Byeon Woo Seok has quickly risen to the top tier of South Korea’s acting scene after his breakout role in tvN’s hit drama Lovely Runner last year. His portrayal of Ryu Sun Jae, a beloved idol entangled in a time-slip romance, earned him not only critical praise but also global fame.
Byeon is heading into one of the busiest years of his career, with several new projects already confirmed. He’ll be taking on a wide range of roles, from a royal prince in a romance drama and the lead in a fantasy adaptation to a lighter turn in a variety show. Below is a closer look at what fans can expect from Byeon Woo Seok in 2025 and beyond.
Wife of a 21st Century Prince
One of Byeon’s most highly anticipated projects is the MBC drama Wife of a 21st Century Prince, where he stars opposite IU, one of Korea’s most celebrated singer-actresses.
The drama unfolds in an alternate reality where South Korea operates as a constitutional monarchy. Byeon Woo Seok plays Prince Lee Ahn, the king’s second son, who outwardly enjoys royal privilege but struggles with inner emptiness and a lack of purpose. IU portrays Sung Hee Joo, a powerful chaebol heiress admired for her influence and wealth.
Their worlds collide in a contract marriage that begins as a calculated arrangement but slowly develops into an emotionally charged romance.
Also starring Steve Noh and Gong Seung Yeon, the drama is helmed by director Park Joon Hwa, known for successful romantic titles such as What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim and Because This Is My First Life.
MBC’s Wife of a 21st Century Prince is slated to premiere in April next year, airing every Friday and Saturday.
Solo Leveling Live-Action
In a complete shift of genre, Byeon Woo Seok will also step into the fantasy-action world as the lead of Netflix’s live-action Solo Leveling, adapted from the globally popular webtoon and anime.
The 33-year-old actor takes on the role of Sung Jinwoo, a weak E-rank hunter who is mocked for being the “weakest of them all.” His life changes after a near-fatal dungeon raid, where he gains the ability to level up endlessly, eventually rising to become the most powerful hunter in existence.
The live-action series is one of Netflix’s most ambitious Korean projects to date. No doubt, the story’s heavy reliance on action and visual effects will demand extensive stunt work and world-class CGI to bring the webtoon’s monsters and dungeons to life.
The cast is also rumored to include Han So Hee as Cha Hae In, a skilled S-rank hunter who develops a close bond with Jinwoo.
While the official release date has not been announced, filming is expected to begin late 2025 or early next year. Given the scale of production, especially with VFX, fans anticipate a global premiere on Netflix in 2027.
Yoo Jae Suk’s ‘Jae Suk’s B&B’
Adding another layer to his career, Byeon Woo Seok is confirmed to join the Netflix variety program Jae Seok’s B&B.
The show is hosted by Yoo Jae Suk, where the veteran entertainer will run a guesthouse for the first time in his 30-year career. He will be joined by Lee Kwang Soo, known for his long-standing comedic partnership with Yoo on Running Man, and Byeon Woo Seok, who will step into the variety world as part of the guesthouse staff.
Directed by Jung Hyo Min, who previously created the hit reality show Hyori’s Homestay, the program aims to capture warm, everyday interactions between hosts and guests. For Byeon, this marks his first full-scale variety show participation.
Filming is scheduled to begin in late 2025, with a release expected in early 2026.
