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Romance Is a Bonus Book[1] (Korean로맨스는 별책부록; RRRomaenseuneun Byeolchaekburok) is a 2019 South Korean television series starring Lee Na-young and Lee Jong-suk.[2][3] It aired from January 26 to March 17, 2019 on tvN.[4][5][6]

Synopsis[edit]

Cha Eun-ho is a successful author and a senior editor at a book publishing company. Kang Dan-i is a mother and former successful advertising copywriter. When Cha Eun-ho was a child, Kang Dan-i saved him from an accident and was injured. Kang Dan-i had Cha Eun-ho help her while she was recuperating in hospital and later on bedrest for one year. By helping her acquire books to read from the library, Cha Eun-ho himself became interested in writing. The two youngsters stayed close friends well into adulthood. However, their friendship was strained after Kang Dan-i started dating a selfish, inconsiderate man. Although he disapproved of her choice in a partner, and she too expressed doubt at times, Cha Eun-ho stands by her decision to marry this man.

Now in the present, Cha Eun-ho enlists Kang Dan-i to help him find a housekeeper - but he has no idea Kang Dan-i is the one doing the work and taking payment. Her husband has cheated on her, and she is now single and unemployed, but he is also unaware of her living situation and the hardships she is facing as a divorced single mother with a large gap in work experience trying to re-enter the professional world. Eventually Kang Dan-i is no longer able to keep her secrets from him, and Cha Eun-ho lends her a helping hand. Their lives become even more intertwined when Kang Dan-i applies to be a temporary task support worker at his publishing company. Although Cha Eun-ho is initially worried about how she will perform, Kang Dan-i surprises him and other senior executives with her creativity and hard work.

The rest of the series is about the personal and professional challenges they face as they slowly start to realize their true feelings for each other and navigate this next stage of their lives.

Cast[edit]

Main[edit]

  • Lee Na-young as Kang Dan-i (37 years old)[7]
A former advertising copywriter and a current unemployed divorcee who later joins the publishing company as a temporary task support team member.
  • Lee Jong-suk as Cha Eun-ho (32 years old)[8][9]
A successful writer who is also the publishing company's youngest editor-in-chief. He is a long-time friend of Kang Dan-i and harbours romantic feelings for her.
  • Jung Yoo-jin as Song Hae-rin (29 years old)[10]
The Lead Content Development Editor and trainer of the new recruits, including Kang Dan-i. She has long-standing feelings for Cha Eun-ho, her former trainer, but he does not reciprocate those feelings.
  • Wi Ha-joon as Ji Seo-joon (29 years old)[11]
A freelance book designer the publishing company is looking to hire, who also happened to cross paths with Kang Dan-i and later develops feelings for her. He and Cha Eun-ho have a turbulent relationship related to the conspiracy behind famous author Kang Byeong-jun's retirement and their feelings for Kang Dan-i.

Supporting[edit]

People at the publishing company[edit]

  • Kim Tae-woo as CEO Kim Jae-min.[12] He is a bit over-eager, and but an overall well-meaning boss.
  • Kim Yoo-mi as Director Go Yoo-sun.[13] She discourages Kang Dan-i's efforts to become a part of the marketing team and keeps her busy with menial tasks around the office.
  • Jo Han-chul as Bong Ji-hong.[14] He is married to Seo Young-ah.
  • Kim Sun-young as Seo Young-ah the marketing team manager who is married to Bong Ji-hong.
  • Kang Ki-doong as Park Hoon, a talkative and eager-to-please new recruit on the marketing team.
  • Park Gyu-young as Oh Ji-yool,[15] a superficial and spoiled new recruit on the editorial team, with an overbearing mother.
  • Lee Kwan-hoon as Lee Seung-jin
  • Choi Seung-yoon as Bae Kwang-soo[16]
  • Lee Ha-eun as Chae Song-ee

Others[edit]

  • Lee Ji-ha as Hae-rin's mother
  • Oh Eui-shik as Hong Dong-min (Kang Dan-i's ex-husband)
  • Lee Ji-won as Hong Jae-hee
  • Hwang Se-on as Kim Na-kyung
  • Noh Jong-hyun as Oh Ji-yool's ex-boyfriend

Production[edit]

The first script reading was held on October 26, 2018 with the attendance of the cast and crew.[17][18]

This series marks Lee Na-young's return to small screen after nine years [19]

On January 21, 2019, a press conference was held to promote the series with the attendance of lead cast.[20][21]

Lee Jong-suk finished filming his scenes for the series on February 27, 2019 due to his military service enlistment on March 8.[22]

Original soundtrack[edit]

Part 1[edit]

Part 2[edit]

Part 3[edit]

Part 4[edit]

Part 5[edit]

Part 6[edit]

Part 7[edit]

Part 8[edit]

Ratings[edit]

Romance Is a Bonus Book : South Korea viewers per episode (millions)
Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Media Research.[23]

Awards and nominations[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Due to some ratings not recorded, the exact average rating is unknown.

