Previously on June 27, it was reported that 2PM’s Ok Taecyeon will be starring in the Netflix J-Drama “Soul Mate”. The series follows the relationship of Japanese man Ryu and Korean boxer Johan (also romanized as Yohan) as they heal each other’s wounds.
While “Soul Mate” was initially mentioned as a “bromance”, the two male characters were said to have an emotional connection beyond friendship, sparking speculations that it will have LGBTQ+ elements.
Additionally, Netflix later confirmed that the series is a boy love, clarifying that it is a “love story between two young men.”
This revelation absolutely shocked fans, who cheers in response to Taecyeon’s venture into portraying a gay romance.
Regarding this, the idol-actor himself has also shared his thoughts, 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.”
“While reading the script, I was intrigued by the character of Hwang Johan, and even after I’d finished the script, Johan’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 Johan with sincerity, so I hope viewers will also look forward to the drama”, he also said.
Source: Krb, X, BLH