''Mystic Pop-up Bar'' () is a 2020 South Korean television series starring

Hwang Jung-eum Hwang Jung-eum is a South Korean actress and singer. She rose to stardom through the sitcom ''High Kick Through the Roof'' and received her first leading role with television series '' Listen to My Heart''. Career Hwang Jung-eum debuted with K ...

Yook Sung-jae Yook Sung-jae (; born ), also known mononymously as Sungjae, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, actor, host and entertainer. He is a member of the boy group BtoB and its sub-group, BtoB Blue. Aside from his group's activities, Yook has acted ...

and

Choi Won-young Choi Won-young (; born Choi Seong-wook on January 10, 1976) is a South Korean actor. Career Choi Won-young made his acting debut in 2002's ''Sex Is Zero'', and has since appeared in both film and television. But his most notable roles have be ...

. Based on the Daum

webtoon Webtoons (), are a type of digital comic that originated in South Korea usually meant to be read on smartphones. While webtoons were mostly unknown outside of Korea during their inception, there has been a surge in popularity internationally ...

''Twin Tops Bar'' by Bae Hye-soo, it is the first series to air on

JTBC JTBC (shortened from ''Joongang Tongyang Broadcasting Company'' (; stylized as jtbc) is a South Korean nationwide pay television network. Its primary shareholder is JoongAng Holdings, with a 25% stake. It was launched on 1 December 2011. JTBC ...

's Wednesday–Thursday time slot in eight years. The series aired from May 20 to June 25, 2020.

Synopsis

''Mystic Pop-up Bar'' tells the story of a mysterious

pojangmacha ''Pojangmacha'' (포장마차) is form of commercial establishment based out of a small tent (sometimes on wheels) or street stall found in South Korea. These establishment sell popular street foods, such as ''hotteok'', ''gimbap'', ''tteokbokki ...

(outdoor drinking establishment) run by an ill-tempered woman named Weol-ju (

), an innocent part-time employee named Han Kang-bae (

), and a former afterlife detective known as Chief Gwi (

) who visit customers in their dreams to help resolve their problems. Kang-bae has a unique ability that is useful to Weol-ju - with a touch, he can make people pour out all their troubles. This is very useful to Weol-ju who needs to settle the grudges of 100,000 souls.

Cast

Main

as Weol-ju ** Park Si-eun as young Weol-ju : A hot-tempered woman who is the owner of Mystic Pop-up Bar. 500 years ago, Weol-ju healed the Crown Prince through his dreams but was falsely accused of seducing him, and was targeted by an assassin who killed Weol-ju's mother instead. Weol-ju's sin was committing suicide on the Sacred Tree, causing it to lose its power on a conflict that took 100,000 lives. For the past 500 years, she was sent to the Living Realm to settle the grudges of 100,000 souls and comfort them as a punishment to atone for her past sin. *

as Han Kang-bae : A cheerful young man who has the ability to make people confess the truth by making physical contact with them. Hence, he creeps the people around him and grew up being an outcast. He worked with Weol-ju as she promised him to get rid of this unique ability in exchange. He is eventually revealed to be the spirit of Weol-ju and Yi-Hon's unborn child which was cursed with the Sorrow of the Sacred Tree. *

as Chief Gwi (aka Guibanjang) / Crown Prince Yi-Hon **

Song Geon-hee Song Geon-hee (born August 16, 1997) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his role in the hit television series ''Sky Castle ''Sky Castle'' (; stylized as ''SKY Castle'') is a 2018–2019 South Korean television series starring Yum J ...

as young Crown Prince Yi-hon : Formerly the Crown Prince who fell in love with Weol-ju but was unable to protect her, so he slew the instigator of her death, his former best friend, Kim Won-hyung. Once worked for the Afterlife Police Agency, he was given a chance to work as the manager at Mystic Pop-up Bar to be at Weol-ju's side.

Supporting

Realm of the Dead

Yeom Hye-ran Yeom Hye-ran (born October 30, 1976) is a South Korean actress. Career Yeom began her career in theater in 1999 and made her screen debut in 2003. She has since played supporting roles in film and television, notably ''Dear My Friends'' (2016 ...

as God of the

Underworld The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underworld. ...

