Fermentation Family

Title: 발효가족 / Balhyogajog / Fermentation Family
Also Known as: Kimchi Family
Genre: Family, Romance
Episodes: 24
Broadcast network: jTBC
Broadcast period: 2011-Dec-07 to 2012-Feb-23
Air time: Wednesday & Thursday 20:45

Official Site : http://drama.jtbc.co.kr/balhyo/

Original Sound Track & Lyrics : Click Here

Picture Gallery : Click Here

Synopsis

Set within the famous Korean restaurant Chunjiin, known especially for their kimchi dish. Ko Ho-Tae (Song Il-Guk ), who grew up as an orphan, begins to work at the restaurant.

Ho-Tae was abandoned in front of an orphanage when he was only 4 years old. He then left the orphanage at the age of 18 and soon became involved with the mafia. More recently, the #1 crime boss in his group was hospitalized. The #2 man in their crime group begins a loan sharking business. Ho-Tae doesn't like the #2 guy or the loan sharking business.

One day, Ho-Tae goes to a western food restaurant where a woman named Kang-San (Park Jin-Hee) works. Ho-Tae arrives to meet a man who is in debt to the crime group for a past loan. Ho-Tae warns the man that he has only 2 days left to pay back the loan plus interest. While eating his lunch, he also complains about the salad. Kang-San overhears Ho-Tae's complaint about the salad and asks exactly what is wrong with the salad. Then, Ho-Tae's subordinate's phone rings and they leave with the man in debt to them. Kang-San becomes worried about the guy in debt and goes out to stop them from taking him. Before they leave, Ho-Tae tells her that that the salad is overpriced and too sweet. More vinegar would make the salad much better.

On the roof a building, the #2 crime boss demands the indebted man to give up his $500,000 dollar apartment as compensation for his $50,000 dollar debt. Ho-Tae finally reaches his boiling point and snaps. He beats up the other gang members including the #2 crime boss. Afterwards Ho-Tae eats lunch at a restaurant which he isn't happy with. He sees on TV at the restaurant a story about Chunjin Restaurant. Ho-Tae feels something from the story. He decides to go to Chunjin Restaurant. He stands in front of Chunjin Restaurant and remembers years back when he stood there as a young child. Ho-Tae then receives a phone call from his subordinate.

Meanwhile, Kang-San decides to add vinegar to the salad dressing and, to her surprise, notices that the salad tastes much better. At that time, she receives a phone call from her sister Woo-Joo (Lee Min-Young) who informs her that she has to come home on her dad's birthday.

Ho-Tae arrives at a junk yard to meet his subordinate, but finds himself surrounded by other gang members from his group. Ho-Tae is beaten and, during this time, a car with a siren blaring arrives in front of Ho-Tae. The driver from the car gets out. To Ho-Tae's surprise, the driver is Kang-San (the woman from the western restaurant). Kang-San takes Ho-Tae away and tries to take him to a hospital, but he refuses.

The next morning, Ho-Tae wakes up in a strange room. Ho-Tae remembers being the room when he very young. Ho-Tae goes out of the room and meets all of the family members from Chunjin Restaurant. Kang-San's father Ki-Chan (Kang Shin-Il) asks Ho-Tae to stay at Chunjiin Restaurant a couple of more days. A man then arrives offering to buy Chunjin Restaurant but Ki-Chan kicks him out. Kang-San and her sister Woo-Joo have arguments over Chunjin Restaurant and personal matters. Kang-San wants to sell Chunjin Restaurant, but her sister Woo-Joo wants her to quit her job at the western restaurant and take over Chunjin.

The next day, Ho-Tae still can't remember exactly why Chunjin Restaurant is so familiar to him and decides to ask Ki-Chan. But, Ki-Chan is gone and left behind a note saying it's up to you whether to sell Chunjin Restaurant and I have to go take care of something. All of the people at Chunjin Restaurant are dumbfounded.

