Once Upon a Small Town

Han Ji-yul, a veterinarian from Seoul, reluctantly relocates to Huidong village to take care of his grandfather's clinic. Here he meets Ahn Ja-young, a policewoman and town insider with a friendly secret, and local cafe owner Lee Sang-hyeon. Ji-yul's transition from cushy capital city life to village living is not as seamless as he hopes, testing his ability to adapt to the unique dynamics of small-town life.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7TMqf29pFo|title=Once Upon a Small Town {{!}} Official Trailer {{!}} Netflix|work=Netflix Asia |publisher=YouTube|date=August 18, 2022|access-date=August 24, 2022}}

• Park Soo-young as Ahn Ja-young, a local 3rd-year police officer and town insider.{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=076&aid=0003873207 |title=[공식]레드벨벳 조이, 파출소 순경된다…'어쩌다 전원일기' 출연|trans-title=[Official] Red Velvet's Joy becomes a police station cop... Appeared in 'Somehow, Power Diary|author=Jeong Bit|work=Sports Chosun|publisher=Naver|date=May 26, 2022|access-date=August 25, 2022|language=ko}}
• Choo Young-woo as Han Ji-yul, a veterinarian, who comes from Seoul to take over the village veterinary hospital run by his grandfather.{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=421&aid=0006110115 |title=신예 추영우, 카카오TV '어쩌다 전원일기' 주인공 발탁|trans-title= Rookie Young-Woo Choo, selected as the main character of Kakao TV's 'Corporate Diary'|author=Yoon Hyo-jeong|work=News1|publisher=Naver|date=May 23, 2022|access-date=August 25, 2022|language=ko}}
• Baek Sung-chul as Lee Sang-hyeon, a young farmer, who runs a peach farm in Heedong village.{{Cite news|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/108/0003081166 |title= '어쩌다 전원일기' 박수영X추영우X백성철, 러브라인 행방은?|trans-title='Somehow, All Diary' Park Soo-young X Chu Young-woo X Baek Seong-cheol, where is the love line? |author=Hae-seon Han |work= Star News|publisher=Naver|date=August 23, 2022|access-date=August 25, 2022|language=ko}}

• Na Chul as Choi Yun-hyeong, a veterinarian who runs an animal hospital in Seoul.{{Cite news|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/609/0000618350|title='악의 마음' 나철, '어쩌다 전원일기' 푼수 역할 연기 변신[공식] |trans-title='Evil Mind' Na-cheol, 'Somehow, the Diary of the Pastor' Transforms into the role of Punsu [Official] |author= Park Ah-reum|work=Newsen|publisher=Naver|date=August 22, 2022|access-date=August 25, 2022|language=ko}}
• Park Ye-ni as Young-Sook, a veterinary nurse.{{Cite news|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/609/0000618222|title=박예니 '어쩌다 전원일기' 합류, 데뷔 후 첫 사투리 연기[공식] |trans-title=Park Ye-ni joins 'Corporate Diary', acting in her first dialect after debut [Official] |author=Park Ah-reum |work=Newsen |publisher=Naver|date=August 22, 2022|access-date=August 25, 2022|language=ko}}
• Ha Yul-ri as Choi Min, ex-girlfriend of Han Ji-yul, who is a laboratory animal veterinarian at a foreign pharmaceutical company.{{Cite news|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/609/0000604988 |title=하율리 '오늘의 웹툰→어쩌다 전원일기' 연이은 캐스팅 |trans-title=Ha Yul-li's 'Today's Webtoon → Somehow Pastor's Diary' Casting |author= Park Ah-reum|work=Newsen|publisher=Naver|date=July 20, 2022|access-date=August 25, 2022|language=ko}}
• Lee Dong-chan as grandfather Deok-jin, a veterinarian.