, Yeomradaewang :As the God of the Underworld, she is the one who executed the 500-years-long punishment on Weol-ju. * Lee Jun-hyeok as Department Chief Yeom / Lord Kim Jin :In his past life, he was a minister at the palace, mentor of the Crown Prince and father of Won-hyung. His loyalty and dedication for the prince had driven him away from his son. In the present, he became an angel of death who is Chief Gwi's best friend and frequently visit Weol-ju's pop-up bar. *

Na In-woo Na Jong-chan (; born September 17, 1994) better known by his stage name Na In-woo ( Korean: 나인우), is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in ''Mr. Queen'' (2020–2021) and '' River Where the Moon Rises'' (2021). He is a c ...

as Kim Won-hyung : He is Lord Kim Jin's son and Crown Prince Yi-hon's best friend, however his

coup d'état A coup d'état (; French for 'stroke of state'), also known as a coup or overthrow, is a seizure and removal of a government and its powers. Typically, it is an illegal seizure of power by a political faction, politician, cult, rebel group, m ...

was uncovered and he was beheaded by the Crown Prince on his sister's and prince's wedding day. In present day, he escaped from his punishment as an evil spirit to get revenge upon Crown Prince Yi-hon and Weol-ju. * Oh Young-sil as Samsin :The goddess of childbirth and fate. She is a close friend of Weol-ju. *

Yoo Jae-myung Yoo Jae-myung (; born June 3, 1973) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his roles in the series ''Reply 1988'' (2015), '' Stranger'' (2017), ''Life'' (2018), ''Itaewon Class'' (2020) and '' Voice of Silence'' (2020). He won Best Suppor ...

Jade Emperor The Jade Emperor or Yudi ( or , ') in Chinese culture, traditional religions and myth is one of the representations of the first god ( '). In Daoist theology he is the assistant of Yuanshi Tianzun, who is one of the Three Pure Ones, the three ...

(voice only)

Kapeul Mart

* Jung Da-eun as Kang Yeo-rin : The only human who is immune to Kang-bae's ability. She was Chairman Choi's personal bodyguard but after her encounter with Weol-ju and Kang-bae, she was fired from her job and eventually became security guard of Kapeul Mart. Although Kang-bae and Yeo-rin love each other, her trauma with her past boyfriends causes her to deny her feelings. She is later revealed to be the reincarnation the spirit of the

Cinnabar Cinnabar (), or cinnabarite (), from the grc, κιννάβαρι (), is the bright scarlet to brick-red form of Mercury sulfide, mercury(II) sulfide (HgS). It is the most common source ore for refining mercury (element), elemental mercury and ...

in a nearby cave, a mineral that protects against evil. * Ahn Tae-hwan as Choi Jin-dong *

Baek Soo-hee Baek Soo-hee is a South Korean actress. She is known for her roles in dramas such as ''Be Melodramatic'', ''Soul Mechanic'', ''Mystic Pop-up Bar'' and ''Was It Love? ''Was It Love?'' () is a South Korean television series starring Song Ji-hy ...

as Kim Da-bin *

Park Ha-na Park Ha-na (born July 25, 1985) is a South Korean actress. Park made her entertainment debut in 2003 as a member of the idol group FUNNY. Since then, she has turned to acting and was in the lead role in ''Apgujeong Midnight Sun'' (2014). Career ...

as Song Mi-ran * Park Joo-hyung as Assistant Manager Park

Special appearances

Park Eun-hye Park Eun-hye (born February 21, 1977) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for starring in ''Dae Jang Geum'', which led to her popularity in China. She also played the lead role in the Taiwanese drama, ''Silence (TV series), Silence'', ...

as Crown Prince's mother / Shin Ji-hye (Ep. 1, 9–10) * Kim Hee-jung as Wol-joo's mother (Ep. 1) *

Yang Dae-hyuk Yang Dae-hyuk is a South Korean actor. He is known for his roles in dramas such as ''The Third Charm'', ''My Holo Love'', ''18 Again'', '' Sweet Munchies'' and ''Three Bold Siblings ''Three Bold Siblings'' () is a 2023 South Korean televisio ...

as Bad customer at Gapeul Mart (Ep. 1) *

Hwang Bo-ra Hwang Bo-ra (born October 2, 1983) is a South Korean actress. Hwang made her acting debut in 2003 and became popular after she played a quirky-looking "cup noodle girl" in a ramyeon commercial. In 2007, Hwang played the daughter/narrator in bla ...

as Chun-hyang (Ep. 1) * Lee Sang-hwa as Heung-bu (Ep. 1) *

Kwak Sun-young Kwak Sun-young (born May 11, 1983) is a South Korean actress. In 2006 she began her career in musical theater, starring in musical Dalgona. She starred in the stage adaptation of '' Goong'' and ''Full House'', among many other musicals and pla ...

as Eun-soo / Sun-hwa (Ep. 2) *

Baek Ji-won Baek Ji-won (born 30 April 1973) is a South Korean actress. She graduated in Horticultural Science from Kyung Hee University. She made her acting debut in 1996 in play ''My father got cancer''. She is known for her role in television series '' ...

as Ms. Andong (Ep. 2) *

Youn-a is a Japanese-South Korean model Kyodo News (June 1, 2010) 47News who is affiliated with Binari. Youn-A uses this as a stage name A stage name is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers—such as actors, comedians, singers, and musi ...

