The Practical Guide to Love Cast: Complete Guide to Plot and Themes | 미혼 남녀의 효율적 만남

※ A woman who chooses love

• Ui-young dreams of romantic love but also values a realistic life.

• Working in the purchasing team of a luxury hotel, she has built a successful career and is now in her 30s, where dating feels increasingly difficult.

• Instead of waiting for fate, she decides to actively search for true love through blind dates.

※ A man who feels like the right answer in everyday life

• Tae-seop appears gentle but has a strong and principled inner core.

• He successfully runs a woodworking studio with his friend and has earned trust through responsibility and sincerity.

• After meeting Ui-young, he learns that love can take many forms and begins to embrace even her fears and insecurities.

※ A man who turns her world upside down

• Ji-soo is a theater actor with a striking appearance and a free-spirited lifestyle, balancing performances and part-time jobs.

• After meeting Ui-young on a blind date, he cannot stop thinking about her.

• He even starts working at a café near her office to get closer, and later tries to change himself after feeling challenged by Tae-seop.

※ Purchasing Team Staff at The Hills Hotel

• Hyun-min is Ui-young’s junior, known for her open mindset and straightforward attitude.

• She adapts quickly to the workplace and carries herself with confidence.

• After a series of casual relationships, she meets Seung-jun through a secondhand app and begins to consider settling down for the first time.

※ Fitness Trainer

• Seung-jun is Ui-young’s childhood friend, and they share a purely platonic bond.

• After giving up his dream of becoming a basketball player due to injury, he rebuilds his life as a trainer and gym owner.

• His routine-driven life begins to shift after meeting Hyun-min.

※ Hotel Intern

• As a newcomer to society, Sae-byeok struggles through her internship at the hotel.

• She admires Ui-young and hopes to become a successful career woman, but repeated mistakes and unpredictable challenges often make her feel small and uncertain.

※ General Manager of The Hills Hotel

• Starting as a bellboy, he has dedicated nearly 40 years to the hotel.

• He oversees operations and VIP services with professionalism and grace.

• Respected by Ui-young, he balances dignity with a warm, approachable personality.

※ Head of Purchasing Team

• Na-ri enjoys a happy married life but often uses it as an excuse to avoid work.

• She stays on top of office gossip while hiding her own flaws, and subtly feels competitive toward Ui-young’s strong performance.

※ Purchasing Team Manager

• More skilled in business than hands-on work, he is always busy with vague meetings.

• When needed, he is often unavailable, leaving his team – especially Ui-young – to handle the workload.

※ Ui-young’s Mother / Insurance Agent

• Sharp and disciplined, Jung-im built her career through strict self-management.

• She raised Ui-young to be independent, even if it meant appearing cold.

• Beneath her tough approach lies a sincere, if unspoken, love for her daughter.

※ Chef at The Hills Hotel

• A charismatic chef with a Michelin two-star background, Seo-bin grew up in the U.S. and is exploring Korean ingredients to open a locally inspired restaurant.

• Through Ui-young, she discovers a deeper appreciation for local flavors.

※ Lawyer, Legal Team at The Hills Hotel

• After being rejected by Ui-young in college, Do-hyun realized that love alone is not enough.

• He became a successful lawyer and built himself into the ideal partner.

• However, when his efforts go unrecognized, his emotions begin to shift.

※ Co-CEO of HOME Studio

• Eun-ho is Tae-seop’s college friend who chose entrepreneurship over a stable career.

• He manages business operations while raising his young daughter alone after losing his wife, living a quiet but resilient life.

※ Tae-seop’s Mother / Restaurant Owner

• A strong-willed woman known for her spicy dishes, she feels guilty for not being a more present mother.

• Still, she takes pride in Tae-seop and is both surprised and pleased to learn about his relationship with Ui-young.

※ Tae-seop’s Father / Restaurant Owner

• After losing his job during the IMF crisis, he built a successful business with his wife.

• Dedicated to family and work, he is a quiet yet warm presence and a loving husband.

※ Actress

• An award-winning actress with elegance and insight, she continues to lead romantic roles even in middle age.

• In life as in acting, she is deeply passionate about love.

※ Ji-soo’s Father / Surgeon

• A leading hospital’s next director candidate, Ji-hoon is strict and controlling.

• Though distant from his son, he still wants to guide and reshape Ji-soo’s life as his only family.