KBS's first drama of 2026 'To My Beloved Thief' puts the spotlight on Nam Ji Hyun and Moon Sang Min with Singles January pictorial
by K-Soul · allkpopNam Ji Hyun and Moon Sang Min, who will lead KBS’s first drama of 2026, 'To My Beloved Thief,' are drawing attention after gracing the January issue of Singles magazine.
The upcoming series is set to kick off the new year with a youthful romance. Earlier, Nam Ji Hyun had revealed that she stepped down from SBS’s 'Good Partner' Season 2 last June due to scheduling conflicts.
The Singles editorial team shared, “The pictorial shoot felt like watching a full-length romance film in itself. The chemistry between the two actors was so palpable that even the staff felt fluttered just by the way they looked at each other.”
The January issue features not only the pictorial but also an in-depth interview in which the two stars discuss how they came to deeply understand one another while preparing to portray characters who switch souls. The feature also includes behind-the-scenes stories from the set and their aspirations for 2026, raising expectations among fans.
When asked about key points to watch for in the drama, Moon Sang Min said candidly, “First of all, I’m very confident about the visual chemistry between Nam Ji Hyun and myself.” Nam Ji Hyun added, “When our souls switch, our positions truly change. Being able to think, ‘So this is why this person acted that way,’ and genuinely understand each other was deeply moving,” hinting at the drama’s emotional depth.
'To My Beloved Thief' is a fantasy romance sageuk that follows Yi Yeol (Moon Sang Min), a royal inspector secretly living under the identity of a prince, and Hong Eun Jo (Nam Ji Hyun), who lives as a physician by day and a thief by night. Their lives take an unexpected turn when they swap souls.
Given the soul-switching premise, the two actors went through dozens of script readings even before filming began, sharing each other’s habits, vocal tones, and emotional nuances. Moon Sang Min recalled, “From the very first line, she felt just like me. I thought, ‘Is that me? Why do I suddenly sound so authoritative?’” expressing amazement at their near-perfect synchronization. Nam Ji Hyun added, “The director said that when Sang Min plays Eun Jo, his eyes become rounder, and when I play Yi Yeol, my eyes become sharper,” emphasizing that closely observing and understanding each other was central to the project.
Moon Sang Min shared, “'After Under the Queen’s Umbrella,' I really wanted to do a soft, heart-fluttering romance sageuk. I enjoyed filming so much that it made me think historical dramas truly suit me. I hope this becomes a pleasant start as KBS’s first drama of 2026. We poured our hearts into it, and I’m eagerly waiting for viewers to show it lots of love.” Nam Ji Hyun added, “I hope viewers feel a great sense of warmth. I believe they’ll be able to experience the special emotions we felt while creating this drama.”
The full romantic pictorial and candid interviews with Nam Ji Hyun and Moon Sang Min can be found in the January issue of Singles, which will be released sequentially on the magazine’s official website. Packed with vivid behind-the-scenes stories and honest conversations about each other, the interviews are expected to be a special treat for fans awaiting the drama.
'To My Beloved Thief' premieres on January 3.
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