“Does it hurt your pride to see your friends again? It doesn’t matter why you came back. We’re just happy to see our friend again.” says Ji Chang Wook’s Cho Yong Pil to Cho Sam Dal( Shin Hae Sun). A poignant assertion in “Welcome To Samdal-ri , a slice-of-life drama, which revolves round these two characters, one who desires to soar and escape her life on Jeju Island, and the opposite who’s content material and makes probably the most of the place he’s.
Cho Sam Dal is a hotshot photographer in Seoul till a conniving and manipulative assistant accuses her of bullying. Overnight her one hovering profession is in shambles, and Sam Dal additionally discovers her boyfriend has additionally been dishonest on her with the exact same assistant.
She alongside together with her two sisters transfer baggage and baggage again residence to Samdal-ri, a small city in Jeju Island. Though her satisfaction in tatters and her spirits down Sam Dal can also be hiding from her ex-boyfriend Yong Pil.
Yong Pil is a forecaster on the Meteorological Department, a bit headstrong in the case of work, however the city favorite. Everyone loves Yong Pil for his caring nature and have been fiercely protecting of him, ever since Sam Dal broke his coronary heart.
It shouldn’t be earlier than lengthy the 2 come head to head, and outdated emotions are certain to resurface. Sam Dal who had modified her identify in Seoul, and has at all times seen her future away from her hometown, is confronted with a surge of feelings. Was she working away from the city and its folks, or herself? Why is she placing up pretend pretenses in entrance of her folks?
Yong Pil looks like her alter ego, telling her truths that she would reasonably not face. Sam Dal, who at all times aspired to be a dragon that arises from a small stream, understands that it’s Yong Pil who desires to be her small stream.
In the meantime, their mom performed by veteran actor Kim Mi Kyung who’s the chief of the “hayenos”, (feminine divers of Jeju) has to deal with not solely the city gossip concerning the return of her three daughters but additionally her well being situation which retains hidden. Sam Dal’s two sisters, one a divorcee and the opposite a single mom too, are coping with their points and appear unaware of the plight of their mom.
Welcome To Samdal-ri is a feel-good drama which envelopes you in its heat. Set within the lush panorama of Jeju, the scenic visuals are the therapeutic balm to the emotional wounds of the lead characters.
Sam Dal’s state of affairs highlights the rampant bullying and the cancel tradition which has grow to be part of S Korean society particularly in the case of well-known folks. How careers are destroyed and the toxicity of social media solely amplifies the identical. Shin Hae Sun as soon as once more provides an uninhibited efficiency. A shifting second when she confronts her assistant and asks, “Did I compel you to die”, you’re feeling her ache,
Yong Pil might come throughout as a person not pushed by ambition, however he’s very safe in himself. Ji Chang Wook is endearing and the actor who has a outstanding display presence as soon as once more shines because the simpleton.
Written by Kwon Hye Joo, who as soon as once more brings out the emotional dynamics between the characters to the fore in a delicate method.
Produced by SLL, “Welcome to Samdal-ri “, endears for its simplicity, and is relatable at so many ranges. Bogged down by the pressures of a aggressive world, one tends to lose one’s means. Seek your tribe, discover your folks and self is the message loud and clear.
The bonus being the chemistry between Ji Chang Wook and Shin Hae Sun, which will get prime factors.
Welcome to Samdal-ri is streaming on Netflix.
