Introduction
I usually like fast-paced thrillers or dramas with dark vibes, so a slower-paced drama is not my top pick. However, as I have been watching dark dramas for a while, once in a while, I want to sit down and relax watching a cozy, healing drama with a healthy environment. In Your Radiant Season is this kind of drama. Not boring at all, though, there is a mystery element integrated as a central plot driver alongside the main romance. Let’s check it out!
Drama Info
Drama title: In Your Radiant Season (Native title: 찬란한 너의 계절에)
Alternative title: Chanranhan Neoui Gyejeole
Genres: Mystery, Romance, Drama
Aired: 20 Feb, 2026 - 3 Apr, 2026
Episodes: 12 | Duration: 1 hr. 10 min.
Directors: Park Seon Ho (박선호) and ()
Screenwriter: Jo Sung Hee (조성희)
Where to watch: Disney+ and Hulu
OSTs
너의 봄에 (In Your Spring) by Ben (벤)
숲 (Forest) by Sunwoo Jung Ah (선우정아)
All I Wish by Seo Ja Yeong (서자영)
About Time by Bang Ye Dam (방예담)
You Are My Color by Jung Soo Min (정수민)
이 마음이 사랑일까 (Is This Feeling Love?) by Young Jun
I Feel You by YEGNY
Trailer
Synopsis
Chan lives every day like it is summer vacation. Haran is trapped in a lonely winter. When their forgotten past reunites them, Chan is determined to gift her another spring. Through laughter and tears, they face winter together and reach their spring in this heartwarming romance. (Source: Disney+)
Characters
Relationship Chart
Main Characters
Lee Sung Kyung (이성경) as Song Ha Ran
Chae Jong Hyeop (채종협) as Sunwoo Chan
Supporting Characters
Haran’s family
Kim Na Na/Kim Na Bong (Lee Mi Sook) – Haran’s grandma
Song Ha Yeong (Han Ji Hyeon) – Haran’s sister
Song Ha Dam (Oh Ye Ju) – Haran’s sister
People around Song Family
Cha Yu Gyeom (Kim Tae Young) – Song Ha Dam’s boyfriend
Park Man Jae (Kang Suk Woo) – cafe owner
Cheon Jae/Genius – cafe mascot
Nana Atelier
Yeon Tae Seok (Kwon Hyuk) – Chief Operating Officer
Jeremy (Jang Yong Won) – senior designer
Baek Seung Gyu (Ki Hyun Woo) – junior designer
Jeon Pu Reum (Lee Seung Yeon) – Assistant designer
Kim Sol (Yun Chae Bin) – intern
People Around Chan
Ben (Firas Naji) – colleague
Chan’s father (Jung Hae Kyun)
Chan’s grandma (Kang Ae Sim)
Others
Kang Hyeok Chan (Kwon Do Hyung) – Haran’s late boyfriend
Cha Su Jin (Lee Ju Yeon) – Neurologist
Review
Story and Plot
Story
At its core, the drama is a healing story focused on how two emotionally scarred individuals become each other’s source of redemption. Their connection is shown to awaken frozen time from seven years ago, enabling both of them to heal and move beyond their past traumas.
As the story unfolds, themes of grief, guilt, and longing are explored as Chan recovers fragmented memories that reveal hidden truths about his shared past with Haran.
Even after enduring immense pain, it is possible to get back up and live your life again. The story centers on the journey of reconnection—not only with each other, but also with one’s own emotions and sense of purpose.
Plot
In Your Radiant Season is a deliberate, slow-paced comfort watch. It focuses heavily on character development and emotional intimacy rather than quick plot progression. But I think the pacing is excellent for this kind of drama. Haran and Chan’s moments of opening up unfold at a satisfying pace. I never feel unnecessarily dragged out.
Characterization and Acting
Song Ha-ran/Lee Sung Kyung
Initially vibrant, Haran had become cold and reserved. She was trapped in her personal “winter”, following the tragic death of her parents and boyfriend.
