‘Lovely Runner’ stars return with new partners and fresh romances
Byeon Woo-seok, left, and Kim Hye-yoon / Xportsnews
Two years after the hit youth romance drama “Lovely Runner” wrapped up, its breakout stars are finally returning to television — this time with new costars and very different love stories.
“Lovely Runner,” which aired on tvN in the first half of 2024, became a surprise sensation and firmly established Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon as leading figures of the next-generation K-drama scene. Both actors were widely praised for delivering what fans called their “career-defining roles,” but their next projects were slow to materialize, fueling impatience among viewers.
That wait is now over.
A scene from "Lovely Runner" / Courtesy of tvN
Kim is returning to the small screen with SBS’ new Friday-Saturday drama “No Tail to Tell.” In the series, she stars opposite Lomon (Park Solomon), exploring a new romance that contrasts sharply with her previous role.
At a production presentation, Kim said she was eager to show a different side of herself. “This character has a completely different charm from Sol in ‘Lovely Runner,’ and I thought that contrast could be interesting,” she said. “We filmed continuously for about a year, so I’ve really been waiting for today.”
For Kim, the drama marks her first television comeback in about a year and eight months since “Lovely Runner” ended.
Kim Hye-yoon, left, with Lomon / Xportsnews
Meanwhile, Byeon is set to return in April with MBC’s highly anticipated romance drama “Perfect Crown,” costarring IU.
The series is set in a fictional 21st century South Korea that operates under a constitutional monarchy — a premise that has already generated buzz online. IU plays Seong Hee-joo, a wealthy conglomerate heiress frustrated by her commoner status, while Byeon portrays Prince Ian, the king’s son who holds royal blood but little real power. Their romance unfolds as a story of fate, social barriers and personal choice.
A scene from "Perfect Crown" / Courtesy of MBC
Expectations for the drama are particularly high, as the script was selected as the winner of MBC’s drama screenplay contest, earning strong backing even before casting was announced.
“Lovely Runner” was widely credited with igniting a youth romance boom during its run, and Kim and Byeon were at the center of that phenomenon. Their return to the genre — albeit in separate projects, and with new partners — has become a major talking point among fans, who are watching closely to see whether either actor can recreate the so-called “Lovely Runner syndrome.”
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.