Key takeaways
- The production team released a collection of backstage photos and actor comments that reveal a working atmosphere brimming with strong affinity among the three leads.
- The drama’s viewership metrics demonstrate immediate and sustained audience interest in the lead cast’s collaboration.
- “Spooky in Love” represents a deliberate creative choice to reimagine a beloved 2011 film for the television format with expanded narrative scope and a powerhouse cast.
- The drama’s strong performance in its opening weekend establishes “Spooky in Love” as a significant contender in the competitive summer television landscape.
tvN’s summer supernatural Romance “Spooky in Love” premiered on July 18, 2026, immediately capturing audiences with Park Eun Bin, Yang Se Jong, and Ong Seong Wu’s palpable chemistry both on-screen and behind the scenes. The 12-episode series, which streams simultaneously on Netflix, airs Saturday and Sunday at 9:10 p.m. KST through August 23, 2026, blending Fantasy, horror, comedy, and Romance into a fresh take on the 2011 hit film “Spellbound.” Production materials released before the premiere showcase the trio’s strong affinity and comfortable working dynamic, setting high expectations for their collaborative performance.
On-Set Chemistry Shines Through Candid Behind-the-Scenes Content
The production team released a collection of backstage photos and actor comments that reveal a working atmosphere brimming with strong affinity among the three leads. Park Eun Bin, Yang Se Jong, and Ong Seong Wu demonstrated genuine comfort and camaraderie during filming, with the materials designed to amplify viewer anticipation for their on-screen partnership ahead of the premiere. These candid glimpses into the set gave fans an early indication that the chemistry audiences would witness would stem from authentic rapport built during production.
Park Eun Bin, who portrays isolated hotel heiress Cheon Yeo-ri, made a lighthearted remark about delivering “chills” during the summer season while describing her approach to the supernatural elements and her character’s loneliness stemming from her ghost-seeing ability. The production team highlighted the actor’s thoughtful approach to blending the show’s horror and romance components, positioning her as the emotional anchor of the narrative. These comments underscored how seriously the cast engaged with their roles while maintaining the playful energy necessary for a drama that balances scares with laughs and romance.
Strong Ratings Signal Audience Investment in the Trio’s Dynamic
The drama’s viewership metrics demonstrate immediate and sustained audience interest in the lead cast’s collaboration. Episode two, which aired on July 19, achieved a national household average rating of 5.3 percent, peaking at 6.2 percent, while the metropolitan average reached 5.4 percent with a peak of 6.3 percent. This sharp rise in just two episodes positioned “Spooky in Love” atop its time slot for two consecutive weeks across cable, IPTV, and satellite platforms according to Nielsen Korea data.
The ratings trajectory reflects viewers’ investment not only in the supernatural mystery plot but also in watching the three leads navigate their characters’ complex relationships. Park Eun Bin’s Cheon Yeo-ri, a chaebol heiress cursed with the ability to see ghosts and inadvertently cause others to see them upon touch, forms the emotional epicenter around which Yang Se Jong’s Ma Gang-wook—a prosecutor terrified of ghosts—and Ong Seong Wu’s Kang Min-hwan orbit. The immediate audience response validates the production’s casting choices and the visible comfort the actors display with one another.
Love Triangle Dynamics Drive Narrative Tension and Viewer Engagement
Ong Seong Wu’s character, Kang Min-hwan, begins the narrative as a close friend to Park Eun Bin’s protagonist but evolves into an ambitious and manipulative force driven by desires for power, fundamentally altering the trust between them. This character arc introduces significant emotional stakes and complexity to the ensemble dynamic, transforming what initially appears as a supportive friendship into a source of intrigue and betrayal. The shift in Kang Min-hwan’s motivations creates narrative tension that extends beyond the central romance into questions of loyalty and ambition.
When prosecutor Ma Gang-wook enters their orbit, Yang Se Jong’s character becomes the catalyst for a full-fledged love triangle that drives the romantic conflict throughout the series. The three-way dynamic allows the production to explore not only the supernatural partnership between Yeo-ri and Gang-wook but also the fractured bonds and competing interests that emerge when Min-hwan’s true nature surfaces. This layered relationship structure gives the cast ample material to demonstrate range and emotional depth, elevating the drama beyond a simple ghost-hunting procedural into a character-driven exploration of trust, ambition, and redemptive love.
Pedigree Behind the Camera Brings Acclaimed Vision to Familiar Story
“Spooky in Love” represents a deliberate creative choice to reimagine a beloved 2011 film for the television format with expanded narrative scope and a powerhouse cast. Director Lee Min-soo, known for his work on acclaimed dramas including “Resident Playbook” and “Stain,” brings substantial experience in navigating complex genre blends and character-driven storytelling. Screenwriter Choi Jung-mi crafted the adaptation to provide what the production describes as a “bigger canvas” than the original film, allowing room for deeper character exploration and extended narrative arcs across twelve episodes.
The original “Spellbound” film, released in 2011 and also known as “Chilling Romance,” starred Son Ye-jin and Lee Min-ki and established the supernatural romance framework that the new series builds upon. By entrusting this Remake to Lee Min-soo’s directorial sensibility and the considerable star power of Park Eun Bin, Yang Se Jong, and Ong Seong Wu, the production signals confidence in elevating the source material while honoring its core appeal. Production houses CJ ENM, B.pic, and Sangsang Film united to realize this vision, with Netflix securing exclusive international streaming rights to ensure global audiences access episodes without delay.
Viewership Momentum Continues Through Summer Season
The drama’s strong performance in its opening weekend establishes “Spooky in Love” as a significant contender in the competitive summer television landscape. With the series scheduled to run through August 23, 2026, viewers have nearly six weeks of Saturday and Sunday episodes to anticipate, with the established chemistry among the leads suggesting sustained engagement throughout the season. The production’s strategic release of behind-the-scenes content and actor quotes demonstrates a coordinated effort to maintain momentum and deepen audience connection to the cast beyond their on-screen performances.
As the narrative progresses and the love triangle intensifies, the visible affinity between Park Eun Bin, Yang Se Jong, and Ong Seong Wu will likely prove decisive in whether audiences remain invested through the final episodes. The combination of strong ratings, compelling character dynamics, and the production team’s evident care in fostering a collaborative atmosphere positions “Spooky in Love” as must-watch television for drama enthusiasts seeking supernatural intrigue grounded in genuine human connection and emotional authenticity.
