Overview of ‘Coffee Prince’

‘Coffee Prince’ is a 2007 South Korean television series starring Yoon Eun-hye, Gong Yoo, Lee Sun-kyun, and Chae Jung-an. It is based on the novel of the same name written by Lee Sun-mi.

Critically acclaimed for its subject, the classic gender-bender, portrays the story of the romance between a tomboyish woman Go Eun-chan (Yoon Eun-hye) and a young food empire mogul, Choi Han-gyeol (Gong Yoo). Mistaken as a boy by Han-gyeol, Eun-chan is hired by him in his new cafe ‘Coffee Prince ‘which recruits only good-looking young men and she continues concealing her identity for the sake of the job. When the two are attracted to each other despite anyone realizing Eun-chan is a woman, hijinks and misunderstandings abound.

The 17-episode series was aired on MBC’s Mondays and Tuesdays at the 21:55 (KST) time slot from 2 July 2007 and 28 August 2007.

Profile

• Drama: ‘Coffee Prince’
• Director: Lee Yoon-jung
• Writers: Lee Jung-ah and Jang Hyun-joo
• Network: MBC
• Episodes: 17
• Release Date: 2 July 2007 – 28 August 2007
• Language: Korean
• Country: South Korea

Cast

Main

• Yoon Eun-hye as Go Eun-chan
  A licensed taekwondo instructor who steps us as the breadwinner of the family after her father’s death. She does multiple jobs to support her family. A cheerful, friendly girl with a large appetite. With her short haircut, baggy clothes and flat chest, Eun-chan resembles a boy and is often mistaken for one.

• Gong Yoo as Choi Han-gyeol
  The grandson of chairwoman Bang of Dongin Foods, a company that has a thriving coffee business. Han-gyeol is a smart young man who hates to be tied down to one career in his life. Abhorring the idea of joining the family business, he is ordered by his grandmother to manage an old cafe and triple the investment.

• Lee Sun-kyun as Choi Han-sung
  A good-natured, talented music producer and cousin of Han-gyeol. Despite being in a complicated romantic relationship with Yoo-joo, he develops feelings for Eun-chan, whom he knows as a milk delivery person.

• Chae Jung-an as Han Yoo-joo
  Han-gyeol’s first love, and Han-sung’s ex-girlfriend. She is a talented professional artist and a self-centred woman. She left for New York with her new lover after cheating and breaking up with Han-sung(Yoo-joo’s longtime lover), but complicates his life by returning to Korea.

Supporting

• Lee Eon as Hwang Min-yeop
  ‘Coffee Prince’ waiter. Strong and sweet-natured but not very smart, he is slavishly devoted to Eun-sae(Eun- chan’s sister), who treats him with disdain and is the first to discover Eun-chan’s true gender.

• Kim Dong-wook as Jin Ha-rim
  ‘Coffee Prince’ waiter and Han-kyul’s friend. From an affluent background like that of Han-kyul, he is outgoing and hot-tempered and loves to tease Eun-chan.

• Kim Jae-wook as Noh Sun-ki
  ‘Coffee Prince’ chef. A taciturn half-Japanese heartthrob, he is recruited to make his popular waffles at the cafe. He used to live in Japan but he went to Korea to follow the love of his life.

• Kim Chang-wan as Hong Gae-shik
  ‘Coffee Prince’ co-manager. His cafe was failing before Han-gyeol is ordered in to clean it up and relaunch it.

• Kim Young-ok as Han-gyeol and Han-sung’s grandmother
  Chairwoman of Dongin Foods. A stern and powerful woman. She is the head of the family and threatens to withdraw her financial support of Han-gyeol unless he proves he can run a business and be responsible.

• Kim Ja-ok as Han-gyeol’s mother
• Choi Il-hwa as Han-gyeol’s father
• Han Ye-in as Go Eun-sae
  Eun-chan’s younger sister. A high schooler, who dreams of becoming a rich and famous music star.

• Park Won-sook as Eun-chan’s mother
• Lee Han-wi as Mr.Ku, a butcher who is infatuated with Eun-chan’s mother
• Kim Jung-min as DK, Yoo-joo’s ex-boyfriend
• Ban Hye-ra as Yoo-joo’s mother
• Choi Eun-seo as Ha Da Young, the girl who wants to learn to make waffles
• Nam Myung-ryul as Myung Jae, Han-gyeol’s real father
• Han Da-min as Han Byul
• Yoon Seung-ah as a girl playing cards with Han-gyeol on the plane

Synopsis

Choi Han-gyeol is the heir to a thriving coffee business, Dong-in Foods. Han-gyeol is in his late 20s and regularly gets pressured by his grandmother, who is the chairwoman of Bang Foods, to be responsible and settle down. He asked to go out on blind dates arranged by his grandmother. As a sign of protest and as a measure to escape the dates and proposals, Han-gyeol engages the services of Go Eun-chan (Yoon Eun-hye), whom he thought was a boy, to act as his gay lover.

Go Eun-chan is a 24-year-old tomboyish woman who is often mistaken for a guy. After Eun-chan’s father’s death at the age of 16, she took over as the breadwinner in her family. Her father’s death made her realise that one cannot depend on anyone other than oneself for survival. She looks forward to becoming a Barista to ensure support for herself and her family, consisting of her mother (Park Won-sook) and younger sister (Han Ye-in). She takes up numerous jobs to support her family, like taekwondo instructor, chestnut peeling, food delivery for a restaurant, etc.

