Joy, Choo Young-woo, and Baek Sung-chul in KakaoTV’s Unexpected Country Diary
by solstices
If you’re looking for a feel-good drama to tide you through the summer heat, this looks like it may be the one for you. KakaoTV’s upcoming romantic comedy Unexpected Country Diary has released its first stills, featuring Red Velvet’s Joy (The One and Only), Choo Young-woo (School 2021), and Baek Sung-chul (Inspector Koo).
Choo Young-woo plays Han Ji-yul, a veterinarian who resides in Seoul. One day, he receives a phone call from his grandfather, who beckons him to the village of Huidong. Ji-yul thinks it’s just a one-off visit, which means he’s taken aback when he realizes that his grandfather has just set off for a half-year trip around Europe.
That means Ji-yul has to take over his grandfather’s veterinary clinic in his absence, thus marking the start of his new life in Huidong Village. For a Seoulite like Ji-yul, who’s used to only looking out for himself, the warm and affable village community is a 180-degree change. Flustered by the inquisitive villagers and their attempts to befriend him, Ji-yul simply can’t wait to escape the village.
Of course, that’s easier said than done. Ji-yul soon crosses paths with police officer Ahn Ja-young (played by Joy), who has lots of love for the village that’s her hometown. Whenever a villager is in need of a helping hand, Ja-young’s always the first one on the scene with her jack-of-all-trades skills.
Fumbling newcomer Ji-yul finds himself struggling to adapt to the countryside, which is where Ja-young comes into the picture. As she helps him out of sticky situations and guides him through village life, the pair start to spend more time together, and before long they’re catching feelings for each other.
Last but not least, there’s fellow villager Lee Sang-hyun, played by Baek Sung-chul. He’s Ja-young’s best friend, and he’s described as a young and handsome agriculturalist. With his bright energy and refreshing visuals, Sang-hyun is the perfect candidate to revitalize the village and carry on his father’s peach farming legacy.
Directed by Kwon Seok-jang (Bossam: Steal the Fate, Buam-dong Revenge Club) and written by newcomer Baek Eun-kyung, Unexpected Country Diary is based on a web novel by Park Ha-min. The drama is slated for a September 5th premiere, and will air on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays for 12 episodes.
Via Hankyung, ChosunBiz, Xsportsnews
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1 Elinor, Team Glasses team co-captain 🕯️
August 11, 2022 at 12:12 PM
Strong HomeCha vibes, farm animals are smelly, no thanks.
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DancingEmma
August 11, 2022 at 1:56 PM
@elinor: I will get you the commoner’s version of one of those cinnamon-filled pouches that the CW gave to Mudeokie so c’mon😂?
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Elinor, Team Glasses team co-captain 🕯️
August 12, 2022 at 12:22 AM
I mean, it sounds cute and all but it really does read like they just shuffled the genders of the main and side characters in HCCC, subbed vet for dentist, and plopped them all down on the farm instead of the seaside. But hey, I hate-watched all of that drama, so why not? If it features a beloved granny who dies in the penultimate episode I'm gonna throw hands tho.
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2 Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
August 11, 2022 at 12:30 PM
Wow it’s on three days a week sounds great. Reminds me of the Racket boys coach and family forced to move from Seoul and the teen forced to spend time with his grandad in the film 60 days of summer.
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3 Kurama
August 11, 2022 at 12:59 PM
It reminds me the drama with Lee Tae-Hwan when they were student learning farming.
I really liked Choo Young-Woo (his name reminds me a certain attorney) in School 2021, the second leads were far more interesting and better actors than the first leads. I'm not a big fan of Joy as an actress but she wasn't bad in The One and Only.
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4 Unaspirated
August 11, 2022 at 4:14 PM
I definitely read this title as "Unexpected Country Dairy". There was a cow and everything, it made sense... But I couldn't quite figure out what was so unexpected about a dairy farm in the country. Haha, oops!
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DancingEmma
August 11, 2022 at 11:07 PM
@jls943: Hahaha: Quite apt for sure. I’m not dyslexic but once in a while this happens to me too.
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ladynightshade wants her own ryu sunjae
August 11, 2022 at 11:36 PM
I…literally only realized it’s not Dairy after you pointed it out. Idk why it’s not though - that seems more fitting for the setting than Diary if I’m being honest.
