Welcome
Promotional poster
Also known as
Hangul
어서와
Genre
Based onWelcome
by Go A-ra
Developed byKBS Drama Production
Written byJoo Hwa-mi
Directed byJi Byung-hyun
Starring
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes24[lower-alpha 1]
Production
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time35 minutes[lower-alpha 1]
Production companyGill Pictures[lower-alpha 2]
Original release
NetworkKBS2
ReleaseMarch 25 (2020-03-25) –
April 30, 2020 (2020-04-30)

Welcome[6][7] (Korean: 어서와; RR: Eoseowa) is a 2020 South Korean television series starring Kim Myung-soo, Shin Ye-eun, Seo Ji-hoon, Yoon Ye-joo and Kang Hoon. Based on the 2009–2010 Naver webtoon of the same name by Go A-ra, it aired on KBS2's Wednesdays and Thursdays at 22:00 (KST) time slot from March 25 to April 30, 2020.[8][9]

During its run, Welcome recorded a lowest single-episode rating of 0.8%, beating the previous record lows set by previous KBS2 dramas Lovely Horribly (2018) and Manhole (2017) to become the lowest rated drama airing in a primetime slot on a free-to-air network in history.[10] Welcome's average rating of 1.7% was also the worst, until MBC drama Oh My Ladylord broke the record with a slightly lower average figure of 1.6% a year later.

Synopsis

A graphic designer in her mid-twenties, Sol Ah harbours dreams of becoming a web-based comic author and has always had a love-hate relationship with cats.

But Sol Ah's life changes fast when she brings home a friendly feline. It turns out, however, that this is not any old cat. Named Hong Jo, he can take human form. Hong Jo becomes exceptionally fond of So Ah, and goes to great pains to hide his human identity from her. He soon proves that he will do anything that is required in order to stay near her. Will Hong Jo manage to keep his identity a secret?

And what could be in store for this remarkable feline-human duo as their relationship deepens?[11]

Cast

Main

He is actually a cat, who dreams to be a human. He realises that he can only be turned into a human by Sol-Ah. He grew excessive fond of Sol-ah and can go to any measures to stay near her.

She is a graphic designer who dreams to be a webtoon artist. She has a love-hate relationship against cats. Initially, she used to date Lee Jae-Sun. Later, she tries hard to protect the secret identity of Hong-jo.[14][15]

He has a cat like personality but is allergic to cats. Jae-sun broke up with Sol-Ah and went in a relationship with Lee Ru-bi. He has somewhat a complicated relationship with his father. He is the first person to find out that Hong-jo is a cat who can turn into human from time to time.[16][17]

  • Yoon Ye-joo as Eun Ji-eun

She is a senior sunbaenim in Sol-Ah and Doo-sik's office. She is introverted and has a cat like personality.

He is a friend to Sol-Ah and Jae-sun. Doo sik has a puppy like personality. He always stays cheerful and happy. His family runs a restaurant. His mother often sends breakfast to Sol-Ah.

Supporting

  • Ahn Nae-sang as Kim Soo-pyeong. He is the father of Kim Sol-Ah. He is a poet by profession.
  • Jo Ryun as Bang Sil. The woman whom Sol-Ah's father likes and wishes to marry.
  • Kim Yeo-jin as Sung Hyun-ja. She is the mother of Go Doo-sik. She runs a restaurant.
  • Jeon Bae-soo as Go Min-joong. He is the father of Go Doo-sik.
  • Jeon Ye-seo as Park Sin-ja
  • Yang Dae-hyuk as Cha Sang-kwon
  • Han Ye-seul as Lee Hye-yeon
  • Lee Yu-jin as Choi Da-som
  • Choi Min-geum as Grandmother
  • Choi Bae-young as Lee Ru-bi. She used to date Lee Jae-sun. But later, dumps him to marry someone else. She is the actual owner of the cat.
  • Yeon Je-hyung as Bang Gook-bong. He is the son of Bang-sil, making him the step brother of Sol-ah. He loves traveling and writing.
  • Song Min-jae as Das-sung
  • Jo Hyuk-joon as Na Jin-won

Production

Early working title of the series is Man Who Bakes Bread (Korean: 식빵 굽는 남자; RR: Sikppang gumneun namja). It was originally planned to air on cable channel tvN in the first half of 2019, and the lead roles were offered to Yook Sung-jae and Park Eun-bin,[lower-alpha 3] but both declined.[18]

