Ok Taecyeon is set to star in a new Netflix production titled Soul Mate. On June 27, an industry insider revealed that Taecyeon is currently filming this series, which tells the story of a Japanese man, Narutaki Ryu, and a Korean boxer, Hwang Yo Han. Over the course of a decade, the two meet in Seoul, Berlin, and Tokyo, forming a close bond as they heal each other’s wounds.
Japanese actor Isomura Hayato will play Ryu to Taecyeon’s Yo Han. Hayato is known for starring in shows like Alice in Borderland, Kamen Rider Ghost, Kinou nani tabeta?, and many more. Meanwhile, Taecyeon, best known as a member of the K-pop boy group 2PM under JYP Entertainment, has also made a name for himself as an actor in various K-dramas, including Dream High and Vincenzo.
Soul Mate was initially described as a “bromance,” but recent updates confirm that the relationship between Ryu and Yo Han goes beyond mere friendship. Netflix’s official X account posted a photo of Taecyeon and Hayato sitting side-by-side. The photo’s caption referred to the series as “a 10-year-long love story between two young men.” As if that wasn’t confirmation enough, Netflix also uploaded the tags for Soul Mate, filing it under their “LGBTQ+ TV Shows” category. They also described the show as bittersweet, sentimental, and emotional.
The X post went viral, amassing 1.8 million views as of this writing. This is understandable, as Soul Mate will be Taecyeon’s first BL drama. While Taecyeon has taken on many mainstream roles over the years, this project represents a new and exciting challenge for him.
Here's your first look at Soul Mate starring Hayato Isomura and Ok Taec-yeon.
Traversing the cities of Berlin, Seoul, and Tokyo, the series tells a 10-year-long love story between two young men. From writer and director Shunki Hashizume (Scroll, More Than Words). pic.twitter.com/80AxrJNJTk
— Netflix (@netflix) June 27, 2024
Taecyeon speaks
Taecyeon expressed his excitement about the role, saying, “I’m extremely delighted to be appearing in Soul Mate. Because there were so many types of characters and genres that I hadn’t tried yet, I’d been wanting to gradually broaden my spectrum [as an actor] and discover new sides of myself, and right at that time, I received the offer to star in Soul Mate.”
He added, “While reading the script, I was intrigued by the character of Hwang Yo Han, and even after I’d finished the script, Yo Han’s inner pain and struggles stayed with me for a long time, which is why I chose the project. Even during filming, I’m continuing the diet and boxing training that I started before filming; that’s how hard I’m working to portray the character of Yo Han with sincerity, so I hope viewers will also look forward to the drama.”
Despite Netflix’s post and Taecyeon’s words, fans are still worried that the show won’t live up to their expectations. They have reason to worry, as mainstream dramas usually have unhappy endings in store for queer love stories. But here’s hoping Soul Mate won’t disappoint! – K-Pop News Writer
Featured Image: Who’s excited to see this fine specimen cozy up to another man? Source: Naver.