Byeon Woo Seok — who won us over and broke our hearts in 20th Century Girl — is entering his boyfriend-coded era in Lovely Runner. Read on to learn more about the cast, plot, episode schedule, and our review of the show.
He’s down bad for Kim Hye Yoon’s character, and we’re down bad for him. (Photo from: Viu Singapore)
Lovely Runner: cast, plot, webtoon, and more
Lovely Runner is adapted from the webtoon The Best of Tomorrow. Kim Hye Yoon (Extraordinary You, Sky Castle) plays Im Sol, a devoted fan of the fictional K-pop group Eclipse. Her life gets turned upside down when she finds out her bias (meaning her favourite member), Ryu Sun Jae (Byeon Woo Seok), has tragically passed away. She then unexpectedly finds herself transported 15 years into the past when he was still alive. She kickstarts her mission to protect her idol and save him from his future death. But will she succeed?
Aside from the two, look forward to the performances of Seo Hye-won (Business Proposal, Alchemy of Souls) who portrays Im Sol’s bestie and Song Geon-hee (Sky Castle) who takes on the role of Kim Tae Sung, the show’s designated second lead.
Lovely Runner premiered its first episode on 8 April 2024. Only four episodes are out, but the series has already achieved high ratings. Here are three reasons why we think it's worth the hype.
Lovely Runner review
1. You will swoon over Byeon Woo Seok’s character and his vocals
If you’ve also watched him in 20th Century Girl and Strong Girl Nam-soon, you might have noticed that his characters end up with unfortunate endings. While watching the show, you can’t help but root for his ‘happily ever after’ this time around.
Sometimes, actors feel too old for high school roles. But you won’t be disappointed with Byeon Woo Seok’s acting skills in this drama. He can masterfully switch between a troubled adult trying to survive the toxic aspects of the Korean entertainment industry and a teenager struggling to confess his feelings. (You might be surprised to find out that Woo Seok’s 32 this year!)
Aside from his acting chops, you’ll be impressed by his vocals. He can carry a tune despite not having a K-idol background like other popular actors. Many viewers have likened him to the well-loved singer Paul Kim (who has lent his voice to the soundtracks of Queen of Tears and Hotel del Luna). Check out the Spotify playlist above which includes the four songs performed by Byeon Woo Seok in the series.
2. Kim Hye Yoon’s character perfectly captures the heart of every fangirl
You could see the stars in her eyes. (Photo from: Viu Singapore)
If you stan a K-pop artist or group, you’ll be able to reminisce about the time when you first became a fan while watching this show. You might have experienced a slump in life, and encouraging words from your bias might have helped you get back up. You’ll definitely relate to Im Sol’s passion when it comes to supporting her fave.
Her depiction of a fangirl’s life — which consists of concerts, fan zones, valuable merch, and more — is truly relatable. Her excitement and enthusiasm as a fangirl is infectious and you might find yourself asking, “Where do we sign up?”
3. It’s comedic and lighthearted… for now.
The show is sprinkled with fluffy, heart-fluttering moments that are essential for a good rom-com. If you’re a proud “delulu” (meaning you’re a superfan in K-pop lingo), you’ll be giggling over the story of Lovely Runner. We believe it’s built on these questions: What would you do if you were given the chance to go back in time to save your bias? How would you have responded if you discovered that you were also his first love?
Since the show hasn’t fully aired yet, the time travel theories have yet to be unravelled and there might be more heartbreaking moments in the future.
It’s been intriguing so far, but we hope that the drama won’t keep us in the dark for too long. With the recent K-dramas involving time travel such as Marry My Husband and Twinkling Watermelon, we can’t help but wonder if there’s another time traveller in Lovely Runner.
Bonus: there’s a cameo of Girls’ Generation’s Yuri
The first episode of the series opens with the song Genie, which will thrill the heart of every SONE (Girls' Generation fan). We shan't give away any spoilers here, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for a quick scene of Yuri in the show too.
Lovely Runner: episode schedule and where to watch in Singapore
Lovely Runner is composed of 16 episodes. You can now stream Episodes 1 to 4 on Viu. There’s a wonderful reason to look forward to Mondays because Lovely Runner’s new episodes air every Monday and Tuesday.
(Cover photos from: Viu Singapore, @byeonwooseok)
Craving for an action drama after a sweet rom-com? Check out Blood Free starring Han Hyo Joo.
Comments, questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected].
