KajoPicks: 8 South Korean dramas to watch for some countryside romance

Forget about Hallmark, here are eight South Korean dramas to watch for some countryside romance:

1.When the Camellia Blooms (2019)

This drama is a ‘noona’ countryside romance mixed with some murder mystery.

When the Camellia Blooms (2019) follows the story of a single mother Oh Dong-baek (Gong Hyo-jin) who runs a bar called “Camellia” in the fictional town of Ongsan.

She has a 8-year-old son Kang Pil-gu (Kim Kang-hoon). Dong-baek unfortunately always becomes the subject of the town’s gossip just because she is beautiful, runs a bar and a single mother.

The gossip worsens when a younger police officer Hwang Yong-sik (Kang Ha-neul) openly pursues her.

On top of that, the sudden appearance of Dong-baek’s ex-boyfriend and Pil-gu’s biological father Kang Jong-ryul (Kim Ji-seok) adds more whispers among the neighbours.

In the drama, Ongsan has all the essence of rural social life with aunties gossiping about everything under the sun.

Regardless, these are the same aunties who usually the first people offer helps during hard times.

For Dong-baek, the hard time comes when a serial killer sets her as the next target.

The series was filmed mostly in Guryongpo Beach, an area that was used as a fishing village during Japanese colonial times and to this day remains a fishing town.

2.When the Weather is Fine (2020)

Korean drama about books

The male character in this drama is living my retirement dream.

Im Eun-seob (Seo Kang-joon) is the owner of a bookshop named “Goodnight Bookstore”.

Every day he wakes up, drink coffee, read a book and write on his blog.

His seemingly mundane life is interrupted when his former classmate and neighbour moves back to town.

Cellist Mok Hae-won (Park Min-young) quits her job in Seoul and goes back to Bookhyun Village.

It was where she briefly lived when she was in high school.

The drama is based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Lee Do-woo.

If you are into a slow-paced type of storyline that set against white winter background, this is the drama for you.

3.Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021)

This series is a remake of 2004 romantic comedy Mr Handy, Mr Hong.

It follows the story of Yoon Hye-jin (Shin Min-a) who moves to the seaside village of Gongjin from Seoul after her career as a dentist suffers a setback.

She then decides to establish her own dental clinic in Gongjin.

There, she comes across a peculiar man with an unclear background Hong Du-sik (Kim Seon-ho). The villagers nicknamed him Chief Hong as he always there to help the town folks.

Hye-jin and Du-sik’s countryside romance is a classic tale of enemies to lovers as both of them always bicker in the beginning of the series.

The drama was one of the highest-rated dramas in Korean cable television history and one of Netflix’s most-watched non-English television shows.

4.Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol (2020)

While the female lead in the previous drama is a cellist, the protagonist in Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol (2020) is a pianist who retreats to the countryside for a fresh start.

Goo Ra-ra (Go Ara)’s life suddenly turns from riches to rags when her family business goes bankrupt.

While trying to rebuild her life in the rural area, she comes across Joon Sun-woo (Lee Jae-wook).

Despite their unexpected meeting, Sun-woo is generous and helpful toward Ra-ra. He even pays for her living cost and builds a small place for a piano lesson so that Ra-ra can get back on her feet.

Is he genuinely want to help Ra-ra or is there an unspoken reason behind his generosity?

5.Eccentric! Chef Moon (2020)

This series follows the story of two people who moved to the countryside for two different reasons.

Moon Seung-mo (Eric Mun) is a famous chef and the only heir to an 80-year old traditional Korean pork soup restaurant.

When tragedy strikes and he loses his parents due to a fire, he decides to move to the quiet Seoha Village.

Meanwhile, Yoo Yoo-jin (Go Won-hee) is a popular fashion designer. After losing her memory from an accident, she makes her move to Seoha Village.

Her memory loss also causes a complete change of personality; from her usual glamorous self to acting like an oddball.

So what happen when these two opposite characters meet in a small, quaint village?

6.Summer Strike (2022)

After her boyfriend dumps her, her mother dies an accident. As she goes through one of her worst periods in her life, Lee Yeo-reum (Seol Hyun) decides to quit her job and moves to a small village.

There, everything is new and strange to her.

She also gets to know one of the residents An Dae-beom (Im Si-wan) who works as a librarian.

Overall, it is a slow paced drama without any much conflicts as it focuses more on human emotions and relationships.

The drama is based on a webtoon of the same title by writer Joo Young-hyun.

7.Like Flower in Sand (2023)

This drama is set against the backdrop of the fictional ssireum city of Geosan. Ssireum or Korean wrestling is a traditional national sport of Korea.

The storyline circles around Kim Baek-doo (Jang Dong-yoon) who is a ssireum player considering to retire from the sport.

When his childhood friend/first love Oh Yoo-kyung (Lee Ju-myoung) becomes the management team leader for his ssireum team, everything takes a different in his life.

Like Flowers in Sand is written by Won Yon-jung and directed by Kim Jin-woo. The cast also includes Yun Jong-seok as Min Hyun-wook, Kim Bo-ra as Joo Mi-ran, Lee Jae-joon as Kwak Jin-soo, and Lee Joo-seung as Jo Seok-he.

8.Welcome to Samdal-ri (2023)

Set on Jeju Island, the plot centers on two childhood friends, Cho Yong-pil (Ji Chang-wook) and Cho Sam-dal (Shin Hye-sun).

Following the tragic loss of his mother due to a mistaken weather forecast, Yong-pil resolves to become a weather forecaster to safeguard his hometown’s elderly residents.

However, his steadfast commitment and intolerance for inaccurate information brand him as a stubborn troublemaker.

Meanwhile, Sam-dal moves to Seoul to pursue her aspiration of becoming a successful fashion photographer under the alias Cho Eun-hye.

However, when her career takes a turn to the downfall, she returns to her hometown where she reunites with Yong-pil.

Despite past conflicts that drove them apart, their bond remains as strong as ever, reaffirming their enduring affection for each other.

The drama is directed by Cha Young-hoon who is known for his work Uncontrollably Fond (2016) and When the Camellia Blooms (2019).

You obviously can see the pattern here in these K-dramas (as well as Hallmark’s Christmas movies) with countryside romance.

When bad thing happen in life, retreat to the rural area. There, you will find a hard time adjusting but it is okay. In the end of the day, you will find your prince charming and you will live happily ever after. The end.

Patricia Hului is a Kayan who wants to live in a world where you can eat whatever you want and not gain weight.

She grew up in Bintulu, Sarawak and graduated from the University Malaysia Sabah with a degree in Marine Science.

She is currently obsessed with silent vlogs during this Covid-19 pandemic.

Due to her obsession, she started her Youtube channel of slient vlogs.

Follow her on Instagram at @patriciahului, Facebook at Patricia Hului at Kajomag.com or Twitter at @patriciahului.

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