tvN’s dramas “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha” and “Our Blues”, which aired in 2024 and 2024, were both filmed not in Seoul but in Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do and Jeju Island, respectively. The success of these two dramas has led drama industry producers to broaden their horizons and brainstorm works set in regional areas rather than Seoul. Here are some recently released Korean dramas set in regions outside of the capital.
■ JTBC’s “Welcome to Samdal-ri” (Jeju Island)
JTBC’s drama “Welcome to Samdal-ri” tells a heartwarming story that happens when Cho Sam-dal (Shin Hye-sun) returns to her hometown Jeju after losing everything. The drama is set against the backdrop of Jeju Island, incorporating important elements such as Jeju Island’s haenyeo (female divers) culture and Jeju dialect. The character Cho Sam-dal has lived in Seoul for a long time but still carries Jeju, her hometown, in her heart, feeling Seoul as a foreign place. The characters in “Welcome to Samdal-ri” heal their bodies and minds in Jeju, escaping from the fiercely competitive society depicted in Seoul.
■ ENA’s “Like Flowers in Sand” (virtual region Geosan, Gyeongsangnam-do)
ENA’s drama “Like Flowers in Sand” follows the story of young people who are struggling to bloom in their lives against the backdrop of ssireum city of Geosan. “Like Flowers in Sand” is set in a fictional location called “Geosan”, not in the capital region. Viewers inferred that “Geosan” is a composite word of Geoje and Masan in Gyeongsangnam-do. In fact, the actors in the drama used the Gyeongsangnam-do dialect. Lead actors Jang Dong-yoon, who is from Daegu, and Lee Ju-myoung, who is from Busan, showcased their excellent dialect acting in the drama. Jang Dong-yoon mentioned, “It was challenging for me to perform in the Gyeongsangnam-do dialect as I’m from Gyeongsangbuk-do. Actress Lee Ju-myoung, being from Busan, helped me a lot.”