• Jung Suk-yong as Hwang Man-seong.
• Baek Ji-won as Choi Se-ryun.{{Cite news|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/076/0003906063|title=백지원x박지아, '희동리 부녀회'로 똘똘 뭉쳤다...등장부터 빅웃음 예고('어쩌다 전원일기') |trans-title=Baek Ji-won x Park Ji-ah, united in 'Heedong-ri Women's Association'... Big laughter from the appearance ('Somehow, All Diary') |author= Ahn So-yoon|work=Sports Chosun|publisher=Naver |date=August 18, 2022|access-date=August 25, 2022|language=ko}}
• Park Ji-ah as Cha Yeon-hong, general secretary of the women's association in Heedong village.{{Cite news|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/312/0000554033|title=혜자 삼춘' 박지아, '어쩌다 전원일기' 캐스팅…레드벨벳 조이와 호흡 |trans-title='Hyeja Samchun' Park Ji-ah casts 'Somehow, All Diary'... Red Velvet Joy and breathing |author=Lee Jun-hyun |work=Ten Asia|publisher=Naver|date=June 21, 2022|access-date=August 25, 2022|language=ko}}
• Yoo Yeon as Kyeong-ok, Mysterious woman with fierce eyes{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=108&aid=0003084556|author=Yoon Sung-yeol|title=유연, 바이브액터스와 전속계약..'어쩌다 전원일기' 캐스팅 [공식]|trans-title=Yoo Yeon, exclusive contract with Vibe Actors... Casting of 'Somehow, Everyone's Diary' [Official]|publisher=MT Star News |via=Naver|date=September 5, 2022|access-date=September 5, 2022|language=ko}}
• Roh Jae-won as Yoon Geun-mo, a police officer in Heedong village.{{Cite news|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/312/0000564802 |title=노재원, 박수영과 경찰 콤비 기대… 드라마 활력 책임진다 ('어쩌다 전원일기') |trans-title=Roh Jae-won, Park Soo-young and Police Combi Expectations... Responsible for the vitality of the drama ('Somehow, Everyone's Diary') |author=Hwang Eun-cheol |work=Ten Asia |publisher=Naver |date=August 19, 2022|access-date=August 25, 2022|language=ko}}
• Kim Young-sun as Mal-geum, the chairman of Majeong-ri, the village next to Heedong-ri, is patriotic for the initiative to tackle village affairs.{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=312&aid=0000567561|last=Yoo|first=Jeong-min|title=난리났네 난리났어" 김영선, '어쩌다 전원일기' 캐스팅|trans-title=It's a riot, it's a riot" Kim Young-sun, casting for 'Somehow, Power Diary' |publisher=Ten Asia|via=Naver|date=September 2, 2022|access-date=September 3, 2022|language=ko}}
• Jung Si-yul as Kim Seon-dong

The series is directed by respected PD Kwon Seok-jang. Initially Choi Soo-young and Jang Keun-suk were offered lead roles in the series in August 2021. Later in September 2021, it was reported that it didn't work.{{Cite news|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/052/0001640922|title= 카카오 "'어쩌다 전원일기' 제작 무산 사실무근… 장근석·최수영 캐스팅 불발"(공식)|trans-title=Kakao "'Somehow, the production of 'Everyone's Diary' is groundless... Castings of Jang Geun-suk and Choi Soo-young fail" (official) |author= Kim Seong-hyeon |work=YTN |publisher=Naver |date=September 15, 2021|access-date=August 25, 2022|language=ko}} In May 2022, Choo Young-woo as Han Ji-yul, the native Seoul veterinarian, and Park Soo-young as Ahn Ja-young, the local police officer were confirmed as the male and female leads in the series.{{Cite news|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/108/0003056945 |title=레드벨벳 조이, '어쩌다 전원일기' 출연..추영우와 호흡 [공식] |trans-title=Red Velvet's Joy to appear in 'A Power Diary' by chance.. Breathing with Choo Young-woo [Official] |author=Yoon-ji Ahn |work=Star News|publisher=Naver |date=May 26, 2022|access-date=August 25, 2022|language=ko}} Baek Seong-cheol joined the cast later in May as Lee Sang-hyeon, a handsome young farmer.{{Cite news|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/609/0000582301 |title=백성철 '어쩌다 전원일기' 합류, 조이 추영우와 삼각 로맨스[공식] |trans-title=Baek Seong-cheol joins 'People's Diary' by chance, a love triangle with Joey Choo Young-woo [Official] |author=Park Ah-reum |work=Newsen|publisher=Naver |date=May 30, 2022|access-date=August 25, 2022|language=ko}}{{cite web|url=https://xenews.net/once-upon-a-small-town-shared-a-glimpse-of-the-friendship/|title="Once Upon a Small Town" shared a glimpse of the friendship|author=VuTung|work=xenews|date=August 25, 2022|access-date=August 25, 2022|language=ko|archive-date=August 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830022608/https://xenews.net/once-upon-a-small-town-shared-a-glimpse-of-the-friendship/|url-status=dead}}

