K-drama fans, rejoice! Red Velvet‘s Joy is officially making her highly anticipated return to acting after a four-year hiatus. SM Entertainment confirmed on September 30, 2025, that the beloved idol-actress will star as the female lead in the upcoming romantic comedy “One-of-a-Kind Romance,” a drama adaptation of the popular webtoon by Du Bu.
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Red Velvet Drama Details at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Drama Title | One-of-a-Kind Romance (Working Title) |
| Lead Actress | Joy (Park Soo Young) |
| Male Lead | Kim Hyun Jin |
| Character Name | Gong Yu Il |
| Genre | Romantic Comedy |
| Source Material | Webtoon by Du Bu |
| Last Drama | The One and Only (2021) |
Joy’s Character: Gong Yu Il
Joy will portray Gong Yu Il, an ordinary job seeker whose mundane life takes an extraordinary turn when she becomes entangled with A-list actor Tak Mu Yi and idol Ryu Min from the fictional boy band X-ONE. Despite facing difficult circumstances, Gong Yu Il maintains her resilient spirit and never loses her smile—a characteristic that makes her instantly relatable.
The character harbors a secret dream of becoming a writer, but practical reality forces her to hunt for corporate jobs while working part-time at a convenience store to make ends meet. As a devoted fan of Ryu Min, her world flips upside down when a chance encounter brings her into the orbit of top actor Tak Mu Yi, played by Kim Hyun Jin.
This role represents a perfect vehicle for Joy to showcase her versatility. The character’s optimism despite adversity mirrors Joy’s own cheerful persona, while the layered emotional journey will allow her to demonstrate the acting growth she’s achieved since her last project.
From Idol to Actress: Joy’s Acting Journey
Joy first ventured into acting with the 2017 drama “The Liar and His Lover,” where she played a high school student with musical aspirations. She followed this with “Tempted” (also known as “The Great Seducer”) in 2018, demonstrating her ability to tackle more complex roles.
Her most recent drama, “The One and Only” (2021), showcased a more mature side of her acting abilities. The emotional depth required for that role earned her critical praise and left fans wanting more. According to MyDramaList, Joy has consistently proven herself capable of balancing her music career with acting pursuits.
Now, after four years focused on Red Velvet’s musical activities—including group comebacks and solo endeavors—Joy is ready to reclaim her spot in the K-drama landscape.
The Webtoon Source Material
“One-of-a-Kind Romance” has built a dedicated fanbase thanks to its relatable protagonist and entertaining love triangle premise. The webtoon expertly balances humor with genuine emotional moments, exploring themes of pursuing dreams versus accepting reality, fan culture, and unexpected connections.
Webtoon adaptations have become increasingly popular in recent years, with successes like “True Beauty,” “Sweet Home,” and “All of Us Are Dead” proving that these stories translate well to live-action format. The source material’s existing popularity provides a built-in audience eager to see how Joy brings Gong Yu Il to life.
Kim Hyun Jin as Male Lead
Kim Hyun Jin has been cast as Tak Mu Yi, the A-list actor who becomes romantically involved with Gong Yu Il. Known for his roles in various dramas, Kim brings experience and chemistry potential to this project. The pairing of an idol-actress with an established actor often creates interesting on-screen dynamics that fans love.
The love triangle element—with Joy’s character caught between the famous actor and her idol crush—promises entertaining complications and heartfelt moments that are hallmarks of great romantic comedies.
Why This Comeback Matters
Joy’s return to acting signifies more than just another drama role. It represents the continued evolution of K-pop idols breaking into mainstream acting and being taken seriously as multifaceted entertainers. Her previous work has already established credibility, and this new role allows her to build on that foundation.
The four-year gap also creates anticipation. Fans have watched Joy mature as an artist through Red Velvet’s music, and they’re curious to see how that growth translates to her acting. The timing coincides with Red Velvet’s continued success, making 2025 a banner year for Joy across multiple entertainment sectors.
Production and Release
While specific production timelines haven’t been announced, industry sources suggest filming could begin in late 2025 or early 2026. The drama will be helmed by director Kim Jin Young, who has experience bringing webtoons to life with previous projects.
SM Entertainment’s confirmation marks an official green light for the project, meaning pre-production is likely well underway. Fans can expect casting announcements for supporting roles soon, as well as teasers showcasing Joy’s transformation into Gong Yu Il.
The drama will join the growing list of webtoon adaptations dominating the global entertainment scene, particularly as international audiences increasingly embrace Korean content through streaming platforms.
FAQs
Q: When was Joy’s last acting role before “One-of-a-Kind Romance”?
A: Joy’s last acting role was in the 2021 JTBC drama “The One and Only,” where she played Pyo In Sook, one of three terminally ill women who become friends. This marks her return to acting after a four-year hiatus during which she focused on Red Velvet’s music activities, including group comebacks and her solo projects.
Q: What is “One-of-a-Kind Romance” about?
A: “One-of-a-Kind Romance” is a romantic comedy based on a popular webtoon by Du Bu. It follows Gong Yu Il (played by Joy), an ordinary job seeker working part-time at a convenience store who dreams of becoming a writer. Her everyday life is turned upside down when she becomes romantically entangled with A-list actor Tak Mu Yi (Kim Hyun Jin) and her idol crush Ryu Min, a member of fictional boy band X-ONE, creating a love triangle.
