'Umi's Cells 3' Concludes with Kim Jae-won’s Charismatic “Blind Pursuit” of Shin Sun-rok’s Role

TVING’s original series 'Umi's Cells 3' recently concluded to widespread acclaim. Since its debut in 2021 with the first season, this series based on the popular webtoon of the same name has now reached a complete ending after three seasons. Actor Kim Jae-won, who portrayed the male lead Shin Sun-rok in Season 3, shared his feelings, saying, “I’m proud to be part of the final journey of a work that has received so much love, and I’ve had a dreamlike time.”

Shin Sun-rok is a character who also gained immense popularity in the original webtoon, and Kim Jae-won described him as “a unicorn-like figure in the source material.” Although he initially felt pressure, he said upon receiving the script, “I was overjoyed that such a great opportunity had come my way and that I could portray such a unique character.” With outstanding performances from previous actors such as Gu-ung (played by Ahn Bo-hyun) in Season 1 and Yu Babi (played by Park Jin-young) in Season 2, Kim Jae-won explained, “The other seniors in Seasons 1 and 2 did an absolutely amazing job, so my first concern was whether I could deliver my own role well. I resolved to give 200% effort to ensure I wouldn’t let down this work that has received so much love.”

To fully embody Shin Sun-rok, Kim Jae-won made meticulous preparations. Visually, he worked with a styling team to restore the look from the original source. He replicated Shin Sun-rok’s characteristic half-short haircut at work and loose curly hair at home. Internally, he focused on adopting a rational and professional tone when acting in work-related situations. Notably, he lost 3-4 kg to portray Shin Sun-rok’s slim physique.

Kim Jae-won explained that since he naturally has a metabolism that makes it difficult for him to lose or gain weight, he had to work twice as hard as others to achieve the desired result. He said he exercised for 2-3 hours daily through aerobic activities. He also reduced his meals from three per day to 1.5 to lose weight. He added, “Because Sun-rok is characterized by a delicate and slim build, I focused more on aerobic exercise rather than strength training.”

Analyzing Shin Sun-rok’s greatest charm through the series, Kim Jae-won described it as “blind pursuit.” He explained, “It refers to Sun-rok’s moment of relentless determination—once he commits to someone, he runs straight toward her without calculating or hesitating, dedicating himself entirely to her. It’s also the moment that showcases his strong, masculine presence despite being younger in age.” Personally, he said, “I tend to be honest when it comes to love,” revealing his high level of connection with the character.

Audience reactions were positive as well. Kim Jae-won said, “The response about ‘where can I meet Sun-rok’ was indeed great. It made me proud to think that I managed to portray him fairly well.” He also expressed gratitude, saying, “It felt nice and rewarding to know that people noticed every detail I put in—losing weight, focusing on styling, and working hard on my skin care.”

'Umi's Cells 3' is a complete final season consisting of 8 episodes. The drama is a cell-stimulating romance about Umi (played by Kim Go-eun), who becomes a famous writer, experiencing laughter, tears, and love again due to an unexpected encounter in her uneventful daily life. The story of Umi’s love and growth, told through various male leads over three seasons, has now reached its conclusion in this final installment.