A sweet romance is coming.

tvN‘s new Sat-Sun drama ‘Potato Research Institute’ (directed by Kang Il-soo and Shim Jae-hyun, written by Kim Ho-soo) is a healing comic romance that swirls around like a whirlwind of potatoes in front of Mi-kyung (played by Lee Sun-bin), who is all about potatoes. The steamy romance that unfolds against the backdrop of the Potato Research Institute, where you can bake, fry, and boil things, is expected to present pleasant laughter and a different kind of excitement. The production team has summarized the points to watch ahead of the first broadcast.


● The colorful emotional synergy of Director Kang Il-soo and Writer Kim Ho-soo! A healing comic romance with a refreshing material

According to the production team, director Kang Il-soo and writer Kim Ho-soo, who worked on ‘Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung’, ‘Solomon’s Perjury’, are teaming up again. Director Kang Il-soo said, “The combination of the ordinary existence of potatoes and the scientific space of the research lab was interesting. The curiosity of ‘what kind of story will be born when elements that seem completely incompatible meet?’ was the starting point of ‘Potato Research Lab’,” and “The process in which the characters collide, change, and form relationships in the special space called the ‘Potato Research Lab’ is realistically depicted. There are many moments when you laugh cheerfully but suddenly sympathize. I hope this work will make you think again about the meaning of life slowly and firmly.”

Writer Kim Ho-soo said, “It takes tens of thousands of failures to create a single potato variety. I felt that even the nameless potatoes in the mart were hiding someone‘s hard work. They may seem insignificant, but they are everywhere, and I thought that they connect with our lives as we quietly live our lives, overcoming our own frustrations and staying in our places,” he explained the intent of the project.

He continued, “I hope that after watching it absentmindedly, it leaves a warm aftertaste in the viewers’ hearts at some point. You can look forward to the amazing chemistry created by Kim Mi-kyung, a woman with a lot of fire in her fortune, and So Baek-ho, a man who is like 100% stainless steel.”


● The amazing chemistry between Lee Sun-bin and Kang Tae-oh, the ‘Essentials of N-pole and S-pole that are more attractive because they are different

The synergy between Lee Sun-bin and Kang Tae-oh, who will complete the magnetic chemistry that is more attractive because they are different, is the best point to watch. First, Lee Sun-bin plays the role of ‘Kim Mi-kyung’, a potato researcher who has devoted her life to potatoes. The easygoing and generous Kim Mi-kyung experiences dynamic emotional changes as she meets So Baek-ho, a research subject as interesting as potatoes. Kang Tae-oh transforms into ‘So Baek-ho’, the director of organizational innovation at Wonhan Retail, whose composure is his weapon. He has a smile that is bright enough to remind you of your first love, but in reality, he is the ‘Grim Reaper of Capitalism’ itself. So Baek-ho meets the unpredictable variable Kim Mi-kyung at the potato research center where principles do not work and faces the greatest upheaval of his life. The production team‘s trust in Lee Sun-bin and Kang Tae-oh, who maximized their ‘Some&Ssam’ charms, is also extraordinary.

Director Kang Il-soo said, “The differences between the two actors with completely different colors actually created natural chemistry. I am confident that the subtle emotional lines while bickering will deliver more excitement than expected.” Writer Kim Ho-soo also said, “I think the chemistry between the two actors was great, and the relationship between Mi-kyung and Baek-ho came to life well,” and added, “Lee Sun-bin was exactly the Mi-kyung I had imagined, with her passion, sense of responsibility, and affection. Kang Tae-oh also has a special talent for comedy. He did not spare his praise, saying, “He expressed the role of Baekho, who goes from seriousness to eccentricity, in a colorful way with his own spectrum.”



● Character ensemble from Lee Hak-joo, Kim Ga-eun, and Shin Hyun-seung to Yoo Seung-mok, Kwak Ja-hyung, Woo Jung-won, Yoon Jung-seop, Nam Hyun-woo, and Kim Ji-ah

The ensemble of characters with the charm of ‘potato chips’ that you can’t stop watching once you get into them, including Lee Hak-joo, Kim Ga-eun, Shin Hyun-seung, Yoo Seung-mok, Kwak Ja-hyung, Woo Jung-won, Yoon Jung-seop, Nam Hyun-woo, and Kim Ji-ah, is a must-watch point. Lee Hak-joo plays the role of ‘Park Ki-se’, everyone’s wannabe but Kim Mi-kyung’s ill-fated ex-boyfriend and the executive director of the strategy planning department of Wonhan Retail. Kim Ga-eun transforms into the popular web novel writer ‘Romance Mania’ and Kim Mi-kyung’s best friend ‘Princess Lee’, adding vitality to the drama by acting as Kim Mi-kyung‘s limited cupid. Shin Hyun-seung plays Kim Hyeong-gyeong, the most positive king of Yeong-ri, who has ‘zero combat power’, unlike his older sister Kim Mi-kyung who is ‘full of fighting power’. The character plays of the researchers of the ‘Potato Research Institute’ who absolutely cannot tolerate being ignored by potatoes are also highly anticipated.

The role of the legendary ‘Absent’ manager of the Potato Research Institute is played by Yoo Seung-mok, and the role of the ‘Fixed’ manager, a self-proclaimed Daegwallyeong hipster with no work ethic, is played by Kwak Ja-hyung. The role of ‘Joo Seung-hee’, the deputy manager who shields the ‘Old Man Moments’ of the Absent Manager and is the number one contributor to the teamwork of the Potato Research Institute, is played by Woo Jung-won. The youngest line of the ‘Potato Research Institute’, the ‘Jangchung-dong Trio’, also adds to the fun. Kim Ji-ah plays the role of ‘Jang Seul-gi’, the eldest of the ‘Jangchung-dong Trio’, who is always looking to change jobs, and Yoon Jung-seop plays the role of the calm and reserved ‘Lee Chung-hyun’ employee. The youngest and energetic employee of the Potato Research Institute, ‘Kwon Hee-dong’, is played by Nam Hyun-woo, who creates amazing chemistry with Kim Ji-ah and Yoon Jung-seop.

Director Kang Il-soo, who revealed that they had perfect teamwork from the first shoot, said, “There were always ad-lib battles on set. “It was a lively filming set brimming with energy and laughter at every moment,” he said.

‘Potato Research Institute’ will first air on March 1st at 9:20 PM.

Hong Se-young, Donga.com reporter, projecthong@donga.com

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.