MBC‘s new Friday-Saturday drama ‘Motel California’ actor Choi Min-soo has transformed into the owner of a rural motel.

MBC’s new Friday-Saturday drama ‘Motel California (planned by Jang Jae-hoon/directed by Kim Hyung-min, Lee Jae-jin/written by Lee Seo-yoon), which is scheduled to premiere on January 10th (Friday) next year, is a first love remodeling romance drama about a woman who was born and raised in a rural motel and reunites with her first love in her hometown she ran away from 12 years ago. It is based on the popular 2019 novel ‘Home, Bitter Home’ by Sim Yoon-seo, and stars Lee Se-young (as Ji Kang-hee), Na In-woo (as Cheon Yeon-soo), and Choi Min-soo (as Ji Chun-pil).

Among them, ‘Motel California’ has released the first still cuts of Choi Min-soo. In the drama, Choi Min-soo plays Ji Chun-pil, the father of Ji Kang-hee (played by Lee Se-young) and a free-spirited romantic owner of a rural motel. Chun-pil has a devilish charisma that draws everyone to him, but he becomes infinitely weak in front of his daughter Kang-hee. In particular, he meddles in everything in the village, but to Kang-hee, he is like ‘Mr. Chun-pil’, and attention is focused on the unique relationship that Kang-hee and Chun-pil will show as father and daughter who live for themselves.

In the still cuts, Choi Min-soo is perfectly transformed into a country bumpkin with shabby clothes, a bushy beard, and gentle eyes. His casual attire shows off his freedom, while his soft yet heavy eyes catch the eye by revealing the side of an homme fatale. This is a surprising turn of events as he is the owner of a country motel, which is 180 degrees different from the ‘charismatic representative’ Choi Min-soo who has been impressed upon the public. Along with this, a two-shot of young Kang-hee and Chun-pil spending an affectionate time was also captured, raising curiosity about the chemistry between Kang-hee and Chun-pil who have changed from a sweet father-daughter relationship to an awkward one.

The production team of ‘Motel California’ said, “Choi Min-soo, who boasts acting skills in name and reality, has embarked on a surprising transformation into the ‘country motel owner’ ‘Ji Chun-pil’. Choi Min-soo proves his solid presence with his soft charisma, while freely going back and forth with Chun-pil‘s romantic side, completing an even more charming character. Accordingly, we ask for your great anticipation for what Choi Min-soo’s ‘Romantic Guest’ country motel owner will be like and what kind of great acting synergy he will create with Lee Se-young,“ he said.

MBC‘s new Friday-Saturday drama ‘Motel California’ will first air on Friday, January 10, 2025 at 9:50 PM.

Jeon Hyo-jin, Donga.com reporter jhj@donga.com