Lee Se Young Opens Up About Language Struggles and Friendship with Sakaguchi Kentaro

Actress Lee Se Young extended her apologies to Japanese actor Sakaguchi Kentaro during a recent appearance on the YouTube channel Vogue Korea.

During the episode, Lee Se Young and Sakaguchi Kentaro participated in a TMI quiz after a couple’s photoshoot. When asked to guess her debut year, Lee Se Young playfully asked, “What age do you think I am? At first, I wrote down 94. Do you see me as your grandmother?” While Kentaro guessed 1993, Lee Se Young actually debuted in 1997.

Kentaro also shared his favorite Korean dish: “I ate it a lot during filming. I want it right now. It’s noodles.” However, Lee Se Young couldn’t guess that the dish was kalguksu, a type of handmade knife-cut noodle soup.

Lee Se Young mentioned that her daily routine on set involves greeting everyone, stating, “I come to the filming location every morning and say hello as if it’s the first time.” When she asked Kentaro about his routine, he said he enjoys starting his day with iced coffee.

Lee Se Young reflected on her first impression of Kentaro: “When we met for the first time in the production office, he seemed very relaxed. It felt really comfortable.” Kentaro noted, “Initially, I thought she was calm and quiet, but I realized she’s cute during filming. Surprisingly, she expresses herself well and struggles to hide her feelings.” The two communicated on set using a translation app, with Lee Se Young humorously adding, “I can only respond with basic phrases.”

She expressed some regret, saying, “I feel a bit sorry because I think I didn’t communicate well with Kentaro, especially since my Japanese isn’t great. We used informal language throughout filming, so I apologize for that. Once I improve my Japanese, I’d like to joke around more.” Kentaro reassured her, “I felt like we became very close.” Lee Se Young added that when they meet again in Seoul, they will have plenty to discuss, hinting at their next encounter.

Meanwhile, the drama What Comes After Love, starring Lee Se Young and Sakaguchi Kentaro, premiered today on Coupang Play. The series follows Lee Se Young (Hong), a woman who has lost all memory after a fateful love ends, and Sakaguchi Kentaro (Jungo), a man filled with regret, as they navigate the aftermath of their romance.