Twinkling Watermelon

Official Promotional Poster

***Twinkling Watermelon*** (반짝이는 워터멜론) is a 2023 South Korean television series directed by Son Jong-hyun, and starring Ryeoun, Choi Hyun-wook, Seol In-ah and Shin Eun-soo. It aired on tvN from September 25 to November 14, 2023, every Monday and Tuesday at 20:50 (KST) time slot for 16 episodes. It is also available for streaming on Viu and Viki in selected regions.

## Synopsis

*Twinkling Watermelon* tells the story of a CODA boy with a natural talent for music, who travels back in time to 1995. He joins a band with his childhood father and forms a band called Watermelon Sugar with the suspicious youths he meets there, and communicates with them through music.

## Cast

### Main

* Ryeoun as Ha Eun-gyeol
	+ Jung Hyeon-jun as young Eun-gyeol

The only hearing person in a family of deaf people. Eun-gyeol is a perfect model student by day, but at night he leads a double life as a guitarist in a band. After having an argument with his father, where his father learned of his musical interest, he time slips to 1995 and meets his parents when they were younger. He strives to know more about his parents' youths and make his parents' lives shine brighter.
* Choi Hyun-wook as Ha Yi-chan
	+ Choi Won-young as 46 years old Yi-chan

A hot-blooded man who seems to have jumped out of a cheerful cartoon. He lives with his grandmother who owned an accommodation house named Snail House. In the present, he is Eun-gyeol and Eun-ho's father, who can no longer speak nor hear. He values Eun-gyeol's achievements, who is a model student at school.
* Seol In-ah as Choi Se-kyung / On Eun-yoo
	+ Lee So-yeon as 46 years old Choi Se-kyung

1. Choi Se-kyung: the cello goddess of Seowon Arts High School. Se-kyung was a person considered to be everyone's muse with her innocent beauty and elegant aura reminiscent of a scene in a movie. A lot of boys either from her school or other schools around idolized her. She is the daughter of the owner of Viva Music that existed during Eun-gyeol's childhood. In the present, she inherits the premise of the previous Viva Music and keeps her father's handmade guitar, which she gave to Eun-gyeol.
2. On Eun-yoo: Se-kyung's daughter who looks exactly like her during her youth. She is dolled by her mother to be a cellist and follow her step. She lives under a disharmonious family until she is 18 years old, when her parents divorced. Upset with her mother's constant control on her and her drinking habit; and also after finding out her father remarries someone, she time slips to 1995 so that she can find her mother's first love, and cease her existence.

* Shin Eun-soo as Yoon Cheong-ah
	+ Seo Young-hee as 46 years old Yoon Cheong-ah

A cold and isolated person, who is born deaf. She dreams of a sparkling life like Frida Kahlo. She was highly aloof toward others except to Choi Se-kyung, who was much friendlier toward her. Now she is the mother of both Eun-gyeol and Eun-ho and owns a chicken restaurant. Unlike her teenage personality, she became bright and a loving wife and mother despite her disability.
### Supporting

#### Watermelon Sugar Band Members

* Ahn Do-gyu as Oh Ma-ju
	+ Kim Hyeong-beom as Oh Ma-ju (2023)

A band manager and Yi Chan's childhood friend. He is highly knowledgeable and resourceful. In 2023, he owns MJ Entertainment who manages a famous rockstar Yoon Dong-jin.
* Yoon Jae-chan as Kang Hyeon-yul

A genius bassist. He was a former member of Jindo Dog Gang.
* Lee Ha-min as Lee Si-guk

A drummer from the church band.
* Lee Su-chan as Noh Se-beom

A talented keyboardist who majored in classical piano and studied abroad early.
#### Eun-gyeol's family

* Choi Won-young as Eun-gyeol's father
* Seo Young-hee as Eun-gyeol's mother
* Bong Jae-hyun as Eun-ho

Eun-gyeol's older brother who is born deaf. He is dreaming of becoming a national Paralympics taekwondo athlete. Due to his handsome appearance, he is highly popular on SNS in which he is highly addicted to since his childhood.
#### Snail Boarding House

* Go Doo-shim as Go Yang-hee

Yi-chan's grandmother and the owner of boarding house.
* Lee Seok-hyung as Jung Bal-san

A college student at a boarding house run by Yi-chan's grandmother.
#### Eun-gyeol and Eunyu's group

* Chun Ho-jin as Grandpa Viva

Owner of musical instrument store Viva Music, who is Eun-gyeol's teacher and mentor.
* Jung Sang-hoon as master

Master of the suspicious musical instrument store Lavida Music.
* Park Ho-san as Choi Hyeon

