The description and information of roles and characters in JTBC drama series Fermentation Family:
Ki Ho Tae (played by Song Il Gook)
A Fiery Gangster from an Orphanage
Was abandoned in front of an orphanage when he was 4 years old and left the place when he was 17. Is accustomed to wild languages and to live without any plan. Often tempted to take actions first rather than thinking before his movements. What he only concern is what to eat! As he has a unique talent that he never forget the taste and smell of the food he ever had, his nickname is ‘Dog Nose’. Becomes angry for eating food that is not tasty, never can be patient for being hungry, and, funnily, always follows and corrects the cars that violate traffic lights cut into lines, even though he himself is a gangster.
Lee Kang San (played by Park Jin Hee)
Second Daughter of Korean Restaurant ‘Cheon Ji In’
‘Life? Just enjoy it freely in your heart! But, let’s eat first before doing anything!’ A famous cook of a fusion style restaurant. Ambitious to be the best chef of such fusion style restaurants. A qualified cook for Korean, Japanese, and Western style food. Honest and straightforward. Relaxing and affectionate in nature yet very brave and magnanimous. But, time to time she is so slow and lazy, too honest and strict, and lack the sense to catch the feelings of the other parties. However, her bright and positive personality always energizes people around her. As she inherited her father’s characteristics and sense of taste, every one thought that she will be the cook of the ‘Cheon Ji In’, but she decided to be a cook for Western cuisine with no hesitation.
Lee Woo Ju (played by Lee Min Young)
First Daughter of Korean Restaurant ‘Cheon Ji In’
Helping father to run ‘Cheon Ji In’ since her graduation from high school. As a result of seriously suffering from high fever caused by acute pneumonia in her youth time, she become a less intelligent person than average people. Quite often speak unexpected words out of the context due to her slow sense of judgment, yet has silk-like tender heart. With such an innocent heart, laugh and cry a lot, and care for other’s feelings the most. Is kind, affectionate, and lovely with such a big heart always understanding others. But cannot decide anything by herself and is always dependent to others.
Kang Do Sik (played by Choi Jae Sung)
Cook of ‘Cheon Ji In’
A poker faced person who never disclose his inner thoughts. Been together with Kichan in ‘Cheon Ji In’ as the cook for almost twenty years. Is like an uncle to Kangsan and Wooju. Has a rough exterior with a quiet personality, but silently cares for others from the deep part of his heart. His decisive actions in critical moments make his position crucial in the restaurant. Respects and understands Kichan better than anybody else and guards his empty place steadfastly.
Lee Ki Chan (played Kang Shin Il)
Owner of ‘Cheon Ji In’
Father of Kangsan and Wooju. A real man who is bold and thinks in a large scale. Married a lovely daughter of the couple who raised him up like their own child and supported him up to university education, even though he was a homeless orphan. A chivalrous person, always sympathizing poor and needy people, bring them to his restaurant to feed them and provide hospitality, with a mind to follow the pattern of his father and mother in laws. Majored in architecture and was quite a promising architect for a while, but inherited the Korean restaurant from his in laws with the heart that there should be nobody starving. Affected by his wife with such a special love on Kimchi, he himself became a Kimchi lover.
Oh Hae Jun (played by Kim Young Hoon)
A Cook for Korean Food
The only son of the president of Handeul Food Korea who is a famous master cook of Korean food. Is handsome, cool, tender, and even talented with fantastic cooking skills. Looks like a perfect one but is shy and fragile in nature. Easily being upset and enjoys getting flattered. A very cute noble-looking young man who is quite sensitive for the fact that how others look at him. A perfectionist not only in cooking but also in all other things around. Need to keep everything neat and clean. Some say he is prudent and some say he is irresolute as he thinks long rather than acting quickly.
Jeong Hyeon Suk (played by Jung Ae Ri)
Chairman of Handeul Food Korea
Heajun’s mother. A famous expert of Korean cuisine and is well known as a Kimchi master. Inherited her father’s family restaurant business and transformed it into Handeul Food Korea, a leading environmental friendly naturalism food company. Outwardly looks like a noble-woman but in fact is a capable CEO with a strong leadership. For her, pride is more important than money and she always aim targets to be achieved. Second to none for the pride on Korean food, especially Kimchi. Is ambitious to globalize Korean food and announce the excellence of it to the whole world through her company as the base.