I have seen Lee Sung Kyung in a similar character in her previous drama, Call It Love. In In Your Radiant Season, she brought a sense of elegance and emotional nuance to her role as Song Haran, who was struggling with her inner emotions. Her performance conveyed regret and, at times, a deeply wounded persona.
Sun Woo Chan/Chae Jong Hyeop
Chan was a vibrant but complex character who hid a scarred past behind a bright smile. He acted as a “spring-like” force in the drama, having survived a life-altering explosion that left him with trauma and, at times, a desperate need to experience life to the fullest.
Chae Jong Hyeop skillfully conveyed a hidden coldness and a complex gaze that subtly revealed the deep trauma beneath his character’s outward warmth.
Supporting Cast
The supporting cast enhanced the emotional depth of the main couple’s healing journey, focusing on family dynamics, trauma, and personal growth. Especially Haran’s family, they served as important catalysts for, and reactors to, the emotional growth of Haran and Chan. The staff at Nana Atelier and the community surrounding (even Genius the Golden Retriever) provide a grounded, often comedic or warm, contrast to the emotional scenes between Haran and Chan.
Visualization
Cinematography
The drama features romantic, picturesque cinematography that contrasts vibrant, warm summer tones with cold, muted winter palettes to mirror Chan and Haran’s emotional states
Costumes
In this drama, Lee Sung Kyung wore around 150 outfits, showing the drive to unveil fresh, non-overlapping styling in every scene. This is the outcome of her deliberation to perfect the setup as Song Haran, the head designer of Nana Atelier.
Early on, the cold and distant Haran presented restrained, monochrome-centered office looks. With crisply tailored jackets and suiting, she revealed the charisma of a professional fashion designer while visually infusing her loneliness, as she lives with her emotions shut off from the outside.
As Haran begins to open up to Chan and those around her, the styling matched the character’s state of mind. Replacing office looks with bright items such as cable knits with soft textures and shirts in radiant pastel tones, Lee Sung Kyung portrayed Haran’s increasingly bright inner world through outward change, capturing viewers’ attention.
Song Haran’s sister, Song Hayoung, a junior designer who embodies exceptional artistic sense and talent. With her free-spirited energy and candid personality, she energizes the team as both a hidden ace and mood maker.
Filming Locations
- Seongsu-dong in Seoul, key filming location for the “Nana Atelier” fashion studio, Mr. Park’s cafe “Seum” (meaning “Rest”), and the “Nana Atelier” fashion studio.
- The historical Gyeongju City with the iconic, illuminated Woljeonggyo Bridge.
- Jamsu Bridge in Seoul features as a dramatic, romantic backdrop across the Han River.
My Rating
I used my rating system with additional scores of:
+1.0 for story and plot
+1.0 for characterization and acting
+1.0 for the visualization
Total rating: 9.0/10.
My Critic
I think the 12-episode format was too short to properly develop the side romances. Besides the main couple, there were three more side couples. Towards the finale, the side couples received significantly less screen time to wrap up their stories.
Conclusion
In Your Radiant Season is a calming, emotional, and slow-burning story that deals with grief and trauma in a comforting way. It blends deep emotional themes with romantic, slice-of-life elements, creating an engaging story. The mystery plot in this drama is used to explore themes of trauma and repressed grief.
The main takeaway message for me from this drama is that true growth comes from embracing my current “season” of life—whether it is a time of rest, stress, or new beginnings—rather than forcing myself to be elsewhere.
So, if you’re looking for a healing drama or a comfort drama, this might be a good pick!
And I hope that whatever season you’re going through, they’re all radiant.
Chan
Ending Spoilers
What is the ending? [Short spoiler]
Wholesome happy ending.
How does it end? [Long spoiler]
The main mystery about what happened in Boston seven years ago was revealed. At the end, every couple got together. Nana and Mr. Park got married.
I just love this image!