Owner of used instrument store Baekya Music.
* Woo Je-yeon as On Ji-hwan

A second-year student at Myeongsae University Medical School, vocalist and guitarist for the band 'Golden Mess'.
#### People around Cheong-ah

* Kim Tae-woo as Yoon Geon-hyung

Cheong-ah's father who is the chairman of Jinseong Musical Instruments.
* Kim Joo-ryoung as Lim Ji-mi

Cheong-ah's stepmother who is the chairman of the Seowon Arts High School Foundation.
* Kwon Do-hyung as Yoon Joo-yeop

Lim Ji-mi's biological son and Cheong-ah's stepbrother.
* Lee Soo-min as Yoon Sang-ah

Lim Ji-mi's biological daughter and Cheong-ah's stepsister, who is an art student at Seowon Arts High School.
#### Others

* Koo Jun-hoe as Goo Jun-hyung

Band Spine 9 main vocalist. He sees and hears Eun-gyeol's musical talent and attempts to recruit him into his band.
* Yeon Oh as Jeong Ji-oh

Band Spine 9 bassist.
* Han Min as Bae Soo-tak

Band Spine 9 drummer.
* Kim Jun-hyung as Yoon Dong-jin
	+ Yoon Do-hyun as Yoon Dong-jin (2023)

Chuncheon National University legendary guitarist.
### Special Appearances

* Kim Hae-jun as Choi Jun, the DJ of a tteokbokki restaurant.

## Production

On September 5, 2023, production company Pan Entertainment announced that it has signed a production and supply contract with Studio Dragon for *Twinkling Watermelon* worth 15.6 billion won.

## Gallery

*Main article: Twinkling Watermelon/Gallery*

## References

1. ↑ Lee Gyu-lee (September 5, 2023). Blockbuster action shows to comedies set to hit small screen this month. *The Korea Times*. Retrieved on September 5, 2023.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Shin Young-eun (August 18, 2023). '반짝이는 워터멜론' 려운·최현욱·설인아·신은수, 대본리딩 현장 공개 ['Glittering Watermelon' Ryeowoon, Choi Hyun-wook, Seol In-ah, Shin Eun-soo, script reading scene revealed] (in ko). *Star Today*. Retrieved on August 18, 2023 – via Naver.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Template:Cite news
4. ↑ Template:Cite instagram
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Twinkling Watermelon. *Studio Dragon*. Retrieved on September 22, 2023.
6. ↑ Twinkling Watermelon (2023). *CJ ENM*. Retrieved on September 1, 2023.
7. ↑ Template:Cite news
8. ↑ Hyun Hye-sun (August 22, 2023). '반짝이는 워터멜론' 려운, 1995년으로 타임슬립...아빠 최현욱과 첫 만남 ['Sparkling Watermelon' Ryeowoon, time slip to 1995... First meeting with father Choi Hyun-wook] (in ko). *Seoul Economic Daily*. Retrieved on August 22, 2023 – via Naver.
9. ↑ Twinkling Watermelon: fantasy romance K-drama borrows Coda's cue sheet. *South China Morning Post* (in en) (2023-09-27). Retrieved on 2023-10-12.
10. ↑ Choi Na-young (July 25, 2023). '남남'·'브로 앤 마블'→'워터멜론'·'낮뜨달'...라쿠텐 비키, 하반기 K-라인업 ['Namnam', 'Bro & Marvel' → 'Watermelon', 'Daylight Moon'... Rakuten Viki, second half K-lineup] (in ko). *OSEN*. Retrieved on July 28, 2023 – via Naver.
11. ↑ Lee Yi-jin (September 26, 2023). '반짝이는 워터멜론' 려운, 코다로 열연...힐링 휴먼극 예고 [전일야화] ['Sparkling Watermelon' Ryeowoon gives a passionate performance in Coda... Healing Human Drama Preview [Previous Night]] (in ko). *Xports News*. Retrieved on September 26, 2023 – via Naver.
12. ↑ Template:Cite news
13. ↑ Yoo Jeong-min (September 4, 2023). 이소연, '반짝이는 워터멜론' 출연 확정...만인의 첫사랑 어른 '세경役' [Lee So-yeon confirmed to appear in 'Sparkling Watermelon'... Everyone's first love, the adult 'Se-kyung'] (in ko). *Ten Asia*. Retrieved on September 4, 2023 – via Naver.
14. ↑ Template:Cite news
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 인물소개 (5) [Character Introduction (5)]. *tvN* (in ko). Retrieved on September 6, 2023.
16. ↑ [단독 최원영, 진수완 작가 '반짝이는 워터멜론' 합류] [[Exclusive] Choi Won-young and Jin Soo-wan join writer 'Sparkling Watermelon']. *JTBC News* (in ko) (March 7, 2023). Retrieved on June 24, 2023.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 Hwang Hye-jin (August 18, 2023). 최현욱→신은수 '반짝이는 워터멜론' 대본리딩 포착, 찬란한 청춘들 [Choi Hyun-wook→Shin Eun-soo captured the script reading of 'Glittering Watermelon', brilliant youth] (in ko). *Newsen*. Retrieved on August 18, 2023 – via Naver.
18. ↑ 인물 소개 – 달팽이 하숙집 [Character Introduction – Snail Boarding House]. *tvN* (in ko). Retrieved on September 6, 2023.
19. ↑ Cha Hye-young (August 23, 2023). 이석형, '반짝이는 워터멜론' 출연 확정...하숙집 대학생 '정발산' 役 [Lee Seok-hyung confirmed to appear in 'Sparkling Watermelon'... Boarding house college student 'Jeong Bal-san'] (in ko). *Ten Asia*. Retrieved on August 23, 2023 – via Naver.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 인물 소개 – 은결의 인연들 [Character introduction – Eun-gyeol's relationships]. *tvN* (in ko). Retrieved on September 6, 2023.
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Character Introduction – People of Jinseong Musical Instruments. *tvN* (in ko). Retrieved on September 6, 2023.
22. ↑ Lee Chang-gyu (August 30, 2023). 김주령, '반짝이는 워터멜론' 합류...신은수 母 등극 [Kim Joo-ryeong joins 'Sparkling Watermelon'... Shin Eun-soo becomes mother] (in ko). *Xports News*. Retrieved on August 30, 2023 – via Naver.
23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 인물 소개 – 그 외 인물들 [Character introduction – other characters]. *tvN* (in ko). Retrieved on September 6, 2023.
24. ↑ Ryu Ye-ji. [공식 연오, '반짝이는 워터멜론' 출연 확정] [[Official] Yeonoh confirmed to appear in 'Sparkling Watermelon'] (in ko). *Ten Asia*. Retrieved on September 18, 2023 – via Naver.
25. ↑ Hwang Ye-jin (September 7, 2023). 윤도현, 3년간 암투병 끝 완치→배우 복귀 확정(반짝이는 워터멜론) [Yoon Do-hyun, fully recovered after 3 years of fighting cancer → confirmed to return to acting (Sparkling Watermelon)] (in ko). *Newsen*. Retrieved on September 7, 2023 – via Naver.
26. ↑ 기자, 신영은 스타투데이. '최준' 김해준, '반짝이는 워터멜론' 깜짝 출연. *entertain.naver.com* (in ko). Retrieved on 2023-10-16.
27. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `Budget`
28. ↑ Nielsen Korea ratings:

