Squid Game's Lee Jung Jae to romance The Glory star, eighteen years his junior, in his new drama Mean Love

Squid Game star Lee Jung Jae has announced his new project, Mean Love, a romantic drama co-starring Lim Ji Yeon, known for her role in The Glory. The drama is highly anticipated as both Lee Jung Jae and Kim Ji Yeon are fresh off their successful projects, Squid Game Season 2 and The Tale of Lady Ok, respectively.

Lee Jung Jae and Lim Ji Yeon team up for new K-drama

After taking the world by storm with Netflix's web series Squid Game, Lee Jung Jae is returning to Korean television with the new romantic K-drama Mean Love. The upcoming tvN drama stars him alongside Lim Ji Yeon, who shot to global fame with her negative role in Song Hye Kyo starrer The Glory.

While the K-drama has already generated buzz since its announcement due to Lee Jung Jae's newfound fame courtesy of smash hit Squid Game, it also has fans talking for another reason.

Why has drama sparked criticism?

Fans have voiced their concerns about the pairing, citing the notable 18-year age gap between Lim Ji Yeon and Lee Jung Jae. As the drama revolves around a romance between their characters, some viewers are uneasy about the significant age difference, sparking debate about the on-screen relationship.

More about Mean Love

In the upcoming drama, Lee Jung Jae plays the role of Im Hyun Jun, a veteran actor celebrated for his iconic detective roles, particularly his breakout character Kang Pil Gu from the hit series Good Detective Kang Pil Gu.

Despite his success, Hyun Jun feels suffocated by the repetitive nature of his roles, yearning to shed his 'detective actor' image and reinvent himself as a romantic comedy lead. However, this career transformation proves to be a daunting task, testing Hyun Jun's resolve and versatility as an actor.

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Lim Ji Yeon stars as Wi Jung Shin, a driven journalist who, after being honored with the 'Journalist of the Year' award, is unexpectedly demoted from the political news desk to the entertainment section. This sudden change comes after she exposes a high-profile corruption scandal, forcing her to adapt to a new industry.

Initially, Jung Shin finds herself out of her element, but her path soon crosses with Im Hyun Jun, played by Lee Jung Jae, leading to a series of humorous and unexpected encounters that eventually blossom into a deeper connection.

The upcoming drama boasts ab impressive cast

Aside from Lee Jung Jae and Lim Ji Yeon, the drama features a talented supporting cast, including Kim Ji Hoon as Joo Jae Hyung, a wealthy sports journalist, and Seo Ji Hye as a sharp newsroom leader with her own romantic storyline. Kim Hyun Jin and Jin Ho Eun also join the cast as Im Sun Woo and Wi Hong Shin, the younger siblings of the lead characters, adding depth to the narrative.

Despite the criticism around the pairing, it would be interesting to see how Lee Jung Jae embraces his new rom-com hero image. Meanwhile, Lim Ji Yeon has consistently been proving her versatility as an actor, keeping fans intrigued about her new role.

The K-drama releases in the second half of 2025.

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