The Japanese drama series “Eye Love You,” airing every Tuesday on Japanenes broadcaster TBS, has been garnering significant attention in South Korea. The 10-episode series, released on Netflix after airing, has ranked in the top 10 for five consecutive weeks on Netflix in Japan and four straight weeks in South Korea. What sets “Eye Love You” apart is not just that it marks the first time a Korean actor (Chae Jong-hyeop) has taken on a leading role during Japan’s TV prime time at 10 p.m., but also its intricate incorporation of Korean culture throughout. This allows viewers from both countries to enjoy it with keen interest.
“Eye Love You” delves into the romance between Teo, a South Korean graduate student played by Chae Jong-hyeop, and Yuri, a chocolate company CEO, played by Fumi Nikaido, who can hear people’s thoughts when she makes eye contact with them. The series is noted for treating Korean culture with respect, an approach that seems to consider Korean viewers as well. The intentionality is reflected in the production’s intention. Producer Keisuke Nakajima said on Feb. 24, “I thought it would be good to have a drama originating from Japan that could serve as a bridge between the two countries, which was the motivation for the production.” Not only does the male lead often speak Korean, but the messages and emoticons he sends to the female lead are also written in both Korean and Japanese. Korean foods such as bibimbap, sundubu jjigae, japchae, and kimchi are showcased, with the female lead enjoying them.
The drama also depicts cultural differences interestingly. For instance, when Teo prepares a meal for Yuri, he places the spoon and chopsticks vertically, adhering to Korean customs, rather than horizontally as is typical in Japan. Through the male protagonist, who frequently asks people around him if they have eaten, the drama introduces Korean greeting culture. Before becoming close to Yuri, he asks her age and calls her by her first name instead of her surname. The female protagonist is puzzled, as it is unusual in Japan, but she does not seem to dislike it.
In Korea, positive reviews have emerged, such as “It’s great that there’s a lot of Korean culture” and “A Korean male lead with a Japanese female lead, ‘half and half’ is good” (Kinolights). Pop culture critic Kim Hern-sik said, “It reflects the atmosphere of the young Japanese generation who have a significant interest in and fondness for Korean lifestyle culture,” adding, “After the drama ‘Winter Sonata’ became a hit, many domestic dramas targeting Japanese viewers were produced. Recently, there has been an increasing trend in Japan to value how their domestic dramas are received in Korea.” TBS announced on their website on Feb. 10 the achievement of ranking fourth in the weekly Netflix viewership in Korea.
The production of dramas featuring Japanese actors in South Korea has also been confirmed, leading to meetings between Korean and Japanese actors. Coupang Play is producing “What Comes After Love,” starring Korean actress Lee Se-young and Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi. In the era of OTT, expectations are growing for an increase in works that highlight the positive aspects of other cultures, as content boundaries disappear.