	* Ep. 1 (in ko). *Nielsen Korea* (September 25, 2023). Retrieved on September 26, 2023.
	* Ep. 2 (in ko). *Nielsen Korea* (September 26, 2023). Retrieved on September 27, 2023.
	* Ep. 3 (in ko). *Nielsen Korea* (October 2, 2023). Retrieved on October 3, 2023.
	* Ep. 4 (in ko). *Nielsen Korea* (October 3, 2023). Retrieved on October 4, 2023.
	* Ep. 5 (in ko). *Nielsen Korea* (October 9, 2023). Retrieved on October 10, 2023.
	* Ep. 6 (in ko). *Nielsen Korea* (October 10, 2023). Retrieved on October 11, 2023.
	* Ep. 7 (in ko). *Nielsen Korea* (October 16, 2023). Retrieved on October 17, 2023.
	* Ep. 8 (in ko). *Nielsen Korea* (October 17, 2023). Retrieved on October 18, 2023.
	* Ep. 9 (in ko). *Nielsen Korea* (October 23, 2023). Retrieved on October 24, 2023.
	* Ep. 10 (in ko). *Nielsen Korea* (October 24, 2023). Retrieved on October 25, 2023.
	* Ep. 11 (in ko). *Nielsen Korea* (October 30, 2023). Retrieved on October 31, 2023.
	* Ep. 12 (in ko). *Nielsen Korea* (October 31, 2023). Retrieved on November 1, 2023.
	* Ep. 13 (in ko). *Nielsen Korea* (November 6, 2023). Retrieved on November 7, 2023.
	* Ep. 14 (in ko). *Nielsen Korea* (November 7, 2023). Retrieved on November 8, 2023.
	* Ep. 15 (in ko). *Nielsen Korea* (November 13, 2023). Retrieved on November 14, 2023.
	* Ep. 16 (in ko). *Nielsen Korea* (November 14, 2023). Retrieved on November 15, 2023.