This cross-border, high-visual couple is too easy to ship! New series “Merry Berry Love” starring Ji Chang-wook and Imada Mio drops this October
The sweetest must-watch couple of the fall season～
Summary
- "Merry Berry Love" is an original Japan–Korea co-produced romance series from Disney+, set to premiere in October 2026.
- Actor Ji Chang-wook plays Lee Yu-bin, a flawless Korean spatial designer who heads to Japan to restart his life.
- Popular Japanese actress Imada Mio plays Shirahama Karin, a cheerful strawberry farmer battling an unknown illness.
- The series is jointly created by director Kim Su-jeong of the hit K-drama "Semantic Error" and screenwriter Lee Jae-yoon of "The Secret Royal Inspector & Joy."
A romance that makes your heart flutter often needs characters with contrasting personalities. Set on a beautiful, nature-rich island in Japan, “Merry Berry Love” stars Ji Chang-wook as Korean spatial designer Lee Yu-bin. With his exceptional taste, he was once the very definition of “perfect,” until a setback in life leads him to Japan for a fresh start. There, he meets Shirohama Karin, played by Imada Mio. A young farmer devoted to growing strawberries, she lives with an unknown illness yet remains sincere and cheerful. In the island sunshine, surrounded by the scent of strawberries, these two people from different worlds, separated even by language and culture, begin a healing romance that is equal parts sweet and tart.
- Related reading: Award-winning actress Yu Aoi returns to Japanese TV after 18 years in “Until the T-Shirt Dries,” a dark and depressing suspense masterpiece
Cross-border chemistry between a Korean heartthrob and a Japanese sweetheart
Their strong rapport was already evident at an earlier press conference, where they chatted with each other in Korean and Japanese from time to time. It has to be said: this cross-border couple is incredibly convincing visually. Ji Chang-wook’s soulful gaze paired with Imada Mio’s signature sweet smile makes it easy to imagine their interactions on a faraway island, and they are already such a shippable pair.
View this post on Instagram
The cast is enough to make hearts flutter, and the team behind the scenes is equally impressive. The series is directed by Kim Soo-jung, who previously helmed the hit BL drama “Semantic Error,” and created with Lee Jae-yoon, the screenwriter of “The Secret Royal Inspector & Joy.” Director Kim has always excelled at capturing the subtle undercurrents of attraction between her leads and those heart-skipping moments, making us even more eager to see how she will portray this love story across borders. “Merry Berry Love” is more than a visual feast; it is also a warm journey about starting over and healing each other.
Join POPBEE Circle and subscribe to the POPBEE Newsletter for the latest updates, and get early access to exclusive perks and special discounts. In addition to this article, here are a few recent stories worth checking out:
- Time to switch up your makeup bag: Prada Beauty’s new purple collection is here, with Zendaya’s blackcurrant fragrance dropping too!
- This time Starbucks isn’t opening a new store, it’s heading straight into the forest—and even the coffee grounds are going back to the earth
- Mind games, lies, and star power: Disney+ Korean mystery show "Murder Club" teams Faker with TXT's Beomgyu for a July binge
