The upcoming South Korean drama Love Phobia is bringing a fresh twist to the romance genre by putting artificial intelligence at the center of a love story. The series follows a dating app CEO who trusts AI more than people and a sensitive romance novelist who slowly breaks through her walls. With its unique premise and rising stars in the lead roles, the show has already generated buzz by selling to multiple countries before its official premiere.
Love Phobia Release Date and Time Confirmed
Love Phobia is scheduled to premiere on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 11 p.m. KST . The drama will air through U+ Mobile TV and Lifetime in South Korea, with episodes available first via U+ Mobile TV’s VOD service .
For international viewers, the drama has secured distribution deals across multiple regions. The show will be available on Viu for various Asian markets, Lemino in Japan, and through Channel K on Amazon Prime Video in India . The production company confirmed that Love Phobia has been pre-sold to 38 countries worldwide, marking strong global interest in this AI-themed romance even before its broadcast debut .
The series consists of 8 episodes, offering a compact storytelling format that focuses on the central romance and character development .
Love Phobia Cast: Who Stars in the K-Drama
The drama features a cast of rising Korean actors bringing the AI romance story to life.
Main Cast
Yeonwoo takes on the role of Yoon Bi-ah, the CEO of the AI dating application called “It’s You” . Her character carries past trauma that makes it difficult for her to spend more than an hour with people. Despite her cold exterior, Yoon Bi-ah hides deep emotional wounds. She develops the dating app with her only trusted friend, believing AI interactions are safer than real human connections .
Kim Hyun-jin stars as Han Seon-ho, a famous romance novelist who has achieved massive success with his books . Called the “idol of the romance novel world,” his character appears to have everything—looks, talent, and popularity. However, he also carries hidden pain and has not released any new work for three years for unknown reasons . His life changes when he becomes involved with Yoon Bi-ah and the “It’s You” project .
Supporting Cast
Jo Yoon-seo plays Seol Jae-hee, Yoon Bi-ah’s best friend and business partner . She handles marketing, customer relations, and technical management for the dating app, serving as a reliable and capable figure in Bi-ah’s life .
Choi Byung-chan portrays Han Baek-ho, Han Seon-ho’s fraternal twin brother and the manager at “HAN” entertainment agency . His character is described as trendy and ends up working at “It’s You” after certain events, where he finds new romance .
The drama also features Lim Ji-eun as Yang Seon-ae (Yoon Bi-ah’s mother), Lee Ji-hae as Song Ji-young, Kim Ki-nam as Kim Kyung-tae, Han Gyu-min as Kang San, Hwang Ha-jeong as Hong Ju-yeon, and Kim So-ha as Shin Yu-kyung .
Love Phobia Plot: What Makes This AI Romance Different
Love Phobia explores what happens when technology meets human emotion in the dating world. The story centers on two people with very different approaches to love and relationships.
Yoon Bi-ah runs an AI-powered dating app but personally believes love is “imperfect and inefficient” . She feels more comfortable with AI than with actual people due to past wounds. Her character represents a modern dilemma—using technology to find connection while avoiding real emotional risk.
Han Seon-ho, on the other hand, writes romance novels for a living and is described as having “100% sensitivity” . The two constantly clash when they meet because of their opposite personalities. However, their relationship shifts when Han Seon-ho discovers Yoon Bi-ah’s secret .
The drama asks a central question relevant to today’s world: “What is true love?” in an era where AI can mimic human emotions . As Yoon Bi-ah encounters someone that data and algorithms cannot predict, she must confront the reality of genuine human feelings.
Both main characters carry wounds that shape their behavior. Yoon Bi-ah cannot stay with people for more than an hour due to past trauma. Han Seon-ho has not published anything for three years. The story follows how they understand each other’s differences, face their own scars, and gradually grow together .
Production Team Behind Love Phobia
Director Wang Hye-ryeong, known for her work on “The Deal” and “Youth Blossom,” leads the production . She described Love Phobia as an “experiment and challenge,” noting that the appeal of using AI and science fiction elements within a romantic comedy format fascinated her .
Writer Lee Se-ryeong, who previously worked on “Love Broken” and “Summer, Please,” handles the script . She focused on how love evolves with changing times. “As times change, the forms of love are also diversifying. This work began with the question, ‘What will love look like in the future?’” she explained .
The production company WEMAD is behind the series .
Also Read:
Love Phobia Teaser and Early Buzz
A teaser released ahead of the premiere shows Han Seon-ho enjoying his peaceful life as a successful writer until Yoon Bi-ah enters the picture . A romance rumor between them puts him in an awkward position. The teaser captures their tension, with Yoon Bi-ah saying, “You held my hand,” while Han Seon-ho firmly states, “I would never get involved with that woman again, even if I died” .
Despite his resistance, Yoon Bi-ah keeps appearing in his life. The teaser also shows Han Seon-ho witnessing her in distress, which shifts their relationship beyond simple misunderstandings. His attention gradually turns to concern, asking others, “Doesn’t anyone know there’s a problem?” and following her to ask, “Where are you going?” .
Director Wang Hye-ryeong praised the lead actors’ performances. “Yeon Woo is an actress who can authentically portray the character Yoon Bi-a with eyes that coexist with strength and emptiness. Kim Hyun-jin is an actor who can simultaneously embody the romance and cynicism of Han Seon-ho through clear emotional expressions,” she said .
Writer Lee Se-ryeong highlighted how different characters approach love as a key point for viewers to watch. “The three characters—Yoon Bi-a, Han Seon-ho, and Seol Jae-hee—have distinctly different ways of accepting love. I hope viewers will watch how these differences ultimately lead to results,” she added .
Stay with VvipTimes for more updates on the latest Korean drama releases and streaming news.
