Some K-dramas just stick. You know the ones. They don't need massive explosions or a high-stakes murder mystery to keep you glued to the screen; they just need two people who look like they’ve actually lived a lifetime together. That was exactly the magic of Choi Woo-shik and Kim Da-mi. When we talk about the Our Beloved Summer cast, we aren't just talking about a group of actors who showed up, read their lines, and went home. We’re talking about a specific kind of lightning in a bottle.
Honestly, the show shouldn't have worked as well as it did on paper. The "enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers" trope is as old as time itself. But it did work. It worked because the casting was surgical.
The Choi Woo-shik and Kim Da-mi Reunion
People often forget that Our Beloved Summer wasn't the first time Choi Woo-shik and Kim Da-mi shared a set. They previously starred together in the 2018 action-thriller The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion. Back then, they were literally trying to kill each other. Choi played a cold-blooded assassin, and Da-mi was a high-schooler with telekinetic powers.
It’s hilarious.
Going from trying to murder someone to playing their soft-hearted, sketchbook-obsessed ex-boyfriend is a massive leap. Choi Woo-shik plays Choi Ung with this specific kind of lethargy that feels incredibly relatable to anyone who has ever wanted to do absolutely nothing with their life. He’s a "lazy" artist, but he’s not actually lazy; he’s just emotionally stalled. On the flip side, Kim Da-mi’s Kook Yeon-su is the quintessential "overachiever who is secretly crumbling."
The chemistry works because they already had a foundation of trust. Choi Woo-shik has mentioned in interviews that having Da-mi as a partner meant he didn't have to spend weeks breaking the ice. They could just jump into the heavy emotional lifting.
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Why the Supporting Cast Mattered Just as Much
While the leads get the lion's share of the edits on TikTok and Instagram, the show would have fallen flat without Kim Sung-cheol and Roh Jeong-eui. Kim Sung-cheol played Kim Ji-ung, the documentary director who spent his entire life watching his best friend fall in love with the girl he also liked.
It’s heartbreaking, really.
Ji-ung represents the perspective of the audience. He’s the observer. Kim Sung-cheol brought this incredible subtlety to the role—the way he holds a camera or looks away when Ung and Yeon-su are having a moment. It’s a thankless job, playing the "third wheel" in a K-drama, but he made Ji-ung feel like a protagonist in his own right.
Then you have NJ, played by Roh Jeong-eui. Usually, the "famous second lead" is written as a villain or a brat. NJ wasn't that. She was just lonely. Seeing a top-tier idol character who is actually self-aware and respectful of boundaries was a breath of fresh air.
The Dynamic of the "Inner Circle"
- Park Jin-joo as Lee Sol-yi: The chaotic best friend we all need. Her chemistry with Yeon-su provided the much-needed comedic relief when the main plot got too heavy.
- Ahn Dong-goo as Ga Eun-ho: Ung's manager. His bickering with Ung felt like a real brotherhood.
- The Parents: Specifically Choi Ung’s parents. They provided the emotional backbone of the story, showing that "home" isn't just a place, but the people who wait for you with a warm meal.
Realism Over Melodrama
Most K-dramas rely on a "big secret" or a tragic accident to drive the plot. Our Beloved Summer didn't do that. It relied on the mundane. It relied on the fact that sometimes, people break up because they’re tired. Or because they’re scared. Or because they don't know how to talk about their feelings.
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The documentary format was a stroke of genius. It allowed the Our Beloved Summer cast to break the fourth wall without actually breaking it. By having the characters "interviewed," the audience got a window into their internal monologues that felt earned, not forced. It felt like we were peeking into their diaries.
Where is the Our Beloved Summer cast now?
Since the show wrapped in early 2022, the cast hasn't slowed down. Choi Woo-shik, already a global name thanks to Parasite, went on to star in the gritty Netflix thriller A Killer Paradox. It’s a total 180 from the sweet, bumbling Ung. He plays a man who accidentally kills a serial killer and ends up in a cat-and-mouse game with a detective. If you liked him in Our Beloved Summer, his range in A Killer Paradox will blow your mind.
Kim Da-mi has been slightly more selective. She starred in the film Soulmate, a Korean remake of the Chinese film Soul Mate. It’s another heavy hitter in the "slice of life" genre, focusing on the complex friendship between two women over several decades. It proves she’s the queen of nuanced, emotional performances.
Kim Sung-cheol has been busy on stage and screen. He’s a powerhouse in musical theater, which often surprises fans who only know him from dramas. He also took over the lead role in Hellbound Season 2, stepping into some very big shoes and proving his versatility.
Roh Jeong-eui has become a bit of a "formative" fashion icon and continued her rise with the Netflix film Badland Hunters and the high-school mystery drama Hierarchy. She’s definitely one of the biggest "ones to watch" in the younger generation of Korean actors.
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The Cultural Impact of the Show
Even years later, the OST (Original Soundtrack) for this show is still on everyone's playlists. "Christmas Tree" by V of BTS broke records for a reason. It captured the exact "vibe" of the show: melancholic, hopeful, and deeply nostalgic.
The filming locations in Suwon have become pilgrimage sites for fans. The famous mural house where Choi Ung lived? People still visit it. That speaks to the "beloved" part of the title. People didn't just watch the show; they lived in it.
The show also sparked a lot of conversations about mental health and the pressure of "success" in your late 20s. Yeon-su’s struggle to provide for her grandmother while maintaining a "perfect" professional image resonated with a generation of viewers who feel like they’re running a race they didn't sign up for.
Breaking Down the Misconceptions
A lot of people think Our Beloved Summer is just a "slow burn." That’s a bit of a simplification. It’s actually a character study. If you go into it expecting a fast-paced rom-com, you might be disappointed. It’s meant to be savored. It’s about the silence between the words.
Another misconception is that the characters are "toxic." Honestly, they’re just human. They make mistakes. They ghost each other. They say things they don't mean because they’re hurting. That’s not toxicity; that’s realism.
Actionable Steps for Fans and New Viewers
If you’ve already finished the show and are feeling that "post-drama depression," here is how to navigate it:
- Watch "The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion": See Choi Woo-shik and Kim Da-mi in a completely different light. Their physical intensity is a stark contrast to their roles as Ung and Yeon-su.
- Follow the Cast on Instagram: They are all quite active and often share behind-the-scenes photos that make you realize how close they actually were during filming.
- Listen to the "Our Beloved Summer" LP: If you can find it, the physical vinyl release is a masterpiece and includes beautiful art from the show.
- Visit the Suwon Mural Village: If you’re ever in South Korea, the Haenggung-dong area in Suwon is where most of the neighborhood scenes were filmed. It’s a beautiful, walkable area.
- Check out "A Killer Paradox" and "Soulmate": Support the leads in their newer projects to see how they’ve evolved as performers.
The Our Beloved Summer cast gave us something rare: a story that felt like a warm hug and a cold splash of water at the same time. It’s a reminder that our pasts don't define us, but they definitely shape the way we love in the present. Whether you’re re-watching for the third time or just discovering the "Ung-Yeon-su" mania, there’s always something new to notice in their performances. They didn't just play characters; they lived them.