If you’ve just finished In Your Radiant Season and you’re left with that familiar post-drama emptiness — the kind that sneaks up on you at 2 AM wondering why good things end — you’re in the right place. Chae Jong Hyeop has a quietly magnetic screen presence that’s hard to shake, and thankfully, his back catalogue has plenty more to offer.
Here’s your curated watchlist to keep the Chae Jong Hyeop feelings going.
Table of Contents
First — Why “In Your Radiant Season” Hit So Hard
The recently wrapped romantic drama gently explores love, grief, and the slow process of healing. The story centers on Song Ha Ran (Lee Sung Kyung), a successful fashion designer who carries the emotional weight of losing her boyfriend years ago, and Sunwoo Chan (Chae Jong Hyeop), an animator who has returned to Korea after living abroad. What starts as a simple three-month friendship arrangement gradually becomes something more meaningful.
Chan lives with hearing loss and has gaps in his memory due to a past accident — and as pieces of his past slowly resurface, an unexpected connection between him and Ha Ran’s tragedy comes to light, forcing both to face difficult truths.
That layered emotional storytelling? It runs through all of Chae Jong Hyeop’s best work.
5 Must-Watch Chae Jong Hyeop K-Dramas
| Drama | Genre | Co-Star |
|---|---|---|
| Love All Play | Sports Romance | Park Ju Hyun |
| Unlock My Boss | Comedy / Mystery | Park Sung Woong, Seo Eun Soo |
| Castaway Diva | Drama / Music | Park Eun Bin |
| Serendipity’s Embrace | Romance | Kim So Hyun |
| The Witch’s Diner | Fantasy / Thriller | Nam Ji Hyun, Song Ji Hyo |
1. Love All Play
This sports romance is set in the competitive world of professional badminton, following Park Tae Yang (Park Ju Hyun), a once-promising player returning after a three-year absence due to bribery rumors, and Chae Jong Hyeop’s Park Tae Joon — a talented but easygoing player who sees the sport more as a job than a passion. Their dynamic on and off the court is what makes this one irresistible. Perfect for fans who want warmth with a side of rivalry.
2. Unlock My Boss
Chae Jong Hyeop plays Park In Seong, an unemployed aspiring actor who discovers a phone that contains the consciousness of a missing CEO. Persuaded to impersonate the CEO at his tech company, he uses his acting skills to navigate the corporate world — with the help of the CEO’s sharp secretary, Jung Se Yeon (Seo Eun Soo). Equal parts comedy and suspense, this one showcases a delightfully different side of him.
3. Castaway Diva
Chae Jong Hyeop plays Kang Bo Geol, a reserved producer with a mysterious past connection to the lead character Seo Mok Ha (Park Eun Bin) — a woman who survived alone on a deserted island for 15 years and is now rebuilding her life and her dream of becoming a singer. His quiet, supportive energy in this role will absolutely get to you.
4. Serendipity’s Embrace
In this compact eight-episode drama, Chae Jong Hyeop plays Kang Hu Young, a successful financial planner who has returned from the US and finds old feelings resurfacing when he reconnects with Lee Hong Ju (Kim So Hyun), an animation producer who has long since closed herself off from love after a painful breakup. Short, sweet, and deeply satisfying.
5. The Witch’s Diner
Chae Jong Hyeop plays Lee Gil Yong, a kind-hearted high school student whose athletic dreams were cut short by injury, who takes a part-time job at a mysterious diner where a witch grants customers their deepest wishes — in exchange for something deeply personal. soompi A thought-provoking fantasy drama that shows off his dramatic range beautifully.
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FAQs
Q: What is “In Your Radiant Season” about and who does Chae Jong Hyeop play?
It’s a heartfelt romance drama where Chae Jong Hyeop plays Sunwoo Chan, an animator dealing with hearing loss and memory gaps, who slowly falls for a fashion designer still grieving a past loss — with a surprising connection between their two tragedies.
Q: Which Chae Jong Hyeop drama should I watch first after “In Your Radiant Season”?
Castaway Diva is an excellent next watch — his warm, steady performance alongside Park Eun Bin’s powerhouse role captures a similar emotional depth that fans of In Your Radiant Season will immediately connect with.
