Son Suk-ku Says “Kim Hye-ja as My Love Interest? It Just Worked.”

The highly anticipated JTBC weekend drama Heavenly Ever After is set to premiere on April 19 at 10:40 p.m. KST. With a star-studded cast and a deeply emotional story, the drama is already making waves among fans of Korean television—even before its first episode airs.

The drama features an exceptional ensemble including Kim Hye-ja, Son Suk-ku, Han Ji-min, Lee Jung-eun, Cheon Ho-jin, and Ryu Deok-hwan. It is directed by Kim Seok-yoon, with a script penned by Lee Nam-kyu and Kim Su-jin—the same trio behind the critically acclaimed 2019 series The Light in Your Eyes.

A Love Story That Begins at the End of Life

The story follows Lee Hae-sook (played by Kim Hye-ja), who arrives in heaven as an 80-year-old woman only to find that her husband Go Nak-joon (Son Suk-ku), has arrived there much younger—in his 30s. As the couple reunites in the afterlife, a unique and moving love story unfolds, centered around the idea of love that transcends time and death.

The series has been dubbed the “Kim Hye-ja project” since its earliest stages. Director Kim shared, “This drama was tailor-made for Kim Hye-ja. It’s like a custom suit, not off-the-rack. Even the other actors agreed to join without even reading the full script.”

Kim Hye-ja’s Return to the Screen

In the drama, Hae-sook is portrayed as a woman full of love for her late husband. Kim Hye-ja explained, “After my husband passed away, I was left behind with no preparation. Hae-sook arrives in heaven thinking she’ll be young again—but instead, she’s still in her 80s, while her husband appears in his 30s,” she laughed.

She added, “The story of lasting connection really moved me. I didn’t hesitate when I heard Director Kim was leading this project. I’ve spent the past year filming with nothing but gratitude in my heart.”

Son Suk-ku as the Devoted Husband

Playing her husband Nak-joon, actor Son Suk-ku said, “I was nervous about doing a married couple storyline, but working with Kim Hye-ja sunbaenim felt incredibly natural. Nak-joon is completely devoted to Hae-sook—he’s the ultimate ‘romantic.’” He added that he was drawn to the idea of portraying heaven as a space not too different from the world we live in.

A Trailer That Sparked Major Buzz

Even before its release, Heavenly Ever After gained massive attention with its February teaser trailer. Viewers praised the concept of an 80-year-old woman reuniting with her now-younger husband, calling it “fresh,” “brilliant,” and “genre-defying.” Comments like “This might be my next favorite drama” and “It gives me The Light in Your Eyes vibes” flooded social media.

That previous series, also led by Kim Hye-ja and the same creative team, started with modest ratings in 2019 but ended with a high of 9.7% and widespread acclaim—especially for Kim’s heartfelt monologues and moving emotional delivery.

With Heavenly Ever After, both the production team and lead actress are back, setting the stage for what could be another unforgettable series. The drama is already being dubbed “the next life-changing K-drama” by fans and industry insiders alike.

JTBC’s Heavenly Ever After premieres April 19 at 10:40 PM KST.

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