samK

samK is the pen name of a Boys’ Love novelist and webtoon writer who publishes in Korean. samK is the author of Payback (페이백), the web novel and manhwa that the 2026 Thai series of the same name adapts, and is credited on that production for the original story.

The Payback story began as a web novel in 2010. It became a manhwa serialised on Bomtoon from June 2, 2021, with art by Fujoking, and it is published in English by Lezhin Comics. The webtoon has gathered more than 20.48 million views and has been translated into more than eight languages.

The story follows Lee Yoohan, a debt collector who loses his brother to violence and his savings to his own ex-lover. Five years later he learns that the ex is now a celebrity, and he pursues an acting career to get close enough to take revenge, until an industry powerhouse named Yoon Jay offers him a shortcut. The Thai adaptation keeps that structure and renames the leads Theemekha “Sun” Rungsapdee and Athip “Jay” Wanitsakitphaisan. Its screen story is credited to Sammon, working from samK’s original.

samK has written for the page in the same way many times: the prose comes first, and a manhwa adaptation drawn by another artist follows. Half of Me began as a 2014 novel and became a manhwa on Lezhin from 2022 with art by JUHAN. It was then adapted into a Korean series that began on August 18, 2025 and ran fifty-one episodes, with samK credited on the original story. Further works include December (novel 2021, manhwa 2021 to 2024), Regas (novel 2019, manhwa from 2023), Dazzling Breath (novel 2024, manhwa from 2025), The Perfect (manhwa 2023 to 2026) and Expiration Date (manhwa from 2025).

The Thai series runs ten episodes and aired on One 31 on Saturdays from May 30 to August 1, 2026, with iQIYI streaming it internationally and other platforms carrying it in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. It is a co-production between Raize Up Production, A Plan International Group, Kidari Studio and Copus Japan, directed by Woodie Pongchaiphat Sethanand. Min Thanakorn Wichanukhor plays Sun and Toptap Jarukit Kaewmoonrueang plays Jay. Amnard Thangsomboon shares the screenplay credit with Sammon.