Kim Woo Bin is preparing to return to tvN with his new drama Gift, marking his first television drama appearance on the network in four years since Our Blues in 2022.
The upcoming Saturday and Sunday drama has released photos and details from its first script reading, offering an early look at Kim Woo Bin and the cast as they prepare to bring a new baseball story to television.
Scheduled to premiere on December 5 at 9:10 PM KST, Gift follows a former professional baseball pitching coach who gains a mysterious ability after an unexpected accident and becomes the coach of the country's lowest-ranked high school baseball team.
The series is based on the Kakao webtoon of the same name by Jung Iriiri and combines sports, personal growth, and the challenges faced by young athletes.
Kim Woo Bin plays Jung Min Yong, a former pitching coach for the professional baseball team Manders. Known for his strong personality and competitive spirit, Min Yong faces major changes in his career before taking charge of the struggling baseball team at Deokcheon High School.
During the script reading, Kim Woo Bin brought his character to life with a confident and energetic performance, showing an early glimpse of the coach's personality.
The actor also shared his positive experience working with the cast for the first time.
“Today was the first time I met and greeted the other actors, and the atmosphere was really good. The younger actors brought so much energy that I was able to enjoy the reading,” Kim Woo Bin said.
He also expressed his hopes for the upcoming drama.
“We'll bring together a lot of positive energy to create an entertaining series, so please look forward to it. I hope we can connect with viewers through the drama,” he added.
Joining Kim Woo Bin is Seo Eun Soo, who plays Yoon Seo Jin, a dedicated baseball team manager determined to protect and support the students.
Her character has a different approach to coaching from Jung Min Yong, creating tension between their views on success and personal growth.
Seo Eun Soo praised Kim Woo Bin's performance during the reading.
“While listening to the script, I really felt that he had become Jung Min Yong. I'm looking forward to the many scenes we'll share together,” she said.
She also highlighted the main message of the series.
“Min Yong focuses on results, while Seo Jin believes the process is just as important. Their differences, along with the students' growth and the heartwarming moments, are things viewers can look forward to,” she explained.
Seo Hyun Woo also joins the cast as Ahn Gi Man, the acting manager of the professional baseball team Manders.
His character evaluates players mainly through their performance statistics and is expected to clash with Jung Min Yong.
Seo Hyun Woo praised the younger actors for their enthusiasm during the script reading, saying their energy made the experience enjoyable despite meeting many of them for the first time.
The younger cast members also showed their excitement about portraying the Deokcheon High School baseball team.
Cha Bin plays team captain Heo Seung Il, a hardworking player who relies on determination, while Han Si Hyun portrays Cha Tae Hoon, a naturally talented pitcher known for his powerful fastball.
Both actors have experience playing high school baseball, which is expected to bring greater realism to their performances.
Cha Bin shared his hopes for the series, saying, “I think Gift will be like a present for viewers, whether they love baseball or not.”
Han Si Hyun added, “We'll do our best in every scene to show the entertaining story of a high school baseball team filled with passion.”
Other cast members attending the script reading included Kim Won Hae, Yang Hyun Min, Hyun Bong Sik, Park Sang Nam, Lee Bong Ryun, Park Ji Ah, Park Sung Hyun, Han Tae Ha, and Kim Gun Woo.
The cast also demonstrated their team spirit by joining in a lively cheer representing Deokcheon High School.
“Victory is all we have! DC DC, Deokcheon Deokcheon, we are the one!” the young actors shouted together.
The energetic atmosphere offered a glimpse of the teamwork that will be central to the drama.
Gift is directed by Kim Kyu Tae and Ham Seung Hoon, with the screenplay written by Min Jung, Hae Joo, and Sung Eun. Studio Dragon is involved in planning and production alongside several partner studios.
The upcoming series also marks an important television return for Kim Woo Bin.
His last tvN drama was Our Blues, which concluded in 2022. He portrayed Park Jung Joon, a ship captain, in the ensemble drama that also featured Shin Min Ah.
Kim Woo Bin later starred opposite Suzy in Netflix's Genie, Make a Wish, released in October 2025.
With the newly released script reading materials, attention is now turning to his transformation into a determined baseball coach and his chemistry with the younger cast.
Rather than focusing only on winning games, Gift will explore the different paths young athletes take as they learn about teamwork, personal growth, and determination.
Kim Woo Bin's return to tvN with a sports drama adds to the anticipation surrounding the series, especially as the cast prepares to introduce a story centered on an underdog baseball team.
Gift is scheduled to premiere on December 5 at 9:10 PM KST on tvN.