The first script reading took place in October 2019 at KBS Annex Broadcasting Station in Yeouido, South Korea.[19]

Original soundtrack

Welcome OST
Soundtrack album by
Various Artists
Released2020
GenreSoundtrack
Language
Label

Part 1

Released on March 19, 2020 (2020-03-19)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Oh My, Oh My" (어마어마)
  • Han Jae-wook
  • In Woo
  • Dony
  • Han Jae-wook
  • In Woo
  • Dony
Dayoung & Exy (Cosmic Girls)2:54
2."Oh My, Oh My" (Inst.) 
  • Han Jae-wook
  • In Woo
  • Dony
 2:54
Total length:5:52

Part 2

Released on March 25, 2020 (2020-03-25)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Ddingdong" (띵동)Park Kyung (Block B)
  • Park Kyung (Block B)
  • vintermoon
Park Kyung (Block B)3:44
2."Ddingdong" (Inst.) 
  • Park Kyung (Block B)
  • vintermoon
 3:44
Total length:7:28

Part 3

Released on March 26, 2020 (2020-03-26)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Welcome" (어서와)
  • Hickee
  • Forever Noh
  • Forever Noh
  • Hickee
Umji (GFriend)3:38
2."Welcome" (Inst.) 
  • Forever Noh
  • Hickee
 3:38
Total length:7:16

Part 4

Released on April 1, 2020 (2020-04-01)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Fall In Love" (사랑에 빠졌었나봐)Hwang Yong-jooHwang Yong-jooJuniel3:30
2."Fall In Love" (Inst.) Hwang Yong-joo 3:30
Total length:7:00

Part 5

Released on April 2, 2020 (2020-04-02)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."I Was Wrong"
  • Yang Seo-young
  • Dong Kyung
  • CLEF CREW
  • HR
  • Dong Kyung
  • CLEF CREW
Lee Jin-sol (April)3:15
2."I Was Wrong" (Inst.) 
  • HR
  • Dong Kyung
  • CLEF CREW
 3:15
Total length:6:30

Part 6

Released on April 8, 2020 (2020-04-08)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Slush"
  • Motte
  • Han Kyung-soo
  • Choi Han-sol
  • Han Kyung-soo
  • Choi Han-sol
Motte3:19
2."Slush" (Inst.) 
  • Han Kyung-soo
  • Choi Han-sol
 3:19
Total length:6:38

Part 7

Released on April 9, 2020 (2020-04-09)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Again Spring" (다시, 봄)
  • Jung Eun-jin
  • Kim Chang-rak
  • Kim Soo-bin
  • CLEF CREW
  • Kim Chang-rak
  • Kim Soo-bin
  • CLEF CREW
Kihyun (Monsta X)3:24
2."Again Spring" (Inst.) 
  • Kim Chang-rak
  • Kim Soo-bin
  • CLEF CREW
 3:24
Total length:6:48

Part 8

Released on April 15, 2020 (2020-04-15)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."As Time Goes" (시간은 한 바퀴 돌아)Jay LeeJay LeeJinsoul (Loona)3:07
2."As Time Goes" (Inst.) Jay Lee 3:07
Total length:6:14

Part 9

Released on April 16, 2020 (2020-04-16)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Better To Be You"
  • Drew Ryan Scott
  • Dave Hawks
  • Ping
  • Drew Ryan Scott
  • Dave Hawks
  • Ping
Drew Ryan Scott3:49
2."Better To Be You" (Inst.) 
  • Drew Ryan Scott
  • Dave Hawks
  • Ping
 3:49
Total length:7:38

Part 10

Released on April 22, 2020 (2020-04-22)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Last Goodbye" (이젠 안녕)
  • BachelorNextDoor
  • Jo Yoo-ma
Linnea GawellFloody3:44
2."Last Goodbye" (Inst.) Linnea Gawell 3:44
Total length:7:28

Part 11

Released on April 23, 2020 (2020-04-23)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Show Your Heart" (너를 보여줘)Jeon Geun-hwa (Weekly1)
  • Jeon Geun-hwa (Weekly1)
  • Jo Se-hee
  • Lee Ju-heon
Chan (A.C.E)3:28
2."Show Your Heart" (Inst.) 
  • Jeon Geun-hwa (Weekly1)
  • Jo Se-hee
  • Lee Ju-heon
 3:28
Total length:6:56

