Korean drama ‘The Potato Lab,’ featuring Kang Tae Oh and Lee Sun Bin, is gaining significant attention worldwide on Netflix. Even though it has not become very popular in South Korea, the show quickly entered Netflix’s Global Top 10 list. This shows a strong international impact for the series.
According to Nielsen Korea, the first episode of ‘The Potato Lab,’ broadcast on March 1, received a local viewership rating of only 1.7%. The second episode saw a small increase to 1.8%. These numbers suggest there is space for the drama to grow its audience in South Korea. However, the reaction from global audiences has been very different and positive.
As of March 3, FlixPatrol reported that ‘The Potato Lab’ reached 7th place in Netflix’s global TV show rankings within its first week. The drama also impressively ranked 9th in the United States, which is Netflix’s largest market. Furthermore, ‘The Potato Lab’ made it into the Top 10 of Netflix shows in 52 countries around the world. In South Korea itself, the show was 6th on Netflix initially but climbed to 4th place by March 4.
Kang Tae Oh’s Return
‘The Potato Lab’ is Kang Tae Oh’s first project after completing his mandatory military service. He is well-known for his role as a law firm employee in ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo.’ In this new drama, Kang Tae Oh plays So Baek Ho, a dedicated executive in the Strategic Planning Department of Wonhan Retail. So Baek Ho’s main goal is to close down the Potato Research Lab due to company budget issues. From the very beginning of the series, Kang Tae Oh portrays an intense character, even being involved in a physical fight with a dismissed worker.
Lee Sun Bin as Lead
Lee Sun Bin stars as Kim Mi Kyung, who is passionately called “Potato Obsessed.” This nickname comes from her strong commitment to protect the Potato Research Lab. The drama is directed by Kang Il-soo, known for directing ‘The Kingdom of the Winds’ and ‘Warrior Baek Dong Soo.’ The script is written by Kim Ho Su, who also wrote for ‘Solomon’s Perjury’ and ‘My Sassy Girl.’
Storyline Unveils
The first episode of ‘The Potato Lab’ shows Kim Mi Kyung’s fight to keep her job after Sunyeo Foods is taken over by Wonhan Retail. So Baek Ho starts an internal investigation within the company. The drama builds suspense as the story develops.
In the second episode, the relationship between the two main characters changes direction. Kim Mi Kyung starts planning ways to save the Potato Research Lab, but she and So Baek Ho unexpectedly become closer. A notable scene happens at a company dinner. Kim Mi Kyung sees a drunk So Baek Ho and suddenly kisses him. This action reminds her of a “sexy director” from a romance novel she enjoyed. This surprising event has made viewers excited and eager to see how their unpredictable romance will progress.
“This surprising turn of events has raised viewers’ heart rates and heightened anticipation for their unpredictable romance.”
Ex-Boyfriend Conflict
As the drama continues, Kim Mi Kyung discovers that her former boyfriend, Park Gi Se, played by Lee Hak Ju, is connected to the Potato Research Lab. This introduces new conflicts into the storyline.
Despite the drama’s low ratings in South Korea, ‘The Potato Lab’ has gained international recognition. This shows that a drama’s success and impact cannot be judged only by its domestic viewership numbers.
Episode 3 of ‘The Potato Lab’ is scheduled to air on March 8 at 9:20 PM IST. Audiences are waiting to see what will happen after the unexpected kiss between Kim Mi Kyung and So Baek Ho. They are also curious about the new problems that will arise with the arrival of her ex-boyfriend, Park Gi Se.
Saikat Nandy is an entertainment news writer who covers the latest trends and stories from the world of showbiz, has a keen eye for spotting the most interesting and relevant topics, and delivers them to his audience with flair and humor. He is also a freelance blogger, content writer, and website designer who loves to explore new technologies and creative ideas.
