''Cool Guys, Hot Ramen'' () is a 2011 South Korean romantic comedy television series, starring
Jung Il-woo
Jung Il-woo (; born 9 September 1987) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in the sitcom '' Unstoppable High Kick'' (2006), and the television dramas ''The Return of Iljimae'' (2009), ''49 Days'' (2011), ''Cool Guys, Hot Ram ...
,
Lee Chung-ah
Lee Chung-ah (born October 29, 1984) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her leading roles in the films ''Temptation of Wolves'' (2004) and ''My Tutor Friend 2'' (2007), as well as the cable dramas ''Cool Guys, Hot Ramen'' (2011) a ...
,
Lee Ki-woo
Lee Ki-woo (born October 23, 1981) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in '' The Classic'' (2003), ''Tale of Cinema'' (2005), ''A Love to Kill'' (2005), ''Flower Boy Ramyun Shop'' (2011), '' Rain or Shine'' (2017–2018), and ...
,
Park Min-woo, and
Cho Yoon-woo
Cho Yoon-woo (born July 27, 1991) is a South Korean actor. He made his acting debut in the tvN's television series ''Cool Guys, Hot Ramen'' (2011). He was also part of the ensemble cast of another romantic comedy television series on the same ca ...
. It aired on cable channel
tvN TVN may refer to:
* TVN (Australian TV channel), a former horse racing channel
* Televisión Nacional de Chile, a public broadcaster
* TVN (Indonesia), a former television station; predecessor of Rajawali Televisi
* TVN (Norway), or TVNorge, a comm ...
from October 31 to December 20, 2011, on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 23:00 (
KST) for 16 episodes.
The series is the first installment of tvN's "Oh! Boy" series of Flower Boy programming targeted at the teenage demographic, and was followed by ''
Flower Band
''Flower Band'' () is a 2012 South Korean television series starring Sung Joon, Jo Bo-ah, L (South Korean singer), L, Jung Eui-chul, Lee Hyun-jae (actor), Lee Hyun-jae, Yoo Min-kyu, and Kim Min-seok (actor), Kim Min-seok. It is a coming-of-age st ...
'' in 2012, ''
Flower Boys Next Door
''My Cute Guys'' () is a 2013 South Korean romantic comedy television series based on the webtoon by Yoo Hyun-sook titled ''I Steal Peeks At Him Every Day'' (). It stars Park Shin-hye as a lonely girl who never ventures outdoors, but is caught sp ...
'' in 2013 and ''
Dating Agency: Cyrano'' in that same year.
Synopsis
Yang Eun-bi (
Lee Chung-ah
Lee Chung-ah (born October 29, 1984) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her leading roles in the films ''Temptation of Wolves'' (2004) and ''My Tutor Friend 2'' (2007), as well as the cable dramas ''Cool Guys, Hot Ramen'' (2011) a ...
) is a university student in her mid-20s, preparing for her civil service exam with the dream of being a high school teacher. She accidentally encounters Cha Chi-soo (
Jung Il-woo
Jung Il-woo (; born 9 September 1987) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in the sitcom '' Unstoppable High Kick'' (2006), and the television dramas ''The Return of Iljimae'' (2009), ''49 Days'' (2011), ''Cool Guys, Hot Ram ...
), the arrogant heir to the biggest food conglomerate in South Korea. Cha Chi-soo, newly homed after a failed attempt to attend school in New York City, fascinates women with his good looks and easy charm. Eun-bi was initially attracted to him, until she found out that he was only a high school senior, and thus 6 years younger than her. However, her student-teaching assignment finds her not only working at the high school that Chi-soo's family owns, but teaching his homeroom class. She grows to dislike him for his arrogance and lack of empathy. He, on the other hand, becomes fascinated with her because she is outspoken and athletic, unlike the other women he knows. Yet, he does not interpret the fascination as romantic interest, as he was out of her league and he usually only dates pretty, self-interested girls like Yoon So-yi - a ballet student now dating Chi-soo's rebellious classmate, Kim Ba-wool. Eun-bi resists her attraction in turn, believing Chi-soo is only toying with her. Eun-bi was looking for a more serious relationship, after being dumped by a cheating ex-boyfriend while waiting for him to complete his mandatory military service. She frequently turns to her dating-savvy roommate/ex-high school volleyball teammate Kang Dong-joo for advice.
After Eun-bi's father (
Jung In-gi
Jung In-gi (born September 12, 1966) is a South Korean actor. Jung made his acting debut in 1990, and has remained active in mainstream and independent film as well as television, notably in ''Jury'' (2013), '' The Five'' (2013) and ''Gap-dong
...
) passes away, she is surprised to find out that he left the ramen restaurant he owned to Choi Kang-hyuk (
Lee Ki-woo
Lee Ki-woo (born October 23, 1981) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in '' The Classic'' (2003), ''Tale of Cinema'' (2005), ''A Love to Kill'' (2005), ''Flower Boy Ramyun Shop'' (2011), '' Rain or Shine'' (2017–2018), and ...
