Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

A drama full of life lessons

The drama in general is already perfect in every aspects so i wont discuss much about acting, plot, ost etc.

What made this drama stand out is the life lessons the writer and director managed to incorporate. The drama was highly anticipated because of the leads but as the drama progressed it was no longer just about chemistry and typical romcom that we watch to free ourselves from stress. It has become the light and reflection of our past our present and our future. When i watched this drama it had me thinking of the life choices i made. It is very rare for a drama to bring an impact on viewers and having read alot of comments im not the only one. Im so proud to the whole production of this drama. I wish nothing more but for more dramas like this.

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Fantastic drama!

For me it is an amazing drama!
The strory was truly wonderful and so many unexpected things happened. Sometimes you felt happiness other times it was a bit of a sadness but it really gave you a feeling of reality and it's ups and downs. It really was something!
Music was blending perfectly with story fitting into every action. I think it was one of the best of all dramas I have watched. Actors were amazing and I think they were really good at playing people in village. Because of high complexity of story I think a lot of people could relate to certain parts of it and in addition it had quite a lot of comforting parts.

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Review from top media critic of her time

Best of all time. Zenith of the medium. Holy incarnate of media. Top tier standard of storytelling. Apogee of creativity. Grace of invention. Remnant of genuity. Highest point of imagination. Top barrel of innovation. Highest of highs. God among gods. PEAK fiction. Best of all time. Zenith of the medium. Holy incarnate of media. Top tier standard of storytelling. Apogee of creativity. Grace of invention. Remnant of genuity. Highest point of imagination. Top barrel of innovation. Highest of highs. God among gods. PEAK fiction. Best of all time. Zenith of the medium. Holy incarnate of media. Top tier standard of storytelling. Apogee of creativity. Grace of invention. Remnant of genuity. Highest point of imagination. Top barrel of innovation. Highest of highs. God among gods. PEAK fiction.

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NO SPOILERS!! - the most heartwarming drama ever! perfect for relaxation. MUST WATCH!!

Even if you don't enjoy light-hearted dramas, this drama is still definitely worth watching once in your lifetime. Here are some clarifications to help you out! NO, this is not one of those "cheesy" dramas that make no sense and have no character development! NO, this drama is not cliche! There are parts where you can anticipate what happens next, but they're not really related to the romantic aspect of this drama. Now, onto the reviews of separate aspects!

For the romance aspect, this drama is definitely heavy. It's pretty centered on romantic relationships and progressions, but it's WELL WRITTEN! And very much realistic! The pacing is perfect, it's not a slowburn that makes you bored out of your mind, it's not so fast that it makes no sense, it's perfect. Of course, they come around hardships, but those hardships are very realistic, and you see them in the real world too. They also MAKE SENSE.

Next, the characters! Each and every character in this drama was written carefully and beautifully, from the townspeople to the children to the main leads. You can see each character's past and connect it with their actions in the present, and I really love that. It's not like the writers are trying to make some petty excuse for a villain's rampage. This drama shows traumas, pains, and most importantly, of course, realism. Personally, I value the realness of dramas, which is why I love this drama so much. It really connects with the real world, which made me extremely emotional while watching. I'll probably write another review with spoilers because I really cannot get over each character's stories. I will tell you here and now, however, that the female lead makes sense. She is not stupid. She breaks many stereotypes. She has a healthy relationship mindset. She is strong mentally, and her instincts and common sense are perfectly intact. I love that about her. The male lead is well written. He is not a jerk, hell no, he is an absolute sweetheart! His character has a lot of depth, and his thoughts and actions make sense. The second male lead is also very worth praising! He also has a loooot of depth. He has reasons for having feelings for our female lead, and he is not just there as a nuisance. Personally, I did not feel bad for him because while he has an amazing personality, so does the male lead. This is one of the very few dramas I've seen where both male leads make sense, and the male lead overpowers the second male lead. The second male lead's confession was straightforward, the female lead's rejection was also straightforward, and it's just *chef's kiss*. I love it.

