Kim Woo Bin is drawing attention for how he reportedly supported the rookie actors working with him on his upcoming tvN drama Gifted.
During tvN’s *Creator Talk 2026* press event on September 16, director Ham Seung Hoon shared behind the scenes stories about Kim Woo Bin and praised the actor for taking care of the younger cast members throughout filming.
Gifted follows former baseball pitching coach Jung Min Yong, played by Kim Woo Bin, who gains the unusual ability to recognize a person’s baseball talent at a glance. He later becomes the coach of a struggling high school baseball team.
According to the director, around 20 actors playing the Deokcheon High School baseball players are all newcomers who were selected after multiple auditions and practical tests.
Ham Seung Hoon revealed that Kim Woo Bin personally made an effort to get to know each of them during production.
*“Throughout filming, Kim Woo Bin rotated through the cast and had separate one on one meals with each of the young actors,”* the director said.
He added, *“He wasn’t simply acting like a senior actor. He really took on the role of a coach and actively helped the younger actors grow.”*
The director said watching Kim Woo Bin support the newcomers left a strong impression on him, adding that he found the actor’s attitude *“truly admirable.”*
Ham Seung Hoon also praised Kim Woo Bin’s commitment to his character, saying the actor became deeply immersed in the role of Jung Min Yong.
*“When I talk with Kim Woo Bin, it sometimes feels like I’m actually speaking with a real baseball coach,”* he said.
The rookie actors also spent several months training to make the baseball scenes feel convincing. According to the production team, the drama aims to balance its sports setting with a broader story about talent, effort, limits, and personal growth.
Gifted marks Kim Woo Bin’s return to a tvN television drama four years after *Our Blues* and is scheduled to premiere on December 5.
Kim Woo Bin also made headlines last year after marrying longtime partner Shin Min Ah following around 11 years of dating. The couple reportedly donated a combined 300 million won to several organizations on their wedding day.
With the director now revealing how closely Kim Woo Bin looked after around 20 rookie co stars during Gifted, the actor is once again receiving praise for his considerate behavior behind the scenes.
