Cinta Teruna Kimchi is a Malaysian romantic drama series that tells the story of two individuals from different cultures who fall in love despite facing various challenges. The show stars Nazim Othman, Johan As'ari, Nur Risteena, and Niena Baharun, among others. The series revolves around two main characters, Adam (Nazim Othman) and Jihyun (Nur Risteena). Adam is a Malaysian man who is passionate about Korean culture and is fluent in the language. He dreams of studying in South Korea to immerse himself in the culture he loves so much. Jihyun, on the other hand, is a Korean woman who has come to Malaysia to open a Korean restaurant with her friend.
Adam and Jihyun meet by chance when Jihyun's car breaks down, and Adam offers to help her. They quickly hit it off, despite the initial language barrier. To Adam's delight, Jihyun is impressed by his knowledge of Korean culture and cuisine. However, the road to their relationship is not smooth as they face opposition from their families and cultural differences that threaten to tear them apart.
One of the obstacles they face is disapproving parents. Adam's parents are not supportive of their son's interest in Korean culture, seeing it as a waste of time. They even go as far as forbidding him from seeing Jihyun, who they see as a threat to their cultural identity. Jihyun's parents, on the other hand, aren't thrilled about their daughter dating a foreigner from a different culture.
Apart from the cultural differences, Adam and Jihyun also deal with language barriers. While Adam is proficient in Korean, Jihyun struggles to express herself in English, which further complicates their relationship.
Aside from Adam and Jihyun's romantic storyline, the show also delves into the lives of the supporting characters. Among them is Adam's best friend, Rizal (Johan As'ari), who is struggling with his own love life. He harbors feelings for his childhood friend, Lisa (Niena Baharun), who is engaged to someone else. Over the course of the show, Rizal must navigate his complex emotions while trying to remain a loyal friend to both Lisa and Adam.
The show's title, Cinta Teruna Kimchi, references the central couple's shared love for Korean cuisine. Kimchi is a popular Korean dish made from fermented vegetables, and the two characters bond over their love for it. The cultural significance of food is also explored throughout the show, as the characters use food to connect with each other and bridge cultural differences.
Overall, Cinta Teruna Kimchi is an engaging and heartwarming drama that explores the struggles of navigating cultural differences and the enduring power of love. The show is well-written and features excellent performances from its cast, making it a must-watch for fans of romantic dramas.
