Explore our spoiler-free review of the hit Korean business rom-com ‘Can This Love be Translated’.  Get general series information, plot summary, and my personal thoughts and rating, all 100% spoiler-free!  If you have already seen this drama and are interested in a more full review, including character analysis, highlights, and ending explanation,  please click on the link below.

     Air Dates: January 16, 2026

Episodes: 12

Where to Watch: Netflix

Genre: Romantic Drama

Starring: Kim Seon Ho and Go Youn Jung

An interpreter has a chance encounter with a struggling actress while traveling in Japan. Later, the actress suddenly rises to stardom after a breakout role as a zombie in a low-budget horror movie. When she agrees to do a reality dating show with a Japanese actor, she is reunited with the interpreter, who has been hired to translate between the couple for the show. And as they spend time working together, the translator will fill find himself stepping in to protect the actress and the dark secret she hides from the world.

‘Can This Love be Translated’ is a romantic drama with suprisingly dark themes of trauma and mental health. The filming of this drama is beautiful and the characters are interesting. The leads have a cute chemistry and the Hong sisters deliver their usual complex dialogue. Go Youn Jung does a nice job of portraying this dual role and Sota Fukushi is adorable. 

Although this drama starts as a sweet rom-com, it takes a much darker, unexpected turn. The story can be confusing at times and the plot does get repetitive. Unfortunately, both actors become almost inconseqential in the second half as Go Youn Jung’s journey takes over the plotline. And some fans felt that the actress’ mental health struggles were not realistically conveyed. But I liked the interesting story and the complex characters.  I give ‘Can This Love be Translated’ an 8 out of 10 ramen.

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Kim Seon Ho debuted in 2017 with a supporting role in the business comedy drama ‘Good Manager’.  His first starring role was later that year in the romantic comedy “Strongest Deliveryman”. Other popular dramas he has starred in include the 2020 romantic comedy ‘Start Up’ and the 2019 mystery rom-com ‘Catch the Ghost’. Look for him to star in the upcoming historical horror drama “Portraits of Delusion’ scheduled to air later this year.

Below are links to other great dramas Kim Seon Ho has starred in.

Go Youn Jung debuted in 2019 with a supporting role in the supernatural mystery drama ‘He is Psychometric’. Other popular dramas she has starred in include the 2020 sci-fi horror drama ‘Sweet Home’ and the 2022 historical fantasy ‘Alchemy of Souls’. Look for her to star in the upcoming drama ‘We Are All Trying Here’, scheduled to air in April.

Below are links to other great dramas Go Youn Jung has starred in.

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If this review has made you curious about where your other favorites stand, here is break down of the other reviews by rating.  Links to both spoiler-free and full reviews are available on each page. Feel free to explore all the wonderful dramas I have watched.