The script reading site of MBC‘s new Friday-Saturday drama ‘Motel California’ has been revealed, drawing attention.

MBC’s new Friday-Saturday drama ‘Motel California (planned by Jang Jae-hoon/directed by Kim Hyung-min/written by Lee Seo-yoon/produced by HB Entertainment), which will be first broadcast in January 2025, is a first love remodeling romance about a woman who was born and raised in a motel in the countryside and reunites with her first love in her hometown she ran away from 12 years ago. Based on the popular novel ‘Home, Bitter Home’ by Sim Yoon-seo in 2019, the drama is garnering much attention with a lineup that boasts both reliability and freshness, including Lee Se-young (as Ji Kang-hee), who is continuing her undefeated streak on MBC, and actor Na In-woo (as Cheon Yeon-soo), who steals women‘s hearts with his affectionate gaze, as well as Choi Min-soo (as Ji Chun-pil), Kim Tae-hyung (as Geum Seok-kyung), and Choi Hee-jin (as Yoon Nan-woo).

In the midst of this, on the 12th (Tuesday), ‘Motel California’ will reveal the script reading site announcing the launch of the harmless and heart-fluttering ‘Unprecedented Motel’, focusing attention. The production crew that will bring ‘Motel California’ to life, as well as actors Lee Se-young, Na In-woo, Choi Min-soo, Kim Tae-hyung, Choi Hee-jin, Woo Mi-hwa (as Hwang Jeong-goo), Jung Yong-joo (as Ryu Han-woo), Koo Ja-sung (as Cha Seung-eon), Lee So-yi (as Han Areum), Ji Soo-won (as Suzy), and Oh Seung-ah (as Secretary Oh), were all present on set, raising expectations for the drama. In particular, the heartbreaking and healing first love chemistry between Lee Se-young and Na In-woo filled the script reading site with pink excitement.

Lee Se-young took on the role of ‘Ji Kang-hee’, an interior designer who has not lived an easy life, and charmingly displayed the bold side of a woman who receives all of Na In-woo’s pure love, drawing admiration. Also, she has raised expectations by delicately portraying the story of a character with an unusual background of ‘Motel is Home’ and an inner wound due to her mixed-race birth. Accordingly, expectations are rising for the first romance of the new year that Lee Se-young, who has established herself as a trustworthy and lovable goddess of romance through dramas such as ‘Red Sleeves’, ‘Contract Marriage Story of the Chaste Park Family’, and ‘What Comes After Love’, will present.



Na In-woo perfectly portrays the character of ‘Cheon Yeon-su’, the best handsome veterinarian in a rural village who experiences emotional conflict as he meets his first love, Kang-hee, whom he has longed for after 12 years. Na In-woo caught the eye by radiating the charm of a harmless ‘Kang-hee Baragi’ that disarms the viewer and completely conveying warm excitement. Accordingly, the next-generation pure-hearted male lead who will continue the lineage of pure men in Korea, Na In-woo, has raised curiosity about what kind of first love romance will be presented.

Choi Min-soo received cheers for his perfect immersion into the role of Kang-hee‘s father, the free-spirited romantic motel owner ‘Ji Chun-pil’. In addition, Choi Min-soo proved that the title ‘irreplaceable actor’ was not given in vain by displaying the dignity of an acting veteran by savoring the meaning of each and every line and analyzing it in detail.

Kim Tae-hyung also played the role of ‘Geum Seok-kyung’, the sole heir to the Young & Rich Elite Hotel, and displayed his refreshing charm as he approaches Lee Se-young, while Choi Hee-jin played the character of ‘Yoon Nan-woo’, a veterinarian who is Yeon-soo’s college junior and colleague, and raised expectations for an exciting romance line with her bright and cheerful acting that brings a smile to your face. Moreover, the passionate acting of the actors, regardless of their leading or supporting roles, who seemed to be wearing tailored clothes, created a synergy that made it seem as if the entire rural village ‘Hana-eup’, which is the main setting of the drama, was moved here, raising expectations to the max.

The actors who finished the script reading that day also personally shared their thoughts on working together for the first time. Lee Se-young raised expectations by saying, “I‘m so excited to show the viewers a new side of me,” Na In-woo expressed his excitement by saying, “I’m so happy, excited, and nervous to meet you all with a good project,” and Choi Min-soo said, “I hope this drama will feel like a moment when you had a happy dream after taking a short nap,” conveying his special ambitions for ‘Motel California’.

Meanwhile, ‘Motel California’, which has been garnering expectations for its fantastic chemistry since the script reading, is scheduled to air in January 2025.

Choi Yun-na, Donga.com reporter yyynnn@donga.com