Chae Jong-hyeop Pairs Up With Japan’s Top Star Kanna Hashimoto for a Romance in “Vacation Law”

A cross-border visual shock: A mystery romance to be completed by “Hyoksama” and “Thousand-Year Idol”

Actor “Chae Jong-hyeop,” who sparked an unprecedented syndrome across the Japanese archipelago, is once again aiming directly at the hearts of fans throughout Asia. Beyond the moves of a mere Hallyu star, an audacious casting lineup that cuts across the global content market has finally pulled back the curtain.

His agency, Blitzway Entertainment, officially announced on the 2nd that Chae Jong-hyeop has been confirmed for a role in the upcoming Japanese original drama “Vacation Law,” which is set to premiere for the first time on the 27th. Presented with ambitious stakes by “Abema (ABEMA),” Japan’s largest online video service (OTT), the new series fully breaks away from the usual melodrama template. It depicts the strange tension and mystery romance that blooms as the protagonist, Midori Hoshino, who is crushed by the weight of everyday life, encounters Nishigami, a man shrouded in secrecy, at a sparsely populated seaside villa. In the drama, Chae Jong-hyeop will play Nishigami, a mysterious figure who oversees the villa area around Tatsumi Village, and is expected to unleash a deadly charm that flips his previously warm-and-familiar image on its head.

Above all, what grabs viewers’ attention is the overwhelming presence of the counterpart lead. Japanese top actor “Kanna Hashimoto,” who built a solid fandom across Asia as well as Korea with the moniker “Thousand-Year Idol,” has been cast as the role of Midori Hoshino. The meeting of two representative, uniquely visual stars from both Korea and Japan is, in itself, enough to be regarded as one of the most anticipated works of the second half. The acting synergy the two will create is expected to set a new milestone for a romance narrative that crosses borders.

Previously, Chae Jong-hyeop led the explosive “Hyoksama” craze in Japan by securing the lead role in the 2024 Japanese terrestrial TBS drama “Eye Love You (Eye Love You),” marking the first time a Korean actor has landed a prime-time evening leading slot. It’s also the part where his smart choice of his next project—aiming not just for a one-off burst of buzz but back-to-back box-office success—again proves his firmly established position in Japan.

Signaling the birth of a well-made mystery romance, “Vacation Law” will make its global debut through the Abema platform on the 27th. Then, starting on the 31st, service will expand further through global streaming powerhouse “Netflix (Netflix),” as the production gets ready to capture the eyes and ears of viewers around the world beyond Asia.