"Soulmate," starring Isomura Yuto and Taecyeon, premieres on Netflix May 14, exploring the deep bond between two lonely youths.

The Netflix series "Soulmate," starring Isomura Yuto and 2PM's Taecyeon, will start exclusive worldwide distribution on May 14 (Thursday). Ryuu (Isomura Yuto) and Johan (Taecyeon), two lonely young men who meet as if drawn together, connect their souls while facing forward in three cities: Berlin, Seoul, and Tokyo. Their beautiful and emotional ten-year journey as 'soulmates' that can only be met once in a lifetime unfolds. They wish to 'live together,' encouraging each other and sometimes clashing fiercely, but the threads of fate cruelly entangle them... The chemistry felt from their first meeting was remarkable. The filming of the Netflix series "Soulmate" took place over four and a half months across Germany, Korea, and Japan. The two, who built a special relationship that cannot be expressed simply as 'co-stars,' developed mutual respect and understanding. A key figure who closely observed them was Lee Yunyung, who served as Taecyeon's interpreter and participated as an assistant producer. She not only connected them with words but also witnessed the deepening of their relationship through the emotions and atmosphere exchanged on set. She can truly be called 'another soulmate.' Through her interview, we want to unravel the bond felt between the two. The first time they exchanged words in front of the camera was during a 'special test shoot' that does not exist in the main story. Despite being strangers, a strangely natural atmosphere flowed on set. 'Neither was tense or stiff; they greeted each other very refreshingly. Since it was a small space, they quickly established close communication,' she recalls, noting that there was no awkwardness in exploring each other, and they seemed to be in sync from the start. 'In this test shoot, the director specially wrote a scene that is not in the main story where Johan cooks and they eat together. It was impressive how they quickly became comfortable while discussing, 'Is this food really from Korea?' Their casual exchanges already created a rhythm unique to them. Staff members also noted, 'The chemistry between these two is special.' 'Words are unnecessary'—the absolute trust they had in each other symbolized their relationship as soulmates. As if to embody the title, their connection was established more through 'feeling' than 'explanation.' 'We intentionally did not discuss how we would perform this scene. It was not that we were avoiding it on purpose, but because we had absolute trust in each other's acting. Even if we were casually talking about, 'Do you know this snack?' right before, we would seamlessly get into character when it was time to shoot. That natural connection made me feel they were truly soulmates,' she explains. They may have shared emotional nuances that would typically require words through mere glances and the atmosphere. This is why the relationship depicted between Ryuu and Johan in the drama carries a reality that transcends mere performance. An episode that symbolizes their trust occurred during filming in Nasu. 'During the shoot in Nasu, Isomura-san was passionately discussing the script with the director, causing the filming to stop for 2-3 hours. Taecyeon-san waited outside the whole time without showing any displeasure, saying, 'It's natural that you can't act if you're not satisfied with your feelings. It's better to discuss until you are satisfied.' When Isomura later came to apologize, Taecyeon replied, 'It's totally fine. I also discuss things with the director in the same way.' This showed their deep respect for each other as professionals and as individuals, which moved me deeply.' They respected each other's acting and waited until the other was satisfied. This attitude revealed a deep trust between actors that transcended national and language barriers. In Berlin, their bond deepened to a 'family-like' closeness. In Berlin, where the latter part of the filming took place, their distance further shrank. 'In Germany, all cast and staff stayed in the same hotel. This made it feel like we had a 'family feeling.' Isomura-san would often share excess groceries he bought at the supermarket with Taecyeon-san, who would say, 'Then I'll cook for you.' After filming, their time together naturally continued. 'We talked on the hotel rooftop after filming, and on our days off, we went sightseeing together. When we surprised Isomura-san for his birthday, Taecyeon-san ran to the department store, excitedly picking out gifts and food. I think the physical closeness brought our hearts even closer,' she recalls, noting that the days spent in Berlin strengthened their relationship beyond their roles. A precious moment that brought tears to everyone on set. When asked about particularly memorable scenes she witnessed, Yunyung mentioned the childbirth scene featuring Hashimoto Ai as Sumiko. 'Ryuu and Johan were anxiously waiting at the hospital, and when they heard the baby's first cry, they joyfully hugged each other as if it were their own moment. There was a pure joy that overflowed, which was not in the script.' This moment may have intertwined the emotions of Isomura Yuto and Taecyeon themselves, not just their characters. In the most emotional scene in which Johan expresses his feelings to the video camera, filmed in Berlin, even the staff watching the monitor were moved to tears. After the cut, Taecyeon's tears reportedly wouldn't stop, and he humorously remarked, 'Everyone is crying, so I can't stop either!' However, the fact that it stirred the emotions of everyone on set tells the story of the 'real emotions' flowing through this work. Finally, addressing viewers looking forward to the series, she shared, 'The charm of 'Soulmate' lies in the 'small daily moments' that flow within the dramatic story. Eating meals, drinking, and simply walking together... These warm moments, which are also part of our daily lives, are packed into this work. I hope that by watching this, you realize the importance of this moment and feel a little more affection for your own life.' In Korea, there is a word 'Inyeon' (인연) meaning 'fate.' The idea is that encounters between people are not coincidental but are tied together by some fateful thread. The fact that Isomura Yuto and Taecyeon met in 'Soulmate' and built a unique relationship that transcends words and borders may indeed be that 'Inyeon.' And Yunyung, who watched over them, received their emotions and continued to connect their words, is also an indispensable 'another soulmate' in this work. A story of love and bonds born from the resonance of the souls of the cast and staff. The Netflix series 'Soulmate' will be exclusively distributed worldwide starting May 14 (Thursday).