as lady-in-waiting (Ep. 3) * Yoo Sung-joo as Chairman Choi / Local governor (Ep. 3) * Oh Kyung-joo as Park Byung-jae (Ep. 3) *

Oh Ha-nee Oh Ha-nee is a South Korean actress. She is known for her roles in dramas such as '' Goodbye to Goodbye'', '' Tempted'', ''The Crowned Clown'' and '' Three Bold Siblings''. She also appeared in movies '' The Shameless'', '' A Special Lady'', ''D ...

as Yu-mi (Ep. 3) *

Woo Hyun Woo Hyun (born 1964) is a South Korean actor, and former democracy activist. Filmography Film Television series Variety show References External links * Living people People from Gwangju South Korean male television actors So ...

as Kim Du-young (Ep. 4) *

Jung Eun-pyo Jung Eun-pyo (born March 27, 1966) is a South Korean actor. He is active in both stage and screen since 1990, notably in the film ''Kilimanjaro'' (for which he won Best Supporting Actor at the Grand Bell Awards) and the television dramas ''Moon ...

as Choi Seok-pan (Ep. 4) * Lee Joo-shil as Lee Kkeut-sun (Ep.4) * Jung Jung-ah as upset customer (Ep. 5) * Oh Man-seok (stage actor) as Oh Sang-gun (Ep. 5) * Lee Ji-hyun as Jin-seok (Ep. 5) * Kim Mi-hwa as health drink vendor (Ep. 5) * Kwon Hyeok-soo as a company executive (Ep. 5) * Lee Seo-an as Chae Su-gyung (Ep. 6) *

Tae In-ho Tae In-ho (born Park Sang-yeon; May 2, 1980) is a South Korean actor. He starred in television series such as '' Misaeng: Incomplete Life'' (2014) and '' Descendants of the Sun'' (2016). Filmography Films Television series Web series ...

as Kang In-ho (Ep. 6) *

Yoon Park Yoon Park (born November 18, 1987) is a South Korean actor. Career Yoon began his entertainment career as a drummer for the band Can't Play Well (), which won the Bronze Prize at the 34th MBC Campus Song Festival in 2010. When his contract with ...

as ''The Gout Lovers'' actor (Ep. 6) * Ha Shi-eun as ''The Gout Lovers'' actress (Ep.6) * Choi Dae-hoon as Jang Bok-su (Ep. 7) * Hwang Hyo-eun as Mrs. Kim (Ep. 7) * Park Young-soo as Mr. Jang (Ep. 7) *

Kim Yong-gun Kim Yong-gun (; born May 8, 1946) is a South Korean actor. His sons Ha Jung-woo Kim Sung-hoon (born March 11, 1978), better known as Ha Jung-woo (), is a South Korean actor, film director, screenwriter and film producer. One of the highest gr ...

as Kapeul Mart Chairman (Ep. 7) *

Han So-eun Park Eun-ji (; born July 8, 1993), better known by her stage name Han So-eun (Korean: 한소은), is a South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Kore ...

as Shin Bo-ra / Ice Witch (Ep. 8) *

Shin Hyun-soo Shin Hyun-soo (born July 8, 1989) is a South Korean actor. He began his career in acting through musicals before starring in television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television s ...

as Kim Do-young (Ep. 8) *

Moon Jeong-hee Moon Jeong-hee (born January 12, 1976) is a South Korean stage, film, and television actress. She has won Blue Dragon Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in '' Deranged'' (2012) and Best Supporting Actress award in Buil F ...

as Hyun-ok (Ep. 9) *

So Chan-whee Kim Kyoung-hee ( ko, 김경희, born January 20, 1972), better known by her stage name So Chan-whee ( ko, 소찬휘), is a South Korean singer, best known for her 2000 song, "Tears". Personal life Kim dated Roy of the '' Street Guns'' band (p ...

as herself (Ep. 11) * Ahn Chang-hwan as Mr. Han (Ep. 12) * Lee Soo-ji as Mr. Han's co-worker (Ep. 12)

Production

The first script reading took place in August 2019 at JTBC Building in

Sangam-dong Sangam-dong is a legal '' dong'' (neighborhood) of the Mapo District in Seoul, South Korea. In the wake of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, a large apartment complex and DMC business district have been created and developed into the center of western Seou ...

, Seoul, South Korea. Filming began in September 2019 and ended on February 28, 2020.

Original soundtrack

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Ratings

Notes

References

External links

* * * {{Works by Samhwa Networks JTBC television dramas 2020 South Korean television series debuts 2020 South Korean television series endings South Korean fantasy television series South Korean mystery television series Television shows based on South Korean webtoons South Korean pre-produced television series Television series by Samhwa Networks Korean-language Netflix exclusive international distribution programming Television series by Drama House