Two members of the popular K-pop group NCT are stepping off the stage and onto the baseball field for a new project. Lee Jeno and Na Jaemin star in the sports drama ‘Wind Up’, a story about friendship and fighting for your dreams. The show premiered on January 16, 2026, marking the launch of a brand-new streaming platform.
This new series is a short-form drama, meaning episodes are designed to be quick and easy to watch. It tells the story of a high school baseball player who loses his confidence and the new student who decides to help him get it back. For fans of the two idols, this is a special team-up, showing a different side of their talents.
What ‘Wind Up’ Is About: A Story of Baseball and Friendship
‘Wind Up’ is a coming-of-age drama set in the world of high school baseball. The story follows Lee Woo-jin (played by Lee Jeno), a pitcher who was once considered a top prospect with a bright future. However, his career hits a major obstacle when he develops a condition known as “the yips.” This is a type of performance anxiety that causes an athlete to suddenly lose a specific skill. For Woo-jin, it means he can no longer throw the ball accurately to the catcher.
Just as his team is about to give up on him, a new student named Kwon Tae-hee (played by Na Jaemin) arrives. Tae-hee is a former baseball player himself and, without being asked, declares that he will become Woo-jin’s personal manager. He begins to follow Woo-jin everywhere, determined to help him overcome his struggles.
At first, the two boys do not get along. Their relationship starts with constant arguing and suspicion. Woo-jin even wonders if Tae-hee is following him for strange reasons. But as they spend more time training together, their difficult beginning slowly changes into a strong and supportive friendship. The series shows how they both grow as they work toward their dreams, facing setbacks and learning to rely on each other.
Meet the Cast: From K-Pop Idols to Baseball Teammates
The main reason many people are excited about ‘Wind Up’ is its leading actors. Lee Jeno and Na Jaemin are both members of the supergroup NCT and its sub-unit NCT DREAM. They have performed together for years, but this drama shows them in a completely new light.
For Jeno, this is his first major acting role. He takes on the character of Woo-jin, the pitcher struggling with the yips. Jeno reportedly worked hard to prepare for the role, including doing special baseball training to make his performance look real. A poster for his character simply says, “I’m a pitcher who can’t throw strikes,” which shows the core of his struggle.
Jaemin plays the cheerful and persistent Tae-hee. While this is Jeno’s first big part, Jaemin has some previous acting experience from a 2019 web drama. His character is the energetic force that pushes the story forward. His character poster asks, “Don’t you need a manager?” highlighting his self-appointed role in Woo-jin’s life.
A production representative commented on their casting, saying:
โGiven the strong teamwork theyโve built over the years, viewers can look forward to the synergy theyโll show in this project.โ
The series also features support from veteran actor Lee Jong Hyuk, who plays the boys’ baseball coach, and Oh Hyun Kyung as Tae-hee’s mother.
Where and How to Watch ‘Wind Up’: Platform and Access Details
‘Wind Up’ is not available on typical television or major streaming services like Netflix or Viki. It is exclusive to a brand-new platform called KITZ.
KITZ is described as a “global K-pop short-form platform.” It officially launched on the same day as the drama, January 16, 2026, at 10:00 AM Korea Standard Time (KST). The first episode of ‘Wind Up’ was released later that same day at 6:00 PM KST.
Since it is a short-form drama, the show is designed for easy watching on mobile devices. The episodes are shorter than a standard K-drama. The platform has a specific way to watch:
- The first 15 episodes of ‘Wind Up’ are available to watch for free.
- To watch episodes from episode 16 onward, viewers need to purchase premium tickets, which are a paid in-app currency.
Global Release Times for ‘Wind Up’
To help international fans, here are the premiere times for January 16, 2026, converted for different regions:
- Los Angeles, USA (PT): 1:00 AM
- New York, USA (ET): 4:00 AM
- London, UK (GMT): 9:00 AM
- New Delhi, India (IST): 2:30 PM
- Sydney, Australia (AEDT): 8:00 PM
The KITZ app can be downloaded from the official App Store for iOS devices or Google Play for Android devices by searching for “KITZ”. It is also accessible through its official website.
The Creative Team Behind the Series
Leading the project is director Kim Sung Ho. He is known for his ability to tell emotional and well-structured stories. Fans might recognize his name from other popular shows like the Netflix series ‘Move to Heaven’ and the KBS drama ‘Bad Prosecutor’. His involvement suggested a focus on strong character development and emotional depth.
The script for ‘Wind Up’ was written by Byun Jae-cheol. The drama was produced through a collaboration between Take One Company and the actors’ agency, SM Entertainment. Filming for the entire series was completed on October 11, 2025, allowing several months for editing and preparation before its January release.
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Fan Excitement and What to Expect
The announcement of the drama created a lot of excitement among fans of NCT, known as NCTzen. Many have expressed how eager they are to see the close off-stage friendship between Jeno and Jaemin translated into an on-screen story. While they had a small cameo together in the 2018 web drama ‘A-TEEN’, this is their first project as the main stars.
Promotion for the show began in early January 2026 with the release of a first poster showing the two actors in baseball uniforms. This was followed by individual character posters and a main trailer that gave a better look at their “cat-and-dog” relationship. The trailer shows their funny first meetings and hints at the supportive friendship that develops.
The show’s tagline, “The dream that was wavering has found its place,” sums up the hopeful message of the story. It is about finding your way back when things get difficult, and the importance of having someone who believes in you. With its mix of sports challenges and youthful friendship, ‘Wind Up’ aims to be a feel-good story for a wide audience.
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