Welcome to Samdal-ri (2023)

I love everything about it ?

i love welcome to samdalri sooo soooo much. haven't giggled and brainrotted over a show just 4 eps in since a long time.

Shin Haesun is so so excellent and the writing is gorgeous. one of my favorite things in ANY drama is well written characters and it really delivers on that front i love samdal's brashness and her vulnerabilities that she desperately tries to hide.

I love yongpil and his softness and how he cares so deeply about samdal that he would buy her ointment even after 8 years of their breakup. and i love how the actors portray them. so desr to me.

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a corny mess !

It was so bad I had to make a review. the only reason its rated this good is because everyone with taste stopped watching after the second episode and forgot about it for self preservation (also the jcw stan giving it a 10).

So how did I finish it ? ... hate. the first two episodes made me hate that assistant girlie so much I had to see her suffer. but this drama is so disappointing it didn't even gave me that. literally so corny how ONE single article comes out about her and boom she's over and done. we don't even get to see her cry like I'm pissed I really wanted to see her jump off that *redacted. anyway at least the mother (the only real b**** in this show btw) threw vinegar at her or whatever.

Every writing decision was corny. her not defending herself and being so passive was corny. her acting like a baby even though she is close to 40 was corny. yong pil never getting over after 10 years was corny. Yong Pil not respecting personal space or boundaries was corny. the second ML being a 40 yo virgin was corny and not attractive at all. the sisters were corny. the parents were corny. that one ex husband corny. like it was so cringe all the way through because everybody was so damn childish.

Why was Shin Hye Sun acting like that ? at some point I realised that she talks in baby voice 90% of the time when she is Samdalri and I lost it lol. had to skip her to not die from cringe. I hate the weird infantilisation of women in kdrama and its probably my number 1 pet peeve/ thing I hate the most. In this she is a 38 yo super successfull woman but she acts like a shy teen girl like EWWWWWW please give this grown woman a backbone please. all she did was whine and hide for 14 episodes.
She talks in baby voice and pouts and that's basically it, thats her acting in this but everyone in these comment compliments her like this was a masterclass in acting like what ??? Literally cannot stand her and will probably never watch anything with her in it ever again because of this.

random things that pissed me off too :

the oldest sister getting back/ sleeping with her ex husband

Yong Pil not giving a care about his fathers feelings

Samdal working with her ex (that cheated and tried to end her career too) at the end

the Indian actor turning out to be an arab prince that was super rich ??? like they purposely put that in to piss me off. like what was the reason ???


this was a horrible watch ! so slow ! nothing happens ! and the same thing happens over and over until the last episode !


posting this review as the first step in my healing process !

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This slow burn romance give you a healing time.

1st of all those who doesn't like slow burn , slow pacing , healing drama you can avoid this !

Okay , let me tell you this drama is giving me every aspect of life - ups , downs , family , friends , works , sufferings, happiness, sadness everything. Every single thing , we always face in our lives, our survival, hardship , our achievements, our failure, our emotions, our feelings were well put and expressed to us in a beautiful meaningful way. You can find various aspects of life through the journey.

And if I talk about acting , acting are mind blowing. Every emotions displayed very well mannered, nothing seems over powering as we all know Ji Chang wook and shin hye sun being the marvelous actors. So acting wise it's just top class. And the other casts did very well. For me acting was hundreds.

Story telling process is very good. I found it Little slow but I loved the slowness , you can enjoy the flavour when you watch every episode and have every bite of comfort. Emotional moments were also shown very emotionally. It's giving me a comfortable warmth as if a blanket around myself.

Overall I would say this is an epic drama you can enjoy in winter under your blanket, having a cup of tea or coffee, stress free one hour , enjoying country side view. 10/10

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Welcome-to -samdalri has my heart!

