Lee Sun-bin and Kang Tae-oh deliver quirky romance in 'The Potato Lab'

By KTimes

Actors Lee Sun-bin and Kang Tae-oh take the lead in "The Potato Lab," a romantic comedy that blends humor, quirky charm and an unlikely love story set against the backdrop of a potato research lab.

A press conference for the upcoming tvN drama took place at Ramada Hotel in Sindorim-dong, Seoul, with director Kang Il-soo and lead actors Lee Sun-bin, Kang Tae-oh, Lee Hak-joo, Kim Ga-eun and Shin Hyun-seung in attendance, while also being streamed online.

The series reunites director Kang, known for "Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung" and "Solomon’s Perjury," with screenwriter Kim Ho-soo.

The drama follows Mi-kyeong (Lee Sun-bin), a woman whose life revolves around potatoes, and Baek-ho (Kang Tae-oh), a cold, principled perfectionist. Their whirlwind romance unfolds like a spinning tornado potato, blending healing, comedy and love in a unique setting.

One of the drama’s biggest draws is the magnetic chemistry between Lee and Kang, who play characters with opposite personalities.

Mi-kyeong, a passionate potato researcher, meets Baek-ho, a composed executive at Wonhan Retail’s organizational innovation division, and soon finds him just as fascinating as her research subject.

Director Kang said that the idea for the drama stemmed from a simple curiosity: “What kind of story would unfold when two seemingly mismatched elements come together?”

The drama captures the characters’ interactions, transformations, and evolving relationships within the unique setting of "The Potato Lab."

Lee Sun-bin recalled being drawn to the drama while looking for a project with a naturalistic acting style.

“It’s been a while since I read a script without any unlikable characters. This project doesn’t feel like something I need to study and memorize — I’m just enjoying it,” she said.

For Kang Tae-oh, "The Potato Lab" marks his first project after completing military service. He first came across the script while serving and found it captivating.

“I used to read scripts during my night shifts to stay awake, and when I read this one, I was instantly wide awake. That’s how engaging it was,” he said. “I’m excited to return with this drama, and I have no regrets about choosing it.”

He also expressed his gratitude to director Kang for helping him overcome the nervousness of being back in front of the camera.

As Kang’s drama premieres alongside Seo Kang-jun’s comeback series "Undercover High School," he acknowledged the friendly rivalry.

“I hope both dramas do well so that the viewers and everyone involved in the productions can smile. I’ll cheer him on while embracing this healthy competition,” he said.

"The Potato Lab" is set to premiere on March 1 on tvN.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.