Inside the Surreal World of JTBC’s ‘More Beautiful Than Heaven’

JTBC’s weekend drama More Beautiful Than Heaven has captured the imagination of viewers with its compelling storyline and stunning visuals. As the storyline crosses over its midpoint, it continues to mesmerize with unexpected twists and emotionally charged storytelling.

Episode 5, which aired recently, shocked audiences when the character Lee Hae-sook (played by Kim Hye-ja) was pulled from heaven into hell—a mesmerizing moment that flipped the entire tone of the narrative. The series blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, life and death, heaven and hell, presenting a genre-defying spectacle that elevates the romance genre into metaphysical territory.

The visual brilliance of the series is owed in part to director Kim Seok-yoon and his team’s commitment to worldbuilding. From meticulously crafted sets to CG and VFX that breathe life into the show’s afterlife realm, the attention to detail is striking. Art Director Ahn Jung-hoon and VFX Supervisor Jung Ji-hyung recently opened up about their work behind the scenes, offering insights into how the show’s unique universe was realized.

“It was an honor to work on a project of such depth,” Ahn shared. “Creating the afterlife from an artistic perspective was both a challenge and a dream.” Jung added, “Every artist contributed incredible passion. Building an original world together was a deeply rewarding experience.”

The creative team was especially focused on contrasting heaven and hell. While heaven is portrayed with realistic yet otherworldly beauty, hell is rendered through surreal scenes like a molten metal furnace for fire, oil drums for ice, and keyboards in new conceptual realms—symbolizing modern sins in evocative ways.

“Depicting hell wasn’t about fear, but about visually representing society’s interpretation of sin,” explained Jung. “Each space had to carry symbolism, and from concept art to pre-visualization, everything fed into the final build.”

He also spotlighted a subway scene that connects life, heaven, and hell—a modern setting used as a spiritual conduit—and a heartfelt moment where a character and his dog reunite in the depths of the underworld. “Even the smallest emotional cues had to be conveyed visually,” he said.

As the series approaches its final arc, questions surrounding central characters like Somi (Han Ji-min), Lee Young-ae (Lee Jung-eun), and the Pastor (Ryu Deok-hwan) are expected to unfold. Ahn hinted at more unbelievable visuals in upcoming episodes, while Jung hopes viewers resonate with the show’s underlying message: a poetic reflection on life, death, and everything in between.

More Beautiful Than Heaven airs Saturdays at 10:40 PM and Sundays at 10:30 PM KST on JTBC.