This webdrama is the story of a young man named Kim Eun-Haeng (which means “bank” in Korean) and a young woman named Ha Cho-Co who team up, creating a business that blends their names with their talents – Choco Bank.
One day, while Eun-Haeng is out job hunting, he hears a man yelling for someone to stop the person who has stolen his bag. As the “thief” runs by Eun-Haeng he makes a quick decision to help the poor victim by tripping the thief and tossing the bag to the man who, in turn, makes a speedy get away in a taxi but not before hollering, “Thanks, Sis.!” Unbeknownst to good citizen Eun-Haeng he has just helped Ha Cho-Co’s brother run away with the rent money for her chocolate shop. She tells him since it’s his fault she can’t pay the rent, and since he doesn’t have a job, he needs to work for her until he has paid off the amount of money he helped her brother steal.
While Eun-Haeng is working for Ha Cho-Co he offers customers the service of free financial advice. It all started out innocently when he helped some women figure out how to pay their bill by using their smart phone. From there, things snowballed – people flocking into the shop for free advice about money and financial tutoring from a nice young man. While the customers wait for Eun-Haeng’s help, they order chocolate and it isn’t long before Ha Cho-Co’s business is on its way to being out of danger. Working so closely together, it’s no surprise Cho-Co begins to fall for her handsome, intelligent employee. But it’s not smooth sailing yet. What would happen to Choco Bank if Eun-Haeng decides to accept a job offered to him by a large financial institution?
Ha Cho-Co has wanted to own her own chocolate shop since she was a little girl and through perseverance her goal becomes a reality. However, that dream is now threatened because of her lack of money and clientele.
College graduate Kim Eun-Haeng has been trying to get a job at a bank for the past five years. He chooses to lie to his single mother and tell her he was finally hired by a prestigious bank. But lies usually find a way of coming to light.
The writer adds in two supporting characters, one male, one female, to give things a little spin in the romance department. Bae Dal-Sue is a young man who has dreamed of marrying a certain chocolatier since he was young. When he comes to the shop and meets Cho-Co’s handsome employee he decides to work there as well to make sure Eun-Haeng doesn’t muscle in on his romance territory. And then we have Hong Chae-Ri, a gal who wants to write an article about the interesting service Choco Bank offers its customers and ends up falling for its free financial advisor.
This webdrama doesn’t involve a mystery, there’s no action in it, no heartbreaking moments where you’ll be fighting back tears, no yummy kisses – but it does have warm characters that draw you into an original plot idea, and that’s enough to keep you going for six 14 minute episodes. In that short time we are given just enough character background to understand Eun-Haeng and Cho-Co and sincerely hope they succeed in their business and personal lives.
Kim Jong-In, better known to his fans as Kai, plays the male lead, Kim Eun-Haeng. Kai started his entertainment career as a member of the Kpop group EXO and its sub-group EXO-K. In 2012 he graduated from School of Performing Arts Seoul, an arts high school. Choco Bank is Kai’s acting debut. Although his acting skills need fine tuning, I think he’s off to a fine start.
Darling Han Cho-Co is played by Park Eun-Bin. She’s been in dramas, movies, and theater since she began acting at the young age of seven. Her first starring role was in the time travel fantasy love story Operation Proposal. It was the first thing I saw her in. I loved it and I loved her. I liked the drama’s main song and kept thinking the singer’s voice sounded just like the main actress. I was curious enough to find out who the performer was… BINGO. It was Eun-Bin. Am I good, or what?
Choco Bank aired the week of February 15th through the 21st and got a whopping 2,519,848 views. Although it hasn’t been my favorite webdrama this year (2016) it also hasn’t been my least favorite. The story is well written and the acting is fine. Put them together and you have a decently entertaining show.
The soundtrack,although small, is very good. There’s also not much to the scenery but Choco Bank is a cute and inviting place for the story to unfold. I would love to have been able to stroll in for some candy and a little advice about the best way to save money.
Got a free hour and a half? Well, grab a warm, gooey brownie or your favorite chocolate bar, kick back, and relax while watching the enjoyable webdrama Choco Bank.
Score: 6.5
The Good:
Talented Park Eun-Bin
Watching Kai’s acting debut
Original plot
Smooth storyline
The Bad:
Nothing I can think of
Heart and Seoul 