Welcome to Samdal-ri (웰컴투 삼달리) is a Korean rom-com with a story that is as beautiful as the wide sea that is here to bring together two lost souls. Directed by Cha Young-hoon, the drama stars Ji Chang-wook, Shin Hye-sun, Seo Hyun-chul, Kim Mi-hwa, Yang Kyung-won, and Baek Hyun-joo alongside other cast members.
The Kdrama brings the life of two islanders who return home after experiencing tragic loss and a wish to make a change. As the two work towards their goals, these prior best friends find a moment to rekindle their friendship and maybe something more. Watch as Jo Yong-pil and Jo Sam-dal find new meanings to life with their unexpected encounter.
The show will have 16 episodes and be broadcast on JTBC in the Saturday-Sunday slot at 10:30 PM KST time slot previously occupied by Strong Girl Nam-soon. Welcome to Samdal-ri episode 1 has a run time of 69 minutes.
Watch the Welcome to Samdal-ri Trailer
The synopsis of the Kdrama reads:
After a scandal shakes her world, a hotshot photographer takes an unexpected detour from the demanding life in Seoul and makes a spontaneous return to her long-avoided Jeju Island hometown.
-Welcome to Samdal-ri Episode 1 Recap Contains Spoiler-
Welcome to Samdal-ri Episode 1 Recap
Bringing us back in the 90s’ the show starts with young Cho Yong-pil and Cho Sam-dal who appear together on television for the first time as the former takes part in a singing show. As the young Sam-dal, who appears as his manager shares her dream of being a dragon who flies into the vast sky, Yong-pil wishes to be the small stream where the dragon grows up.
As the days go by and the two grow up into adulthood, Sam-dal cannot let go of her dream to leave the small town and leave behind everyone, she finally reaches her dream. Years later, Sam-dal has made it big in the city and has become a reclaimed photographer with connections like no other.
However, her dating life isn’t so good as she catches her boyfriend cheating on her days before her exhibition and dumps him in front of everyone. However, she does not show her pain and carries on with her life filled with projects to work on, projects that do not involve her going to Jeju Island.
Meanwhile, Yong-pil stays behind in their small town and becomes a weather forecaster who is feared by many as he is an uncontrollable person in the agency. He makes sure to put forth his point which usually gets him into trouble with his seniors, however, his accuracy is hailed by all which gives him numerous opportunities to go to Seoul.
However, the two make sure to not go to each others’ domains as they fear running into each other. Thus, while the two flourish in their careers, some boundaries have been maintained over the years due to an unforgettable past.
Unfortunately, they are destined to meet again and this play of fate begins when Sam-dal’s assistant of many years is unable to keep her envy and frustration in control. Believing that Sam-dal is not letting her flourish, she is soon to reach her limits. Unaware of her intentions, Sam-dal tries to get her other assistants to behave properly with her.
While she tries to work on the finishing touches of her exhibition which show her 15-year-long journey, she soon finds out that the person whom her ex cheated on her with is none other than this very assistant- Bang Eun-joo. This leaves Sam-dal shocked as she gets drunk later that night, but all alone.
While she drinks over her heartbreak in this busy city alone, Yong-pil drinks with his friends over small things that bring them joy. But soon everything takes a big turn for Sam-dal as the next day she wakes up to the news that Eun-joo tried to commit suicide. The reason? Due to being bullied at her workplace by Sam-dal.
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This leaves Sam-dal shocked as she begins to lose everything that she had worked hard for. Her projects and her dreams are all taken away from her, leaving her no choice but to disappear. And where does she go? Back to the small town that she worked too hard to leave; she goes back to Jeju Island.
Welcome to Samdal-ri Episode 1 Epilogue
17-year-old Yong-pil and Sam-dal are sitting on a hill when the latter count the planes leaving their town, wishing that she was on one of them. Years later, Yong-pil sits there alone while reading an interview with Sam-dal where she says that she doesn’t ever want to return to the place that she left.
While Yong-pil sighs with disappointment, he is unaware that a plane is bringing her back to him at this very moment.
Welcome to Samdal-ri Episode 1 Review
The rom-com begins with an intriguing start where you feel frustration for Sam-dal, but cannot stop laughing at the moment that she brings along with Yong-pil. These two characters are ready to create some waves because they are played by actors who are definitely bringing out the charm that these characters hold.
Ji Chang-wook and Shin Hye-sun are really showing the best of their characters which is only leaving us excited for what more is to come. Meanwhile, these characters also hold a beautiful depth in them which surely going to be seen slowly throughout the show. Today, we saw a beautiful comparison between the two which has really caught my attention.
Altogether, this was a good start for the show and I am sure that it is only going to get better from here.
Watch Welcome to Samdal-ri on Netflix.
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I think it was a very slow start. I have watched 2 episodes. I had high expectations for this series having just finished watching Back street Rookie. But so far not engaged with the storyline or the characters.