Cha Mu-hee (), along with her alter ego Do Ra-mi () is a fictional character and the protagonist of the South Korean romantic-comedy series Can This Love Be Translated? which premiered on Netflix on January 16, 2026. The series was written by the screenwriting duo Hong Jung-eun and Hong Mi-ran, collectively known as the Hong sisters, and directed by Yoo Young-eun. The character is portrayed by actress Go Youn-jung.
In the series, Cha is an aspiring actress who becomes a top star overnight after starring in the horror film The Quiet Woman. The story follows her as she navigates a complex relationship with interpreter Joo Ho-jin, played by Kim Seon-ho, who works for the dating reality show Romantic Trip. The show is filmed in Canada and Italy, where she stars alongside Japanese actor Hiro Kurosawa (Sota Fukushi).
Character and personality In promotional materials published by Netflix Tudum, Cha Mu-hee is described as an aspiring actress who later lands a breakthrough role as the killer zombie Do Ra-mi in the horror film The Quiet Woman, becoming a global sensation. While she enjoys her newfound fame, she secretly struggles with a long-held belief that she is unworthy of love. Director Yoo Young-eun describes Mu-hee as a bubbly, quirky, and lovable character who suffers from anxiety stemming from her past. "Mu-hee seems very honest with her emotions, but I think she's also the least honest. [Her emotions] show on her face, but she tries so hard not to show them. [As Mu-hee] I wanted to show a character who is always wearing a complicated expression, not in a scheming type of way but in the sense that her anxieties and traumas are always informing her thoughts" — Go Youn-jung
Within the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator framework, Go identified Mu-hee as an INFP. She appears introverted, imaginative, and emotional, often acting without much planning. Conversely, Do Ra-mi fits the ENTP profile, evidenced by her confidence and comfort in challenging situations. She views arguments as purely intellectual exercises and separates them from her personal emotions.
Relationship
Relationship with Joo Ho-jin Joo Ho-jin is main love interest of Cha Mu-hee character. Their chance encounter happens in Shonan, Japan. Mu-hee goes there to confront her ex-boyfriend who worked at a local ramen shop. After knowing that Ho-jin is a skilled interpreter, she begs him to help her face her ex new partner. The two spend time exploring Shonan together before eventually parting ways at an Enoden railway crossing.
Mu-hee reunited with Ho-jin in Seoul during her international interview, where Ho-jin served as her interpreter. When they go to dinner afterward, he asks her to remove a viral photograph of him from her social media to preserve his privacy. They later encounter one another by chance in Japan while staying at the same hotel, where Ho-jin helps an anxious Mu-hee cope with hallucinations of her character, Do Ra-mi, and serves as her interpreter during appointments with a psychiatrist.
Their paths cross again when Mu-hee is cast in Romantic Trip, an overseas reality dating program filmed in Canada and Italy that pairs her with Japanese actor Hiro Kurosawa. Ho-jin is offered a position as an interpreter; after Mu-hee secures the contract, she convinces him to accept the job with the aspiration that they can see the aurora together in Canada. Tensions escalate when Ji-sun arrives as the show's replacement producer. When Mu-hee mistakenly believes Ho-jin is still in love with Ji-sun, she abruptly retreats from their blossoming relationship. Although Ho-jin is a skilled interpreter, he and Mu-hee suffer from personal communication breakdowns. Devastated, Ho-jin attempts to resign from the production.
They eventually meet again at a concert hosted by the Italian Embassy, where Kim Young-hwan manages to invite Mu-hee to Ho-jin's home for dinner before leaving them alone. After Mu-hee departs by taxi, Ho-jin decides to visit her home to deliver an LP, but she ghosts him. The following day, Ho-jin encounters Mu-hee's alternate, trauma-induced persona, Do Ra-mi. Upon realizing that Mu-hee is unaware of their interaction, he follows her to Italy to investigate. Acting as the Romantic Trip professional interpreter by day and a protective handler for Do Ra-mi by night, Ho-jin uncovers the childhood trauma at the root of Mu-hee's psychological state.
Development
Planning and ideation The Hong Sisters began developing the project in 2019. By December 5, 2019, it was reported that it was a television series with working title was in development for tvN, helmed by director . The project was later renamed , with overseas filming scheduled in China, however it was cancelled due to the COVID-19.
The project resumed in 2023 under director Yoo Young-eun. It was produced by Trii Studio, a label under Imaginus, which also serves as the parent company of the Hong sisters' own label, Studio Sot. Yoo noted that the writers sought out her specific directorial style, as seen in her previous works, to bring a unique color to the project's storytelling. Yoo explained that their initial goal was to craft a romantic comedy about two people with clashing personalities who overcome their misunderstandings through language. This theme shaped everything from the title and situations to the characters' professions. However, as the story progressed, it evolved beyond a simple narrative about words, ultimately focusing on the deeper journey of truly understanding another person.
