Ok Taec-yeon Stars in Netflix’s New Drama ‘Soul Mate’ With Hayato Isomura

Soul Mate, Netflix’s new Japanese drama, has Ok Taec-yeon (2PM) co-starring with Hayato Isomura.

Written and directed by Shunki Hashizume, Soul Mate is an emotional ride through time and space, going over the cities of Berlin, Seoul, and Tokyo for a decade. It looks at the facets of fate, and relationships following the lives of two men whose paths cross, leading to a life-changing love story.

At its core, Soul Mate explores love and its manifestations, such as happiness, suffering, and unexpected relationships. Similarly, it delves into the characters’ struggles within themselves. The story hook comes about when Hayato Isomura’s Ryu Narutaki from Japan is saved by a Korean boxer, Ok Taec-yeon’s Hwang Johan, someplace else, and this accidental encounter connects and cures them, who have been struggling and suffering in their personal lives.

Netflix, in a news release about Soul Mate, has the project’s executive producer, Dai Ota, saying that the actors’ outstanding portrayals bring the story to life, which has to do with the entirety of life’s good and bad moments. “The time spent weaving this story with our lead actors, cast, and crew has been challenging but blissful. Everyone involved in this project is a soulmate,” says director Hashizume.

The release elaborates that Ok has undergone intense training and weight loss to suitably embody his role as a boxer. He adds that Hwang Johan’s inner turmoil and grief grabbed him so much that they lingered in him well after he finished reading the script. Likewise, Isomura shares how the script was very moving, and that playing Ryu Narutaki proved to be an involving experience. Also, for him, “filming in Japan, Korea, and Germany gives the project a truly global feel.”

Soul Mate is gaining steam well in advance of its release thanks to its stellar star cast and story arc. Chance encounters in life, where different people abruptly meet, may have lasting effects. In my understanding, these fleeting moments, often dismissed as mere coincidences, can very positively affect the course of one’s life—heal and open doors to a deeper understanding of the human condition—helping people to face life’s curveballs with courage, kindness, and a renewed sense of purpose. They can upend the mundane, giving new possibilities for growth, self-discovery, and building meaningful relationships—all of which are central to Soul Mate.

The drama’s release date is yet to be announced. Reportedly, it’s scheduled for streaming next year.