References[edit]

  1. ^ ROMANCE IS A BONUS BOOK [티저] 그렇게 우리의 새로운 챕터가 시작되었다! (이나영 Voice) 로맨스는 별책부록 190126 EP.0. YouTube (in Korean). tvN Drama. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  2. ^ Dong Sun-hwa (15 October 2018). "Lee Jong-suk, Lee Na-young to star in upcoming drama". The Korea Times.
  3. ^ "9년 만에 드라마 복귀"..이나영 '로맨스는 별책부록' 확정, 이종석과 호흡. Korea Kyungje (in Korean). 15 October 2018. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  4. ^ "Lee Na-young and Lee Jong-suk to show romance in publishing industry in new rom-com". Kpop Herald. 21 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Lee Na-young to Appear in Rom-Com Series with Lee Jong-suk". The Chosun Ilbo. 22 January 2019.
  6. ^ "'Romance Is A Bonus Book' popular on online platforms". The Korea Times. February 22, 2018.
  7. ^ "Lee Na-young returns to small screen with rom-com after 9 years". Kpop Herald. 15 October 2018.
  8. ^ "Lee Jong-suk cast for new tvN series set to air early next year". Yonhap News Agency. September 28, 2018.
  9. ^ "Lee Jong-suk to star in tvN rom-com". Kpop Herald. September 28, 2018.
  10. ^ Yoo Cheong-hee (November 2, 2018). "배우 정유진, tvN '로맨스는 별책부록' 캐스팅…출중한 편집자 役". TenAsia (in Korean).
  11. ^ "위하준, '로맨스는 별책부록' 출연…이나영X이종석과 호흡[공식]". Sports Seoul (in Korean). November 12, 2018.
  12. ^ Baek Ji-eun (October 30, 2018). [단독] 김태우, '로맨스별책부록' 출연확정…이종석과 브로맨스. Sports Chosun (in Korean).
  13. ^ Myung Hee-sook (October 24, 2018). 김유미, '로맨스는 별책부록' 확정 '4년만의 복귀작' [공식]. My Daily (in Korean).
  14. ^ 조한철, ‘로맨스는 별책부록’ 출연확정…이종석·이나영과 호흡 [공식입장]. Sports Donga (in Korean). November 9, 2018.
  15. ^ "박규영, '로맨스는 별책부록' 출연확정..이나영X이종석과 호흡[공식입장]". Osen (in Korean). November 12, 2018.
  16. ^ 최승윤, '로맨스는 별책부록' 캐스팅… '악역 벗고 순한 이미지로 등장!'. Maeil (in Korean). January 22, 2019.
  17. ^ "'로맨스는 별책부록' 이나영X이종석, 첫 만남부터 꿀케미 터진 대본 리딩 현장". SE Daily (in Korean). 13 November 2018.
  18. ^ Park Soo-in (13 November 2018). "'로맨스는 별책부록' 이나영X이종석, 대본리딩부터 이렇게 설렐 줄은". Newsen (in Korean).
  19. ^ Yoon Hyo-jung (15 October 2018). [공식입장] 이나영, 이종석과 로코 '별책부록' 확정…9년만에 안방복귀. News1 Korea (in Korean).
  20. ^ Myung-hee Sook (21 January 2019). '로맨스는 별책부록' 이종석 "올해 입대 예정, 팬들 위해 첫 로코 도전". My Daily (in Korean).
  21. ^ '로맨스는 별책부록' 이종석 "이나영과 호홉, 난 성공한 팬". Sports Chosun (in Korean). 21 January 2019.
  22. ^ [공식입장] 이종석, 3월8일 대체복무 "성실히 의무 다할것". Naver (in Korean). News1 Korea. 26 February 2019.
  23. ^ "Nielsen Korea". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  24. ^ "Nielsen Korea". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  25. ^ "Nielsen Korea". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  26. ^ Yoo, Chung-hee (April 4, 2019). "김서형·염정아·김혜자 등 '백상예술대상' TV부문 최종 후보 공개". Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  27. ^ "2019 MAMA' Unveils Official Nominees, Check the List and Voting Here" (in Korean). Business Time. October 26, 2019. Archived from the original on November 4, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2019.

External links[edit]

  • Official website (in Korean)
  • Romance Is a Bonus Book at IMDb
  • Romance Is a Bonus Book at HanCinema