Wok of Love

Wok of Love
Promotional poster
Hangul
기름진 멜로
Literal meaningGreasy Melo
Revised RomanizationGireumjin Mello
Genre
Created byHan Jeong-hwan
(SBS Drama)
Written bySeo Sook-hyang
Directed byPark Seon-ho
Starring
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes38[a][b]
Production
Executive producers
  • Lee Hun-hee
  • Kim Dong-joon
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time35 minutes[b]
Production companyS.M. C&C[c]
Original release
NetworkSBS TV
ReleaseMay 7 (2018-05-07) –
July 17, 2018 (2018-07-17)

Wok of Love (Korean기름진 멜로; RRGireumjin Mello) is a 2018 South Korean television series starring Lee Jun-ho, Jang Hyuk and Jung Ryeo-won. It aired on SBS from May 7 to July 17, 2018 on Mondays and Tuesdays at 22:00 (KST) for 38 episodes.[4]

Synopsis

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A charming love story of a group of men and women that is hotter than the boiling oil in a sizzling hot wok. Across the street of the six-star Giant Hotel, there stood a small and shabby Chinese restaurant called Hungry Wok. Doo Chil-sung, the owner of the restaurant and a former gangster from the Big Dipper Gang, took over the restaurant in order to provide a place of work for his former gang members. One day, former star chef Seo Poong, and bankrupt heiress Dan Sae-woo, whose lives were turned upside down overnight, came to visit Chil-sung for his help to get them back on their feet.

Cast

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Main

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A tough spirit who starts from the very bottom of a hotel kitchen to becoming a top chef in a Chinese restaurant of Giant Hotel. A conspiracy resulted in the removal from his job. He ends up being a co-owner of the "Hungry Wok".[5][6]
A former loan shark gangster from the 'Big Dipper' gang who seems intimidating but is secretly very kind hearted. After serving his time in prison, he ends up running a failing Chinese restaurant with his ever so loyal gang members.[7]
A chaebol heiress who enjoys horseback riding and fencing but is currently bankrupt. She undergoes a major change in her life after tasting a bowl of Jajangmyeon at a Chinese restaurant.[8]

Supporting

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People working in Hungry Wok

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A beautiful and vivacious chaebol wife and an ex beauty queen. She won the title for Miss Onion pageant 20 odd years ago.[9]
Chef of a Chinese restaurant who came to Korea from the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture 25 years ago.[10]
A timid restaurant helper who dreams about becoming a chef, and sees Seo Poong as his role model.[11]

Members of Big Dipper Gang

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Right-hand man of Doo Chil-sung in the 'Big Dipper' gang. He began working in the Hungry Wok restaurant after being released from prison, under the orders of Chil-sung.[12]
  • Kim Hyun-joon as Kwang Dong-sik (27)
A member of the 'Big Dipper' gang, the only married man among them. He is a warm-hearted person who wants to learn Chinese cooking skills as soon as possible in order not to worry his wife.[13]
  • Choi Ki-sub as Jeon Yi Man (35)
A gangster working in the same restaurant who finds fighting easier than cooking. [14]
A member of the 'Big Dipper' gang, now a dumpling master who looks younger than his age and quick in calculations.[15]
The youngest member of the 'Big Dipper' gang who is extremely loyal and strong.[16]

People working in Giant Hotel

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  • Kim Sa-kwon as Yong Seung-ryong (30)
An ambitious president of Giant Hotel.[17]
Main chef of the Chinese restaurant of Giant Hotel.[18]
A chef-in-training under a famous chef in the Giant Hotel. Seo Poong's rival who pretends to be his friend.[19]
  • Hong Yoon-hwa as Kan Bora (27)
The only female chef in Giant Hotel's Chinese restaurant's kitchen.[20]
Hall manager of Giant Hotel who speaks fluent Chinese, and values money above friendship.[21]

