Iseop’s Romance has lost both of its announced leads. Choi Yoon Ji will no longer appear in the upcoming tvN drama, her agency PEACE confirmed on September 11, 2026, just over a week after Lee Jong Suk walked away from the project. The production team is now back to square one, searching for a new male and female lead for the office romance series set to premiere in 2027.
What Happened With Choi Yoon Ji
Choi Yoon Ji was confirmed as the female lead Kang Min Gyeong in early August 2026. The news brought excitement among fans who had been waiting to see her opposite Lee Jong Suk in a full-length romance drama. That excitement lasted roughly a month.
On September 11, News1 first reported that Choi would not be joining the production. A tvN representative quickly confirmed the news, stating that scheduling issues were the reason. Her agency PEACE released a statement explaining the situation:
“It became difficult to coordinate the actress’s previously scheduled activities with the production schedule for ‘Iseop’s Romance.’ After discussing the matter with the production team, we decided that she would not be participating in the project.”
Choi had been reviewing the role of Kang Min Gyeong, the sharp and capable new employee at TK Group who outperforms everyone around her, including the male lead. She ultimately did not formally join the cast.
Lee Jong Suk Left First
Lee Jong Suk‘s departure was announced on September 3, 2026, by his agency ACE FACTORY. The actor had been involved with Iseop’s Romance since its early planning stages, but delays in production and filming schedules made it impossible to align with his other commitments. His agency released a statement at the time:
“As the production and filming schedules were adjusted from the original timeline, it became difficult to coordinate them with his upcoming commitments. After thorough discussions with the production team, we have ultimately agreed that Lee Jong Suk will not be participating in this project.”
Lee was set to play Tae I Seop, a third-generation chaebol heir who is perfect at everything except love. His exit marked a significant blow for a drama that had been building buzz since its initial casting announcements in February 2026.
About the Drama
Iseop’s Romance is based on a popular web novel by author Kim Eun Hee. The story follows the workplace romance between Tae I Seop, the heir to TK Group, and Kang Min Gyeong, a fellow new employee whose work performance rivals his own. It is described as a chaotic office romance where two competitive colleagues gradually develop feelings for each other.
The drama is directed by Jo Hyeon Tak and was planned for 8 episodes, airing on tvN on Saturdays and Sundays at 21:10 KST. Production was scheduled to begin in 2026 with a premiere window in 2027.
A connected project, A Nonchalant Lie (also known as Calm Lies), shares the same universe. It stars Lee Jun Hyuk as Tae Jun Seop, the maternal grandson of TK Group‘s chairman and a cousin to Tae I Seop. That drama is proceeding as planned, though Gong Seung Yeon was in talks for the female lead.
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Recasting Both Leads
With Choi Yoon Ji’s exit, Iseop’s Romance now has no confirmed leads. The production team is actively rebuilding its casting lineup. Both the male and female lead roles need to be filled before filming can move forward.
Choi Yoon Ji’s next confirmed project is Moving Season 2 on Disney+. She joins the cast alongside returning stars and new additions including Sul Kyung Gu, Lee Hee Joon, Ryu Hye Young, and Roh Yoon Seo. The Moving 2 team held its first script reading in May 2026 and has begun filming.
Iseop’s Romance remains scheduled for a 2027 broadcast on tvN, though a specific premiere date has not been announced. The drama will air in South Korea on tvN and is expected to be available on streaming platforms for global audiences, with Viki and Netflix among the likely destinations based on tvN‘s typical distribution partners.
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