4 Reasons Why ‘Unexpected Business’ is a Must-Watch Relaxing Series

Unexpected Business is one of the star-studded variety shows out there.

With its healing and reality narrative, the two stars, Cha Tae Hyun and Jo In Sung, are tasked with running a convenience store and supermarket by themselves in a provincial village away from Seoul.

The top stars have two main tasks: tend the register and serve meals during lunch and dinner.

1. Star-studded casts + star-studded guests!

The main cast of this program is none other than Cha Tae Hyun and Jo In Sung. Both stars are remarkably known for their amazing acting skills! Cha Tae Hyun had his fair share of variety, with his best stint in 2 Days & 1 Night from 2012 to 2019. Jo In Sung, on the other hand, marks this program as his first variety show.

Due to their stardom, the two casts were able to invite some of their popular friends to help run their stores in seasons one and two. Park Bo Young, Nam Joo Hyuk, Lee Byung Eun, and Yoon Si Yoon are some of the guests for the first season. 

Meanwhile, the second season brings in Lee Kwang Soo, Lim Ju Hwan, Kim Hye Soo, and Kim Woo Bin as some of the most anticipated guests.

2. Their connection with village people

The series’ set-up is basically that you’re watching your favorite stars run a convenience store and serve lunch and dinner meals. Their customers, on the other hand, were all villagers from all walks of life! It’s pretty refreshing to catch the cast having some small talk with the people. They talk about random and trivial things, making it more raw and authentic to watch. 

The stars were also well accommodated by the villagers. In an episode of season one, In Sung went fishing with Nam Joo Hyuk and Park Byung Eun. In Sung wasn’t able to fish properly due to seasickness, but luckily, the people around them helped! They were able to get close to the villagers despite their short stay.

In season two, In Sung and Tae Hyun volunteered to open the clinic across from their shop so the passengers who awaited the bus could stay there to beat the cold winter breeze. 

3. A little business running overview

The series is indeed all about running and managing a business. So, viewers are expected to catch Cha Tae Hyun and Jo In Sung flexing their storefronting and business skills. From replenishing their stocks to manning the cashier and doing the daily inventory, the guys didn’t disappoint.

They even tried their best to create unique meals during lunch and dinner times to generate more income. For example, In Sung’s seafood ramyeon is considered a favorite, followed by his fishcake udon and deep-fried prawns. During the second season, their workload increases as they have to run a meat shop inside the store. Tae-hyun was able to showcase some of his butching skills here! 

Tae-hyun and In-sung were both hands-on in running the businesses, as they even went the extra mile to do deliveries or even interact with their customers whenever they could. Viewers can also gain some insights into how running a business can be challenging yet rewarding.

4. Heartwarming moments

The series was set during the cold season. Despite the cold weather, the cast received a warm welcome and treatment from their customers. They encountered various stories throughout the two seasons that moved both Tae-hyun and In Sung.

One of the striking stories to remember is when a father and son decided to take a break at the store to have a meal together. The father and son mentioned that it’s rare for them to share a meal together due to their work, but thanks to Tae-hyun and In Sung, they got that opportunity.

Another is when an elderly lady stops by the shop to wait for her bus, and chats with In Sung to share that a group of celebrities was shooting in town. Not knowing that she’s speaking to those celebrities herself! It might be funny, but I loved how In Sung and the rest of the crew didn’t reveal themselves and chatted with the woman like their popularity was no big deal.

Providing fun, comfort, and relaxation to its viewers

To conclude, this variety series is definitely for people who want to take a break from a very busy life. It may not be as funny as the other shows out there, but the chemistry between Tae-hyun, In Sung, and their part-timers blended with each other! 

Seeing these celebrities in their unfiltered state is incredibly refreshing, especially when they lend their ears to their customers. Some of the advice they’ve given is not only applicable to the customer at that moment but can be helpful to the viewers too. And the thoughts of the people who’ve been through the store can be life lessons for the viewers as well.

Ready to have a relaxing time running a business with Tae-hyun and In Sung?

Stream Unexpected Business 2 available on Viu here.