Park Min-young Returns to the Office in ‘Nine to Six’

Park Min-young is officially heading back to the office, but this time, the clock-in time is strictly Nine to Six. This upcoming drama takes the classic workplace romance and treats it with a mature, age-gap twist.

Based on the critically acclaimed 2021 Chinese hit The Rational Life, the story centers on Kang Yi-ji (Park Min-young), the top legal executive at a leading car firm who has essentially “rationalized” love right out of her schedule. But when Han Seon-woo, played by Sungjae (of BtoB), a law graduate who prioritizes passion over a paycheck, enters the scene, he sparks a subtle tension in her routine, perhaps a restless longing in her heart that’s as much about professional growth as it’s about personal healing.

The series helmed by director Lee Hyung-min revives the “noona romance” (older woman/younger man) dynamic, much like the original pairing of Qin Lan and Dylan Wang, which became quite popular among Netflix’s Chinese offerings. Nine to Six examines the everyday challenges and nuances of dating an older woman within the rigid structure of corporate bureaucracy. So, expect a story arc that addresses the social stigma as well as the clash between Yi-ji’s rational mindset, her guards and Seon-woo’s emotional spontaneity, his impulsive feelings, and the internal struggle of a woman who believes love is nothing but a comforting lie.

Interestingly, the K-drama version introduces a few fresh professional stakes that are different from its source material. While the original Chinese lead, Qi Xiao (Dylan Wang), worked as a young, resourceful personal assistant to the female lead, Sungjae’s character, Seon-woo, brings a more artistic flair as a lawyer-turned-designer. It adds a layer of “structured vs. creative” conflict that wasn’t as central in the original story. It places Park Min-young’s character—who’s entrenched in the dry corporate legal world—in direct contrast with a man who sees beauty and emotion in what he creates. And this change surely intensifies the “opposites attract” trope, making their relationship feel like a clash of two entirely different lifestyles.

But before Nine to Six hits the screen, Park Min-young is also starring in the much-awaited thriller Siren’s Kiss. Premiering March 2, 2026, this series sees her as Han Seol-ah, a brilliant art auctioneer but with a dark reputation: every man who falls for her ends up dead. It’s a cat-and-mouse game opposite Wi Ha-joon, who’s playing an ace detective probing the case. For her role in this drama, Park has reportedly gone into method acting, lowering her vocal tone and avoiding smiling for the entire series to fully capture the character’s icy, “Siren” allure.

Looking back at her recent run, including the global hit Marry My Husband (2024) and her role as a genius con artist in the 2025 caper Confidence Queen, Park Min-young is clearly in her experimental era, reinventing her image with each character she plays. However, whether she’s leading a team of fraudsters or navigating a forbidden office love, her ability to maintain that “girl next door” warmth while delivering powerhouse performances keeps her at the top of who she is—one of the most versatile Korean actors and popular Hallyu star, who has gracefully matured alongside her audience.