The Potato Lab- Episodes 1-2
A Mash-Up of Mergers, Betrayals, and Spud Science
Welcome to the world of The Potato Lab, where passion for potatoes meets corporate chaos! The debut episode sets the stage with an action-packed mix of high-stakes business maneuvers, hilarious encounters, and a dash of unexpected romance. Buckle up because this ride is anything but smooth—kind of like a lumpy, freshly dug-up spud.
A Tuber-ific Beginning
We start at Sunnyeo Foods, a company that takes potatoes very seriously. At the heart of it all is Kim Mi-kyung, an assistant manager and potato researcher who’s spent years developing the ultimate tater. But just as she’s on the verge of a breakthrough, disaster strikes—a merger that threatens to uproot everything she’s worked for.
Enter Michael Lee, CEO of Mores Company, who’s about to close a major deal for Sunnyeo… until Director So Baek-ho crashes the party. He’s from Wonhan Retail’s Strategic Planning Department and wastes no time tearing down Lee’s methods. And guess what? Turns out Lee isn’t even really Michael Lee! His true identity? Lee Moon-su, a financial manipulator with a history of shady stock dealings. Yep, he’s been playing corporate Jenga, stacking companies just to knock them down.
As the truth unravels, Sunnyeo’s fate is sealed—it’s going under and merging with Wonhan Retail, which means their beloved potato legacy might be toast (or, should we say, fries?).
Mi-kyung’s Fury and a Guesthouse Full of Chaos
Mi-kyung is absolutely livid. Not only is she losing her dream job, but she also used to work at Wonhan before defecting to Sunnyeo. The betrayal stings twice as hard. Back home at her guesthouse, we get a much-needed dose of comic relief as her brother Hwang-kyung and her lively best friend Ong-joo tease her about her uncertain future. While they joke, Mi-kyung is stewing, wondering what’s next for her career.
Welcome to Wonhan – The Potato Gang’s Rocky Start
Three weeks later, what’s left of the Sunnyeo team arrives at Wonhan. But here, they’re small potatoes (pun definitelyintended). Enter Choi Ji-hyun, the HR assistant manager, who gives them a formal introduction before Mi-kyung takes the stage, passionately explaining the importance of their research. It’s clear she’s not going down without a fight!
Meanwhile, Baek-ho decides to personally inspect the Potato Lab (and he’s not impressed). When Mi-kyung and her team find out, they rush to intervene. But on her way out, Mi-kyung has an awkward run-in—literally—with her ex, Ki-se. The encounter throws her off her game, and in classic Mi-kyung fashion, she flips him off before storming away. Turns out Ki-se is now an Executive Director, and Mi-kyung is not okay with this development.
Bird Attacks, Potato Fields, and Rolling Embarrassments
Back at the lab, Baek-ho is in full-on critic mode, scrutinizing everything as “budgetary waste.” Just when things couldn’t get more chaotic, he’s suddenly attacked by a magpie named Sunnyeo—yes, a bird with the same name as the fallen company. The kicker? This bird is fiercely loyal to Mi-kyung. In a rush to save Baek-ho, Mi-kyung barrels into the scene, only to watch in horror as he tumbles down the potato fields, rolling like an out-of-control sack of spuds. Farmers scramble, tipping wheelbarrows in an attempt to catch him.
After a humiliating hospital visit, Baek-ho has a moment of clarity—perhaps the lab does serve a purpose. But he makes one thing clear: he needs results if they want to keep the doors open.
Rain, Regret, and an Unexpected Gesture
The next day, the lab faces another shake-up—Chief Hong is let go, and a new chief is stepping in. But who? We don’t find out just yet, but we’ve got a very good guess.
Mi-kyung, still seething over all the changes, heads outside to smoke, but a sudden downpour puts a damper on her moment. Just as she curses the sky, she looks up to see none other than Baek-ho, standing over her with an umbrella. With a rare, sincere tone, he apologizes for being a “Wonhan bastard” (a title Mi-kyung has thrown at him multiple times). Caught off guard, Mi-kyung does what she does best—swears at him and storms off.
Tensions, Teasing, and a Tuber-filled Tangle
If you thought The Potato Lab couldn’t get any wilder after its debut, Episode 2 proves you wrong! With surprise housemates, village feuds, and a drunken confession that leads to an unexpected kiss, this episode is packed with enough drama to rival a sizzling frypan full of hash browns. Let’s dig in!
Baek-ho, the Unwanted Housemate
Things kick off with Ong-ju teasing Mi-kyung about her very dramatic moment in the rain with Baek-ho. But Mi-kyung’s awkwardness reaches new heights when she finds out that her own brother, Hwan-kyung, and Ong-ju have decided to rent a room to none other than Baek-ho himself! That’s right—the man she’s constantly butting heads with is now her unexpected housemate.
