Like Flowers in Sand[8] (Korean모래에도 꽃이 핀다) is a 2023–2024 South Korean television series starring Jang Dong-yoon, Lee Ju-myoung, Yoon Jong-seok [ko], Kim Bo-ra, Lee Jae-joon, and Lee Joo-seung. It follows the story of young people who are struggling to bloom in their lives against the backdrop of ssireum city of Geosan.[9] It aired on ENA from December 20, 2023 to January 31, 2024, every Wednesday and Thursday at 21:00 (KST).[10] It is also available for streaming on Netflix in selected regions.[11]

Like Flowers in Sand
Promotional poster
Also known asSand Flower[1]
Hangul
모래에도 꽃이 핀다
Literal meaningFlowers Bloom Even in the Sand
Revised RomanizationMoraeedo kkoch-i pinda
McCune–ReischauerMoraeedo kkoch'i p'inda
Genre
Written byWon Yoo-jung[4]
Directed byKim Jin-woo[4]
Starring
Music byChoi Cheol-ho[5]
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producerKwak Hyun-jeong[5]
Producers
  • Lee Sang-baek[5]
  • Kwon Hyo-min[5]
  • Jeong Da-sol[5]
Running time60 minutes[6]
Production companyAStory[7]
Original release
NetworkENA
ReleaseDecember 20, 2023 (2023-12-20) –
January 31, 2024 (2024-01-31)

Synopsis

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Kim Baek-doo (Jang Dong-yoon) is a ssireum player considering to retire from the sport. However, his life takes a turn when he reunites with his childhood friend Oh Yoo-kyung (Lee Ju-myoung), who becomes the management team leader for his ssireum team. The team is on the verge of disbanding, but with the help of people like Min Hyun-wook (Yoon Jong-seok) and Joo Mi-ran (Kim Bo-ra), as well as the new coach Kwak Jin-soo (Lee Jae-joon) and Baek-doo's best friend Jo Seok-hee (Lee Joo-seung), they work together to save the team.[9][12]

Cast

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Main

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  • Jang Dong-yoon as Kim Baek-doo: a Taebaek-class player of the Geosan County Office Ssireum Team, which is on the verge of disbandment, who was called a prodigy because of his outstanding skills.[9]
  • Lee Ju-myoung as Oh Yoo-kyung / Oh Doo-sik : Baek-doo's first love who becomes the management team leader of the Geosan County Office Ssireum Team.[7][13]
  • Yoon Jong-seok as Min Hyun-wook: a young man who has lived his whole life with plenty of everything.[9]
  • Kim Bo-ra as Joo Mi-ran: a mysterious café owner.[4]
  • Lee Jae-joon as Kwak Jin-soo: Baek-doo's long-time rival and a former ssireum wrestler.[12]
  • Lee Joo-seung as Jo Seok-hee: Baek-doo's best friend and a police officer working at the Geosan Police Station.[12]

Supporting

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  • Choi Moo-sung as Kim Tae-baek: Baek-doo's father who is a legendary ssireum star.[14]
  • Jang Young-nam as Ma Jin-sook: Tae-baek's wife and Baek-doo's mother.[14]
  • Woo Hyun as Park Pil-doo: an elder in the world of ssireum who runs a local sarangbang.[14]
  • Hwang Seok-jeong as Lim Hyun-ja: Jin-soo's mother.[14]
  • Jang Hee-jung as Ahn Hyun-jin: Kyung-moon's wife who runs a mill with him in Geosan Market.[15]
  • Ahn Chang-hwan as Lee Kyung-moon: one of the few non-ssireum people in Geosan who is a quiet person.[15]
  • Seo Jeong-yeon as Chu Mi-sook: Yoo-kyung's role model who is a detective.[14]
  • Yang Ki-won as Kim Geum-gang: Baek-doo's eldest brother.[16]
  • Lee Yu-joon as Kim Han-ra: Baek-doo's second brother and a YouTuber who runs a personal channel for ssireum contents.[17]
  • Park Bo-kyung as Seo Sook-hee: a flower shop owner.[18]
  • Lee Ho-chul as Jung Gil-soo: Sook-hee's husband.[18]
  • Jo Sin-nae as Kang Jong-mi: a snack bar owner.[18]
  • Hyun Jong-woo as Song Young-wook: Jong-mi's husband who is a fitness trainer.[18]
  • Hwang Jae-yeol as Park Dong-chan: coach of the Geosan County Office Ssireum Team.[19]
  • Kim Min-seok as Kim Beom-soo: the youngest member of the Geosan County Office Ssireum Team.[20]
  • Park Kyung-seo as the youngest police officer at Geosan Police Station.[21]
  • Yoon Don-seon as the team leader at Geosan Police Station.[22]
  • Seo Jin-won as Ahn Ji-yong: a senior policeman at metropolitan investigation unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.[23]
  • Kim Beop-rae as Hong Man-sik: the governor of Geosan County.[24]