Every plot I watched was just so amazing. I didn't expect to come across such a fabulous drama that perfectly and beautifully describes the connection between a small village town and the mainland. what drama can do such an amazing job than this?
I see people saying somewhere it's boring, then it's not your genre simply because not a single second is weird or frustrating.
stories of every daughter and character in the story are so mesmerizing. the bond between the male and female lead are just wow! and the friendship between the group is just so heart touching.
totally recommending it

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Underrated Masterpiece Deserving of a Spotlight!

This K-drama is an absolute hidden gem, quietly awaiting the recognition it truly deserves. It's like stumbling upon a treasure trove in the vast landscape of K-dramas, and if you haven't dived into it yet, you're essentially missing out on the VIP section of drama appreciation.

The main couple's chemistry is not just on point; it's practically sparking a revolution in the romance genre. Their connection is so genuine that I'm tempted to start a petition demanding an award for them – they've managed to reignite our belief in love with their exceptional performances.

And let's not forget the unsung heroes of the show – the side characters. They are the real MVPs, adding depth and charm to the narrative. Of course, there are a few annoying ones who could use a crash course in being less irritating, but they're a small hiccup in an otherwise flawless ensemble.

In my book, this K-drama easily earns a solid 10/10. I wholeheartedly recommend it, served with a side of popcorn and a generous emotional investment. It's a journey worth taking, and you'll find yourself immersed in a world where love, laughter, and a few eye-rolls are in perfect harmony.

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the kind of show that makes you want to call home

This heartwarming and uplifting show will take you on a fun and chaotic ride back home and the people that know you best. The story follows three sisters as they return home to their small town in Jeju as they try to run from troubles and end up finding themselves again in the people they left behind.

Their hometown is full of chaotic and sometimes frustrating people but they are also the ones that know them best. The togetherness and small town family is heartwarming to watch. You watch as the girls are forced to confront the problems they were trying to run away from and find their way back to themselves and happiness. The acting from the entire cast is superb. This show also showcases a bunch of green flag men in these women's lives which is so fun to watch. I especially love the friendship of the 5 best friends that grew up together.

I did find certain parts frustrating to watch, primarily the story line about Yoong-sil's father but I could also sympathize and see in his character a realistic portrayal of grief. I do wish there had been more of an ending for the main perpetrator of the series but you were still shown that her acts were exposed so I guess that is enough.

All in all this is a fun watch that had me laughing and smiling and ultimately wanting to make a trip back home.

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Yongpil's portrait description

This is not a proper review because I'm not very good with those, I'll just say I enjoyed this drama though I skimmed through some parts, the leads were amazing at their roles. Uri Dokyeom did amazing with the OST and Jeju is beautiful.

Anyway I'm just writing this because I think Yongpil's portrait description in the last episode was really heartwarming and tied everything up so I hope everyone reads it, since it wasn't translated on Netflix:


Yongpil always looks up at the sky. The ever-changing nature of nature, invisible to others, seems to be visible to his eyes. Lenticular clouds are lens-shaped clouds that are aligned at right angles to the wind direction at high altitudes.

It is sure to catch your eye due to its unique shape, and it also gives the feeling of rising into the sky.

I always wanted to be a dragon in a war. A dragon leaving the stream and soaring high in the sky Paradoxically, the stream

It was only when I came back to this place and back to him that I realized that I was able to soar because of him. It was Yongpil who taught me how to protect myself and not get swept away in a world where everything changes rapidly every day.

Just as he was a catalyst for me, I want to be a catalyst for him and watch him rise high in the sky and make his dreams come true.

This photo, and this exhibition, is a sincere confession to him who now feels comfort, not longing.

I express my sincere feelings to him who accompanied me to the Korea Meteorological Administration photo exhibition, and to him who will continue to travel with me in the future

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Nice little slice of life drama

It frustrates me how they didn't try to communicate sooner because the first 10 episodes, well they really took things very slowly then the writers dump it away in the last few episodes. I expected Samdal to focus on her life in her hometown and the drama with her family and neighbors, but suddenly we forgot about her problems in Seoul. I don't mean that Samdal has to confront Eunji all the time and I want to see that girl get her karma like a typical revenge drama, but we just don't get any more updates after that. It's just the order of things for me because I think it's important as it's part of current Samdal's life too.

