Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency (Korean: 꽃파당: 조선혼담공작소) is a 2019 South Korean television series starring Kim Min-jae, Gong Seung-yeon, Seo Ji-hoon, Park Ji-hoon, Byeon Woo-seok, and Go Won-hee. It is based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Kim Yi-rang who also wrote the series. It aired on JTBC's Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:30 (KST) from September 16 to November 5, 2019.[2][3][4]
| Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Hangul | 꽃파당: 조선혼담공작소 |
| Hanja | 꽃파堂: 朝鮮婚談工作所 |
| Revised Romanization | Kkotpadang: Joseonhondamgongjakso |
| Genre | |
| Written by | Kim Yi-rang |
| Directed by | Kim Ga-ram |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | South Korea |
| Original language | Korean |
| No. of episodes | 16 |
| Production | |
| Producers |
|
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | JTBC |
| Release | September 16 – November 5, 2019 |
Synopsis
editMa Hoon, Young-soo, and Do Joon are Joseon's most successful marriage agency, the Flower Crew, and their 90 percent success rate has given them local fame despite the fact that, unusually, they are all men. Young-soo has impeccable taste in clothes and other wedding accoutrements and Do Joon is an information broker who learns every rumor, but the biggest contributor to their success is Ma Hoon's skills of observation and thorough research into prospective spouses.
A young blacksmith named Soo asks them to send a formal marriage proposal to Gae-ttong, the resourceful street girl who has won his heart. Even though their station as commoners means they don't need a formal intermediary, Soo insists because he loves and respects Gae-ttong so much. Gae-ttong is more interested in finding her missing brother, from whom she was separated when they were children, but she agrees to marry Soo because she and Soo have always supported and been kind to one another.
Unbeknownst to Soo, he is really a younger son of the now-dying King of Joseon, sent away so he could have a normal life. When the crown prince is assassinated, one of the king's councilors has Soo kidnapped and brought to the palace on what would have been his and Gae-ttong's wedding day. This makes it look like Soo abandoned his bride, leaving the Flower Crew with the wedding bills to pay and a damaged reputation. The Flower Crew gives Gae-ttong a job as their sole female employee, and she works with them to repair their business while Soo finds his way as king, and various parties investigate the crown prince's death.
The season covers several plotlines:
- Soo adjusting to his new role as a king and his wish to reunite with Gae-ttong.
- Growing romance between Ma Hoon and Gae-ttong.
- Gae-ttong learning manners and refinement so that she can blend in with the high-ranking yangban women.
- The mystery behind the assassination of the crown prince.
- Gae-ttong's search for her brother, from whom she was separated when they attempted to escape slavery years earlier.
- Ma Hoon and Do Joon's relationships with their estranged fathers.
- The plots of two of Soo's councilors and their factions.
- Young-soo's secret past as a baekjeong and criminal.
Cast
editMain
edit- Kim Min-jae as Ma Hoon[5]
- Choi Seung-hoon as young Ma Hoon
- The silent and cold founder of Flower Crew. Known as the most intelligent and handsome man in Hanyang, he is also the leader and the best matchmaker of the crew.
- Gong Seung-yeon as Gae-ttong / Yoon Soo-yun[6]
- Lee Go-eun as young Gae-ttong
- Lee Soo's first love. She has a stubborn personality and does many jobs to survive and to find her long-lost brother, from whom she was separated when they attempted to escape enslavement as children. She eventually joins Flower Crew to repay her marriage debt. She must keep her history as a runaway a secret.
- Seo Ji-hoon as Lee Soo[7]
- Cha Sung-je as young Lee Soo
- A 23-year-old humble blacksmith who is in love with Gae-ttong. He gets captured on his wedding day and learns that he is to be the new king of Joseon.
- Park Ji-hoon as Go Young-soo / Chil-nom[8][9]
- A fashionable young man whose skills with clothes and makeup make him an asset to the Flower Crew, as he can turn any bride into a beauty. His fashion choices quickly become trends. He changed his name to escape his past as a baekjeong accused of a terrible crime.