Mi-kyung confronts him that night, convinced he’s staying there just to get under her skin. But Baek-ho remains as cool as ever, insisting it’s purely coincidence. Mi-kyung lays down the law: professional and personal lives should stay separate—but Ong-ju isn’t buying it. She’s got a theory: Mi-kyung is attracted to Baek-ho because she has a history of falling for men whose names end in “ho.” Is she onto something? Even Park Ki-se might think so!
Meet ATH: All Talk, From Hell
At the lab, Mi-kyung and her team are getting a better look at their new Director. Turns out, Baek-ho has earned a reputation for destroying people with his words, earning him the nickname ATH (All Talk, From Hell). Naturally, this makes lunch with him an awkward affair—especially when the farming ladies join in and start teasing Baek-ho, leaving him struggling to keep his composure.
Meanwhile, over at Wonhan Retail, we get a deeper dive into Ki-se’s messy personal life. He’s still going through a divorce with Hee-jin, who used to live at the guesthouse, and his relationship with CEO Yoon is far from smooth. But the real tension? The long-standing bad blood between Ki-se and Baek-ho. It was Ki-se who sent Baek-ho off to the potato lab in the first place, and now, he’s learned that Mi-kyung is working there too. Coincidence? Not a chance.
Village Showdown: Baek-ho vs. The Local Leaders
Mi-kyung isn’t letting Baek-ho off easy. She gathers the Yongeul-ri Youth Association President and other village leaders to give him a very warm welcome—by absolutely chewing him out for not being a better guest. Not only that, but he’s expected to pay into the Village Development Fund. Baek-ho, ever the stubborn strategist, challenges the village head and hands over his lawyer’s details instead. But his confidence backfires when the villagers double-check using his own lawyer, proving he has no legal jurisdiction over the private road he’s on. With no taxis in sight, Baek-ho is officially trapped!
A Rough Ride and a Stubborn Standoff
Eventually, Mi-kyung shows some mercy and offers Baek-ho a ride to work—but not without adding a littlehumiliation. She sticks him in the back of the pickup truck, then purposefully speeds over bumps and takes sharp turns, ensuring he feels every moment of the ride. Yet despite all this, Baek-ho refuses to pay the 85,000 won fee. Is his pride really worth all this hassle?
Aphid Crisis and Baek-ho’s Fashion Emergency
While Baek-ho is busy winning (or losing?) his village feud, Mi-kyung has bigger problems. The entire Crop Team has been hospitalized with food poisoning, and now, a pepper field next to the seed potatoes is under aphid attack! With no one else available, the Potato Lab team has to step up and save the day.
Mi-kyung urges Baek-ho to help, but his main concern? The outfits. The pest-control suits are bright and flashy, which is apparently a deal-breaker for him. Instead, he chooses to stick with his suit, and in the most ridiculous turn of events, sprays pesticide while still dressed like a businessman. Predictably, this results in pure chaos—he collapses onto Jung-hae, leading to a hilarious moment where the two stare into each other’s eyes. Just when it couldn’t get any worse, a miscommunication leads to the hose being yanked back, causing even more mayhem.
Shower Time and A Soaked Surprise
After all the aphid-fighting madness, everyone heads off to shower. Baek-ho, however, waits until last, preferring to go solo. But Mi-kyung, ever the meddler, checks in on him—only to walk in and see him soaking wet, with his t-shirt clinging to his toned physique. For the first time, she’s actually flustered.
That night, Baek-ho decides to let loose and share food and drinks with the team. Mi-kyung isn’t thrilled, especially when she learns he’s never been drunk before. Naturally, she takes it as a personal mission to get him absolutely wasted.
Drunken Confessions and an Unexpected Kiss
As a very drunk Baek-ho ends up in the back of Mi-kyung’s truck, she realizes she can’t drive because she’s had too much to drink as well. Enter the designated driver to save them both. As a result, Mi-kyung ends up in the back of the truck with Baek-ho, and in a surprising moment, he leans his head on her shoulder. Annoyed, she pushes him off—but things take an unexpected turn when she wakes up to find herself in Baek-ho’s arms.
Half-asleep and disoriented, Mi-kyung murmurs the nickname she once gave him—“hot director”—before impulsively leaning in and kissing him!
DramaZen's Opinion
A Spud-tacular Start!
If you told me I’d be emotionally invested in a drama about potatoes, I would have laughed. But The Potato Lab has proven to be an absolute gem! From the very first episode, it hooks you in with its perfect blend of corporate drama, comedy, and unexpected chemistry between the leads.
Mi-kyung is the kind of fiery, no-nonsense protagonist we love to root for, and Baek-ho? Let’s just say his stoic-but-secretly-exasperated personality is already iconic. Their love-hate dynamic is pure gold—whether they’re butting heads in the lab or getting tangled up in hilarious village politics. Episode 2 took things up a notch with a surprise guesthouse arrangement, aphid-infested chaos, and a drunken kiss that left me screaming at my screen.
The humor is sharp, the romance is sizzling, and the drama? Chef’s kiss. If the first two episodes are any indication, we’re in for one wild (and potato-filled) ride. 🥔🔥 Can’t wait for more!