Production and release

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Filming began soon after the script reading of the cast, which was held in May 2023.[2]

In June 2023, production company AStory announced that it had signed a license supply contract with Netflix for the overseas broadcasting rights of the series.[25]

Viewership

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Like Flowers in Sand : South Korea viewers per episode (thousands)
SeasonEpisode number
123456789101112
1N/AN/AN/AN/A449484488584521559611625
Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Korea.[26]
Average TV viewership ratings
Ep. Original broadcast date Average audience share
(Nielsen Korea)[26][27]
Nationwide Seoul
1 December 20, 2023 1.483% (5th) N/A
2 December 21, 2023 1.413% (9th)
3 December 27, 2023 1.473% (7th)
4 December 28, 2023 1.428% (5th)
5 January 3, 2024 1.855% (3rd) 1.673% (4th)
6 January 4, 2024 2.148% (2nd) 1.752% (2nd)
7 January 10, 2024 2.023% (3rd) 1.824% (3rd)
8 January 11, 2024 2.396% (2nd) 2.356% (2nd)
9 January 17, 2024 2.358% (3rd) 2.242% (3rd)
10 January 18, 2024 2.778% (2nd) 2.690% (2nd)
11 January 24, 2024 2.758% (2nd) 2.804% (2nd)
12 January 31, 2024l 2.835% (4th) 2.728% (6th)
Average 2.079% [a]
  • In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
  • N/A denotes ratings that were not published.
  • This series aired on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC, and EBS).

Notes

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  1. ^ Due to multiple unpublished ratings, the exact average rating is unknown.

