Han Ji-min Returns to Romance in JTBC's Efficient Dating For Singles With Park Sung-hoon

Han Ji-min is returning to the romantic drama genre that first cemented her reputation, this time leading JTBC's upcoming weekend series Efficient Dating For Singles alongside Park Sung-hoon and Lee Ki-taek. At the production press conference held in Seoul on February 26, the cast and director Lee Jae-hoon shared their vision for a drama that turns the ordinary concept of blind dating into something deeply compelling.

A Romance Rooted in Real Life

Based on the popular Naver webtoon by Tari, Efficient Dating For Singles follows Lee Eui-young, a hotel purchasing team manager who excels professionally but finds herself stuck in a romantic rut. After years of failed relationships in her thirties, she makes the bold decision to actively pursue love through blind dates, where she encounters two men with starkly different charms.

Director Lee Jae-hoon explained that the drama intentionally avoids grandiose plotlines. Rather than revolving around saving the world or clearing false accusations, the series zeroes in on the surprisingly dramatic weight of everyday blind dates. He noted that viewers would discover something refreshingly authentic in the tension of waiting for an after-date call or the awkwardness of a matchmaker's follow-up questions.

The Hexagonal Man, Split in Two

Park Sung-hoon plays Song Tae-seop, a woodworking studio owner whose gentle exterior masks a steadfast inner strength. For the actor, who previously drew attention for intense roles in The Glory, this marks a deliberate turn toward warmth. He admitted his admiration for Han Ji-min was a key factor in joining the project, adding that the drama's realistic, life-adjacent storytelling would resonate with broad audiences.

Lee Ki-taek takes on the role of Shin Ji-soo, a free-spirited stage actor who drifts between part-time jobs offstage. To embody the character's untethered lifestyle, Lee obtained a motorcycle license despite having no prior riding experience. He described Ji-soo as someone who charges straight toward what captivates him, a trait that triggers unexpected emotional transformation during his blind date encounters.

Director Lee offered a striking metaphor for the two male leads, comparing them to a perfect hexagonal man split down the middle. Each possesses clear strengths and equally clear vulnerabilities, creating a dynamic where neither is the obvious choice.

Han Ji-min's Modern Take on Romance

Han Ji-min reflected on how this project differs from her previous romantic roles. She observed that Eui-young's story mirrors the real-life concerns of people around her, noting that limited opportunities for meeting new people naturally push modern professionals toward more structured approaches to dating. The actress acknowledged that shifting cultural attitudes have made app-based and arranged introductions increasingly normalized, a reality the drama embraces without judgment.

She praised her co-stars' contrasting appeal, describing Park Sung-hoon as someone who awakens protective instincts through quiet sincerity, while calling Lee Ki-taek unexpectedly mature and serious despite being a relative newcomer. For viewers in their thirties navigating love, she predicted the drama would feel like listening to a close friend's candid story over drinks.

JTBC's Efficient Dating For Singles premieres on February 28 at 10:40 PM KST, promising a spring-ready romance that asks whether love can truly be found efficiently, or whether the heart always follows its own unpredictable timeline.