Welcome (TV series)

Welcome OST
Welcome OST
Soundtrack album by Various Artists
Released	2020
Genre	Soundtrack
Language	Korean; English;
Label	Donuts Music N; Dreamus Company;

*Welcome*
Welcome
	Promotional poster
Also known as	Hi, Welcome; Meow, the Secret Boy;
Hangul	어서와
Genre	Fantasy; Romantic comedy;
Based on	Welcome; by Go A-ra
Developed by	KBS Drama Production
Written by	Joo Hwa-mi
Directed by	Ji Byung-hyun
Starring	Kim Myung-soo; Shin Ye-eun; Seo Ji-hoon; Yoon Ye-joo; Kang Hoon;
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language	Korean
No. of episodes	24
Production
Camera setup	Single-camera
Running time	35 minutes
Production company	Gill Pictures
Original release
Network	KBS2
Release	March 25 –; April 30, 2020

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) 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.^{[citation needed]} 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[edit]

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?^[10]

Cast[edit]

Main[edit]

Kim Myung-soo as Hong-jo^[11]^[12]
- Baegi as Hong-jo (cat form)

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.

Shin Ye-eun as Kim Sol-ah

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.^[13]^[14]

Seo Ji-hoon as Lee Jae-sun

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.^[15]^[16]

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.

Kang Hoon as Go Doo-sik

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[edit]

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 [ko] 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[edit]

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,^[c] but both declined.^[17]

The first script reading took place in October 2019 at KBS Annex Broadcasting Station in Yeouido, South Korea.^[18]

Original soundtrack[edit]

Part 1[edit]

Released on March 19, 2020 (2020-03-19)
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
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[edit]

Released on March 25, 2020 (2020-03-25)
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
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[edit]

Released on March 26, 2020 (2020-03-26)
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
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[edit]

Released on April 1, 2020 (2020-04-01)
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Fall In Love" (사랑에 빠졌었나봐)	Hwang Yong-joo	Hwang Yong-joo	Juniel	3:30
2.	"Fall In Love" (Inst.)		Hwang Yong-joo		3:30
Total length:					7:00

Part 5[edit]

Released on April 2, 2020 (2020-04-02)
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
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[edit]

Released on April 8, 2020 (2020-04-08)
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Slush"	Motte Han Kyung-soo Choi Han-sol	Han Kyung-soo Choi Han-sol	Motte	3:19
2.	"Slush" (Inst.)		Han Kyung-soo Choi Han-sol		3:19
Total length:					6:38

Part 7[edit]

Released on April 9, 2020 (2020-04-09)
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
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[edit]

Released on April 15, 2020 (2020-04-15)
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"As Time Goes" (시간은 한 바퀴 돌아)	Jay Lee	Jay Lee	Jinsoul (Loona)	3:07
2.	"As Time Goes" (Inst.)		Jay Lee		3:07
Total length:					6:14

Part 9[edit]

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

Part 10[edit]

Released on April 22, 2020 (2020-04-22)
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Last Goodbye" (이젠 안녕)	BachelorNextDoor Jo Yoo-ma	Linnea Gawell	Floody	3:44
2.	"Last Goodbye" (Inst.)		Linnea Gawell		3:44
Total length:					7:28

Part 11[edit]

Released on April 23, 2020 (2020-04-23)
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
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[edit]

Released on April 29, 2020 (2020-04-29)
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Shooting Star" (별똥별)	Hwang Yong-joo	Hwang Yong-joo	Shin Ye-eun	2:58
2.	"Shooting Star" (Inst.)		Hwang Yong-joo		2:58
Total length:					5:56

Part 13[edit]

Released on April 30, 2020 (2020-04-30)
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Blooming" (꽃이 피었네)	Nap!er	Nap!er	Choi Nakta	3:09
2.	"Blooming" (Inst.)		Nap!er		3:09
Total length:					6:18

Ratings[edit]

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

^ ^a ^b 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]
^ Acquired by Studio Dragon in September 2022.^[5]
^ 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[edit]

