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Lee Sun Bin And Kang Tae Oh Dish On Their Chemistry And Upcoming Drama “The Potato Lab”
Lee Sun Bin And Kang Tae Oh recently sat down with Singles magazine to discuss their upcoming drama “The Potato Lab”!
“The Potato Lab” is a new romantic comedy drama set in a rural potato research institute. The story follows Kim Mi Kyeong (Lee Sun Bin), a researcher whose life revolves entirely around potatoes, and So Baek Ho (Kang Tae Oh), a cold and principled corporate director. When So Baek Ho unexpectedly enters Kim Mi Kyeong’s world, the two find themselves entangled in a whirlwind romance.
On why she chose to start in the drama, Lee Sun Bin shared, “When I first received the script, I found it really fun to read. I noticed that people enjoyed my performances in slice-of-life roles, so I wanted to give them something they would love while ensuring that this drama had a distinct atmosphere from my past projects.”
She continued, “Since this story unfolds in an unusual setting—a research institute dedicated to potatoes—I felt it was the perfect opportunity to showcase my acting in a fresh way. This drama is the ideal blend of romance and comedy. Also, I always heard great things about Kang Tae Oh from those around me, so I really wanted to act alongside him. On top of that, the senior actors I worked with were wonderful, which made me feel incredibly lucky.”
Speaking about her character Mi Kyeong, Lee Sun Bin remarked, “She’s a lovable character who you just can’t dislike. But it’s not just Mi Kyeong—every character in our drama is endearing, including Baek Ho. Each person has their own reasons and charm. That’s what I loved most about the script.”
She continued, “Mi Kyeong serves as the emotional anchor in the story. She’s not the oldest at the research lab, but she has earned everyone’s trust and is very passionate about her work. At the same time, she’s quite realistic and highly empathetic—to the point that if she were to take an MBTI test, her F (Feeling) score would be at 200 percent.”
When discussing Kang Tae Oh’s character, Baek Ho, she commented, “At the beginning of the drama, he’s like an AI—completely rational and emotionless. But being that way isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s just that in the research lab, where everyone else feels like family, he stands out even more because of it.”
When asked about her goals for the year, Lee Sun Bin revealed, “My goal is clear: I want to carefully choose projects that will solidify my career path. The more I work, the more I realize just how much effort and investment go into a single production. That makes me even more cautious in my decision-making.”
She added, “I keep a journal and write down my thoughts daily. When I look back at my entries, I notice that lately, I’ve been thinking about my career a lot. I feel like I’m at a crossroads as an actress. So, my plan is to figure out what kind of actress I want to become and what kind of career I need to build to achieve that. My ultimate goal is to shape myself into a well-rounded actress.”
When asked what he thought about Lee Sun Bin describing his character, Baek Ho, as an AI, Kang Tae Oh remarked, “AI? I don’t know how others will see him, but to me, Baek Ho is a principled, logical person who appears cold and driven by reason rather than emotion. However, I believe he has a warm side hidden within him—no matter what anyone else says.”
When asked if playing such a cold character made him feel lonely among the close-knit Potato Research Institute cast, he commented, “Filming with the Potato Research Institute family was chaotic, but in a good way. We had so much fun and engaging conversations that I never had a dull moment. But, in a way, I did feel lonely. Everyone else wore lab coats, while I was always in a perfectly tailored suit. That made me feel a bit out of place. Even Lee Sun Bin joked, ‘You must feel lonely,’ and honestly, she was right—it was funny but also a little sad.”
When asked if there were any scenes where he felt perfect acting chemistry with his co-star, he revealed, “Even though this isn’t an action drama, there were a lot of physically demanding scenes. There’s a cooking scene early in the drama where we exaggerated our movements in a fantasy-like way. That was when I really felt that our acting chemistry was spot on. The scene worked well because we had solid rehearsals and great teamwork. I’m excited to see how it turns out. Also, there are a lot of romantic scenes where we express emotions through eye contact. I felt a similar connection during those moments, though I’m not sure if Sun Bin felt the same way.”
When asked if he now feels attached to potatoes after starring in a drama centered around them, he shared, “Definitely! Before, I wouldn’t have given them much thought, but now, even just seeing the word ‘potato’ makes me happy. Recently, I was at the airport and saw a food stall selling potato-based dishes. Normally, that wouldn’t be anything special, but I felt so nostalgic that I took a picture.”
He added, “Also, actress Kim Ji Ah made potato-shaped keychains and gifted them to the cast. We’ve all developed a special attachment to potatoes!”
On what viewers should look forward to in the drama, he remarked, “Our drama has a diverse set of characters, including the lab members and farmers, each with their own distinct personalities. I hope viewers will appreciate their unique charms.”
He continued, “Also, I’d love for viewers to see how Baek Ho and Mi Kyeong gradually influence each other and change over time. People say couples start to resemble one another, right? There’s a certain joy in watching that transformation unfold.”
In conclusion, Kang Tae Oh left a message for prospective viewers, saying, “’The Potato Lab’ features plenty of beautiful natural scenery, and we all had fun filming, so I hope that joy will be conveyed to the viewers. This drama also marks a new chapter in my career. I filmed it with no regrets, so I hope you’ll show it lots of love!”
Lee Sun Bin and Kang Tae Oh’s full pictorial and interview can be found in the March issue of Singles magazine.
In the meantime, check out Lee Sun Bin in “Mission Possible”:
Also watch Kang Tae Oh in “Doom at Your Service”:
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