While You Were Sleeping — Characters & Cast

Shifts from self-preservation and avoiding trouble to an unyielding commitment to protecting innocents and ensuring judicial justice.

Starts as an unmotivated, socially clumsy rookie prosecutor eager to avoid burdensome cases. Through his connection with Hong-joo and his prophetic dreams, he grows into a fearless legal officer willing to stand up against institutional pressure and risk his life to uphold truth.

Evolves from passive fear of her fatal visions to active, brave pursuit of journalistic truth and mutual protection.

Begins isolated and traumatized by helpless premonitions, having taken a leave of absence from her journalism career out of fear. Upon meeting Jae-chan and altering the future, she regains her courage, returns to SBC news, and uses her reporting skills to expose injustice alongside the prosecution.

Moves from standard law enforcement duty to ultimate personal sacrifice for the higher cause of justice and truth.

An earnest police officer saved from a fatal collision by Jae-chan. After gaining prophetic dreams, he becomes a pillar of support for the team while quietly suppressing his feelings for Hong-joo. He harbors a career-ending secret (color blindness) which he voluntarily confesses in court to ensure a murderer's conviction, resigning from the force to pursue legal studies.

Shifts from opportunistic career ambition and wealth accumulation to desperate self-preservation, cover-up killings, and destruction.

Jae-chan's former high school tutor who becomes a high-powered defense attorney. He habitually tampers with evidence, frames innocent people, and colludes with criminals to maintain a perfect win record. As his cover-ups unravel, he descends into panic, murder, and complete moral bankruptcy.

Driven by guilt over his brother's crimes, evolving into a protective mentor role to secure Jae-chan's safety and moral growth.

Introduced as a tired, seemingly unenthusiastic veteran office investigator. He is later revealed to be the elder brother of the AWOL soldier who caused the tragedy 13 years prior. Having been saved by young Jae-chan back then, he also possessed premonitory dreams and spent years silently guiding Jae-chan from behind the scenes, ultimately giving his life to save Jae-chan.