Others

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A mysterious woman who frequently appears and disappears around Doo Chil-sung without warning. She is Chil-sung's mother who had abandoned him in a Chinese restaurant while eating sweet sour pork and jajangmyeon.[9]
A plastic surgeon who has enjoyed success in her career thanks to the support of her father who runs a Chinese restaurant. Her marriage to her first love, Seo Poong is troubled, when she cheats on him.[22]
A successful obstetrician.[23]
Animal Hospital Veterinarian
Father of Dan Sae-woo who has become bankrupt
Kwang Dong-sik's wife. A room maid at the Giant Hotel. She draws attention wherever she goes due to her pretty and sexy appearance.[24]

Special appearance

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Production

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The first script reading took place in late March 2018.[25]

Original soundtrack

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Wok of Love OST
Soundtrack album by
Various artists
Released2018
GenreSoundtrack
Language
Label

Part 1

[edit]
Released on May 7, 2018 (2018-05-07)
No.TitleArtistLength
1."There's Something" (뭔가 있어)Jeong Se-woon03:58
2."There's Something" (Inst.) 03:58

Part 2

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Released on May 14, 2018 (2018-05-14)
No.TitleArtistLength
1."At That Time" (그 시간에)Choi Young-jae (GOT7)03:26
2."At That Time" (Inst.) 03:26

Part 3

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Released on May 21, 2018 (2018-05-21)
No.TitleArtistLength
1."Is It You" (너였었니)Baek A-yeon04:31
2."Is It You" (Inst.) 04:31

Part 4

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Released on May 28, 2018 (2018-05-28)
No.TitleArtistLength
1."I'll Do It Every Day" (매일매일 그리울거야)Jooyoung03:55
2."I'll Do It Every Day" (Inst.) 03:55

Part 5

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Released on June 11, 2018 (2018-06-11)
No.TitleArtistLength
1."At Beginning Of Love" (사랑이 시작될때)Kassy4:10
2."At Beginning Of Love" (Inst.) 4:10

Ratings

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  • In the table below, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
  • NR denotes that the drama did not rank in the top 20 daily programs on that date.
  • TNmS stop publishing their report from June 2018.
Ep. Broadcast date Average audience share
TNmS[26] AGB Nielsen[27]
Nationwide Seoul Nationwide Seoul
1 May 7, 2018 6.5% (NR) 7.6% 5.8% (NR) 6.8% (15th)
2 7.3% (18th) 8.2% 6.4% (17th) 7.3% (10th)
3 May 8, 2018 5.7% (NR) 6.9% 4.7% (NR) 5.8% (15th)
4 7.0% (15th) 8.5% 5.6% (18th) 7.1% (12th)
5 May 14, 2018 5.9% (NR) 6.3% 5.4% (NR) 5.8% (18th)
6 6.9% (16th) 7.2% 5.8% (19th) 6.1% (15th)
7 May 15, 2018 6.2% (20th) 6.7% 5.1% (NR) 5.6% (19th)
8 7.3% (13th) 8.6% 6.8% (11th) 8.2% (9th)
9 May 21, 2018 5.8% (NR) 6.0% 5.2% (NR) 5.3% (NR)
10 6.3% (20th) 6.9% 5.8% (20th) 6.4% (16th)
11 May 22, 2018 5.9% (NR) 6.2% 4.9% (NR) 5.1% (NR)
12 6.6% (16th) 7.4% 5.8% (NR) 6.6% (16th)
13 May 28, 2018 6.7% (NR) 6.9% 4.8% (NR) 5.0% (NR)
14 7.1% (18th) 7.3% 5.5% (NR) 5.7% (NR)
15 May 29, 2018 5.5% (NR) 6.7% 4.5% (NR) 4.6% (NR)
16 6.6% (16th) 7.5% 5.2% (NR) 6.1% (18th)
17 June 4, 2018 5.7% 6.4% 6.0% (NR) 6.8% (13th)
18 7.0% 7.9% 6.5% (19th) 7.4% (12th)
19 June 5, 2018 5.8% 6.9% 5.7% (17th) 6.7% (11th)
20 6.5% 7.6% 6.4% (13th) 7.4% (8th)
21 June 11, 2018 5.6% 6.3% 5.4% (NR) 6.1% (20th)
22 7.0% 7.8% 6.4% (20th) 7.2% (12th)
23 June 25, 2018[d] 6.7% 7.5% 6.1% (NR) 7.2% (12th)
24 7.3% 8.6% 7.1% (13th) 8.4% (7th)
25 June 26, 2018 6.6% 7.9% 7.5% (14th) 8.8% (9th)
26 7.9% 9.0% 9.3% (7th) 10.4% (5th)
27 July 2, 2018 7.3% 8.6% 7.4% (17th) 8.7% (11th)
28 8.6% 10.1% 9.3% (6th) 10.8% (5th)
29 July 3, 2018 6.1% 7.3% 5.9% (NR) 7.1% (16th)
30 7.4% 8.8% 7.4% (15th) 8.9% (6th)
31 July 9, 2018 5.9% 7.4% 6.2% (NR) 7.7% (12th)
32 6.5% 8.1% 7.3% (17th) 8.9% (9th)
33 July 10, 2018 5.7% 6.5% 6.8% (16th) 7.6% (11th)
34 6.6% 7.8% 7.6% (9th) 8.7% (7th)
35 July 16, 2018 5.2% 6.0% 5.4% (NR) 6.3% (18th)
36 6.4% 7.1% 6.4% (17th) 7.2% (13th)
37 July 17, 2018 5.4% 6.7% 5.6% (17th) 6.9% (13th)
38 6.9% 8.2% 7.0% (13th) 8.1% (7th)
Average 6.6% 7.4% 6.2% 7.1%

