Korean Footballer Secures Lead Role in Spanish Cinema Production

Yang Jae-woo, a 24-year-old soccer player and actor, is making waves in the Spanish film industry with his upcoming debut in the romance film "Sigue Mi Voz" (Follow My Voice). This marks the first time a Korean actor has taken a leading role in a Spanish feature film.

The film, scheduled for release on Sept. 12, is based on the web novel "Through My Window" by Venezuelan writer Ariana Godoy. The novel, originally posted on Wattpad from 2016 to 2018, has garnered 36.8 million views on the platform, which is owned by Korean tech giant Naver.

Yang Jae-woo will play Kang, a radio host and singer, in the film. Kang is explicitly described as Korean in the original story. The character of Klara, played by Berta Castane, spends months at home after a mental health crisis and listens to Kang's late-night radio show. As she becomes increasingly captivated by his voice, Klara finds herself drawn back into the world.

Open auditions were held specifically seeking a Korean actor fluent in Spanish who could play the guitar and soccer, to match the original character's profiles. Yang Jae-woo, who moved to Spain at 11 years old in 2012 to join Villarreal CF's youth team, was a perfect fit for the role. Currently, he plays for Mostoles CF, based in an autonomous community of Madrid, and coaches the youth squad.

The production company involved in the making of "Sigue Mi Voz" is Apache Films. Webtoon Production, a Webtoon Entertainment affiliate, along with Spain's Zeta Studios and Beta Fiction Spain, are also credited as producers of the film.

Ariana Godoy's previous work "Through My Window" was adapted into a Netflix hit in 2022, topping charts in 22 regions. With "Sigue Mi Voz", the team hopes to replicate the success of the original web novel on the big screen.