In a country where Korean culture has become part of everyday life, a Filipino-Korean film collaboration feels almost inevitable. Filipinos have long embraced K-pop, followed K-drama with unmatched passiona, and adopted K-beauty trends as part of their routines. With that kind of cultural connection, a joint project between the Philippines and South Korea is something that naturally fits what audiences already love.
The collaboration is a romantic comedy that aims to go beyond entertainment. It’s designed to showcase the Philippines in a more authentic way, with around 80 percent of the film set to be shot locally, far from the usual formula of international productions.
L-R: Trifecta Brand Lab Tristan Cheng, Korean director Nam Ki-hoon, Korean producer Ilho Lee
“Whenever there’s a foreign collaboration, most of the time the project is shot 10 to 20 percent in the Philippines and 80 percent abroad. We wanted to change that,” said Trifecta Brand Lab CEO Tristan Cheng. “We’re aiming to shoot around 80 percent of the film in the country.” For Tristan, the project carries a bigger intention. “We know that tourism is down at the moment, and this is our way to showcase the Philippines to the world,” he added.
The film brings together a cross-cultural team led by respected Korean director Nam Ki Hoon, working alongside Korean producer Ilho Lee and Filipino entrepreneur and media practitioner Tristan.
“We are doing a film that will be a collaboration between Korean actors, talents, and creatives, and Filipino actors and creatives,” Tristan shared during the media launch.
For director Ki-hoon, this project stands apart from his earlier works like Kiss Sixth Sense, Big Bet, and Confidence Queen, which often explored darker themes. His time in the Philippines shifted his perspective.
“I’ve been to the Philippines several times. And every time I visit, I’m always happy and I always gain new experiences,” Ki-hoon said. “To be honest, the film projects I’ve done before have had darker themes. But after experiencing the Philippines, I saw how warm, kind, and bright Filipinos are.” That insight is shaping the tone of the film.
“So the project that we’re preparing now focuses more on the human side, the good side of the Philippines, and how the main character can experience how warm and passionate Filipinos are when it comes to treating other people,” the Korean director explained. “I’m very excited to show and express this positive emotion from the Philippines.”
Even the locations are being carefully chosen to support that vision. While the director has visited Boracay, Cebu, and Manila, the production is now looking beyond these well-known destinations. “We are veering away from the popular tourist destinations,” Ki-hoon said. “We want to introduce spots that people may not know much about, alhough they already know how beautiful the Philippines is.” The director even expressed openness for suggestions from the guests. “Hopefully, we get to seal the deal with the Department of Tourism,” Tristan added.
Behind the camera, the film is also breaking from past practices. Instead of a Korean-dominated crew, this project will rely heavily on Filipino talent. “Before, when we had shoots in the Philippines, about 80 percent of the staff were Korean and 20 percent were Filipino,” Ki-hoon shared. “But with this project, that will change. Around 90 percent will be Filipino.”
He acknowledged that the shift comes with adjustments. “During this process, I’m still learning how to work with Filipino staff and people,” he added.
About the movie
Casting remains one of the most talked-about aspects of the project. The team is currently searching for a Filipina actress who can bring charm, energy, and strong chemistry with the Korean male lead. The producers and director remained mum about the actor’s identity so the media guests probed into the search for the female lead actress. Ki-hoon revealed, “What I’m looking for in an actress is the harmony she can show with our male lead.” He added, “For your reference, we want to have a female lead who is very bright, cute, and energetic.” They are in the process of searching for “the one.”
On the Korean side, producer Ilho Lee confirmed that several actors are already being considered, with one key factor guiding the decision is the popularity among Filipino fans. That detail has fueled speculation, with names like Cha Eun Woo, Lee Seung Gi, Lee Chae Min, Park Bo Gum, and Kim Seon Ho dropped by the media guests as guesses. For the Filipina leading lady, Kathryn Bernardo, Andrea Brillantes, Nadine Lustre, Liza Soberano, Francine Diaz, Sue Ramirez, Belle Mariano, Barbie Forteza, and Kim Chiu were mentioned. Auditions will be held to determine who lands the role.
Tristan shared, “We will be announcing, hopefully in April, a casting call for the leads and the sub-characters.” He was also transparent about being in touch with the country’s top talent management agencies.
For Tristan, the collaboration is also deeply personal, rooted in admiration for Korean storytelling and a desire to grow the local industry. “I want to learn. I want to be part of it, and I want to help start something new when it comes to producing this kind of film,” he said.
As we contain the excitement for the possibilities, we keep our hopes up and give our all-out support. As K-drama characters would often say when showing support, “Aja aja! Fighting!”
WATCH the full press conference:
