Streaming giant Netflix officially confirmed on February 11, 2026, that production has started on Love O’Clock, a new Korean romantic comedy series that immediately became one of the most talked-about K-drama projects of the year. The streamer announced the full main cast lineup and creative team in a press release, confirming that actors Shin Hae-sun and Na In-woo will headline the series, marking their first project together since the 2020 hit Mr. Queen .
The series joins a powerhouse lineup of creators behind the camera. Director Kim Sang-hyup, known for visually stylish and commercially successful rom-coms True Beauty and Extraordinary You, takes the directing helm. Writers Han Sul-hee and Hong Bo-hui, the duo responsible for the massive hit A Business Proposal, are penning the script. Production is handled by Binge Works .
Love O’Clock is based on the popular Kakao webtoon 1/24 Romance by author Kim Myeong-mi, a source material that already has a built-in readership base excited to see the illustrated story become live-action .
Story: A Daily One-Hour Body Swap Between a TV Producer and a Tennis Star
The plot centers on two people who share absolutely nothing in common—except the strange fact that they swap bodies for exactly one hour every single day without any warning.
Shin Hae-sun plays Cha Ju-an, a reality television producer whose life is as chaotic and fast-paced as the shows she creates. Ju-an is described as having a bulldozer-like personality. She charges forward relentlessly at work and rarely slows down for herself. Her colleagues know her as tough and capable, but privately, she has sidelined her own happiness for so long that she does not even remember what she wants .
Na In-woo takes the role of Yu Do-jin, a professional tennis player at the peak of his career. Do-jin is the complete opposite of Ju-an. He is disciplined, organized, and obsessed with maintaining control over every aspect of his life. His public image is cool and collected, but underneath that controlled surface, he carries more warmth and thoughtfulness than people realize .
The trouble—and the comedy—begins when these two opposites suddenly switch bodies for sixty minutes each day. Ju-an wakes up inside the body of a top athlete. Do-jin finds himself living the frantic, messy life of a TV producer. Neither of them understands why it happens or how to stop it. They simply have to survive one hour a day inside someone else’s shoes .
This daily forced exchange pushes both characters far outside their comfort zones. Ju-an, who never stops moving, suddenly has to navigate Do-jin’s controlled, high-stakes world. Do-jin, who plans every second of his day, must handle Ju-an’s unpredictable workload and messy personal life. The situation brings humor, confusion, and eventually, a deeper understanding between the two .
Full Cast Lineup: Yoon Kyun-sang and Lee Ju-woo Join as Second Lead Couple
Alongside the two main leads, Netflix confirmed two additional key cast members who form the drama’s second couple.
Yoon Kyun-sang, known for Clean With Passion For Now, plays Ko Tae-hun. Tae-hun is a director at Do-jin’s sports agency and also Do-jin’s closest friend. He is warm and approachable, always wearing a gentle smile, but he rarely lets people past his personal boundaries. He has kept his heart guarded for a long time .
Lee Ju-woo, who appeared in Stealer: The Treasure Keeper, plays Choi Mi-hyang. Mi-hyang is a reality TV writer and Ju-an’s best friend and housemate. She is honest, down-to-earth, and completely candid. Her demanding job has left her with zero time for romance, and she had long given up on finding a partner. Her unexpected meeting with Tae-hun slowly changes that .
The friendship between Ju-an and Mi-hyang serves as an emotional anchor in the story, while the developing relationship between Mi-hyang and Tae-hun runs parallel to the main body-swap romance .
Reunion Casting: Shin Hae-sun and Na In-woo Together Again After Mr. Queen
One of the biggest talking points surrounding Love O’Clock is the casting reunion of Shin Hae-sun and Na In-woo. The two actors previously worked together in the cable drama Mr. Queen, which became a massive critical and commercial success. Shin Hae-sun played the queen whose body was occupied by a modern-day man, while Na In-woo played the king .
Fans of the 2020 series have frequently expressed interest in seeing the pair work together again, and Love O’Clock grants that request. This time, however, their roles are reversed in tone. In Mr. Queen, Shin’s character was chaotic and comedic while Na’s character was stiff and formal. The dynamic in Love O’Clock flips that setup, with Shin playing the disciplined career woman and Na playing the rigid athlete who gradually loosens up .
Shin Hae-sun most recently starred in the Netflix series The Art of Sarah, which premiered in February 2026. Na In-woo’s previous leading role was in the tvN drama Marry My Husband .
Production Team Behind ‘True Beauty’ and ‘Business Proposal’ Raise Expectations
The creative credits attached to Love O’Clock are generating significant attention within the K-drama community.
Director Kim Sang-hyup has a strong track record with fantasy-romance and high school rom-coms. His previous works include Extraordinary You, which dealt with characters in a comic book world, and True Beauty, the makeover romance that became a global hit. Both dramas are known for their strong visual direction and their ability to balance comedic timing with sincere emotional beats .
Writers Han Sul-hee and Hong Bo-hui previously collaborated on A Business Proposal, the office rom-com that became one of the highest-rated Korean dramas on Netflix internationally. That series was praised for its fast pacing, clear comedic structure, and the chemistry between its leads. The writing duo is expected to bring the same energy to Love O’Clock .
Also Read:
Webtoon Origins: Based on ‘1/24 Romance’
Love O’Clock is an adaptation of the webtoon 1/24 Romance, which has been serialized on Kakao Webtoon. The comic follows a similar premise of two people who swap lives for one hour daily. The webtoon has built a steady readership who appreciate its lighthearted take on the body-swap trope and the gradual emotional connection between the leads .
Korean webtoon adaptations have become a staple of the romance drama genre in recent years. Many of the most successful K-dramas of the last five years, including True Beauty and Business Proposal, originated as webtoons. This existing fanbase often translates to strong initial viewer interest when the drama version is announced .
Production Status and Streaming Release Plan
As of February 2026, Love O’Clock is officially in production. The cast and crew have begun working on the series. Reports indicate that script readings have already taken place with the main actors present .
Netflix has confirmed that Love O’Clock will be released worldwide exclusively on its platform. The series is scheduled to be available in all regions where Netflix operates, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and across Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America .
A specific premiere date has not yet been announced. However, with production now confirmed and casting finalized, an official release window is expected to be revealed in the coming months. The series joins Netflix’s growing slate of 2026 Korean original productions .
For the latest updates on Korean drama casting, international streaming releases, and entertainment news, stay connected with VvipTimes for accurate, real-time coverage straight from official sources.
