Star television writers with devoted fan bases are lining up to return to Korea’s small screen this year, offering original stories at a time when adaptations of webtoons and web novels dominate the drama market. Rather than relying on familiar intellectual property, they are betting on character-driven narratives and distinct authorial voices — a strategy that has already generated buzz among viewers and industry watchers. The first to return are Hong Jung-eun and Hong Mi-ran, the "Hong sisters," who are renowned for crafting genre-defining romantic dramas such as “The Greatest Love,” “Hotel Del Luna” and “Alchemy of Souls.” Their new Netflix series, “Can This Love Be Translated?,” is set for release on Friday. The romantic comedy centers on Ju Ho-jin, a multilingual interpreter played by Kim Seon-ho, and Cha Mu-hee, a global superstar portrayed by Go Youn-jung. As Cha joins a global reality show with Ju as her interpreter, the two are drawn into an unpredictable romance. “The drama grows out of moments when they try to put their feelings into words,” the Hong si