Updated: January 22, 2024
“In a world where everything changes so fast each day, I discovered the way to not get caught up and lose myself in my hometown of Samdal-ri.”
JTBC’s Welcome To Samdal-ri (2023-24) follows the journey of ordinary villagers on the island of Jeju whose friendship, love, and family relationships have been challenged and changed by the tides of life through time.
In a small town called Samdal-ri, two friends were born on the same day and grew up like siblings turned lovers but were driven apart by different ambitions in life. While Cho Yong Pil (Ji Chang Wook) stayed in Jeju as a weather forecaster, Cho Samdal (Shin Hae Sun) made it big in the city of Seoul as a top fashion photographer with her stage name, Cho Eun Hye. However, she faced a public backlash after a workplace scandal that led her to return to her hometown, reuniting with her childhood friends and first love while finding herself again.
Having seen sixteen full episodes, here are some key points and insights about the drama:
Theme/Setting
Amid several dark, thriller, and reincarnation dramas for the year, Welcome To Samdal-ri (2023-24) offers a refreshing watch with its slice-of-life content in a countryside setting. It takes you to a nostalgic experience of friendship, first love, and neighborhood while narrating stories back and forth, from the old eras in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, and the present time
Since it is set on the island of Jeju, it features the livelihood of “haenyo” or female divers who collect a variety of sea life such as seaweed, abalones, and shellfish, allowing viewers to appreciate the island’s culture. Moreover, it showcases the endurance of these strong women, mostly middle-aged, who can dive onto great depths even without a breathing equipment — an illustration of women empowerment that’s truly inspiring.
The landscape shots are a visual treat, displaying some of the breathtaking spots for travelers, such as the sunset view by the ocean, hiking trails, scenic roads, and beautiful mountainous areas. Sometimes, you can’t help but plan on your next overseas trip with Jeju first in mind.
Characters/Performances
It’s fun to follow a story with amiable characters from the main leads to supporting roles against the backdrop of a seaside village. Welcome To Samdal-ri (2023-24) walks you through the life of nosy but ever supportive neighbors, chaotic but unwavering friends, and imperfect but loving family.
Ji Chang-wook and Shin Hae-sun have the knack to make you believe that Cho Yong-pil and Cho Samdal are real people living in Jeju. Growing up together in the same neighborhood, they know each other so well that they bicker and fight like immature kids but care for one another deeply like real siblings.
Ms. Cho, the mother of Samdal (Shin Hae-sun) represents mothers of resilience, whose heart is a place of solace and whose presence is a pillar of strength, although she displays imperfections, too, like extreme stubbornness, and that’s realistic. Actress Kim Mi-kyung portrays her so well with her powerful delivery of emotions. I’ve seen her play a mother in various dramas but her role in Welcome To Samdal-ri (2023-24) is the most memorable one thus far.
Mr. Cho, the father of Yong Pil (Ji Chang Wook) is an intriguing character. In fact, his role plays a significant part in the plot’s source of tension and direction for the key players, drawing attention for character growth and development.
All the side characters add life and charm to the show, in particular the nosy haenyos, the chaotic family, the endearing squad and locals. Bu Sang-do serves its purpose as the drama’s one-sided lover while Bang Eunju, the most irritating character. But hopefully, Bu Sang-do gets to set himself free and gain new female friendships, and Bang Eunju to learn her lesson the hard way.
Narrative/Message
Welcome To Samdal-ri (2023-24) simply talks about a lot of life topics worth reflecting upon such as cancel culture, grief, unforgiveness, letting go, and restoring relationships.
The first few episodes deal with the phenomenon of “cancel culture”, which is strictly practiced in South Korea, especially among the influencers of society whom citizens and netizens expect to set a good example of moral accountability that’s worth emulating by the general population. While it serves to be a tool for calling out and bringing about social change, it also creates devastating effects especially with the power of internet.
The drama depicts how mass boycotting can be really frightening, more so to a household name. When a person is bombarded with attacks and cancelations here and there, an influx of anxiety comes filling the mind and body that it freezes one’s whole being, sometimes feeling imprisoned with a sense of false guilt while others are catapulted to a sad demise. And so I get it when the mighty “dragon” Cho Eun-Hye (Shin Hae-sun) dropped to her knees as if the world has collapsed.
