Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

Premise

Yoon Hye-jin, an accomplished dentist from Seoul, goes to the idyllic seaside village of Gongjin on her late mother's birthday after her life goes awry. She spontaneously decides to open up a dental clinic, and gets to know jack-of-all-trades Hong Du-sik, also known as Chief Hong. The romantic drama depicts the growing romance between the two, as well as the lives of other residents of Gongjin.

Cast

Main

Shin Min-a as Yoon Hye-jin, a perfectionist and pragmatic dentist who ends up moving from Seoul to Gongjin after her life goes awry.

Shim Hye-yeon as child Yoon Hye-jin

Oh Ye-ju as teenage Yoon Hye-jin

Kim Seon-ho as Hong Du-sik, Gongjin's handyman who is known as Chief Hong around the village. He is officially unemployed, but is always busy giving a helping hand to everyone. He is good at everything and appears to assist with whatever random tasks his neighbors need help with.

Song Min-jae as child Hong Du-sik

An Seong-won as a young teenage Hong Du-sik

Moon Seong-hyun as teenage Hong Du-sik

Lee Sang-yi as Ji Seong-hyun, a star variety show production director who is a workaholic and has a bright personality.

Supporting

Gong Min-jeung as Pyo Mi-seon, Hye-jin's best friend who is a dental hygienist.

Seo Sang-won as Yoon Tae-hwa, Hye-jin's father.

Woo Mi-hwa as Lee Myung-shin, Hye-jin's stepmother.

Park Ye-young as Wang Ji-won, a veteran writer who has been working with Seong-hyun for seven years.

Lee Suk-hyeong as Kim Do-ha, an assistant director who struggles to find a work-life balance in his busy filming schedule because of his workaholic senior, Seong-hyun.

Seong Tae as June, main rapper of idol group DOS.

Baek Seung as In-woo, sub-vocalist of DOS.

Kim Young-ok as Kim Gam-ri, leader of the grandmothers in Gongjin.

Lee Yong-yi as Lee Mat-yi, the second of the three grandmothers.

Shin Shin-ae as Park Sook-ja, the youngest of the three grandmothers.

Jo Han-chul as Oh Cheon-jae, the owner of Gongjin's live cafe and pub. He is a former singer with stage name Oh Yoon, who disappeared after releasing a hit song in the 1990s.

Lee Bong-ryun as Yeo Hwa-jung, Young-guk's ex-wife, who was born and raised in Gongjin. She is the building owner of Hye-jin's dental clinic and house.

In Gyo-jin as Jang Young-guk, Hwa-jung's ex-husband. He is the youngest district head who used to be a seventh-grade civil servant.

Hong Ji-hee as Yoo Cho-hui, a teacher at Cheongjin Elementary School who returns to the coastal town after fifteen years. At that time, she had been a tenant in Hwa-jung's house, and they had become friends until Cho-hui needed to suddenly move away.

Special appearances

Lee Jung-eun as Hye-jin's patient

Bae Hae-sun as the head doctor at Hye-jin's former dental clinic

Lee Jin-hee as Hye-jin's mother

Lee Ho-jae as Du-sik's grandfather

Lee Si-hoon as Myung-hak, a patient at Hye-jin's dental clinic.

Kim Jin-yeop as Lee Kang-wook, Hye-jin's ex-boyfriend and Seong-hyeon's high school classmate (Episode 5th and 9th).

Kim Dae-gon as a rottiserie chicken seller.

Kim Ji-hyun as Seon-ah, Seong-hyun's cousin and Jung-woo's wife.

Oh Eui-shik as Park Jung-woo, Du-sik's friend whom he met during college days.

Lee Do-yeop as Gam-ri's son

Shim Jin-hwa as a customer at Nam-sook's restaurant.

Jo Young-seo as main dancer of DOS.

Kim Do-kyun as lead dancer of DOS.

Episodes

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha's episode titles were written in the official wallpaper of each episode on the drama's official website.

Production

Development

On December 21, 2020, screenwriter Shin Ha-eun was announced to helm a tvN drama, marking her return after co-writing the 2019 series The Crowned Clown. The project, initially titled Hong Banjang (홍반장), is a remake of the 2004 film Mr. Handy, Mr. Hong starring Kim Joo-hyuk and Uhm Jung-hwa, with a screenplay by Kang Seok-beom and Shin Jung-goo. On April 2, 2021, Yoo Je-won was officially confirmed as director. Coproduced by Studio Dragon and its subsidiary Gtist, the drama title was subsequently changed to Kaenmaŭl ch'ach'ach'a (갯마을 차차차; 'Seaside Village Cha-Cha-Cha'). On June 23, 2021, Netflix officially announced the series as part of their 2021 lineup and revealed the English title as Hometown Cha‑Cha‑Cha.

In her interview, Shin Ha-eun mentioned that when she was approached to write the 2021 television remake, she initially hesitated because she preferred to write an original script and regarded the character Hong Banjang as iconic. She worried a remake might tarnish the original film's reputation or the legacy of Kim Joo-hyuk. Shin also had a personal connection with Kim, who had starred in her first miniseries, Argon. Her decision to proceed came while re-watching the original film; she became intrigued by the creative "what-if" scenario of placing a character like Hong Banjang in 2021. Noting that the original film had relatively few supporting characters, Shin expanded the story by creating an ensemble of 16 residents of the fictional village of Gongjin, each with a name and backstory. Combined with a modernized characterization of Hong Banjang, this approach allowed the remake to establish its own identity while retaining the spirit of the original work.

Casting

Casting announcements began on December 21, 2020, when Kim Seon‑ho and Shin Min‑a were reported to have been offered the lead roles. On April 2, 2021, Kim and Shin were officially confirmed as the leads; Lee Sang‑yi was also reported to have been offered a role. The drama marked director Yoo Je‑won's second collaboration with Shin Min‑a, following Tomorrow with You (2017). On June 23, 2021, Netflix released script‑reading photos.

Filming

The first script reading took place on April 21, 2021. Filming was scheduled to begin on May 8 and was primarily conducted in Pohang. According to the production team, the "Lighthouse Song Festival" sequence in episode six was particularly challenging to film because of the large number of participants, unpredictable rainy‑season weather, and strict COVID‑19 quarantine measures. Production was scheduled to wrap on October 6, 2021.

Music

The series features several on-screen song covers performed by the characters. Music director Lim Ha-young selected all the songs, with additional input from writer Shin Ha-eun, director Yoo Je-won, and the cast and crew. Similar to the character Hong Du-sik in the original film, Kim Seon-ho sang and played guitar in the drama. In the series, Du-sik covered "Old Love" from Lee Moon-sae, different song from the original film. Other characters also performed at the "Lighthouse Song Festival" in Gongjin Village. The festival's opening stage featured Gongjin's resident celebrity, Oh Yeon, performing his only hit song, "Exercising in the Moonlight." To create a realistic atmosphere, Jo Han-chul performed the song live while playing the guitar. Composed by Lim in the 1990s, the song was specifically chosen to achieve an authentic nineties sound and was a fitting choice for Oh Yeon's character, as it was ranked second in the 1993 K-pop Top 10 Gayo.

Choreography

The drama features a fictional idol group named DOS, known for their hit song "Just a Feeling." The song's choreography was created by Jo Young-seo and Kim Do-gyun, choreographers from the group Dance of Soul (DOS). Jo and Kim were already known for their choreography on the television show Mr. Trot. According to Jo, the idol group was originally named "Choice," but writer Shin Ha-eun changed it to DOS. Jo and Kim's on-screen appearance as members of the group was a spontaneous decision that came about after they created the choreography. To perfectly portray the group, Seong Tae, Baek Seung, Jo Young-seo, Kim Do-gyun, and another member of their dance team practiced for a month. The dance was performed at the "Lighthouse Song Festival." In the scene, Hye-jin and Du-sik are initially seen as backup dancers for Oh Ju-ri before the idol group DOS makes a surprise appearance.

Media

Original soundtrack

The Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha soundtrack album, written by music director Lim Ha-young, comprises 11 songs (including singles) and 32 score pieces from the series. The album features vocal performances from artists such as Car, the Garden, Kassy, Cheeze, Choi Yu-ree, Kim Jae-hwan, Sandeul, Seungmin (Stray Kids), and Lee Sang-yi. In total, the compilation includes 43 tracks. In addition to the 8 previously released OST songs, the album includes "Just a Feeling" by the fictional idol group 'DOS' in the drama, which was highly requested by viewers. It also features two songs by "Oh Yoon," performed by actor Jo Han-chul as the superstar of 'Gongjin' in the drama, titled "Exercise at the Moonlit Night" and "End and Beginning." The album aims to fully capture the emotions of Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha and evoke the lingering feelings from the drama.

On July 18, 2022, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha soundtrack album also released in LP version. It was ranked 9 in the Circle Chart Retail Album Chart on July 19, 2022, with 891 copies sold.

Tie-in publishing

The series' original script was published in two volumes, each covering eight episodes, released officially on November 8, 2021. The scheduled publication of the Hometown Cha‑Cha‑Cha photo essay was canceled on November 30, 2021. On October 17, 2022, officials confirmed the photo essay would proceed, and it was eventually released in February 2023 as a two‑book package, each volume covering eight episodes.

Reception

Viewership

Following its release on Netflix, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha became one of the platform's most-watched non-English television shows. According to FlixPatrol, a website providing global rankings for shows on Netflix, the series placed number 8 on its global chart. It remained on Netflix's most-watched non-English popular television show list for 16 weeks in global top ten rankings, and reached the top 10 charts in more than 20 countries. It also remained on Netflix's Top 10 Chart for television shows for more than two months from its last episode.

During its run, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha achieved notable rankings and generated significant buzz. In the Content Power Index (CPI), powered by RACOI, the drama entered the Top 10, ranking 6th in the 4th week of August (August 23–29). It continued to perform strongly, reaching 3rd place in the drama category and 4th overall in the first and second weeks of September. By the third week of September, it climbed to 2nd in drama and 3rd overall. For four consecutive weeks, from the 4th week of September to the 2nd week of October 2021, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha secured the 1st rankin the drama category. In the overall category, it placed 2nd in the 4th and 5th weeks of September, dipped slightly to 4thin the 1st week of October, and then returned to 2nd in the 2nd week of October.

According to the Good Data Corporation, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha consistently charted in the Top 10 of the TV Topicality Ranking in the drama division from the 3rd week of August to the 2nd week of October 2021. It ranked 8th in the 3rd week of August, 3rd in the 4th week of August, and the 1st and 2nd weeks of September, then climbed to 2nd place in the 3rd week of September. The drama eventually secured the top spot in drama popularity in the 4th week of September and 1st week of October. The main leads, Kim Seon-ho and Shin Min-a, consistently ranked high during this period; Kim Seon-ho took 1st place and Shin Min-a ranked 2nd for consecutive weeks from the 3rd week of August to the 4th week of September. In the 5th week of September, Kim Seon-ho ranked 2nd and Shin Min-a 3rd. In the 1st and 2nd weeks of October 2021, Kim Seon-ho regained the top spot, while Shin Min-a ranked 5th in the 1st week and returned to 3rd place in the 2nd week.

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha also made its mark by entering the Top 20 "FUNdex," ranking 17th with a score of 83.13 out of 355 Korean dramas aired from 2018 to 2021. "FUNdex" predicts content's fun factor and box office potential by integrating six data points: household viewers, 20-49 age group viewers, topicality, performer topicality, clip views, and media attention. This ranking utilized data from Good Data Corporation and public data from RACOI.

Critical reception

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha was met with largely positive reviews. Jan Lee of The Straits Times gave the series 4 out of 5 stars, praising its "idyllic setting, charming leads, and colorful supporting characters." Pierce Conran in the South China Morning Post gave it 3 out of 5 stars, noting that the show "kept things simple." He added that while it occasionally indulged in "hokey dramatics," it never risked alienating its dedicated audience. S. Poorvaja of The Hindu noted it as a worthy representation of "slice-of-life goodness and wholesome romance of the best kind."

Some critics offered mixed assessments. Joel Keller of Decider highlighted the "seashore scenery and the chemistry between the show's leads" but criticized the slow pacing. Similarly, Bang Yeon-joo of PD Journal critiqued the reliance on traditional gender stereotypes, specifically citing the recurring "damsel in distress" trope where Du-sik would repeatedly rescue Hye-jin. However, she also acknowledged the show's commercial success, which she attributed to its ability to create a calming and enjoyable atmosphere by developing not just the central romance, but also the heartfelt stories of the town's charming residents.

Pop culture critic Jung Deok-hyeon described the show's reliance on clichés as a weakness, identifying a scene with a house trespasser as contrived and an outdated plot device to bring the leads closer. Despite these criticisms, Jung Deok-hyeon described the series as a "Soft Healing Drama," attributing its positive reception to the compelling fantasy of Gongjin Village, which provided a stark contrast to intense dramas like Squid Game. This sentiment was echoed by Professor Mo Jong-rin of Yonsei University, who called the series "refreshing." Mo suggested that the community in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha serves as a positive alternative to the harsh realities depicted in Squid Game, he added, "I apologize to fans of Squid Game, but I honestly hope that foreigners remember Korea not as a sharp-edged country that provocatively criticizes reality, but as a warm country that presents a community-based alternative to societal issues."

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha was included in various critics' top drama lists. Variety ranked the series sixth on its list of "The Best International TV Shows of 2021," noting its lighthearted nature and simplicity offered a "refreshing escape amidst the pandemic's gloom." NME placed the series eighth on its list of "The Best Kdrama of 2021," praising its straightforward approach to dilemmas and its comforting, "warm embrace" feel. The series was also included in a list of "Best K-drama TV shows on Netflix" by The Scotsman. Chad de Guzman from Time included the drama in his list of "The 8 best Korean dramas on Netflix," remarking, "'Best' doesn't always have to mean 'intense and thought-provoking'. Sometimes it can simply mean easy, enjoyable viewing."

Impact

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha's success contributed to strong financial results for its production companies. Studio Dragon reported a 27.7% increase in sales to ₩64.9 billion in Q3 2021. Sales proportion also rose to 55.9%, up 8.1% from the previous year. GTist achieved a full profit in 2021 with a net profit of ₩2.1 billion. CJ ENM, the parent company of GTist, Studio Dragon, and tvN, recorded consolidated sales of ₩857.5 billion and an operating profit of ₩87.8 billion in Q3 2021. It also saw a 7.4% rise in sales and a 23.6% increase in operating profit in Q3 2021, with the growth attributed to successful dramas including Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.

The drama also sparked a "Gaetcha Craze," where products featured in the drama experienced a surge in demand. The wine Yoon Hye-jin gifted Hong Du-sik in episode 5, as well as Hye-jin's bag, both temporarily sold out. Interest in Hye-jin's fashion, including her clothing, jewelry, and shoes, experienced a notable rise. Her style was praised for its charming combination of sophistication and unique charm. Two books featured in the show experienced a rise in popularity. After Chief Hong recited Kim Haeng-sook's poem, "The Gate Keeper," her poetry book, "Portrait of Echo," garnered renewed attention and enter best seller list seven years after its release. The book peaked at second place on Kyobo Bookstore's poetry bestseller list for the by the second week of October and entered third place on Yes24's Korean poetry bestseller list. The Korean translation of Henry David Thoreau's Walden, read by Chief Hong in episode 2, also climbed to 11th on Yes24's essay bestseller list by the second week of October. Yes24 reported a sales growth of 3,257% for "Portrait of Echo" and 369% for Walden the weeks following their exposure in the drama.

The limited first editions of the unedited scriptbooks for Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha 1 and 2, which included autographs and messages from writer Shin Ha-eun and actors Shin Min-a and Kim Seon-ho, quickly topped bestseller lists. According to Yes24, over 9,000 copies were pre-ordered on the publication day alone, with buyers primarily being women in their 20s and 30s. The scriptbooks also reached number one on Aladin's bestseller list on October 16, 2021, with an official from the company noting that it is rare for a drama script to achieve such a high ranking.

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha's significantly boosted tourism in its filming locations. The drama's setting in Pohang became a popular part of tourism itineraries, reportedly revitalizing the local commercial district and economy. The series also contributed to tourism in Yangju, where the Chang Ucchin Museum of Art, was featured in episode 12. Following the episode, officials noted a rise in inquiries about the museum, with viewers drawn to its unique white architecture and natural surroundings.

Accolades