Yumi's Cells Season 3: What to Expect from the Highly Anticipated Return

[Sports Today reporter Jeong Ye-won] Since its 2021 debut, five years have passed. Now entering its third season, Yumi's Cells returns with a relatable story that will make young viewers laugh and cry.

On April 7, TVING held a press event for the original series Yumi's Cells Season 3 (written by Song Jae-jung and Kim Kyung-ran; directed by Lee Sang-yeop) at The Link Seoul in Seoul’s Guro District. Director Lee Sang-yeop and actors Kim Go-eun and Kim Jae-won attended.

Season 3 follows Yumi (Kim Go-eun), now a bestselling writer, whose quiet life is suddenly upended by an unexpected arrival. The encounter reinvigorates her capacity for laughter, tears and love in this character-driven, empathetic romance. Anchored by Kim Go-eun’s signature portrayal of Yumi, the season gains momentum with Kim Jae-won’s addition and the reunion of director Lee and writer Song, a team audiences trust.

Lee, who returns after directing seasons 1 and 2, said viewing habits have shifted a lot over the past four to five years. \"We wanted to keep the series tight and focus on the most entertaining moments, so we shortened it to eight episodes,\" he explained. \"It won't match the original page-for-page; some parts have been changed. I can't go into details, but you'll see when you watch.\"

On how the story evolved as a long-running series, he added, \"I felt there were elements that would strongly resonate with young people living today. We adapted the material to be meaningful, and that convinced us to reunite and make this season.\"

He also explained casting Kim Jae-won as the new male lead. \"I'd seen Jae-won in other dramas and found him compelling. Though he's relatively early in his career, he's handled a wide range of roles well. On first glance I thought, 'Wow — he's tall and striking.' His angular glasses and suits fit the slightly reindeer-like image I had in mind. He seemed nervous at first but tried not to show it, which matched my idea of Sun-rok,\" Lee recalled.

He closed by encouraging viewers to tune in: \"Yumi's growth isn't finished. She's still upbeat and lovable. I hope people will watch.\"

Kim Go-eun returns after four years as Yumi, now a romance novelist. Though she has succeeded in her new career, love remains complicated for the character.

\"Yumi hasn't changed. Yumi is Yumi,\" Kim said with a laugh, noting this is the first time she's carried a show so fully on her own. The workload was demanding and physically taxing, she admitted, but the script's charm and the set's constant laughter made the experience energizing rather than burdensome. \"I focused on conserving my stamina rather than feeling pressured.\"

On her chemistry with Kim Jae-won, she said, \"Our chemistry felt perfect. It's all there in the show — watching the highlight reel made me proud. If you're curious, please watch season three. Sun-rok's mischievous side is surprisingly big — you can definitely look forward to that,\" she teased.

The pair are actually ten years apart. Kim laughed that she prepped by visiting dermatologists and learning some MZ-generation slang, but added, \"Jae-won shows maturity beyond his years, so the ten-year gap never felt noticeable.\"

She remembered the joyful mood on set. \"Before filming I reviewed seasons one and two to reconnect with who Yumi is. I'm naturally inclined toward broad comedic beats, and because this show has many comic moments, I had so much fun performing. I even missed hearing the director laugh when he didn't.\"

\"Playing Yumi has made me very happy. Doing another season feels deeply meaningful. This series is precious to me, and I hope it becomes the same for viewers,\" she added.

Kim Jae-won plays Sun-rok, a PD in the Julie Publishing editorial department who pairs a sweet face with blunt honesty. \"Sun-rok is cool-headed and principled at work,\" Kim said. \"I'm honored to join Yumi's Cells. I thought, 'Wow — this luck has come to me too.' I'm grateful to play a character that many fans call a unicorn.\"

\"I'm also a planner type like Sun-rok, so I found many similarities with my own personality,\" he added.

The actors previously worked on the drama Eun-jung and Sang-yeon, but had no shared scenes then. Kim said Kim Go-eun was warm and approachable from the start, which made it easy to connect. \"I learned a lot on set and trusted her completely during filming,\" he said.

He reiterated that the ten-year age gap never felt significant. \"It could have been awkward, but it wasn't. I felt only a great senior: a kind, generous sister who buys meals and a consummate professional.\"

He also sent a lighthearted message to Ahn Bo-hyun and Park Jin-young, who appeared with Kim Go-eun in earlier seasons: \"I'll take good care of Writer Yumi. I'll watch over her well,\" he joked, drawing laughs.

Yumi's Cells Season 3 premieres with two exclusive early-release episodes on TVING every Monday at 6:00 PM starting April 13. tvN will air one episode each Monday and Tuesday at 8:50 PM.

[Sports Today reporter Jeong Ye-won ent@stoo.com]
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