42-Year Age Gap Couple Leads New Korean Romance Drama

A Korean romance drama featuring an 80-year-old wife and a young husband is set to make waves with its unconventional plot. JTBC’s new weekend drama, More Beautiful Than Heaven, stars Son Suk-ku and Kim Hye-ja in a love story that transcends time and life itself. Son Suk-ku, born in 1983, and Kim Hye-ja, born in 1941, have a remarkable 42-year age difference.

Directed by Kim Seok-yoon and written by Lee Nam-gyu and Kim Soo-jin, More Beautiful Than Heaven follows the story of 80-year-old Lee Hae-sook (Kim Hye-ja) and her husband Go Nak-joon (Son Suk-ku), who reunite in heaven with a twist—he is restored to his youth while she remains 80. The series explores their eventful journey in the afterlife, offering heartwarming humor and touching moments.

Son Suk-ku took on the role in More Beautiful Than Heaven to collaborate once again with director Kim Seok-yoon, following their successful partnership on My Liberation Notes. Their reunion highlights a strong professional connection and a mutual passion for delivering impactful storytelling.

In the one-minute teaser released on February 6, Hae-sook boards the train to heaven after her husband’s passing. After completing the heavenly entry process, she steps onto a sunlit field where she is shocked to meet her young and vibrant husband, Nak-joon. Though initially surprised, the two quickly adapt to their new lives, sharing laughter and love in the afterlife.

Viewers responded enthusiastically to the teaser, with comments such as, “What a unique concept,” “He went to heaven and became Son Suk-ku,” “This could be the next life-changing drama,” and “Kim Hye-ja is back with another masterpiece like The Light in Your Eyes.” Many expressed excitement and impatience for the April premiere, calling the premise “innovative” and “full of potential.”

Kim Hye-ja’s character, Lee Hae-sook, is a resilient woman who becomes the family breadwinner after her husband’s sudden accident. Known as a “battle-tested fighter,” she leads a tough life before dying at 80 and reuniting with her husband in heaven. Unlike others who regain their youth, Hae-sook remains in her 80-year-old form as she embarks on her second life.

Son Suk-ku plays Go Nak-joon, Hae-sook’s devoted husband and a heavenly postman who delivers letters of earthly wishes. Having arrived in heaven first, he builds a cozy home for his wife, expecting her to appear in her youthful form. When she instead arrives as her 80-year-old self, their unexpected life in heaven begins.

Kim Hye-ja, known for her warm and emotional performances in dramas like The Light in Your Eyes, Rustic Period, and Inspector’s Notebook, pairs with Son Suk-ku, who has proven his acting prowess in The Roundup, Hit-and-Run Squad, D.P., and Murder DIEary. Though Son Suk-ku has starred in popular Korean dramas like My Liberation Notes, where his romantic chemistry with Kim Ji-won was palpable, the new JTBC series follows a narrative that is historically unconventional in Korean drama's history. Their highly anticipated romance in More Beautiful Than Heaven will premiere this April.