Roommates of Poongduck 304 Series is Idol Romance’s corporate (office-setting) BL show. It reunites Kissable Lips stars Kim Ji Woong and Yoon Seo Bin. The series replaces the fantasy-romance BL Once Again.

Backgrounder

The South Korean BL duo of Kim Ji Woong and Yoon Seo Bin first came into prominence via Kissable Lips, a fantasy Vampire-inspired BL series. It was filled with comedy and romantic scenes set in a University. This time, they try a corporate setting, with a remarkable twist.

Trailer | Teaser

Teaser trailer of Roommates of Poongduck 304 | Idol Romance
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Synopsis

Jae Yoon (Yoon Seo Bin) is a kind, emphatic employee who works for a business conglomerate. He is also the owner of the Poongduck Villa which he takes pride in. He works hard to get this property and is now having some issues with funding. Ji Ho Jun (Kim Ji Woong) is a slacker and heir to an elite business empire. He is a third-generation ‘chaebol’ of the Guemman Group. He exhibits a lack of ambition. Little did they know they will be roommates and boss-subordinate at the same company! [Synopsis © Psycho-Weird]

Cast of Characters

Playing antagonistic roles, the duo of Ji Woong and Seo Bin make use of their learned chemistry, furthering the ante with more substance. They also employ the ‘usual’ Korean acting style of self-consciousness, without the need for overacting.

Kim Ji Woong plays the arrogant and demanding Ho Joon who became a slacker but redeems himself later on. | Idol Romance

Kim Ji Woong plays a demanding character and a playboy slacker Ho Joon. Ho Joon is the good-looking heir to the Geumnam business empire. He refuses to work properly and is a slacker. His father finally got fed up with him and kicks him out of the family residence. He transfers to a villa owned by one of his subordinates. This is the 2nd collaboration between Ji Woong and Kissable Lips co-star Yoon Seo Bin.

Yoon Seo Bin plays the thoughtful and insecure landlord who fell for his boss | Idol Romance

Yoon Seo Bin takes on the character of a kind and thoughtful employee Jae Yoon. Jae Yoon is an intern/subordinate employee at Geumnam Group. He also owns a villa and takes in occupants to help in its operations. He accepts a new tenant who happens to be his boss at work. Yet, he appears aloof and indifferent to this particular tenant.

Kang Woo Jung (Once Again) and Kpop star Holland (Ocean Likes Me) join the cast. They will play supporting characters who will interact with the leads. Holland is the first openly gay K-pop idol. It’s interesting to learn if he has anything to say about the creative process of the show.

Review

Rating: 3 out of 5.
  • This show has a unique title, thus it is easy to separate it from the rest of the BL series we have currently showing. It gives the show a different, curious-baiting vibe and it’s all good;
  • The main actors did a previous BL already (Kissable Lips), which shows in their dynamics;
  • Kim Ji Woong’s Ho Joon, the son of the company President, has an interesting character with a past that haunts him. That is until he met the younger and appealing landlord, Je Yoon (played by Yoon Seo Bin, who’s no longer a student like his role in Kissable Lips). The dynamics between them started antagonistically, but soon developed into intimate and brotherly, and you’ll get my drift. There were some dramatic scenes required of Ji Woong and he did decent acting;
  • Yoon Seo Bin as the landlord and office subordinate did well, especially after being called a ‘dimwit’ which is quite a painful way to be described by someone he patronized over the years. His drinking spree was his acting highlight. The struggling employee, way before he’s financially independent. That’s Je Yoon, and Yoon Seo Bin did a fantastic job of portraying the role.
  • The corporate politics is right on! I commend the writers for giving us insights that are real, yet it doesn’t impose;
  • The luxury cars, the corporate get-ups, and the overall look and feel for me are just right. Give us more!;
  • The premise of living together as a result of Ho Jun’s punishment for lack of direction is funny, especially the scene with his Dad and the corporate secretary. It’s so authentic, given that family-owned businesses usually consider their executives to be part of the ‘family’ in many ways.
  • This is a perfect example of how some viewers can appreciate the corporate setting if they actually did work in such a setting. That’s why I’m taking the time to explain;
  • The final episode appeared rushed, and I was a bit frustrated with the pacing. They could have given us more sweet-romantic moments, but instead, focus on Je Yoon’s insecurity about dating the President’s son. There’s a bit of a disconnect here.

This is a continuous coverage of the Korean BL series Roommates of Poongduck 304.