^ "Hi, Welcome [Title in the URL]". Naver TV (in Korean). Korean Broadcasting System, Naver Corporation. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
^ "Meow, the Secret Boy [Title in the URL]". kbs.co.kr (in Korean). Korean Broadcasting System. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
^ "[D-30] <어서와> 🐶멍뭉미 여주 등판!". Archived from the original on 2021-12-25. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
^ Park, Jin-hai (May 16, 2017). "Drama viewers angry over commercial breaks". The Korea Times. Retrieved April 17, 2020 – via PressReader.
^ Lee, Hazell (October 7, 2022). "Studio Dragon: Awaiting Full-fledged Benefits of Original Works". Business Korea. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
^ Welcome / 어서와 [Teaser]. YouTube (in Korean). KBS World. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
^ Welcome (Official Website). KBS World. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
^ ""Welcome" Confirms Kim Myung-soo and Shin Ye-eun". HanCinema. December 11, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
^ KBS '어서와' 0.9%…지상파 최초 0%대 드라마 '불명예'. MBN (in Korean).
^ "Meow the Secret Boy". Viki. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
^ Kim, Ga-young (August 19, 2019). "[단독] '홀로서기' 엘, 웹툰 원작 '어서와' 주인공 유력". TV Report (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
^ "Kim Myung-soo Confirms Role in KBS's "Welcome"". HanCinema. August 26, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
^ Kim, Jin-seok (September 4, 2019). "[단독]신예은, 김명수와 드라마 '어서와' 주인공". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved February 22, 2020.
^ "Shin Ye-eun Confirms Starring Role in "Welcome"". HanCinema. September 17, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
^ Lee, Min-ji (October 21, 2019). "'어서와' 서지훈 주연 낙점, 마성의 매력남으로 변신(공식)". Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved February 22, 2020.
^ "Seo Ji-hoon to Star in "Welcome"". HanCinema. October 21, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
^ Kim, Jin-seok (March 18, 2019). "[단독]'식빵 굽는 남자' 육성재 불발… 다른 배우 논의". JoongAng Ilbo Co. (in Korean). Retrieved February 22, 2020.
^ Kim, Myung-mi (December 31, 2019). "'어서와' 첫 대본리딩 현장, 김명수-신예은-서지훈 호흡 어땠나". Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved February 22, 2020.
^ "Nielsen Korea". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Retrieved March 25, 2020.

External links[edit]

[epcount-5] 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]

[7] Acquired by Studio Dragon in September 2022.^[5]

[19] 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.

[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] "[D-30] <어서와> 🐶멍뭉미 여주 등판!". Archived from the original on 2021-12-25. Retrieved 2024-01-21.

[4] Park, Jin-hai (May 16, 2017). "Drama viewers angry over commercial breaks". The Korea Times. Retrieved April 17, 2020 – via PressReader.

[6] Lee, Hazell (October 7, 2022). "Studio Dragon: Awaiting Full-fledged Benefits of Original Works". Business Korea. Retrieved October 9, 2022.

[8] Welcome / 어서와 [Teaser]. YouTube (in Korean). KBS World. Retrieved March 25, 2020.

[9] Welcome (Official Website). KBS World. Retrieved March 25, 2020.

[10] ""Welcome" Confirms Kim Myung-soo and Shin Ye-eun". HanCinema. December 11, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2020.

[11] KBS '어서와' 0.9%…지상파 최초 0%대 드라마 '불명예'. MBN (in Korean).

[12] "Meow the Secret Boy". Viki. Retrieved April 10, 2020.

[13] Kim, Ga-young (August 19, 2019). "[단독] '홀로서기' 엘, 웹툰 원작 '어서와' 주인공 유력". TV Report (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved February 22, 2020.

[14] "Kim Myung-soo Confirms Role in KBS's "Welcome"". HanCinema. August 26, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2020.

[15] Kim, Jin-seok (September 4, 2019). "[단독]신예은, 김명수와 드라마 '어서와' 주인공". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved February 22, 2020.

[16] "Shin Ye-eun Confirms Starring Role in "Welcome"". HanCinema. September 17, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2020.

[17] Lee, Min-ji (October 21, 2019). "'어서와' 서지훈 주연 낙점, 마성의 매력남으로 변신(공식)". Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved February 22, 2020.

[18] "Seo Ji-hoon to Star in "Welcome"". HanCinema. October 21, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2020.

[20] Kim, Jin-seok (March 18, 2019). "[단독]'식빵 굽는 남자' 육성재 불발… 다른 배우 논의". JoongAng Ilbo Co. (in Korean). Retrieved February 22, 2020.

[21] Kim, Myung-mi (December 31, 2019). "'어서와' 첫 대본리딩 현장, 김명수-신예은-서지훈 호흡 어땠나". Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved February 22, 2020.

[22] "Nielsen Korea". AGB Nielsen Media Research (in Korean). Retrieved March 25, 2020.

