If you are a proud K-drama fan then you should know that K-drama "Hometown Cha-cha-cha" is now on Netflix. Written by Shin Ha-eun and directed by Yoo Je-won, the romcom series follows the story of Yoon Hye-jin (Shin Min-a), a pragmatic dentist, who moved from Seoul and established a clinic in the seaside village of Gongjin. There she meets Hong Du-sik (Kim Seon-ho), a neighborhood handyman. And despite all the bickering and teasing, the two found an unexpected connection between each other.
‘Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha’ poster
Hearing the synopsis alone, one might think that the new tVN series is just a hodgepodge of romcom clichés—a girl sick of the city, the opposites attract narrative, and all that. But there is more to the show that makes it a must-stream series everyone should include in their watchlist. If you need a little push to watch, not that K-drama fans need more convincing, we've listed down a few reasons why "Hometown Cha-cha-cha" is your next weekend obsession.
Shin Min-a is back
K-drama fans know Min-a for her works on other beloved series such as "My Girlfriend is a Gumiho," "Oh Venus," and "Tomorrow, With You." But after the 2019 show "Chief of Staff," the model-turned-actress has been missing in action when it comes to creating drama series. But after an almost two-year hiatus, Min-a is back and working for the second time with director Je-won on the new show.
"The script was really fun and I wanted to return to the rom-com genre," the actress says. "While I was waiting to find a rom-com I wanted to return through, I came across the script and it was so well-written with a solid story line and a lot of wonderful characters. I was drawn to the character of Hye-jin."
To prepare for the role, Min-a visited her dentist and had her teeth checked so she can study the dentist's facial expressions during the session. She also spent some time trying to understand their feelings.
Kim Seon-ho and Shin Min-a
Kim Seon-ho plays an unemployed man
While he is famous for his portrayal of the wealthy Han Ji-pyeong in "Start Up," Seon-ho now plays the opposite as an unemployed jack-of-all-trades in "Hometown Cha-cha-cha." The actor took some time to learn how to surf and make coffee as a barista to be Du-sik.
"I play the role of someone who is unemployed but capable of everything," he muses. "I wondered what I could bring to the character, and I felt like it was really fun."
"I think it would be really nice if women who watch the drama think that it would be nice to have a boyfriend like Du-sik," he adds.
Seaside area of Pohang City
Picturesque scenery
Pohang City in the province of North Gyeongsang in South Korea sets the perfect location for the fictional Gongjin village. Expect to see blue horizons of clear skies and crystal waters, which provide a perfect escape to our at-home confinement, at least through the series.
"Since we’re shooting by the seaside, I’m also really looking forward to watching the beautiful scenery," Min-a says. "Sometimes while I’m on set I would be exhausted, but I would look at the ocean and hear the waves and feel comforted. There are some challenges, of course, in the process of filming but the scenery is very soothing and gives us energy."
Kim Seon-ho and Yoo Je-won
Love, healing, and laughter
"Hometown Cha-cha-cha" is a light-hearted drama series that aims to give viewers a break from all the stress in the world. This makes the show an instant mood-boost, a feel good-pill that will uplift anyone. People are going to be "able to get good sleep after watching this comfortable drama," as actor Lee Sang-yi puts it.
"This drama is not about big events, it’s about the small stories in our daily lives and emotional changes. It’s about healing and warmth," Je-won says. "I hope that is the message we can send to our audience."
"Hometown Cha-cha-cha" is currently ongoing on Netflix, with new episode releases every Saturday and Sunday at 10 p.m.. Watch its trailer below.
