New posters and a video teaser has been released for KBS rom-com When Camellia Blooms featuring lead actors Gong Hyo-jin (Jealousy Incarnate), Kang Haneul (Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart), and Kim Ji-suk (Top Star Yoo Baek).
Gong Hyo-jin plays the titular character, Dong-baek, whose name in English translates to camellia (the flower). She’s a single mom and restaurant owner, and has had her share of bad turns in life and love when she meets Kang Haneul’s character. A local police officer by the name of Hwang Yong-shik, he is a pure soul when it comes to love and he pursues her with the simple conviction that all you need is love. Despite everyone around them reasoning that love isn’t all that it’s cut out to be, Gong is moved by Kang’s sincerity and the two begin a romance.
Of course, complicating the situation is Kim Ji-suk. As a star baseball player, he had a child out of wedlock, but after his family was cast on the variety show Superman Returns, he became famous for doting on his daughter. However, he never quite got over his ex-girlfriend Dong-baek and is shaken when she appears in his life again.
The newly released posters have a nostalgic and late summer feel to them. The first one features Gong Hyo-jin and Kang Haneul sitting sweetly together at the top of a flight of stairs outdoors, looking out over the seaside coast.
The second is more comedic in tone and shows Gong Hyo-jin and Kang Haneul on what looks like a date. However, Kang is holding onto a broken bike and he glares at Kim Ji-suk, who stands in the forefront of the poster. Kim has the missing bike wheel in his possession and looks straight at the camera, motioning the audience to stay quiet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWEZbzkmUBg
The new teaser is set up like a parody of the variety show Same Bed, Different Dreams, and features Gong Hyo-jin and Kang Haneul in a mock interview segment. At the start, Kang Haneul is smelling a rose and he stops to speak with someone off screen, “Oh, we’re starting.” On the top left corner of the screen, the show logo has been altered to say “Dong-baek, Different Dreams” and the segment is labelled as “Dong-baek ? Hwang Yong-shik / Part iii. Someone’s Future”. The interview question appears at the bottom of the screen, “Everyone is charmed by Dong-baek, and the reason is…?” Kang responds to the question, explaining that “She has a coolness of her own,” and it cuts to a group of men at Gong’s restaurant. They ask her for food on the house and she replies that peanuts are 8,000 won (about $8). Returning to Kang Haneul, he continues that, “She’s pretty as well. How can someone not be charmed by her?” As he speaks, we see a quick close-up of Gong Hyo-jin brushing her hair back and we switch to a stunned Kang watching her.
Cutting back to the interview, Kang Haneul puts his hand to his chest to explain the fluttering he feels in his heart and how all he thinks about is Dong-baek. Cut to a surprised Gong Hyo-jin who asks, “Me?” and we see that she is now sitting with Kang Haneul in a joint interview. She laughs and says, “But, I didn’t do anything. I do have a question though, isn’t this interview for couples only?” Kang laughs nervously and when asked by Gong why he’s laughing, he replies, “I’m sorry, I just think we w-w-w-will…” Gong responds, “What do you mean we will? Will what?” and Kang shyly says, “W-w-ouple.” When Gong is confused, Kang confidently states, “Couple. I mean couple!” In reaction, Gong Hyo-jin continues to laugh good-naturedly and comments that Kang Haneul is an odd ajusshi. The teaser then ends with Kang looking at Gong Hyo-jin and clearly stating that he’s single.
Writing for the drama is writer Im Sang-choon (Fight My Way), and directing is PD Cha Young-hoon (Are You Human Too). Having previously collaborated on a short four-episode drama Baek-hee Has Returned, this will be their second time working together.
KBS drama When Camellia Blooms is currently set to air September 18, and will be taking over the Wednesday-Thursday timeslot following Justice.