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v t e Webtoons published by Webtoon
First published in Korean	Noblesse (2007–19) Welcome to Convenience Store (2008) All of Us Are Dead (2009–11) Denma (2010–19) Tower of God (2010–present) Along with the Gods (2010–12) Cheese in the Trap (2010–17) The God of High School (2011–22) Fashion King (2011–13) Orange Marmalade (2011–13) Girls of the Wild's (2011–16) Dr. Frost (2011–21) Bongcheon-Dong Ghost (2011) Soul Cartel (2012–16) Ability (2012) God of Bath (2012) The Gamer (2013–present) Wind Breaker (2013–present) Lookism (2014–present) The Sound of Heart (2014–20) A Girl Who Sees Smells (2015–20) Yumi's Cells (2015–20) Gosu (2015–23) Terror Man (2016–20) Nano List (2016–18) Tomorrow (2017–23) Sweet Home (2017–20) Romance 101 (2018–21) True Beauty (2018–23) My Daughter is a Zombie (2018–20) The Deluxe Taxi (Red Cage) (2018–19) No Home (2018–present) Save Me (2019) Jeong Nyeon (2019–22) Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid (2019–21) The Girl Downstairs (2019–22) Viral Hit (2019–present) The Boxer (2019–22) Pyramid Game (2020–22) Mirae's Antique Shop (2020–present) Seasons of Blossom (2020–23) Dark Moon: The Blood Altar (2022–present)
First published in English	Cyber Force (2015) Hooky (2015–20) unOrdinary (2016–present) Erma (2016–present) Adventures of God (2016–present) Let's Play (2016–present) 1000 (2017–18) War and Peas (2017–present) My Giant Nerd Boyfriend (2017–23) Lore Olympus (2018–present) Mage & Demon Queen (2018–present) SubZero (2018–22) Cursed Princess Club (2019) Heartstopper (2019–present) The Wrath & the Dawn (2019–22) Lost in Translation (2020–present) Clinic of Horrors (2021-present) Warrior Unicorn Princess (2021–present)
First published in Indonesian	Tahilalats (2014–19) Si Juki (2015)
First published in Japanese	Senpai Is an Otokonoko (2019–21) The Ramparts of Ice (2020–22)
Adaptations	Welcome to Convenience Store (2009) Welcome to Convenience Store (2012) Horror Stories 2 (2013) Work It! Convenience Store (2014) Fashion King (2014) Dr. Frost (2014–15) Orange Marmalade (2015) A Girl Who Sees Smells (2015) We Broke Up (2015) The God of High School (2015) Cheese in the Trap (2016) Noblesse: Awakening (2016) Fantasy War Tactics (2016) G.O.H. – The God of High School (2016) Lucky Romance (2016) The Sound of Your Heart (2016–17) Go Back (2017) Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017) Teenage Mom: The Series (2017) Cheese in the Trap (2018) Sweet Combat (2018) Gangnam Beauty (2018) Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days (2018) Tale of Fairy (2018) My Giant Nerd Boyfriend (2019) Hell Is Other People (2019) Pegasus Market (2019) The Tale of Nokdu (2019) Welcome (2020) Tower of God (2020–present) The God of High School (2020) Love Revolution (2020) Noblesse (2020) True Beauty (2020–21) Sweet Home (2020–present) My Roommate Is a Gumiho (2021) Nevertheless (2021) Yumi's Cells (2021–22) Lovers of the Red Sky (2021–22) Taxi Driver (2021–present) Hellbound (2021–present) All of Us Are Dead (2022–present) Love and Leashes (2022) Tomorrow (2022) My Daughter is a Zombie (2022) The Sound of Magic (2022) The Golden Spoon (2022) Seasons of Blossom (2022) Connect (2022) Unlock My Boss (2022–23) Lookism (2022–present) Skullgirls (2022–present) Island (2022–23) Romance 101 (2023) Duty After School (2023) The Girl Downstairs (2023) Black Knight (2023) Bloodhounds (2023) See You in My 19th Life (2023) Mask Girl (2023) Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman (2023) Erma: The Game (2023) Let's Play (2023) A Good Day to Be a Dog (2023) Doona! (2023) Vigilante (2023) The Deal (2023) The Story of Park's Marriage Contract (2023) Death's Game (2023) Chicken Nugget (2024) Lore Olympus (2024) Beauty Newbie (2024) Viral Hit (2024) Jeong Nyeon (2024) Seasons of Blossom (2024) True Beauty (2024) Pyramid Game (2024) Yumi’s Cells: The Movie (2024) The 8 Show (2024) Terror Man (TBA) Gosu (TBA) The Boxer (TBA) Nano List (TBA) Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid (TBA)