New tvN Rom-Com’s Full Cast Line-Up Revealed—Viewers Still Not Convinced

TvN‘s new romantic comedy K-Drama, Petty Love (or Impudent Love, official English title TBD), revealed its full cast line-up and character blurbs—amid a bit of backlash regarding the age gap between the leads, Lee Jung Jae and Lim Ji Yeon.

Lim Ji Yeon’s 17-Year Age Gap With New K-Drama Lead Leaves Netizens Grossed Out

Petty Love is “a hate-to-love story” between Lim Hyun Joon, “a veteran detective actor who dreams of becoming a master of romance,” to be played by Lee Jung Jae…

…and Wi Jung Shin, “a former award-winning political journalist who gets demoted to the entertainment desk,” to be played by Lim Ji Yeon.

It will also star Flower of Evil actor Kim Ji Hoon for the role of a conglomerate heir-turned-sports journalist…

…and Crash Landing On You actress Seo Ji Hye as a role-model figure for all the journalists.

Kim Hyun Jin, a rookie model-turned-actor from YG Entertainment, will take on the role of Lee Jung Jae’s character’s younger brother, while Love In The Big City actor Jin Ho Eun will take on the role of Lim Ji Yeon’s character’s younger brother.

These additional details, while welcomed, have not been able to convince K-Drama fans of the leads. Some argued that the supporting actor, Kim Ji Hoon, would have more chemistry with Lim Ji Yeon than would Lee Jung Jae, while others questioned why 52-year-old Lee Jung Jae was cast at all for a rom-com with a 34-year-old actress.

• “A rom-com with Lee Jung Jae…? No way. Please tell me the lead is Kim Ji Hoon.”
• “Lee Jung Jae is way too old.”
• “What the—”
• “Kim Ji Hoon would have been a better cast for Lee Jung Jae’s role… This is kind of ridiculous.”
• “There are literally so many actors who are in [Lim Ji Yeon’s] age range.”
• “Looking forward to Kim Ji Hoon, though.”
• “WDYM Lee Jung Jae’s younger brother? More like his son…”

Will tvN be able to push through the backlash and create another sensational K-Drama? Stay tuned; Petty Love is set to premiere on October 27, 2025.