Disney+ Announces October Premiere for Korea-Japan Rom-Com ‘Merry Berry Love’
Disney+ will premiere the bilingual romantic comedy series 'Merry Berry Love' on October 7. The show stars Ji Chang-wook as a city man who meets a strawberry farmer played by Mio Imada on a Japanese island. It is a rare Korea-Japan co-production developed by CJ ENM, Disney, and Nippon TV.
The series pairs Ji Chang-wook, recognized for his work in films such as Colony and Revolver, with Mio Imada, whose credits include Trillion Game: The Movie and Tokyo Revengers. Their characters meet after Lee Yubin arrives on a Japanese island and crosses paths with strawberry farmer Karin Shirahama, leading to an extended stay sparked by a mix-up.
The project unites CJ ENM, known for hits like Crash Landing on You, with Disney and Japan's Nippon TV. Disney+ has increasingly relied on Korean programming to fuel growth across Asia, while Japan remains a strongly loyal subscriber base. This bilingual production represents a deliberate effort to engage both audiences at once, following the earlier Korean-language series Connect, directed by Takashi Miike.
This co-production could signal a growing appetite for cross-cultural storytelling between Korea and Japan, potentially encouraging more joint ventures in the streaming space. It may also help Disney+ strengthen its position in two key Asian markets simultaneously, though audience reception of bilingual content remains uncertain. Success here could influence how other platforms approach regional collaborations.