Kim Seon-ho's second act, rising from scandals
Kim Seon-ho holds an unusual position in today’s K-drama industry. His trajectory is a rare study in breakneck stardom, a front-page derailment and a subsequent resurgent commercial rebound.
After a late-bloom television debut, Kim ascended the industry ranks with a wave of hits that sealed his status as a bankable leading man. However, that momentum was abruptly halted by a highly publicized personal controversy involving an ex-girlfriend. In a rare pivot for the South Korean industry — where scandal often means a permanent exit — Kim’s career didn’t just stabilize once the allegations were debunked; it surged.
Since his return, Kim has pivoted toward tentpole streaming projects to solidify his comeback. He recently anchored the Disney+ action-thriller "The Tyrant" and joined the ensemble of Netflix’s internationally successful "When Life Gives You Tangerines."
His upcoming slate remains equally prestigious, including a lead role in the Disney+ series "Portraits of Delusion" alongside Bae Suzy. Collectively, the bookings suggest more than just a recovery, but a renewed phase in his career.
His most recent project is Netflix’s 2026 first-half tentpole "Can This Love Be Translated?," which pairs him with Hallyu sensation Go Youn-jung. Kim plays Ho-jin, a disciplined yet sympathetic translator who develops a relationship with Moo-hee (Go), a global celebrity he works alongside. The series marks his return to romantic comedy, the genre that cemented his A-list status, and his first rom-com appearance in five years.
Despite the pressure of revisiting the genre most closely associated with his rise for the first time since the scandal involving his ex-partner broke out, Kim said the decision did not weigh heavily on him.
"I didn’t approach it with a sense of pressure," he said during an interview held in Seoul on Thursday. "I was more concerned with how to honor the script and how to shape the performance. The genre itself wasn’t something I focused on."
That approach, he noted, reflects his general attitude toward acting. "I’m strict with myself," Kim said. "I concentrate on what needs improvement rather than on external expectations."
Asked about portraying romance, Kim emphasized accessibility over sentimentality. "Love and romance are experiences everyone understands in some form," he said. "Eliciting empathy can be challenging, but romance has to feel broadly relatable. I spend a lot of time thinking about how to create that connection."
“Can This Love Be Translated?” is built on a familiar truth, expressed articulately: Everyone communicates in their own "language," and that love is rooted in the effort to understand how another person expresses themselves. Kim said that concept played a key role in his decision to join the series.
"Even though it’s fundamentally a romance, the idea that everyone has their own 'language' really resonated with me," he said.
"People can use the same words and still fail to understand one another. It made me reflect on how often that happens. Beyond the love story, I think it’s compelling to watch how misunderstandings form, how distance grows, and how those gaps are eventually closed," added Kim.
He added that the role has influenced him personally as well. "I’ve been trying to slow down and allow more time," Kim said. "When communication doesn’t come easily, I want to be more patient and make a genuine effort to understand. Language isn’t just verbal. It can come through actions or physical expression. I think I’m still learning that myself."
Some viewers have commented that the repeated miscommunications between the protagonists can feel drawn out, affecting the pace of the story. Kim acknowledged the feedback, while suggesting it reflects the show’s thematic focus.
"Because the story centers on differing personal languages, it may take time for viewers to connect with it fully. For me, I understood Ho-jin’s perspective and approached the character with that in mind."
Copyright © 코리아헤럴드. 무단전재 및 재배포 금지.