Hometown Cha Cha Cha Review: A Cozy Romance by the Sea

Title: Hometown Cha Cha Cha 

Episodes: 16

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Slice of life

Main Cast: Kim Seon-ho, Shin Min-a, Lee Sang-yi

Streaming Platform: Netflix 

Image Credit: Netflix

What happens when a big-city woman meets a small-town man? Set in the scenic seaside village of Gongjin, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha tells the story of a perfectionist dentist and a free-spirited handyman whose worlds couldn’t be more different – yet somehow, beautifully align.

“Hometown Cha Cha Cha” is a South Korean television series aired on tvN from August 28, 2021, to October 17, 2021. Written by Shin Ha-eun and directed by Yoo Je-won & Kwon Yong-il, this romantic drama is available to watch on Netflix. 

Plot Summary 

Yoon Hye-jin, a perfectionist and talented dentist in Seoul, conflicts with her boss and ends up losing her job. After getting rejected from all the applied jobs, disappointed Hye-jin goes to Gongjin, where she went on her last trip with her late mother in her childhood.

Hong Du-sik, also known as Chief Hong, is a jack-of-all-trades handyman in Gongjin, always ready to help his neighbors. He helps Hye-jin to survive her day in Gongjin, which was filled with unfortunate incidents.

After returning from her trip, Hye-jin decides to open a dental clinic in Gongjin and soon settles there with her friend Mi-seon, who works as a dental hygienist in the clinic. Initially, Hye-jin finds it difficult to adjust to the countryside setting, but Chief Hong helps her to earn the trust of the neighbors, and her clinic starts to crowd with patients.

Ji Seong-hyun, a famous variety show director and Hye-jin's college friend, who still has a crush on her, comes to Gongjin to shoot a variety show and becomes close with all the Gongjin residents. Later, Hye-jin and Du-sik start growing close to each other while healing the pain buried in their heart from the past incidents that occurred in their life.

My Thoughts 

The story is slow-paced with a healing romance that takes place in beautiful countryside settings. The cinematography of the show was visually appealing, situated in a small town by the beautiful seashore and scenic mountains.

I loved the acting performance of the whole cast, who brought such lovable characters to life, and the chemistry between the lead actors was outstanding. The scene where Hye-jin and Du-sik try to hide their relationship from villagers, and in an attempt to do that, Hye-jin keeps fighting with Du-sik as a fake show was hilarious and equally adorable.

The show skillfully expressed the emotions of each character through their engaging stories and how they all collectively overcome personal hardships with unwavering support for each other. Each character taught us a life lesson and a secret to let go of past mistakes for a bright future.

At some moments, the drama felt boring due to its slow pace, but it was essential for character building and setting the narrative for their backstories. So you will need a little patience to enjoy it thoroughly.

But I must say this, despite its slow nature, the show remained engaging and entertaining till the end. The sweet love stories of side couples added adorable charm to the show while the natural humor blended well amidst emotional drama.

Overall, “Hometown Cha Cha Cha” is a heartwarming romance drama with charming characters and their enchanting tales. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this show and would definitely recommend watching it. 

Have you watched Hometown Cha Cha Cha? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section. 

If you are a fan of healing romance dramas, check out my review of Welcome to Samdal-ri. 

My Rating: 8/10