Go Youn-jung shared insights on the personal growth of her character, Cha Mu-hee, in the new Netflix series Can This Love Be Translated?. The actress discussed how Mu-hee’s story is about overcoming deep anxieties to find trust and emotional honesty. The 12-episode romantic drama began streaming globally on January 16, 2026.
In the show, Go Youn-jung stars opposite Kim Seon-ho, who plays the multilingual interpreter Joo Ho-jin. Their characters meet while working on an international dating reality show called Romantic Trip, where Ho-jin translates for Mu-hee and her Japanese co-star, played by Sota Fukushi.
Understanding Cha Mu-hee’s Anxieties and Trauma
Go Youn-jung described Cha Mu-hee as a global star who hides profound pain behind her public smile. Before her fame, Mu-hee faced a humiliating personal betrayal, cementing her belief that she was unworthy of love. Her breakout role as a killer zombie named Do Ra-mi in a hit horror film catapulted her to fame but came at a great cost. An on-set accident left her unconscious for six months, after which she began experiencing intense hallucinations.
The actress explained that Mu-heeโs emotional defenses are high. Mu-hee seems very honest with her emotions, but I think sheโs also the least honest, Go Youn-jung noted. They show on her face, but she tries so hard not to show them. I wanted to show a character who is always wearing a complicated expressionโฆ her anxieties and traumas are always informing her thoughts. These traumas manifest through a haunting hallucination of her film character, Do Ra-mi, who voices Mu-heeโs worst fears and tries to sabotage her chance at happiness.
The Central Relationship and “Mis-Translation”
The core of the drama is the evolving relationship between Mu-hee and interpreter Ho-jin. Despite both being native Korean speakers, they struggle to understand each other’s true intentions. Ho-jin, a man of precise words, finds Mu-heeโs way of communicating to be the most difficult language he has ever encountered.
While you would think that she’s very straightforward, when it comes to matters of her heart, she tends to beat around the bush, Go Youn-jung said about her character. That was one of the most challenging moments for meโฆ she is saying things that seem like she’s being honest, but it is not really how she feels. She’s trying to express it in a very indirect way.
This “mis-translation” creates the series’ central tension. Ho-jin can interpret multiple foreign languages perfectly, but he fails to interpret the feelings of the woman he is falling for, and who is falling for him.
The Turning Point and Mu-hee’s Growth
A major turning point for the character occurs when she uncovers the truth about her traumatic childhood. The hallucination of Do Ra-mi is revealed to be a trauma-based manifestation of her mother’s face. Confronting this past allows Mu-hee to begin healing. The growth is most evident in how she approaches her relationship with Ho-jin by the series’ end.
Instead of running away from her feelings or letting her anxieties dictate her actions, Mu-hee makes a conscious, trusting decision. She asks Ho-jin for a temporary break, not to end their relationship, but so she can face her childhood wounds alone while she searches for her mother.
The fact that Mu-hee says ‘let’s break up’ first to Ho-jin means that there is so much trust, Go Youn-jung explained. There’s already so much certainty about their feelings for each other, meaning she believes they can handle this step. This action marks a complete shift from the anxious woman who believed she was unlovable at the story’s start.
Working with the Hong Sisters Again
Can This Love Be Translated? is written by the celebrated Hong sisters, known for hits like Hotel Del Luna and Alchemy of Souls. This drama marks Go Youn-jung’s second project with the writers after her role in Alchemy of Souls.
The actress compared the experience to being in a fairy tale. They are writers who are able to create a time and space that feels like you’re in a fairy tale, she said. It almost feels like there is a different universe, a different country where these characters would actually live. She expressed hope that this unique world would help make Mu-hee an endearing and relatable character for viewers.
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Where to Watch the Series
Can This Love Be Translated? is available worldwide on Netflix. All 12 episodes of the series were released on Friday, January 16, 2026. The series was filmed in several picturesque international locations, including South Korea, Japan, Canada, and Italy, adding to its romantic and global appeal.
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