Netflix's upcoming romance drama "Gimbap and Onigiri" is generating excitement even before its first episode airs today, January 12, thanks to its cross-cultural cast and emotionally resonant storyline.

The series stars former IZ*ONE member Kang Hye‑won as Park Rin, a Korean graduate student studying animation in Japan, and Japanese actor Akaso Eiji as Taiga Hase, a former track athlete now working part-time at a Japanese restaurant. The drama's narrative highlights the couple's growing connection, with their differences compared to gimbap and onigiri—similar but distinct—sparking both tension and romance.

In an interview with KBIZoom, Kang Hye‑won reflected on working with Akaso Eiji: "Even unfamiliar Japanese dialogue became manageable because he helped me understand and adapt." She added that her lifelong love of Japanese animation helped her relate to the cast and crew.

Akaso Eiji shared his impressions of Kang, telling Wikitree, "I expected her to seem quiet at first, but she was nothing like that. She was warm and easy to talk to." He also highlighted the drama's emotional core: "I hope audiences focus on how Taiga and Rin grow and fall for each other beyond cultural boundaries."

The series is co-produced by TV Tokyo and Japanese studio Babel Label, with Korean screenwriter Lee Na-won contributing. Lee commented to KBIZoom, "This project means a lot to me, especially being able to write in both Korean and Japanese." Supporting roles feature Moon Ji‑hoo, Seo Hye‑won, and Bang Eun‑hee, all making their Japanese drama debuts.

The soundtrack includes music by Korean singer-songwriter Jeon Jin‑hee, NCT WISH's Same Sky, and Japanese artist Masanori Otoda's Colors of Happiness. Kang noted to Wikitree, "Though the language was different, everyone shared the same goal of making a good show. The working style wasn't as different as I expected."

Early reactions to trailers and promotional material have been largely positive, with fans commenting on social media, "The title already feels romantic," and "Kang Hye‑won looks stunning."

Gimbap and Onigiri will air Mondays from 11:06 PM to 11:55 PM on TV Tokyo and drop simultaneously on Netflix worldwide. The series is pre-produced, with at least eight episodes expected.

Industry analysts suggest the production's scale and dual-market approach position it as a high-quality tentpole drama for global audiences, raising anticipation for Kang Hye‑won's first Japanese drama role.