Kim Jae Won has officially emerged as the nation’s newest “favorite younger boyfriend” thanks to his breakout role in Yumi’s Cells Season 3.
The 25-year-old actor, who played Soon Rok – a sharp-tongued yet unexpectedly sweet editor at Julie Publishing recently sat down with Sports Chosun in Seoul’s Samcheong-dong to discuss his passion for the series and the overwhelming response from viewers.
Yumi’s Cells Season 3 follows Yumi, played by Kim Go Eun, after she becomes a successful writer. Her peaceful daily life is shaken up once again by the arrival of Soon Rok, leading to another emotional journey filled with love, laughter, and heartbreak.
The Yumi’s Cells franchise first gained massive popularity for its unique combination of live-action storytelling and 3D animation. Since Season 1 premiered in 2021, followed by Season 2 in 2022 and Season 3 this year, the series has built a five-year legacy that many viewers now consider one of Korea’s definitive romance dramas.
Following memorable male leads like Goo Woong (played by Ahn Bo Hyun) in Season 1 and Babi (played by Park Jinyoung) in Season 2, Kim Jae Won’s portrayal of Soon Rok has earned enormous praise online.
Although Soon Rok appears logical and emotionally reserved on the surface, the character also reveals an unexpectedly adorable side as a devoted homebody with low social energy outside of work. Kim Jae Won’s performance highlighted that contrast perfectly, turning Soon Rok into a younger boyfriend character who confidently charges forward in love despite his calm personality.
Reflecting on the drama’s popularity, Kim Jae Won shared, “A lot more people recognize me on the street now. I’m spending these days feeling grateful for all the love.” He also revealed that his older sister is a huge fan of the original series. “When I told her I’d be playing Soon Rok, she was shocked and asked, ‘You’re playing Soon Rok?’ That reaction really made me realize how popular this series is.”
The actor admitted he initially felt pressure taking on such a beloved character. “Soon Rok is basically a unicorn-like younger man in the original webtoon. I wondered if I could portray him properly,” he said. “But after reading the script, I felt incredibly lucky. I thought, ‘This is such a huge opportunity.’”
Rather than focusing on ratings pressure, Kim Jae Won said his main concern was simply doing justice to the role. “I told myself to work 200 percent harder so I wouldn’t become a burden on the series.”
The actor also spoke about his synchronization with Soon Rok’s personality. According to director Lee Sang Yeob, Kim Jae Won closely matched the character visually, especially since he used to wear glasses like Soon Rok when he was younger. Friends who know him personally also pointed out similarities, particularly his natural cuteness and playful charm.
Kim Jae Won didn’t hide his admiration for co-star Kim Go Eun either. “Working with Kim Go Eun was honestly a continuous learning experience,” he shared. “She’s such a veteran actress, and even though I was inexperienced, she guided me constantly on set and communicated with me so much. Just being able to act alongside her still feels unreal.”
Despite their 10-year age gap, viewers praised the pair’s chemistry throughout the drama. Kim Jae Won said he never really felt the age difference while acting together and was flattered by fans calling him “everyone’s younger boyfriend.”
He also admitted he loved the drama’s wedding ending. “When I first received the script, I wondered if Yumi and Soon Rok would actually get married like in the original webtoon. Later, after reading the final episodes, I naturally became immersed in those emotions. Honestly, I think the marriage ending made it even better,” he joked. “I became Kim Go Eun’s final man.”
When asked about his favorite scene, Kim Jae Won immediately chose the ending of Episode 6 — the moment Soon Rok unexpectedly visits Yumi’s house and confesses his feelings directly instead of apologizing to another writer. “That confession scene was especially meaningful to me because it felt like the first time Soon Rok had ever confessed like that in his life,” he explained.
One of the drama’s most talked-about moments was the now-viral “fish-shaped pastry kiss” scene. Kim Jae Won laughed while discussing it, saying, “It turned out really well. Watching Soon Rok, I thought, ‘How can someone be so harmless yet still make hearts flutter like this?’ Honestly, it felt even more exciting than a normal kiss.”
He also revealed that Soon Rok’s shaky legs after the kiss were completely real. “My legs actually gave out, and viewers noticed that detail,” he said. “There’s also a scene where Soon Rok lightly wipes his lips afterward, and that was an improvised moment that happened naturally without me planning it.”
Kim Jae Won also addressed the famous “Maltese dog controversy” from Episode 1. In the scene, Soon Rok bluntly insults Maltese dogs while talking to Yumi, sparking hilarious reactions from real-life Maltese owners online. The actor even jokingly apologized through social media afterward.
Laughing, Kim Jae Won said, “I just faithfully acted out the lines in the script, but after the episode aired, I was shocked seeing so many viewers with Maltese profile pictures flooding my comments.” He added, “I’d like to apologize once again to all Maltese owners. Maltese dogs are actually the cutest dogs in the world.”
Alongside Kim Go Eun and Kim Jae Won, Yumi’s Cells Season 3 also starred Jeon Seok Ho, Choi Daniel, Lee Yoo Bi, and several returning cast members. The drama was written by Song Jae Jung and Kim Kyung Ran, with directing by Lee Sang Yeob.
Sources: Naver
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