Controlled chaos? The novice bosses in tvN’s new variety show Unexpected Business certainly never heard of that. Right off the bat, Cha Taehyun and Jo Insung’s wish of running a slow supermarket down in the countryside, enjoying the serene atmosphere, and embracing the unique comforting vibes of the town definitely went down the drain. The two city dwellers are immediately thrown into the real game of running a supermarket business in the unfamiliar countryside environment; and this was definitely not the countryside market business they looked forward to.

Getting Situated in Gangwon Province

Given a simple notice to take over a supermarket in Hwacheon County, the two actors find out that they have to run the central supermarket in the town. The store, standing at the intersection of three different streets, is visited by almost, if not all, villagers; for the village, the supermarket is a convenience store, a pharmacy, a stationery store, a hardware store, a café, a bar, and a center for socialization. 

The customs of the supermarket are quite unique, and so, reflect the warm, generous nature of the owner. For instance, she makes sure the vending machine outside the store is free for all; piles of coins are placed on top of the machine for anyone to use and drink a warm cup of instant coffee. Written in the thoughtful letters she left for Cha Taehyun and Jo Insung, she recalls some days where she quickly cooked a warm pot of soup for her nighttime customers who stopped by after a long day at work. The store owner’s ten-day absence comes as rather surprising news for the townspeople who have always been greeted by her friendly and welcoming nature in the comforts of the store; and so, to retain the business of the store, the two newcomers contribute to easing the owner’s concern about taking a break from work for the first time.

Challenge Accepted

So, have the inexperienced owners had the chance to simulate and practice running the market? Of course not. Facing the endless shoppers lining up at the register for checkout, weekly deliveries filing in to refill the inventory, and a full house of customers waiting for their food, actors Cha Taehyun and Jo Insung are burdened with the responsibility of carrying out all these tasks starting from their first day of business. 

Of course, the novice store owners haven’t quite acquired the skills to smoothly run the store yet; as expected, the first day of work is rough, chaotic, and exhausting. Cha Taehyun mainly takes on the task of managing the store; however, he struggles to find the item prices written on cardboard boxes, identify the items requested by customers, and burn charcoal briquettes. His understanding of how the store is run is still in the process of getting there, causing many delays in checkouts and mistakes in calculation. 

On the other hand, Jo Insung shows off his intermediate cooking skills that he developed as a hobby, which, in turn, presented him with the title of “chef” and main position in the kitchen. A charm yet a curse, the store tables are filled with customers who order crab ramen and several other dry snacks like anchovies or pollack that complement makgeolli, beer, or soju. The chef is overwhelmed just as his partner had been throughout the day, and fails to hide his nervousness with the elongation of customers’ waiting times as a result of the water refusing to boil. Luckily, the generous villagers rather encourage the inexperienced bosses and their business experience, promising to visit the store another time in the near future.

The duo, still feeling quite worn out and anxious about managing the store for nine more consecutive days, invite a number of celebrities as one-day employees. After all, the more the merrier, and many hands make light work! Actress Park Boyoung makes her appearance as the first part-time worker at the market and proves her strong bond with both actors. Her clever and friendly personality is definitely a huge factor in speeding up the slow circulation at the register, and the preview indicates the two owners’ satisfying smiles in response to Park Boyoung showing finesse in dealing with customers. 

Unexpected Business is currently only two episodes in, but the general response is positive; shown in that the show recorded a whole percent increase in viewers’ ratings from the first to second episode, it seems like the program has succeeded in attracting viewers with its simple yet entertaining content that shows realistic moments. Avoiding the portrayal of disingenuous actions, perhaps, is appealing in that the unexpected challenges faced by Cha Taehyun and Jo Insung are depicted in a realistic fashion that replicates the actual moment, bringing comfort and joy to viewers who are filled with warmth at the simple points of healing moments throughout the show.

Although the two celebrities’ wishes have been granted in a different way than initially intended, unexpected moments like those are often the best and most unforgettable moments anyone could ask for. Of course, it may take a bumpy ride to get to a resting point in the journey such as the chaos Cha Taehyun and Jo Insung experience; nevertheless, this challenge will plant irreplaceable memories of the people, the town, and the market along with warm feelings of nostalgia. 

So, are you longing for that same feeling of nostalgia and comfort? Make yourself at home with a cup of warm coffee or tea, curl up on your bed, and enjoy the simple yet precious moments of happiness along with Owners Cha Taehyun and Jo Insung at their supermarket.