MBC’s upcoming Friday–Saturday romance drama, In Your Brilliant Season (working title), is generating excitement with its pairing of Lee Sung Kyung and Chae Jong Hyeop as leads.
On September 25, MBC confirmed the casting and announced that the drama is slated to air in the first half of next year. Some rumors suggest that In Your Brilliant Season will have a total of 12 episodes and air from January 30 to March 6.
Story & Creative Team
The drama is being produced by Pan Entertainment, directed by Jung Sang Hee and Kim Young Jae, and written by Jo Sung Hee. Jo Sung Hee is already known for her romantic works like Thirty But Seventeen, She Was Pretty, and High School King of Savvy.
The premise hinges on a contrast of emotional states: the male lead, Sunwoo Chan, lives each day with the brightness of summer, while the female lead, Ha Ran, has shut herself into a “winter” of grief and pain.
Cast & Characters
- Lee Sung Kyung takes on the role of Song Ha Ran, the head designer at the high-end fashion house “Nana Atelier.” On the surface, Ha Ran appears composed and impeccable, but behind that image lies deep emotional trauma from losing those she loved.
- Chae Jong Hyeop is cast as Sunwoo Chan, a character designer at a world-renowned animation studio. Despite his sunny, friendly mask, he carries painful wounds from a mysterious accident in his past.
This pairing draws interest because both actors have solid resumes in romantic dramas and are capable of conveying layered emotional depth. Lee Sung Kyung’s past works (e.g. Say It’s Love, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo, Dr. Romantic) have earned her recognition as a versatile romantic lead. Chae Jong Hyeop, meanwhile, has shown range in projects such as Serendipity’s Embrace (as Kang Hoo-yeong) and Castaway Diva.
Casting Changes & Rumors
In Your Brilliant Season was first announced in September 2023 and has now been officially finalized almost two years later. One prominent casting rumor earlier in development involved Seo In Guk.
In previous reporting, Seo In Guk was considered for the male lead opposite Lee Sung Kyung, but later news confirmed Chae Jong Hyeop stepping into the role instead. Some fans speculated about multiple actors being offered the role, though it seems the offers or negotiations did not lead to a finalized casting with Seo.
As of current public reporting, there’s no confirmation of major actors leaving the project after joining, nor of recasting beyond the Seo In Guk speculation. The latest confirms are Lee Sung Kyung and Chae Jong Hyeop as the leads.
Meanwhile, In Your Brilliant Season remains in active production, with its first-half 2026 airing goal. Updates on script readings, teasers, and additional casting should appear in the coming months.
