Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency (Korean: 꽃파당: 조선혼담공작소) is a 2019 South Korean television series starring Kim Min-jae, Gong Seung-yeon, Seo Ji-hoon, Park Ji-hoon, Byeon Woo-seok, and Go Won-hee. It is based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Kim Yi-rang who also wrote the series. It aired on JTBC's Mondays and Tuesdays at 21:30 (KST) from September 16 to November 5, 2019.
Synopsis
Ma Hoon, Young-soo, and Do Joon are Joseon's most successful marriage agency, the Flower Crew, and their 90 percent success rate has given them local fame despite the fact that, unusually, they are all men. Young-soo has impeccable taste in clothes and other wedding accoutrements and Do Joon is an information broker who learns every rumor, but the biggest contributor to their success is Ma Hoon's skills of observation and thorough research into prospective spouses.
A young blacksmith named Soo asks them to send a formal marriage proposal to Gae-ttong, the resourceful street girl who has won his heart. Even though their station as commoners means they don't need a formal intermediary, Soo insists because he loves and respects Gae-ttong so much. Gae-ttong is more interested in finding her missing brother, from whom she was separated when they were children, but she agrees to marry Soo because she and Soo have always supported and been kind to one another.
Unbeknownst to Soo, he is really a younger son of the now-dying King of Joseon, sent away so he could have a normal life. When the crown prince is assassinated, one of the king's councilors has Soo kidnapped and brought to the palace on what would have been his and Gae-ttong's wedding day. This makes it look like Soo abandoned his bride, leaving the Flower Crew with the wedding bills to pay and a damaged reputation. The Flower Crew gives Gae-ttong a job as their sole female employee, and she works with them to repair their business while Soo finds his way as king, and various parties investigate the crown prince's death.
The season covers several plotlines:
Soo adjusting to his new role as a king and his wish to reunite with Gae-ttong.
Growing romance between Ma Hoon and Gae-ttong.
Gae-ttong learning manners and refinement so that she can blend in with the high-ranking yangban women.
The mystery behind the assassination of the crown prince.
Gae-ttong's search for her brother, from whom she was separated when they attempted to escape slavery years earlier.
Ma Hoon and Do Joon's relationships with their estranged fathers.
The plots of two of Soo's councilors and their factions.
Young-soo's secret past as a baekjeong and criminal.
Cast
Main
Kim Min-jae as Ma Hoon
Choi Seung-hoon as young Ma Hoon
The silent and cold founder of Flower Crew. Known as the most intelligent and handsome man in Hanyang, he is also the leader and the best matchmaker of the crew.
Gong Seung-yeon as Gae-ttong / Yoon Soo-yun
Lee Go-eun as young Gae-ttong
Lee Soo's first love. She has a stubborn personality and does many jobs to survive and to find her long-lost brother, from whom she was separated when they attempted to escape enslavement as children. She eventually joins Flower Crew to repay her marriage debt. She must keep her history as a runaway a secret.
Seo Ji-hoon as Lee Soo
Cha Sung-je as young Lee Soo
A 23-year-old humble blacksmith who is in love with Gae-ttong. He gets captured on his wedding day and learns that he is to be the new king of Joseon.
Park Ji-hoon as Go Young-soo / Chil-nom
A fashionable young man whose skills with clothes and makeup make him an asset to the Flower Crew, as he can turn any bride into a beauty. His fashion choices quickly become trends. He changed his name to escape his past as a baekjeong accused of a terrible crime.
Byeon Woo-seok as Do Joon
Lee Seung-woo as young Do Joon
The Flower Crew's informant. Due to his handsome looks, many girls in Hanyang adore him and he uses this advantage to collect information in and around Hanyang. He eventually falls for Kang Ji-hwa.
Go Won-hee as Kang Ji-hwa
The vain daughter of Second Chief State Councillor who is very cold and overbearing, especially towards commoners and slaves.
Supporting
People around Ma Hoon
Park Ho-san as Ma Bong-deok
Ma Hoon's father, also, the Chief State Councillor
Jung Yoon-seok as Ma Joon
People around Gae-ttong
Jang Yoo-sang as Kang
Park Sang-hoon as young Kang
Gae-ttong's long-lost brother
People around Lee Soo
Lee Yoon-gun as Lee Moon-seok
Ha Hoe-jung as Eunuch Jang
Ahn Da-bi as Se-ah
People around Do Joon
Kim Hye-ji as Seom Seom
A girl from a courtesan house that frequently helps Do Joon to collect information.
Jung Ji-yoon as Do-joon's mother
People around Kang Ji-hwa
Jung Jae-sung as Kang Mong-gu
Kang Ji-hwa's father, also, the Second Chief State Councillor
Park Bo-mi as Chun-sim
One of Ji-hwa's slaves who always appears with her. She also has a crush on Kang, another slave of Ji-hwa's.
Others
Kwon So-hyun as Queen Dowager Yoon
Jung Eui-jae as Hyun
Lee Chae-won as Ma Jeong-hwa
Choi Yi-seon as Tae-soo
Flower Crew servant
Special appearances
Jo Sung-ha as King (Ep. 1–2)
Go Soo as Crown Prince (Ep. 1)
Woo Hyun as doctor (Ep. 1)
Ahn Se-ha as peddler (Ep. 1)
Jang Su-won as Jang In-sung (Ep. 1)
Park Soo-ah as Lee Eun-young (Ep. 1)
Lee Su-ji as young lady (Ep. 1)
Jo Ryun as inn owner (Ep. 2)
Choi Jin-hyuk as the Second Chief State Councillor's niece's matched guy (Ep. 5)
Daniel Lindemann as a German customer (Ep. 16)
Production
The first script reading took place in April 2019 at JTBC Building in Sangam-dong, Seoul, South Korea. Filming was wrapped up on October 10, 2019.