The narrative was inspired by the unique nature of the interpreting profession. The writers observed how heavily people rely on mobile translation apps to solve language barriers. They believed that relying on a human would intensify that dependence dramatically, because complete trust in the interpreter is necessary. They imagine that the dynamic could ignite a powerful romantic connection. Central to their vision is the idea that love is fundamentally an act of communication. Yet because every person speaks their own "love language," a person may want to convey their true feelings, but the other person often cannot fully comprehend them. This vision led them to write the story around the following premise: What if a highly skilled interpreter encounters someone who expresses love in the complete opposite manner? The clash between their opposing love languages produces frequent misunderstandings. Confessions are misread and interpreted backward, resulting in repeated heartache.
Casting
After Kim Seon-ho began negotiations for the role of Joo Ho-jin in July 2023, the production team initially engaged in casting discussions for Cha Mu-hee with Han So-hee. Go Youn-jung entered talks for the role of Cha Mu-hee in September 2023. Netflix officially confirmed the final pairing of Go and Kim on June 27, 2024, marking Go's first performance in a romantic comedy.
Director Yoo Young-eun stated that Go was selected for her personality, which mirrored the character's bubbly and transparent demeanor, noting the writers' established professional rapport with the actress from a previous collaboration. In a written interview The Hong sisters expressed their satisfaction with Go, noting, "This is my second project with actress Go Yoon-jung since Alchemy of Souls, and I was convinced that the bright energy she showed back then would be a perfect fit for Mu-hee. It must not have been easy having to play both Mu-hee and her on-screen character, Do Ra-mi, simultaneously, but she pulled it off flawlessly. In particular, the fun of watching actress Go Yoon-jung's glamorous and colorful visuals set against the beautiful backdrops of various countries will be immense."
Having previously worked with the Hong Sisters on Alchemy of Souls, Go said that she was drawn by the writers' unique ability to craft immersive, fairy-tale-like worldviews. She further noted that the dynamic between an interpreter and an actress was a novel premise that resonated with her own professional experiences. She was initially provided with only the first four episodes of the script, remaining unaware of the character's dual nature. Regarding this discovery, she remarked, "At first, I didn't know Do Ra-mi would manifest in reality; I thought she was just a character from The Quiet Woman existing within Cha Mu-hee's delusions. When I discovered Do Ra-mi appears starting in episode 7, it came as a fresh shock. Naturally, I felt pressured, but my excitement outweighed the nerves."
Portrayal The screenwriters and director encouraged improvisation throughout production, allowing the cast to contribute ideas that expanded upon the original script. Regarding her process, Go Youn-jung emphasized that thorough preparation is essential to maintaining flexibility on set; while she relies on guidelines for line delivery, this grounding allows an actor to respond naturally to unexpected developments and co-star ad-libs.
Go highlighted the collaborative nature of the production, specifically her work with the writer: "I received a lot of help from the writer, [Hong] Miran. Unlike our previous project, Alchemy of Souls, we held script readings this time. Writer Miran would act out the lines for me, embodying Mu-hee perfectly. Seeing how the creator envisioned the character was eye-opening, and I tried to mirror her performance." She also credited her co-star, Kim Seon-ho, noting his influence on her performance. "Seon-ho Oppa has a wealth of experience in theater, so he is skilled at ad-libbing, utilizing props, and bringing a vivid energy to the set. Since I enjoy observing and imitating others, I followed his lead diligently."
To refine their performances, the actors utilized a rehearsal technique of swapping roles to better grasp character nuances. Go noted that she and Kim played characters opposite to their actual MBTI types, as she identifies as a "thinking" (T) type while Kim is a "feeling" (F) type. Go found the role of Mu-hee challenging, as the character's indirect communication required significant effort to uncover her underlying intentions, whereas she identified more readily with Do Ra-mi, whose directness and honesty were easier to portray. Ultimately, Go viewed Mu-hee's core struggle, the difficulty of communicating true feelings, as the primary hurdle of her performance.
Portraying the dual roles presented technical challenges, particularly during sequences where the characters appeared together. Go utilized a ball attached to a pillar as a focal point to maintain consistent eye contact and manage emotional pacing. To emphasize the lack of a deep connection between the two characters, she varied her gaze height to suggest a disconnect. Conceptually, Go viewed the two personalities as sharing a singular objective: Do Ra-mi acts as a defense mechanism for Mu-hee. She interpreted Mu-hee as a character burdened by anxiety who speaks indirectly to avoid vulnerability, whereas Do Ra-mi serves as a direct protector.
Playing Dorami was a transformative experience for her. She used to practice self-censorship, always questioning if she was pushing things too far, but this role set her free. The atmosphere on set was incredibly collaborative, encouraging her to do whatever she wanted. With a co-star who was so receptive, she felt empowered to go all out. The creative process became a virtuous cycle where one idea constantly sparked the next.
The production was physically demanding, involving over 100 outfits, which averaged roughly ten per episode. Reflecting on the logistical scale, which spanned locations in Japan, Canada, and Italy, Go expressed gratitude for her stylist team effort. Given that much of the wardrobe consisted of high-end sponsor pieces, Go frequently opted to wear her own clothes during physically taxing scenes to prevent damage to the costumes.
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