“Lovely Runner” starring Byeon Woo-Seok and Kim Hye-Yoon went from 3% viewership ratings to over 4.8% by their fourteenth episode, ranking Number 1 on Viki for over 6 weeks in a row. Based on the webtoon “Tomorrow's Best”, the Korean drama is on its way to becoming one of the most popular dramas in 2024, perhaps beating the long-standing champion, “Queen of Tears”. The audience is hooked immediately by the unconventional storyline and intense chemistry between the leads.

Where other main characters failed before, Kim Hye-Yoon and Byeon Woo-Seok seem to act in harmony, piecing together the loose ends of the drama and building a beautiful story from it. As “Lovely Runner” comes to a close in its final episode, Episode 16, on May 28th, 2024, viewers are left stunned and wanting more from the two actors. Will there be a Season 2 of “Lovely Runner” and, if so, what would it be about?

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What is Lovely Runner about?

When Im Sol (acted by Kim Hye-Yoon) is paralyzed in her legs due to a car accident, she wants to take her own life. However, when rising K-pop star, Ryu Sun-Jae (acted by Byeon Woo-Seok) randomly calls her and, with a soft voice, tells her to live another day, Im Sol becomes his greatest fan. However, 15 years later, in 2023, when news reaches her that Ryu Sun-Jae took his own life after suffering from depression, Im Sol is shocked and emotionally demolished.

When she finds out that her watch has magical powers to teleport her back to the past, before she lost her legs and before Ryu Sun-Jae became a K-pop star, she is determined to save Sun-Jae. However, as she goes back into the past to save him, and then back into the present to watch him die again, she must fight between her two strongest desires: to save him and to love him. As the story climaxes into an epic finale, viewers are left wondering whether Sun-Jae and Im Sol will have their happy ending.

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Who are the cast of Lovely Runner?

Byeon Woo-Seok leads the Korean drama as the main character for the first time since “Record of Youth” and “20th Century Girl”, in which he acted as one of the main characters. Due to his subtle acting skills and the way he does not deny his love for Im Sol but shows it openly, Ryu Sun-Jae differs from other male leads and shines on his own. The audience would love to see Byeon Woo-Seok in other Korean dramas, whether in Season 2 of “Lovely Runner” or not.

Kim Hye-Yoon, acting as Byeon Woo-Seok's counterpart, is known for her famous roles in “SKY Castle” and “Extraordinary You.” “Lovely Runner” skyrocketed both celebrities into fame, with hundreds of articles following their elusive dating rumors. With over 4.7 million followers on Instagram, Kim Hye-Yoon is on her way to becoming one of the most popular Korean actresses of 2024. Byeon Woo-Seok has nearly 9 million followers on Instagram and with the finale of “Lovely Runner” out, it is likely that both their following will double by the next month.

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Is Season 2 of Lovely Runner likely?

“Lovely Runner” does not yet have an official release date, although fans are quickly catching on and posting videos on what might happen in Season 2. Season 2 will likely be announced shortly as tvN normally waits until several days after the final episode releases to capture the statistics and viewership ratings of Season 1 before committing to a new season.

Fans have also been flocking to the webtoon, “Tomorrow's Best” or “Best of Tomorrow”, in which the ending of “Lovely Runner” might be explained. “Tomorrow's Best” also has a second book, leading fans to wonder whether “Lovely Runner”, which is based on the webtoon, might have a second season as well. It is very likely, however, that Season 2 of “Lovely Runner” will not happen, as the story has been told completely and wraps up well in the end, with readers satisfied about the plotline but not the characters.

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What might happen in Season 2?

However, if Season 2 does, indeed, happen, what could we expect from it? There are many possibilities, but one that many fans are inclined to believe is the idea that according to the second book of “Tomorrow's Best”, Sun-Jae turns cold to Im Sol after thinking that she lost all her memory, and the rest of the drama is them fighting over each other in misunderstanding and attempts to save each other. Other theories include a perspective of the drama from Kim Tae-Sung's eye, where he falls in love with Im Sol and feels jealous of her and Ryu Sun-Jae's relationship, while, also, perhaps, having his plot with his previous girlfriend as well.

More think that Season 2 will contain an enlengthened romance between Sun-Jae and Im Sol, in which they fight through the challenges of dating while he is a celebrity and she is a working woman. All of these theories were created by fanbases from around the world on numerous web forums, and it is unlikely that any one of these scenarios will be portrayed by Season 2 if it is released. Until then, we can only speculate what is likely to happen in anticipation of what will.

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If you want more Byeon Woo-Seok or Kim Hye-Yoon content, more of their interviews, whether individually or together, should be released on YouTube or other media platforms soon. You can follow their Instagram accounts for more updates and photos of them, as well as listen to the “Lovely Runner” original soundtrack on Spotify.

Byeon Woo-Seok's imaginary band in “Lovely Runner” has their own artist account on Spotify, with all your favorite “Lovely Runner” songs like “Sonaki”, which was written by Ryu Sun-Jae himself. As you watch or rewatch “Lovely Runner”, make sure to stay tuned for any updates about Season 2!