This drama serves us a delicate narrative by the concept of "Isn't it nice to have a place to return back to?"

Cho Eun Hye, the famous photographer who hits rock bottom in her career has to return to Samdal-ri, her own sweet hometown where she spend her childhood... Samdal-ri situated in the coastals of Jeju is a friendly neighborhood where people live an unembellished life away from the bustling rush of a big city like Seoul.

Eun Hye (originally called Cho Sam Dal) returns back to Samdal-ri and comes across all the people she used to cherish, spent her teenage with, had bittersweet entanglements with eventually finds herself in the process.

This, this particular concept of healing after a big downfall in life, I love such stories and that took me to watch this drama... The setting in itself is very comforting, we have the beautiful riverside locations and some sunset shots you can stare for hours at, that countryside homely feeling with all kinds of clumsy, gossipy characters that bring cartoon-ish comedy ( I know its unrealistically dramatic at times but ngl it usually worked )

Their warm bonds of friendship and regrets of past heartbreaks with actors like Ji Chang Wook, Shin Hye Sun it made me weep a few times too. "Emotionally" Welcome to Samdal-ri stood out strong...!! and how can we not talk about their chemistry. Its "CHILDHOOD FRIENDS TO LOVERS TO EX TO REUNION TROPE" Sounds interesting right!? XD It was so natural and cute! I wanted more of their dating era lol.

Tbh this is not only her story but it is also about her two sisters, her mother and their family overall, I liked the down to earth healthy dynamics of their family... the thought provoking lines in every ep like "are you okay?"... "you're not alone"... were like cherry on the top for an emotional script.


What still takes away that 1.5 ★ star rating from Welcome to Samdal-ri is —

• some typical worn out tropes like a love traingle

• the slow pacing (it was okay for an airing watcher like me but for binge, people are going to find it draggy at some point)

• less screen time to some supporting characters story (the dolphin lovers family - their story was so adorable, I wish they gave it more depth and maybe a proper closure)


Overall, a decent, emotive drama with great acting and amazing Jeju visuals!