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
August 11, 2022 at 11:49 PM
This reminds me of a rogue typo somebody made turning Prosecutor's Diary into Prosecutor's Dairy that led to us fleshing out an entirely new drama around a prosecutor's dairy. Which I... can't remember now.
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Unaspirated
August 13, 2022 at 7:41 AM
Maybe the only Lawyer-show iteration dramaland has not done recently?
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5 OldLawyer
August 11, 2022 at 4:44 PM
Do we know where this one will be streaming? It sounds quite pleasant.
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6 ladynightshade wants her own ryu sunjae
August 11, 2022 at 5:55 PM
SANTA!!!
Okay, that aside, the cast seems extremely green and untested. I’ve seen both Joy and Choo Young-woo in stuff before, but haven’t been all that impressed - although he was one of the better ones in the abysmally-acted School 2021.
I do like the setting and it has potential for some heartwarming storytelling and gorgeous landscapes, but once again, I don’t understand why we need a cop in the story. I would just like one drama without police officers being unnecessarily tied into a non-procedural/thriller story.
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missvictrix
August 11, 2022 at 6:02 PM
Same reaction.... SANTA!!!!!!
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DancingEmma
August 11, 2022 at 11:11 PM
@ladynightshade: Was “Santa” a role or code for something that went over my head? Thank you kindly my Internet/epistolary friend!
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ladynightshade wants her own ryu sunjae
August 11, 2022 at 11:15 PM
@dncingemma: Baek Sung-chul played a character nicknamed Santa on Inspector Koo.
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DancingEmma
August 11, 2022 at 11:31 PM
@ladynightshade: Thank you! I hope I haven’t exhausted your patience.
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ladynightshade wants her own ryu sunjae
August 11, 2022 at 11:34 PM
@dncingemma: Not at all! You could never do that to me, I love interacting with you and everyone else on this site. Also this just allows me to recommend Inspector Koo to you, which was one of the hidden gems of last year. Great show with some fantastic characters - one of them being our Santa here.
DancingEmma
August 11, 2022 at 11:37 PM
@ladynightshade: Thank you for being lovely as always. I always take your recoms onboard so will watch IK as soon as I can.
ladynightshade wants her own ryu sunjae
August 11, 2022 at 11:45 PM
@dncingemma: Always lovely talking to you! I hope you enjoy Inspector Koo.
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
August 12, 2022 at 12:14 AM
Thank you so much for asking, I was lurking hoping to find a clue somewhere to avoid languishing in the question of the week zone😬
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7 Scottie
August 12, 2022 at 5:03 AM
There will be dung and other muddy stuff!
Well, being an actor not only requires to be god looking, athletic and able to speak in a good voice, but also being ready to put up with food thrown over your head or in the face (common in prison or school dramas), jumping into freezing rivers or lakes fully clothed, or rolling and fighting in a mudflat (Jealousy Incarnate!).
It will definitely take you out of your comfort zone, better not be squeamish.
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8 bbstl 🧹
August 12, 2022 at 8:10 AM
Oooh, peaches and farm animals! If there are baby goats, I’m in 🐐
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DancingEmma
August 13, 2022 at 7:23 AM
@bbstl: peaches orchards got my attention and it might be easy viewing so throw in any baby animal and I’ll be easy prey (bad pun).
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parkchuna 🍉
August 13, 2022 at 11:21 PM
Haha how do we think the same? I thought i might check this out for the peach farm. I was already imagining a scene featuring a juicy ripe peach.
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DancingEmma
August 13, 2022 at 11:33 PM
@parkchuna: My fellow beanie fan of peach farms/orchards! I salute you! I was quite young when I saw my first white peach orchard and I have neither forgotten that gorgeous view of the peach-laden trees nor the exquisite aroma/scent of them. It was a rave for the senses!
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parkchuna 🍉
August 14, 2022 at 1:24 AM
I have never been to a peach farm but i love the fruit! Unfortunately it’s not a local fruit so can be very expensive.
bbstl 🧹
August 14, 2022 at 9:47 AM
oooooh, I’m jealous. That sounds glorious!