Some actors take weekend dramas as a break between bigger projects. Ha Seok Jin took his as a challenge — one built entirely on emotional nuance rather than plot twists. Ahead of his upcoming drama’s premiere, he’s now shared exactly what drew him in, and it’s refreshingly heartfelt.
“Love on the Menu” follows Kim Moo Jin, a perfectionist Italian restaurant owner, and his first love Han Gyu Rim, played by Hani, as they reunite eight years after a painful breakup. Together, they slowly rebuild not just their own bond, but the fractured pieces of both their families.
Love on the Menu: Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Lead Actor | Ha Seok Jin as Kim Moo Jin |
| Lead Actress | Hani as Han Gyu Rim |
| Genre | Family romance, weekend drama |
| Premiere | July 25, 8 PM KST |
| Co-Star | Min Jin Woong as best friend Park Jung Woo |
Why He Took the Role?
Ha Seok Jin explained that it had been a while since he’d found a weekend drama with this kind of broadly appealing warmth — one that moves past a simple romance to explore family bonds, difficult choices, and feelings that never quite disappear.
Describing his character, he noted Moo Jin projects composure but is genuinely inexperienced with certain emotions, and that this gap between his polished exterior and inner uncertainty is exactly what makes him compelling. As for how much he personally relates to the role, he estimated the overlap at around 60 percent, pointing to their shared logical streak at work, while noting Moo Jin is far more emotionally upfront than he tends to be.
Building Chemistry With Hani
To ease into playing former lovers reuniting after years apart, Ha Seok Jin shared that he and Hani spent time together on a mountain trail before filming even began, which helped dissolve any early awkwardness between them. He also teased genuine off-screen camaraderie with Min Jin Woong, a real-life friend playing his character’s longtime best friend.
Wrapping up, he expressed hope that audiences would slowly get to know Moo Jin over the course of the series and find pieces of their own hearts reflected in the story.
For more upcoming K-drama previews, check out Agent Kim: Reactivated starring So Ji-sub on TechnoSports.
