New Fantasy Romance Starring Taec-yeon and Seo-hyun Drops Teaser Poster, Sets Air Date

KBS2 has unveiled the first teaser poster for its upcoming Wednesday–Thursday drama 'The First Night with the Duke', starring 2PM’s Ok Taec-yeon and Girls’ Generation’s Seo-hyun, alongside an official premiere date: June 11.

Adapted from the popular webtoon of the same name, the drama tells the story of a modern-day female college student who suddenly finds herself possessed into a side character of a romance novel — only to accidentally spend a night with the book’s obsessive male lead, setting off a chain of unexpected events. The series promises an off-the-rails fantasy romance that crosses dimensions, fate, and genre conventions.

A Fantasy Set in a Fictional World — With a 21st-Century Twist

Seohyun plays Cha Seon-chaek, the minor character in the novel who is suddenly inhabited by “K,” a college student from the real world. Taecyeon stars as Lee-beon, the novel’s powerful royal male lead. Their fateful meeting and unexpected night together sets the entire story on a different trajectory — one that no reader (or viewer) could have predicted.

Kwon Han-sol plays Jo Eun-ae, the story’s original heroine who was meant to fall in love with Lee-beon in a romance that transcends social class. With the appearance of Cha Seon-chaek, Jo Eun-ae’s fate is derailed. The drama will follow her personal journey as she tries to reclaim her own story.

The cast also includes Seo Bum-june as Jeong Su-gyeom, the classic “second male lead” caught in a bittersweet love triangle, and Ji Hye-won as Do Hwa-seon, the notorious villainess. Together, these youth characters are set to bring chaotic energy to this dimension-jumping romance.

Plot Twists, Possession, and Unpredictable Romance

What begins as an unexpected one-night encounter leads to a full-blown detour from the novel’s plot. Viewers can expect dopamine-triggering twists as the characters navigate love, confusion, and fate in a world turned upside down. The question remains: What awaits the two main charaters now that the original storyline has been thrown off course?

The production team commented, “This story crosses time, space, dimension, and destiny. Through Seon-chaek and Lee-beon’s romance, we aim to bring a modern-day escape fantasy to life. We hope viewers enjoy the chaotic butterfly effect that unfolds from a single night’s deviation.”

Pre-Broadcast Controversy: Damage to a UNESCO Heritage Site

Earlier this year, the drama faced backlash for damaging a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Byeongsan Seowon in Andong, during filming. The controversy emerged when it was revealed that the production had hammered nails into the historical site to attach props.

In response, the producers issued a formal apology in January, saying, “Although we obtained prior filming approval, a visitor at the site objected to the use of nails. Regardless of the reason, we acknowledge the seriousness of the issue and deeply apologize for what happened.”

Can the Drama Overcome Its Early Scandal?

As the premiere date draws near, all eyes are on The First Night with the Duke to see whether it can rise above its pre-release controversy and capture audiences with its unconventional premise, A-list cast, and whimsical romance.

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