Yim Si Wan goes undercover in ‘Love in Disguise’

Yim Si Wan is stepping into unfamiliar territory with Love in Disguise, a new Korean drama that blends romance, mystery, action and comedy.

Premiering on 19 October on Prime Video, the series follows Kang Jae-hee (Seol In Ah), a former special forces officer turned detective who disguises herself as a man to infiltrate the security team of Yoon Yi-jun (Yim Si Wan), a wealthy heir suspected of murder. As her investigation deepens, the line between duty and romance begins to blur.

Based on the popular web novel Why Don’t You Know It’s a Girl?, the story explores hidden identities while weaving together suspense, humor and emotional moments.

At a press conference ahead of the premiere, Yim Si Wan said he wanted to present a different kind of chaebol character.

“I focused on understanding his past,” he said. “He was born into a life where everything he had to do was already decided for him, leaving little room for what he actually wanted.”

The actor added that Yi-jun’s luxurious wardrobe was intentionally used to reflect the loneliness behind his polished image.

Seorina, meanwhile, underwent a dramatic transformation for the role, cutting her hair short to convincingly portray a detective living undercover as a man.

“At first, I felt unfamiliar with my own appearance after cutting my hair,” she said. “But as I immersed myself in Jae-hee, I stopped seeing the short hair simply as part of a disguise. Instead, I saw it as a reflection of someone completely devoted to her work.”

The drama’s romance hinges on Yi-jun unknowingly falling for the person assigned to protect him, creating a relationship that shifts between comedy, friendship and romance.

Beyond the lead couple, Kim Junghyun and Yeonwoo play a second pair whose more mature relationship offers a contrast to the series’ central love story.

Director Park Dhan-hee said one of the biggest challenges was balancing the show’s different genres.

“I spent a lot of time thinking about how to bring together romance, comedy and action,” he said, adding that the cast built strong chemistry through months of script readings before filming.

Yim Si Wan hopes the series offers viewers a welcome escape.

“I hope this series can offer a little entertainment and healing amid everyone’s busy lives,” he said. “For those who have been working hard every day, I hope watching it feels like giving yourselves a small gift.”

Love in Disguise premieres on 19 October, with new episodes released weekly.