Former Lovelyz Member Jeong Ye In Cast as Lead of 60-Episode Short-Form Drama ‘How to Survive in the Body of a Villainous Stepmother’

13 May 2026, 20:45 by K-Soul · allkpop

Former Lovelyz member Jeong Ye In has been cast as the lead of the upcoming short-form drama 'How to Survive in the Body of a Villainous Stepmother (literal translation).'

According to a report by TenAsia on May 13, Jeong Ye In was selected as the female lead of the series. The drama tells the story of Seol Hwa, a North Korean special agent who loses consciousness during a war and wakes up inside the body of a stepmother character from a South Korean drama she used to enjoy watching. Jeong Ye In will take on the role of protagonist Seol Hwa.

The project is planned as a 60-episode short-form drama, with each episode running approximately one minute and 30 seconds. Production discussions are reportedly underway with SLL.

Jeong Ye In debuted as a member of Lovelyz in 2014 and gained popularity through songs including "Ah-Choo," "Hi~," "Now, We," and "Destiny." She began her acting career in 2017 through the web drama 'The Blue Sea' and the tvN series 'Criminal Minds,' later appearing in projects such as 'Na Ra the Socialite Wannabe' and 'My Friend’s Graduation Ceremony.'

She also previously starred alongside Ha Joon in the DramaBox short-form series 'The Mystery Old Money Heiress.' The series reportedly ranked No. 1 on the DramaBox platform just seven days after its release.

Short-form dramas, typically told in episodes lasting around one to two minutes, have recently emerged as a major trend in the Korean entertainment industry. As platforms such as YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels become increasingly embedded in everyday media consumption, more viewers are gravitating toward fast-paced content that delivers strong immersion and immediate impact rather than long-form storytelling.

For production companies, short-form dramas offer the advantage of lower production costs and rapid audience consumption, while actors can connect with viewers more quickly through concise yet memorable performances.

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