Fresh off his global triumph in Squid Game, Lee Jung Jae is set to make his highly anticipated return to television with tvN’s upcoming romance drama Annoying Love, marking his first drama role in six years since Chief of Staff in 2019. The series, scheduled to air in the second half of this year, will follow the story of a disillusioned actor and a disgraced journalist as they navigate personal growth and unexpected romance.
Lee takes on the role of Im Hyun Joon, a detective-role specialist dreaming of reinventing himself as a romantic lead, opposite Lim Ji Yeon’s Wi Jung Shin, a political journalist reassigned to the entertainment beat. The pairing has already sparked discussion, particularly due to their 18-year age gap—Lee, born in 1972, and Lim, born in 1990, are both under the same agency, raising questions about their on-screen chemistry.
Since Squid Game‘s explosive debut in 2021, Lee has become a household name worldwide, earning an Emmy for his portrayal of Seong Gi Hun—a role he will reprise in the show’s third season in 2025. Now, all eyes are on his shift to romance, a genre he hasn’t explored in years. In a recent interview, he addressed the pressure of following up such a monumental success, saying, *”Actors can’t just chase hits. I’ve had both successes and failures in my career, and what matters is staying focused on the work. With *Annoying Love, I’m thinking deeply about how to make it truly enjoyable.”
As anticipation builds, viewers are eager to see whether the duo’s dynamic will overcome initial skepticism—and whether Lee’s venture into melodrama will prove as captivating as his survival-game intensity.
Hye Rin Choi is a writer and entrepreneur from Seoul, South Korea. She breathes Korean culture and history. She’s passionate and committed to helping people learn more about her fascinating country.