The popular webtoon My Reason to Die is officially making the jump to live-action, with rising star Lee Chae-min confirmed to play the male lead. The announcement has generated significant buzz among fans of the original romance-fantasy story, which built a strong following for its emotional time-loop narrative.
According to Korean entertainment media outlet YTN Star, Lee Chae-min has officially signed on to star in the adaptation, marking one of his most high-profile projects since his breakthrough performances last year . The actor, who gained widespread recognition for his roles in Crushology 101 and the hit historical drama Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, will portray the mysterious character Cha Gyeol .
Lee Chae-min’s agency VARO Entertainment previously confirmed in mid-February 2026 that the actor had received a casting offer and was reviewing it positively . That confirmation has now evolved into a finalized deal, with multiple sources verifying his attachment to the project .
The 25-year-old actor continues his impressive career trajectory, having recently won the Best New Actor award at the 11th APAN Star Awards for his performances in both Bon Appétit, Your Majesty and Crushology 101 . He was also named a visionary at the CJ ENM Visionary Awards in February 2026, recognizing his growing influence in the entertainment industry .
What Is My Reason to Die About? Webtoon Story and Plot Details
My Reason to Die began as a highly popular webtoon created by YUJU, available on the WEBTOON platform . The story combines romance with fantasy elements, centered around a time regression concept that keeps readers engaged across multiple timelines.
The official webtoon description reads:
Ji-o’s luck runs out when she gets injured before the tryouts for the national taekwondo team. In the middle of facing what seems to be the biggest crisis of her life, she meets Gyeol, a mysterious boy who changes her life forever. He’s the definition of a bad boy with a good heart, and she finds herself unable to resist his charms. However, she might be playing with fire as he’s someone who’s involved with the wrong crowd. Is falling for Gyeol worth the risk?
The narrative follows Ji-o, a high school senior and dedicated taekwondo athlete preparing for national team trials. Her world shifts dramatically when an injury derails her plans, leading her to cross paths with Cha Gyeol, a boy with a mysterious reputation .
What makes the story unique is its time regression element. Unknown to Ji-o at first, Gyeol has already lived through multiple versions of their story. Each time Ji-o dies in a previous timeline, Gyeol is sent back to the day they first met. With every regression, he attempts to alter events to prevent her death, though his earlier efforts have all failed .
The timeline readers follow in the webtoon represents Gyeol’s latest attempt to change her fate. While Gyeol retains full awareness of their past lives together, Ji-o begins experiencing fragmented dreams and flashes that don’t match her present reality. These visions gradually intensify, appearing both during sleep and while awake, suggesting her subconscious is starting to recover memories from earlier timelines .
A major turning point occurs when Ji-o is struck by a car. Gyeol believes this to be the moment she usually dies. Instead, she survives but remains unconscious in the hospital. During this period, she relives her past lives in dreams and finally understands that time has been repeating. When she wakes and sees Gyeol, she reveals she remembers everything and realizes he has known the truth all along .
Cast and Production Team Behind the Live-Action Series
Lee Chae-min takes on the role of Cha Gyeol, the enigmatic male lead whose character drives the time-loop narrative. The actor has demonstrated his range across various genres since his debut in 2021 with tvN’s High Class . His recent filmography includes Crash Course in Romance, See You In My 19th Life, Hierarchy, and the 2025 hits Bon Appétit, Your Majesty and Cashero .
The drama will be directed by Kim Hee-won, known for his work on major hits including Queen of Tears, Vincenzo, and Little Women . This collaboration between the acclaimed director and the rising star has industry watchers taking notice. Kim Hee-won’s refined direction style, demonstrated in his previous projects, brings expectations for a visually compelling adaptation.
Kim Sol-ji will write the script, with previous credits including Cheonlima Mart and Love to the Death of Death . Studio Dragon handles production, bringing their experience with high-quality K-drama productions to the project .
The female lead casting for Ji-o remains unannounced as of late February 2026. Online discussions among webtoon readers have mentioned potential actresses such as Kim So-hyun and Roh Yoon-seo, though no official casting has been confirmed for the role .
