EXO’s Xiumin Shares Insights On His “Heo’s Diner” Character, How He Prepared For The Role, And More

Mar 21, 2025

EXO’s Xiumin has shared his thoughts on his upcoming drama “Heo’s Diner”!

Based on the web novel of the same name, “Heo’s Diner” is a fantasy rom-com about the events that unfold when Heo Gyun (EXO’s Xiumin), a figure from the Joseon era, travels 400 years into present time and unintentionally starts a restaurant.

Xiumin stars as Heo Gyun, a brilliant writer with a keen eye for aesthetics. Known for his free-spirited nature ahead of his time, Heo Gyun is suddenly transported from the Joseon Dynasty to the modern era while facing death. With a photographic memory, he is widely recognized as a genius. By chance, he meets Bong Eun Sil (WJSN’s Chu So Jung), the daughter of a restaurant owner, and together, they take on the challenge of running an eatery.

Sharing his thoughts on joining the project, Xiumin said, “I know the director personally, and when he offered me the role, I read the script. It was lighthearted and fun. I was confident I would enjoy filming, so I decided to take it. I was especially drawn to Heo Gyun’s reactions as he experiences modern inventions after time-slipping.”

He summed up Heo Gyun’s character with three key words: “fair-minded,” “innocent,” and “transcendent genius.” He continued, “He has a remarkable ability to remember everything he sees just once and always expresses his true feelings without pretense. He also believes in treating everyone equally and dreams of a world without discrimination based on social status.”

Xiumin further described Heo Gyun as “a cheerful, lighthearted person on the outside but someone with deep thoughts beneath the surface, which gives him an unexpected charm.” He added, “He’s loyal and takes care of the people around him, which is something I relate to.”

When asked about his preparations for the role, Xiumin revealed, “After time-slipping to the present, Heo Gyun has to run a restaurant, so I had several cooking scenes. Since I don’t usually cook, I practiced my knife skills at home.”

Finally, he pointed out a key detail to look for in the drama. “Heo Gyun reacts to modern inventions with unexpected comments. It’ll be fun to think about what’s going through his mind when he says them.” He added, “‘Heo’s Diner’ is a show anyone can enjoy, no matter their age. Even if you just have it on in the background, I think it’ll still draw you in. I hope many people will tune in.”