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2018 SBS Drama Awards Top Excellence Award, Actor in a Monday-Tuesday Drama Jang Hyuk Nominated [28]
Lee Jun-ho Nominated
Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Monday-Tuesday Drama Jung Ryeo-won Nominated
Lee Mi-sook Nominated
Excellence Award, Actress in a Monday-Tuesday Drama Park Ji-young Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Im Won-hee Won

Notes

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  1. ^ Originally scheduled to air for 40 episodes, the series was reduced by two episodes in lieu of three preempts.[1][2]
  2. ^ a b In order to circumvent Korean laws that prevent commercial breaks in the middle of an episode, what would previously have been aired as single 70 minute episodes are now being repackaged as two 35 minute episodes, with two episodes being shown each night with a commercial break between the two.[3]
  3. ^ The same production company behind this series' preceding drama.
  4. ^ No episodes were aired on June 12 due to news coverage on the 2018 DPRK-US Singapore Summit, and on June 18 and 19 due to live coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

References

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  1. ^ '기름진멜로' 측 "20회→19회 압축 방송, 화요일 종영"[공식]. Naver (in Korean). June 26, 2018. Archived from the original on 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
  2. ^ ‘기름진 멜로’, 40부→38부작 압축 방송…7월 17일 종영. Ten Asia (in Korean). June 26, 2018. Archived from the original on August 2, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  3. ^ Park, Jin-hai (May 16, 2017). "Drama viewers angry over commercial breaks". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020 – via PressReader.
  4. ^ "'기름진 멜로' 이준호X장혁X정려원 티티저 공개, 침샘자극 맛있는 로맨스 예고". Seoul Economic Daily (in Korean). April 10, 2018. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  5. ^ "[SBS Star] 2PM's JUNHO to Star in New SBS Drama 'Greasy Melo'". SBS News. March 22, 2018. Archived from the original on March 22, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  6. ^ "Junho Joins "Greasy Romance" with Jang Hyuk and Jung Ryeo-won". Hancinema. March 22, 2018. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  7. ^ "[종합]"특급 라인업" 장혁x정려원x이준호 '기름진 멜로' 확정". Naver (in Korean). News1. March 21, 2018. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  8. ^ "[SBS Star] Jung Ryeo Won Confirms to Join New SBS Drama". SBS News. March 21, 2018. Archived from the original on March 21, 2018. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  9. ^ a b "이미숙, SBS '가름진 멜로' 출연 확정..장혁과 재회(공식)" (in Korean). March 26, 2018.
  10. ^ "[Orion's Daily Ramblings] Park Ji-young Tackles Yanbian Region Dialect in "Greasy Romance"". Hancinema. Newsen. March 28, 2018. Archived from the original on August 19, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  11. ^ 태항호, ‘기름진 멜로’ 출연 확정… 극에 활력 더한다. 10Asia (in Korean). March 29, 2018. Archived from the original on August 2, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  12. ^ "조재윤, SBS '기름진 멜로' 출연 "장혁의 오른팔役"" (in Korean). March 26, 2018. Archived from the original on August 2, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  13. ^ ""Greasy Romance" Courts Kim Hyun-jun". Hancinema. TV Report. March 28, 2018. Archived from the original on August 19, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  14. ^ ""Wok Of Love" Teases Chemistry Of Supporting Characters As Gangsters-Turned-Chefs". Soompi. May 2, 2018. Archived from the original on June 26, 2018. