Summer Vacation is a Korean teen romance that took an unusually long road to the screen. Filming wrapped back in 2023, and the 10-episode series finally arrives on Wavve and Lifetime on Monday, October 26, 2026. B1A4’s Jinyoung and Cho Yi Hyun lead the cast as two teenagers from opposite worlds who meet in a quiet village and change each other’s lives. Rakuten Viki carries the show for international viewers outside Korea.
Every Episode Date for Summer Vacation
The schedule follows a Monday-Tuesday pattern, with two episodes per week. The series runs for five weeks, ending on November 24, 2026. Each episode is roughly 60 minutes long.
- Episodes 1 and 2: Monday, October 26 and Tuesday, October 27, 2026
- Episodes 3 and 4: Monday, November 2 and Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- Episodes 5 and 6: Monday, November 9 and Tuesday, November 10, 2026
- Episodes 7 and 8: Monday, November 16 and Tuesday, November 17, 2026
- Episodes 9 and 10 (finale): Monday, November 23 and Tuesday, November 24, 2026
Wavve releases the episodes first in South Korea. Lifetime airs them on the same schedule for cable viewers.
Where to Watch Summer Vacation by Country
South Korea: Wavve holds the exclusive OTT rights, with Lifetime carrying the television broadcast.
United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, India, and most global markets: Rakuten Viki streams the series with English and other language subtitles. Viki is available across Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Asia, though the exact catalogue can vary slightly by region.
Brazil and Latin America: Rakuten Viki also carries the show in Brazil, with Portuguese subtitles.
Southeast Asia: Viewers in Indonesia, the Philippines, and nearby markets can access the series through Viki, which licenses Korean dramas across the region.
Full Cast List
Cho Yi Hyun plays Kim Ha Yeon, an ordinary 18-year-old who dreams of a more dramatic life than the one she has. Jinyoung plays Jo Yu Gyeom, the eldest grandson of a traditional head family in Upo Village, a talented swimmer who lives under strict family rules.
- Cho Yi Hyun as Kim Ha Yeon
- Jinyoung (B1A4) as Jo Yu Gyeom
- Hong Ye Ji as Sung Sae Ryung, Jo Yu Gyeom’s girlfriend who becomes part of a tense love triangle
- Ryu Hae Jun as Kim Jeong Yeon
- Seo Ji Young as Yu Gyeom’s Mother
- Kang Ji Eun as Shin Hye Jin
- Cha Se Jin as Im Jeong Ok
- Kang Hee Gu as Shin Seung Chan
- Hwang Dae Ki as Nam Joon
- Lee Hyun as Noraebang Owner
- Jung Yong Hee as Police Officer
What Jinyoung Said About Playing Jo Yu Gyeom
Jinyoung described his character as someone who appears to have a special life but feels bored and stifled inside.
“He lives a life that seems special to others, but he himself feels bored and stifled,” Jinyoung said. “I found it fascinating how this character begins to look forward to tomorrow for the first time after meeting Kim Ha Yeon, and I wanted to portray that transformation well.”
He also shared a practical challenge: playing a swimming prodigy when he is not a strong swimmer in real life.
“Actually, I’m not very good at swimming,” he admitted. “I made an effort to become more comfortable in the water. For Jo Yu Gyeom, swimming wasn’t just a sport but a special escape from his stifling reality, so I wanted him to look at least a little freer underwater.”
What Cho Yi Hyun Said About Kim Ha Yeon and Their Chemistry
Cho Yi Hyun called Jo Yu Gyeom a “lottery ticket” for her character.
“To Kim Ha Yeon, Jo Yu Gyeom is like a lottery ticket that has landed right in front of her,” she said. “It was no different from seeing a dream you’d only imagined suddenly appear in reality.”
She credited Jinyoung for making the set comfortable.
“He truly took great care of me on set. We also talked a lot, and thanks to his attentively taking the lead, we were able to work together comfortably.”
Her most memorable filming moment involved a night swim in cold water.
“We went into the autumn sea and swam at night. Although the weather was quite cold, it was a lot of fun because we were together, so it stands out in my memory.”
The Love Triangle That Shapes the Story
Hong Ye Ji plays Sung Sae Ryung, Jo Yu Gyeom’s girlfriend. The teaser makes her role clear: she is not a passive bystander in the romance. Ha Yeon confronts Yu Gyeom about having a girlfriend, and Sae Ryung responds with a direct threat.
“I’m going to take Jo Yu Gyeom away from you, no matter what,” Sae Ryung says in the teaser.
Ha Yeon does not back down.
“I’m going to be the one to save Jo Yu Gyeom. And Jo Yu Gyeom will save me too.”
Jinyoung explained that Yu Gyeom’s relationship with Sae Ryung is complicated by guilt, fear, and responsibility, and he worked to show different sides of his character depending on who he is with.
Behind the Scenes: A Three-Year Wait
Summer Vacation began filming in 2022 and finished production in 2023. The release date stayed uncertain for nearly three years before Wavve confirmed the October 26, 2026 premiere. That gap means the cast filmed the series before several of their other projects aired, and the show arrives with its cast in a very different career position than when they shot it.
Song Ji Won, who directed JTBC’s Late Night Restaurant, directed the series. Han Ga Ram, who wrote My Dearest Nemesis and When the Weather Is Fine, wrote the screenplay. Vibe Music Studio produced the drama.
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The Story Setup in Simple Terms
Kim Ha Yeon is a normal high schooler who feels invisible at school and ignored by her family. She wants her life to feel like a movie. Her father’s business trip takes her to Upo Village for the summer, where she meets Jo Yu Gyeom, the heir of a traditional family who has spent his life following rules he did not choose.
Their meeting sets off a summer that is part romance, part mystery. The show is not a straight comedy or a heavy drama. It blends a warm village summer atmosphere with a light supernatural thread, and the 10-episode length keeps the story tight.
Stay with VvipTimes for K-drama premiere dates, cast interviews, and streaming guides as the fall season continues.
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