Key takeaways
- The three-way romantic dynamic forms the narrative backbone of “Spooky in Love,” with Park Eun-bin leading as Cheon Yeo-ri, a chaebol heiress and hotel CEO who possesses the ability to see ghosts.
- “Spooky in Love” distinguishes itself from conventional romantic comedies by integrating crime-solving and paranormal investigation into its central premise.
- The drama’s premiere performance demonstrates immediate audience enthusiasm for the supernatural romantic comedy formula.
- “Spooky in Love” adapts the 2011 film “Spellbound,” which starred Son Ye-jin and Lee Min-ki and was written and directed by Hwang In-ho.
tvN and Netflix’s new supernatural romantic comedy “Spooky in Love” launched on July 18, 2026, with Park Eun-bin, Yang Se-jong, and Ong Seong-wu anchoring a 12-episode series that blends ghost-hunting investigations with romantic tension. The drama premiered to strong ratings, capturing 3.049% national viewership and ranking first in Seoul with a 3.211% rating on its opening night. The series positions Ong Seong-wu as a wealthy romantic rival who complicates the central love story, creating the dramatic triangle that defines the show’s emotional core.
A Supernatural Love Triangle Launches Globally
The three-way romantic dynamic forms the narrative backbone of “Spooky in Love,” with Park Eun-bin leading as Cheon Yeo-ri, a chaebol heiress and hotel CEO who possesses the ability to see ghosts. Yang Se-jong plays Ma Gang-wook, a prosecutor terrified of spirits who becomes her unlikely partner after discovering that a single touch between them grants him temporary ghost-seeing abilities. Ong Seong-wu joins the cast as Kang Min-hwan, the CEO of CL Raymond Hotel, whose warm demeanor masks an ambitious and calculating nature that positions him as a romantic obstacle to the main couple’s connection.
The series airs every Saturday and Sunday at 21:10 KST on tvN, with the finale scheduled for August 23, 2026, and each episode running 70 minutes—slightly longer than standard K-Drama format. This extended runtime allows the production team to develop both the supernatural mystery elements and the romantic entanglements without sacrificing character depth. Netflix provides simultaneous global streaming access, enabling international audiences across North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and India to watch the love triangle unfold in real time alongside Korean viewers.
An Investigative Occult Romance Expands the Formula
“Spooky in Love” distinguishes itself from conventional romantic comedies by integrating crime-solving and paranormal investigation into its central premise. The drama follows Cheon Yeo-ri and Ma Gang-wook as they team up to crack unsolved murders, leveraging their supernatural connection to solve paranormal cases that conventional law enforcement cannot address. This “investigative occult Romance” framework transforms what could have been a straightforward rom-com into a genre-blending narrative where supernatural elements drive both the mystery plot and the romantic tension.
Director Lee Min-soo, known for his emotional storytelling in “Resident Playbook” and “Stain,” helms the series alongside writer Choi Jung-mi. The production involves CJ ENM, CJ ENM Studios, B.pic, and Sangsang Film—the original movie’s production company—ensuring that the adaptation maintains creative continuity while expanding the source material’s scope. This collaborative approach signals the production team’s commitment to honoring the original concept while modernizing it for a 2026 audience.
Strong Opening Ratings Validate the Premise
The drama’s premiere performance demonstrates immediate audience enthusiasm for the supernatural romantic comedy formula. Episode 1 achieved a 3.049% national viewership rating on tvN, securing second place in its time slot, while the Seoul metropolitan area delivered even stronger results with a 3.211% rating that placed the drama first. These opening numbers indicate that viewers are responding positively to the combination of ghost-seeing mechanics, romantic complications, and investigative storytelling.
The global streaming availability through Netflix amplifies the show’s reach beyond traditional Korean television metrics. By providing simultaneous simulcast access to international audiences, the platform maximizes engagement across multiple regions and time zones, allowing the love triangle storyline to generate discussion across diverse viewing communities. This multi-platform strategy positions “Spooky in Love” to accumulate viewership data from both traditional domestic television ratings and global streaming analytics.
A Remake That Reimagines Its Source Material
“Spooky in Love” adapts the 2011 film “Spellbound,” which starred Son Ye-jin and Lee Min-ki and was written and directed by Hwang In-ho. The original film was a romantic comedy centered on the ghost-seeing mechanic and the comedic misunderstandings it created. The television adaptation maintains this core concept but diverges significantly by adding an investigative component, transforming the narrative into a mystery-driven story where the protagonists actively solve unsolved murder cases rather than simply navigating romantic complications caused by supernatural circumstances.
This expansion reflects evolving audience preferences for K-Dramas that combine multiple genres and narrative layers. By retaining the beloved ghost-seeing premise while introducing crime-solving elements and a romantic love triangle, the adaptation appeals to viewers seeking both supernatural intrigue and emotional character development. The decision to introduce Ong Seong-wu as a third romantic interest further distinguishes the series from its source material, creating new dramatic possibilities that the original film did not explore.
The Supporting Cast Strengthens the Ensemble
The full cast extends beyond the central trio to include Jo Hye-joo as Cheon Ha-ri, Kim Do-wan as Park Seung-jae, veteran actress Ye Soo-jung as Chairwoman Baek, and Lee Jun-hyeok. Jo Hye-joo, recognized for her role in “True to Love,” brings established credibility to the supporting ensemble, while Ye Soo-jung’s presence adds generational depth to the family and corporate dynamics that underpin the drama’s plot. These supporting characters provide context for the main characters’ motivations and create additional layers of conflict beyond the central love triangle.
What Lies Ahead for the Series
The remaining 11 episodes will air through August 23, 2026, with each new installment expected to develop both the supernatural mystery arc and the romantic tension between the three main characters. Viewers should monitor how Ong Seong-wu’s character evolves from romantic rival to either antagonist or unexpected ally, as his “ambitious and calculating” nature suggests potential betrayals or revelations that could reshape the power dynamics within the love triangle. The investigative cases that Cheon Yeo-ri and Ma Gang-wook solve will likely deepen their connection while simultaneously testing their relationship against Kang Min-hwan’s interference.
“Spooky in Love” has established itself as a significant entry in the 2026 K-drama landscape by combining supernatural elements, romantic complications, and investigative storytelling into a cohesive narrative. The strong premiere ratings and global streaming availability confirm that audiences are invested in following Park Eun-bin, Yang Se-jong, and Ong Seong-wu through the eight remaining weeks of episodes, making this series a major cultural conversation point across both Korean and international streaming communities.
