Kim Seon-ho’s brand of romantic comedy is having a moment. With Netflix’s "Can This Love Be Translated?", the actor has set off a full-on “Joo Ho-jin” craze across the globe.
Premiering Jan. 16, the Netflix series follows multilingual interpreter Joo Ho-jin (Kim Seon-ho) after he’s assigned to world-famous star Cha Moo-hee (Go Youn-jung), igniting an unpredictable, slow-burn romance. In its second week, the show hit No. 1 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 for Non-English TV, signaling surging worldwide buzz.
As Ho-jin, Kim maps out the character’s subtle shift from guarded professional to smitten partner with disarming precision, winning over international viewers in the process.
Kim leans into Ho-jin’s emotional awkwardness, letting the character adorably short-circuit in front of Moo-hee. As Ho-jin grows more honest about his feelings, the butterflies kick in―striking a chord with audiences well beyond Korea.
Even when misunderstandings push the couple out of sync, Ho-jin’s steady warmth keeps fans rooting for him. Kim’s expressive eyes and nuanced delivery deepen the arc, pulling viewers further into the story.
From the tender smile he reserves for Moo-hee to the glassy-eyed restraint when distance creeps in, Kim draws laughs and tears with a fully dimensional Ho-jin.
He also peppers in sharp ad-libs that punch up the comedy. Standouts include the playful “dimple-jealousy” banter with Moo-hee and a sweet bench scene that showcases Ho-jin’s easy chemistry with Do Rami―moments that feel effortless yet meticulously shaped.
With "Can This Love Be Translated?", Kim cements his status as a bona fide rom-com ace. He toggles between the boyfriend-next-door and the swoon-worthy dream lead, channeling all his charms into Joo Ho-jin―and viewers are hooked.
Proof is all over social media: clips of Ho-jin’s heart-fluttering beats are flooding feeds and hijacking algorithms, feeding a growing fascination with Kim’s pitch-perfect portrayal.
Having refreshed the “Kim Seon-ho rom-com formula” for a global stage, the star is riding a wave of momentum―leaving fans eager to see what he does next.
[Photo= Netflix]
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)