5 Reasons To Watch 'Warm and Cozy'

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Warm and Cozy
Hong Sisters
Kang Sora
Yoo Yeon Seok
Jeju Island Gatsby

The lighthearted romantic comedy "Warm and Cozy" premiered on May 13. "Warm and Cozy" stars Kang Sora (Misaeng) and Yoo Yeon Seok (Reply 1994) as individuals who share the same birthdate but have opposite personalities. Yoo Yeon Seok portrays Baek Geon Woo, a wealthy heir who abandons the trappings of corporate life to pursue a career as a restauranteur on Jeju Island. His high school years were spent at an international school with other wealthy students, where they enjoyed frivilous activities like polo.

Kang Sora is Lee Jung Joo, a girl who grew up with her father without ever meeting her mother. She ventures to Jeju Island to confront her possible mother during Geon Woo's birthday celebration. They share an awkward interaction, before parting ways. Geon Woo and and Jung Joo are reunited 10 years later.

Jung Joo has managed to land a job within a clothing company, but she yearns for a future beyond city life. She assumes that her boyfriend is onboard with her future plans and purchases a house on Jeju Island, with the intention of opening a cafe. Her world crashes down when she discovers that her boyfriend has cheated on her, the house she has purchased is dilapidated and she has lost her job.

Over the years, she has not forgotten about Geon Woo and her kind encounter with him. When they are reunited, she is shy but willingly sits next to him on a plane and receives his help. Geon Woo accompanies her on her journey to Jeju Island but friction occurs between the pair when she suspects that he is the reason she was swindled into purchasing a house that was in shambles.

Here are 5 reasons to watch "Warm and Cozy."

1. The beautiful landscape of Jeju Island is highlighted in "Warm and Cozy."

"Warm and Cozy" benefits from the splendid scenery of Jeju Island. Most K-Dramas incorporate brief shots of the tourist destination but the picturesque destination takes center stage in "Warm and Cozy." The series explores the island and features unique aspects of the locale including the famed diving women of Jeju. While this initially comes off as one extended tourism ad, the Hong Sisters brilliantly incorporate the disdainful sentiments of the locals. In "Warm and Cozy," the locals view mainland visitors with a mixture of distrust and cynicism.

2. Kang Sora and Yoo Yeon Seok have the potential to be one of the hottest couples of May 2015.

Kang Sora and Yoo Yeon Seok have flawless chemistry in "Warm and Cozy." Their relationship swiftly transitions from a potential sibling interaction to a flirty interlude involving two teenagers. They shape Jung Joo and Geon Woo into likable characters who easily appeal to viewers.

Jung Joo and Geon Woo are a very unlikely pair. The series kicks off by highlighting their financial disparity and the possibility that they could be siblings. Jung Joo visits Jeju Island to confront Geon Woo and the woman she believes to be her mother. She shares the same birthday and suspects that she is related to the wealthy teenager.

She is devastated when she learns that she is most likely not his twin sister. Geon Woo is a refreshing departure from most K-Drama heirs. He is kind to Jung Joo and jokingly states that she should meet him in the future, when she has become a cool woman.

Jung Joo and Geon Woo have frequent encounters, following a 10-year absence. Jung Joo initially recognized Geon Woo, while he is attending a reunion involving friends from his polo club. The unlikely pair is reunited while waiting for standby seats, in the airport.

3. The Hong Sisters deliver their unique blend of magical realism and morality to the series.

The MBC series marks the K-Drama return of the fantastic screenwriting team, the Hong Sisters. Siblings Hong Mi Ran and Hong Jeung Eun regularly challenge audiences to embrace impossible circumstances and to approach their works through suspension of disbelief. In "Warm and Cozy," the situation does not involve supernatural powers but there is an improbable level of coincidence.

4. B1A4's Jinyoung returns to K-Drama as Jung Poong San.

Jinyoung is adorable in the supporting role of Jung Poong San. "Warm and Cozy" provides an opportunity for the 23-year-old acting idol to shed the angst of his recent role in the teen musical "Peserverance, Goo Hae Ra," while embracing his comedic side.

5. A lighthearted romantic comedy is a welcome addition to mid-week programming.  

2015 has been plagued by angst-ridden psychological dramas, which have provided compelling viewership but were a far departure from the genre of easygoing romantic comedy. "Warm and Cozy" kicked off with the slightly bizarre and unique premise that has elevated Hong Sisters' dramas beyond the works of other screenwriters.

"Warm and Cozy" airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays in the 10 p.m. KST time slot.

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About the writer: Adrienne Stanley is a contributing writer for Kpopstarz, KDramastars, MTV Iggy and CJ Entertainment's KCON blog. Her passions include a love of K-pop and Asian drama. When she is not writing she is hanging out on Twitter (@retrogirladdy).

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