Kan Hyewon from IZ*ONE stars alongside Akaso Eiji in the new drama 'Kimbap and Onigiri,' exploring cultural differences in love.
September/30/2025 12:15Related Groups & Members
Kan Hyewon, from IZ*ONE, will co-star with actor Akaso Eiji. Today (30th), details of the drama 'Kimbap and Onigiri - The Two Who Fall in Love Are Similar Yet Different' were announced through official X and other channels. The lead is Akaso Eiji, with Kan Hyewon cast as the heroine. The show will start airing on TV Tokyo's 'Drama Premier 23' slot from January 12, 2026. Like 'kimbap' and 'onigiri,' which look similar but taste different, it is a pure love story between two people who are drawn to each other while being confused by the cultural and value differences between Japan and Korea. Akaso Eiji plays the protagonist, Taiga Hase, who was once expected to be a star in university ekiden but faced setbacks due to poor performance. Now, he works part-time at a small restaurant without any special dreams, living a dull life. Meeting the Korean heroine leads him to confront his life and take a step towards the future. Kan Hyewon plays Park Rin, a graduate student who came from Korea to study animation and struggles daily between her dreams and reality in unfamiliar Japan. This will be her first appearance in a Japanese terrestrial drama, and she is already attracting attention. The series will also be exclusively available on Netflix for worldwide streaming at the same time as each episode airs, with catch-up broadcasts planned on TVer and Lemino. Kan Hyewon, who was active in the girl group IZ*ONE formed through Mnet's 'PRODUCE48,' has since appeared in various works as an actress, captivating fans. In April of this year, she was selected as a model for the Japanese women's fashion brand 'SNIDEL,' actively engaging in activities in Japan. Akaso Eiji held his first Korean fan meeting in October 2023 and appeared on KangNam's YouTube channel 'Town Friend KangNami' in July, gaining popularity in Korea.
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The Japan-Korea co-production drama 'Kimbap and Onigiri: Similar Yet Different Lovers' features Akaso Eiji and Kang Hae-won, showcasing a sweet love story as they navigate cultural differences. The series premieres on the 12th, airing weekly on TV Tokyo and Netflix.
On the afternoon of the 7th, Akaso Eiji and Kang Hae-won from IZ*ONE attended the press conference for their new drama 'Kimbap and Onigiri.' The show depicts a pure love story between a Japanese and Korean couple. It will be exclusively available on Netflix, with episodes streaming simultaneously with their broadcast.
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