How would it feel to win an Emmy but stay trapped playing the same detective for years? Then you meet a journalist who treats your fame like yesterday’s news. You two can’t stand each other. Until suddenly, the mutual irritation becomes something neither expected. That’s the magic brewing in tvN’s new 2025 K-drama “Nice to Not Meet You” (얄미운 사랑) starring Lee Jung-jae and Lim Ji-yeon. Here’s everything you need to know before it drops this November.
“Nice to Not Meet You” (얄미운 사랑) Korean Drama 2025
Lee Jung-jae is leaping into the romance comedy genre. He teams up with Lim Ji-yeon for a drama that turns the celebrity-meets-reporter setup upside down. This isn’t about a starstruck journalist. It’s about real disappointment that transforms into something neither of them expected.
The Plot: When Fame Meets Reality
Ever meet someone you admired and realize they’re nothing like you thought? That’s Wi Jeong-sin’s reality. She’s an award-winning political journalist who gets bumped down to entertainment coverage after a corruption scandal blows up her career. Her first assignment? An actor she used to admire. Lim Hyeon-jun.
Here’s the twist. Hyeon-jun has played the same righteous detective character, Kang Pil-gu, for five seasons straight. The role made him famous, sure, but it also trapped him. He can’t shake the mannerisms. He can’t land different parts. And when Jeong-sin discovers the real man behind the badge, her fangirl dreams crumble faster than a cookie in milk.
But that disappointment? It becomes the starting point for something real. Something messy. Something that looks a lot like love, even if neither of them planned it.
The Cast That Will Make You Hit “Play”
Lee Jung-jae made history with “Squid Game”—first Asian actor to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor. After playing in many action, political, and thriller genres, he’s now switching gears to the romantic comedy genre. He plays a typecast actor trying to escape his image. Art mimicking life?
Opposite him stands Lim Ji-yeon, who broke hearts and took names in “The Glory.” She brings her signature intensity to a journalist navigating a world she never wanted to join. The 18-year age gap between the leads adds texture to their on-screen chemistry, creating a romance that feels grown-up and grounded.
The supporting cast reads like a who’s who of Korean drama royalty. Seo Ji-hye from “Crash Landing on You” joins the mix, along with Kim Ji-hoon from “Butterfly.”
The supporting roles consist of an impressive ensemble as follows:
- Oh Yeon-seo as Kwon Se-na – Known for My Sassy Girl; plays Hyeon-jun’s first love
- Choi Gwi-hwa as CEO Hwang – Known for The Outlaws; entertainment industry executive
- Jeon Sung-woo as Park Byeong-gi – Writer
- Kim Jae-cheol as Lee Dae-ho
- Na Young-hee as Seong Ae-sook
- Jeon Soo-kyeong as O Mi-ran
- Kim Hyun-jin as Im Seon-u – Hyeon-jun’s younger brother
- Jin Ho-eun as Wi Hong-sin – Jeong-sin’s relative
- Kim Pub-lae as Director Hong – Film/TV director
- Jo Hee-bong as CEO Son – Entertainment industry executive
- Park Hae-rin as Ban Su-jeong
Behind the Cameras
Director Kim Ga-ram, who helmed “Nevertheless” and “Good Partner,” knows how to capture that electric tension between two people who shouldn’t work but somehow do. She pairs beautifully with screenwriter Jung Yeo-rang, whose previous work on “Doctor Cha” proved she can write mature characters with depth and humor.
Studio Dragon is backing the production, which means you’re getting that polished quality the company’s known for. They wrapped script reading in March 2025 and dove straight into filming, racing to meet the November premiere date.
Where and When to Watch
Mark your calendars for November 3, 2025. The show drops every Monday and Tuesday at 20:50 KST on tvN. If you’re outside South Korea, Amazon Prime Video scored worldwide streaming rights, so you can watch along in real time (minus the time zone math, of course).
The series runs for 16 episodes, giving you eight solid weeks of will-they-won’t-they tension. Each episode clocks in between 70 and 90 minutes, which is plenty of time to get invested in these characters’ messy, beautiful journey toward each other.
Fun Facts
1. Age Gap Romance: Lee Jung-jae and Lim Ji-yeon have an 18-year age difference in real life, which adds authenticity to their on-screen dynamic.
2. Star Power: Remember the character of 456-Seong Gi Hun in Netflix’s hit series “Squid Game”? Yes, that’s Lee Jung-jae. He became the first Asian actor to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. His win put the show on the global map. His achievement brought international attention to the series.
3. Behind-the-Scenes World: The drama displays a realistic look at the Korean entertainment industry, including the challenges of typecasting and media coverage.
4. Studio Partnership: This is the first of three dramas resulting from a co-production agreement between Studio&NEW and Artist Company, signed in August 2024. Additionally, two works are in production and are scheduled for release in the second half of next year. “The Essence of Soju,” also known as “The Classics of Soju,” and “Good Partner” Season 2.
5. Writer’s Track Record: Jung Yeo-rang penned “Doctor Cha,” the hit series that everyone talked about. Critics praised her mature storytelling and complex characters. The show became a standout because she understood how to write real, layered people.
6. Dual Streaming Strategy: Following “Newtopia,” “Good Boy,” “Confidence Queen,” “Head Over Heels,” and “The Divorce Insurance,” the upcoming series shows Amazon Prime Video’s continued investment in Korean content for global audiences.
What Makes This One Different
You’ve seen the enemies-to-lovers setup before. But “Nice to Not Meet You” digs deeper than surface-level bickering.
It’s about two professionals hitting walls in their careers and finding unexpected allies in each other. Hyeon-jun wants to break free from typecasting. Jeong-sin needs to prove she belongs in entertainment journalism, even if she thinks the whole industry is fluff.
Their relationship becomes a mirror for their personal growth. He learns to drop the act. She learns that entertainment stories can matter just as much as political exposes. And somewhere between the interviews and the headlines, they stop performing for each other and start showing up as themselves.
The show promises an honest look at the entertainment industry in Korea. Typecasting. Media scrutiny. The real struggles. Combine that with leads who have chemistry and respect each other’s talent? It could make this more than just another rom-com.
Worth the Wait?
The 2025 Korean drama “Nice to Not Meet You” comes with pedigree, star power, and a premise that promises both laughs and genuine emotion. Lee Jung-jae’s appearance in a romance comedy after his Emmy triumph feels like watching a familiar friend try something new. You’re rooting for him. You’re curious. And you’re definitely tuning in.
Can this drama balance romance and integrity for both characters? Hard to say. But it’s worth a watch if you’re curious how it plays out and want something different from the standard romance playbook. Will you be tuning in? Let us know in the comments.
In the meantime, watch the exclusive trailer for the upcoming Korean drama “Nice to Not Meet You” (2025) below.
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