Alright, the ACTING! Please, oh my god, the cast is insane. It's perfect. Kim Seonho as such a flexible range, and his microexpressions are really well depicted. You can see him reminisce about the past with a hint of sadness in his eyes. He gets that teary-eyed look when he uses expressions of affection, and most of these are similar to Shin Min-ah's acitng style as well! They are both amazing actors. I really love Shin Min-ah's voice. It's very relaxing. I also really feel the need to praise the townspeople's acting. They have such amazing duality, and they really go all out. I don't why, but a lot of times, the side characters have better acting than the leads. In this case, the leads' acting falls just a tiny bit short of the side characters. But the leads' acting is not at all bad! The side characters are just phenomenal.

Slice-of-life aspect: Apart from all the romance and stuff, what made me most emotional was how realistic this drama was. As the synopsis states, our female lead, Yoon Hyejin, moves to a small seaside town named Gongjin due to some personal issues. Now, the town Gongjin is very well depicted. They live traditionally, but you still see hints of modern-ness around. Like Juri stanning a K-pop group and the presence of technology. It's not like she went to the stone age, so I appreciate the realness of it. It's hard to write about this without spoiling anything major, but I'll just say that I really respect the authors of this drama for the realism. I love it when things are realistic but spicy.

Lastly, personal opinions. Personally, I tested positive for Covid and was quarantining, so I thought I'd watch this drama because I've seen it around a lot. And at first, I thought it was a cheesy cliche drama, haha! But I was watching Lawless Lawyer, and I got a little tired of all the scheming and stuff. I appreciated the romance in Lawless Lawyer, but like... I didn't really want to watch two people being affectionate when there's people trying to murder them all around. So, I sought out something more light-hearted, and tada! I ended up with Hometown Cha Cha Cha. And I am honestly so, SO glad I decided to watch it. I actually pulled through with it, because it got interesting right after the first episode, and it just kept getting more interesting. No disappointments whatsoever, at least for me. I think I'll end it here, HAHA. I rambled off. All in all, this is definitely worth watching. I gave it a low rewatch value because I still haven't recovered from crying my eyeballs out over it, but I know I'm definitely going to rewatch some parts, maybe even the whole thing. I just love it so much. Be sure to check it out!

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And so we were able to learn, as long as we have the memories of them our loved ones are always with us.
- Yoon Hye Jin
Very few fictional stories / characters possess the power to come so close to our heart that they bring back a ray of hope that is lost along the way. Hometown cha cha cha is one such kdrama and Hong Bangjang has stolen the highlight of this beautifully written and picture perfectly casted kdrama. The storyline is very simple, sweet and has been made quite clear from the beginning. Only until the middle of the show or so because ofc what's a good kdrama without a little traumatic flashback? What’s something else that I love about this drama is that it’s not just about our main leads. So many other characters have so much to convey which is so perfectly delivered. It’s like a cute little hamper of wholesomeness handed to you alongside going crazy over the main couple’s chemistry.

Storyline - the storyline of this drama almost looks like a recycled yet another enemies to lovers troupe with one lead who thinks oh-so mighty of themself while the other is everyone’s favourite with age old drama clichés like “fated to meet” and “past trauma”. But I absolutely love how it unfolds into something much more that’s comforting and meaningful. Needless to say the style of story telling is just as compelling with the perfect timing on flashbacks and interesting epilogues that keep viewers’ eyes peeled. Not only has the writer done justice to our main lead couple but also shed light on topics like effects of the aftermath of a divorce on a child through stories of side characters.

Acting - I couldn't emphasize over how perfectly casted this show is. From the main leads who'll never cease to draw your attention when they're onscreen to the side characters with the least screen time and backstory every actor has done such an appreciable job.

Music - The range of this OST album has made me so happy I truly do not want to simply put it in words as to how good this album is. One sunny day by Kassy is such a happy song! It can cheer me up and drag me out of my blues anyday. And the song wish by Choi yu ree has to be the most touching song I've heard in a while.
And the signature "lalalalalala" from romantic Sunday really fits the drama so well, I couldn't have asked for a more fitting OST album.