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  15. ^ [공식] 신예 차인하, 드라마 ‘기름진 멜로’ 출연...장혁과 ‘상남자 케미’. Seoul Economic Daily (in Korean). March 29, 2018. Archived from the original on August 19, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  16. ^ [공식입장] '기름진 멜로' 최원명 출연 확정, 장혁과 호흡. Korea Daily (in Korean). March 29, 2018. Archived from the original on April 5, 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  17. ^ 김사권, ‘기름진 멜로’ 캐스팅 확정… 장혁‧정려원과 호흡 (in Korean). March 28, 2018. Archived from the original on August 19, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  18. ^ "[공식입장] '기름진 멜로' 임원희 출연 확정, 장혁X정려원과 호흡". Korea Daily (in Korean). April 4, 2018. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  19. ^ "오의식, SBS '기름진 멜로' 캐스팅 "이준호 라이벌役"". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). April 4, 2018. Archived from the original on August 2, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  20. ^ "홍윤화, SBS 새 월화 '기름진 멜로' 캐스팅 확정..장혁-정려원-이준호 등과 호흡". Break News (in Korean). April 6, 2018. Archived from the original on August 19, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  21. ^ 강래연, 월화드라마 '기름진 멜로' 캐스팅 "수준급 중국어 구사". Munhwa News (in Korean). March 30, 2018. Archived from the original on July 22, 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  22. ^ [단독] '저글러스' 차주영, '기름진 멜로' 출연 확정..이준호·장혁과 호흡. Sportal Korea (in Korean). March 15, 2018. Archived from the original on August 2, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  23. ^ [공식입장]독립영화 핫스타 이기혁, '기름진멜로' 합류…드라마 진출. Sports Chosun (in Korean). April 5, 2018. Archived from the original on August 19, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  24. ^ "Jang Hee-ryung in "Greasy Romance"". Hancinema. Newsen. March 28, 2018. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  25. ^ ‘기름진 멜로’ 첫 대본리딩, 이준호-장혁-정려원 뭉쳤다 ‘이 조합 신선하네!'. iMBC (in Korean). April 16, 2018. Archived from the original on May 7, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  26. ^ "TNMS Daily Ratings at Naver". TNMS Ratings (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 22, 2001. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  27. ^ "AGB Daily Ratings: this links to current day-select the date from drop down menu". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 17, 2017. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  28. ^ Lee, Jihyun (January 1, 2019). [SBS 연기대상] 감우성·김선아, 공동 대상..베스트 커플상까지(종합) [[SBS Drama Awards] Gam Woo-sung, Kim Sun-ah, co- grand prize.. Best Couple Award (Comprehensive)]. News1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 31, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
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