Motel California (TV series)

Motel California (Korean모텔 캘리포니아) is an upcoming South Korean television series written by Lee Seo-yoon, directed by Kim Hyung-min, and starring Lee Se-young and Na In-woo. Based on the novel Home, Bitter Home by Shim Yoon-seo, it is a first love remodeling romance drama set in a rural area about a woman who was born and raised in a motel and reunites with her first love in her hometown she ran away from 12 years ago. It is scheduled to premiere on MBC TV in the first half of 2025, and will air every Friday and Saturday.[1][2]

Motel California
Hangul
모텔 캘리포니아
Revised RomanizationMotel kaelliponia
McCune–ReischauerMot'el k'aellip'onia
Genre
Based onHome, Bitter Home
by Shim Yoon-seo
Written byLee Seo-yoon
Directed byKim Hyung-min
Starring
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
Production
Production companyHB Entertainment [ko][2]
Original release
NetworkMBC TV

Synopsis

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The series tells the story of Kang-hee, who meets her first love again in her hometown where she ran away in the middle of the night for success and happiness 12 years ago and encounters the past that she had sealed away.

Cast and characters

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Main

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The protagonist born in the rural motel 'Motel California' and raised in motels. Her first love and neighborhood friend is Yeon-soo.
A pure man who has loved only one woman his whole life and a veterinarian who receives the attention of all the farm owners in the rural village.

Supporting

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A self-made man who was born a tycoon but succeeded in starting a lodging app on his own.
The owner of Motel California and Kang-hee's father.
A childhood friend of Kang-hee and Yeon-soo, who drives a forklift in Hana-eup. He was abandoned in front of the motel when he was young and was raised by the motel owner Chun-pil and grew up with Kang-hee. He is usually gentle and quiet, but he explodes when someone precious to him is disturbed.

Production

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Development

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Motel California is based on novel Home, Bitter Home by Shim Yoon-seo. The series consists of 12 episodes.[1]

On October 24, 2024, MBC told Maeil Business Newspaper that director Jang Joon-ho, who directed the series, has stepped down due to health reasons. Kim Hyung-min, who directed Team B, would take over as the main director.[5]

Casting

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On May 1, 2024, a report came out that Lee Se-young and Na In-woo would be starring in the series.[6] On June 13, MBC announced that actors Lee Se-young and Na In-woo had been confirmed to appear.[1] On October 23, Choi Min-soo had been confirmed to appear.[7] The next day, it was reported that Kim Tae-hyung had confirmed his appearance.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Yeon, Hwi-seon (June 13, 2024). "'MBC 딸' 이세영, 나인우 손잡고 '모텔 캘리포니아' 컴백 [공식]" ['MBC Daughter' Lee Se-young, join hands with Na In-woo to make a comeback in 'Motel California' [Official]] (in Korean). Osen. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Naver.
  2. ^ a b c d Jang, Woo-young (October 24, 2024). "배우 김태형, 모태 재벌인데 자수성가까지…리얼 영앤리치 ('모텔 캘리포니아')" [Actor Kim Tae-hyung, born a tycoon and self-made… Real Young and Rich ('Motel California')] (in Korean). Osen. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Naver.
  3. ^ Kim, Won-gyeom (September 10, 2024). "최민수, 낭만적인 모텔 사장 된다…'모텔 캘리포니아' 캐스팅" [Choi Min-soo becomes a romantic motel owner… Casting in ‘Motel California’] (in Korean). SPOTV News. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Naver.
  4. ^ Kim, Kyung-hee (November 7, 2024). 구자성, '모텔 캘리포니아' 캐스팅...이세영X나인우 소꿉친구 연기 [Koo Ja-sung cast in 'Motel California'...Lee Se-young X Na In-woo childhood friends] (in Korean). iMBC. Retrieved November 8, 2024 – via Naver.
  5. ^ Kim, So-yeon (October 24, 2024). "이세영X나인우 '모텔 캘리포니아' PD 하차 "건강상 이유"" [Lee Se-young X Na In-woo 'Motel California' PD Steps Down "For Health Reasons"] (in Korean). Maeil Business Newspaper. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Naver.
  6. ^ Ha, Ji-won (May 1, 2024). "이 조합 실화? 이세영 나인우 '모텔 캘리포니아'로 만날까 [공식입장]" [Is this combination real? Will Lee Se-young and Na In-woo meet in 'Motel California'? [Official Position]] (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Naver.
  7. ^ Choi, Hee-jae (October 23, 2024). "최민수, 이세영 아빠 된다…'모텔 캘리포니아' 출연 확정 [공식]" [Choi Min-soo, Lee Se-young become fathers… Confirmed to appear in ‘Motel California’ [Official]] (in Korean). EDaily. Retrieved October 27, 2024 – via Naver.
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