Romance Is a Bonus Book

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Romance Is a Bonus Book
Promotional poster
Also known as
  • Romance Is a Supplement
  • How to Publish Love
Hangul
로맨스는 별책부록
Revised RomanizationRomaenseuneun Byeolchaekburok
GenreRomantic comedy
Created byStudio Dragon
Written byJung Hyun-jung
Directed byLee Jeong-hyo
Starring
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes16
Production
Executive producerHwang Jee-woo
Camera setupSingle camera
Production companyStory & Pictures Media
Original release
NetworktvN
ReleaseJanuary 26 (2019-01-26) –
March 17, 2019 (2019-03-17)

Romance Is a Bonus Book[1] (Korean로맨스는 별책부록) is a 2019 South Korean television series starring Lee Na-young and Lee Jong-suk.[2][3] It aired from January 26 to March 17, 2019 on tvN.[4][5][6]

Synopsis[edit]

Cha Eun-ho is a successful author and a chief editor at a book publishing company. Kang Dan-i is a mother and former successful advertising copywriter. When Cha Eun-ho was a child, Kang Dan-i saved him from an accident and was injured. Kang Dan-i had Cha Eun-ho help her while she was recuperating in hospital and later on bedrest for one year. By helping her acquire books to read from the library, Cha Eun-ho himself became interested in writing. The two youngsters stayed close friends well into adulthood. However, their friendship was strained after Kang Dan-i started dating a selfish, inconsiderate man. Although he disapproved of her choice in a partner, and she too expressed doubt at times, Kang Dan-i stands by her decision to marry this man.

Now in the present, Cha Eun-ho enlists Kang Dan-i to help him find a housekeeper - but he has no idea Kang Dan-i is the one doing the work and taking payment. Her husband has cheated on her, and she is now divorced and unemployed, but he is also unaware of her living situation and the hardships she is facing as a divorced single mother with a large gap in work experience trying to re-enter the professional world. Eventually Kang Dan-i is no longer able to keep her secrets from him, and Cha Eun-ho lends her a helping hand. Their lives become even more intertwined when Kang Dan-i applies to be a temporary task support worker at his publishing company. Although Cha Eun-ho is initially worried about how she will perform, Kang Dan-i surprises him and other senior executives with her creativity and hard work.

The rest of the series is about the personal and professional challenges they face as they slowly start to realize their true feelings for each other and navigate this next stage of their lives.

Cast[edit]

Main characters[edit]

A former advertising copywriter and a current unemployed divorcee who later joins the publishing company as a temporary task support team member.
A successful writer who is also the publishing company's youngest editor-in-chief. He is a long-time friend of Kang Dan-i and harbours romantic feelings for her.
The Lead Content Development Editor and trainer of the new recruits, including Kang Dan-i. She has long-standing feelings for Cha Eun-ho, her former trainer, but he does not reciprocate those feelings.
A freelance book designer the publishing company is looking to hire, who also happened to cross paths with Kang Dan-i and later develops feelings for her. He and Cha Eun-ho have a turbulent relationship related to the conspiracy behind famous author Kang Byeong-jun's retirement and their feelings for Kang Dan-i.

Supporting characters[edit]

People at the publishing company[edit]

  • Kim Tae-woo as CEO Kim Jae-min.[12] He is a bit over-eager, but an overall well-meaning boss.
  • Kim Yoo-mi as Director Go Yoo-sun.[13] She discourages Kang Dan-i's efforts to become a part of the marketing team and keeps her busy with menial tasks around the office.
  • Jo Han-chul as Bong Ji-hong.[14] He is married to Seo Young-ah.
  • Kim Sun-young as Seo Young-ah the marketing team manager who is married to Bong Ji-hong.
  • Kang Ki-doong as Park Hoon, a talkative and eager-to-please new recruit on the marketing team.
  • Park Gyu-young as Oh Ji-yool,[15] a superficial and spoiled new recruit on the editorial team, with an overbearing mother.
  • Lee Kwan-hoon as Lee Seung-jin
  • Choi Seung-yoon as Bae Kwang-soo[16]
  • Lee Ha-eun as Chae Song-ee

