Welcome (TV series)
{{short description|2020 South Korean television series}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Welcome main poster.jpg
| caption = Promotional poster
| native_name = {{Infobox Korean television name|hangul=어서와}}
| genre = {{ubl|Fantasy|Romantic comedy}}
| creator =
| developer = KBS Drama Production
| based_on = {{based on|Welcome|Go A-ra}}
| writer = Joo Hwa-mi
| director = Ji Byung-hyun
| starring = {{ubl|Kim Myung-soo|Shin Ye-eun|Seo Ji-hoon|Yoon Ye-joo|Kang Hoon}}
| country = South Korea
| language = Korean
| num_episodes = 24{{efn|name=epcount|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.{{cite news|last1=Park|first1=Jin-hai|url=https://www.pressreader.com/korea-republic/the-korea-times/20170516/282041917057345|title=Drama viewers angry over commercial breaks|work=The Korea Times|via=PressReader|date=May 16, 2017|access-date=April 17, 2020}}}}
| executive_producer =
| producer =
| cinematography =
| editor =
| camera = Single-camera
| runtime = 35 minutes{{efn|name=epcount}}
| company = Gill Pictures{{efn|Acquired by Studio Dragon in September 2022.{{cite web|url=http://www.businesskorea.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=101784|first=Hazell|last=Lee|title=Studio Dragon: Awaiting Full-fledged Benefits of Original Works|date=October 7, 2022|access-date=October 9, 2022|website=Business Korea}}}}
| network = KBS2
| first_aired = {{start date|2020|3|25}}
| last_aired = {{end date|2020|4|30}}
| related =
}}
Welcome{{cite video|url=http://kbsworld.kbs.co.kr/program/program_view.php?pg_seq=1448|title=Welcome|website=KBS World|access-date=March 25, 2020}} ({{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) from March 25 to April 30, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.hancinema.net/meow-the-secret-boy-confirms-kim-myung-soo-and-shin-ye-eun-136638.html|date=December 11, 2019|website=HanCinema|title="Welcome" Confirms Kim Myung-soo and Shin Ye-eun|access-date=March 22, 2020}}
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.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} 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
Kim Sol-ah, a young graphic designer, brings home a white cat named Hong-jo that can turn into a man. He becomes attracted to Sol-ah while hiding his human identity from her.{{cite web|title=Meow the Secret Boy|url=https://www.viki.com/tv/36944c-meow-the-secret-boy|website=Viki|access-date=April 10, 2020}}
Cast
=Main=
- Kim Myung-soo as Hong-jo,{{cite web|first=Ga-young|last=Kim|url=https://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=213&aid=0001125495|script-title=ko:[단독] '홀로서기' 엘, 웹툰 원작 '어서와' 주인공 유력|date=August 19, 2019|website=TV Report|publisher=Naver|language=ko|access-date=February 22, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hancinema.net/kim-myung-soo-confirms-role-in-kbs-s-meow-the-secret-boy-132951.html|date=August 26, 2019|work=HanCinema|title=Kim Myung-soo Confirms Role in KBS's "Welcome"|access-date=March 22, 2020}} a cat who dreams to be a human. Hong-jo 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.
- Shin Ye-eun as Kim Sol-ah, a graphic designer who dreams to be a webtoon artist and has a love-hate relationship with cats. She used to be in relationship with Jae-seon, but tries hard to protect the secret identity of Hong-jo.{{cite web|first=Jin-seok|last=Kim|url=https://news.joins.com/article/23570157|script-title=ko:[단독]신예은, 김명수와 드라마 '어서와' 주인공|date=September 4, 2019|website=JoongAng Ilbo|language=ko|access-date=February 22, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hancinema.net/shin-ye-eun-confirms-starring-role-in-meow-the-secret-boy-133672.html|date=September 17, 2019|work=HanCinema|title=Shin Ye-eun Confirms Starring Role in "Welcome"|access-date=March 22, 2020}}
- Seo Ji-hoon as Lee Jae-sun, a man who was in relationship with Sol-ah until she realized his fear of cats. He went in a relationship with Lee Ru-bi. Jae-sun 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.{{cite web|first=Min-ji|last=Lee|url=https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201910210734232410|script-title=ko:'어서와' 서지훈 주연 낙점, 마성의 매력남으로 변신(공식)|date=October 21, 2019|website=Newsen|language=ko|access-date=February 22, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hancinema.net/seo-ji-hoon-to-star-in-meow-the-secret-boy-134778.html|date=October 21, 2019|work=HanCinema|title=Seo Ji-hoon to Star in "Welcome"|access-date=March 22, 2020}}
- Yoon Ye-joo as Eun Ji-eun, a cat-like introvert in Sol-ah and Doo-sik's office.
