“I’m going to become a dragon that rises from a small stream.” – Cho Samdal

A hometown (고향) is not just a place, it's a root, an identity, an experience, an memory. A hometown allows somebody to feel a sense of community and belonging. The story primarily unfolds in a hometown called Samdalri, nestled in the enchanting destination of Jeju-do.

“Yong-pil once told me no dragon can rise from a small stream by themselves. They get help from the loaches, mandarin fish, and frogs in the streams.” – Cho Samdal

This drama is about healing, forgiveness, family, friendship, love, and selflessness. Cho Samdal left behind her thriving career as a photographer in Seoul and moved back to Samdalri after 8 years of vacancy. By doing that, she also left behind her identity as Cho Eunhye, the workaholic tsundere, to find her true self as Cho Samdal.

“The migratory birds pursued their youthful dreams, but they eventually flew back to Jeju, their home.” – Cho Samdal

However, this drama doesn't only follow her path, but showcases the healing journey of all Samdalri's people.

- Ko Mija: A mainland lady who became the leader of the Haenyeo (해녀) mourns the loss of her old friend, Bu Mija.
- Cho Sangtae: A fool in love who saw his world shattered after the loss of his soulmate, Bu Mija. Since then, he is blinded by hatred towards Ko Mija, thinking everyone forgot the memory of his wife.
- Cho Haedal & Cha Hayul: Haedal was pregnant with Hayul at a young age and put a hold on her promising swimming career. She is also a widow. Hayul is a thoughtful and mature child who wants to protect her mother. The dynamics between them was my personal favourite.
- Cho Jindal: The eldest out of the three sisters. She married into a rich family and was mistreated. She always stands against unfairness and persecution, never failing to protect those weaker than her. At the price of her career, she denounced her family in law and their heinous actions.
- Cho Yongpil: The embodiment of selflessness. He always had a knack for helping and saving people. From decorating Ko Mija's buoy with a floral pattern, to pushing away his dream of joining the WMO in Switzerland, he always thought of his loved ones before himself.

“Your dream doesn’t always have to be a job. You two are my dream.” – Young Cho Yongpil

I mainly loved this drama because it tackles a topic that has rarely been addressed: Haenyeos.
Inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List since 2016, Haenyeos belong to the heritage of South Korea. The soaring Hallyu (한류) Wave is a great opportunity to showcase the culture of Haenyeos to the world through media like Korean Drama.

You won't see vengeance. The female lead is not a proactive character hungry for revenge. She is passive and doesn't want to retaliate against those people who wronged her. Whenever Bang Eunju looks for more ways to stain Samdal's reputation, Samdal chooses not to react. She tried to tell everyone that it's not true when she was in Seoul, but everyone turned their back on her already. Her friends and family, however, can't stand seeing Samdal be wronged when she didn't do anything and will do everything to free her from the dungeon of malicious articles and comments.

Throughout her journey in Samdalri, Cho Samdal realized that there are people who loved her. This is why it is important to go back to our roots, to remember where we came from and who we were before. Dwelling in the past isn't a good thing for sure, but it's unhealthy to completely erase it from our memory. Nostalgia isn't a toxic feeling when moderately consumed; it is a proof that we have accomplished beautiful things in the past that should inspire us to accomplish beautiful things in the future.

This story moves us, much like the azure waves of Jeju Island, and reminds us that it's okay to not be okay.

“The sea is the best place to be when you’re troubled. It’s peaceful and no one bothers you there.” – Ko Mija

“As always, we’re going for only as long as our breath allows without being greedy. And whenever we’re out of breath, we’ll come back to that place. Our small stream, Samdal-ri. Having a place to return to is an incredible relief.” - Cho Yongpil and Cho Samdal.