Korean-Japanese romantic comedy series “Merry Berry Love,” starring Ji Chang-wook and Imada Mio, is bowing on Disney+ and Hulu this October.
Set on a picturesque Japanese island, the series follows Karin Shirahama, a strawberry farmer who pours everything into her land, and Lee Yubin, a city dweller whose fortunes have taken a sharp turn for the worse. A spectacularly awkward first encounter gives way to an unlikely misunderstanding that keeps the pair far closer than either expected.
Ji Chang-wook, known for “The Worst of Evil” and “The Manipulated,” plays Lee Yubin, a space planner navigating life well outside his comfort zone. Imada Mio, who appeared in “Tokyo Revengers,” takes the role of Karin Shirahama. The casting unites one of Korea’s most recognizable leading men with a prominent Japanese star, signaling the show’s deliberate cross-cultural pitch.
Behind the camera, the series is co-directed by Kim Soojung (“Semantic Error”) and Noh Youngsub (“My Lovely Liar”), with a screenplay by Lee Jaeyoon, writer of “Divorce Insurance.” It was developed and produced by CJ ENM – the Korean entertainment company behind global hits “Crash Landing on You” and “Queen of Tears” – alongside Disney, with Nippon TV serving as co-producer.
“Merry Berry Love” joins an expanding Asian originals slate on Disney+ and Hulu, which already carry Korean romantic titles including “Perfect Crown,” about a grand prince who enters a marriage of convenience with the heir to a Korean conglomerate, and “Soundtrack #1,” centered on a struggling songwriter and her best friend of 19 years.
The series streams on Disney+ and Hulu from Oct. 7.