When the Camellia Blooms

General Information

• International Title: When the Camellia Blooms
• Original Title: 동백꽃 필 무렵 (romanization: Dongbaekkkot Pil Muryeob)
• Genre: Drama, Romance, Family, Comedy, Thriller
• No. of Episode: 20
• Airing Date: 2019.09.18 ~ 2019.11.21
• Airing Slot: Wednesday & Thursday 22:00 KST
• Broadcasting Channel: KBS2
• International Distributor: Netflix
• Starring: Gong Hyo Jin, Kang Ha Neul, Kim Ji Seok
• Director: Cha Young Hoon & Kang Min Kyung
• Writer: Im Sang Chun
• Highest Rating: 23.8% (Nationwide)
• Awards: 2020 (56th) BaekSang Arts Awards for Daesang (Grand Prize), Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor

Synopsis

When the Camellia Blooms is heartwarming Kdrama portraying a single mom and breadwinner. As a single mom living in Ongsan village, Dongbaek has to experience social prejudices. Meanwhile, she has to raise her son, Kang Pil Gu, by running bar-restaurant “Camellia”. Furthermore, she begins to open her heart for Hwang Yong Sik. Yong Sik is typically an innocent village man and a police officer. He falls for Dongbaek like a fool. Unfortunately, the things become more complicated as Pil Gu’s dad suddenly appears (Kang Jeong Ryeol). Besides, they have to deal with serial killer in Ongsan.

Main Cast

Character name: Dongbaek
Actress name: Gong Hyo Jin
Gong Hyo Jin’s notable works: Jealousy Incarnate, The Producers, It’s Ok, This is Love, The Master’s Sun, The Greatest Love, Pasta

Character name: Hwang Yong Sik
Actor name: Kang Ha Neul
Kang Ha Neul’s notable works: Insider, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, Misaeng: Incomplete Life, The Heirs, To The Beautiful You

Character name: Kang Jong Ryeol
Actor name: Kim Ji Seok
Kim Ji Seok’s notable works: Monthly Magazine Home, Another Miss Oh, The Rebel, Angel Eyes, Cheongdamdong Alice, Personal Taste

Extended Cast

Oh Jung Se as No Gyu Tae
Yum Hye Ran as Hong Ja Young
Kim Kang Hoon as Kang Pil Gu
Son Dam Bi as Hyang Mi
Go Du Shim as Kwak Deok Seon
Lee Jung Eun as Jo Jeong Suk
Jeon Bae Su as Captain Byun
Ji Esuu as Jessica
Kim Sun Young as Park Chan Suk
Lee Sun Hee as Jung Gwi Ryeon
Kim Mi Hwa as Kim Jae Young
Kim Dong Hyun as Song Jin Bae
Han Ye Joo as Jo Ae Jung
Lee Sang Yi as Yang Seung Yeob
Kim Mo Ah as Yang Seung Hee
Baek Hyun Joo as Oh Ji Hyun
Lee Jae Woo as Kwon Oh Joon

Park Yeon Woo as Park Sung Min
Lee Kyu Sung as Park Heung Sik
Shin Mun Sung as Park Seok Yong
Carson Allen as Hellena
Kim Geon as Jun Gi
Seo Jang Hyun as Dae Sung
Seo Yi Soo as Dongbaek (child)
Yu Jun Hoo as Kang Pil Gu (child)
Kim Dan Woo as Hyang Mi (child)
Kim Min Joon as Hwang Yong Sik (child)
Hwang Young Hee as Lee Hwa Ja
Jeon Guk Hyang as Hong Eun Sil
Kim Ki Cheon as Park Man Sub
Lee Jin Hee as Han Geum Ok
Heo Dong Won as Kim Nak Ho
Jang Hae Song as Hye Hoon

Cameo & Special Appearances

Jung Ga Ram as Kang Pil Gu (adult) (Ep. 18, 20)
In Gyo Jin as Du Sik (Ep. 13)
Jang Hye Jin as Park Yeong Shim
Choi Dae Chul as Gyu Sik (Ep. 13)
Hong Seo Jun as Jeong Chan Gyeol
Baek Eun Hye as Seong Hui

Character Relationship Chart

Dongbaek is a single mom living with her son, Kang Pil Gu. Yong Sik is Ongsan police officer who falls for Dongbaek. Later, Dongbaek and Yong Sik are in mutual relationship. Meanwhile, Kwak Deok Seon (Yong Sik’s mom) is against their relationship. Besides, Dongbaek’s ex boyfriend (Kang Jeong Ryeol) suddenly appears. Kang Jeong Ryeol is Pil Gu’s biological dad. He is a popular baseball player and married to Jessica, social media influencer.

Original Soundtrack

“Foolish Love” by John Park
“Loser” by O.WHEN
“You Are My Vitamin” by Motte (ft. Yongzoo)
“You Are As Pretty As A Flower” by Onestar
“Good To Be With You” by Soyou
“Like A Heroine In The Movie” by Punch
“At That Time” by Kim Na Young
“When Winter Comes” by Kim Feel
“Destiny Tells Me” by Heize
“I’ll Be With You” by Ga Eun
“Mom” by Kim Yeon Ji
“The First Noel” by Kim Yeon-ji, Onestar, Yongzoo, Ga Eun, Ra.L, Lim Ji Eun, James Kang, Samma Choir

When the Camellia Blooms Kdrama Trailer Videos

Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prl2MXJQSKo

Awards & Nominations

2020 (56th) BaekSang Arts Awards – June 5, 2020

• Grand Prize (Daesang)
• Im Sang Chun – Best Screenplay
• Kang Ha Neul – Best Actor
• Oh Jung Se – Best Supporting Actor

2019 KBS Drama Awards – December 31, 2019

• Best Screenplay (Im Sang Chun)
• Grand Prize (Gong Hyo Jin)
• Best Actor (Kang Ha Neul)
• Best Youth Actor (Kim Kang Hoon)
• Excellent Actor (Kim Ji Seok)
• Excellent Actress (Lee Jung Eun)
• Best Couple Award (Kang Ha Neul – Gong Hyo Jin) & (Oh Jung Se – Yum Hye Ran)
• Best New Actress (Son Dam Bi)
• Netizen Award (Kang Ha Neul)
• Best Supporting Actor (Oh Jung Se)
• Best Supporting Actress (Yum Hye Ran)

When the Camellia Blooms Kdrama Trivia

• When the Camellia Blooms is Kang Ha Neul’s comeback Kdrama after being discharged from military
• It is Gong Hyo Jin’s comeback drama after Jealousy Incarnate in 2016
• The writer, Im Sang Chun, previously wrote the popular Korean drama “Fight for My Way” starring Park Seo Jun and Kim Ji Won
• Ongsan is a fictional village. The actual filming location is in Pohang
• Dongbaek means camellia in English. This flower becomes Dongbaek’s bar name “Camellia”
• This drama reaches the highest rating in 2019
• It takes over time slot of previous drama “Justice” in KBS2