F.T. Island‘s Hongki will be working with famous Japanese actress Takashima Reiko for an upcoming KBS Chuseok special!

On September 11th, KBS will be airing a Korean-Japanese 90-minute drama titled, “Noriko Goes to Seoul“. The drama will be airing in Korea first before it gets picked up by a network in Japan.

The story centers around a Japanese ahjumma named Noriko, who’s fallen head-over-heels in love with K-Pop stars. She coincidentally meets a young teen named Minha, who’s training to become a singer. By influencing each other’s lives, they use the power of family love to overcome obstacles.

Filming will begin in Korea starting on August 10th, before moving on to Japan for additional filming on the 24th. Representatives said, “This drama is worthy of becoming Hallyu content for all of Asia. The drama transcends cultural boundaries to touch the hearts of viewers and isn’t sensitive for both countries.” Both actors are reportedly very excited to be working together. Other cast members include Maybee, Tani Rumiko, and Abe Mihoko.

Source: Star News via Naver

Recently, KBS aired a mini-drama called ‘Noriko Goes to Seoul‘, which tells the story of a Japanese middle-aged woman trying out for a Korean idol audition after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

Aired as a Chuseok special, the drama has been drawing strong praise thanks to Lee Hongki‘s acting. The F.T. Island member plays the role of ‘Min Ha’, a teenager who befriends the main character (played by Takashima Reiko).

Viewers were impressed by Lee Hongki’s performance, as they pointed out his excellent dialogue delivery and smooth acting. “I didn’t know that Lee Hongki was so good at acting,” said one netizen. “He could work as a lead character right now,” praised another.

The drama has also been garnering acclaim for its fresh look at the Hallyu wave in Japan. By exhibiting the deep emotional connections Japanese fans make with Hallyu culture, some critics have deemed ‘Noriko Goes to Seoul’ as a ‘re-analysis’ of Hallyu.

Source: Asia Today, OSEN