A drama has emerged that, while appearing ordinary at first glance, has a potato-like appeal that keeps you coming back for more. Released as the follow-up to When the Stars Gossip, The Potato Lab is a collaboration between director Kang Il Soo and writer Kim Ho Soo, who previously worked together on Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung and Solomon’s Perjury. The pairing of Kang Tae Oh in his first post-military service project with Lee Sun Bin, who showed her approachable charm in Work Later, Drink Now and Boyhood, makes for a noteworthy combination.
Seonnyeo Foods, once renowned as the number one potato chip company, is suddenly acquired by Wonhan Retail. As a result, Seonnyeo’s Potato Research Lab in Gangwon Province also falls under Wonhan’s umbrella—devastating news for Kim Mi Kyung (Lee Sun Bin), who had quit Wonhan Retail for a good reason after a lengthy tenure and was now fully immersed in her lab life. So Baek Ho (Kang Tae Oh) is the youngest director at Wonhan Retail, responsible for organizational innovation in the strategic planning department. After successfully orchestrating the acquisition, he visits the lab for inspection but gets attacked by a bird that’s fond of Mi Kyung, creating a memorable first impression between the two. Their peculiar connection begins when Baek Ho moves into Mi Kyung’s village with the title of lab director, tasked with restructuring the facility.
True to its billing as a comedy, The Potato Lab is genuinely funny. The show kicks its B-grade comedy into high gear when Baek Ho, after being pecked on the back of his head by a bird, tumbles down a potato field slope as his life flashes before his eyes. The actors brilliantly execute potentially over-the-top comic scenes, creating delightfully entertaining moments. Lee Sun Bin particularly shines with her relatable, down-to-earth portrayal of Mi Kyung, delivering comedy filled with authentic everyday nuances, while Kang Tae Oh shows impressive range—from a capable but robotic director who seems straight out of a webtoon to completely letting loose in physical comedy. The bicking banter between the always-straightforward Baek Ho and Mi Kyung, along with other characters’ spirited dialogue, sparkles with playful creativity.
The romance is equally engaging. Befitting its genre as a romantic comedy, it starts off hilariously. To Mi Kyung, Baek Ho is just a jerk with a decent exterior; to Baek Ho, Mi Kyung is merely a lab employee who happened to become his temporary neighbor. But then, entranced by his appearance—which seems to have jumped straight off the cover of her favorite romance web novel—Mi Kyung impulsively kisses Baek Ho while drunk. This leaves him so flustered that his legs give way and he can’t sleep all night. In typical rom-com fashion, one might expect them to either dismiss it as a mistake or pretend it never happened before gradually realizing their feelings for each other. Instead, Baek Ho formally asks Mi Kyung to date him—not because he likes her, but because he doesn’t want to break his personal rule that kissing is only for couples, prompting Mi Kyung to call him crazy. The storyline takes predictable turns but keeps things fresh with comical variations and clever dialogue.
The sub-male lead Park Ki Se (Lee Hak Ju) also makes a strong impression. Ki Se was Mi Kyung’s colleague who joined Wonhan Retail at the same time and became her workplace lover, but he chose to marry the chairman’s daughter instead. Appearing now as divorced, he initially seems full of lingering feelings for Mi Kyung, suggesting an intriguing love triangle. However, when they finally meet properly, Ki Se asks Mi Kyung to keep their past relationship secret at work, while still making nostalgic comments about her shampoo—infuriating Mi Kyung and resulting in a comedic scene where she gives him a thorough verbal thrashing. The unpredictability of these characters is what makes this drama so charming.
With four episodes released so far, The Potato Lab has reached a point where Mi Kyung has received a termination notice from Baek Ho. Nevertheless, Baek Ho gradually develops an interest in Mi Kyung; all the while, Yoon Hee Jin (Jeong Shin Hye), Ki Se’s ex-wife and Baek Ho’s childhood friend, has entered the picture. As we eagerly anticipate how the romantic dynamics will unfold, we hope the series continues to deliver warm and delightful comedy, like a perfectly cooked potato. (8/10)
Edited by Kim Won Hee
Translated by Kim Hoyeun
Edited by Kim Won Hee: I am a person who needs more than 24 hours in a day because there are so many things I love. I am amassing various genres in the jewelry box in my heart
