On Episode 115 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess and Corinne from the Sex Love Literature Podcast review the 2026 K-drama Can This Love Be Translated?, starring Kim Seon-ho and Go Youn-jung.
Jess and Corinne unpack everything that made Can This Love Be Translated? at best an average rom-com watch and at worst one of the year’s biggest disappointments—from the Hong Sisters’ gorgeous globe-trotting production and trademark quirky romance to a story one could argue is all style and very little substance. The duo discusses why the drama’s central metaphor of “translating love” never fully develops and how lavish filming across Canada, Italy, and Japan can’t compensate for a romance that struggles to earn its emotional payoff. Jess and Corinne also dive into the show’s attempts at gothic comedy and psychological trauma, questioning whether the series mishandles themes of mental illness in favor of broad rom-com antics.
Whether you loved Can This Love Be Translated?, couldn’t finish it, or are simply curious why one of 2026’s most anticipated K-dramas proved so divisive, join for an in-depth review of its romance, symbolism, performances, filming locations, psychological themes, and where the series ultimately loses its way.
GUEST: Corinne
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- Podcast: Sex. Love. Literature.
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Intro Music Credit: “Golden Coconut Club” by Tearliner, from the Cheese in the Trap OST. Used with permission from the artist.
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