Part 12

Released on April 29, 2020 (2020-04-29)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Shooting Star" (별똥별)Hwang Yong-jooHwang Yong-jooShin Ye-eun2:58
2."Shooting Star" (Inst.) Hwang Yong-joo 2:58
Total length:5:56

Part 13

Released on April 30, 2020 (2020-04-30)
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Blooming" (꽃이 피었네)Nap!erNap!erChoi Nakta3:09
2."Blooming" (Inst.) Nap!er 3:09
Total length:6:18

Ratings

Average TV viewership ratings (nationwide)
Ep. Original broadcast date Average audience share
(Nielsen Korea)[20]
1 March 25, 2020 3.6%
2 2.8%
3 March 26, 2020 1.6%
4 1.8%
5 April 1, 2020 2.7%
6 2.1%
7 April 2, 2020 1.5%
8 1.7%
9 April 8, 2020 2.0%
10 1.9%
11 April 9, 2020 1.5%
12 1.6%
13 April 15, 2020 1.8%
14 1.8%
15 April 16, 2020 0.9%
16 1.1%
17 April 22, 2020 1.8%
18 1.7%
19 April 23, 2020 1.0%
20 1.1%
21 April 29, 2020 1.4%
22 1.4%
23 April 30, 2020 0.8%
24 1.0%
Average 1.7%
  • In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.

Notes

  1. 1 2 In order to circumvent Korean laws that prevent commercial breaks in the middle of an episode, what would previously have been aired as single 70 minute episodes are now being repackaged as two 35 minute episodes, with two episodes being shown each night with a commercial break between the two.[4]
  2. ↑ Acquired by Studio Dragon in September 2022.[5]
  3. ↑ Park became the female lead in the 2019–2020 SBS TV Friday-Saturday drama Hot Stove League, which was produced by the same production company behind Meow, the Secret Boy.

References

  1. ↑ "Hi, Welcome [Title in the URL]". Naver TV (in Korean). Korean Broadcasting System, Naver Corporation. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Meow, the Secret Boy [Title in the URL]". kbs.co.kr (in Korean). Korean Broadcasting System. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Login • Instagram". Archived from the original on 2021-12-25. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  4. ↑ Park, Jin-hai (May 16, 2017). "Drama viewers angry over commercial breaks". The Korea Times. Retrieved April 17, 2020 – via PressReader.
  5. ↑ Lee, Hazell (October 7, 2022). "Studio Dragon: Awaiting Full-fledged Benefits of Original Works". Business Korea. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  6. ↑ Welcome / 어서와 [Teaser]. YouTube (in Korean). KBS World. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  7. ↑ Welcome (Official Website). KBS World. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  8. ↑ ""Welcome" Confirms Kim Myung-soo and Shin Ye-eun". HanCinema. December 11, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  9. ↑ KBS '어서와' 0.9%…지상파 최초 0%대 드라마 '불명예'. MBN (in Korean).
  10. ↑ "Kim Myung Soo x Shin Ye Eun's 'Welcome' sets new record for the lowest ever ratings for a major broadcasting station drama". allkpop. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  11. ↑ "Meow the Secret Boy". Viki. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  12. ↑ Kim, Ga-young (August 19, 2019). "[단독] '홀로서기' 엘, 웹툰 원작 '어서와' 주인공 유력". TV Report (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Kim Myung-soo Confirms Role in KBS's "Welcome"". HanCinema. August 26, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  14. ↑ Kim, Jin-seok (September 4, 2019). "[단독]신예은, 김명수와 드라마 '어서와' 주인공". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Shin Ye-eun Confirms Starring Role in "Welcome"". HanCinema. September 17, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  16. ↑ Lee, Min-ji (October 21, 2019). "'어서와' 서지훈 주연 낙점, 마성의 매력남으로 변신(공식)". Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Seo Ji-hoon to Star in "Welcome"". HanCinema. October 21, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  18. ↑ Kim, Jin-seok (March 18, 2019). "[단독]'식빵 굽는 남자' 육성재 불발… 다른 배우 논의". JoongAng Ilbo Co. (in Korean). Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  19. ↑ Kim, Myung-mi (December 31, 2019). "'어서와' 첫 대본리딩 현장, 김명수-신예은-서지훈 호흡 어땠나". Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Nielsen Korea". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Retrieved March 25, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.