- Kang Hoon as Go Doo-sik, Sol-ah and Jae-sun's friend with the personality of a dog.
=Supporting=
- Ahn Nae-sang as Kim Soo-pyeong, Sol-ah's father who works as a poet.
- Jo Ryun as Bang-sil, the woman whom Soo-pyeong likes and wishes to marry.
- Kim Yeo-jin as Sung Hyun-ja and Jeon Bae-soo as Go Min-joong, Doo-sik's parents.
- 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
- {{ill|Choi Min-geum|ko|최민금}} as Grandmother
- Choi Bae-young as Ruby Lee, the actual owner of Hong-jo who was in relationship with Lee Jae-seon until she realized his fear of cats.
- Yeon Je-hyung as Bang Gook-bong, Bang-sil's son who loves traveling and writing.
- Song Min-jae as Da-sung
- Jo Hyuk-joon as Na Jin-won
Production
Originally titled Man Who Bakes Bread ({{Korean|hangul=식빵 굽는 남자|rr=Sikppang gumneun namja}}), the series planned to air on tvN in the first half of 2019, with the lead roles being offered to Yook Sung-jae and Park Eun-bin,{{efn|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 Welcome.}} but both rejected.{{cite web|first=Jin-seok|last=Kim|url=https://news.joins.com/article/23402115|script-title=ko:[단독]'식빵 굽는 남자' 육성재 불발... 다른 배우 논의|date=March 18, 2019|website=JoongAng Ilbo Co.|language=ko|access-date=February 22, 2020}}
The first script reading took place in October 2019 at KBS Annex Broadcasting Station in Yeouido, South Korea.{{cite web|first=Myung-mi|last=Kim|url=https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201912310907510310|script-title=ko:'어서와' 첫 대본리딩 현장, 김명수-신예은-서지훈 호흡 어땠나|date=December 31, 2019|website=Newsen|language=ko|access-date=February 22, 2020}}
Original soundtrack
{{Infobox album
| name = Welcome OST
| type = soundtrack
| artist = Various Artists
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 2020
| studio =
| genre = Soundtrack
| language = {{hlist|Korean|English}}
| label = {{hlist|Donuts Music N|Dreamus Company}}
| producer =
}}
=Part 1=
{{track listing
| headline = Released on {{start date|2020|3|19}}
| extra_column = Artist
| title1 = Oh My, Oh My
| note1 = 어마어마
| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Han Jae-wook|In Woo|Dony}}
| music1 = {{hlist|Han Jae-wook|In Woo|Dony}}
| extra1 = Dayoung & Exy (Cosmic Girls)
| length1 = 2:54
| title2 = Oh My, Oh My
| note2 = Inst.
| music2 = {{hlist|Han Jae-wook|In Woo|Dony}}
| length2 = 2:54
| total_length = 5:52
}}
=Part 2=
{{track listing
| headline = Released on {{start date|2020|3|25}}
| extra_column = Artist
| title1 = Ddingdong
| note1 = 띵동
| lyrics1 = Park Kyung (Block B)
| music1 = {{hlist|Park Kyung (Block B)|vintermoon}}
| extra1 = Park Kyung (Block B)
| length1 = 3:44
| title2 = Ddingdong
| note2 = Inst.
