The drama focuses on the life and relationships of a group of university students, particularly the difficult relationship between hard-working scholarship student Hong Seol and her deceptively kind senior, Yoo Jung. Jung is the rich and popular heir to Taerang Group and seemingly has a perfect life. However, although he seems nice and kind to everyone around him, he is quite manipulative with a penchant for destroying those that irritate him, often by using others. When Seol catches on, her life started to become so miserable that she decides to take time off school. When she returns through a scholarship that was intended for Jung, he is unexpectedly nice to her and asks her on a date. Although she isn't sure what kind of person he is, they begin an awkward relationship that is complicated by the distance between them as well as the aftermath of his various schemes. The situation is further complicated by the arrival of Baek In-ho and his sister In-ha, childhood friends of Jung who have since had a falling out.
Cast
Main
Park Hae-jin as Yoo Jung ), Seol's senior. He is handsome, intelligent and successful, but secretly harbors a dark side to his personality. He is sometimes cold or manipulative, and has trouble forming relationships with others because of his uncertainty that they are not using him for his money. However, he is attracted to Seol.
Kim Go-eun as Hong Seol ), a beautiful and hardworking college student who struggles to figure out Yoo Jung's true intentions, but sees an innocent side in him against the advice of his childhood friend Baek In-ho.
Seo Kang-joon as Baek In-ho ), is a handsome and talented pianist who is adopted into Jung's wealthy family by his father. He and his sister came from a difficult background, but he finds it easy to get along with Seol, later developing feelings for her. He and Jung were friends as children, although they later develop a bitter rivalry as he believes that Jung was responsible for instigating a fight that damaged his hand, ending his dreams of becoming a concert pianist.
Lee Sung-kyung as Baek In-ha ), In-ho's beautiful, melodramatic and materialistic older sister. She was also adopted into Jung's family as a child, and is in love with Jung, although he does not reciprocate her feelings.
Kim Ki-bang as Kong Joo-yong ), Seol's neighbour and Yoon-sub's boyfriend.
Production
The role of Hong Seol was first offered to Kim Go-eun who declined it before accepting it afterwards. The role was also offered to Bae Suzy,But she declined the offer. Shooting began in September 2015, and wrapped up filming in January 2016.
Original soundtrack
The soundtrack of "Cheese in the Trap" was released in six parts.
Reception
Cheese in the Trap was a success in both South Korea and China. It was sold to China for $125,000 per episode, becoming the most expensive cable series. It won praise for its realistic depiction of the life of university students, but was criticized for diverging from the source webtoon by placing undue focus on the second male lead and including an original ending "that was rushed and left many viewers baffled".
Ratings
In this table, represent the lowest ratings and represent the highest ratings.
