The Korean television landscape is poised for an injection of high-stakes athleticism, raw emotion, and underdog triumph as tvN gears up for the premiere of its highly anticipated sports drama, GIFT. Based on the wildly popular webtoon of the same name, the series promises to blend the gripping tactical nature of professional baseball with the heartfelt, formative trials of high school sports.
Recently, tvN released an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the series’ inaugural script reading session, bringing together an ensemble cast led by heavy-hitters Kim Woo Bin, Seo Eun Soo, and Seo Hyun Woo. The table read not only validated the casting choices but also highlighted an undeniable, crackling chemistry among the veterans and rising stars alike.
Scheduled to premiere on December 5 at 9:10 p.m. KST, GIFT follows the transformative journey of Jung Min Yong—a disgraced former professional pitching coach who, following a bizarre, life-altering accident, acquires a mysterious supernatural ability. Armed with this strange new gift, he takes the helm of a bottom-ranked high school baseball team, steering them from the shadows of obscurity toward the blinding lights of competition.
As the production team ramps up promotional efforts, expectations are reaching a fever pitch. With a meticulously curated cast featuring actors with genuine athletic backgrounds, GIFT is shaping up to be more than just a standard television adaptation; it is positioning itself as the definitive sports drama of the upcoming season.
Detailed Chronology: From Webtoon Pages to the Television Screen
The journey of GIFT from a serialized webtoon to a major network television production has been marked by careful planning, deliberate casting, and a commitment to authenticity.
The Source Material and Conceptualization
Originally conceptualized as a webtoon, the story struck a chord with readers due to its unique premise: it marries the cold, statistical realism of professional sports administration with the whimsical, high-concept narrative device of a supernatural intervention. When tvN optioned the rights for adaptation, the network recognized an opportunity to capture a broad demographic, appealing both to die-hard sports enthusiasts and viewers who favor character-driven human dramas.
Casting for GIFT began months prior to the initial read-through, with creators prioritizing actors who could physically and emotionally embody the rigorous demands of elite athletic environments.
Kim Woo Bin was tapped early on to anchor the series as Jung Min Yong. Known for his commanding screen presence and ability to play complex, multifaceted characters, Kim was seen as the ideal choice to portray a man navigating professional disgrace and sudden supernatural phenomena.
Seo Eun Soo joined the lineup as Yoon Seo Jin, introducing a vital counterweight to Min Yong’s results-driven mentality.
Seo Hyun Woo rounded out the core adult cast as Ahn Gi Man, setting up an immediate ideological clash within the professional coaching sphere.
The First Script Reading: A Milestone Moment
The official table read served as the public unveiling of the cohesive ensemble. Held at CJ ENM’s production facilities in Seoul, the session brought the principal cast, supporting actors, and key production crew together for the first time.
Far from a standard, quiet professional obligation, the session reportedly transformed into an energetic crucible. The room buzzed with the competitive fervor demanded by the script, particularly during sequences featuring the high-school baseball squad. The actors portraying the student-athletes established their dynamic early on, even breaking protocol to chant their fictional team’s cheer aloud—a moment that signaled the authentic camaraderie brewing behind the scenes.
Supporting Context & Character Metrics: Meet the Players
To fully appreciate the narrative tension in GIFT, one must examine the ideological friction between its principal characters. The drama uses contrasting coaching philosophies to drive its plot forward, exploring what it truly means to win in sports and in life.
[ Jung Min Yong (Kim Woo Bin) ]
│ (Clashes over methodology)
▼
[ Ahn Gi Man (Seo Hyun Woo) ] ──> Professional Standards & Statistics
│
▼ (Brought down to high-school level)
[ Yoon Seo Jin (Seo Eun Soo) ] ──> Focus on Process & Personal Growth
│
▼
[ The Deokcheon High School Underdogs ] ──> Raw Passion & Team Spirit
1. Jung Min Yong (Played by Kim Woo Bin)
Background: Former pitching coach for the elite professional baseball organization, the Manders.
The Turning Point: Min Yong’s career hits a devastating wall when he is falsely accused of verbally abusing players—a scandal compounded by a sudden, unexpected accident.
The Twist: Emerging from this trauma with a mysterious supernatural ability, Min Yong accepts a position as the head coach of Deokcheon High School’s perpetually last-place baseball team.
