Unexpected Business () is a South Korean reality show program by tvN starring Cha Tae-hyun and Zo In-sung, who unexpectedly become the bosses of a countryside grocery store for 10 days. They take over the store's operations, such as ringing up purchases and managing inventory, and also serve simple meals and snacks.
Season 1 aired every Thursday at 20:40 (KST) from February 25, 2021, to May 6, 2021. The duo take over the reins of a general store in Woncheon-ri, Gangwon Province, which includes a kitchen and small seating space for customers and local residents to dine, rest and socialise.
Season 2 premiered on February 17, 2022, and aired every Thursday at 20:40 (KST) as well. This time, the duo are in charge of a larger supermarket in Gongsan-myeon, South Jeolla-do, selling a wider variety of goods. It also has a bigger dining area and a butchery section, presenting new challenges to the experienced duo.
Season 3 was released on October 26, 2023, and aired every Thursday at 20:40 (KST) as well. The season is also available for streaming through Disney+. In this season, they are in charge of a Korean supermarket in Marina, a port city located in western United States.
Guests Various celebrities visit the store as "part-time workers" () to help Cha Tae-hyun and Zo In-sung, many of whom are friends or former co-stars personally invited by the two main cast.
Season 1 (2021) Episode(s) Guest(s) Notes Ref. 2–3 Park Bo-young Day 2 3–4 Kim Jae-hwa Day 3 3–5 Yoon Kyung-ho Day 3 to Day 4 morning 4 Park Kyung-hye Day 3 evening 5–7 Shin Seung-hwan Day 4 afternoon to Day 5 Park Byung-eun Day 5 evening Nam Joo-hyuk Day 5 evening to Day 6 morning 8–9 Park Inbee Day 6 afternoon to Day 7 morning Nam Gi-hyeob Park In-ah 9 Yoon Shi-yoon Day 8 10–11 Jo Bo-ah Day 9 to Day 10 morning 11 Hong Kyung-min Day 10 evening
Season 2 (2022) Episode(s) Guest(s) Notes Ref. 1–6 Kim Woo-bin Day 1 to Day 3 Lee Kwang-soo Day 1 to Day 4 Lim Ju-hwan 6 Day 4 7–8 Shin Seung-hwan Day 5 7–10 Yoon Kyung-ho Day 5 to Day 7 Park Hyo-jun 8–10 Seolhyun Day 6 to Day 7 9–10 Park Byung-eun 11–12 Han Hyo-joo Day 8 11–13 Park Kyung-hye Day 8 to Day 9 Kim Hye-soo 13 Hong Kyung-min Day 9
Season 3 (2023) Episode(s) Guest(s) Notes Ref. 1–7 Han Hyo-joo Day 1 to Day 3 1–14 Yoon Kyung-ho Day 1 to Day 9 Lim Ju-hwan Day 1 to Day 9 4–14 Park Byung-eun Day 2 to Day 9 6–9 Park Kyung-lim Day 3 to Day 4 7–11 Kim Ah-joong Day 4 to Day 6 12–14 Park Bo-young Day 7 to Day 9 afternoon Inbee Park Day 8 to Day 9 afternoon 13–14 Hong Kyung-min Day 9
Ratings
Season 1 (2021) Original broadcast date Average audience share(Nielsen Korea) Nationwide Seoul 1 February 25, 2021 2 March 4, 2021 5.112% 5.749% 3 March 11, 2021 5.648% 6.503% 4 March 18, 2021 5.689% 5.990% 5 March 25, 2021 5.948% 6.501% 6 April 1, 2021 5.545% 6.053% 7 April 8, 2021 5.323% 6.054% 8 April 15, 2021 5.128% 5.027% 9 April 22, 2021 5.409% 6.081% 10 April 29, 2021 5.817% 6.639% 11 May 6, 2021 Average
Season 2 (2022) Original broadcast date Average audience share(Nielsen Korea) Nationwide Seoul 1 February 17, 2022 6.455% 6.720% 2 February 24, 2022 8.396% 3 March 3, 2022 7.195% 4 March 10, 2022 7.141% 7.707% 5 March 17, 2022 7.236% 7.878% 6 March 31, 2022 6.506% 6.880% 7 April 7, 2022 6.256% 6.904% 8 April 14, 2022 6.282% 6.761% 9 April 21, 2022 6.100% 6.571% 10 April 28, 2022 6.041% 11 May 5, 2022 7.503% 8.002% 12 May 12, 2022 6.798% 7.403% 13 May 19, 2022 5.778% Average
Season 3 (2023) Original broadcast date Average audience share(Nielsen Korea) Nationwide Seoul 1 October 26, 2023 5.950% 6.407% 2 November 2, 2023 6.555% 6.893% 3 November 9, 2023 4 November 16, 2023 5.636% 6.248% 5 November 23, 2023 5.095% 5.312% 6 November 30, 2023 5.682% 6.505% 7 December 7, 2023 5.193% 5.494% 8 December 14, 2023 5.814% rowspan="3" 9 December 21, 2023 5.640% 10 December 28, 2023 5.305% 11 January 4, 2024 5.220% 5.910% 12 January 11, 2024 4.988% 5.508% 13 January 18, 2024 14 February 1, 2024 5.308% 5.462% Average
Awards and nominations Award ceremony Year Category Nominee / Work Result Cable TV Broadcasting Awards 2022 Star Award Unexpected Business
Notes
References
External links