Since the series was shot in rural environment involving animals, the production team created a safe environment, with the advice of veterinarians, from the script writing process till the actual filming. The entire filming, where animals were present, was done in the presence of a veterinarian and a professional trainer. The production team revealed, "All props that come into contact with animals were specially made of silicone to ensure safety, and anything that could be harmful was excluded as much as possible."{{Cite news|url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/408/0000165859 |title='어쩌다 전원일기' 제작진 "무공해 힐링 로맨스 될 것" [일문일답] |trans-title='Somehow, Power Diary' production team "It will be a pollution-free healing romance" [Answers] |author=Yoo Jung-min|work=MBC Entertainment|publisher=Naver|date=September 2, 2022|access-date=September 2, 2022|language=ko}}

Once Upon a Small Town reached the Netflix Global Top 10 list of the most-watched TV (Non-English) and entered the Netflix Top 10 in 33 countries.{{Cite web |title=Netflix Top 10 - Global |url=https://top10.netflix.com/tv-non-english?week=2022-11-06 |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=top10.netflix.com}} The series also reached the Top 10 of the OTT Integrated Ranking, which includes all platforms. "The drama has been well received and is expected to rise in the future along with the effect of the global OTT platform."{{Cite web |last=김 |first=은정 |date=2022-09-21 |title=[오늘의 OTT 통합 랭킹] 9월 22일 – '어쩌다 전원일기' 무공해 힐링 통했다 |url=https://ottranking.com/post/196787 |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=OTT랭킹 |language=ko-KR}}

The series received positive reviews from critics and viewers for its acting, screenplay, and directing.{{Cite web |last=박 |first=소영 |title='新 로코퀸' 박수영의 매직..'어쩌다 전원일기' PD "소소한 힐링 찾길" |url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/109/0004708405 |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=Naver News |language=ko}}{{Cite web |last=한 |first=해선 |title='어쩌다 전원일기' 조이, 드라마서도 '러블리 엔딩 요정' |url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/108/0003091507 |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=Naver News |language=ko}} Time magazine praised Once Upon a Small Town and selected it as one of the 10 best Korean dramas of 2022 to watch on Netflix.{{Cite magazine |title=The 10 Best Korean Dramas of 2022 to Watch on Netflix |url=https://time.com/6240643/best-korean-dramas-netflix-2022/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |magazine=Time |date=December 16, 2022 |language=en}} Rolling Stone India chose Once Upon a Small Town as one of the Top 10 best Korean romantic comedies of 2022.{{Cite web |last=Dutta |first=Debashree |date=2022-12-07 |title=The 10 Best Rom-Com K-Dramas of 2022 |url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/the-10-best-rom-com-k-dramas-of-2022/ |access-date=2022-12-19 |website=Rolling Stone India |language=en-US}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Once Upon a Small Town

| type = Soundtrack

| artist = Various

| released = 2022

| recorded =

| genre = Soundtrack

| language = {{hlist|Korean|English}}

| label = {{hlist|Dreamus| Most content}}

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Released on {{start date|2022|9|6}}{{Cite web|url=https://m2.melon.com/album/music.htm?albumId=11048499|title= 어쩌다 전원일기 OST Part.1|trans-title=Once Upon a Small Town OST Part.1|access-date= September 6, 2022|website=Melon}}

| extra_column = Artist

| title1 = Missing You

| note1 =

| lyrics1 = Moon Seong-nam

| music1 = Moon Seong-nam

| extra1 = Hong Dae-kwang

| length1 = 3:55

| title2 = Missing You

| note2 = inst.

| music2 =

| length2 = 3:55

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Released on {{start date|2022|9|13}}{{Cite web|url=https://m2.melon.com/album/music.htm?albumId=11051048|title= 어쩌다 전원일기 OST Part.2|trans-title=Once Upon a Small Town OST Part.2|access-date= September 14, 2022|website=Melon}}

| extra_column = Artist

| title1 = Sunset Village

| note1 =

| lyrics1 = Seongnam Moon (Every Single Day)

| music1 = Seongnam Moon (Every Single Day)

| extra1 = O.WHEN

| length1 = 4:30

| title2 = Sunset Village

| note2 = inst.