We get a touching love journey between Samdal and Yongpil as the core of this drama. They are cute, but I find it complicated because this is related to Yongpil's father's firm rejection who still mourning over his wife. Yongpil's father is as hard as a rock and I feel like he has no right to restrict Yongpil's life. Yongpil is an adult and he can decide what is best for his life. But, I also don't like how they have to go against their parents just to be together. In a way, it's very dramatic. That's why I just want to see them communicate. You could say it's realistic given their difficult conditions, but they really just let things go and there wasn't much effort put in.

It's just minor issues like this, but overall it's still good, great acting!! I really enjoyed it myself but I also hope for more exposure with other character's growth.

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Goodbye Samdal-Ri

I came to watch Welcome to Samdal-ri mainly to see my favorites, Ji Chang Wook and Shin Hye Sun. I almost titled this review "Maybe I expected too much" only to be reminded I came to watch with that single motive. I was happy to see their antics and their playfulness both on display on plenty occasions. However when Episode 16 wrapped up I just sat there wanting but unable to identify where the series fell short. I keep on having nagging feelings of uneasiness throughout the show like either the original story started out with less cast or production started before the script was even complete. Did the production budget get cut? There seems to be hastily added storylines which are unnecessary and did not drive the plot.

The characters were not fleshed out well either.
I need to see Sang-tae's devastation. What was shows was just not enough that I can feel for him too. Instead he just comes across as a petty father who arrogantly holds his grief over and above everybody else.
Sang-do was not believable. I mean it takes a bit more personality under the hood to drive a yellow convertible. But Sang-do was made so dry he is like toast with no butter. In love for decades and he doesn't behave like a moth to a flame 24/7?
Eun-hye devolved into a shadow of her self from Episode 1 so fast I got whiplash.
Pan-sik was so comically written that his character only worked on the first few episodes. Unfortunately, when things got serious you could say he can be edited out so easily. Shame that the writers did not even attempt to keep him relevant to the story.

To be honest, the actors I felt did well with the lackluster material they had. Not sure what made such stars sign on this project but I would love to be the fly on the wall each time this was pitched.

Sadly, I do not think I will be watching this ever again.

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need a lot of patience to sit through the first half

first half is both annoying AND boring but if you have patience, the second half is truly beautiful.

The goods :
1. The way this drama showed grief and how different people confront it. The lack of healthy communication was frustrating at times but very realistic and relatable. Yongpil was the first one who realized they were drifting apart cuz they were all running away and decided to put an end to it.
" why you didn't run? why you didn't try to forget?"
" but what if I did forget you?"

2. Go Mija. easily the best character in the whole series. She is the most well written character along with Yongpil. Her character has layers and I cried each time a new layer was revealed. She was so kind and brave. A great mother for her daughters and Yongpil.

3. Go Mija and Bo Mija flashbacks. tear jerkers.

4. Yongpils dad redemption arc. God knows he is one of the most annoying characters I've seen in my 12 years of being into Kdramas but I'm happy with the result.

5. Samdals family ( minus Samdal herself ) are all intriguing both in characters and their relationships with each other. I wished we knew more about the sisters pasts. Their love stories were more interesting than the main couple in my opinion. The family dynamic is very fun to watch.

6. Samdalri island and its beatiful beaches and gardens.

Now the bad;
1. Our female lead Samdal. I dont know why she and her collogues were so dumbfounded that she fell into a scandal given the fact that she's both unprofessional and a BRAT. Samdal is unlikable from episode 1 to the very end. She is an immature girl with a big ego who constantly throws tantrums.

