Light Shop - Characters & Cast

His sole motivation is to save his daughter. He remains in the space between life and death for over 40 years, guiding countless other souls, all while waiting for the chance to reunite with her and give her a second chance at life.

Initially presented as an enigmatic and possibly sinister figure, Jung Won-young is revealed to be a tragic and deeply devoted guardian of the light shop. His story is one of immense sacrifice; he was a human who died in a building collapse and made a deal to become the shop's keeper in order to one day deliver a 'light' to his dying daughter and guide her back to life. His arc is one of enduring patience and paternal love, culminating in a bittersweet reunion with his daughter, Yu-hee, after decades of waiting, finally fulfilling his purpose.

Having survived a coma herself, Young-ji is driven by a profound empathy for her patients and a firm belief in the power of one's will to live. She is motivated to speak to and encourage the souls she sees, hoping her words can guide them back.

Kwon Young-ji is a compassionate ICU nurse who, after her own near-death experience, gains the ability to see the spirits of comatose patients. Her arc revolves around understanding her newfound ability and using it to help her patients find the will to live. She serves as the bridge between the clinical, living world of the hospital and the supernatural reality of the light shop, even though she has no direct scenes with its keeper. She grows from being confused and frightened by what she sees to becoming a determined advocate for her patients' spiritual and physical survival.

Her primary motivation is her all-consuming love for Hyun-min. In death, her sole purpose is to protect him and ensure he returns to the living world. When this love is unreciprocated due to his memory loss, her motivation shifts to a desperate, sorrowful attachment, refusing to let him go.

Lee Ji-young's story is one of the most tragic. Initially appearing as a strange, possibly dangerous woman, she is revealed to be a spirit deeply in love with Kim Hyun-min. After being misled to believe he died in the bus crash, she takes her own life to be with him, only to find his spirit in the afterlife. Her arc is a heartbreaking journey of devotion, as she uses her spiritual energy to keep his heart beating. However, when he returns to life with no memory of her, her grief and resentment turn her into a vengeful spirit, unable to move on, forever tethered to the man who forgot her.

Initially driven by his instincts as a detective to solve a mysterious case, his motivation transforms after his near-death experience. He is now driven by a newfound understanding of the afterlife and a duty to guide lost souls, using his unique sight for a greater purpose.

A police detective who ends up in a coma after an accident while investigating a strange case. In the afterlife, his inquisitive nature leads him to question the reality of the light shop. After awakening from his coma, his experience in the liminal space has changed him. He inherits the abilities of another spirit guide, becoming a new 'grim reaper' of sorts, tasked with helping wandering souls find their way, effectively continuing the work he saw in the afterlife.