Have you ever felt like your relationship is “fine,” but you’re just tired all the time? Not tired from big fights, just tired because you’re always guessing what the other person means. You’re always working to read between the lines, even when nothing’s wrong. Netflix’s Korean drama in January 2026 explores this emotional exhaustion through Mu-hee, a successful woman who feels lonely in the spotlight. When her old wounds come up, her alter ego Do Ra-mi appears. She isn’t a different person, but a way Cha Mu-hee tries to cope with the pain from her childhood, which was never addressed.
“Can This Love Be Translated?”: Stop Translating. Start Listening
This Netflix Korean drama, “Can This Love Be Translated?”, follows Cha Mu-hee, an actress who becomes famous after a tragic accident, and Joo Ho-jin, an interpreter who likes things in order. They meet while traveling and end up working together on a reality dating show, where they begin to learn each other’s love languages.
“Can This Love Be Translated?” is a unique romantic comedy with a powerful message. It explores an inner-child wound that appears from a trauma that never heals, because no one truly listens to it.
Emotional Labor: When Love Feels Like an Extra Shift
Ho-jin excels with words. But the hardest part of his job isn’t saying how he feels. For him, it feels like he’s always carrying the weight of managing everyone else’s emotions. He tries to stay professional, protect Mu-hee from public embarrassment, and strives to avoid being too blunt.
On the reality show ‘Romantic Trip,’ Ho-jin translates conversations between Mu-hee and Hiro, a Japanese co-star. This makes all his emotional work visible.
Interpreters are expected to stay neutral and not show emotion. But when romantic things come up, Ho-jin hesitates because his own feelings get in the way.
This relates to real life. Many people end up being the ‘Ho-jin’ in their relationships. The one who calms others, handles conflict, thinks about timing, and takes on the work of communication. Sometimes, without acknowledging it, love becomes unpaid emotional work that goes unseen.
Do Ra Mi’s Survival Language
Mu-hee is an example of modern loneliness. She seems to have everything, but being in the spotlight takes away her safe space to let her guard down.
This is when Do Ra-mi appears. Not just as a plot twist, but as a way to show trauma. Mu-hee’s childhood pain shows up as Do Ra-mi, an alter ego and a character she once played, who slowly takes over her mind. She’s not broken. She’s surviving.
Do Ra-mi is not a different person. She is a part of Mu-hee, formed from a wound that was never cared for. She appears as a bold version of Mu-hee, speaking and acting as she pleases, things that Mu-hee can’t do in real life. And kindness becomes something she questions, wondering what its hidden meaning is.
However, Do Ra-mi is not a monster that she has to defeat. She appears to be a warning, a part of Mu-hee trying to survive.
In real life, ‘Do Ra-mi’ might appear as unacceptable behaviors like sudden anger, emotional distance, withdrawal, or unexplained fear. We might call it ‘attitude,’ but it could be unspoken trauma.
This show gives us something to pause and reflect on these behaviors, rather than judge or confront.
When Hoo-jin gives Mu-hee time and space to speak, he begins truly listening to her. He’s no longer interpreting her words and feelings; instead, he understands Mu-hee’s deeper struggles. He also finds something more meaningful; he finally acknowledges Mu-hee as a whole person.
Understood ≠ Heard
With Mu-hee’s condition, their relationship faces a hard question: Does Ho-jin love all of Mu-hee, or only the parts that are easy for him to understand?
Netflix sums up the series well: a celebrity and her interpreter’s emotions get ‘lost in translation’ as they travel the world filming a TV show.
Here, ‘lost’ isn’t only about language. It’s about how part of Mu-hee never gets to speak. She has a career and fans, but she doesn’t have control over her own story or the people who really see her.
The 12-episode drama not only offers romance and comedy, but also gives us time to learn about Mu-hee’s childhood trauma. Although some viewers find the pace slow, it actually makes sense. You can’t build trust in a relationship overnight, and healing takes time. It all starts with a small step.
Listening means hearing what the other person needs, not just waiting for your turn to talk. Trusting means believing they can handle things, not feeling you have to manage them. Instead of seeing others as people you need to save, see them as whole on their own.
The story moves toward healing when Mu-hee starts to face her past. She realizes the importance of healing her inner child and takes initial steps to embody this change. She also gives Ho-jin space to rethink their relationship before they come back together as new versions of themselves.
Do Ra-mi Lives in More People Than We Realize
This new Korean drama in 2026 reminds us that trauma often shows up in actions, not words. The people who seem happiest might actually be the loneliest, and the quietest ones might be the ones who are struggling to find their voice.
If we want healthy relationships, we need to stop telling people to ‘just say how you feel,’ unless we’re giving them a safe space to be honest.
Why This Feels Real to Viewers
The story isn’t just about the love story of a celebrity and an interpreter. It shows in relationships, where everyone feels like they’re performing at work, in the community, and even with loved ones. You may have chemistry, text often, and still not feel seen or truly heard. You might feel all is fine, but deep down inside, your own ‘Do Ra-mi’ could be asking for help.
The Hardest Language of Love
In the end, the Korean rom-com drama “Can This Love Be Translated?” isn’t asking if love can be translated. It’s asking us, are we brave enough to really listen, even when the truth is hard to hear?
If you’ve ever been like Ho-jin, you deserve to stop carrying everything by yourself. And if you’ve ever been like Mu-hee, you deserve to be seen, without needing to ‘look good’ first.
Have you watched this show? If so, what do you like about it? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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