Imagine building a career in that high position with years of hard work and dedication, only to be destroyed by a single fabricated story and a flood of public hatred, fueled all the more by headlines with unverified facts. It was Cho Eun-hye’s first experience of public shaming and it was appaling. What’s even more painful is that the so-called friends she thought were real, turn their backs to protect their image.
Cho Samdal/Eun-hye muttered, “We worked together for over a decade. But not a single one asked me if it was true or wanted to support me. No one asked how I was doing. No one cared to ask.”
It’s a sad reality in the life of a celebrity and it’s tough to meet genuine friends who’ll stand by you and fight with you when you are suddenly faced with an overwhelming crisis. Fortunately, Cho Eun Hye has a home to return to for safety and comfort, a place that’s always eager and ready to welcome her back and assist her to a sense of wholeness, which is the town of Samdal-ri.
However, coming back as Cho Samdal is also filled with hurdles and unfinished business to overcome. And that’s realistic. Sometimes, the past calls us to face the inner turmoils we’ve buried deep down and make time in mending the unhealed parts. That’s a lot of hard work and it often comes with a painful confrontation to reopen and address the issue. It’s a messy process of healing but rewarding in the end.
Back in Samdal-ri after several years, Cho Samdal begins to face her long-forgotten fears including specific people she has decided to flee from. She’s learning to cope, grow, and mature in life and love while trying to regain a sense of self-worth as a photographer and lover with the help of her community in her hometown. We heal with people and around people, that’s what her character teaches.
Mr. Cho Sang-tae’s heart of resentment is another interesting character to reflect about. With his heart wounded from unbearable grief and deep-seated hatred, he takes control of people’s lives around him, pushing them away and driving them apart, as his way of lessening internal pain. What he doesn’t realize though is that he’s making everyone’s lives suffer all the more as he deprives them of peace and joy, including his.
That’s what nursing unforgiveness for 20 years long does. It becomes a poison that affects relationships around you. More so, it unknowingly and unconsciously binds you in the pit of darkness and blocks you from celebrating a life of perfect peace and a real sense of community with others. Meanwhile, I liked how the drama illustrates that one begins to let go decades of hatred when people he has resentment with, continue to show kindness and love, however difficult the situations may be. Kindness truly melts the hardest of hearts and taking initiative to communicate or reconnect is the key to start mending scarred relationships.
Cho Yong Pil (Ji Chang Wook) may appear a “green flag” character but he has his own flaws, too, in my opinion. In fact, his messianic complex and sense of possessiveness with something or someone shows an underlying brokenness that is unhealed relational abandonment issues. He has the tendency to act reckless when someone gets in his way of protecting others, or clingy when his feelings of emptiness is unmet or when he senses rejection.
To abandon self or personal dreams for the sake of others is sometimes unhealthy. Isn’t it more rewarding to gain love or people from a healed heart and fulfilled life? I hope that in the final two episodes, he realizes his own woundedness and deals with it for character growth. However, his devotion to protect and love without an end is worth praising because that’s exactly the type of strong commitment that every relationship needs nowadays. But still, we abandon not our personal reflection, dreams, and self-healing.
Finale
And everybody heals, moves forward, and begins anew. I must say it was a satisfying ending for all characters involved with each one learning, growing, and rebuilding.
Cho Samdal (Shin Hae-sun) regains her self-worth and returns to Seoul as a fashion photographer with the help of the entire village. Cho Yong Pil (Ji Chang Wook) finally learns to love himself and flies to Switzerland to pursue his long-time dream.
Mr. Cho Sang-tae (Yu Oh-seong) learns to forgive and let go of hatred, restoring relationships with Ms. Cho (Kim Mi-kyung) and the whole family. While the rest of the squad is rebuilding love or dreams they once missed or failed to explore in the past.
“As always, we’re going for only as long as our breath allows without being greedy. And whenever we’re out of breath, we’ll come back to that place. Our small stream, Samdal-ri.”
Conclusion
JTBC’s Welcome To Samdal-ri (2023-24) has a simple plotline but delightful portrayal of life’s daily grind among ordinary folks, who, like us, are lifelong learners, changing and maturing through the highs and lows. It’s the kind of drama to sit back, relax, laugh, and reflect, while enjoying the visuals and fun-loving townspeople. It’s definitely a must-watch slice of life drama.
A review by Myra Bansale for KORB Blog | Instagram | Twitter
Screenwriter: Kwon Hye Joo | Director: Cha Young Hoon | Original network: JTBC | Streaming platform: Netflix | Images: JTBC
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