[Kdrama] The Potato Lab Filming Location & Cast & Ending Explained

Introduce K dramaThe Potato Lab filming location & cast. A healing comic romance drama where cold-hearted principled Baek-ho (played by Kang Tae-oh) appears in front of Mi-kyung (played by Lee Sun-bin), who is all about potatoes in her life, and swirls around like a whirlwind of potatoes.

It is a new romantic comedy drama by director Kang Il-soo and writer Kim Ho-soo, who worked together in ‘Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryeong’ and ‘Solomon’s Perjury’. This is a collection of filming locations for the follow-up drama ‘When the Stars Gossip‘, ‘The Potato Lab’.

The Potato Lab drama

감자연구소, ジャガイモ研究所, ปลูกรักนักวิจัย, Amor en el laboratorio, Amor e Batatas
Genre Office Romantic Comedy
Broadcast Time Sat, Sun / 9:20 PM ~
Broadcast Period Scheduled to air March 1, 2025 ~ April 6, 2025 (scheduled)
Number of episodes 12
Production Company CJ ENM Studios, Chorokbaem Media
Director Kang Il-soo, Shim Jae-hyun
Scriptwriter Kim Ho-soo
Cast Lee Sun-bin, Kang Tae-oh, Lee Hak-joo, Kim Ga-eun, Shin Hyun-seung, etc.

[Kdrama] The Potato Lab filming location & cast & ending explained — kdrama The Potato Lab

The Potato Lab Character Relationship Chart

Kim Mi-kyung, actress Lee Sun-bin, research team leader at Seonnyeo Food’s Potato Research Institute, a research institute employee who fell in love with potatoes while studying potatoes (living on potatoes and dying on potatoes) ~

Lee Sun-bin instagram

So Baek-ho, actor Kang Tae-oh: Director of Organization Innovation at Wonhan Retail, becomes the new director of the Potato Research Institute after Seonnyeo Food is acquired, and appears as a guest at USB Guesthouse B-dong, but loses face due to various incidents and accidents due to the territorial nature of the veteran Deputy Manager Kim Mi-kyung…

Kang Tae-oh instagram

The Potato Lab Cast

Lee Hak-joo as Park Ki-se : Mi-kyung’s ex-boyfriend. He serves as the executive director of Wonhan Retail’s strategic planning division.

Kim Ga-eun as Lee Ong-ju : Mi-kyung’s bestfriend. She is a web novel writer.

Shin Hyun-seung as Kim Hwan-gyeong : Mi-kyung’s younger brother.

Yoo Seung-mok : Kwak Ja-hyung as Go Jeong-hae : The self-proclaimed hipster manager.

Woo Jung-won as Joo Seung-hee : A deputy manager. She has made the biggest contribution to the Potato Research Institute’s teamwork.

Kim Ji-ah as Jang Seul-gi : Yoon Jeong-seop as Lee Chung-hyun

Nam Hyun-woo as Kwon Hee-dong : The enthusiastic new hire at the Potato Research Institute.

The Potato Lab OST

OST Details

케이시 (Kassy) – Bird Song | 감자연구소 OST Part.3 | 가사

3:09
[🎤inst.] b!ni (비니!) – Strong Girl | 감자연구소 OST Part.2 | 가사

3:09
b!ni (비니!) – Strong Girl | 감자연구소 OST Part.2 | 가사

3:51
[🎤inst.] 승민 (Stray Kids) – My Destiny | 감자연구소 OST Part.1 | 가사

3:51
승민 (Stray Kids) – My Destiny | 감자연구소 OST Part.1 | 가사

2:49
CHEEZE (치즈) – 꿈결처럼 | 감자연구소 OST Part.4 | 가사

2:49
[🎤inst.] CHEEZE (치즈) – 꿈결

The Potato Lab filming location

When you say potato, you naturally think of Gangwon-do, the potato fields in Gangwon-do, but the main filming location, the USB Guest House, was filmed in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi-do. It is a pre-produced drama that was filmed from May 2024 to December 1, 2024. As a side note, there is a real potato research institute in Gangneung, Gangwon-do.

