What happens when two of Korea’s most loved stars reunite after three years?
How will fans react to seeing Choi Hyun-wook and Kim Tae-ri share the screen again?
And what makes their upcoming project different from the hit drama Twenty-Five, Twenty-One that made them such a beloved duo?
The buzz is real – actor Choi Hyun-wook has been confirmed to join tvN’s new variety show titled After-School Theater Club, alongside actress Kim Tae-ri, in a new and heartwarming setting. The casting has already stirred up talk amongst fans and in the entertainment industry, not only because of the reunion, but also because of the show’s unique premise.
Let’s go through some details about the highly-anticipated project and why it’s already making headlines in the K-ent world.
About the Show: After-School Theater Club
The new variety show After-School Theater Club will feature a completely different and refreshing format! While most variety shows bring viewers into the city, this program will take place in a rural elementary school where some of Korea’s most well-known actors will play the role of teachers for the drama club.
The cast will work with young children on the foundations of acting and performing on stage, building the children’s confidence while engaging their imaginations. Their ultimate goal will be to have the children produce a full play for the stage that is educational as well as entertaining.
This variety show promises shows themes of warmth, growth, and healing, with touching stories, tender moments, and encouragement for both the participants and the viewing audience.
Filming for the show will begin at the end of October 2025. The program is tentatively scheduled to air in the first half of 2026 on tvN.
Choi Hyun-wook’s Casting
Choi Hyun-wook has been confirmed as a fixed cast member of After-School Theater Club. Nicknamed as one of the brightest rising stars of his generation, Choi has been recognized for his natural acting style with the ability to switch from character to character in both dramas and films.
His involvement is said to impart an air of youth, freshness, and relatability, making him a great addition to a show that interweaves entertainment with heartfelt stories. Fans look forward to seeing how Choi’s personal charm and sincerity will come across in this unique variety program framework.
Kim Tae-ri’s Participation & Reunion Factor
Actress Kim Tae-ri, who is joining Choi Hyun-wook as a permanent cast member in After-School Theater Club, adds more star quality to the series. She and Choi are now working together again after a few years since their television pairing in the highly regarded tvN drama Twenty-Five, Twenty-One, which aired until April 2022.
Three years later, this reunion has begun to generate excitement among viewers who are interested to see a new kind of chemistry with the duo, one that is unscripted and based on Kim Tae-ri and Choi Hyun-wook leading real students after having scripted their earlier coming-of-age project.
The difference between the two settings, as well as their past choreography, is adding interest as viewers anticipate the participation of Kim Tae-ri and Choi Hyun-wook’s personalities to take shape. They want to see their shared real friendship develop into the heartwarming situation we anticipate.
Why This Reunion Matters
The reunion of Choi Hyun-wook and Kim Tae-ri is not just a celebrity news item, it is what both of their fans have been waiting for. Their last work together, Twenty-Five, Twenty-One, was a worldwide success, and most recently really took off on Netflix where it developed a strong international following.
The on-screen chemistry between the two characters was well received, and the audience connected with the characters which is also an important part of a great show. The addition to the drama is the return of a pair in a variety format, which quickly changes the dynamic because people are excited because the roles are not scripted, and fans are getting to watch their real personalities, interaction, and teamwork in authentic and heartfelt settings.
Therefore, going from a drama that viewers loved to a variety healing program enhances the special combination – the two together for a new opportunity to get to know them in a very different and refreshing way.
Fan & Industry Reactions
Choi Hyun-wook and Kim Tae-ri’s reunion announcement went viral in no time. The trending of the announcement onto X (Twitter), Daum, and other Korean portal sites lasted for hours, and fans expressed their unreasonable joy about and meeting, which fans are hoping for since the drama Twenty-Five, Twenty-One.
People in the industry also watched closely, thinking that the show’s mix of entertainment and healing could be unique, in comparison to other variety programs. With great casting and a new concept, everyone’s expectations of After-School Theater Club to mix laughter and emotion are high.
Career Highlights
Both Choi Hyun-wook and Kim Tae-ri have solid credentials on their resumes, and their participation in After-School Theater Club makes the show’s casting even more significant.
- Choi Hyun-wook has been building a reputation as an emerging star through impressive performances in successful works, including Twenty-Five, Twenty-One, Twinkling Watermelon, and High Class. His talent for portraying young and relatable roles has made him popular with younger viewers.
- While Choi Hyun-wook is finding his way as an artist, Kim Tae-ri is already a well-known name in the Korean entertainment business. Since her impressive and distinguished performance in The Handmaiden, she has demonstrated her adaptability in other significant performances in Mr. Sunshine and the global phenomenon Twenty-Five, Twenty-One. Kim Tae-ri adds a tremendous factor of prestige to the new program as an award-winning actress.
The combined presence of both of these stars is enough to make After-School Theater Club one of the most anticipated programs of 2026.
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Conclusion
It’s already become one of the biggest casting news pieces of 2025 that is generating buzz about the reunion of Choi Hyun-wook and Kim Tae-ri after three years. Meeting again this time on a variety show, audiences are so excited to see their chemistry develop beyond acting for a scripted role.
After-School Theater Club, a variety show, has a unique and refreshing concept of experience and guiding students in theater, and will be more than just fun entertainment; it will provide that bursts of warmth, healing, and inspiration.
Filming is already getting underway for what will be a highly anticipated series scheduled for 2026 on tvN. Who knows? This could be tvN’s best variety show of the year!
