Ji Chang-wook & Shin Hye-sun’s “Welcome to Samdal-ri”: A Drama That Gives Healing To Exhausted City People
“Welcome to Samdal-ri” is highly recommended for those who are tired of their busy lives in the city
In this era, everyone is struggling with their own survival in busy cities. Sometimes urban residents find it difficult to breathe because of the fierce and nonstop competition they face every day. For them, a drama like “Welcome to Samdal-ri” can be like a source of relaxation from all the exhaustion they are enduring.
Born in Jeju and leaving for the city for success, Jo Sam-dal (Shin Hye-sun) becomes a star photographer who takes photos of celebrities. However, her life falls apart due to a revelation of power abuse created by a junior who has an affair with her boyfriend. Not only her projects but also the individual photo exhibition she has been preparing for a long time are all canceled. When all the doors are closed for her, she decides to return to her hometown Samdal-ri, Jeju.
Meanwhile, Jo Yong-pil (Ji Chang-wook) was born on the same day as Jo Sam-dal so they naturally became childhood friends then later developed into lovers. Although he cannot forget Sam-dal even after she leaves for the city to pursue success for a long time, Jo Yong-pil stays and protects Samdal-ri. Although working at the Meteorological Administration Office, he leads a happier life compared to Jo Sam-dal as a friendly person who sings at the village feasts to entertain the elderly and enjoys simple moments with childhood friends. The drama intentionally makes a comparison between the complicated and fierce life of Jo Sam-dal in the city and the peaceful and calm life of Jo Yong-pil in the rural area. As such, viewers may find themselves sympathizing with Jo Sam-dal’s struggles and feel a longing for a life like Jo Yong-pil’s.
Looking at the storyline, “Welcome to Samdal-ri” may remind you of “Hometown Cha Cha Cha”, which provides healing and comfort to city people by presenting a humane and simple romance between a dentist (Shin Min-ah), who starts a new life in the sea village Gongjin, and Gongjin’s chief Hong (Kim Seon-ho). Similarly, “Welcome to Samdal-ri” unveils the romance between Jo Sam-dal and Jo Yong-pil by depicting how Jo Yong-pil, whose existence is like a hometown, embraces the tired city woman Jo Sam-dal and heals her wounds in the process of restarting her life.
Following a similar narrative, “Welcome to Samdal-ri” features stories with more families, friends, and neighbors. It is likely that the drama will expand its narratives to include sisterhood by portraying the relationship between the three sisters, Jo Sam-dal, Jo Jin-dal, and Jo Hae-dal. In addition, funny moments created by the group of childhood friends in Samdal-ri called “Five Eagle Brothers” and the bickering conversations between neighbors are expected to bring big laughs to viewers. In addition, the drama will also capture the lives of haenyeos (female divers) on Jeju Island to convey a meaningful message to viewers through the rules among haenyeos, which say “Don’t be greedy and stay as long as you can breathe. Hang on to your breath in the sea, which seems calm but dangerous. When you can’t stand it anymore, come up to the water and take a breath”.
Life in the city forces people to get intertwined with each other but they don’t usually reveal their true faces. Jo Sam-dal’s photo exhibition “Human, My Person” is canceled after she is betrayed by her own people. However, Jo Yong-pil visits it and leaves his name in the guest book right ahead of the cancellation. This detail delivers the warm message that some people may leave but there are always people who remain on our side until the end.
Source: Daum