), whom he had helped when Kang-hyuk was a troubled youth, instead of to her. It is soon revealed that Eun-bi's father did this in hope that Kang-hyuk and Eun-bi would marry. Eun-bi, after losing her student-teaching assignment because of her conflicts with Chi-soo, starts to work at the ramen shop, along with homeless fellow students Kim Ba-wool (
Park Min-woo) and Woo Hyun-woo (
Cho Yoon-woo
Cho Yoon-woo (born July 27, 1991) is a South Korean actor. He made his acting debut in the tvN's television series ''Cool Guys, Hot Ramen'' (2011). He was also part of the ensemble cast of another romantic comedy television series on the same ca ...
). Chi-soo wants to work at the restaurant as well, in order to get over his growing obsession with Eun-bi. Kang-hyuk, who knows that he and Chi-soo actually have the same mother, allows him to join the shop out of concern for his cold half-brother.
Kang-hyuk quickly develops feelings for Eun-bi, but she finds herself more attracted to the passionate Chi-soo. Chi-soo, after many misunderstandings, realizes that his obsession with Eun-bi was actually attraction, and actively competes for Eun-bi's affections with Kang-hyuk. However, Chi-soo's father (
Joo Hyun
Joo Hyun (; born Joo Il-choon, ; March 1, 1943) is a South Korean actor.
Biography
Joo graduated from Konkuk University in Seoul, where he majored in political science and diplomacy. He began his acting career after being selected through a ...
) disapproves. Chi-soo's (and Kang-hyuk's) mother had also been an average (not rich) woman, and Chi-soo's father believes that difference was one of the reasons for their separation several years ago. Chi-soo's father's company is planning to redevelop the area in which the ramen shop is located, and Chi-soo's father tries to use the possible destruction of the ramen shop as leverage to keep Eun-bi and Chi-soo apart. Chi-soo has become attached to the ramen shop and is also afraid of being disowned, and so he initially chooses to stay with his father. Eun-bi realizes, however, that she wants to try dating him seriously; she storms to his family's apartment to claim him from his father, and they leave together. The ramen shop is forced to close, but its workers accept this development without complaint. Chi-soo's father disinherits him and has his U.S. citizenship revoked, so that Chi-soo is now subject to the South Korean military draft. The show ends with Chi-soo visiting Eun-bi after he has completed his two-year service in the
South Korean Army
The Republic of Korea Army (ROKA; ko, 대한민국 육군; Hanja: 大韓民國 陸軍; RR: ''Daehanminguk Yuk-gun''), also known as the ROK Army or South Korean Army, is the army of South Korea, responsible for ground-based warfare. It is the l ...
without contacting her; they kiss as the camera pans over the neighborhood where they first met.
Cast
Main
*
Jung Il-woo
Jung Il-woo (; born 9 September 1987) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in the sitcom '' Unstoppable High Kick'' (2006), and the television dramas ''The Return of Iljimae'' (2009), ''49 Days'' (2011), ''Cool Guys, Hot Ram ...
as Cha Chi-soo
*
Lee Chung-ah
Lee Chung-ah (born October 29, 1984) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her leading roles in the films ''Temptation of Wolves'' (2004) and ''My Tutor Friend 2'' (2007), as well as the cable dramas ''Cool Guys, Hot Ramen'' (2011) a ...
as Yang Eun-bi
*
Lee Ki-woo
Lee Ki-woo (born October 23, 1981) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in '' The Classic'' (2003), ''Tale of Cinema'' (2005), ''A Love to Kill'' (2005), ''Flower Boy Ramyun Shop'' (2011), '' Rain or Shine'' (2017–2018), and ...
as Choi Kang-hyuk
*
Park Min-woo as Kim Ba-wool
*
Cho Yoon-woo
Cho Yoon-woo (born July 27, 1991) is a South Korean actor. He made his acting debut in the tvN's television series ''Cool Guys, Hot Ramen'' (2011). He was also part of the ensemble cast of another romantic comedy television series on the same ca ...
as Woo Hyun-woo
Supporting
*
Kim Ye-won as Kang Dong-joo
* Ho Soo as Yoon So-yi
*
Joo Hyun
Joo Hyun (; born Joo Il-choon, ; March 1, 1943) is a South Korean actor.
Biography
Joo graduated from Konkuk University in Seoul, where he majored in political science and diplomacy. He began his acting career after being selected through a ...
as Cha Ok-gyun
*
Han Ji-wan
Han Ji-wan (; born August 14, 1987) is a South Korean actress and model. She is known for her drama roles in '' Rugal'', '' Search: WWW'' and '' I Do, I Do''.
Biography and career
She was born on August 14, 1987 in South Korea. She attended Chu ...
as Joo Ya-soo
*
Jung In-gi
Jung In-gi (born September 12, 1966) is a South Korean actor. Jung made his acting debut in 1990, and has remained active in mainstream and independent film as well as television, notably in ''Jury'' (2013), '' The Five'' (2013) and ''Gap-dong
...
as Yang Chul-dong
* Seo Bum-suk as Director Ko
*
Song Jae-rim
Song Jae-rim (; born February 18, 1985) is a South Korean actor and model. He began his career as a runway model for the Seoul collections of Juun. J, Herin Homme and Ha Sang Beg. He has also appeared in the magazines Bazaar Korea, Vogue Girl ...
as Hee-gon
* Kim Il-woong as Jung-gu
*
Kim Hye-soo
Kim Hye-soo (; born September 5, 1970) is a South Korean actress. Kim was one of the most popular teen stars in the 1980s and 1990s. She is known for her headstrong independence and regularly playing strong-willed, sophisticated women.
