SBS has released the first look at Park Min Young and Yook Sungjae in its upcoming office romance Nine to Six, and the meeting is not friendly. New stills shared on October 26, 2026, show the two leads facing off in the middle of a street, with Park’s character holding Yook’s dropped phone like evidence and quoting legal clauses at him. The drama premieres on November 25, 2026, at 9:00 PM KST on SBS, and will stream globally on Prime Video.
What Happened Previously: Two People Who Could Not Be More Different
Nine to Six follows Kang Yi-ji (Park Min Young), a deputy manager on the legal team at Chronic Motors. Yi-ji has spent her adult life proving her worth through work. She is a perfectionist who leaves no room for error, and she treats love and marriage as distractions she does not have time for. Her life is built on logic, rules, and results.
Han Sun-woo (Yook Sungjae) is the opposite. He graduated from law school but would rather design jewelry than practice law. He is warm, emotional, and led by instinct rather than calculation. An unexpected turn of events lands him on Yi-ji’s legal team as a new intern, and the two are forced to work together despite having nothing in common.
The drama is a Korean remake of the 2021 Chinese series The Rational Life, which starred Qin Lan and Dylan Wang. The original show followed a successful career woman who falls for a younger man, and the Korean version keeps that older-woman-younger-man dynamic at its center.
The Street Encounter: Phone as Hostage
The released stills capture the moment Yi-ji and Sun-woo meet for the first time. Sun-woo drops his phone in the street, and Yi-ji picks it up. Instead of handing it back, she blocks his path and demands an explanation. Her gaze is sharp, her posture is firm, and she does not move.
Yi-ji then starts reciting legal clauses at him, the same way she would handle a case at work. She holds the phone like a piece of evidence and treats Sun-woo like a suspect. The scene is designed to show exactly who Yi-ji is: a woman who applies legal logic to everyday situations and does not soften for anyone.
Sun-woo’s reaction is pure confusion. His eyes go wide, he points at himself, and he tries to explain that this is all a misunderstanding. He is no match for Yi-ji’s unyielding manner. The stills show him flustered and helpless, while Yi-ji stays completely in control.
“Kang Yi-ji blocks Han Sun-woo’s path with a sharp gaze, taking the upper hand. In particular, holding the phone that Han Sun-woo dropped as ‘hostage’ while rattling off legal clauses with a resolute demeanor, Kang Yi-ji radiates the overwhelming presence of a highly competent legal team deputy manager.” — SBS production team statement
The Cast Behind the Clash
Park Min Young returns to the office romance genre after previous roles in What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim, Her Private Life, and Forecasting Love and Weather. She is often called the “office romance queen” in Korean media, and Yi-ji is described as a character who is flawless at work but clumsy in love.
Yook Sungjae, a member of the K-pop group BTOB, plays Sun-woo. He has appeared in The Haunted Palace, The Golden Spoon, and Guardian: The Lonely and Great God. His character is described as a “sunshine intern” who brings warmth into Yi-ji’s structured life.
Go Soo joins the cast as Park Hyun-tae, an elite division head who evaluates employees only on performance. This marks Go Soo’s return to the romance genre after 15 years. Joo Hyun-young plays Shin Ji-won, Yi-ji’s best friend and dating counselor. The supporting cast includes Kim Mi-kyung, Jung Hae-kyun, Jo Bok-rae, Cha Chung-hwa, and Bae Yoo-ram.
A Love Triangle Waiting to Happen
The drama sets up a love triangle between Yi-ji, Sun-woo, and Hyun-tae. Sun-woo’s feelings for Yi-ji begin to take shape when he instinctively protects her during a dangerous situation. Hyun-tae, who believes romance only complicates life, finds his views challenged by Yi-ji’s competence and determination. Yi-ji’s carefully planned life starts to shift as both men enter it.
Nine to Six is written by Choi Ji-oh and directed by Lee Hyung-min and Oh Song-hee. Lee Hyung-min’s previous credits include Strong Girl Bong-soon, Miss Night and Day, and I’m Sorry, I Love You. Oh Song-hee directed The Escape of the Seven. The drama is produced by Studio S and Samhwa Networks.
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Release Info for Global Viewers
Nine to Six premieres on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, at 9:00 PM KST on SBS in South Korea. The drama has 12 episodes and will air on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
- USA: Streams on Prime Video starting November 25, 2026.
- UK: Available on Prime Video on the same date.
- Canada: Available on Prime Video.
- Australia: Available on Prime Video.
- India: Streams on Prime Video. The GQ India report confirmed the India streaming partner as Amazon Prime Video.
- Global: Prime Video will carry the series in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
The first stills arrived on October 26, exactly one month before the premiere. SBS has not released a full trailer yet, but the character stills for Park Min Young and Yook Sungjae were shared on October 22 and 23.
For more K-drama premieres and cast updates, keep reading VvipTimes.
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