References

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  1. ^ "Sand Flower [Title in the URL]". Naver TV (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Kim Ga-young (May 9, 2023). '우영우' 제작사 에이스토리, 라인업 발표...글로벌 활약 예고 ['Woo Young-woo' production company AStory announces lineup...Global Announcement]. E Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023 – via Naver.
  3. ^ Makuochi Echebiri (December 11, 2023). "Jang Dong-Yoon Wrestles With Self-Doubt in 'Like Flowers In Sand' Trailer". Collider. Archived from the original on December 23, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Hong Se-young (April 21, 2023). '옥수역 귀신' 김보라, '모래에도 꽃이 핀다' 합류...장동윤과 호흡 [공식] ['Oksu Station Ghost' Kim Bo-ra Joins 'Flowers Bloom Even in the Sand'...Jang Dong-yoon and Breathing [Official]]. Sports Dong-a (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023 – via Naver.
  5. ^ a b c d e "좋아하는거 아니라며? 너무 적극적인 백두 친구 이상 연인 미만! 백두X유경 간질간질 썸 모먼트" [Are you saying you don't like it? Baekdu is too active More than a friend, less than a lover! Baekdu]. youtube (in Korean). 에이스토리 ASTORY. January 4, 2024. Archived from the original on January 29, 2024. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  6. ^ 모래에도 꽃이 핀다 [Flowers Bloom Even in the Sand]. Studio Genie (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Han Hae-seon (April 20, 2023). 이주명 '모래에도 꽃이 핀다' 여주인공 확정 [Lee Ju-myoung 'Flowers Bloom Even in the Sand' Female Protagonist Confirmed]. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023 – via Naver.
  8. ^ "Like Flowers in Sand". AStory. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d "Jang Dong-yoon and Lee Joo-myung in "The Sand Flower"". HanCinema. Newsis. April 25, 2023. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  10. ^ Kim Ji-hye (November 15, 2023). '모래에도 꽃이 핀다' 장동윤, 씨름선수 파격 변신..청춘 성장 로맨스 ['Flowers Bloom Even in the Sand' Jang Dong-yoon, amazing transformation into a wrestler..Youth Growing Up Romance]. Herald Pop (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023 – via Naver.
  11. ^ Laura Zornosa (November 30, 2023). "Here's Everything New on Netflix in December 2023". Time. Archived from the original on December 1, 2023. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  12. ^ a b c Kim Myung-mi (April 20, 2023). '모래에도 꽃이 핀다' 장동윤 이주명→윤종석 김보라 캐스팅[공식] ['Flowers Bloom Even in the Sand' Jang Dong-yoon, Lee Ju-myoung→Yoon Jong-seok, Kim Bo-ra Casting[Official]]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023 – via Naver.
  13. ^ Lee Kyung-ho (December 29, 2023). "'모래꽃' 이주명, 청춘 케미 서스펜스 다잡은 연기". Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023 – via Naver.
  14. ^ a b c d e Ha Su-jeong (November 8, 2023). 씨름 신동 장동윤 ENA 살리나..'모래에도 꽃이 핀다' 12월 20일 첫방 [Wrestling prodigy Jang Dong-yoon ENA Salina..'Flowers Bloom Even in the Sand' December 20th premiere]. OSEN (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023 – via Naver.
  15. ^ a b "Ahn Chang-hwan and Jang Hee-jung to Act in "The Sand Flower"". HanCinema. News 1. May 1, 2023. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  16. ^ Lee Chang-gyu (December 8, 2023). 장동윤→최무성·장영남, 씨름 장사 패밀리 변신..."시너지 기대" (모래에도 꽃이 핀다) [Jang Dong-yoon→Choi Moo-sung, Jang Young-nam, wrestling business family transformation..."Synergy expectation" (Flowers Bloom Even in the Sand)]. Xports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2023 – via Naver.
  17. ^ Hwang So-young (December 18, 2023). 이유준 ENA '모래에도 꽃이 핀다' 출연..장동윤과 호흡 [Lee Yu-joon ENA 'Flowers Bloom Even in the Sand' Starring Jang Dong-yoon and Breathing]. JTBC News (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 20, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023 – via Naver.
  18. ^ a b c d Hyun Hye-seon (December 19, 2023). '모래에도 꽃이 핀다' 장동윤·이주명, 청춘들의 유쾌한 질주...제작진 관전 포인트 ['Flowers Bloom Even in the Sand' Jang Dong-yoon and Lee Ju-myoung, the joyful run of youth...Producer Viewing Points]. SE Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023 – via Naver.
  19. ^ Choi Hee-jae (December 14, 2023). '모래에도 꽃이 핀다' 장동윤, 취중 은퇴 선언...씨름 인생 걸었다 ['Flowers Bloom Even in the Sand' Jang Dong-yoon announces his retirement from drunkenness...Wrestling life was on the line]. E Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023 – via Naver.
  20. ^ Kim Seo-yoon (December 13, 2023). 김민석, 장동윤·이주명 '모래에도 꽃이 핀다' 출연...덩치와 반대되는 여린 캐릭터 [Kim Min-seok, Jang Dong-yoon, Lee Ju-myoung 'Flowers Bloom Even in the Sand' starring...A delicate character who is the opposite of a big man]. Ten Asia (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023 – via Naver.
  21. ^ Jang Ah-reum (December 14, 2023). 신예 박경서 '모래에도 꽃이 핀다'로 드라마 데뷔...막내 순경 활약 [Newcomer Park Kyung-seo makes his drama debut with 'Flowers Bloom Even in the Sand'...The youngest policeman in action]. News1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023 – via Naver.
  22. ^ Jang Soo-jeong (December 19, 2023). 윤돈선, '모래에도 꽃이 핀다' 출연...이주승과 호흡 [Yoon Don-seon, 'Flowers Bloom Even in the Sand' Appearance...Lee Joo-seung and Breathing]. Dailian (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023 – via Naver.
  23. ^ Jang Soo-jeong (December 19, 2023). 서진원, '모래에도 꽃이 핀다' 출연...서울경찰청 광수대 경장 변신 [Seo Jin-won, 'Flowers Bloom Even in the Sand'...Transformation into a Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Metropolitan Investigation Unit Senior Policeman]. Dailian (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 19, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023 – via Naver.
  24. ^ Park So-young (December 22, 2023). "요즘 핫한 '이재 곧' '모래꽃'에 다 있는 이 배우..김법래 존재감 만렘". OSEN (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 22, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2023 – via Naver.
  25. ^ Jun Young-gi (June 27, 2023). "에이스토리, 넷플릭스와 '모래에도 꽃이 핀다' 해외 방영권 계약[주목 e공시]". The Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved November 8, 2023 – via Naver News.
  26. ^ a b Nielsen Korea ratings:
    • "Ep. 5". Nielsen Korea. January 3, 2024. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
    • "Ep. 6". Nielsen Korea. January 4, 2024. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
    • "Ep. 7". Nielsen Korea. January 10, 2024. Archived from the original on January 11, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
    • "Ep. 8". Nielsen Korea. January 11, 2024. Archived from the original on January 11, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
    • "Ep. 9". Nielsen Korea. January 17, 2024. Archived from the original on February 1, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
    • "Ep. 10". Nielsen Korea. January 18, 2024. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
    • "Ep. 11". Nielsen Korea. January 24, 2024. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
    • "Ep. 12". Nielsen Korea. January 31, 2024. Archived from the original on February 1, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  27. ^ "모래에도 꽃이 핀다 시청률" [Like Flowers in Sand ratings] (in Korean). Nielsen Korea. Archived from the original on February 1, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024 – via Daum.
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