Anticipated LGBT+ K-Drama Star Confesses His On-Screen Love Interest Was His Classmate In Real Life

New LGBTQIA+ K-Drama Love in the Big City, starring Jin Ho Eun (All of Us Are Dead, Revenge of Others, Nevertheless, and Sh**ting Stars) and Nam Yoon Su (Extracurricular, Birthcare Center, Beyond Evil, and The King’s Affection) were cast as Kyu Ho (also romanized Gyuho) and Go Young, respectively, is releasing on October 21. The K-Drama is adapted from Park Sang Young‘s best-selling novel of the same name, which was Sang’s first work published in English as it was translated by Anton Hur, who also worked on BTS‘s Beyond the Story.

Go Young (Nam Yoon Su), a gay Korean man, lives with Mi Ae (Lee Soo Kyung), a straight woman. Through Mi Ae’s eyes, Go Young embarks on a journey of personal growth. He struggles with his relationship with his mother, who’s in denial about his sexual orientation, and is forced to part ways with his lover Gyu Ho (Jin Ho Eun) due to societal pressure. Recovering from his breakup, Go Young takes a trip to Thailand with a stranger, and manages to learn more about himself in the process. Can Go Young reach the personal enlightenment he desires? This 2024 Korean drama features Heo Jin Ho, Hong Ji Young, Son Tae Kyeom, and Kim Se In as directors for different episodes, based on the novel of the same name by Park Sang Young.

— Rakuten Viki

While trailers have been pulled due to homophobic groups’ protests, the cast promoted the K-Drama in a press conference today.

#LoveInTheBigCity press conference eng subs pic.twitter.com/c3M8ZMwcES

— n (@rvinpeaxe) October 16, 2024

While Jin Ho Eun and Nam Yoon Su portrayed lovers in the K-Drama, they revealed they had known each other in real life years prior to working together.

Nam Yoon Su (left) and Jin Ho Eun (right) | TVING

Nam Yoon Su (left) and Jin Ho Eun (right) | TVING

| TVING

In the press conference interview, Ho Eun revealed that they attended the same high school, and even then, Ho Eun admired Yoon Su. So, Ho Eun found the experience of working with Yoon Su touching.

What author Park Sang Young said about actor Nam Yoon Su’s looks being the potential selling point of the drama, I agree very much with that. In real life, actor Nam Yoon Su and I were senior and junior in high school. During high school, he was like a celebrity to me. So, to play the true love Gyuho of such a person in Love in the Big City was really touching.

— Jin Ho Eun

남윤수 외모가 개연성 ㅎㅎ#대도시의사랑법 #고영 #규호#LoveintheBigCity #남윤수 #진호은 pic.twitter.com/a4X6HFjs20

— 밤하늘별♡ (@iric911) October 16, 2024

Fans are convinced this project was fate, knowing the two actors were schoolmates.

Hoeun just revealed that him and Yoonsu were from the same highschool and he was his senior.

From highschool mate to playing boyfriends, you cant tell me this isnt fate!#LoveInTheBigCity pic.twitter.com/HSxV1b7CuL

— mikey / 🏳️‍🌈 (@beansxooo) October 16, 2024

Jin Hoeun said he and Nam Yoonsu were at the same high school, Jin Hoeun said nam yoonsu looked like a celebrity (at school). When he was his co-star, it was very touched.

PLEASE this so sweet. Imagine kau punya karir yg sama dengan teman sekolahmu dan sekarang kalian partner. pic.twitter.com/z9BDC1YdnD

— Ken Kesey (@ikhhsn) October 16, 2024

ji hoeun on working opposite nam yoonsu in love in the big city.

ㅡ what author park sangyoung said about actor nam yoonsu's looks being the potential/selling point of the drama, i agree very much with that. in real life, actor nam yoonsu and i were + pic.twitter.com/WlLs9z974c

— ru (@rusiefool) October 16, 2024

Love in the Big City will be released on October 21 and will be available for streaming via Rakuten Viki. Below, check out Nam Yoon Su’s response to the homophobic backlash.

Popular K-Drama Actor Responds To Homophobia By Laughing