Others[edit]

Production[edit]

The first script reading was held on October 26, 2018 with the attendance of the cast and crew.[17][18]

This series marks Lee Na-young's return to small screen after nine years [19]

On January 21, 2019, a press conference was held to promote the series with the attendance of lead cast.[20][21]

Lee Jong-suk finished filming his scenes for the series on February 27, 2019 due to his military service enlistment on March 8.[22]

Original soundtrack[edit]

Romance Is a Bonus Book OST
Soundtrack album by
Various artists
Recorded2019
GenreSoundtrack
Language
LabelKakao M

Part 1[edit]

Released on February 3, 2019 (2019-02-03)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Take My Hand" (나는 볼 수 없던 이야기)Choi Jung-hoon
  • Choi Jung-hoon
  • Kim Do-hyung
  • Yoo Young-hyun
Jannabi3:46
2."Take My Hand" (Inst.) 
  • Choi Jung-hoon
  • Kim Do-hyung
  • Yoo Young-hyun
 3:46
Total length:7:32

Part 2[edit]

Released on February 10, 2019 (2019-02-10)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Rainbow" (레인보우)
  • Nam Hye-seung
  • Park Jin-ho
  • Nam Hye-seung
  • Surf Green
  • Park Min-joo
Rothy3:31
2."Rainbow" (Inst.) 
  • Nam Hye-seung
  • Surf Green
  • Park Min-joo
 3:31
Total length:7:02

Part 3[edit]

Released on February 17, 2019 (2019-02-17)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."All I Do" (그대만 떠올라)
  • Nam Hye-seung
  • Park Jin-ho
Roy Kim4:26
2."All I Do" (Inst.) 
  • Nam Hye-seung
  • Park Jin-ho
 4:26
Total length:8:52

Part 4[edit]

Released on February 24, 2019 (2019-02-24)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."I Pray"
  • Nam Hye-seung
  • Park Jin-ho
  • Nam Hye-seung
  • Surf Green
Motte3:51
2."I Pray" (Inst.) 
  • Nam Hye-seung
  • Surf Green
 3:51
Total length:7:42

Part 5[edit]

Released on March 3, 2019 (2019-03-03)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Some Day" (어떤 날)The Black SkirtsThe Black SkirtsThe Black Skirts4:06
2."Some Day" (Inst.) The Black Skirts 4:06
Total length:8:12

Part 6[edit]

Released on March 9, 2019 (2019-03-09)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."A Book Of You" (너라는 책)Nam Hye-seung, Park Jin-ho1601Son Ho-young (g.o.d)3:51
2."A Book Of You" (Inst.) 1601 3:51
Total length:7:42

Part 7[edit]

Released on March 10, 2019 (2019-03-10)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Close I'll Be" (너의 모든 기억속에)Nam Hye-seung, Park Jin-hoKim Se-jin, MidnightKim Na-young3:26
2."Close I'll Be" (Inst.) Kim Se-jin, Midnight 3:26
Total length:6:52

Part 8[edit]

Released on March 16, 2019 (2019-03-16)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Happy End"Nam Hye-seung, Surf GreenNam Hye-seung, Surf GreenSAya, Kim Ki-won3:51
2."You're Beautiful"Nam Hye-seung, JELLO ANNNam Hye-seung, Park Sang-heeWill Bug2:36
3."Walking On Sunshine"Nam Hye-seung, Surf GreenNam Hye-seung, Surf GreenSAya3:11
Total length:9:38
Disc 2:
No.TitleArtistLength
1."Romance is Supplement" (Opening Title)Various Artists0:44
2."A Warm Book"Various Artists3:58
3."Dan yi and Eun ho's story"Various Artists1:22
4."Dan yi's Room"Various Artists1:17
5."Eun ho's Whisper 1"Various Artists1:34
6."Eun ho's Whisper 2"Various Artists1:35
7."Funny publisher 'Gyeoroo'"Various Artists1:57
8."I know Kang Dang-yi"Various Artists1:31
9."Lovely Couples"Various Artists1:11
10."The Romance"Various Artists2:41
11."Today too fighting"Various Artists2:32
12."Where are my shoes?"Various Artists1:18
13."We on snow day"Various Artists1:49

