If you’re looking for a light, breezy watch to pair with your weekend ramen, keep scrolling. Honestly. I Miss You (also known as Missing You) is the kind of show that stays with you, not because it’s "fun," but because it’s emotionally brutal. Released back in 2012, this MBC classic basically defined the "painful first love" trope for a whole generation of K-drama fans.
But why are we still talking about the korean drama I Miss You cast in 2026?
Simple. The chemistry was lightning in a bottle. You’ve got a mix of legendary child actors who grew up to be A-listers and adult leads who were at the absolute peak of their Hallyu fame.
The Young Leads: Where the Magic Actually Started
Most people agree that the first five episodes of this drama are its strongest. That is 100% thanks to the child cast. Yeo Jin-goo and Kim So-hyun played the younger versions of Han Jung-woo and Lee Soo-yeon.
They were 15 at the time. Can you believe that?
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Yeo Jin-goo brought this raw, desperate energy to Jung-woo. He wasn't just playing a kid with a crush; he was playing a boy whose entire world was collapsing. His performance was so good it earned him the Best Young Actor award at the 2012 MBC Drama Awards. Then you have Kim So-hyun, who had to handle some of the darkest subject matter ever put in a mainstream drama. She played "The Murderer's Daughter," a girl bullied by everyone until she meets Jung-woo.
A Quick Look at the Main Cast
- Park Yoo-chun as Han Jung-woo (Adult)
- Yoon Eun-hye as Lee Soo-yeon / Zoey Lou (Adult)
- Yoo Seung-ho as Kang Hyung-joon / Harry Borrison
- Yeo Jin-goo as Han Jung-woo (Young)
- Kim So-hyun as Lee Soo-yeon (Young)
- Ahn Do-gyu as Kang Hyung-joon (Young)
The Adult Transition: Love Triangles and Trauma
When the story jumps 14 years into the future, Park Yoo-chun takes over as the adult Jung-woo. He’s now a detective—famously nicknamed "Crazy Rabbit"—who spends every waking moment looking for the girl he lost. It’s a heavy role. He cries. A lot. But it worked. He actually won the Excellence Award for this role.
Then there’s Yoon Eun-hye.
Coming off the massive success of Coffee Prince, her role as Lee Soo-yeon (now going by the name Zoey) was a huge shift. She played a fashion designer living in France who is trying to bury a horrific past. People still talk about her fashion in this show, especially that bright pink lipstick that trended for months. But beneath the chic exterior, she portrayed a woman paralyzed by the memory of being abandoned.
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The "Second" Lead Who Stole the Show
We have to talk about Yoo Seung-ho.
He played Harry Borrison (Kang Hyung-joon). At the time, he was barely 19, yet he was playing a character in his mid-20s. It was a risky casting choice, but it paid off. Harry is easily one of the most complex "villains" in K-drama history. He’s charming, he’s wealthy, and he is deeply, dangerously obsessed with Soo-yeon.
His character had a limp caused by a dog bite from his childhood—a physical reminder of the trauma inflicted by Jung-woo’s father. This rivalry wasn't just about a girl; it was a generational war over money and revenge.
Supporting Players You Definitely Recognize
The korean drama I Miss You cast wasn't just about the top three names. The veteran actors grounded the show's more "melodramatic" moments.
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- Jun Kwang-ryul played Kim Sung-ho, the detective who takes Soo-yeon’s mother in. He becomes the father figure Jung-woo never had. His death in the series is arguably the biggest gut-punch in the middle act.
- Song Ok-sook played Soo-yeon’s mother. The scenes where she and Jung-woo eat together as a makeshift family? Pure gold.
- Han Jin-hee was the primary antagonist, Han Tae-joon. He played the "evil chaebol father" trope to perfection—cold, greedy, and completely devoid of empathy.
- Lee Se-young played Jung-woo’s half-sister, Ah-reum. She provided some of the only moments of levity in an otherwise very dark script.
Why This Cast Worked (And Why It’s Controversial)
Let’s be real. This drama is famous for a very controversial scene involving the assault of a minor. It was a huge deal in Korea when it aired. Some viewers felt it was too much for a TV drama.
However, the cast's commitment to the aftermath of that trauma is what made the show a hit. It didn't just move on. The characters were broken for 21 episodes.
The chemistry between Park Yoo-chun and Yoon Eun-hye was palpable, but honestly, the "bro-mance" or rather "enemy-mance" between Jung-woo and Harry was just as compelling. You wanted them to be friends, but you knew it was impossible because of what their parents did.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're revisiting the korean drama I Miss You cast or watching for the first time, here’s how to get the most out of it:
- Watch the first 5 episodes as a standalone movie. Even if you don't finish the 21-episode run, the child actors' performances are a masterclass in acting.
- Track the "Yellow Umbrella" motif. It’s the primary symbol of their connection. Every time it appears, the tone of the scene shifts.
- Compare Yoo Seung-ho’s performance here to his later work. It’s fascinating to see how he transitioned from "Nation's Little Brother" to a sophisticated lead through this specific role.
- Look for the cameos. Did you know Kim Sae-ron has a voice cameo as Bo-ra? Little details like that make the world feel connected.
The legacy of I Miss You isn't just the tears. It’s how it proved that child actors could carry the weight of a heavy production. It launched the careers of Yeo Jin-goo and Kim So-hyun into the stratosphere. If you can handle the emotional weight, it’s a must-watch for anyone who appreciates acting depth over simple plot lines.
Check out the original soundtrack too—specifically "Tears Are Falling" by Wax. It perfectly encapsulates the mood of the entire cast's performance.