- Byeon Woo-seok as Do Joon[10]
- Lee Seung-woo as young Do Joon
- The Flower Crew's informant. Due to his handsome looks, many girls in Hanyang adore him and he uses this advantage to collect information in and around Hanyang. He eventually falls for Kang Ji-hwa.
- Go Won-hee as Kang Ji-hwa
- The vain daughter of Second Chief State Councillor who is very cold and overbearing, especially towards commoners and slaves.
Supporting
editPeople around Ma Hoon
edit- Park Ho-san as Ma Bong-deok
- Ma Hoon's father, also, the Chief State Councillor
- Jung Yoon-seok as Ma Joon
People around Gae-ttong
edit- Jang Yoo-sang as Kang
- Park Sang-hoon as young Kang
- Gae-ttong's long-lost brother
People around Lee Soo
edit- Lee Yoon-gun as Lee Moon-seok
- Ha Hoe-jung as Eunuch Jang
- Ahn Da-bi as Se-ah
People around Do Joon
edit- Kim Hye-ji as Seom Seom
- A girl from a courtesan house that frequently helps Do Joon to collect information.
- Jung Ji-yoon as Do-joon's mother
People around Kang Ji-hwa
edit- Jung Jae-sung as Kang Mong-gu
- Kang Ji-hwa's father, also, the Second Chief State Councillor
- Park Bo-mi as Chun-sim
- One of Ji-hwa's slaves who always appears with her. She also has a crush on Kang, another slave of Ji-hwa's.
Others
edit- Kwon So-hyun as Queen Dowager Yoon
- Jung Eui-jae as Hyun
- Lee Chae-won as Ma Jeong-hwa
- Choi Yi-seon as Tae-soo
- Flower Crew servant
Special appearances
edit- Jo Sung-ha as King (Ep. 1–2)
- Go Soo as Crown Prince (Ep. 1)
- Woo Hyun as doctor (Ep. 1)
- Ahn Se-ha as peddler (Ep. 1)
- Jang Su-won as Jang In-sung (Ep. 1)
- Park Soo-ah as Lee Eun-young (Ep. 1)
- Lee Su-ji as young lady (Ep. 1)
- Jo Ryun as inn owner (Ep. 2)
- Choi Jin-hyuk as the Second Chief State Councillor's niece's matched guy (Ep. 5)
- Daniel Lindemann as a German customer (Ep. 16)
Production
editThe first script reading took place in April 2019 at JTBC Building in Sangam-dong, Seoul, South Korea.[11] Filming was wrapped up on October 10, 2019.[12]
Original soundtrack
edit| Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency OST | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Various artists | |
| Released | 2019 |
| Genre | Soundtrack |
| Language | |
| Label | AMP LIVE |
Part 1
edit| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "PIN GURURU" (핑그르르) |
| Kim Jong-chun | Lee Woo | 3:36 |
| 2. | "PIN GURURU" (Inst.) | Kim Jong-chun | 3:36 | ||
| Total length: | 7:12 | ||||
Part 2
edit| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "It Was You" (그대였습니다) | yoda | Kim Se-jin | Jeong Se-woon | 4:11 |
| 2. | "It Was You" (Inst.) | Kim Se-jin | 4:11 | ||
| Total length: | 8:22 | ||||
Part 3
edit| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Solar Eclipse" (개기일식) |
|
| Son Seung-yeon | 3:20 |
| 2. | "Solar Eclipse" (Inst.) |
| 3:20 | ||
| Total length: | 6:40 | ||||
Viewership
editFlower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency : South Korea viewers per episode (thousands)
Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Media Research.[13]
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org. |
| Season | Episode number | Average | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||
| 1 | 968 | 784 | 816 | 693 | 632 | 624 | 657 | 611 | 644 | 699 | 552 | 582 | 635 | 722 | 655 | 703 | 686 | |
