Actor Kim Ji-hoon emitted a strong presence in the drama "Nice to Not Meet You," opening the curtain on a complex and subtle romance narrative.
Kim Ji-hoon appeared on the April 4 broadcast of tvN's Monday-Tuesday drama "Nice to Not Meet You" (directed by Kim Ga-ram, written by Jeong Yeo-rang) in episode 2 as Lee Jae-hyung, the young president of the newspaper Sports Eunseong. With a warm personality, refined appearance and gentle manners, he immediately captured viewers' attention the moment he appeared.
"Nice to Not Meet You" is a drama about a fallen national actor who has lost his original passion and an entertainment reporter obsessed with achieving justice, featuring diss battles, fact bombardments and prejudice-busting.
In episode 2, Jae-hyung drew attention with a pleasant mishap from his first appearance. On the plane, seated next to Im Hyun-joon (played by Lee Jung-jae), Jae-hyung, even after having a fan's autograph taken from him by the other man, provoked laughter with his witty reaction. Though the scene was short, Kim Ji-hoon's realistic everyday acting stood out and led the tone of the drama in a lively way.
Upon arriving at the airport, Jae-hyung naturally became entangled with Woo Jeong-shin (played by Lim Ji-yeon) after helping her, who had been harassed among fans gathered at the arrival of a famous singer. He signaled the start of their connection with a kind gesture of picking up her scattered belongings, and he showed a curious look at Jeong-shin's spirited attitude. In particular, the scene where he grabs Jeong-shin's hand and runs away with her to avoid the crowd elicited both laughter and fluttering excitement amid the tense situation, bringing satisfied smiles to viewers.
Back home, Jae-hyung reunited warmly with his mother Oh Mi-ran (played by Jeon Soo-kyung), showing a gentle family chemistry after a long time apart. This revealed that Jae-hyung is not merely a third-generation chaebol but a person with human warmth. Later, having been appointed the new president of Sports Eunseong, Jae-hyung learned that Jeong-shin was a reporter for the outlet through the employee badge he picked up at the airport and went to find her himself. However, when he unexpectedly encountered Yoon Hwa-young (played by Seo Ji-hye), he hurriedly hid, heightening curiosity about future developments.
In this way, Kim Ji-hoon led the tone of the drama from his first appearance by naturally blending his characteristic cheerfulness and warm sensibility into the role. Even as a third-generation chaebol, he offered viewers a new charm by infusing sincere warmth into an unpretentious naturalness. His nonchalant delivery and expressions that melted into the situations once again proved Kim Ji-hoon's acting prowess. Expectations are focused on the emotional depth and romantic shifts he will unfold in "Nice to Not Meet You."
Viewers who watched the broadcast reacted enthusiastically with comments such as Kim Ji-hoon is perfect for the role of Lee Jae-hyung; each drama shows a different charm, the sexy killer has returned as a sweet president — truly handsome, Jae-hyung's eyes were guilty from the start, I wonder what story Jae-hyung will have with Hwa-young, already curious, and Kim Ji-hoon really suits long hair.
Meanwhile, actor Kim Ji-hoon was nominated in the multi-entertainer (male) institutional sector at the 2026 Korea First Brand Awards. The Korea First Brand Awards is the country's largest brand awards, selecting and awarding the brands expected to lead the year through consumer satisfaction surveys; each year it selects the brands and figures most anticipated to lead the following year through nationwide consumer surveys. Kim Ji-hoon, who shows diverse charms across acting and entertainment, is drawing attention as the award outcome will be decided by participation from fans and the public.
[Photo] tvN "Nice to Not Meet You" broadcast capture
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