K-Drama ‘One Day Off’ Is About Wandering And Wondering What Matters

At only eight short episodes One Day Off is a day-binge of a k-drama in which Lee Na-young takes viewers to some interesting places. While viewers may be tempted to binge this drama, they may also want to savor it, one short but eloquent episode at a time. The trips taken by Lee’s character Park Ha-kyung are less about the places she goes to and more about the people she meets there and the connections she makes.

Ha-kyung is fond of one-day trips, wandering around various destinations, eating different food and meeting people. Some of the people she meets are strangers and at other times she reconnects with people from her past. From Buddhist temples to art exhibits to film festivals, Ha-kyung searches for something that’s absent from her humdrum life of teaching Korean literature to high school students. Her class can feel her disconnect with work, her yearning for something else, and they often tune out during her daily lessons.

Ha-kyung seeks something on her wanderings, but what exactly is she looking for? A new direction? The reassurance that she’s made the right choices? Each episode provides Ha-kyung with a new perspective and offers viewers some insight into an endearing character.

Some of the people Ha-kyung meets on her wanderings are played by actors that include Seo Hyun-woo, Han ye-ri, Koo Gyo-hwan and Park In-hwan. At first each of her encounters seems superficial, but as the stories progress, Ha-kyung finds a deeper connection with many of those she encounters, learning about peace, friendship, creativity and love.

Lee Na-young was well cast in this role because it’s easy to imagine the actress confidently exploring what she’s most curious about. Lee previously appeared in the TV drama Romance Is A Bonus Book with Lee Jong-suk, and in the 2018 film Beautiful Days. Seo can be seen this year in the drama Uncle Sam Shik and previously appeared in Behind Every Star. Han Ye-ri appeared in the dramas Nokdu Flower and Hometown and in the film Secret Zoo. Koo Gyo-hwan appeared in the film Kill Boksoon with Jeon Do-yeon, the series Parasyte Gray and D.P. Season 2. Park In-hwan can be seen in the TV dramas Lost and Navillera.

One Day Off is written by Son Mi, who wrote the film Samjin Company: English Class, which won Best Film at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards. The drama is directed by Lee Jong-pil who directed Samjin Company: English Class, as well as The Sound of A Flower, a film about pansori, starring Suzy Bae.

One Day Off airs on Viki.com in the US.