TV
Ji Chang-wook, 8 years of pure love for Shin Hye-sun
In 'Welcome to Samdali', there is a character who captured the hearts of viewers in just two episodes with his pure love charm that has no exit. This is Cho Yong-pil (played by Ji Chang-wook), the stream guardian who loves Gaecheon Samdali and protects it carefully. Working at the Jeju Meteorological Administration, he is a talented forecaster who boasts an accuracy as accurate as a supercomputer when it comes to Jeju weather, using data and insight accumulated from years of experience. The reason why he stubbornly clings to the weather even when he is called a loser even by the main office is his warm heart to protect the safety of villagers working in the dangerous sea.
Yong-pil has a destined partner, Cho Sam-dal (played by Shin Hye-seon), whom Grandmother Samsin points out to him. After being together as a set for 30 years from the moment they were born, their eyes met and they became a "historic couple", but for some reason, they had a tearful separation, and since then, they have lived without each other for 8 years. Yongpil lived in Gaecheon, which he loved and cherished, and Samdal left Gaecheon in Seoul. However, the saying ‘out of sight, out of mind’ did not seem to apply to Yongpil. Even though 8 years have passed, the circumstances that have only lasted 3 months still remain in a corner of my heart.
After breaking up with Samdal, Yongpil refused even if his father Jo Sangtae (played by Yoo Ohseong) arranged a meeting for him and did not even think about meeting anyone else. Because of this, Yongpil's neighborhood friends, the Eagle Brothers Oh, and Lucky Convenience Store part-timer Kim Mansu (played by Seojal) cast doubtful eyes on Samdal, asking if they are "still in love." The prevailing speculation is that the reason for refusing to appoint the head office in Seoul is because of the three months. Yongpil, who loves Gaecheon, passionately said that Seoul is not for him, using the analogy, "The reason Tarzan only wears 10 won panties is because even if you give him a 10 million won mink coat, he won't wear it for fear of getting hot." However, their explanation was that it was because of “someone you should not meet in Seoul,” that is, Samdal.
As if to prove the guess, a magazine with top photographer Samdal on the cover was neatly placed on Yongpil's office desk. Longing for his long-time partner was visible in Yongpil's eyes as he read the interview in the magazine, sitting alone on the hill where Samdal dreamed of leaving Gaecheon long ago, counting the number of planes heading to Seoul. When an unexpected issue arose for Samdal in Seoul, even if he pretended not to care on the outside, he was secretly worried by reading the article, and even became interested in the Seoul appointment that he had not even noticed. Even though his body was separated, Yongpil was always with Samdal in his heart.
His heartbreaking display of pure love revealed in the epilogue of episode 2 immediately created a famous scene that became a hot topic. Samdal, who was stigmatized as a photographer who bullied his juniors in the industry due to the uproar caused by his jealous first assistant Bang Eun-joo (played by Jo Yoon-seo), had to withdraw from all projects he was working on in the aftermath. The 'People: My People' exhibition, which was held in conjunction with Paris Magazine, closed before even opening. Even the three months of ‘my people’ who allowed me to hang their photos in the exhibition all turned their backs on her, demanding that their photos be taken down. However, it was revealed that Yongpil secretly visited the exhibition and left his name in the guestbook. Although there was no contact for 8 years, Yongpil was the only 'my person' who did not run away from Samdal and silently followed behind her. It was a moment that shook the hearts of women in the small screen due to Yongpil's pure love that left such a deep impression.
Kang Min-kyung, Ten Asia reporter kkk39@tenasia.co.kr
