eun, also known as the Hong sisters, wrote the hit dramas My Girlfriend is a Gumiho (2010), Hotel Del Luna (2019), and Alchemy of Souls (2022). Director Yoo Young-eun helmed the historical drama, Bloody Heart (2022) and assisted the direction for the global hit show, Descendants of the Sun (2016).
KORB 