Squid Game Star Shines in Netflix’s Latest Romantic Thriller – Watch Tonight!

Oh Dong-baek (Kong Hyo-jin) is a single mother living in the fictional small town of Ongsan, where she runs a bar named Camellia. An orphan herself, she balances caring for her son Pil-gu (Kim Kang-hoon), managing her bustling establishment frequented by numerous men, and dealing with the town’s gossip about her.

Young police officer Hwang Yong-sik (Kang Ha-neul) is not bothered by the rumors and is deeply in love with her. Meanwhile, Dong-baek’s ex-boyfriend and the absent father of her son, Kang Jong-ryeol (Kim Ji-suk), suddenly reappears in her life.

As Dong-baek seeks happiness and tries to thrive, Yong-sik faces a sinister threat lurking in the background of this seemingly idyllic setting: a serial killer is on the prowl in Ongsan and Dong-baek may be his next target…

First aired on the local channel KBS2, “When the Camellia Blooms” became the most-watched drama mini-series in 2019. According to Nielsen Korea, it also ranked second in viewership that year among drama series, just behind SBS’s “The Fiery Priest.” It wasn’t long before it gained international acclaim on Netflix.

And what a success it was! The series has been widely praised by critics and audiences alike for its production quality and the stellar performances of its cast, led by Kong Hyo-jin (or Gong Hyo-jin in some phonetic translations) and Kang Ha-neul, known to many as Dae-ho from season 2 of “Squid Game.” The show also received positive reviews for its realistic plot and unique blend of genres, from charming romantic comedy to dark thriller, all set in an idyllic yet imperfect backdrop.

Following its success, “When the Camellia Blooms” garnered 10 nominations at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards, securing 4 awards: the Grand Prize (or Daesang), Best Screenplay, Best Actor for Kang Ha-neul, and Best Supporting Actor for Oh Jung-se. It also claimed numerous awards at the KBS Drama Awards 2019, including the Grand Prize for Kong Hyo-jin, who was also named Best Actress at the Seoul International Drama Awards in 2020. The series was also voted Best Asian Drama Series at the prestigious Busan International Film Festival.

• Interested in discovering another wildly popular K-Drama on Netflix? Here’s one that also masterfully mixes romance and thriller with success—and features the notorious villain from Squid Game!

So, it’s a hit: a romantic comedy that is touching, mysterious, and full of suspense, uniquely original and thoroughly gripping right up to its conclusion. Perfect for binge-watching!

“When the Camellia Blooms,” created by Im Sang-choon, starring Kong Hyo-jin, Kang Ha-neul, Oh Jeong-se…

1 season available on Netflix.

Check out the series trailer below: