Welcome to Waikiki

Welcome to Waikiki^[2] (Korean: 으라차차 와이키키) is a 2018 South Korean television series starring Kim Jung-hyun, Lee Yi-kyung and Son Seung-won. It aired on JTBC from February 5 to April 17, 2018, every Monday and Tuesday at 23:00 (KST).^[3][4]

Welcome to Waikiki
Promotional poster
Hangul	으라차차 와이키키
RR	Eurachacha Waikiki
MR	Ŭrach'ach'a Waik'ik'i
Genre	Comedy Slice of life
Written by	Kim Ki-ho
Directed by	Lee Chang-min
Starring	Kim Jung-hyun Lee Yi-kyung Son Seung-won
Music by	Park Se-joon
Country of origin	South Korea
Original language	Korean
No. of episodes	20
Production
Executive producers	Baek Chang-ju [ko] Hahm Young-hoon Park Jin-hyung Park Joon-seo
Producer	Park Jong-eun
Running time	70 minutes[1]
Production companies	C-JeS Production Drama House
Original release
Network	JTBC
Release	February 5 (2018-02-05) – April 17, 2018 (2018-04-17)

On June 6, 2018, it was renewed for a second season, which premiered on March 25, 2019.^[5][6]

Synopsis

The story is about three men who come to run a failing guesthouse called Waikiki. Complications spark when their guesthouse is visited by a single mother and her baby.

Cast

Main

• Kim Jung-hyun as Kang Dong-gu

A short-tempered young man that resembles an "icon of misfortune" who dreams of becoming a movie director. Picking himself up after a painful breakup, he starts working again, and later falls in love with Yoon-ah.

• Lee Yi-kyung as Lee Joon-ki

The son of an A-list actor who wants to follow the footsteps of his father but is stuck in minor roles. He is very determined to make it on his own and would go to great lengths in order to land better roles. He is allergic to walnut. He eventually sees Seo-jin as a woman.

• Son Seung-won as Bong Doo-sik

A kindhearted but timid freelance writer who barely receives work. He currently works in a convenience store and whiles his time away writing a web story.

• Jung In-sun as Han Yoon-ah

A single mother who ends up staying in the guesthouse with her daughter Sol in exchange for helping out. She makes the other residents uncomfortable with her quirky behavior and is prone to forgetting things and causing accidents. She initially wanted to be a rapper but later on studied in earnest to be a pastry chef. Afraid of trusting men again, she eventually agrees to be Dong-gu's girlfriend.

• Go Won-hee as Kang Seo-jin

Dong-gu's sister who wants to be a journalist but had difficulty landing a job. Joon-ki calls her Chewbacca, later on shortened to Bacca. Her facial hair is a source of embarrassment and she has to shave it regularly. She falls for and starts a relationship with Joon-ki in but hides it from her disapproving brother.

• Lee Joo-woo as Min Soo-ah

Dong-gu's ex-girlfriend and a famous model, who suddenly broke up with him. She ends up staying in the guesthouse when her new boyfriend ran away with all her money. She tries to make a comeback with Doo-sik's help.

Supporting

• Kang Kyung-joon as Song Hyun-joon (eps. 9–16)

A pastry chef, the owner of bakery, and an instructor in Yoon-ah's school, who is in love with Yoon-ah.

• Lee Jung-hyuk as Kim Woo-sung
• Ryu Hye-rin as Jin-joo
• Lee Ji-ha as Ji-soo's mother
• Kim Ji-sung as Ah-young
• Chang Ryul as Jang-yul^[7]

Special appearances

• Park Sung-woong as Park Sung-woong (ep. 1)

An actor.

• Seol Jung-hwan as Lee Yoon-suk (eps. 1–2, 10–11)

Soo-ah's boyfriend who is a con-artist.

• Han Ji-sang as Tae Hyun (eps. 2–3)

Seo-jin's college senior and first boyfriend.

• Go Min-si as Lee Min-ah (ep. 3)

Doo-sik's co-worker.

• Choi Ri as Ji-min (ep. 3)

Joon-ki's waxer.

• Kim Young-ok as Jang-gun's grandmother (ep. 4)
• Lee Deok-hwa as Lee Deok-hwa (ep. 4)

An actor and Joon-ki's father.

• Jason Scott Nelson as a hotel guest (ep. 4)
• Kim Seo-hyung as Kim Hee-Ja (ep. 4)

An actress.

• Jo Woo-ri as Sun-woo (ep. 5)

The daughter of Doo-sik's boss.

• Jin Ye-sol as Kwon Hye-jin (ep. 5)

A script writer who wanted to date Joon-ki.

• Jeon Soo-kyeong as the owner of Waikiki Guesthouse (ep. 6)
• Wheesung as Wheesung (ep. 6)

A wedding singer.

• Han Bo-bae as Yoon Mal-geum / Cherry

An adult movie actress and Doo-sik's first love. (eps. 7–9)

• Kang Kyun-sung as Kang Kyun-sung (ep. 10)

An actor playing as a masked octopus.

• Shin Seung-hwan as Min Soo-bong (ep. 11)

Soo-ah's brother and a UFC fighter.

• Tae In-ho as Kim Jae-woo (eps. 11–12)

A producer at JBC.

• Kim Byung-se as Park Chang-ho (ep. 12)

An announcer.

• Yoon Se-ah as Dong-gu's university club senior (ep. 12)
• Jung Soo-young as a department store person
• Kim Ki-hyeon as Min Ki-young (ep. 13)

An actor.

• Seo Yu-ri as Radio DJ Seo Yu-ri (ep. 13)
• Kang Hong-seok as Hong-suk (ep. 13)
• Shin Hyun-soo as Philip (ep. 16)

A model.

• Lee Ha-yool as Seo Jin-woo (ep. 16)

An actor.

• HALO as ASTAR (ep. 18)

An idol group.

• Kim Kiri as MC Dacopy (ep. 19)

A rapper.

• Kim Jin-woo as Sol's father (ep. 20)
• Kim Ho-chang as Lee Sang-heon (ep. 6)

Production

Ryu Hwa-young was first offered a major role, but declined.^[8] The first script reading of the cast was held on December 18, 2017, at the JTBC building in Sangam-dong.^[9]

On March 6, 2018, JTBC extended the series for four more episodes and aired two commentary specials in preparation for the extension.

Original soundtrack

Welcome to Waikiki OST
Soundtrack album by Various artists
Genre	Soundtrack
Language	Korean
Label	Drama House [ko] Sony Music

Part 1

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Waikiki Wonderland" (와이키키 원더랜드)	UK	UK	Ulala Session	2:50
2.	"Waikiki Wonderland (Inst.)" (와이키키 원더랜드 (Inst.))		UK		2:50
Total length:					5:40

Part 2

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Wild Dream"	Kim Eana	Cho Hyung-woo, JeA	Cho Hyung-woo	2:16
2.	"Wild Dream (Inst.)"		Cho Hyung-woo, JeA		2:16
Total length:					4:32

Part 3

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Cheer Up" (잘하고있어)	Choi Sang-yeop, Park Se-joon	Park Se-joon, Woo Ji-hoon	Choi Sang-yeop	3:50
2.	"Cheer Up (Inst.)" (잘하고있어 (Inst.))		Park Se-joon, Woo Ji-hoon		3:50
Total length:					7:40

Part 4

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Will You Come In" (들어와줄래)	KamDongis, Park Se-joon	KamDongis, Seo Jae-ha	Mind U	3:24
2.	"Will You Come In (Inst.)" (들어와줄래 (Inst.))		KamDongis, Seo Jae-ha		3:24
Total length:					6:48

Part 5

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Artist	Length
1.	"Fluttering Steps" (설레는 발걸음)	Park Se-joon, Han Joon	Park Se-joon, Lee Yoo-jin	Seunghee (Oh My Girl)	3:20
2.	"Fluttering Steps (Inst.)" (설레는 발걸음 (Inst.))		Park Se-joon, Lee Yoo-jin		3:20
Total length:					6:40

Viewership

Season		Episode number
		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
	1	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	523	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	458	472	N/A	488

Welcome to Waikiki : South Korea viewers per episode (thousands)

Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Korea.^[10]

Average TV viewership ratings (nationwide)

Ep.	Original broadcast date	Title	Average audience share
			Nielsen Korea[11]	TNmS[12]
1	February 5, 2018	The New World (신세계)	1.742%	2.6%
		A Family is Born (가족의 탄생)
2	February 6, 2018	Anyone Can Be a Wolverine (누구나 그렇게 울버린이 된다)	1.861%	2.2%
		You Know What? It's a Secret (있잖아요 비밀이에요)
3	February 12, 2018	A Beautiful Farewell (아름다운 이별)	1.743%	1.8%
		Are You Still Dreaming? (그대 아직 꿈꾸고 있는가)
4	February 13, 2018	You Did a Good Job (수고했어, 오늘도)	1.635%	2.2%
		His And Her Circumstances (그 남자 그 여자의 사정)
5	February 19, 2018	Nothing's Wrong With You! (너는 문제없어!)	1.595%	1.9%
		Perfect Room to Recover (완전한 사육)
6	February 20, 2018	Jealousy is My Power (질투는 나의 힘)	1.589%	2.1%
		Marriage is an Insane Act (결혼은 미친짓이다)
7	February 26, 2018	The Girl We Loved (그 시절 우리가 사랑했던 소녀)	1.733%	2.4%
		When a Man Falls in Love (남자가 사랑할 때)
8	February 27, 2018	A Cute Woman (귀여운 여인)	2.242%	2.6%
		For Love (사랑을 위하여)
9	March 5, 2018	A Secret You Can't Tell (말할 수 없는 비밀)	2.007%	2.5%
		My Gangster Lover (내 깡패 같은 애인)
10	March 6, 2018	My Love Olivia (내 사랑 올리비아)	1.966%	1.9%
		A Simple Confession (화려하지 않은 고백)
Special	March 12, 2018	N/A	1.091%	1.8%
	March 13, 2018		1.291%	1.8%
11	March 19, 2018	Night Of The Living Dead (살아있는 시체들의 밤)	1.837%	2.7%
		I Love You So Much (진짜 진짜 좋아해)
12	March 20, 2018	I'm a Woman Too (나도 여자랍니다)	2.102%	2.0%
		Life And Death Situation (사생결단)
13	March 26, 2018	Secretly Greatly (은밀하게 위대하게)	1.652%	2.6%
		A Real Man (진짜 사나이)
14	March 27, 2018	The Morning Dew in Colombia (콜롬비아의 아침이슬)	1.582%	2.2%
		No Matter How Much I Think About You (아무리 생각해도 난 너를)
15	April 2, 2018	Hide And Seek (숨바꼭질)	1.590%	1.9%
16	April 3, 2018	Their Wretched Love (이 죽일놈들의 사랑)	1.543%	1.8%
		A Simple Confession 2 (화려하지 않은 고백2)
17	April 9, 2018	For New Couples (시작하는 연인들을 위하여)	1.941%	2.2%
		Can Love Be Translated? (사랑도 통역이 되나요?)
18	April 10, 2018	Stalker (스토커)	2.069%	2.0%
		Dancing With Elizabeth (엘리자베스와 춤을)
19	April 16, 2018	The Dancer in the Dark (어둠 속의 댄서)	1.616%	2.3%
		Misfortune Always Comes (불행은 언제나)
20	April 17, 2018	Because It Hurts (아프니까 으라차차)	2.081%	2.3%
Average			1.806%	2.2%
In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings. 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). Episode 10 was cut into two parts for the preparation of the extension of the show. Episodes 11 and 12 did not air as originally planned on March 12 and 13, 2018. Instead, they were aired a week later on March 19 and 20. The one-week delay was to allow time for better production. A special episode was broadcast on March 12 and 13, featuring behind-the-scenes footage and commentary by the performers.

Remake

A Vietnamese remake titled Nhà trọ Balanha [vi] aired in 2020 on VTV3.