Viewership[edit]

Romance Is a Bonus Book : South Korea viewers per episode (millions)
SeasonEpisode numberAverage
12345678910111213141516
11.1041.0531.0511.1011.1561.2901.1671.302N/A1.5001.2611.3581.3361.5791.2951.687N/A
Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Media Research.[23]
Average TV viewership ratings
Ep. Original broadcast date Title Average audience share
(AGB Nielsen)[24][25]
Nationwide Seoul
1 January 26, 2019 A Big Sister I Know, Kang Dan-i
(아는누나, 강단이)
4.280% 4.937%
2 January 27, 2019 You Were Hiding In My House?
(우리 집에 숨어 살았어?)
4.420% 5.466%
3 February 2, 2019 People Calling Me By My Name
(사람들이 내 이름을 불러)
4.385% 5.355%
4 February 3, 2019 Everybody Turn Their Backs On Me
(모든 이들이 내게 등을 돌려도)
4.256% 5.155%
5 February 9, 2019 I'm Curious Too, About My Feelings
(나도 궁금해, 내 마음이)
4.436% 5.601%
6 February 10, 2019 I Think I Already Knew It From The Beginning
(이미 안다고 생각하는 것도 다시 처음부터)
5.064% 6.468%
7 February 16, 2019 Tell Him I'm Waiting Here
(나 여기서 기다린다고 전해줘요)
4.962% 6.073%
8 February 17, 2019 The Hot Touch Was A Dream
(그 뜨거운 손길은 꿈이었을까)
5.378% 6.857%
9 February 23, 2019 That Old Book Is Like The First Time Reading
(그 오래된 책이 마치 처음 읽는 책처럼)
5.8%
10 February 24, 2019 There Are Days Like This
(가 끔 오늘 같은 날이 있어)
5.822% 7.139%
11 March 2, 2019 We Have To Be Together, Why Do You Want To Break Up?
(같이 있을 생각을 해야지, 왜 헤어질 생각을 해?)
5.029% 5.963%
12 March 3, 2019 How About A Title For Your First Date?
(제목으로 첫 데이트는 어때?)
5.238% 6.396%
13 March 9, 2019 Did It Hurt Because Of Me?
(나 때문에 마음 아팠지?)
5.329% 6.336%
14 March 10, 2019 You Know Me, Right?
(너는 나를 다 알지?)
6.345% 7.753%
15 March 16, 2019 I Should Have Known If You Didn't Say Anything...
(네가 말하지 않았어도 알았어야 했는데...)
5.018% 6.166%
16 March 17, 2019 As If I Had Met You In a Book and Received Warm Comfort..
(내가 너라는 책을 만나 따뜻한 위로를 받았듯이..)
6.651% 8.177%
Average 5.151% [a]
  • In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
  • N/A denotes that the rating is not known.
  • This drama aired on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC and EBS).

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
2019 55th Baeksang Arts Awards Best New Actor Wi Ha-joon Nominated [26]
21st Mnet Asian Music Awards Best OST "Take My Hand" (Jannabi) Nominated [27]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Due to some ratings not recorded, the exact average rating is unknown.

