Ong Seong Wu Embraces His Dark Side: Inside His First Villain Role in “Spooky in Love”
Ong Seong Wu takes on his first-ever villain role as Kang Min Hwan, the calculating CEO of CL Raymond Hotel, in tvN’s upcoming romantic horror-comedy series *Spooky in Love*, premiering July 18, 2026. The 12-episode drama marks a dramatic career pivot for the actor, who has built his reputation on romantic and heroic characters. The series will air on tvN in South Korea and simulcast globally on Netflix every Saturday and Sunday at 21:10 KST through August 30, 2026.
A Calculated Villain Emerges
Kang Min Hwan represents a sharp departure from Ong Seong Wu’s established on-screen persona. The character balances a warm, gentlemanly exterior with hidden dark ambitions, presenting himself as a sophisticated businessman while harboring strategic and exploitative motives. His layered portrayal challenges the actor to explore a morally complex antagonist who does not hesitate to use others for personal gain, adding psychological depth to the villain arc.
The role demands nuance that extends beyond traditional antagonist territory. Ong’s character possesses a sharp mind and calculating nature, making him a compelling force within the drama’s investigative occult romance framework. This two-faced CEO dynamic allows the actor to showcase range rarely demanded in his previous work, signaling a deliberate expansion of his acting portfolio as he enters a new phase of his career.
The Ensemble and Production Behind the Mystery
*Spooky in Love* assembles a powerhouse cast around Ong’s villain, with Park Eun Bin starring as Cheon Yeo Ri, a hotel heiress haunted by unjustly deceased spirits, and Yang Se Jong as Ma Gang Uk, a prosecutor who fears ghosts. The trio’s dynamic forms the emotional and narrative core of the series, blending supernatural mystery with romantic tension as the protagonists team up to confront society’s hidden evils. Supporting cast members including Jo Hye Joo, Kim Do Wan, and Ye Soo Jung round out the ensemble.
Director Lee Min Soo, known for his work on *Resident Playbook*, collaborates with writer Choi Jung Mi, who penned *Shoot My Heart*, to craft an “investigative occult romance” that expands on the 2011 film *Spellbound*, directed by Hwang In-ho. The creative team brings combined expertise in both romantic and supernatural genres, ensuring narrative depth and high production values. Each episode runs 70 minutes, allowing for substantial character development and plot progression across the 12-week broadcast schedule.
Fan Anticipation and Industry Significance
Social media platforms including TikTok and Instagram have erupted with fan excitement surrounding Ong Seong Wu’s villain transformation. Posts circulating across these platforms feature phrases like “ONG CEO & VILLAIN ERA FINALLY” and highlight the “captivating twist” of exploring Ong Seongwu’s debut as a villain in *Spooky in Love*. Early buzz signals strong pre-release interest from both longtime fans and audiences curious to witness the actor’s career evolution.
This casting choice represents a strategic decision by tvN to position *Spooky in Love* as a major summer 2026 event series. The dual-platform release—airing on tvN domestically while simulcasting on Netflix worldwide—ensures maximum accessibility for international audiences and broadens the drama’s commercial reach. The series becomes tvN’s first weekend occult romance, marking a notable expansion into genre territory that blends horror, mystery, and romance in a format designed for both streaming and traditional broadcast audiences.
Building on Supernatural Romance Foundations
*Spooky in Love* arrives as a contemporary adaptation of the 2011 film *Spellbound*, expanding the original story’s central premise—a woman who sees ghosts and a man afraid of them—into an extended narrative format. The drama deepens this concept by introducing the investigative occult romance framework, where supernatural encounters become gateways to solving unsolved murder cases and exposing systemic injustices. This expansion allows for richer character arcs and more complex emotional stakes than the source material provided.
The 12-episode structure over a six-week broadcast window represents tvN’s commitment to weekend programming that captures audiences during prime leisure hours. The 70-minute episode length distinguishes *Spooky in Love* from standard drama formats, allowing narrative momentum to build without artificial commercial breaks, a strategic choice for both domestic and international viewing platforms.
What Audiences Should Monitor
Viewers and industry observers should track how Ong Seong Wu’s villain portrayal evolves across the 12-episode arc, particularly whether his character receives redemptive moments or remains a consistent antagonistic force. The chemistry between Ong’s calculating CEO and the Park Eun Bin–Yang Se Jong pairing will determine the drama’s emotional resonance, as the protagonists navigate both supernatural threats and human corruption. Episode releases every Saturday and Sunday from July 18 through August 30, 2026, will provide weekly opportunities to assess the role’s critical reception and audience response.
*Spooky in Love* positions Ong Seong Wu at a pivotal career juncture, where his first villain role could redefine his casting opportunities and audience perception. The drama’s global availability on Netflix ensures that his performance reaches millions of international viewers simultaneously, amplifying both the potential impact of his transformation and the stakes of this ambitious role choice.