Dynamic: During the script reading, Kim Woo Bin effortlessly channeled Min Yong’s underlying confidence and sharp competitive edge, while balancing the character’s hidden vulnerabilities.
2. Yoon Seo Jin (Played by Seo Eun Soo)
Background: Head administrator of the Deokcheon High School baseball team.
Philosophy: Unlike Min Yong, who carries the cutthroat, victory-at-all-costs mentality of the professional leagues, Seo Jin is fiercely protective of her players. She values the grueling, beautiful process of personal growth over immediate scoreboard results.
Dynamic: Seo Eun Soo’s performance during the read was praised by her co-star Kim Woo Bin, who noted that she completely vanished into the role, effectively becoming "Yoon Seo Jin herself."
3. Ahn Gi Man (Played by Seo Hyun Woo)
Background: Acting manager of the Manders professional team.
Philosophy: The antithesis of youth sports idealism, Gi Man is a ruthless pragmatist. He evaluates human talent purely through cold metrics, analytics, and performance statistics.
Dynamic: Gi Man serves as the primary professional antagonist to Min Yong, with their opposing worldviews setting the stage for gripping ideological confrontations throughout the series.
Supporting Cast and Athletic Authenticity
The production spared no expense in rounding out its world with veteran character actors and athletes-turned-actors:
Kim Won Hae as the pragmatic principal of Deokcheon High School.
Yang Hyun Min as Coach Yang.
Hyun Bong Sik as Son Hyung.
Park Sang Nam as Oh Dong Jae.
Lee Bong Ryun and Park Ji Ah as the devoted, grounding maternal figures of team members Seung Il and Chae Hwan.
Crucially, the high school team itself features performers with real-world athletic experience. Cha Been (formerly Lim Su Been) steps into the cleats of team captain Heo Seung Il, while Han Si Hyun takes on the role of hard-throwing pitcher Cha Tae Hoon. Both actors boast authentic backgrounds as high school baseball players, injecting an undeniable layer of physical realism into the training sequences and on-field scenes.
Official Statements and Production Insights
The energy from the script reading spilled over into the actors’ press statements, revealing a deep mutual respect and shared creative vision for the project.
Reflecting on his introduction to the cast, Kim Woo Bin shared his impressions of the day:
"Today was the first time I met and greeted all the actors, and the atmosphere was really great. The students brought so much energy to the set. Thanks to them, the script reading was so enjoyable."
Looking forward to the show’s broadcast, Kim added a direct message to future viewers:
"We’ll bring together lots of positive energy to create an enjoyable drama, so please look forward to it. I hope we can connect with you all through the show."
Seo Eun Soo echoed her leading man’s sentiments, expressing her admiration for his dedication:
"As we read the script, I felt that he was Jung Min Yong himself." Her commentary highlights the seamless transition from page to performance that characterized the table read.
Seo Hyun Woo, reflecting on the youthful enthusiasm of the actors portraying the Deokcheon High squad, remarked:
"Although it was my first time meeting them, they had such great energy that they made me want to become a real coach."
Captain Cha Been encapsulated the overarching mission of the series, noting:
"’GIFT’ will be like a gift to both viewers who love baseball and those who don’t."
Pitcher Han Si Hyun added a promise of relentless dedication:
"I’ll do my best in every scene to tell the entertaining story of a high school baseball team filled with passion."
Future Outlook and Expectations
As the premiere date of December 5 at 9:10 p.m. KST fast approaches, GIFT is well-positioned to dominate weekend television ratings. Sports dramas hold a unique and revered place in Korean television history—capable of bridging generational divides through universal themes of perseverance, teamwork, and redemption.
However, GIFT distinguishes itself through its supernatural premise. By anchoring a heartwarming, grounded coming-of-age story within the framework of an unexplainable metaphysical twist, the series avoids the repetitive tropes common to standard athletic procedurals.
Furthermore, the involvement of actors with actual baseball pedigrees ensures that the athletic choreography will pass muster with even the most critical sports purists. Combined with the star power and proven dramatic chops of Kim Woo Bin, Seo Eun Soo, and Seo Hyun Woo, tvN has crafted a winning formula.
When the first pitch is thrown this December, audiences will find out whether Jung Min Yong’s mysterious new ability is a curse, a blessing, or the ultimate catalyst for redemption. One thing is certain: the team behind GIFT has already hit a home run in preparation.
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