Kim Woo Bin is drawing attention for an unexpected behind-the-scenes story from his upcoming tvN drama Gift.

During tvN’s Creator Talk 2026 event on September 16, director Ham Seung Hoon revealed how closely Kim Woo Bin looked after the young actors playing members of the fictional Deokcheon High School baseball team.

According to the director, around 20 actors were selected for the team roles after going through multiple auditions and practical tests. Most of them are newcomers, but Kim Woo Bin reportedly made an effort to personally connect with each of them during filming.

The director shared, “Kim Woo Bin rotated through the cast and had separate one-on-one meals with each of the young actors throughout filming.”

He explained that Kim Woo Bin did more than simply interact with them as a senior actor.

“He really took care of the rookie actors as if he were their actual coach rather than just a senior colleague,” the director said. “Watching him actively help the younger actors grow made me feel proud. It was something I truly respected.”

The story closely mirrors Kim Woo Bin’s role in Gift, where he plays Jung Min Yong, a former professional baseball pitching coach who becomes the manager of a struggling high school baseball team after gaining the unusual ability to recognize a person’s baseball talent.

Ham Seung Hoon also praised Kim Woo Bin’s commitment to the character, saying that talking with him on set sometimes felt like speaking with a real baseball coach.

“His synchronization with the character is extremely high,” the director said. “He is completely immersed in both the project and the role.”

The rookie actors reportedly trained for several months to make their baseball scenes feel convincing, with the production team aware that viewers familiar with the sport could have high expectations.

However, the director stressed that Gift is not meant only for baseball fans. The drama uses the sport to explore talent, effort, personal limits, and the growth of young people facing challenges.

For the production team, Kim Woo Bin’s off-camera relationship with the young cast appears to have become another reflection of the mentor role he plays on screen.

Gift is scheduled to premiere on tvN on December 5.