Re-watch value - Hometown cha cha cha might have had some episodes with a lenghthier runtime but if I'm ever in the mood of watching a wholesome plot with a lot of characters who practically bond like a family and a kdrama with the most adorable couple that’s visually pleasing this will be my go-to kdrama without a doubt.

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Some of The Worst Writing and PPL I’ve Ever Seen

My 4 categories are Acting/Cast, Writing, Direction/SFX/Music, Entertainment Value.

Am I in the Twilight Zone? This drama was one of the worst I’ve ever seen, but how are so many people are saying it's their favorite? I’m flabbergasted…I was trying to avoid using that word because it sounds weird, but it’s the only way I can describe my feelings right now.

Acting/Cast: I like Kim Seon Ho (김선호), who plays the male lead. I know him from Catch Yoo Ryung, which is a drama I really enjoyed. His character is probably the only okay thing about this drama and he’s not even a well-written character. All the acting is bad from nearly everyone. Even the child actors weren’t great, aside from maybe Kim Min Seo (김민서). However, I think this is probably due to bad writing and directing; even the actors had no idea how to deliver these terrible lines. 1.5/10

Writing: The first half of the drama is decent. Although, the male lead literally is a Gary Stu, which is a clear indicator of bad writing. He’s good at everything, he went to a good college, he has a perfect personality, everyone loves him, blah blah blah. The female lead is a little better because she starts off very flawed. This was a nice surprise as drama writers tend to be afraid of writing flawed female leads. However, her character growth isn’t written well and when episode 11 hits (more on this later), any hopes for more character growth goes out the window. This drama has no message and it could have had one if the male lead wasn’t a Gary Stu. Then the female lead could learn to value people for their hearts and not for their schooling and designer clothes. One of the flaws that the female lead has is that she’s materialistic. Apparently this isn’t a bad thing because they use her materialism for all kinds of product placement and she never stops being materialistic. Ugh...the PPL in this drama is so bad that calling it PPL doesn’t even feel right. It should be called shameless advertising or infomercials or something. If the PPL interrupts the flow of a drama, then it’s a problem, and this happens multiple times. I think what happened was, they didn’t fulfill enough of the PPL requirement in the first half of the drama, so the second half was jam-packed with it to make up for it. Poor planning on their part. They even have a long Domino’s pizza commercial in the last episode where the actors have to pretend like they’ve never tasted pizza before. It’s so cringey. And the PPL isn’t the only thing that’s cringey about this drama...as I’ve mentioned earlier, the dialogue – particularly the dialogue between the two leads – it’s so bad. It’s so bad that I can swear the actors were cringing just as much as I was. There are multiple instances where the female lead simply tells the male lead how her personality is. That’s not how that works...we’re supposed to be shown a character’s personality, not told. Now let’s talk about episode 11. This is when the drama really imploded. The leads are now dating, but of course they got to put in the ‘secret relationship’ trope for the sole reason of trying to pack as many tropes as possible into this drama. In an attempt to keep their relationship secret (which is already super disrespectful and why I hate this trope), she physically abuses the male lead. It’s even to the point where she makes him bleed. It was not cute, it was not funny, it had nothing to do with the story, it was alarming. This chick is supposed to have feelings for him and she can still do all that to him! Imagine if the roles were reversed and it was the male lead who was slapping, kicking, and head-butting the female lead out of “reflex”. But no, it’s okay because it’s a man being abused by a woman. This is when I wanted to drop the drama. I was disturbed by the female lead’s behavior (and by the drama writers thinking that this is perfectly fine and funny). It was no longer cute or romantic by any means. However, I decided to keep going mostly because I wanted to type up this review. Unfortunately, since that point in the drama, it was a painful watch through to the end. The physical abuse stops, but the female lead’s crazy does not. Her personality in the first half of the drama and her personality in the second half of the drama are two completely different characters. She is so vastly different that I was expecting the male lead to fall out of love with her since she’s not who he fell in love with anymore. She is so cringey, constantly talking with a baby voice trying to act “cute”. If you thought Welcome to Samdal-ri and Doctor Slump was bad, hold my beer. The leads had decent chemistry in the first half of the drama, but since the female lead has now become some sort of baby-talking sleep paralysis demon, the chemistry has left the building. By this point in the drama, I’m well aware of how terrible the writing is, so when the male lead’s mystery gets uncovered, I’m already 100 steps ahead. I won’t “spoil” it, but think of the most cliché thing that it could be and you’ll be correct. I really hate this trope, too; it’s so lazy and makes no sense. Around this time, the female lead starts to blatantly emotionally manipulate the male lead into revealing his past to her (something that he has kept private from everyone). Excuse me bitch, how long have you known him?? And you think you have the right to know all his secrets?? And what makes matters worse is that there are no interesting side stories to keep me from wanting to drop this drama either. All the side relationships are also kind of annoying and/or weird. To be completely honest, I thought almost all of the characters themselves were annoying. 1/10