(The potato field filming location is known to be Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do.)

Gyeonggi-do Gwangju Seoul National University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Taehwasan Academic Forest

Address: 572 Docheokwit-ro, Docheok-myeon, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do

The main stage of the drama is the filming location of Seonnyeo Food.

W Potato Lab Filming Location (Jayden Garden Arboretum)

Address: 412, Seocheon-ri, Namsan-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea

Heungdeok Yutawer Knowledge Center

Address: 120 Heungdeokjungang-ro, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do

Potato Research Institute Filming Location Jangheungsa Temple

Address: 676 Namhansanseong-ro, Namhansanseong-myeon, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do

This is the temple filming location where Mi-kyung’s father, Monk Seongju, resides in the drama.

USB 게스트 하우스 촬영장소 — USB Guest House Filming Location

USB Guest House Filming Location

Private residence in Cheonun-myeon, Yangpyeong (Address omitted because it’s private. It’s all been demolished anyway.)

They say they built a separate drama set because of the unique setting of Potato Research Institute and USB Guest House.

Other Yangpyeong-gun Gangha-myeon Namhangangbyeon Jeonsuri

Yongin ENF Technology

Address: 704-1 Gongse-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do

Potato Research Institute Sea Filming Location Goseong Songjiho Beach & Coastal Road
Address: Jukwang-myeon, Goseong-gun, Gangwon-do

Seorak Beach

Address: Ganghyeon-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do

Yangyang Meta Beach (Korea Surfing Spots)

Address: 4-3 Yongho-ri, Ganghyeon-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do

Gangneung Agricultural Research and Extension Services Potato Research Institute
Address: 466-1 Nodong-ri, Sacheon-myeon, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do

There is actually a potato research institute in Gangneung, so of course, they filmed here as a potato drama. It is known that the vinyl house stage in the drama is here.

Ilsan Water Quality Restoration Center
Address: Beopgot-dong, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do

The Potato Lab locations

Gyeonggi-do Gwangju area
Yongin Korea Alcohol kai/E&f Technology
Seowon Hills CC: Gyeonggi Paju-si Gwangtan-myeon Balang-ri 123-1
Yangpyeong-gun Jiphyeong-myeon Bus Stop
Bloom Vista Hotel & Conference (Grand Molton Hotel filming location)
Hair Sense Beauty Salon: Gyeonggi Gwangju-si Jungdae-dong 207-9
Yeouido Hangang Riverside
Gangwon-do Pyeongchang-gun Health and Medical Center
Icheon Hansol Village Apartment
Gyeonggi Yangpyeong Ilsan Branch Camping Ground

The Potato Lab plot & ending explained

Kim Mi-kyung (played by Lee Sun-bin) holds a seminar for local residents to introduce the new potato variety “Jangsaeng,” but faces backlash due to price issues, leading to a crisis from the start. At this time, So Baek-ho (played by Kang Tae-oh) visits the Potato Research Institute for an investigation. The two clash over their differing values, creating intense tension.

So Baek-ho is appointed as the acting director of the research institute, but faces difficulties due to resistance from village residents and staff. His conflict with Kim Mi-kyung deepens, but they begin to cooperate after resolving an aphid outbreak in the seed potato field, leading to subtle feelings developing between them.

Kim Mi-kyung is emotionally shaken as memories of her past relationship with Park Ki-se (played by Lee Hak-joo) resurface. Park, now an executive at Wonhan Retail’s Strategic Planning Department, begins pressuring the research institute. The institute faces a major crisis, and despite their conflicts, Kim Mi-kyung and So Baek-ho work together to solve the problems.