| music2 = {{hlist|Park Kyung (Block B)|vintermoon}}
| length2 = 3:44
| total_length = 7:28
}}
=Part 3=
{{track listing
| headline = Released on {{start date|2020|3|26}}
| extra_column = Artist
| title1 = Welcome (어서와)
| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Hickee|Forever Noh}}
| music1 = {{hlist|Forever Noh|Hickee}}
| length1 = 3:38
| title2 = Welcome (어서와)
| note2 = Inst.
| music2 = {{hlist|Forever Noh|Hickee}}
| length2 = 3:38
| total_length = 7:16
}}
=Part 4=
{{track listing
| headline = Released on {{start date|2020|4|1}}
| extra_column = Artist
| title1 = Fall In Love
| note1 = 사랑에 빠졌었나봐
| lyrics1 = Hwang Yong-joo
| music1 = Hwang Yong-joo
| extra1 = Juniel
| length1 = 3:30
| title2 = Fall In Love
| note2 = Inst.
| music2 = Hwang Yong-joo
| length2 = 3:30
| total_length = 7:00
}}
=Part 5=
{{track listing
| headline = Released on {{start date|2020|4|2}}
| extra_column = Artist
| title1 = I Was Wrong
| note1 =
| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Yang Seo-young|Dong Kyung|CLEF CREW}}
| music1 = {{hlist|HR|Dong Kyung|CLEF CREW}}
| extra1 = Lee Jin-sol (April)
| length1 = 3:15
| title2 = I Was Wrong
| note2 = Inst.
| music2 = {{hlist|HR|Dong Kyung|CLEF CREW}}
| length2 = 3:15
| total_length = 6:30
}}
=Part 6=
{{track listing
| headline = Released on {{start date|2020|4|8}}
| extra_column = Artist
| title1 = Slush
| note1 =
| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Motte|Han Kyung-soo|Choi Han-sol}}
| music1 = {{hlist|Han Kyung-soo|Choi Han-sol}}
| extra1 = Motte
| length1 = 3:19
| title2 = Slush
| note2 = Inst.
| music2 = {{hlist|Han Kyung-soo|Choi Han-sol}}
| length2 = 3:19
| total_length = 6:38
}}
=Part 7=
{{track listing
| headline = Released on {{start date|2020|4|9}}
| extra_column = Artist
| title1 = Again, Spring
| note1 = 다시, 봄
| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Jung Eun-jin|Kim Chang-rak|Kim Soo-bin|Clef Crew}}
| music1 = {{hlist|Kim Chang-rak|Kim Soo-bin|Clef Crew}}
| length1 = 3:24
| title2 = Again, Spring
| note2 = Inst.
| music2 = {{hlist|Kim Chang-rak|Kim Soo-bin|Clef Crew}}
| length2 = 3:24
| total_length = 6:48
}}
=Part 8=
{{track listing
| headline = Released on {{start date|2020|4|15}}
| extra_column = Artist
| title1 = As Time Goes
| note1 = 시간은 한 바퀴 돌아
| lyrics1 = Jay Lee
| music1 = Jay Lee
| extra1 = Jinsoul (Loona)
| length1 = 3:07
| title2 = As Time Goes
| note2 = Inst.
| music2 = Jay Lee
| length2 = 3:07
| total_length = 6:14
}}
=Part 9=
{{track listing
| headline = Released on {{start date|2020|4|16}}
| extra_column = Artist
| title1 = Better To Be You
| note1 =
| lyrics1 = {{hlist|Drew Ryan Scott|Dave Hawks|Ping}}
| music1 = {{hlist|Drew Ryan Scott|Dave Hawks|Ping}}
| extra1 = Drew Ryan Scott
| length1 = 3:49
| title2 = Better To Be You
| note2 = Inst.
| music2 = {{hlist|Drew Ryan Scott|Dave Hawks|Ping}}
| length2 = 3:49
| total_length = 7:38
}}
=Part 10=
{{track listing
| headline = Released on {{start date|2020|4|22}}
| extra_column = Artist
| title1 = Last Goodbye
| note1 = 이젠 안녕
| lyrics1 = {{hlist|BachelorNextDoor|Jo Yoo-ma}}
| music1 = Linnea Gawell
| extra1 = Floody
| length1 = 3:44
| title2 = Last Goodbye
| note2 = Inst.
