Chae Jong-hyeop Cements Japan Stardom With ABEMA Drama 'The Rules of Vacation'

Korean actor Chae Jong-hyeop has once again demonstrated his popularity with Japanese audiences through the ABEMA original drama "The Rules of Vacation." The series will air its final episode tonight, Sept. 4.

In the show, Chae plays Nishigami, a caretaker who manages the grounds around the Tatsumi villa and also serves as a shinigami, or god of death. He anchors the drama by carefully portraying out the character's inner conflict between his duty as a shinigami and his growing feelings as a human. Thanks in part to his performance, "The Rules of Vacation" has held the No. 1 spot on ABEMA's drama rankings for six consecutive weeks since its premiere.

One key stretch of the story finds Nishigami watching Midori, played by Kanna Hashimoto, and her friends dreaming about their futures without knowing a massive typhoon-triggered landslide is coming. Chae plays that quiet dread with real weight. Early in the series, Nishigami rarely smiles or shows much expression. As the character opens up to people who treat him with genuine warmth, Chae lets small smiles and softer looks emerge, making the emotional shift feel earned rather than sudden.

Ahead of the finale, Chae shared a message with viewers. "I sincerely thank everyone who loved and watched 'The Rules of Vacation,'" he said. "I hope this project felt like a break for you while you were watching it."

He added, "I hope it brought a little healing to your tiring daily lives. I'll be back to greet you with another good project. Thank you from the heart."

The final episode of "The Rules of Vacation" will air tonight.