The Potato Lab

Kim Mi-kyung has spent a dozen years in the lab, quietly building expertise on a confidential potato research project when a new director arrives with an oddball style and no patience for routine. Their first meetings are all friction: she sticks to data and procedures, he pushes for bold moves and messy human instincts. Workplace rules and professional pride keep them at odds, but small shared moments and clashing personalities peel back defenses. The show follows how their rivalry softens into a careful, humor-tinged romance, while the rest of the team reacts, office politics chew at the edges, and the ethical stakes of secret research linger in the background without revealing any major twists.

Released in 2025, The Potato Lab was created by Kim Ho Soo and directed by Kang Il-soo, with Lee Sun-bin and Kang Tae-oh leading an ensemble that includes Lee Hak-ju, Kim Ga-eun, and Shin Hyeon-seung.

As of its initial run, The Potato Lab had not received major industry awards or big festival prizes, though viewers and reviewers have taken note of its fresh tone.

The series stands out because it centers on an uncommon workplace, a research lab, and treats scientific work as a setting for everyday comedy and quiet drama. Its blend of professional detail and personal moments has made it a frequent topic among viewers who like offbeat rom-coms set at work.

Critics and audiences give it generally positive marks, reflected in a 7.731/10 score from early votes. Reviewers tend to highlight the leads' chemistry, the script's knack for mixing light humor with sincere emotional beats, and the way the show balances respect for research with the absurdities of office life. Major themes include the tension between data-driven caution and improvisation, the cost of secrecy, and how trust can grow where least expected.