Cover These TV shows with Chae Jong-hyeop trace the actor’s career through campus romance, sci-fi thrillers and workplace dramas (Photo: IMDb)
These TV shows with Chae Jong-hyeop trace the actor’s career through campus romance, sci-fi thrillers and workplace dramas (Photo: IMDb)
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A guide to the most notable TV shows with Chae Jong-hyeop, from early supporting roles to recent romantic leads in K-dramas
South Korean actor Chae Jong-hyeop has built a steady television career across romance, fantasy and sports dramas. Since his early supporting appearances in Korean series, he has moved into lead roles while maintaining a consistent screen presence in ensemble casts. His work spans campus romance, speculative science fiction, workplace thrillers and musical melodrama.
The range of TV shows with Chae Jong-hyeop illustrates how Korean television frequently blends genres and emotional tones within the same series. One year he appears as a supporting character in a high-concept sci-fi drama, the next he leads a romantic sports story or a mystery built around technology. The actor’s career has followed the broader trajectory of modern K-drama, which often combines traditional romance narratives with fantasy devices or industry-specific settings such as sports teams or entertainment companies.
Below is a closer look at nine TV shows with Chae Jong-hyeop, from his early role in a baseball drama to his recent lead performances.
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1. ‘In Your Radiant Season’ (2026)
Above A reunion years after tragedy brings two former acquaintances back into each other’s lives as they confront grief, memory and unfinished feelings
In Your Radiant Season is a romance drama that centres on two people reconnecting years after a life-altering tragedy. The series stars Lee Sung-kyung as Song Ha-ran, a fashion designer who has withdrawn emotionally after a series of personal losses. Chae Jong-hyeop plays Sunwoo Chan, an animator who survived a catastrophic laboratory explosion years earlier and returns to Seoul with lingering injuries and fragmented memories.
The story unfolds when Chan collaborates with Ha-ran’s fashion company on a creative project. Their reunion slowly exposes the shared history that shaped both characters, with the narrative structured around emotional contrasts between grief and recovery. The series premiered in February 2026 on MBC and is also available through streaming platforms in several regions.
Among recent TV shows with Chae Jong-hyeop, this drama places him firmly in a romantic lead role, anchoring a narrative built on memory, trauma and second chances.
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2. ‘Serendipity’s Embrace’ (2024)
Above Two former first loves meet again years after a painful breakup, forcing them to revisit the past and reconsider what might still be possible
Serendipity’s Embrace is a contemporary romance centred on the idea of reconnecting with a first love years after a painful separation. Chae Jong-hyeop plays Kang Hoo-yeong, a financial planner whose life changes when he unexpectedly meets Lee Hong-joo, portrayed by Kim So-hyun.
Hong-joo works as an animation producer and has avoided romantic relationships following a difficult breakup. The drama explores the consequences of unresolved feelings when former partners meet again in adulthood. Supporting characters, including Hong-joo’s former boyfriend and her closest friend, complicate the emotional landscape as the series moves between past and present.
The show continues the pattern seen in many TV shows with Chae Jong-hyeop, where romantic narratives intersect with professional settings such as creative industries.
3. ‘Castaway Diva’ (2023)
Above A woman rescued after years stranded on an island pursues her dream of becoming a singer, with a television producer helping her navigate life back in society
Castaway Diva blends music, survival drama and identity mystery. The story follows a woman who becomes stranded on an island as a teenager and is later discovered years later, still pursuing her dream of becoming a singer.
Chae Jong-hyeop plays Kang Bo-geol, a television producer who becomes involved in the protagonist’s re-entry into society and the entertainment industry. His character also holds secrets linked to the woman’s past and to events that unfolded before her disappearance. The series shifts between survival flashbacks and contemporary media industry storylines. Within the broader list of TV shows with Chae Jong-hyeop, it stands out for mixing musical ambition with long-buried personal histories.
4. ‘Unlock My Boss’ (2022-2023)
Above An unemployed actor discovers a smartphone containing the consciousness of a murdered CEO and becomes the unlikely head of the company while searching for the culprit
Unlock My Boss combines workplace comedy with a speculative thriller premise. Chae Jong-hyeop plays Park In-seong, an unemployed actor struggling to find work. His life changes when he discovers a smartphone containing the consciousness of an IT company CEO who has been attacked.
With the CEO guiding him through the device, In-seong becomes the interim head of the company while investigating the crime that led to the executive’s condition. The series merges corporate intrigue, technology satire and crime investigation into a single narrative.
5. ‘Love All Play’ (2022)
Above Set in the professional badminton world, the series follows two athletes balancing competitive pressure, personal setbacks and an evolving romance
Love All Play is a sports romance set in the competitive world of professional badminton. Chae Jong-hyeop stars as Park Tae-joon, a player who approaches the sport pragmatically rather than with intense ambition.
The drama follows Tae-joon and teammate Park Tae-yang, a once-promising athlete returning to the sport after a mysterious three-year absence. Their partnership on the Eunice badminton team gradually develops into a romantic relationship as they navigate tournament pressure, team politics and personal setbacks.
6. ‘The Witcher’s Diner’ (2021)
Above A mysterious restaurant run by a witch grants customers their deepest wishes through enchanted meals, each request carrying a hidden cost
The Witch's Diner introduces a supernatural premise centred on a mysterious restaurant run by a witch who grants wishes through magical dishes. Customers receive their desires but must surrender something precious in return.
Chae Jong-hyeop plays Lee Gil-yong, a high-school student who works part-time at the diner while hiding his own personal struggles. As the story unfolds, the restaurant becomes a meeting point for people seeking revenge, redemption or escape from difficult circumstances.
7. ‘Nevertheless,’ (2021)
Above Art students navigate complicated relationships and uncertain commitments in a campus drama about attraction, independence and modern dating
Nevertheless, is a university romance that examines complicated relationships among art students. Chae Jong-hyeop appears as Yang Do-hyeok, the childhood friend of protagonist Yoo Na-bi, played by Han So-hee.
Do-hyeok represents a more stable alternative to Na-bi’s turbulent relationship with fellow student Park Jae-eon, portrayed by Song Kang. Through its characters, the series explores modern dating, uncertainty about commitment and the emotional ambiguity of casual relationships.
8. ‘Sisyphus: The Myth’ (2021)
Above A genius engineer uncovers a dangerous conspiracy involving time travel and secret organisations that threatens the future of humanity
Sisyphus: The Myth is a science fiction thriller built around time travel and dystopian conspiracies. The drama follows a genius engineer attempting to uncover the truth behind mysterious events that threaten the future of humanity.
Chae Jong-hyeop appears as Sun, also known as Choi Jae-sun, a character connected to the unfolding mystery. The series mixes high-concept science fiction with action sequences and political intrigue, positioning its characters in a narrative about alternate timelines and secret organisations.
9. ‘Stove League’ (2019-2020)
Above A struggling professional baseball team attempts a full rebuild during the off-season under the leadership of a newly appointed general manager
Stove League is a sports drama that focuses on the management of a struggling professional baseball team rather than the games themselves. The story follows a newly appointed general manager attempting to rebuild the franchise during the off-season.
Chae Jong-hyeop appears as Yoo Min-ho, a young pitcher within the organisation. Though a supporting role, the series became a notable early project in his career and helped introduce him to a wider television audience.
Across these series, the actor’s roles move between supporting characters and central leads while covering a wide range of genres. From baseball club management in Stove League to fantasy storytelling in The Witch’s Diner and technology-driven mysteries in Unlock My Boss, the list of TV shows with Chae Jong-hyeop demonstrates how contemporary Korean dramas often combine romance with unusual narrative frameworks.
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Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
