'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Motel California, an MBC drama starring Lee Se-young and Na In-woo, premiered on January 10, 2025. Directed by Kim Hyung-min and written by Lee Seo-yoon, the 12-episode series airs Fridays and Saturdays at 9:50 p.m. KST.
The story follows Ji Kang-hee, who returns to her hometown after 12 years and reconnects with her first love, Cheon Yeon-soo, now a village veterinarian. Growing up at Motel California, Kang-hee faced gossip due to her mixed-race heritage and family struggles. After leaving at 20 to succeed as an interior designer in Seoul, her return brings unresolved emotions and challenges.
In the first episode of Motel California, Kang-hee leaves behind her life in her hometown to go to Seoul. However, as things take a turn for the worse, she faces difficulties keeping her job as an interior designer. Meanwhile, Yeon-soo has been looking for her ever since she left.
Trending
Motel California episode 1 recap: Kang-hee meets Yeon-soo after ten years
The first episode of Motel California began with a group of kids playing during a storm. When thunder struck a child from another group, the rest laughed.
In 2013, on New Year's Eve, Kang-hee's father, Chun-pil, gave an envelope of money to her friend Yeon-soo, asking him to pass it to Kang-hee before she left for Seoul. As Yeon-soo headed to meet his friends, Kang-hee called to say goodbye, vowing never to return to Motel California.
Yeon-soo rushed to the motel and found Kang-hee sitting in the dark due to an unpaid electricity bill. She revealed that Chun-pil likely spent the money on some mines and showed Yeon-soo a giant teddy bear her father had bought instead.
Annoyed by her father’s choices, Kang-hee admitted the bear was cozy and jokingly called Yeon-soo "teddy bear." She surprised him by asking him to sleep with her, reminding him of the motel’s free condoms.
She told Yeon-soo she wanted to be his first because the first time is the purest. After kissing him, he asked if she would stay if he agreed, but she refused, saying she wanted to go somewhere she wouldn’t be judged for being different. They undressed and kissed passionately.
As they dressed, Yeon-soo handed Kang-hee an envelope from Chun-pil, which included a humorous note about using birth control. She laughed, and Yeon-soo took her to the station. Before leaving, she asked him to sell a teddy bear and care for her cat and kittens.
In 2023, Yeon-soo became a veterinarian, while Kang-hee worked in construction. After arguing with her manager, Kang-hee quit her job. Before leaving, she shared advice with a new worker about staying safe on the job.
However, the worker turned out to be Hwang Jeong-gu, the site supervisor, who discovered Kang-hee had been an interior designer. Jeong-gu offered her a job at Moment, but Kang-hee refused, assuming it was due to being blacklisted after exposing her previous company for unpaid wages. Jeong-gu reassured her and encouraged her to trust her.
When she showed up at Moment to meet the director, the receptionist badmouthed her while being on a call. Annoyed, she left from there but imagined Yeon-soo staring at her for the wrong decision and decided to go back.
In a flashback, Yeon-soo was shown cheering up a sad Kang-hee. Remembering this, Kang-hee put on her makeup and returned to the office. She snapped at the receptionist before entering the director's office, where Jeong-gu was practicing boxing.
After reviewing Kang-hee's portfolio, Jeong-gu helped her secure an internship. When Kang-hee asked why she was helping, Jeong-gu explained that she was simply repaying her kindness from their first meeting.
As usual, Yeon-soo traveled to Seoul on his day off, hoping to see Kang-hee. Meanwhile, Jeong-gu supported Kang-hee when she was overlooked and ignored as an intern. During a client meeting, Kang-hee suggested meeting the newlyweds to better conceptualize the interior design. The client liked the idea, and since her boss was unavailable, Kang-hee decided to meet them herself.
At a café, while discussing ideas with the client, Yeon-soo spotted Kang-hee. Shocked, he lost track of her. The newlyweds soon arrived, and after a brief argument with the client, Seok-kyung, the bride, joined the consultation. She was impressed with Kang-hee's ideas.
Kang-hee worked tirelessly, day and night, to design the space. However, Mr. Mok dismissed her efforts and fired her, citing her lack of a degree from a prestigious university.
After looking at Kang-hee's designs, Jeong-gu tried to get her design put into the presentation. Mr. Mok called Kang-hee's design a B-grade design when she went to greet him and she snapped at him calling out all his malpractices. She yelled at him to get out of her life and left in the first episode of Motel California.
She imagined walking past Yeon-soo as she left. She remembered Yeon-soo trying to catch and eat the first snow ten times to be able to marry her when they were kids. As it snowed, Yeon-soo again tried to do the same thing. Yeon-soo was called to meet his grandfather, who was drawing his last breath in the hospital.
Chun-pil took on the role of the Chief Mourner and the guests wondered if Kang-hee would show up. Everyone was surprised when Kang-hee showed up. Yeon-soo went and hugged her. Unable to recognise him at first, Kang-hee recognised his voice as the first episode of Motel California ended.
The next episode of Motel California is scheduled to be released on January 11.
