Chae Jong-hyeop Returns to TV with 'The Season of Your Brilliance' After Two Years

Chae Jong-hyeop, born in 1993, has expressed his excitement about returning to the small screen after two years. Previously, he gained immense popularity in Japan for his role as 'Yoon Tae-oh' in the 2024 TBS drama 'Eye Love You', earning the affectionate nickname 'Hyop-sama' among local fans.

On the afternoon of the 19th, a press conference for MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama 'The Season of Your Brilliance' was held at the MBC headquarters in Sangam, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Hosted by MC Park Kyung-lim, the event was attended by director Jung Sang-hee, actors Lee Sung-kyung, Chae Jong-hyeop, Lee Mi-sook, Kang Seok-woo, Han Ji-hyun, and Oh Ye-joo, who shared insights about the production.

'The Season of Your Brilliance' is an unpredictable romance that follows 'Chan', a man who lives every day like summer vacation, and 'Ran', a woman who has confined herself to winter. Their fateful meeting sets time in motion once again.

In the drama, Chae Jong-hyeop plays Sun Woo-chan, an animator at Can Animation Studio. Sun Woo-chan is a 'born-to-be happy man' with a bright and positive energy, but he carries deep wounds within. His unexpected reunion with Song Ha-ran (played by Lee Sung-kyung) after seven years leads him to confront unforeseen secrets, marking a turning point in his life.

Returning to Korean drama after about two years since tvN's 'Is It a Coincidence?' in 2024, Chae stated, "It's been quite a while since I've acted in Korea," and added, "I feel like I'm debuting again." He continued, "I am working hard to capture every small detail on set, approaching each shoot with determination."

Chae Jong-hyeop remarked, "I didn't think of it as a romance, but as a growth story. I saw Sun Woo-chan as a character trapped in winter, not someone who escapes it through love, but through someone's help, he remembers the process of being in spring. I wanted Song Ha-ran to experience that, not because I loved her from the start, but because I had experienced it myself and wanted to share it."

He further explained, "Everyone carries wounds, and if we express those wounds and pains as winter, doesn't everyone have at least one? I believe wounds are something we cover and endure rather than completely heal. I saw Sun Woo-chan as such a character. So, while he is portrayed as a man like summer vacation, he is actually continuously influenced by Song Ha-ran."

'The Season of Your Brilliance' premieres on MBC at 9:50 PM on the 20th.

Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr