Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (갯마을 차차차) is a 2021 South Korean romantic comedy series starring Shin Min-a, Kim Seon-ho, and Lee Sang-yi. It’s a remake of the 2004 movie Mr. Handy, Mr. Hong. The drama aired on tvN from August 28 to October 17, 2021, every Saturday and Sunday at 9 PM (KST), and is also available on Netflix.
Set in a beautiful seaside village, the story follows a dentist who moves from the city and meets a kind, multi-skilled local man. The series became one of the highest-rated Korean cable dramas, staying at the top of its time slot until the end. Its final episode reached a 12.665% nationwide rating, and it also became one of Netflix’s most popular non-English shows.
K-Drama Profile
- Drama Title (English): Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
- Drama Title (Korean): 갯마을 차차차
- Revised Romanization: Gaenmaeul chachacha
- Genres: Comedy drama, romantic comedy, slice of life
- Date: August 28, 2021 ~ October 17, 2021
- Based On: Mr. Handy, Mr. Hong by Kang Seok-beom and Shin Jung-goo
- Production: Studio Dragon, GT:st
- Creator: Studio Dragon
- Writer: Shin Ha-eun
- Director: Yoo Je-won, Kwon Yong-il
- Starring: Shin Min-a, Kim Seon-ho, Lee Sang-yi
- Country: South Korea
- Language: Korean
- Episodes: 16
Plot Synopsis
Yoon Hye-jin, a successful dentist from Seoul, visits the quiet seaside village of Gongjin on her late mother’s birthday after things go wrong in her life. There, she decides on a whim to open a dental clinic and meets Hong Du-sik, a friendly and helpful man everyone calls Chief Hong.
The story follows the sweet romance that develops between Hye-jin and Du-sik, along with the heartwarming stories of Gongjin’s residents. Full of love, laughter, and healing moments, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha shows how a small town and its people can help you find happiness again.
Main Casts
Shin Min-a (as Yoon Hye-jin)
- Stage Name (English): Shin Min-a
- Stage Name (Korean): 신민아
- Revised Romanization (Stage Name): Sin Mina
- Birth Name (English): Yang Min-a
- Birth Name (Korean): 양민아
- Revised Romanization (Birth Name): Yang Mina
- Birthdate: April 5, 1984
- Age: 41
- Birthplace: Seongnam City, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
- Nationality: South Korean
- Occupations: Model, actress
- Debut: 1998
- Agency: AM Entertainment
- Height: 169 cm
- Blood Type: O
- MBTI: INTP
- Social Media: Instagram
- Website: Official website
Shin Min-a is a well-known South Korean actress and model loved for her natural charm and versatile acting. She has appeared in many popular dramas, including A Love to Kill (2005), My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho (2010), Arang and the Magistrate (2012), Oh My Venus (2015), Tomorrow, With You (2017), Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021), and Our Blues (2022). Over the years, she has become one of Korea’s most admired and trusted stars.
Kim Seon-ho (as Hong Du-sik)
- Name (English): Kim Seon-ho
- Name (Korean): 김선호
- Revised Romanization: Gim Seonho
- Birthdate: May 8, 1986
- Age: 39
- Birthplace: Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- Nationality: South Korean
- Occupation: Actor
- Debut: 2009
- Agency: Fantagio
- Height: 183 cm
- Weight: 75 kg
- Blood Type: A
- MBTI: ISFP
- Social Media: Instagram
- Website: Official website
Kim Seon-ho is a well-known South Korean actor loved for his warm charm and impressive acting. He first gained attention with his breakout role in Start-Up (2020) and became a household name after starring in the romantic comedy Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021), which earned him Gallup Korea’s Television Actor of the Year. Starting as a theater actor in Daehangno in 2009, Kim was nicknamed the “theater idol” for his stage talent. He made his TV debut in Good Manager (2017), later winning awards for Two Cops the same year. In 2023, he made his film debut in the action thriller The Childe, earning several Best New Actor awards, while continuing to perform in theater.
Lee Sang-yi (as Ji Seong-hyun)
- Name (English): Lee Sang-yi
- Name (Korean): 이상이
- Revised Romanization: I Sangi
- Birthdate: November 27, 1991
- Age: 33
- Birthplace: Ansan, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
- Nationality: South Korean
- Occupations: Actor, singer
- Debut: 2014
- Agency: CRB Entertainment
- Height: 183 cm
- Weight: 82 kg
- Blood Type: A
- MBTI: ISFP
- Social Media: Instagram
- Website: Official website
Lee Sang-yi is a popular South Korean actor and singer known for his strong performances on both stage and screen. He started his career in theater in 2014, appearing in many plays and musicals before gaining fame through TV dramas. Lee is best known for his roles in Bloodhounds (2023~present), Spice Up Our Love (2023), and Good Boy (2025). He is also a member of the vocal group MSG Wannabe, where he showcases his impressive singing skills.
Drama OSTs
Romantic Sunday
- Song Title (English): Romantic Sunday
- Song Title (Korean): 로맨틱 선데이
- Artist Name (English): Car the Garden
- Artist Name (Korean): 카더카든
- Release Date: September 5, 2021
One Sunny Day
- Song Title (English): One Sunny Day
- Song Title (Korean): 어느 햇살 좋은 날
- Artist Name (English): Kassy
- Artist Name (Korean): 케이시
- Release Date: September 12, 2021
My Romance
- Song Title (English): My Romance
- Artist Name (English): CHEEZE
- Artist Name (Korean): 치즈
- Release Date: September 19, 2021
Wish
- Song Title (English): Wish
- Song Title (Korean): 바람
- Artist Name (English): Choi Yu-ree
- Artist Name (Korean): 최유리
- Release Date: September 25, 2021
Be the Light
- Song Title (English): Be the Light
- Song Title (Korean): 및이 되어줘
- Artist Name (English): Kim Jae-hwan
- Artist Name (Korean): 김재환
- Release Date: September 26, 2021
The Image of You (Remains in My Memory)
- Song Title (English): The Image of You (Remains in My Memory)
- Song Title (Korean): 내 기억 속에 남아 있는 그대 모습은
- Artist Name (English): Sandeul (of B1A4)
- Artist Name (Korean): 산들 (B1A4)
- Release Date: October 3, 2021
Here Always
- Song Title (English): Here Always
- Artist Name (English): Seungmin (of Stray Kids)
- Artist Name (Korean): 승민 (스트레이 키즈)
- Release Date: October 10, 2021
I Hope You’re Happy
- Song Title (English): I Hope You’re Happy
- Song Title (Korean): 행복했으면 좋겠어
- Artist Name (English): Lee Sang-yi
- Artist Name (Korean): 이상이
- Release Date: October 17, 2021
Episodes (1~16 Summary)
Episode 1
Yoon Hye-jin, a skilled dentist from Seoul, faces a setback at work and visits the seaside village of Gongjin, where she spent part of her childhood, on her late mother’s birthday. There, she meets Hong Du-sik, a friendly jack-of-all-trades known as Chief Hong. After getting stranded in the village overnight, Hye-jin decides to move to Gongjin and open her own dental clinic, starting a fresh chapter in her life.
Episode 2
After opening her dental clinic in Gongjin, Yoon Hye-jin feels out of place at a village party, and a phone call to her best friend Pyo Mi-seon is accidentally heard by the whole town. To help, Mi-seon moves to Gongjin and warns Hye-jin that her first impression may make it hard for the clinic to succeed. At first, no patients come, but Hong Du-sik steps in to support her, helping Hye-jin settle into village life and connect with the community.
Episode 3
To get ready for a college classmate’s wedding, Yoon Hye-jin goes on an online shopping spree, but Hong Du-sik shows up to scold her for ordering too many packages. On her way to Seoul, Du-sik unexpectedly arrives with three grandmothers who need a ride, and Hye-jin reluctantly drives them along. On the return trip to Gongjin, only Du-sik rides with her, and the two have a playful argument about which life is better: the quiet village life or the busy city life.
Episode 4
Yoon Hye-jin notices Hong Du-sik is missing for a day and misses his presence, only to learn he was out surfing. When a difficult patient causes trouble at her clinic, Du-sik rushes to help, and both end up briefly at the local police station. Meanwhile, Ji Seong-hyun, a famous variety show producer from Hye-jin’s past, arrives in Gongjin, and Chang Yeong-guk finds out that his first love has returned, bringing excitement to the village.
Episode 5
Gossip spreads fast in Gongjin when Yoon Hye-jin is seen leaving Hong Du-sik’s house, making their growing attraction obvious to everyone. As she tries to remember what happened the night before, she deals with the villagers’ curiosity. Meanwhile, Ji Seong-hyun (PD Ji), Hye-jin’s senior from college, comes to Gongjin to work on a TV program, bringing more excitement to the town.
Episode 6
After remembering her kiss with Hong Du-sik, Yoon Hye-jin decides to keep her distance from him. Meanwhile, the Gongjin residents join a singing competition, and with Hye-jin and Du-sik’s help, Oh Ju-ri sings her favorite DOS song and wins second place. When Hye-jin learns that Ju-ri needs money to fix her snaggletooth, she tells her the treatment will cost less than she expected.
Episode 7
Ji Seong-hyeon picks Gam-ri’s house as a filming location and convinces her to let him use it, also asking Hong Du-sik to help with the project. Meanwhile, Yeong-guk starts developing feelings for Cho-hui, and Seong-hyeon checks with Du-sik about Yoon Hye-jin, learning that she is single.
Episode 8
Cho-hui is almost kidnapped, but Hwa-jung steps in and stops it. At the same time, Yoon Hye-jin finds out some of her patients are skipping the final step of their dental treatments because Nam-sook has been sending them to an illegal technician offering cheaper prices, which leads to a clash between Hye-jin and Nam-sook. Later, Hye-jin, Ji Seong-hyeon, and Hong Du-sik team up to recover Nam-sook’s stolen money from a robbery and successfully catch the culprit. Afterward, Hye-jin learns about Du-sik’s health problems, leaving her worried for him.
Episode 9
When Yoon Hye-jin’s parents visit Gongjin, Hong Du-sik pretends to be her boyfriend to make a good impression, while Ji Seong-hyun also tries to impress her father, adding to the romantic tension. The visit helps Hye-jin and Du-sik have honest conversations and grow closer. At the same time, Pyo Mi-seon confesses her feelings to Choi Eun-cheol but is rejected, and Cho-hui turns down Yeong-guk’s advances.
Episode 10
After Hong Du-sik rescues Yoon Hye-jin from a home invasion and stops a pervert, he gets injured, and Hye-jin stays the night at his house. During this time, Du-sik opens up about his life and memories of his late grandfather, and they later honor his grandfather’s death anniversary together. Meanwhile, Ji Seong-hyun confesses his feelings to Hye-jin. Later, while shopping in Seoul with Pyo Mi-seon, Hye-jin can’t stop thinking about Du-sik. Overwhelmed by her emotions, she rushes back to Gongjin, expresses her feelings, and shares a passionate kiss with him.
Episode 11
Yoon Hye-jin and Hong Du-sik officially become a couple, but trying to keep their relationship hidden from the nosy villagers of Gongjin leads to funny and tricky situations. Their romance grows beautifully by the seaside. Meanwhile, a heartbroken Ji Seong-hyun falls ill and receives care and comfort from Wang Ji-won.
Episode 12
Yoon Hye-jin creates a bucket list of fun activities to do with Hong Du-sik, enjoying their new relationship. At the same time, Pyo Mi-seon and Choi Eun-cheol finally understand their feelings for each other, and Yeong-guk learns the real reasons behind his divorce, gaining a better understanding of what happened.
Episode 13
The Gongjin residents come together to celebrate Hong Du-sik’s birthday, creating a cheerful and lively atmosphere. At the same time, Ji Seong-hyun is confused by Ji-won’s sudden resignation, and a typhoon blocks the roads, forcing Ham Yun-gyeong to give birth at Yoon Hye-jin’s home, adding unexpected excitement. Meanwhile, Hye-jin becomes more and more frustrated with Du-sik for not opening up about his past.
Episode 14
Yoon Hye-jin feels upset as she and Hong Du-sik grow emotionally distant, since he struggles to share his past. After learning from Hwa-jeong about Du-sik’s earlier return to Gongjin, they decide to take some time apart to reflect. Meanwhile, Yu Cho-hui encourages Yeong-guk to express his true feelings, helping him rekindle his romance with Hwa-jung. During a farewell party for Ji Seong-hyun’s filming crew, Du-sik’s past is unexpectedly revealed to everyone, surprising the village.
Episode 15
Hong Du-sik’s past is finally revealed, shocking everyone. He had worked at a management company in Seoul, and poor financial advice he gave caused a security guard to lose all his assets. Yoon Hye-jin feels confused and concerned, while Ji Seong-hyun is equally surprised by the situation. With his secrets exposed, Du-sik must face his past and find a way forward, and Hye-jin supports him through his guilt. Despite a tempting job offer in Seoul, she chooses to stay in Gongjin, standing by Du-sik and continuing their life together.
Episode 16
The villagers say a final goodbye to a loved member, leading everyone to reflect on life and loss. Hong Du-sik starts to heal from his past with the support of Yoon Hye-jin, and the couple creates special, memorable moments for each other to show their love. The series ends with everyone finding happiness and looking forward to their future together in Gongjin.
Ratings
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha stood out by offering a heartwarming and relaxing story instead of the usual intense drama. The series combines sweet romance, comedy, and the touching stories of villagers, all set against the beautiful seaside of Gongjin.
The show focuses on the growing love between Yoon Hye-jin and Hong Du-sik, while slowly revealing Du-sik’s mysterious past, adding some suspense. Key moments include Hye-jin realizing her feelings for Du-sik while in Seoul and rushing back to confess her love, a scene praised for its honest and heartfelt emotion, which helped the drama reach over 11% viewership.
Hye-jin’s practical personality, like creating a bucket list of experiences with Du-sik, shapes the story. As Du-sik’s past comes to light, the tone becomes more emotional, but viewers appreciated how Hye-jin supports him through it.
Overall, the drama was praised for the chemistry between Shin Min-a and Kim Seon-ho, the charming depiction of Gongjin’s residents, and its mix of romance, comedy, and heartfelt storytelling, making it a popular and memorable feel-good series.
Awards
| Award Ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee | Result |
| Asia Television Award | 2022 | Best Drama Series | Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha | Nominated |
| APAN Star Awards | 2022 | Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries | Shin Min-a | Won |
| APAN Star Awards | 2022 | Popularity Star Award, Actress | Shin Min-a | Nominated |
| Asian Academy Creative Awards | 2022 | Best Direction (Fiction) Korea | Yoo Je-won | Won |
| Kim Soo-hyun Drama Art Hall | 2021 | Good Drama of the Year | Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha | Won |
| Korea Communications Commission Broadcasting Awards | 2022 | Hallyu Excellence Award | Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha | Won |
| Mnet Asian Music Awards | 2021 | Best OST | Choi Yu-ree “Wish” | Nominated |
| Seoul International Drama Awards | 2022 | Outstanding Korean Actor | Kim Seon-ho | Won |
| 14th Korean Content Awards | 2022 | Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation | Shin Ha-eun | Won |
Netflix Viewership
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha became a global hit on Netflix, consistently ranking in the platform’s Top 10 across multiple countries. From late August to mid-December 2021, the series accumulated over 300 million viewing hours. Its weekly rankings peaked at 6th place overall and 2nd in non-English shows, with viewership steadily growing each week.
The drama gained popularity in over 20 countries, including Australia, Japan, India, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and the UAE, and reached 3rd place in the global Netflix rankings on FlixPatrol. Even during the global phenomenon of Squid Game, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha topped Netflix Top 10 charts in several countries, highlighting its widespread appeal as a beloved Korean drama.
Watch Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha on Netflix