Ho-Tae leaves without an answer. He goes to meet his subordinate who asks Ho-Tae to hide until the #1 crime boss recovers. Without Ho-Tae, the #1 crime boss can't get control back.

Meanwhile, at Chunjin Restaurant, Kang-San and Woo-Joo do not know what to do. With the help of longtime employee Do-Sik (Choi Jae-Sung) they are able to open up for business, but Kang-San is still thinking about going back to work at the western restaurant. Woo-Joo then tells her sister that she called the western restaurant and informed them that she quit. Kang-San immediately calls the western restaurant to tell them she will still work there, but is informed they already hired her replacement. Kang-San now decides to stay at Chunjin Restaurant until her father comes back. Ho-Tae then comes back to Chunjin Restaurant .....

Cast

Main Cast

Song Il Gook as Ki Ho Tae 

(A Fiery Gangster from an Orphanage)

Was abandoned in front of an orphanage when he was 4 years old and  left the place when he was 17. Is accustomed to wild languages and to  live without any plan. Often tempted to take actions first rather than  thinking before his movements. What he only concern is what to eat! As  he has a unique talent that he never forget the taste and smell of the  food he ever had, his nickname is ‘Dog Nose’. Becomes angry for eating  food that is not tasty, never can be patient for being hungry, and,  funnily, always follows and corrects the cars that violate traffic  lights cut into lines, even though he himself is a gangster. 

Park Jin Hee as Lee Kang San 

(Second Daughter of Korean Restaurant Cheon ji In’)
‘Life? Just enjoy it freely in your heart! But, let’s eat first  before doing anything!’ A famous cook of a fusion style restaurant.  Ambitious to be the best chef of such fusion style restaurants. A  qualified cook for Korean, Japanese, and Western style food. Honest and  straightforward. Relaxing and affectionate in nature yet very brave and  magnanimous. But, time to time she is so slow and lazy, too honest and  strict, and lack the sense to catch the feelings of the other parties.  However, her bright and positive personality always energizes people  around her. As she inherited her father’s characteristics and sense of  taste, every one thought that she will be the cook of the ‘Cheon Ji In’, but she decided to be a cook for Western cuisine with no hesitation. 

Lee Min Young as Lee Woo Joo 

(First Daughter of Korean Restaurant ‘Cheon Ji In’)

Helping father to run ‘Cheon Ji In’ since her graduation from high  school. As a result of seriously suffering from high fever caused by  acute pneumonia in her youth time, she become a less intelligent person  than average people. Quite often speak unexpected words out of the  context due to her slow sense of judgment, yet has silk-like tender  heart. With such an innocent heart, laugh and cry a lot, and care for  other’s feelings the most. Is kind, affectionate, and lovely with such a  big heart always understanding others. But cannot decide anything by  herself and is always dependent to others. 

Choi Jae Sung as Kang Do Sik 

(Cook of ‘Cheon Ji In’)
A poker faced person who never disclose his inner thoughts. Been  together with Kichan in ‘Cheon Ji In’ as the cook for almost twenty  years. Is like an uncle to Kangsan and Wooju. Has a rough exterior with a  quiet personality, but silently cares for others from the deep part of  his heart. His decisive actions in critical moments make his position  crucial in the restaurant. Respects and understands Kichan better than  anybody else and guards his empty place steadfastly. 

Kim Young Hoon as Oh Jae Hoon 

(A Cook for Korean Food)

The only son of the president of Handeul Food Korea who is a famous  master cook of Korean food. Is handsome, cool, tender, and even talented  with fantastic cooking skills. Looks like a perfect one but is shy and  fragile in nature. Easily being upset and enjoys getting flattered. A  very cute noble-looking young man who is quite sensitive for the fact  that how others look at him. A perfectionist not only in cooking but  also in all other things around. Need to keep everything neat and clean.  Some say he is prudent and some say he is irresolute as he thinks long  rather than acting quickly. 