| music2 = Linnea Gawell
| length2 = 3:44
| total_length = 7:28
}}
=Part 11=
{{track listing
| headline = Released on {{start date|2020|4|23}}
| extra_column = Artist
| title1 = Show Your Heart
| note1 = 너를 보여줘
| lyrics1 = Jeon Geun-hwa (Weekly1)
| music1 = {{hlist|Jeon Geun-hwa (Weekly1)|Jo Se-hee|Lee Ju-heon}}
| length1 = 3:28
| title2 = Show Your Heart
| note2 = Inst.
| music2 = {{hlist|Jeon Geun-hwa (Weekly1)|Jo Se-hee|Lee Ju-heon}}
| length2 = 3:28
| total_length = 6:56
}}
=Part 12=
{{track listing
| headline = Released on {{start date|2020|4|29}}
| extra_column = Artist
| title1 = Shooting Star
| note1 = 별똥별
| lyrics1 = Hwang Yong-joo
| music1 = Hwang Yong-joo
| extra1 = Shin Ye-eun
| length1 = 2:58
| title2 = Shooting Star
| note2 = Inst.
| music2 = Hwang Yong-joo
| length2 = 2:58
| total_length = 5:56
}}
=Part 13=
{{track listing
| headline = Released on {{start date|2020|4|30}}
| extra_column = Artist
| title1 = Blooming
| note1 = 꽃이 피었네
| lyrics1 = Nap!er
| music1 = Nap!er
| extra1 = Choi Nakta
| length1 = 3:09
| title2 = Blooming
| note2 = Inst.
| music2 = Nap!er
| length2 = 3:09
| total_length = 6:18
}}
Ratings
| class="wikitable" style="width:400px; text-align:center"
|+ Average TV viewership ratings (nationwide) ! scope="col" | {{abbr|Ep.|Episode}} ! scope="col" | Original broadcast date ! scope="col" style="width:12em" | Average audience share |
| 1
| rowspan="2" | March 25, 2020 | {{color|red|3.6%}} |
|---|
| 2
| 2.8% |
| 3
| rowspan="2" | March 26, 2020 | 1.6% |
| 4
| 1.8% |
| 5
| rowspan="2" | April 1, 2020 | 2.7% |
| 6
| 2.1% |
| 7
| rowspan="2" | April 2, 2020 | 1.5% |
| 8
| 1.7% |
| 9
| rowspan="2" | April 8, 2020 | 2.0% |
| 10
| 1.9% |
| 11
| rowspan="2" | April 9, 2020 | 1.5% |
| 12
| 1.6% |
| 13
| rowspan="2" | April 15, 2020 | 1.8% |
| 14
| 1.8% |
| 15
| rowspan="2" | April 16, 2020 | 0.9% |
| 16
| 1.1% |
| 17
| rowspan="2" | April 22, 2020 | 1.8% |
| 18
| 1.7% |
| 19
| rowspan="2" | April 23, 2020 | 1.0% |
| 20
| 1.1% |
| 21
| rowspan="2" | April 29, 2020 | 1.4% |
| 22
| 1.4% |
| 23
| rowspan="2" | April 30, 2020 | {{color|blue|0.8%}} |
| 24
| 1.0% |
| colspan="2" | Average
! {{color|green|1.7%}} |
colspan="3" style="font-size:85%" |
|
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://program.kbs.co.kr/2tv/drama/meowthesecretboy/pc/index.html}} {{in lang|ko}}
- {{KBS World TV program|1448}}
- {{IMDb title|tt11968312}}
- {{Hancinema drama|Welcome}}
{{Webtoon (platform)}}
Category:Korean Broadcasting System television dramas
Category:2020 South Korean television series debuts
Category:2020 South Korean television series endings
Category:Korean-language television shows
Category:South Korean fantasy television series