[K-Drama Reunions] 'Love Alarm' & 'Start-Up' Couples Return in New Projects… Plus, Seo Kang-joon's Acting Aspirations Draw Attention

Popular K-Drama Couples Reunite in New Projects

Song Kang and Kim So-hyun from 'Love Alarm' Reunite After 5 Years in 'Snow White's Revenge'

Song Kang (송강) and Kim So-hyun (김소현), who previously starred together in the Netflix series 'Love Alarm,' are reuniting after five years in MBC's new drama, 'Snow White's Revenge' (화이트 스캔들). According to a Korea Times report, 'Snow White's Revenge,' based on a webtoon, tells the story of Dan Yi-hyuk (played by Song Kang), a third-generation chaebol (conglomerate heir) who doesn't want to inherit his family business, and Ji Eun-seol (played by Kim So-hyun), a former child star whose career has fallen. They begin a fake relationship and heal each other's wounds through romance. Song Kang shared his thoughts on reuniting with Kim So-hyun on the YouTube talk show 'Salon Drip,' saying, "Back then, So-hyun was already famous, and I was a rookie. It was great to meet again like this," adding playfully, "I've become a bit famous too, right?" For fans who were disappointed that the two characters didn't end up together in 'Love Alarm,' 'Snow White's Revenge' is highly anticipated as a romance where they save and heal each other.

Suzy and Kim Seon-ho from 'Start-Up' Consider Reunion After 6 Years in 'Phantom Portrait'

Suzy (수지) and Kim Seon-ho (김선호), who showcased a bittersweet romance in the 2020 tvN drama 'Start-Up,' are reportedly considering starring together in the Disney+ series 'Phantom Portrait' (환상의 초상화) after six years. Set in Gyeongseong (경성) during the 1935 era, this dark fantasy historical drama tells the story of Lee Ho, a painter who creates a portrait of Song Jung-hwa, a mysterious woman isolated from the world for over half a century. Given that Kim Seon-ho's character in 'Start-Up' sparked a 'second male lead syndrome' (서브 남주 신드롬) and garnered significant support from many viewers, this potential reunion is fueling fans' curiosity about their unresolved romance.

Seo Hyun-jin and Yoo Yeon-seok from 'Dr. Romantic' Reunite After 10 Years in Psychological Thriller 'Liar'

Seo Hyun-jin (서현진) and Yoo Yeon-seok (유연석), who played senior and junior doctors in the hit medical drama 'Dr. Romantic' (낭만닥터 김사부), are reuniting after approximately 10 years in MBC's psychological thriller 'Liar' (라이어). Scheduled to premiere in October, this drama tells the story of a man and a woman who give completely conflicting testimonies about the same memory, clashing as they search for the truth. A teaser released on September 11 showed the two actors confronting each other in an interrogation room, each claiming the other is lying, hinting at a tense psychological battle completely different from the romantic chemistry seen in 'Dr. Romantic.'

Red Velvet's Joy and Choo Young-woo Reunite After 4 Years for 'Stitch Head' Korean Dub

Red Velvet's (레드벨벳) Joy (조이) and Choo Young-woo (추영우), who appeared as a young couple in the 2022 KakaoTV drama 'Once Upon a Small Town,' are reuniting after four years as the Korean voice cast for the animated film 'Stitch Head.' The film, which premieres domestically in Korea on September 30, features Joy as Arabella, a curious human girl, and Choo Young-woo as Stitch Head, a small monster who longs to be loved. This marks the first voice acting challenge for both actors. Joy stated, "I was drawn to Arabella's kindness, as she looks at monsters without prejudice and helps them." Choo Young-woo shared his thoughts, saying, "I love animation, so I seized the opportunity, but I worried a lot about whether I could do well."

Moon Ga-young and Cha Eun-woo from 'True Beauty' Potentially Reunite in 'Seorabeol Life'

Moon Ga-young (문가영) and Cha Eun-woo (차은우) of tvN's 'True Beauty' (여신강림), which aired from 2020 to 2021 and became a global hit, are also reportedly considering roles in 'Seorabeol Life' (서라벌 라이프). This food-themed romance drama will be directed by Jang Tae-yoo. The fact that Moon Ga-young signed an exclusive contract with Cha Eun-woo's agency, Fantagio, last July further fuels speculation about their reunion. As Cha Eun-woo is currently serving in the military, fans are highly anticipating whether their reunion will materialize as his comeback project after his discharge.

Seo Kang-joon's Deepened Acting Philosophy Through 'A Love Other Than Yours'

Meanwhile, actor Seo Kang-joon (서강준) discussed 'A Love Other Than Yours' (남이 될 수 있을까), a realistic romance drama currently airing on KBS 2TV, in an interview with ELLE Korea. In this drama, which explores the unexpected emotional changes of a couple in a 10-year relationship, he plays Namgoong Ho, a character devoted to his long-term girlfriend, Lee Mi-do (played by Ahn Eun-jin (안은진)). Reflecting on the completion of filming, Seo Kang-joon shared, "I was quite drained trying to fully understand Namgoong Ho and Mi-do's hearts and states, and to express the emotions stemming from that. Now, I'm experiencing a kind of emptiness after pouring out all the emotions within me."

"I believe that to truly love someone, I must stand firm myself. Sacrificing myself is one way of loving, but the prerequisite is to fully protect my own life. The other person should not become the reason for my life."
— Seo Kang-joon, from his ELLE Korea interview

He added his interpretation of the Namgoong Ho character, saying, "I wanted him to appear neat, principled, and diligent, but also as an anxious person living an unstable life." Furthermore, regarding the emptiness that follows small moments of happiness, he responded, "Emptiness is a valuable opportunity that allows me to face my true self," and stated that factors making a long life meaningful include "not only positive emotions but also solitude, emptiness, and loneliness." Regarding his aspirations as an actor, he expressed, "I want to overcome the limits of expression," but also added, "At the same time, I want to have the courage to strip away expression. I want to perform in a way that conveys emotions without showing them outwardly, by taking them deeper inside." This reveals his profound contemplation on acting. Seo Kang-joon's full pictorial and interview can be found in the October issue of ELLE Korea.