The upcoming Korean drama adaptation of the popular webtoon My Reason to Die officially confirmed its male lead this week, but the reaction from the webtoon’s dedicated readership is far from the typical excitement that follows casting news.
On February 12, 2026, industry reports confirmed that rising actor Lee Chae-Min will star as Cha Gyeol, the male lead in the drama directed by Kim Hee Won, known for her work on Queen of Tears, Vincenzo, and Little Women . While the production team is promoting the project as a “regression romance” with emotional depth, original readers of the webtoon are speaking out. Their core message is clear: this story is heavy, tragic, and far from a lighthearted love story .
Why the Webtoon’s Fans Are Speaking Up
The disappointment from fans is not directed at Lee Chae-Min personally. Instead, readers are worried that the drama’s promotional messaging is framing My Reason to Die as a standard romance. Long-time followers of the webtoon are taking to social media to correct this narrative.
Reader reviews describe the original story as emotionally exhausting, anxiety-inducing, and filled with heavy themes. One reader summarized it simply: “This story and narration gives me anxiety. I am just speeding through to get to the end, and am so happy for the end to arrive” . Another fan who binge-read the series admitted, “At the end I was a crying mess. My heart broke when I saw Gyeol suffered so much” .
The core issue is genre mislabeling. The webtoon deals with suicide attempts, regression cycles, sacrifice, and trauma. One reviewer explicitly warned: “Story contains themes, messages and content related but not limited to suicide, self-harm, abuse, emotional harm, power dynamics, trauma, depression, bullying, drug addiction, family dynamics, and psychological pain” . Readers feel that calling it a “romantic comedy” or even a simple “romance drama” erases the very elements that made the story impactful.
Cha Gyeol Is Not a Typical Romantic Lead
Lee Chae-Min is set to play Cha Gyeol, a character that webtoon readers describe as mysterious, deeply troubled, and carrying immense guilt . Unlike the charming, straightforward male leads often seen in K-dramas, Cha Gyeol is introduced at a point in the story where he is having “all sort of bad thoughts” . His connection with the female lead, Ji Oh, begins under dark circumstances involving her brother’s bullying and his own suicide attempt.
Readers openly admit that Cha Gyeol’s visual design and “bad boy” appeal attracted them to the story. “There is something sexy from him that attracts women. His body is just chef’s kiss,” one fan wrote . But they also stress that his attractiveness does not change the fact that the story is a tragedy. Another fan described the dynamic as a “tickling time bomb” where even the fluffy moments carry an “ominous and heart clenching feeling” .
The Director and Casting Raise Expectations, But Not Concerns Over Quality
Kim Hee Won directing the project is widely seen as excellent news. Her track record with visually stunning and narratively sharp dramas like Vincenzo and the global hit Queen of Tears gives the adaptation strong creative backing . Similarly, Lee Chae-Min is enjoying a career peak. After stepping in to replace Park Sung Hoon in Bon Appétit, Your Majesty last year, he delivered a stable and captivating performance that boosted the drama’s popularity. He also won Best New Actor at the 11th APAN Star Awards .
No one is questioning the talent involved. The concern is entirely about whether the adaptation will honor the source material’s weight or soften it into something more palatable for general audiences.
What the Webtoon Is Actually About
For those unfamiliar with the source material, My Reason to Die follows Ji Oh, a high school senior and Taekwondo athlete preparing for national team selections. She meets Cha Gyeol, a boy surrounded by dangerous people who bully her younger brother. Despite knowing she should stay away, she cannot stop her curiosity about him .
The story eventually introduces a regression (time-rewind) element. Characters repeat their lives, carrying memories of past tragedies. One reader explained the frustrating cycle: “This endless cycle of regression and sacrifice seemed like a punishment and kinda meaningless. There was no clear answer. Does it mean Gyeol and Ji-Oh will continue to regress? Is it an inevitable that one of them has to die always?” .
The webtoon ends on an open note, which left many readers unsatisfied yet emotionally devastated . These are not the hallmarks of a comforting romantic comedy.
Lee Chae-Min’s Current Status and Upcoming Projects
Despite the mixed reception to the drama announcement, Lee Chae-Min continues his busy schedule. He recently finished filming Bon Appétit, Your Majesty and is preparing for the Netflix variety show Take A Hike, scheduled for release in the third quarter of 2026 . His casting in My Reason to Die confirms his status as one of the most in-demand actors of his generation.
The actor made his debut in 2021 through tvN’s High Class and has since built an impressive filmography including Crash Course in Romance, See You in My 19th Life, Hierarchy, and Crushology 101 .
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The Core Message From Readers
The disappointment among webtoon fans is not about boycotting the drama. It is about correcting expectations. Readers who loved the story are worried that new viewers will tune in expecting a light, funny romance and instead encounter themes of suicide, trauma, and emotional exhaustion.
As one reader put it: “I know this is supposed to be all about the romance but a little realism here wouldn’t harm a fly. Yes, even though this story has dark undertones, it is a pretty decent read” . Another added: “It doesn’t shy away from heavy material. It attempts in a grounded manner to explore these topics from different angles” .
The message is simple: Let the drama be what the webtoon was. Do not sell it as something it is not.
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