| Ep. | Original broadcast date | Title[a] | Average audience share (AGB Nielsen)[14] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nationwide | Seoul | ||||
| 1 | September 16, 2019 | A Divine Match: Plantain Lily (하늘이 내린 인연: 비비추)[b] |
4.278% | 4.983% | |
| 2 | September 17, 2019 | Shyness: Hydrangea (수줍음: 수국)[c] |
3.752% | 4.145% | |
| 3 | September 23, 2019 | Longing: Zinnia (그리움: 백일홍)[d] |
3.356% | 3.401% | |
| 4 | September 24, 2019 | Shyness: Peony (수줍음: 작약)[e] |
3.496% | 3.997% | |
| 5 | September 30, 2019 | A Secret Love: Wind Flower (비밀스런 사랑: 나도바람꽃)[f] |
3.056% | 3.299% | |
| 6 | October 1, 2019 | A Fluttering Heart: Silk Tree (두근거리는 마음: 자귀나무)[g] |
3.017% | 3.325% | |
| 7 | October 7, 2019 | A Second Chance: Peppermint Flower (두 번째 기회: 박하꽃)[h] |
3.297% | 3.431% | |
| 8 | October 8, 2019 | Unachievable Love: Resurrection Lily (이루어질 수 없는 사랑: 상사화)[i] |
2.984% | 3.185% | |
| 9 | October 14, 2019 | A Love Kept Hidden in My Heart: Marguerite (마음속에 감춘 사랑: 나무쑥갓)[j] |
3.107% | 3.195% | |
| 10 | October 15, 2019 | Pitiful Love: Marigold (가엾은 사랑: 홍황초)[k] |
3.167% | 3.305% | |
| 11 | October 21, 2019 | Lies: Morning Glory (거짓말: 애기나팔꽃)[l] |
2.735% | 2.877% | |
| 12 | October 22, 2019 | I'm Worried About Your Love: Aster (당신의 사랑이 걱정입니다: 과꽃)[m] |
2.899% | 2.757% | |
| 13 | October 28, 2019 | Hope: Bellflower (소망: 도라지)[n] |
2.932% | 3.396% | |
| 14 | October 29, 2019 | The Return: Shiny Mint (회황: 꽃향유)[o] |
3.348% | 3.330% | |
| 15 | November 4, 2019 | Don't Touch Me: Wolfsbane (나를 건드리지 마세요: 투구꽃)[p] |
3.199% | 3.361% | |
| 16 | November 5, 2019 | Blossom for Eternity and Never Wither: Rose of Sharon (영원히 피고또 피어서 지지않기를: 무궁화)[q] |
3.828% | 4.385% | |
| Average | 3.278% | 3.523% | |||
Notes
edit- ^ Each episode title is paired with a flower or plant that serves as the theme for the episode.
- ^ 비비추 (RR: bibichu): Hosta longipes (Purple-bracted plantain lily)[15][16]
- ^ 수국 (RR: suguk): Hydrangea macrophylla[17]
- ^ 백일홍 (RR: baegilhong): Zinnia elegans (Common zinnia)[18]
- ^ 작약 (RR: jagyak): Peony (genus Paeonia)[19]
- ^ 나도바람꽃 (RR: nadobaramkkot): Enemion raddeanum (East Asian false rue anemone),[19] a species of flower of the family Ranunculaceae, related to the common windflowers (Anemone)
- ^ 자귀나무 (RR: jagwinamu): Albizia julibrissin (Silk tree)[19]
- ^ 박하꽃 (RR: bakhakkot), or simply 박하 (RR: bakha): Mentha arvensis var. piperascens (East Asian wild mint)[19]
- ^ 상사화 (RR: sangsahwa): Lycoris squamigera (Resurrection lily / Surprise lily)[20]
- ^ 나무쑥갓 (RR: namussukgat): Marguerite daisy[21][22]
- ^ 홍황초 (RR: honghwangcho): Tagetes patula (French marigold)[23]
- ^ 애기나팔꽃 (RR: aeginapalkkot): Ipomoea lacunosa (White morning glory)[24][25]
- ^ 과꽃 (RR: gwakkot): Callistephus chinensis (China aster)[26]
- ^ 도라지 (RR: doraji): Platycodon grandiflorus (Chinese bellflower/balloon flower)[19][27]
- ^ 꽃향유 (RR: kkothyangyu): Elsholtzia splendens (Shiny mint)[19]
- ^ 투구꽃 (RR: tugukkot): Aconitum jaluense (Wolfsbane / monkshood)[19]
- ^ 무궁화 (RR: mugunghwa): Hibiscus syriacus (Rose of sharon / Korean rose)[19]
References
edit- ^ "'꽃파당' 김민재→박지훈, 개업 알리는 첫 티저 "9월 16일 첫방"". Naver (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
- ^ Go, Seung-ah (April 15, 2019). "'꽃파당' 김민재·공승연·박지훈 등 출연 확정…눈호강 로코사극". News 1 (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
- ^ "K-pop sweetheart Park Ji-hoon makes small screen debut in 'Flower Crew'". The Korea Times. September 22, 2019.
