I am convinced that dramas can be a source of information whether it’d be related to the way you handle relationships or even how to live a better life. And one theme that comes back often in Dramaland is that of the ‘hometown’; a place you return to when everything seems to crumble down around you. There, you find people you love and trust, new perspectives on how to deal with your problems and how to stand back up.
However, this definition – which seems to be the most common one – is not necessarily the one given by ALL dramas. Some K-Dramas, in combination with the story they tell, take another route and define the idea of hometown slightly differently.
After watching 600+ dramas, here are 4 types of hometowns that are worth mentioning in my opinion. Their common point: Hometown is synonymous with peace and happiness. Which of these dramas best defines the idea of a hometown for you?
1. A safe haven to return to – Welcome to Samdalri
‘Having a place to return to is an incredible relief’. I think this sentence from the last scene of Welcome to Samdalri best characterizes what a hometown is supposed to be like. In the drama, Cho Sam Dal has lost everything in Seoul after an incident. So, she returns to Jeju Island to flee her reality. Her comeback is synonymous with a fresh start. She gets back to her family, friends, routine. She reflects on herself and the life she’s led for the past 15 years. This forced break is beneficial to the protagonist, as she’s able to re-focus on what really matters to her. Being among the ones she loves and protected by them is the best feeling anyone could wish for. It gives you the strength to stand back on your feet and confront the world again. A hometown gives you the power to do anything, but also to let go when you need it.
2. A place that hurts and heals – When the Weather is Fine
Many dramas emphasize on the fact that hometowns are happy places. But some dare define it differently. In When the Weather is Fine, Mok Hae Won’s physical hometown is a reminder of her suffering and trauma. Years ago, she escaped and freed herself from it. However, she’s forced to come back when she realizes that the rest of the world is even worse. As she has nowhere else to go, she settles down there again. But this time, things are different. Hae Won re-connects with the people, places and activities that used to bring her joy before tragedy hit. She’s also able to heal her wounds and make peace with her past. Her hometown was a living Hell she ran away from, but it’s also a serene, cozy and bright village filled with trustworthy people that bring her hope for the future.
3. A memory that exists in our hearts – Reply 1988
Reply 1988 takes an interesting approach when it comes to defining what a hometown is and what it stands for. In most episodes, Ssangmun-Dong embodies a physical hometown. The neighborhood is filled with people who know each other and care for one another. Though neighbors at first, the group of 1980s teenagers grow into best friends who go through hoops together. Even parents support each other when hardships come their way. To me, the drama best describes a ‘home’-‘town’ in a literal sense. It’s like a buzzing microcosm where everyone lives in harmony. However, people eventually grow older. Each takes his own separate way. Ssangmun-Dong eventually disappears years after. But the place still exists in characters’ minds and hearts. Combined with a certain sense of nostalgia, this personal hometown is a place they return to in their mind whenever they feel down. They are reminded of the happy moments they had back then and find comfort in them.
4. The person we love the most – My Dearest
Who said a hometown had to be a physical place? No one, and it’s certainly not My Dearest that will contradict that idea. The melodrama tells the tumultuous love story between Lee Jang Hyun and Yoo Gil Chae amidst the war and chaos following the Qing invasion. Uprooted and separated several times, it becomes clear to both leads that they are each other’s hometown. Yoo Gil Chae becomes the one and only person Jang Hyun yearns for. Through the hardships of life, she embodies his North Pole. She’s his comfort zone, the happiest memory in his mind and the place he wants to return to. Wherever she goes, he follows. This is what the word ‘hometown’ also suggests: it’s a home before anything else. And a home brings you love, shelter, security and affection. Just like Gil Chae to Jang Hyun.
Once Upon a Drama 