The drama starts really slow, so if you are not sure you like it in the beginning, please  continue watching it!

You will regret not watching it, as this drama is very unique, and there is no way you will predict the craziness will unfold from only the first two episodes.

They don’t want you hooked on the first episode, they didn’t cramp everything in, it shows a fresh way of telling a story.

It’s brilliantness lies in focusing on simple, mundane activities and heavily on its characters.

I really hope it is a new trend in dramas to write plain characters with a lot of dimension and give the actors time and space to develop them.

This drama has an incredible cast of talented actors, from main to the supporting ones. And all of them showed us a dynamic portrait of real life like character. 

The storyline is unique and enjoyable.

I 100% recommend it. 

Official trailer on KBS2

Synopsis

This drama tells the story of Dong Baek (Gong Hyo Jin), owner of a bar named Camellia, whose life changes after she encounters three men including a good man, a bad man and a cheap man.

Cast

Gong Hyo Jin as Dong Baek
Kang Ha Neul as Hwang Yong Sik
Son Dam Bi as Hyang Mi
Kim Ji Suk as Kang Jong Ryool
Kim Kang Hoon as Dong Baek’s son
– Jung Ga Ram as Pil Goo (teen)
Lee Jung Eun as Dong Baek’s mother
Ji Yi Soo as Jessica / Park Sang Mi
Oh Jung Se as Noh Kyu Tae
Yum Hye Ran as Hong Ja Young
Go Doo Shim as Kwak Duk Soon
Jun Bae Soo as Byun Bae Soo

Go Doo Shim as Duk Soon
Lee Sang Yi as Yang Seung Yeob
Yum Hye Ran as Hong Ja Young

Kim Sun Young as Park Chan Sook
Kim Dong Hyun as Song Jin Bae
Kim Mi Hwa as Kim Jae Young
Lee Sun Hee as Jung Gwi Ryun
Han Ye Joo (한예주) as Jo Ae Jung
Lee Sang Yi as Yang Seung Yeob
Kim Mo Ah (김모아) as Yang Seung Hee
Baek Hyun Joo as Oh Ji Hyuna
Lee Joong Yul (이중열) as Han Tae Hee
Jin Yong Wook (진용욱) as Choi Jong Rok
Lee Kyu Sung as Park Heung Shik
Carson (카슨) as Helena

Lee Jae Woo as Kwon Oh Joon
Park Yun Woo (박연우) as Park Sung Min

Hwang Young Hee as Lee Hwa Ja (Jessica’s mother)
Jun Gook Hyang (전국향) as Hong Eun Shil (Kyu Tae’s Mother)
Yoo Yun (유연) as reporter
Kim Ki Chun as Park Man Sup
Choi Dae Chul as Hwang Kyu Shik (ep 26, Yong Shik’s eldest brother)
In Gyo Jin as Hwang Doo Shik (ep 26, Yong Shik’s second brother)
Son Jong Hak as Police Chief
Kim Dae Gon as Shaman performing funeral (flashback scene) (ep.14)
Lee Shi Won as Mi Yun

Production credit

Director Cha Young Hoon
Screenwriter Im Sang Choon
Broadcast network KBS2
Broadcast period 2019 September – November

Awards

2019 KBS Drama Awards: Daesang – Gong Hyo Jin (When the Camellia Blooms)
2019 KBS Drama Awards: Top Excellence Actor – Yoo Joon Sang (Live or Die) & Kang Ha Neul (When the Camellia Blooms)
2019 KBS Drama Awards: Excellence Actress (Medium Series) – Lee Jung Eun (When the Camellia Blooms) & Lee Si Young (Live or Die)
2019 KBS Drama Awards: Excellence Actor (Medium Series) – Kim Ji Suk (When the Camellia Blooms) & Choi Si Won (My Fellow Citizens)
2019 KBS Drama Awards: Netizen Awards – Kang Ha Neul (When the Camellia Blooms)
2019 KBS Drama Awards: Best Supporting Actor (Medium Series) – Oh Jung Se (When the Camellia Blooms)
2019 KBS Drama Awards: Best Supporting Actress (Medium Series) – Shin Dong Mi (Live or Die) & Yum Hye Ran (When the Camellia Blooms)
2019 KBS Drama Awards: Best Couple Awards – Kang Ha Neul & Gong Hyo Jin (When the Camellia Blooms)
2019 KBS Drama Awards: Best Couple Awards – Oh Jung Se & Yum Hye Ran (When the Camellia Blooms)
2019 KBS Drama Awards: Rookie Awards (Actress) – Kwon Nara (Doctor Prisoner) & Son Dam Bi (When the Camellia Blooms)
2019 KBS Drama Awards: Best Child Actor – Kim Kang Hoon (When the Camellia Blooms)
2019 KBS Drama Awards: Best Screenwriter Award – Im Sang Choon (When the Camellia Blooms)