Welcome to Samdal-ri

A K-drama worth diving into

By Amina Ahmed

One of Netflix’s latest Korean dramas, “Welcome to Samdal-ri,” has hit the ground running. With beloved actors such as Ji Chang-Wook and Shin Hye-Sun starring in the series and the age-old heartwarming narrative of “the hometown", this series was certainly a recipe for success. And surprisingly, I’m at a loss for words to critique.

Don’t be mistaken, this series isn’t flawless or perfect. It’s simple, true. Rather than highlighting dialogue and what is verbally communicated, the audience learns and gathers the story of the main character through unspoken actions and body language. Cho Sam-dal, our protagonist, returns to her hometown in Jeju after her photography career fails due to scandal. Yet, it is the intimacy of the small town that is the crown jewel of this series. Their unwavering devotion in helping Sam-dal clear her name, protecting her dream and assisting her with her exhibition only to keep her passion alive are a few highlights. The people of her neighborhood surely didn’t communicate their love with their words, but were always there when it mattered.

The icing on the cake was the cinematography and the Haenyeos (female divers). The long shots of the island’s coast with the vast sea beyond were simply breathtaking, but I couldn’t end this review without mentioning the Haenyeos. Not only was it refreshing to see middle-aged women simply existing and having stories to tell, but their words of wisdom hit home as well. One of my favorites was a recurring quote throughout the series, “Only stay below the water for as long as your breath allows, and then come back to the surface where you started.” In a world where we are forced to sacrifice ourselves and work passed our limits, it was refreshing to hear such comforting words.