K-dramas can be such a great way to relax and unwind, don't you think? They have a way of capturing our hearts and taking us on emotional journeys. After I finished binge-watching my last series "Beauty Inside", I was in the mood for something more relaxing. I wanted a show that wasn't too intense or action-packed. I just wanted something soft and easygoing. Then I found Welcome to Samdal-ri which I had started downloading right from the first day it aired which was on the 2nd of December, 2023 but I didn't actually get around to watching it until I had all the episodes. It's like I couldn't wait to have the complete set before diving into the series.( I don't think I can wait up to a week before watching the next episode. I rather wait till every episode is out😂).
Set in Jeju island, Welcome to Samdal-ri was written and directed by Kwon Hye-joo and Cha Young-hoon respectively. The drama consists of 16 episodes, each of which has a runtime of about 70 minutes long. The series tells the story of two childhood friends, Cho Yong-pil (Ji Chang-wook) and Cho Sam-dal (Shin Hye-sun).
Yong-pil, deeply affected by the loss of his mother due to a misguided weather report, resolves to become a weather forecaster in order to safeguard the elderly residents of his hometown. However, his unwavering dedication to accuracy and refusal to overlook misinformation leads to him being labeled as a tenacious troublemaker by others.
Sam-dal on the other hand, driven by her aspirations of becoming a successful fashion photographer, makes the bold decision to relocate to Seoul. In pursuit of her dreams, she adopts the name Cho Eun-hye. She puts in a ton of effort as an assistant in the fashion photography industry for 8 long years. Eventually, she reaches the top of her game! But then, something happens and her whole photography career crumbles. That's heartbreaking, right? So, she goes back to her hometown of Samdal-ri, even though she always wanted to leave. And guess what?
After all those years, she reconnects with Cho Yong-Pil, her childhood friend and ex-boyfriend. Even though something happened that caused them to drift apart, these two friends discover that their bond and love for each other are still as powerful as ever. It's incredible how some connections can withstand the test of time, isn't it? 😊.
The family's complicated relationships, which are revealed as the plot unfolds adds more humor and fun to the series. The dynamic between the sisters is particularly interesting, as they are both strong-willed and independent, yet they have very different approaches to life.
This show is such a refreshing and simple show. It has clear goals and characters that are so easy to root for. It's like you can't help but get invested in their stories. I loved the comedy scenes, I loved the romantic scenes between the two main leads. They both had excellent chemistry. I've always been a fan of Shin Hye-sun after watching her performance in Mr. Queen. She's a really really talented actress. To be very honest, the main reason why I started downloading this movie was because of the plot. I always had the feeling that the movie was going to be lit having Ji Chang Wook and Shin Hye-sun starring as lead actors in one movie. They are both very talented actors. I enjoyed every episode. Trust me when I say there was no boring episode. Everything in this series is perfectly linked and connected. It was perfect and I fully recommend it. Every part of the movie really held me down till the end. You should watch it too.
Rating: 10/10.
Images that are not sourced are screenshots taken by me.