Kim bega ...
as fortuneteller (cameo, ep. 1)
*
Gong Hyo-jin
Gong Hyo-jin (born April 4, 1980) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her leading role in the film '' Crush and Blush'' (2008), as well as for her popular television series '' Sang Doo! Let's Go to School'' (2003), ''Thank You'' (20 ...
as record store clerk (cameo, ep. 9)
Production
![Flower boy ramyun shop cast](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/Flower_boy_ramyun_shop_cast.jpg)
The series was directed by Jung Jun-hwa, who previously helmed the 2008 film ''Lost and Found'' (also known as ''Sweet Lie''). It was produced by Pyo Min-soo, along with the production crew of 2009
KBS drama ''
Boys over Flowers
, is a Japanese ''shōjo'' manga series written and illustrated by Yoko Kamio and set in Tokyo, Japan, and the fictional "Eitoku Academy" (an elite school for children from rich families). It tells the story of Tsukushi Makino, a girl fr ...
''.
Filming commenced on September 21, 2011, with
Jung Il-woo
Jung Il-woo (; born 9 September 1987) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in the sitcom '' Unstoppable High Kick'' (2006), and the television dramas ''The Return of Iljimae'' (2009), ''49 Days'' (2011), ''Cool Guys, Hot Ram ...
playing Cha Chi-soo and his friends, at a cafe in
Hongdae.
Reception
According to AGB Nielsen Media, the November 7 episode received a viewership rating of 2.07 percent, the highest rating in its timeslot, thus the most-watched cable program for the second week in a row. It also recorded a 200 percent increase in viewership from the previous episode among 20- to 49-year-old men. It was reported that it was the most-viewed show among women in their teens to 30s as well as among men in their teens to 20s. The series was watched by one in three teenage girls with 30 percent audience shares, and in
Busan
Busan (), officially known as is South Korea's most populous city after Seoul, with a population of over 3.4 million inhabitants. Formerly romanized as Pusan, it is the economic, cultural and educational center of southeastern South Korea, w ...
, it recorded five percent in viewership ratings. At its peak, the series scored viewership ratings in the four percent range, the highest ratings amongst its cable competitors in the same timeslot for eight weeks.
Its popularity has spawned a
webcomic
Webcomics (also known as online comics or Internet comics) are comics published on a website or mobile app. While many are published exclusively on the web, others are also published in magazines, newspapers, or comic books.
Webcomics can be co ...
version of the show, taking off from characters Ba-wool and Hyun-woo as 20-year-olds managing a ramen restaurant. The cartoon has had over 1.8 million
page view
In web analytics and website management, a pageview or page view, abbreviated in business to PV and occasionally called page impression, is a request to load a single HTML file ( web page) of an Internet site. On the World Wide Web, a page request ...
s since its release on online portal
Nate, with the number of visitors increasing by an average 32 percent per day.
Ratings
In this table, represents the lowest ratings and represents the highest ratings.
*
International broadcast
* In November 2011, after being on air for eight episodes, the series was sold to Japanese content distribution company
Culture Convenience Club
is a Japanese company that operates Tsutaya (蔦屋), a chain of video rental shops and bookstores throughout Japan and Taiwan. The company is headquartered in Ebisu, Tokyo. The stock of the company was formerly listed in the first section of the ...
at a record price of per episode. It premiered on
Mnet Japan in January 2012, with
rerun
A rerun or repeat is a rebroadcast of an episode of a radio or television program. There are two types of reruns – those that occur during a hiatus, and those that occur when a program is syndicated.
Variations
In the United Kingdom, the word ...
s on terrestrial network
TBS from June 12 to July 11, 2012.
* It was aired on
Mnet
M-Net (an abbreviation of Electronic Media Network) is a South African pay television channel established by Naspers in 1986. The channel broadcasts both local and international programming, including general entertainment, children's series, ...
's
Channel M
Channel M was a regional television station, serving Greater Manchester. The station, originally known as ''Manchester Student Television'', was owned and operated by the GMG Regional Media division of Guardian Media Group.
Coverage
Original ...
in March 2014.
* It premiered in the Philippines on
TeleAsia Chinese on June 20, 2014. It also aired on
TV5 from July 7 to August 22, 2014 under its alternate title ''Cool Guys, Hot Ramen''. It is also being re-aired by
TV5 every Sunday nights starting November 8, 2015.
* In Thailand, it was aired on Workpoint TV on October 22, 2013.
References
External links
*
*
* {{IMDb title, 2373543
2011 South Korean television series debuts
2011 South Korean television series endings
Korean-language television shows
TVN (South Korean TV channel) television dramas
South Korean romantic comedy television series
South Korean cooking television series
Television series set in restaurants
Television series by Oh! Boy Project