| music2 =

| length2 = 4:30

}}

==Episodes==

{{Episode table |background= #00AD73 |overall= |title=Once Upon a Small Town|director= |writer= |airdate= |airdateR=|released=y|country=Ko |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|Title = Episode 1

| TranslitTitle =

| NativeTitle =

| NativeTitleLangCode = ko

|DirectedBy = Kwon Seok-jang

|WrittenBy = Baek Eun-kyeong

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|9|5}}

|ShortSummary = Veterinarian Han Ji-yul is tricked by his grandfather into coming to the village to take care of his hospital and house while he goes on a cruise. Here he meets Ahn Ja-young, a police woman, who is a town insider. Ja-young takes him on his assignments as veterinarian. He treats a dog and then an angry goat in heat who has split his head open. In the house the women’s association barges in at night with food as a surprise, much to his annoyance. When everyone leaves, he reads the letter which his grandfather has left him. In the backdrop of him touring the house, we hear the heartwarming letter. Ji-yul goes to the vet clinic and thinks of all that his grandparents have done for everyone and for him. As he comes outside, he finds Ja-young swimming alone, wearing all of her clothes and a headlight.

|LineColor = #00AD73

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|Title = Episode 2

| TranslitTitle =

| NativeTitle =

| NativeTitleLangCode = ko

|DirectedBy = Kwon Seok-jang

|WrittenBy = Baek Eun-kyeong

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|9|6}}

|ShortSummary = At the beginning of episode we find Ja-young looking at her old book and remembering when Ji-yul had told her that they would be secret friends. Ji-yul starts his day with a run. On the way villagers flock around him, ruining his concentration and testing his patience. At the clinic, Ji-yul finds that he has to perform vaccinations on large number of pigs that day. Ja-young accompanies him and with her assistance they do it. In cafe he meets Lee Sang-hyeon, the owner of the cafe and the peach farm. His next appointment was to take care of a baby goat with colic. There are incidences of small thefts in the village and, Ja-young on look out of thief gets a call from Seon-dong, who saw the burglar inside Ji-yul's house. After some struggle they catch the guy.

|LineColor = #00AD73

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|Title = Episode 3

| TranslitTitle =

| NativeTitle =

| NativeTitleLangCode = ko

|DirectedBy = Kwon Seok-jang

|WrittenBy = Baek Eun-kyeong

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|9|7}}

|ShortSummary = It turns out that the thief is from rival village of Majeong, so a fight breaks out between the representatives of the two villages defending and accusing one another. When Ja-young offers to give him a ride home and help clean up the mess, Ji-yul asks her to leave him alone. Ji-yul finishes cleaning his home and feels slightly intoxicated from cleaning the sticky booze from the floor. The next morning Ji-yul attempts to talk to Ja-young, but she rides off. On his next house call to Majeong village, Ji-yul finds the Majeong representative asking Ja-young about her mother. Later, when Ji-yul asks Sang-hyeon to sell one of his truck the bargaining is hilarious as they try to one-up each other. Ja-young later tells Sang-hyeon that Ji-yul is the one who was her secret friend from that summer when they were 12. On her way home, Ja-young thinks about the question Ji-yul had asked her – "And who do you have to rely on?".

|LineColor = #00AD73

}}

{{Episode list

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|Title = Episode 4

| TranslitTitle =

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|DirectedBy = Kwon Seok-jang

|WrittenBy = Baek Eun-kyeong

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|9|12}}

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}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|Title = Episode 5

| TranslitTitle =

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|DirectedBy = Kwon Seok-jang

|WrittenBy = Baek Eun-kyeong

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{{Episode list

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{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 7

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|WrittenBy = Baek Eun-kyeong

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{{Episode list

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{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 9

|Title = Episode 9

| TranslitTitle =

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|DirectedBy = Kwon Seok-jang

|WrittenBy = Baek Eun-kyeong

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|9|21}}

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{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 10

|Title = Episode 10

| TranslitTitle =

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|DirectedBy = Kwon Seok-jang

|WrittenBy = Baek Eun-kyeong

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|9|26}}

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{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 11

|Title = Episode 11

| TranslitTitle =

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|DirectedBy = Kwon Seok-jang

|WrittenBy = Baek Eun-kyeong

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|9|27}}

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{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 12

|Title = Episode 12

| TranslitTitle =

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|DirectedBy = Kwon Seok-jang

|WrittenBy = Baek Eun-kyeong

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2022|9|28}}

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}}

}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website}} {{in lang|ko}}
• {{IMDb title}}
• {{HanCinema drama}}

{{Kakao M}}

Category:KakaoTV original programming

Category:Television series by Kakao Entertainment

Category:South Korean web series

Category:South Korean comedy television series

Category:South Korean romance television series

Category:Television shows based on South Korean novels

Category:2022 South Korean television series debuts

Category:2022 South Korean television series endings

Category:2022 web series debuts

Category:2022 web series endings

Category:Korean-language Netflix exclusive international distribution programming