The situation
Chae Jong Hyeop's new Japanese drama, "The Rules Of Vacation", has confirmed its premiere date on ABEMA for July 27, with a Netflix release following on July 31. The drama tells the story of Hoshino Midori, who falls in love with the mysterious caretaker Nishigami, played by Chae Jong Hyeop, at a seaside villa. This marks another notable role for Chae in Japan, after becoming the first Korean actor to headline a drama in Japan's prime-time slot with "Eye Love You".
What the internet did with it
- Netizens on Theqoo seem generally unbothered, with some commenting on Chae Jong Hyeop's consistent work in Japan — "he's really making a name for himself there, isn't he?"
- The newly released poster and teaser video have heightened anticipation for the on-screen chemistry between Chae Jong Hyeop and Hashimoto Kanna, with some fans noting the *눈치 (nuanchi, a sense of tension or atmosphere) between the leads.
- Some fans have pointed out that Chae Jong Hyeop's role in "The Rules Of Vacation" is another example of a Korean actor successfully breaking into the Japanese entertainment industry, following in the footsteps of others like Lee Byung Hun.
The open question
The exact extent of Chae Jong Hyeop's involvement in the production beyond his acting role remains unclear, with some speculation about potential behind-the-scenes contributions or creative input — a statement from the production team or Chae himself would be needed to confirm his level of involvement.