Fan Reactions to Lee Chae-min Casting and Genre Discussions
The adaptation announcement sparked immediate reactions across social media and fan communities, particularly regarding how the drama will be positioned genre-wise.
Initial media reports from some outlets described My Reason to Die as a romantic comedy, which led to confusion among readers familiar with the source material . Fans of the original webtoon quickly pointed out that the story carries a much heavier emotional tone than typical romantic comedies.
One fan commented online:
“Its not romantic comedy. And leechaemin is more suitable for this role than anyone. Lets wait for female cast.”
Readers continued emphasizing that labeling the drama as a romantic comedy would misrepresent its tone, as the story aligns more closely with a romance tragedy or fantasy romance with intense emotional stakes .
Despite the genre confusion, reactions to Lee Chae-min’s casting have been largely positive. Many fans noted that the actor’s visual appearance matches the webtoon’s depiction of Cha Gyeol well. His tall stature and sharp yet expressive features align with how readers imagined the mysterious male lead .
Supporters believe Lee Chae-min can effectively portray the layered nature of Cha Gyeol, a character who carries the weight of multiple failed timelines while maintaining an exterior of mysterious charm. The role requires balancing emotional depth with the enigmatic qualities that make the character compelling.
Some netizens expressed that the actor is a strong fit for the male lead, noting his presence matches the character well . The character of Cha Gyeol presents an opportunity for Lee Chae-min to showcase a more nuanced and darker side of his acting range compared to his previous youth-oriented roles .
Lee Chae-min Career Highlights and Upcoming Projects
Lee Chae-min has experienced remarkable career growth since his debut. His breakthrough came with the historical drama Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, which aired from August to September 2025 . Despite being cast just ten days before filming began, he fully committed to the role of King Lee Heon, a tyrant with an absolute sense of taste who falls in love with a time-traveling Michelin chef.
For the role, Lee learned horseback riding, archery, swordplay, and even performed a traditional dance sequence, doing most of his stunts himself . His dedication paid off as the drama started with modest ratings of 4.9 percent and climbed to 17.1 percent by the finale, becoming tvN’s highest-rated drama of 2025 . On Netflix, it ranked first in the non-English TV category for two consecutive weeks and remained in the global top 10 for ten weeks .
His performance earned him the Best New Male Actor Award at the 11th APAN Star Awards, along with the same honor at the MBC Drama Awards for his role in Crushology 101 .
Industry reports indicate Lee currently has over 30 scripts under consideration for future projects, demonstrating his strong market position following his recent successes . Producers reportedly view him as an actor who combines star appeal with solid acting skills .
Beyond My Reason to Die, Lee has several projects lined up for 2026. He has completed filming for his first leading role in a feature film titled Everyday, We, which also features the late Kim Sae-ron . He will appear in a Netflix variety program, Take a Hike, alongside Car, the Garden, Dowoon, and Tarzzan .
Lee Chae-min is also set to star alongside Kim Hye Yoon in the Korean adaptation of The Miracles of the Namiya General Store, based on the beloved novel by Keigo Higashino .
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Production Status and What Viewers Should Know
My Reason to Die is currently in pre-production with casting underway for remaining roles. Studio Dragon leads the production, bringing their reputation for high-quality K-drama adaptations to the project .
Release timing and streaming platform details have not yet been announced . The broadcast network also remains unconfirmed, though tvN has been mentioned in connection with the project .
Fans interested in experiencing the original story before the drama airs can read the official English version of the webtoon on the WEBTOON platform . The source material provides the full time-loop romance narrative that will serve as foundation for the live-action adaptation.
For international viewers, streaming details will likely emerge closer to the release date, with platforms like Netflix, Viki, or Viu typically acquiring rights for major K-drama productions.
The combination of a beloved webtoon source material, a rising star in Lee Chae-min, and an experienced director in Kim Hee-won positions My Reason to Die as a project worth watching as development continues through 2026. Updates on female lead casting and release schedule are expected in the coming months as production moves forward.
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