References[edit]

  1. ^ ROMANCE IS A BONUS BOOK [티저] 그렇게 우리의 새로운 챕터가 시작되었다! (이나영 Voice) 로맨스는 별책부록 190126 EP.0. YouTube (in Korean). tvN Drama. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  2. ^ Dong Sun-hwa (15 October 2018). "Lee Jong-suk, Lee Na-young to star in upcoming drama". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  3. ^ "9년 만에 드라마 복귀"..이나영 '로맨스는 별책부록' 확정, 이종석과 호흡. Korea Kyungje (in Korean). 15 October 2018. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  4. ^ "Lee Na-young and Lee Jong-suk to show romance in publishing industry in new rom-com". Kpop Herald. 21 January 2019. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Lee Na-young to Appear in Rom-Com Series with Lee Jong-suk". The Chosun Ilbo. 22 January 2019. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  6. ^ "'Romance Is A Bonus Book' popular on online platforms". The Korea Times. February 22, 2018. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  7. ^ "Lee Na-young returns to small screen with rom-com after 9 years". Kpop Herald. 15 October 2018. Archived from the original on 15 October 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  8. ^ "Lee Jong-suk cast for new tvN series set to air early next year". Yonhap News Agency. September 28, 2018. Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  9. ^ "Lee Jong-suk to star in tvN rom-com". Kpop Herald. September 28, 2018. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  10. ^ Yoo Cheong-hee (November 2, 2018). "배우 정유진, tvN '로맨스는 별책부록' 캐스팅…출중한 편집자 役". TenAsia (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  11. ^ "위하준, '로맨스는 별책부록' 출연…이나영X이종석과 호흡[공식]". Sports Seoul (in Korean). November 12, 2018. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  12. ^ Baek Ji-eun (October 30, 2018). [단독] 김태우, '로맨스별책부록' 출연확정…이종석과 브로맨스. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  13. ^ Myung Hee-sook (October 24, 2018). 김유미, '로맨스는 별책부록' 확정 '4년만의 복귀작' [공식]. My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 14, 2018. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  14. ^ 조한철, ‘로맨스는 별책부록’ 출연확정…이종석·이나영과 호흡 [공식입장]. Sports Donga (in Korean). November 9, 2018. Archived from the original on January 22, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  15. ^ "박규영, '로맨스는 별책부록' 출연확정..이나영X이종석과 호흡[공식입장]". Osen (in Korean). November 12, 2018. Archived from the original on January 27, 2019. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  16. ^ 최승윤, '로맨스는 별책부록' 캐스팅… '악역 벗고 순한 이미지로 등장!'. Maeil (in Korean). January 22, 2019. Archived from the original on January 27, 2019. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  17. ^ "'로맨스는 별책부록' 이나영X이종석, 첫 만남부터 꿀케미 터진 대본 리딩 현장". SE Daily (in Korean). 13 November 2018. Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  18. ^ Park Soo-in (13 November 2018). "'로맨스는 별책부록' 이나영X이종석, 대본리딩부터 이렇게 설렐 줄은". Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  19. ^ Yoon Hyo-jung (15 October 2018). [공식입장] 이나영, 이종석과 로코 '별책부록' 확정…9년만에 안방복귀. News1 Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on 13 November 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  20. ^ Myung-hee Sook (21 January 2019). '로맨스는 별책부록' 이종석 "올해 입대 예정, 팬들 위해 첫 로코 도전". My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  21. ^ '로맨스는 별책부록' 이종석 "이나영과 호홉, 난 성공한 팬". Sports Chosun (in Korean). 21 January 2019. Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  22. ^ [공식입장] 이종석, 3월8일 대체복무 "성실히 의무 다할것". Naver (in Korean). News1 Korea. 26 February 2019. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  23. ^ "Nielsen Korea". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 14, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  24. ^ "Nielsen Korea". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  25. ^ "Nielsen Korea". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  26. ^ Yoo, Chung-hee (April 4, 2019). "김서형·염정아·김혜자 등 '백상예술대상' TV부문 최종 후보 공개". Ten Asia (in Korean). Naver. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  27. ^ "2019 MAMA' Unveils Official Nominees, Check the List and Voting Here" (in Korean). Business Times. October 26, 2019. Archived from the original on November 4, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2019.

External links[edit]