South Korean director Nam Ki Hoon is all set to helm an upcoming romantic-comedy film to be headlined by a popular Korean actor and a Filipino actress.
This was the announcement during his press junket with Filipino producer Tristan Cheng and South Korean producer Ilho Lee held at Tryst & Co. restaurant in Katipunan, Quezon City, on March 20, 2026.
Ki Hoon is the director of several K-drama series including Prime Video's Confidence Queen, Disney's Kiss Sixth Sense, and Destined With You.
He's also the director of the K-drama series Big Bet, which was shot in the Philippines for six months and had Filipino cast members.
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Cheng is the CEO of Trifecta Lab Brand, and he's thrilled to be initiating this collaboration with co-producer Ilho Lee.
Their aim is to showcase the beauty of the Philippines and how a Filipino and South Korean team can work well together for this project.
When asked what made him want to work in the Philippines again, director Nam Ki Hoon has nothing but good words about Filipinos.
With the help of his translator, Nam Ki Hoon said: "So I've been to the Philippines for shoot several times. And every time I visit here, lagi po akong masaya at lagi pong merong mga bagong experience na nakukuha.
"Well, to be honest, yung mga film or yung mga project na ginawa ko previously ay medyo dark ang theme niya.
"But personally, while staying or experiencing the Philippines myself, I really experienced how warm and how kind and bright the Filipinos are."
Nam Ki Hoon revealed that witnessing the bayanihan spirit among Filipinos when an earthquake struck Cebu last September made a huge impact on him.
“Last September, I stayed in Cebu for a month for a personal trip. And while walking outside, earthquake struck.
"I was at the epicenter. I noticed people began running out, but they weren't thinking of themselves, they were helping other people too, including me."
He also appreciated how the Filipinos would bow or greet him during his daily runs, making him feel welcome and at home.
"Parang yun po yung naging isa sa mga naging malaking impression po sa puso ko na nakita ko, 'Ah, sobrang mainit talaga ang puso ng mga Pilipino.'"
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nam ki hoon on THE film's STORY AND SETTING
Nam Ki Hoon went on to say that the film tells the story of a South Korean superstar who gets burnout at work and decides to take a vacation in the Philippines to revisit a childhood memory.
"But once he arrived there, he noticed that everything was so different from what he remembered because a typhoon had just passed...
"Pero habang nakabisita siya, makikilala niya yung may-ari ng hotel na pinag-stay-an niya. Itong babae na ito, kasabay niya, ire-rebuild nila yung lugar para maibalik sa magandang alaala na taglay nila.
"At sa loob ng proseso na yun, may masayang episodes sila na mararanasan. At siyempre di lang sa pagmamahalan, pati pag-aalala niya sa warmth and hospitality ng Filipinos."
For now, their team is still searching for a scenic location in the Philippines that is equally beautiful but not as crowded with tourists just yet.
According to Tristan: "We've been traveling around. And we're closely working with Philippines' Department of Tourism. And hopefully we'll be able to close the deal with DOT.
"I think one of our main purpose is to show how beautiful the Philippines is and what else Philippines has to offer when it comes to tourism.
THE LEAD STARS
Tristan also hinted that the lead actor that they are eyeing to be on board is someone that Filipinos are familiar with.
"The lead from Korea, we wanna make sure that he has a good following when it comes to his fan base. That's number one.
"And then, of course, No. 2, someone who's really talented and already has gained a good following here in the Philippines.
"So we may expect someone who has already been, you know, been there, already has good shows, already has proven himself when it comes to creating films and series."
As for the lead actress, Tristan revealed that their team has been in talks with ABS-CBN and GMA talent managements for possible recommendations.
"So this is not to preempt but also we just want to maximize and for them to know that this project is existing.
"So we will be announcing soon hopefully... We'll be doing a casting call for the [female] lead or the sub-actors."
As early as now, Nam Ki Hoon is excited to start working on the project since he had a good experience working with Filipino production staff when he did Big Bet and Confidence Queen.
"If I would give an example, recently when we shot Confidence Queen, we were able to work with Filipino staff.
"And during the process, I really noticed how the Filipino staff and the Filipinos themselves have so much love in their hearts to give out to other people.
"And with that they also have the professionalism when it comes to work. Napansin din namin yung after ng shoot kumakain po tayo nang sabay-sabay.
"Kahit four days lang po kami nag-shoot during that time, talagang naging magandang impression po ito sa akin.
"And nakita ko po kung gaano kagaling ang mga Pilipino rin pagdating sa pagre-resolve ng problems sa set."
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