2. Alcoholism. Samdal developed a horrible drinking habit after going back to samdalri and I think its an irresponsible portrayal if none of the other characters in the drama mention it in a bad light. She wasnt just sad, she was Addicted.

3. Samdalri people and their big mouths. small villages where everyone know each other have their own problems for sure ( gossips, lack of personal space, fear of being judged etc etc) and this has been touched upon in few other dramas but it doesn't make watching them any less insufferable. Yongpils friend had nothing else to talk about other than Samdal.

4. Second male lead. What was the point of his existence?

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Give it a try

Mostly all reviews praise this show, with a lot of comparisons with Hometown Cha Cha Cha (and rightfully so). There was a lot to like about it, but there were numerous things that really bothered me, hence my lower score.

What I liked:
-The acting by all was very good, but I did find Shin Hye Sun's constant pursed lip/pout talking very irritating after a while. I have loved her in other things she's done and never noticed her doing it before. I loved the friends, the families, the townspeople, and Samdal-Ri's little niece was just precious.
-Jeju. The cinematography was just stunning, and if this doesn't increase tourism, I don't know what will.
-I really like the idea of friends that have known each other for years, supportive of one another when apart, and then coming back together like no times has passed.
-2ML. I may have seen this actor in another role at some point in time, but I really liked him here. He had that almost palpable sadness surrounding him. Though it's not really realistic for someone to have one-sided love for that many years, the romantic in me just loved it. I also like how he was at odds with himself as to whether he should tell her or not. On top of that, he was just such a good friend to both the ML and FL.
-The sisters' storylines were well-developed and didn't feel wasted.
-Happy, though lackluster, ending.
-The friendship between the ML and FL. Which brings me to...

What I didn't like:
-For me, there was no chemistry between the leads. I loved them as friends but didn't buy them as a couple at all. Add to that that he thought she broke up with him, she thought he broke up with her, and all I could think was "how hard is it to just talk to each other?"
-So much drinking
-Drunk confessions
-The way the FL was written was problematic for me. She was portrayed as this strong, independent woman, but yet she slinks quietly away when the woman made up lies about her? She doesn't stand up for herself. She attended a long pity party for herself. I realize that the lie was pretty much the whole premise for the show, but it could have been written much better.
-Working with your ex? Nah.
-There needed to be a more satisfactory ending for the evil girl, she just kind of went away. I'm not a big revenge person but come on!
-After the 8-year (I think that was the amount of time it was supposed to be) time skip, we get another two-year time skip at the end. And that one made no sense. Suddenly he's going away to "realize his dream". Throughout the first part of the show, I really got the feeling that he NEVER wanted to leave Jeju.
-The ML's father's story line. It was immature and went on too long. If he was that troubled by Samdal-Ri's family, I'd think he would have moved away or something.

If you are still reading, I'd say give it a try, you might love it. I'm definitely in the minority.

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Highly overrated

Ji Changwook is a versatile actor and we all know it. Shin Hyesun is the toughest and one of the most elegant actress and we know that too. But here, both of their potentials were wasted big time. I can't even get started on the sheer ridiculosity of the story. The writer made some unbelievably stupid and irritating characters and just dumped them without a proper background. One of them is Cho Samdal herself. That woman's fake pride was high up the sky, and she was living in denial all along that she can never fail, because according to her, she is supposed to be the only one to succeed in Seoul from Jeju. Her bratty behavior and her demeanor was a pain to watch tbh. Next is Yongpil's dad, Sangtae. He definitely has some serious woman issues and was almost a lunatic. He blamed Samdal's mom for his wife's death when in reality it wasn't anybody's fault. I have never seen such a spineless man ever in my life. Imagine blaming someone else for your own incompetence. All in all, it was a forcefully curated slice of life drama where there's no slice of life in it. The only saving grace was the natural backgrounds, at least they were pretty. Eunju, the antagonist, was supposed to be annoying, but she was less annoying than Cho Samdal actually.

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