Oh Myeong Cheol (played by Choi Yong Min)
President of Handeul Food Korea
Husband of Hyeonsuk and father of Haejun. A man like a sharp blade hidden in a soft tofu. Nicknamed as a ‘Bear-Fox’ since he maintains a very calculated policy not to make any enemy in his relationship with others. Naturally gifted with self-survival ability and skillful in discerning power structures around him. Some who don’t know him well say that he is humble, but those who know him well say he is cunning. Never easily lose himself and maintain himself tenderly and carefully, but there is a face of an evil man hidden in him even without the knowledge of his family.
Kangsan’s Mother (played by Lee Kan Hee)
Existing in the memories of Kangsan and Wooju. Sweet and tender-hearted. Always joyfully smiling and laughing like a teenage girl. Was so generous to the people as she was grown up as the only daughter of such a generous couple. Loved to tell her daughters about Kimchi stories like fairytale stories, but passed away 7 years ago due to a sudden stroke.
Na Eun Bi (played by Yoon Hee Soo)
A girl been abandoned by her parents and who becomes a family member in ‘Cheon Ji In’. Is quite pre-matured, probably due to environmental factor, lacking confidence and mostly depressed, but gradually recover her lovely ‘childishness’ through the process of being a member of the restaurant family. Has a very warm and deep heart and role as a catalyst to let the people around to re-discover their genuineness. Become the lovely mascot of the restaurant. A smart and cute girl closely following Hotae, as if he is her uncle, even though he is so blunt.
Mr. Seol (played by Lee Dae Keun)
A living-alone old man recently moved in to a very old apartment nearby the restaurant. Eats twice a day at the restaurant but often ask to put the bill on his tab. Peculiar in disposition and is doubtful for many things around. A very stingy person with lots of complaints. Exaggerates and boast himself a lot, and time to time troubles the restaurant people with excuses that he is sick here and there. Particularly keen to Hotae and complains him a lot, but gradually develop his friendship with Hotae over the series of events.
Cho Dae Sik (played by Choi Duk Moon)
Gangster No.2
Number 2 man of the Changhuni gangster group. Senior to Hotae. Clever and smart, and rather being realistic than just being loyal. Show off a lot in front of others, yet stammers badly in critical moments. Very timid and easily get hurt from conversations with younger ones. Always hated Hotae who the boss taken care of the most. Eagerly chasing after Hotae when he disappears after causing terrible problem in the group.
Kim Dong Su (played by Kim Sang Hoon)
Gangster
A member of Changhuni group. Junior to Hotae. Quick tempered but soft and innocent in heart. A child of old farmers couple in the country. Came to Seoul with a dream of changing his life successful but eventually became a gangster. Still dreams about the jack pot in his life and faithfully follows Hotae.
Han Pyeong Man (played by Kim Byung Choon)
Korean Medicine Doctor
A Korean medicine doctor, who is living alone, without his intention, after sending off his wife and children to Canada, according to the will of his wife. A person with warn and optimistic mind, always saying ‘It’s ok, it’s alright!’ Habitually jokes around with smiling face, and is a self-appointed healthy wine-lover. Respects Gichan as his own elder brother, and cares for Kangsan and Wooju as his own nieces. Not like what he looks like outwardly, he is a top graduated doctor from his school who contributes a lot for making number of healthy Kimchis by providing his professional knowledge as a Korean medicine doctor.
Jeong Geum Ju (played by Lee Il Hwa)
School Teacher of Eunbi
An unmarried old woman with keen characteristics who looks like a dormitory teacher. A stubborn principlist with no flexible mind. Never allows anybody to get into her private life as a result of living alone by herself for a long time. Don’t like to talk about any part of her private life. But, she is totally transformed to a completely talkative person that no one can stop as soon as her mouth is open! Occasionally visits ‘Cheon Ji In’ and eats there with the excuse of Eunbi’s issues, then gradually learns how to open her heart to others while realizing how lonely it is to eat alone and how valuable it is to live together with others.
Leave a Reply