Red Velvet’s Joy is officially returning to acting after nearly 4 years. The idol-actress recently drew attention for her successful weight loss and upgraded visuals. Now, she is set to make her long-awaited drama comeback through the upcoming romance series “One Of A Kind Romance.” This marks Joy’s first drama role since “Once Upon a Small Town,” which aired in 2022.

In the new drama, Joy will star alongside actor Kim Hyun Jin, raising anticipation for their fresh youth romance chemistry. “One Of A Kind Romance” is scheduled to be released in the second half of 2026. The drama is directed by Kim Jin Young and written by Jeon Hyun Mi.

The story follows Gong Yoo Il, an ordinary job seeker who unexpectedly becomes the manager of top star Tak Moo Yi. However, the drama is not just a typical celebrity romance. Tak Moo Yi is a famous actor living with the emotional scars of being a stalking victim. Together, Gong Yoo Il and Tak Moo Yi begin a “mutual fan romance,” healing each other’s wounds while slowly growing closer.

The newly released teaser poster has already sparked excitement among fans. In the poster, Joy and Kim Hyun Jin create a soft and heart-fluttering atmosphere. Their similar styling, including shirts, knitwear, and jeans, gives off a couple-like mood. The two are seen sitting side by side on a sofa while reading a book, creating a warm and youthful feeling. The poster also includes the phrase: “A mutual fan romance between a top star and a job seeker.”

Joy plays Gong Yoo Il, a normal job seeker who dreams of an ordinary life. Kim Hyun Jin plays Tak Moo Yi, a top star who found strength through a novel Gong Yoo Il wrote long ago. The production team shared that the drama will follow Gong Yoo Il and Tak Moo Yi as they comfort each other’s painful wounds and gradually build love. “Through the process of Gong Yoo Il and Tak Moo Yi healing each other’s wounds and growing their love, the drama will deliver both warm comfort and excitement to tired modern viewers.” They also asked viewers to look forward to the drama’s lovely characters and charming story.

“One Of A Kind Romance” is based on the Naver webtoon of the same name, which recorded approximately 390 million global cumulative views and an impressive 9.98 rating. The drama is expected to be released in the second half of 2026 through TVING, Viu, and Japan’s ABEMA.

Sources: Daum | 텐아시아