Rising actors Kim Kang Jae and Ji Min Seo have been confirmed as the leads of the globally popular BL webtoon, Painter of the Night.
Actors Kim Kang Jae (left) and Ji Min Seo (right) | Ilgan Sports
According to industry sources on April 7, 2026 (KST), the two actors were selected as the main characters in the short-form K-Drama adaptation. Kim Kang Jae will play Yoon Seung Ho, while Ji Min Seo takes on the role of Baek Na Kyum.
Lord Yoon Seung Ho in “Painter of the Night” | Lehzin Comics Painter Baek Na Kyum in “Painter of the Night” | Lehzin Comics
When it was first announced that Painter of the Night would be made into a series, the backlash grew intense.
Globally Popular 19+ BL Webtoon To Be Made Into A Series, Already Faces Heated Backlash
That said, the two actors being cast in the roles of Na Kyum and Seung Ho have added another layer of discussion to the already heated conversation.
| theqoo
- But who are they?
- Are we sure they’re not just supporting actors?
- I can’t even tell who’s going to be who.
- Wow, I thought one of them was Park Seo Ham.
- I think they’ll be okay, actually.
- That Ji Min Seo guy kind of gives Ji Hwa, the character who likes Yoon Seung Ho.
- I think it’ll be fine.
- It’s not that they’re unattractive, it’s just that both of them feel really different from the original characters. Same with Seung Ho, but Ji Min Seo especially doesn’t give Baek Na Kyum vibes at all. He kind of feels more like a strong supporting character who likes Seung Ho lol. Oh, wait, now that I think about it, he actually fits Ji Hwa perfectly lol.
- …?
- Ugh… How is this even going to work…?
- Kim Kang Jae is 189cm tall.
Born in 1997, Kim Kang Jae previously appeared in the web drama Long And Short and in the music video for AKMU’s “Peace of Cake,” gaining recognition for his performances. Ji Min Seo, born in 1996, debuted in the 2025 BL web drama Something Went Wrong and is set to take on the BL genre once again through Painter of the Night.
The project will be directed by Choi Ji Young, known for works such as the tvN series, The Divorce Insurance, and will be released via the short-form drama platform Lezhin Snack.
Watch the music video for “Night Flower,” a soundtrack for the webtoon by Ahn Ye Eun, here:
Source: Ilgan Sports and theqoo