[talk] Lee Jun-young has already been confirmed as the lead in a JTBC drama in 2026.
[SPOTV News=Reporter Jang Jin-ri] Lee Jun-young, the most popular actor of 2025, will be landing on JTBC as 'New Employee Chairman Kang'.
JTBC's new drama 'Rookie Chairman Kang' (creator Kim Soon-ok, writer Hyun Ji-min, director Go Hye-jin), which will be aired for the first time in 2026, is a drama that contains the reminder life story of Kang Yong-ho, the chairman of Choi Sung Group, a leading conglomerate known as the god of business, who ends up living an unwanted second life due to an accident.
It is based on the web novel "New Employee Chairman Kang" by San Kyung, who also wrote the original web novel for "The Youngest Son," which achieved the highest viewership ratings for a Korean miniseries in 2022. Anticipation is high as writer Kim Soon-ok, who has written representative Korean dramas such as the "Penthouse" series and "Temptation of Wife," is participating as a creator.
Lee Jun-young, who established himself as a star in 2025 with global hits like 'Deceived Me' and 'Evil Hero Class 2', is heralding a new transformation as he takes on the role of soccer player Hwang Jun-hyun. In the drama, Hwang Jun-hyun gets into an unexpected accident immediately after joining FC Choi Sung, a first-division team, and ends up switching souls with Kang Yong-ho, the chairman of the conglomerate Choi Sung Group.
Kang Yong-ho's soul, swapped with Hwang Jun-hyun's, becomes the exceptional CEO of Choi Sung Group, the 10th-largest conglomerate in Korea. Instead of pursuing his dream career in the Premier League, he applies for a new job at a major corporation, embarking on an unpredictable journey. With Hwang Jun-hyun's healthy body, Kang Yong-ho, who embodies a cool-headed entrepreneurial mindset, is poised to write a new chapter in the history of new recruits. The future awaits.
All eyes are on Lee Jun-young, who will showcase his ever-changing charms as he portrays the dual faces of "New Hwang Jun-hyun," a character imbued with the spirits of soccer players Hwang Jun-hyun and Kang Yong-ho. From a passionate young man to a seasoned businessman, Lee Jun-young's passionate performance is sure to surprise viewers with a never-before-seen new side of himself.
The production team of 'Rookie Chairman Kang' said, "We plan to present a thrilling catharsis by depicting the process of a person who lives a perfect life but faces the worst variable and goes through an extended battle in life," and added, "Please pay attention to Lee Jun-young's acting, who will score a refreshing decisive goal on the field of life through the character of Hwang Jun-hyun, who is called the 'god employee.'"