Kang Shin Il as Lee Ki Chan (Owner of ‘Cheon Ji In’)
Father of Kangsan and Wooju. A real man who is bold and thinks in a  large scale. Married a lovely daughter of the couple who raised him up  like their own child and supported him up to university education, even  though he was a homeless orphan. A chivalrous person, always  sympathizing poor and needy people, bring them to his restaurant to feed  them and provide hospitality, with a mind to follow the pattern of his  father and mother in laws. Majored in architecture and was quite a  promising architect for a while, but inherited the Korean restaurant  from his in laws with the heart that there should be nobody starving.  Affected by his wife with such a special love on Kimchi, he himself  became a Kimchi lover.

Yoon Hee Soo as Na Eun Bi

A girl been abandoned by her parents and who becomes a family member  in ‘Cheon Ji In’. Is quite pre-matured, probably due to environmental  factor, lacking confidence and mostly depressed, but gradually recover  her lovely ‘childishness’ through the process of being a member of the  restaurant family. Has a very warm and deep heart and role as a catalyst  to let the people around to re-discover their genuineness. Become the  lovely mascot of the restaurant. A smart and cute girl closely following  Hotae, as if he is her uncle, even though he is so blunt. 

Lee Dae Keun as Mr. Seol

A living-alone old man recently moved in to a very old apartment  nearby the restaurant. Eats twice a day at the restaurant but often ask  to put the bill on his tab. Peculiar in disposition and is doubtful for  many things around. A very stingy person with lots of complaints.  Exaggerates and boast himself a lot, and time to time troubles the  restaurant people with excuses that he is sick here and there.  Particularly keen to Hotae and complains him a lot, but gradually  develop his friendship with Hotae over the series of events. 

Kim Byung Choon as Han Pyung Man 
(Korean Medicine Doctor)
A Korean medicine doctor, who is living alone, without his intention,  after sending off his wife and children to Canada, according to the  will of his wife. A person with warn and optimistic mind, always saying  ‘It’s ok, it’s alright!’ Habitually jokes around with smiling face, and  is a self-appointed healthy wine-lover. Respects Gichan as his own elder  brother, and cares for Kangsan and Wooju as his own nieces. Not like  what he looks like outwardly, he is a top graduated doctor from his  school who contributes a lot for making number of healthy Kimchis by  providing his professional knowledge as a Korean medicine doctor. 

Lee Il Hwa as Jung Geum Joo 
(School Teacher of Eunbi)
An unmarried old woman with keen characteristics who looks like a  dormitory teacher. A stubborn principlist with no flexible mind. Never  allows anybody to get into her private life as a result of living alone  by herself for a long time. Don’t like to talk about any part of her  private life. But, she is totally transformed to a completely talkative  person that no one can stop as soon as her mouth is open! Occasionally  visits ‘Cheon Ji In’ and eats there with the excuse of Eunbi’s issues,  then gradually learns how to open her heart to others while realizing  how lonely it is to eat alone and how valuable it is to live together  with others. 

Supporting Cast

Lee Kan Hie as Kang San’s mother
Choi Yong Min as Oh Myung Cheol
Jung Ae Ri as Jung Hyun Sook
Choi Duk Moon as Jo Dae Sik
Kim Sang Hoon as Kim Dong Soo
Jo Jae Wan as Park Hyun Soo
Oh Yong as Jo Mi Nam
Kim Ki Bok as Detective
Lee Ah Rin as Bo Yo
Hwang Young Hee as So Jung

Cameo

Jo Yeon Woo as Choi Yong Bin
Kim Ha Eun as Ji Hyun
Shin Hyeon Tak as Sung Jin
Kim Bo Mi as Hye Young
Shin Hyun Bin as Yukie
Choi Jae Sup as Yoo Jung Ho
Kim Kyu Cheol as Jung Sung Min

credit to : Soompi