Ji Chang Wook and Imada Mio Lead Korean-Japanese Romance Comedy Merry Berry Love

Ji Chang Wook and Japanese actress Imada Mio are heading to a tropical getaway in the upcoming romantic comedy "Merry Berry Love," announced by CJ ENM on 30 July. The Korean-Japanese co-production marks the first series collaboration between South Korea's CJ ENM and Japan's terrestrial broadcaster Nippon TV, premiering globally on Disney+ in October and airing weekly on Nippon TV in Japan.

The drama follows Lee Yu Bin (played by Chang Wook), a spatial designer who loses his fortune in Korea and retreats to a Japanese island in search of reinvention. There he encounters Karin Shirahama (Mio), a strawberry farmer devoted to her craft. The premise weaves together professional ambition, rural discovery and the chemistry between two characters rebuilding their lives.

Nam Yoon Su joins as Park Gu Nam, a part-time island worker harbouring an unrequited affection for Mari, whilst Kumada Rinka plays Mizuno Mari, Karin's best friend and a tarot reader who specialises in matters of the heart. This secondary pairing introduces a secondary romantic thread into the ensemble.

The series represents a notable shift in production strategy for both broadcasters. Nippon TV's partnership with CJ ENM reflects growing appetite for cross-border storytelling in Asia, where Korean production expertise and Japanese creative sensibilities can converge. "Merry Berry Love" arrives at a time when Korean actors increasingly lead regional projects, and Japanese networks seek international talent to broaden audience reach.

Given the island setting and slow-burn romantic structure, the drama positions itself within the mature rom-com category that has gained traction across Asia over the past two years, alongside titles that prioritise character development and lifestyle aesthetics over high-stakes plotting.