Actors Lee Min-ho, left, Kong Hyo-jin, second from left, pose with other cast members and a person wearing a spacesuit during a press conference for tvN's upcoming drama, "When the Stars Gossip," at The Saint in Guro District, southwestern Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap

Lee Min-ho is making his highly anticipated return to television with the blockbuster space-themed romantic office drama, "When the Stars Gossip."

The new tvN drama, premiering Jan. 4, is an ambitious project boasting a production budget of 50 billion won and five years of planning. It aims to set a new standard for K-dramas with its groundbreaking blend of science fiction and human drama.

Set aboard a space station, the drama explores the lives of astronauts and the ground crew who support them. At its core is Gongryong (Lee Min-ho), a mysterious visitor on a secret mission, and Eve Kim (Kong Hyo-jin), the station's determined commander. The plot thickens with the arrival of Kang Kang-su (Oh Jung-se), a wealthy scientist, and Choi Go-eun (Han Ji-eun), a celebrity heiress and Gongryong's girlfriend.

"Our drama continuously questions whether the norms, rules and ethics we hold dear, as well as the meaningless things, remain the same when we leave Earth. If viewers continue to watch, it will become a meaningful drama," said director Park Shin-woo during a press conference at The Saint in Guro District, southwestern Seoul, Wednesday.

Despite the underwhelming track record of space-themed Korean productions such as "Space Sweepers" (2021), "The Silent Sea" (2021) and "The Moon" (2023), the director acknowledged the challenges but expressed confidence in the drama's distinct and innovative approach.

"I knew we have an authentic story to tell and I approached the project with enthusiasm. While the production was time- consuming, I believe it was worth it," he said, adding that the production time was significantly longer than other dramas, emphasizing the level of detail and care put into the series.

The drama employed a combination of wire-flying and advanced computer graphics to authentically portray a zero-gravity environment on screen.

"We had a team of six people for each actor and the set was filled with people wearing green suits. The result is a realistic portrayal of zero gravity that showcases the hard work of our team," Park said.

Making his long-awaited return to Korean television scene, Lee Min-ho said, "It's been five years since I've done a Korean drama. As I entered my 30s, I've been contemplating how to become an actor who can give something back, rather than one who is constantly consumed by work. I needed some time to recharge with new energy to address those concerns."

Lee admitted that, although unintentional, his projects often demand significant time commitments.

"They've been works filled with challenges and difficulties. Because of this, the break hasn't felt as long as I thought it would. I have a movie coming out soon and that one also took a long time to produce, just like this drama," Lee explained.

Kong's character, Eve Kim, is a strict and principled commander of the space station who is on her first mission.

"I initially thought the story would be about space adventures, but I was fascinated when I learned it was about the everyday lives of people in space," she said.

The actors encouraged viewers to support the series, highlighting its refreshing and unique presence in the Korean entertainment scene.

"In a world that's constantly seeking stimulation, this drama offers a heartwarming story about human connection," Lee said.