More laughs are in store for Channel A’s historical comedy Check-in Hanyang, featuring disguised identities and bumbling antics. Centering around the most prominent guesthouse in Joseon, our tale will have its intern quartet navigate youth, romance, and the all-important task of managing a flourishing business.
Across the Yongcheonru guesthouse’s courtyard, a voice rings out: “However!” That single objection soon grows into a chorus of protests at every corner, giving the incredulous instructor a headache. It’s easy to see how our “However Quartet” earned their nickname, and a sheepish Bae In-hyuk (The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract) admits that they do indeed utter that word very often.
As it turns out, he’s actually the prince Lee Eun. Believing that a king’s true power comes from being able to feed his people, our righteous prince takes on the identity of Lee Eun-ho, venturing beyond the palace walls to experience life as a commoner. Alas, you can take a prince out of the palace, but you can’t take the palace training out of a prince. Before long, Eun-ho’s clumsy mistakes net him a scolding from the exasperated Kim Ji-eun (Love Next Door) as Hong Deok-soo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LDiw2ZMl0s
However (heh), Deok-soo also harbors a secret — she’s cross-dressing to train at the guesthouse. “A man never backs down from a challenge,” Deok-soo boldly declares, flexing her manly muscles perhaps a little too vigorously. Surrounded by guys every hour of the day, it seems Deok-soo will have a hard time ahead concealing her true identity from prying eyes.
Rounding out our four-way friendship, we have Jung Geon-joo (Bittersweet Hell) as the Yongcheonru heir and precious only child Chun Jun-hwa. Dressed in fine clothes with a confident saunter in his step, the optimistic Jun-hwa always approaches life with a smile. In contrast, Jaechan (My Sweet Mobster) comes from a humble background as Go Soo-ra, who’s studied all his life to succeed at the guesthouse. What he lacks in resources, he more than makes up for with his steadfast diligence.
From weeping as they peel onions, to fooling around in the water they’re washing the laundry in, there’s never a dull day with our fervent four. Not everyone looks kindly upon their shenanigans, though. “How did such scruffy ones enter this esteemed place?” tuts a disapproving voice, who’s sick and tired of their troublemaking. Even so, our quartet has each other’s backs — they’re in the same boat, and they’ll sail together till the end.
Helmed by PD Myung Hyun-wooGrand Shining Hotel), with scripts penned by Park Hyun-jin (My Military Valentine), Check-In Hanyang opens its doors on December 21.