Though they hurt each other and drift apart, the two eventually come to understand each other’s true feelings. So Baek-ho confesses, “If I tell you I love you, would you come to me?” and decides to fight alongside her to protect the Potato Research Institute.

Kim Mi-kyung had coldly told So Baek-ho—who spread rumors about their breakup at the institute—not to show himself or speak to her again. She later confessed her feelings, asking why he didn’t try to hold on to her even once. His heartfelt confession brought tears to her eyes, raising anticipation about the outcome of their romance.

That day, Kim Mi-kyung and So Baek-ho chose to part ways. Unable to forgive him, Mi-kyung threw away all items tied to their memories. Rumors spread in the institute that the two had broken up. Kim warned Baek-ho to stay quiet until his last day at the institute, demanding that he disappear from her sight and hearing. Her harsh words wounded them both deeply.

So Baek-ho, who had planned to stay in Seoul as Mi-kyung requested, ended up returning to the guest house due to a comment from Park Ki-se. Realizing something had happened between them, Park informed Baek-ho that Mi-kyung was unwell. Baek-ho then secretly took care of her.

Upon finding out, Kim Mi-kyung unleashed her pent-up emotions, accusing him of wanting to be the good guy while helping her in secret. Baek-ho replied that he hid because he was someone who wasn’t supposed to be seen or heard by her anymore.

After continuously hurting each other, Kim Mi-kyung and So Baek-ho finally come to understand their true feelings. When a ladder was about to fall on Kim, Baek-ho threw himself in to protect her. Mi-kyung, worried he might have gotten seriously hurt, scolded him. He responded that it was an instinctive reaction. Mi-kyung then shared how hurt she felt that he never tried to stop her or change her mind.

Baek-ho realized that his attempts to respect her wishes had actually caused her more pain. Understanding this too late, he decided to hold onto her. His question, “If I tell you I love you, would you come to me?” left Kim Mi-kyung in tears, heightening curiosity about the conclusion of their entangled relationship.

Meanwhile, the hidden story behind Kim Mi-kyung and Park Ki-se’s breakup was revealed through Lee Ong-joo (played by Kim Ga-eun). Ong-joo had known about Park’s upcoming marriage before Mi-kyung and had chosen to tell her, believing it was the right thing to do. However, she became afraid when she realized her words might be the reason Mi-kyung would lose someone she loved. Fearing Mi-kyung’s resentment, she kept the truth to herself for six years before finally confessing.

Kim Mi-kyung and So Baek-ho succeed in launching the “Jangsaeng” potato and grow into true partners. The drama ends on a warm and heartwarming note as they find harmony with the research institute staff and achieve a peaceful happy ending.

Lee Sunbin

Rumors of Lee Kwang-soo and Lee Sun-bin’s breakup keep coming up. They’ve been a couple for 6 years now and are still a long-lasting couple in the entertainment industry. If you’re curious about how they met, please refer to this.

If you want to know a little bit about Lee Kwang-soo’s current status, he’s currently preparing to broadcast the drama Divorce Insurance starring Lee Dong-wook, Lee Joo-bin, Lee Kwang-soo, and Lee Da-hee. The Divorce Insurance is a tvN Monday-Tuesday drama that will air from March 31st as the follow-up drama to That Guy is a Black Flame Dragon.

감자연구소 이선빈 이광수 열애 스토리 — The Potato Lab Lee Sun-bin Lee Kwang-soo Love Story

As a side note, her boyfriend Lee Kwang-soo has been in charge of various emergency crop farming in entertainment programs such as Kongkongpatpat until recently. He is said to have sent a lot of support to his girlfriend Lee Sun-bin, who is filming the drama Potato Research Institute. In fact, it turns out that writer Kim Ho-soo planned this drama after watching the episode of You Quiz Potato Research Institute with researcher Hwang Sun-won.

The new Korean drama “The Potato Lab” will premiere on March 1 at 21:20 KST, airing every Saturday and Sunday on tvN. The show will also be available on Netflix.

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