As Han-gyeol receives an ultimatum from his grandmother, he takes over a rundown old coffee shop, later renamed “Coffee Prince,” to prove that he’s capable to her. Han-gyeol gives his family’s café a new spin, hiring only good-looking men to work there in order to attract female customers. Unaware of Eun-chan’s identity, she is hired by Han-gyeol in his new venture, and desperate for money, she continues to hide her gender in order to secure the job at ‘Coffee Prince’.

What follows next is a roller-coaster ride of emotions as the two fall in love with each other. As Han-gyeol is unaware that Eun-chan is a woman, he starts to question his sexuality and is thrown into turmoil. Eun-chan feels guilty for hiding her true self. Knowing the truth about Eun-chan shatters Han-gyeol. However, he is relieved by the fact that the person with whom he has fallen in love is a woman whom he can conveniently introduce at home. Despite all the mysteries and confusion, love wins, and they soon reconcile.

A parallel love story that saw its ups and downs in ‘Coffee Prince’ was that of Han-sung’s (Han-gyeol’s cousin and a music director) and Yoo-jo’s (Han-gyeol’s first love and an artist). They had been in love for several years, but Yoo-joo broke up with Han-sung when she fell in love with DK (Kim Jung-min) and ran off to New York with her new boyfriend.

Returning to Korea a few years later after breaking up with DK, Yooo-joo wanted to reconcile with Han-sung. Even after the two agreed to be a couple again, a lot of trust issues bothered them. Han-sung couldn’t help but develop a crush on Eun-chan, even if it was a momentary thing. Han-sung and Eun-chan almost get to the verge break up, but things go well again for them, and the two end up in marriage.

Theme

Comfort zones can moderate the pace of our diligence towards our goals. Luxury can often blind us and tempt us to settle for less. What we would realise in the long run is that the sparkle that blinded our eyes for a moment never had the magnitude to compensate for the pride of achievement.

‘Coffee Prince’ presents in front of us a great theme of ‘sticking on to our goals’ without settling for fleeting grandeur. Toil and pain are for sure compromised in the vicinity of red roses. But only the sweat of one’s brow can lead them to greater heights and independence. The pride we feel in ourselves at our sense of accomplishment is indeed the greatest luxury we gain for ourselves.

Even after having all the chances for a happily married, luxurious life, Eun-chan decides to pursue her dream of becoming a barrister. She stood firmly against the hindrances in her way, even if it was Han-gyul’s love. She demands time for marriage, as she is adamant about standing on her own and establishing herself first.

Eun-chan’s father’s death taught her that in the life journey, one has to stand up for themselves without depending on anyone. Her father promised to be with her through thick and thin, but life had other plans to snatch Eun-chan’s father away from her through his untimely demise. That made her realise the unpredictability of life.

She is sure about Han-gyul’s love. But she is also calculated about the sick jokes that life could play on her. There is no promise in Han-gyul’s and Eun-chan’s relationship that it will stay forever rosy, and the lap of luxury will always feed them. Above all, Eun-chan has the dream of becoming a Barista, becoming independent, and supporting her family. Eun-chan is well aware of the path she has taken, and she is not ready to settle for anything that would limit her. She is firm in pursuing her dream. Standing strongly for it, she is able to achieve it with everyone’s support.

After finishing her two-year studies in Italy, Eun Chan wins a World Barista Competition. One of her rewards was to study for one more year with all expenses paid. Even though Han-kyul refused at first, his love for Eun-chan prevailed, and she happily fares better. Eun Chan’s life is a true example of Paulo Coehlo’s quote, “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires to help you achieve it.” Starting with “Lalala, It’s Love!” and ending with “Go Go Chan!” ‘Coffee Prince’ effectively portrays the shades of both love and self-accomplishment.

Awards

• 44th Baeksang Arts Awards 2008
  Best Actress (TV) – Yoon Eun-hye
  Best New Director (TV) – Lee Yoon-jung
• 20th Korea PD Awards 2008
  Best Drama – ‘Coffee Prince’
• 1st Korea Drama Awards 2007
  Most Popular Actors:
  Kim Dong-wook
  Kim Jae-wook
  Leo Eon
  Lee Han-wi
• MBC Drama Awards 2007
  Top Excellence Award, Actress – Yoon Eun-hye
  Excellence Award , Actor – Gong Yoo
  PD Award – Kim Chang-wan

Interesting Facts about Coffee Prince

1. The “Coffee Prince” was a renovated version of an old coffee shop in the Hongdae district. Following the completion of filming, the titular cafe was reopened with Han Yoo-joo’s painting of wall flowers and other drama-related decorations on display.
2. ‘Coffee Prince’ was remade in Thailand and the Philippines with the same title in 2012.
3. A Chinese remake of the series titled ‘Prince Coffee Lab’ was announced, directed by Kang Shin-hyo of The Heirs in 2016.
4. The Malaysian remake of ‘Coffee Prince’ directed by Michael Ang began airing on Astro Ria starting 28 November 2017.

FAQs

1. Who is the director of the K-Drama ‘Coffee Prince’?
   Lee Yoon-jung
2. Who are the main leads in the K-Drama ‘Coffee Prince’?
   Yoon Eun-hye and Gong Yoo, Lee Sun-kyu and Chae Jung-an
3. How many episodes are there in the K-Drama ‘Coffee Prince’
   17 episodes
4. What is the genre of the K-Drama ‘Coffee Prince’?
   Romance, Comedy, Drama
5. What is the Instagram ID of Gong Yoo?
   @gongyoo_officia.