Korean Actor Chae Jong-hyeop Stars in Japanese Drama 'EYE LOVE YOU,' a Cross-Border Fantasy Romance

South Korean actor Chae Jong-hyeop will star in a Japanese drama. The Japanese drama, “EYE LOVE YOU” will premiere in January 2024. While Korean actors have appeared in Japanese dramas before, this is the first time a Korean actor has starred in a prime-time drama on a Japanese commercial broadcaster.

“EYE LOVE YOU” is a romance drama about Motomiya Yuri, who gains the supernatural ability to read people's minds by making eye contact after an accident. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she encounters a Korean exchange student. Yuri had given up on love due to the ability to read people's minds, including their hidden thoughts. However, the Korean exchange student, Yoon Tae-oh, becomes a refreshing presence in her life. As a Japanese person who doesn't understand Korean, Yuri can hear Tae-oh's thoughts but cannot comprehend their meaning. This makes him a refreshing presence for Yuri, who has been suffering from the uncontrolled flow of thoughts she can read.

Japanese actress Fumi Nikaido, who plays the protagonist ‘Motomiya Yuri’ landed her first lead role in a continuous drama with “Strawberry Night Saga” in 2019. Subsequently, she starred as the heroine in the NHK continuous TV novel “Yell.” In 2023, she garnered attention in Japan for her role as Dr. Yuzuki Kaoru in the drama “VIVANT.”

Prior to the production, Nikaido expressed her excitement about working with a Korean actor. After reading the first episode's script, she was so captivated that she immediately sought the subsequent episode's script. Regarding her co-star, Chae Jong-hyeop, she mentioned that as he is one year older, she believes she can rely on him during filming. She also expressed her keen interest in observing how Korean actors approach their roles on set.

South Korean actor Chae Jong-hyeop plays the role of the Korean exchange student ‘Yoon Tae-oh’. He gained recognition from the public through his role as the promising pitcher Yoo Min-ho in the 2019 drama “Stove League.” He has continued his acting career with roles in dramas such as “Nevertheless,” in 2021, and “Castaway Diva” in 2023.

Regarding his first appearance in a Japanese drama, Chae expressed his gratitude for Nikaido's leadership and ability to ease his nerves on set. He also mentioned that he's diligently studying Japanese. While he lives in a world without the protagonist's supernatural abilities, he believes that many people desire to hear only positive things from others. He suggests that viewers can enjoy the drama by empathizing with the protagonist's feelings.

“EYE LOVE YOU” will premiere on TBS on January 23, 2024, airing every Tuesday at 10:00 PM. The first episode will be extended by 15 minutes.