News bites: January 29, 2026
by tccolb
Kang Hoon, Kim Hye-joon, Cha Woo-min
- A new office rom-com called Favorite Employee (roughly translated) has been slotted to air on tvN later this year, starring a fashion start-up CEO Kang Hoon (Hunter With a Scalpel) and his new hire Kim Hye-joon (Cashero). And she’s thrilled because the company’s executive director just so happens to be her K-pop idol bias Cha Woo-min (Spirit Fingers). The webtoon-adaptation has PD Park Ji-hyun directing, with scripts co-written by Lee Young and Kim Ji-ahn. [Sports Donga]
- SBS is looking further ahead to 2027, getting their spooks in order for the occult-horror Awakening (roughly translated). With Lee Jun-hyuk (Mercy for None) robed as our story’s exorcist and priest, he’ll be making his way to a haunted high school where evil spirits have spelled their doom. Joined by Oh Ye-joo (Love Your Enemy), Ryu Da-in (Pyramid Game), and Yoon Se-ah (Love Me), production is being led by PD Oh Jun-hyuk and writer Jang Yoon-mi. [SBS, Xports News]
- Ahn Eun-jin (Dynamite Kiss) is reportedly reviewing an offer for Dating Someone Else Not You (roughly translated), potentially putting her and Seo Kang-joon (Undercover High School) at a dating crossroads, more than 10 years into their relationship. Expected to broadcast on KBS, the series is still in the early stages with PD Lee Dong-yoon (Race, Sunbae Don’t Put on That Lipstick) a the helm and Yoo Su-ji writing. [Osen]
- Casting also continues for KBS’s next weekender Love Is Coming (roughly translated), which now has Ha Suk-jin (To My Beloved Thief) in talks to become a chef and restaurateur, alongside banchan (side dish) shop owner Hani (Call It Love). Slated to follow Recipe for Love in the second half of 2026, the family drama has PD Hong Seok-gu (Queen’s House, Beauty and Mr. Romantic) directing and scripts penned by Lee Kyung-hee (Chocolate). [Newsen]
- On JTBC, we check in on The Practical Guide to Love, demonstrated by Han Ji-min (Heavenly Ever After) in the latest poster and video teaser. Our heroine is determined to find true love, no matter how many blind dates it takes. But the next dilemma is choosing between suitors Park Sung-hoon (Squid Game 3) and Lee Ki-taek (Namib). Broadcasting on weekends next month, the romance tale begins on February 28. [Osen (1), (2)]
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Tags: Ahn Eun-jin, Cha Woo-min, Ha Suk-jin, Han Ji-min, Hani, Kang Hoon, Kim Hye-joon, Lee Jun-hyuk, Lee Ki-taek, news bites, Park Sung-hoon, Seo Kang-joon, Yoon Se-ah