Ex-'Running Man' Member Kang Hoon Stars in New tvN Office Romance

Actor Kang Hoon is stepping into his first romantic comedy lead role, 12 years after his debut. The 2014 debut actor, once a rotating cast member on SBS's "Running Man," will star opposite Kim Hye-jun in the new tvN drama "My Bias's Employee."

The Monday-Tuesday series premieres August 3 at 8:45 p.m. KST on tvN. It follows Nam Da-reum, a new hire who joins a company hoping to meet her favorite idol and ends up working alongside him instead. The Korean title plays on "choae," a fandom term for a fan's top-favorite artist, often translated in English K-pop circles as "bias."

The role marks a notable shift for Kang. He served as a rotating cast member on "Running Man" from May to July 2024 and is not currently appearing on the program. When speculation swirled about his departure at the time, he said he would "return anytime as a rotating member."

In the drama, new employee Nam Da-reum, played by Kim Hye-jun, gets caught in a love triangle with company CEO Kang Ha-gi, played by Kang Hoon, and director Lee Chan, played by Cha Woo-min. Newly released posters and motion posters show the two contrasting sides of how she relates to each man.

The "Ha-gi version" poster shows Nam focused on her work beside the sharp, commanding CEO. Arms full of documents and clothes at what appears to be a fashion company, she looks every bit the busy new hire. A tagline reading, "You're cold, but I keep thinking about you, boss," hints at the stolen glances she throws his way between tasks.

The "Chan version" poster flips the mood. Nam appears in full fan mode, clutching a lightstick and a slogan banner, gazing at director Lee Chan, who happens to be her bias in real life. Surrounded by carefully collected fan goods, she beams at the idol standing right in front of her. The tagline reads, "I'm a fan, but I'm starting to want more, director."

Together, the two posters lay out the emotional split at the center of the show. Nam's very different feelings for her boss and her bias set up the three-way romance to come.

"My Bias's Employee," featuring Kim Hye-jun caught between her "boss" Kang Hoon and her "bias" Cha Woo-min, premieres August 3 at 8:45 p.m. KST.