Ok Taec-yeon transforms into a vampire in the new K-romantic comedy Heartbeat, a series full of unexpected twists and humor.

On the 26th, a production presentation for KBS’s new Monday–Tuesday drama Heartbeat was held at the D-Cube City St. Hall in Sindorim, Seoul.

Heartbeat tells the dangerous yet heartwarming cohabitation romance between Seon Woo-hyul—a half-human, half-vampire who misses his one chance to become fully human by a single day out of 100 years—and Joo In-hae, a woman entirely devoid of warmth. The two begin living together by chance and gradually set out on a journey to find true emotional warmth.

Director Lee Hyun-seok introduced the drama:
“When I first read the script, the half-human, half-vampire concept felt fresh and intriguing. The story explores why a being with eternal life is willing to risk everything, even death, just to live like a real human.”

He added,
“We focused on blending the vampire concept naturally into the narrative. Traditional vampire works lean heavily into genre elements, but in Heartbeat, the vampires had to convey emotion. So we stripped away many typical vampire traits to create a uniquely Korean-style vampire.”

Ok Taec-yeon plays Seon Woo-hyul, a half-vampire who desperately wants to experience a heart-pounding, human love but fails to become human by just one day.
“Coming from a heavier drama before this, reading the Heartbeat script felt healing,” he said.
“The story itself was fun, and I was fascinated by how much I could express with this character.”

He also shared a playful anecdote:
“I didn't think of 2PM at first when I heard the title Heartbeat, but once the English title was confirmed as Heartbeat, it felt like destiny. I hope the drama receives as much love as the song did.”

Won Ji-an, taking on her first leading role, stars as Joo In-hae, a cold and pragmatic temporary school nurse and guesthouse owner.
“I'm excited and nervous to be leading my first series—and to do so with a bright and upbeat project,” she said.
She also praised her co-star, adding,
“Taec-yeon has incredible energy. Even when tired, he always brought positivity to set. Thanks to that, we worked really well together.”

Taec-yeon returned the compliment:
“Won Ji-an is a great actress. You can’t help but fall for In-hae’s charm. Viewers will definitely see how well we play off each other.”

Yoon So-hee plays a dual role: Na Hae-won, a wealthy real estate investor, and Yoon Hae-seon, a Joseon-era noblewoman who dreams of heart-fluttering love with the vampire Woo-hyul.

She explained,
“I’ve always wanted to do fantasy. Unlike typical vampire characters, ours have weaknesses. My character can control other vampires with money and power, which fascinated me.”

Musical actor Park Kang-hyun makes his drama debut as Shin Do-sik, a modern vampire hunter searching for half-vampire blood.
“There was no reason to turn it down—it was my first chance at drama,” he said.
“Do-sik has a pure-hearted side I’ve never played before. I wanted to explore that.”

He candidly added,
“It was nerve-racking and exciting. Performing on stage and acting for the camera feel fundamentally similar but technically very different. I worried a lot about whether I might hinder the project, but taking on this challenge felt meaningful regardless of outcome.”
With fresh characters, unique worldbuilding, and strong chemistry between the leads, Heartbeat promises to deliver a thrilling and heart-racing story.

[Star Today – Reporter Han Hyun-jung]