- ^ "A new drama gathering the whole lineup of best visuals". OSEN. September 17, 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Hwang, Su-yeon (March 18, 2019). "김민재, 박지훈 만날까.."'꽃파당' 주연 확정"(공식입장)". Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
- ^ Moon, Ji-yeon (April 8, 2019). "[단독] 공승연, '꽃파당' 주인공..김민재·서지훈·박지훈과 호흡". Sports Chosun (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
- ^ Jeong, Ga-yeong (March 21, 2019). "서지훈, '꽃파당: 조선혼담공작소' 주연 확정…사랑꾼 임금 이수 役". Sportworldi (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
- ^ Jeon, Hyo-jin (March 26, 2019). "박지훈, '꽃파당' 출연 확정…조선 최고 패셔니스타 변신 [공식]". Sports Donga (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
- ^ Jung, Hae-myoung (March 26, 2019). "Park Ji-hoon to appear in JTBC drama". The Korea Times. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
- ^ Shin, Ah-ram (March 19, 2019). "[팩트체크] 변우석 측, "'꽃파당' 출연 확정NO…긍정 검토中"". Top Star News (in Korean). Retrieved April 22, 2019.
- ^ "'조선혼담공작소 꽃파당' 꽃비주얼 배우들 한자리에! 대본 연습 현장 공개". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). July 10, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
- ^ "191010 꽃파당 촬영 끝". Naver Blog. October 11, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
- ^ "Nielsen Korea" (in Korean). Retrieved December 16, 2019.
- ^ "Nielsen Korea" (in Korean). Retrieved September 16, 2019.
- ^ "비비추" [Plantain lily]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Retrieved October 1, 2019.
- ^ "비비추/무늬비비추(purple bracted plantain lily)". 자연&사람 (in Korean). June 19, 2016. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
- ^ "수국(水菊)" [Hydrangea]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Retrieved October 1, 2019.
- ^ "백일홍(百日紅)" [Zinnia]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Retrieved October 1, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h English Names for Korean Native Plants (PDF). Pocheon: Korea National Arboretum. 2015. p. 537. ISBN 978-89-97450-98-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017 – via Korea Forest Service.
- ^ "상사화(相思花)" [Surprise lily]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Retrieved October 10, 2019.
- ^ "마가렛(나무쑥갓:marguerite)". 자연&사람 (in Korean). 2016-06-19. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
- ^ "나무쑥갓". Daum Blog (in Korean). Retrieved November 2, 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "홍황-초 (紅黃草)". Naver 국어사전 (Korean Dictionary) (in Korean). Retrieved November 2, 2019.
- ^ "애기나팔꽃 Ipomoea lacunosa L., 1753". 한반도의 생물다양성 (Biodiversity of the Korean Peninsula) (in Korean). Retrieved November 2, 2019.
- ^ "애기나팔꽃 (white morning-glory)". 자연&사람 (in Korean). 2016-09-11. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
- ^ "과꽃" [Aster]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Retrieved November 2, 2019.
- ^ "도라지" [Bellflower]. Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Retrieved November 2, 2019.