Jung Yong Hwa is back on the small screen after three years, and his new role comes with two very unusual traits. The CNBLUE vocalist plays Uhm Tae Bong, a top Hallyu actor famous for romance dramas who has one strict rule: he never films kissing scenes. He also has a weakness that is hard to believe for a real-life singer—he is tone-deaf.
The new Lifetime drama Oh! My Guard (Korean title: Mitdo Kkeutdo Eopsi Neoda) premieres on October 24, 2026, at 10:50 p.m. KST. The production team released an interview with Jung Yong Hwa on October 12, 2026, where he shared details about the character and the challenges of playing someone so different from himself.
Why Jung Yong Hwa Chose This Drama
Jung Yong Hwa last appeared in a drama with Brain Works in 2023. Explaining why he picked this project for his comeback, he said the story’s central idea felt fresh and fun.
“The idea of spending time with an artist you love and even personally protecting them was interesting. As I read the script, I naturally found myself looking forward to what would happen next.”
The drama follows Uhm Tae Bong, an A-list actor with a secret he cannot share with anyone. His life takes a strange turn when he meets Oh Hae Ra (played by Hong Seung Hee), a woman who believes she is Cha Hong Doo, the female lead in one of his dramas.
The No-Kissing Rule And A Surprising Weakness
Uhm Tae Bong is known as a “romance expert” because of his many romantic roles. But he refuses to film kissing scenes, and the reason behind this rule is a mystery he keeps hidden. On top of that, the character is tone-deaf—a sharp contrast to Jung Yong Hwa, who is the main vocalist of CNBLUE.
Jung Yong Hwa said he was drawn to these unusual sides of the character.
“The premise itself was so fresh. Even I found myself reading the script and wondering, ‘What makes this character so charming?’”
He also found some parts of Uhm Tae Bong that felt close to his own life.
“Uhm Tae Bong is very professional about his work. He gives his all when he’s working, but when he gets home, he’s left all alone. I found that part of him similar to me.”
Acting In Love Without Physical Contact
To make a romance work without kissing scenes, Jung Yong Hwa said he focused on small details. He paid attention to his gaze, his tone of voice, and the moments when the characters look at each other. He wanted the emotions to flow naturally from one scene to the next.
The hardest scene for him was not a romantic moment but a singing one. Uhm Tae Bong has to sing IU‘s song “Good Day” while sounding completely off-key.
“I had to deliberately sing off-key, and it was harder than I expected.”
Cast And Production Team
Oh! My Guard brings together a mix of familiar and rising talents. Hong Seung Hee plays Oh Hae Ra, a reclusive chaebol heiress who is a longtime fan of Uhm Tae Bong. After an accident, she loses her memory and becomes convinced she is Cha Hong Doo, the brave bodyguard character from one of his dramas.
Park Yoo Na plays Song Na Ri, an idol-turned-actress who develops feelings for Uhm Tae Bong after working with him on several projects. Lee Yi Kyung and Han Chae Ah also star in supporting roles.
The drama is directed by Yoon Jong Ho, who led the hit series Lovely Runner, and Lee Seung Hoon of Doctor Shin. The script is written by Byun Sang Soon, who wrote Two Cops.
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Where And When To Watch
Oh! My Guard is a 16-episode romantic comedy series. It premieres on October 24, 2026, at 10:50 p.m. KST on Lifetime Korea. New episodes will air on Saturdays and Sundays.
For global viewers, the drama will be available on the streaming platform Viu in selected regions. The series has been licensed for release in 83 countries, including through Viu across Asia. In South Korea, it will also stream on TVING and LG Channels. Japanese viewers can watch it through the local platform ACROSS. A+E Global Media is handling global distribution.
The first teaser for the drama showed a scene from “The Prince’s Bodyguard,” a drama-within-a-drama starring Uhm Tae Bong. It also introduced Oh Hae Ra as a passionate fan who has only ever seen her favorite star on television. A later teaser revealed how Oh Hae Ra’s accident leads her to believe she is Cha Hong Doo, a character skilled in combat, and how she starts following Uhm Tae Bong around to protect him.
Stay tuned to VvipTimes for more K-drama casting news and premiere updates.
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