Kang Min Ah and INFINITE's L Confirmed for Supernatural Rom-Com 'Empathy Cells'

Two actors. One impossible premise. When Kang Min Ah (강민아) and Kim Myung Soo (김명수), better known as L of INFINITE, share the screen in Empathy Cells (공감세포), the result could be the most emotionally charged romance drama of 2026.

On February 25, 2026, it was confirmed that Kang Min Ah has joined the cast of Empathy Cells, according to Soompi, reuniting her with leading man Kim Myung Soo, who had already been confirmed for the project in January. The casting rounds out the central duo at the heart of what promises to be one of the more inventive fantasy rom-coms in recent memory.

What Is Empathy Cells?

Empathy Cells is a romantic comedy built around a supernatural premise: a woman who has shut off her emotions and a man overwhelmed by feeling too many of them suddenly begin to share each other emotional states. The involuntary "emotional transfer" between the two forces both of them to confront what they have been suppressing, and what they have been missing.

It is a setup that walks the line between fantasy romance and psychological drama, with a distinctly modern hook. As confirmed by production announcements, the show is currently targeting a second-half 2026 air date. Network and streaming platform have not yet been announced.

Who Are the Characters?

Kang Min Ah plays Yoo Ji An, an idol-turned-actress who was once adored as a national sweetheart. Behind the public image, she has spent her life suppressing her emotions, a habit formed through a difficult childhood. That emotional numbness ultimately becomes a liability when critics begin attacking her for lacking authentic feeling on screen, triggering a career crisis that puts everything she has built at risk. Her journey in the drama is one of rediscovery: learning to feel again through the unexpected bond she forms with the male lead.

Kim Myung Soo character, Cha Eun Hwan, occupies the opposite extreme, per the official casting announcement. A psychological counselor who built his reputation on unconventional methods and an almost preternatural empathy, he has always absorbed other people emotions. That ability becomes a burden after an unexpected incident throws his own emotional equilibrium into crisis. When someone from his past reappears, his world shifts again, in ways that may actually help him.

The dynamic between them, two people who have each suffered from too little and too much feeling, is the engine of the drama.

Who Is Kang Min Ah?

Kang Min Ah (강민아), born March 20, 1997 in Seoul, is one of Korean television quietly reliable leading actresses. She cut her teeth in youth dramas and supporting roles, building a reputation for emotional precision before landing wider recognition through True Beauty (2020) and At a Distance, Spring Is Green (2021), as reported by Korean media outlets. Her range has always leaned toward characters navigating complex interior lives, which makes the Yoo Ji An role a natural fit.

Who Is Kim Myung Soo?

Kim Myung Soo (김명수), born March 13, 1992, debuted in 2010 as a vocalist and visual centerpiece for INFINITE, the boy group that became one of K-pop defining acts of the early 2010s. Under the stage name L (엘), he became known internationally for a combination of sharp looks and an understated performance style that translated well to screens.

His acting career has been steady and increasingly substantive. Following roles in The Emperor: Owner of the Mask (2017) and Angel Last Mission: Love (2019), he completed his mandatory military service and returned to both music with INFINITE and acting. His most recent drama role was in Perfect Family (KBS2, 2024). Empathy Cells represents his most prominent leading role in recent years.

What to Watch For

The supernatural emotional transfer mechanic is the kind of device that can either anchor a story or unravel it depending on execution. If the writing commits to the psychological dimensions of what that experience would actually feel like, someone else grief hitting without warning, or a flood of joy that is not yours, the drama has the potential to go somewhere genuinely affecting.

Both Kang Min Ah and Kim Myung Soo are actors with the technical ability to carry that weight. The question is whether the production around them rises to match. A network and streaming announcement should clarify a lot about the ambition level here.

Empathy Cells is targeting a second-half 2026 release. No further cast announcements have been made at this time.