Our Universe

Synopsis

Twenty-eight-year-olds Seon Tae-hyung and Woo Hyun-jin find their lives upended when they are forced to raise their infant nephew, Woo-ju, following the sudden death of the child's parents who were their siblings. Despite being in-laws with no prior close relationship, the two begin living together to care for the baby. As the inexperienced pair navigates the challenges of parenthood, they grow closer and begin to develop romantic feelings for one another.

Cast and characters

Main

Bae In-hyuk as Seon Tae-hyung

Kim Hee-seong as young Tae-hyung

A photography assistant known for his skill despite his junior status. Raised in an orphanage after being left there by his older brother, Woo-jin, he initially pursued photography as a way to connect with his past. Following a brief, strained reunion and Woo-jin's subsequent death, he becomes the guardian of his 20-month-old nephew, Woo-ju. Although he initially prefers a solitary life, he gradually takes on a parental role and develops feelings for Hyun-jin, his brother's sister-in-law.

Roh Jeong-eui as Woo Hyun-jin

Choi So-yool as young Hyun-jin

A high-achieving college graduate who was raised by her older sister, Hyun-ju, following the death of their parents. Driven by a desire to become financially independent and reduce her sister's burden, she focuses strictly on securing a stable corporate job. Following the sudden death of Hyun-ju and her brother-in-law, Woo-jin, she becomes the primary guardian of her nephew, Woo-ju. Despite her lack of experience, she commits to raising him and eventually enters into a cohabitation agreement with Woo-jin's brother, Tae-hyung, to manage childcare and living expenses.

Park Seo-ham as Park Yoon-seong

The youngest team leader at BS Food who oversees Hyun-jin's department. He was Hyun-jin's college senior and harbored unrequited feelings for her until she abruptly ended their relationship seven years prior. When they reunite as colleagues, he attempts to rekindle their connection. He becomes a rival to Tae-hyung, questioning the nature of Tae-hyung and Hyun-jin's living arrangement and their shared responsibility over Woo-ju.

Park Yu-ho as Seon Woo-ju

Woo-jin's 20-month-old son and both Hyun-jin and Tae-hyung's nephew. Following his father's death, his care falls to his aunt and uncle. Despite his gentle appearance, his temperament presents a challenge to his inexperienced guardians. He serves as a central link between Hyun-jin and Tae-hyung, often influencing the development of their relationship.

Supporting

Ha Jun as Seon Woo-jin (special appearance)

Kim Seo-joon as teen Woo-jin

Tae-hyung's older brother. He placed Tae-hyung in an orphanage as a child to protect him from their father, Gyu-tae, though he kept this motivation a secret. After reuniting with Tae-hyung years later, he struggles to explain his past actions. He dies in a car accident shortly after learning of his father's release from prison, leaving behind his son, Woo-ju.

Park Ji-hyun as Woo Hyun-ju (special appearance)

Park Sharon as teen Hyun-ju

Hyun-jin's older sister and legal guardian following the death of their parents. She spent her youth supporting Hyun-jin, even delaying her marriage to ensure her sister's stability. After marrying Woo-jin and having a son, Woo-ju, she continued to provide a home for Hyun-jin. She dies in a car accident alongside her husband, leaving Hyun-jin to care for her son.

Oh Hyun-joong as Kim Ui-jun

Tae-hyung's close friend and the owner of Milky Way Studio, a photography business specializing in infants. He met Tae-hyung in a school photography club where they bonded over their interest in film photography. As the only person aware of Tae-hyung's family background, he provides emotional support and a private space for Tae-hyung to discuss his personal difficulties.

Oh Se-eun as Ye-eun

Hyun-jin's college classmate and close friend.

Kang Ae-shim as Park Ae-ja

Hyun-jin and Tae-hyung's neighbor who lives with her son, Doo-sik. Known for her generosity and knowledge of the local residents' lives, she provides emotional support and practical childcare assistance to Hyun-jin and Tae-hyung as they adjust to raising their nephew.

Production

Development

Our Universe was selected by tvN to restart the network's Wednesday–Thursday drama programming, which had been suspended since May 2023. The series is written by Soo Jin, Jeon Yu-ri, and Shin Yi-hyun, directed by Lee Hyun-seok and Jung Yeo-jin, planned by Studio Dragon, and produced by Syn&Studio.

Casting

Bae In-hyuk and Roh Jeong-eui has been cast as both lead in the series. Park Seo-ham reportedly joined the lead cast. Bae, Roh, and Park's appearances were confirmed by August 2025. In late 2025 and early 2026, Park Ji-hyun would make a special appearance to support her labelmate Roh while Ku Sung-hwang, Choi Gyu-ri, Oh Hyun-joong, and Kim In-kwon were confirmed to play various supporting roles.

Music

The soundtrack for Our Universe is produced by Music Director Gaemi. The score focuses on capturing the "daily warmth" and the evolving romantic tension between the leads as they navigate co-parenting. The first part of the OST titled "Shine on Me" was released on February 5, 2026, featuring the band Daybreak. Part 2 was released on February 12, titled "Promenade" (어디라도 난 좋아; lit. 'I'm Fine Anywhere') and sung by Rothy and Haeun.

Release

Our Universe was originally scheduled to air on tvN in 2025, its release was postponed to the first half of 2026. The first poster featuring child actor Park Yu-ho was released alongside the announcement of the February 4, 2026, premiere. The series occupies the Wednesday–Thursday time slot at 22:40 (KST). It is also available for streaming on TVING in South Korea and later acquired by Viki and HBO Max for international distribution.

Viewership

According to Nielsen Korea, Our Universe premiered with nationwide ratings in the 1% range and maintained similar levels throughout its broadcast. The final episode recorded a peak rating of 2.0%.

On Rakuten Viki, the drama reached number one in viewership in 142 countries and regions, including the United States, Brazil, France, India, and the United Arab Emirates, during its first week of broadcast. It maintained a user rating of 9.7/10 on the platform. It peaked at number three in the overall drama category on Japan's U-Next and reached number one on the daily Hallyu/Asia chart. While HBO Max reported that the series maintained a presence in its viewership trends across Southeast Asian markets throughout its run.

According to tvN, the series recorded the highest average cumulative digital views for its weekday dramas during the 2025–2026 period. By the conclusion of the series on March 12, 2026, cumulative views for related video content reached approximately 500 million. An associated social media account for the character "Woo-ju", portrayed by Park Yu-ho, recorded over 60 million views.