Jealousy. Envy. The crushing feeling that everyone around you is succeeding while you’re standing still. If that hits a little close to home, We Are All Trying Here might be the K-drama you didn’t know you needed — and the script reading footage has already confirmed this cast is going to deliver something extraordinary.

We Are All Trying Here — All Key Details at a Glance

Detail	Info
Drama	We Are All Trying Here
Network	JTBC (South Korea)
Premiere Date	April 18, 2026 (10:40 PM KST)
Netflix Streaming	Simultaneous global release
Director	Cha Young Hoon (Welcome to Samdal-ri)
Writer	Park Hae Young (My Liberation Notes)
Lead Actor	Koo Kyo Hwan as Hwang Dong Man
Lead Actress	Go Youn Jung as Byun Eun Ah
Episodes	12 (Saturdays & Sundays)
Finale	May 24, 2026

What Is We Are All Trying Here About?

We Are All Trying Here tells the story of Hwang Dong Man (Koo Kyo Hwan), who, surrounded by successful friends, believes he is the only one whose life isn’t working out. Consumed by anguish, envy, and jealousy, he sets out on a journey in search of peace.

Behind this simple premise is one of Korea’s sharpest creative duos — director Cha Young Hoon (Welcome to Samdal-ri) and writer Park Hae Young (My Liberation Notes). That pairing alone makes this one of the year’s most anticipated dramas.

Full Cast & Characters — What the Script Reading Revealed

Koo Kyo Hwan as Hwang Dong Man — an essentially unemployed film director who realistically portrays an unstable inner world, torn between reality and his ideals. Go Youn Jung as Byun Eun Ah — a ruthless film producer known as “The Axe” for her brutal script reviews, who hides deep scars beneath her tough exterior. Oh Jung Se as Park Kyung Se — a director entangled with Hwang Dong Man for 20 years, caught between a desire to prove himself and a lingering inferiority complex. Kang Mal Geum as Go Hye Jin — the CEO of a production company, exuding powerful charisma. Park Hae Joon as Hwang Jin Man — Dong Man’s quietly suffering older brother, living with regret over his past choices.

Bae Jong Ok plays top actress Oh Jung Hee — striving to maintain perfection — while Han Sun Hwa plays the candid actress Jang Mi Ran. Their relationship, affectionate on the surface but laced with rivalry, is described as one of the drama’s highlights. screenrant

Why This Drama Will Hit Differently

Three cast members from When Life Gives You Tangerines — Koo Kyo Hwan, Oh Jung Se, and Kang Mal Geum — reuniting with the My Liberation Notes writer means this has all the ingredients for a slow-burn emotional masterpiece. Mark your calendar for April 18.

For more K-drama premiere dates, JTBC series updates, and Korean entertainment news, visit TechnoSports.

FAQs

Q1. When does We Are All Trying Here premiere on JTBC?

We Are All Trying Here premieres on April 18, 2026 at 10:40 PM KST on JTBC, with episodes airing every Saturday and Sunday. It will also stream simultaneously on Netflix globally.

Q2. Who are the lead actors in We Are All Trying Here?

The drama stars Koo Kyo Hwan as an unemployed film director consumed by jealousy, and Go Youn Jung as a ruthless film producer nicknamed “The Axe” — written by Park Hae Young and directed by Cha Young Hoon.