Direction/SFX/Music: The best thing about this drama is the filming location. The production value looks decent. The OST is decent. The directing...I don’t know who to blame. With such a bad script, can you really do anything to make it better? It's also as if the last half of the drama is a completely different drama. 4/10

Entertainment Value: The first half was decently entertaining. I liked the frenemies vibe that the leads had. I liked watching her befriend the townspeople (although it could have been done much better). However, the second half is so bad (from episode 11 and on) that I was actually angry. I would have dropped this at episode 11, but I was so freaked out by all the positive reviews that I wanted to finish this drama so that I could write one. 1/10

Overall, I gave this drama a 1/10. I have to give it a 1 because I would have dropped it at episode 11. There's only one drama I've seen so far that has worse writing than this one and that's The Third Charm (and that's even debatable). If you didn’t like Welcome to Samdal-ri, you won’t like this. There are no good characters, no chemistry, no message, and every cliché in the book is thrown into this drama. It ends up turning into a series of PPL commercials.

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I regret watching it late...

I mean, why did I come to know this masterpiece now, it's just too beautiful.
No boring episode, even the back story was just so beautiful.
I found everything about this drama beautiful, I couldn't even stop until I finish watching, I spent two full days watching.
The ending was perfect too.
This drama indeed is a masterpiece and it portrays life well.
I mean, everyone has a past they want to hide so bad, and there are people who are already used to their pains that they find it hard to tell others about it.

Please go and watch this drama if you haven't.
it's worth all the time.

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the greenest male lead ever!!!!!!!!

istg ga ada yg ngalahin ne cwok anying alias ijo neon jalan teros 🛵💨💨💨💨💨💨💨 ada bbrp part yg gwe agak cringe + got second hand embarrassment tp masi bs ditolerir soalnya kapal sikhye sgt lucu pgen tak cubit 🤏🏻🤏🏻🤏🏻🤏🏻🤏🏻🤏🏻🤏🏻🤏🏻 pokok e ini worth to watch!!! agak lambat emg, aku sendiri smpe muter di 1,5x speed. tp beneran dha kl u pecinta romance + greenflag ml fl ini cocok sih. character development si hyejin bagus bgt 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻 trus ostnya jg ok, sinematografi gausah ditanya. sumpah pemandangannya sebagus itu????? 🔛🔝

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Best drama of 2021

Best drama of 2021 and that's a fact, relative to life instead of fiction. Shin Minah is a queen and a goddess, since i saw her in tomorrow with you that was when I fell for her, she's so sexy, talented and beautiful. She always slay her roles in any drama. This is my first Korean drama that I have watched within a span of 2 days instead of years, was hooked right from the first episode,the casts nailed it and I hope they get to bag all the awards they will be nominated for especially the male lead, first time seeing him in a drama and it felt as if I have been watching all his drama which shows that he really knows how to act and deliver his roles well. Super realistic and all about life, took me back to reply 1988. TvN really know how to make a good quality drama and no wonder their dramas are all a hit. I love this drama so much, love all the casts and I'm sad that I finished it already.

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IT HAS EVERYTHING WHAT NEED FOR A GREAT SHOW!!!!!

Ah… where do I even begin?

This series truly feels like **one of those rare finds**—the kind that quietly grows on you and then refuses to let go. It is a **slow-burn romance**, yes, but never a dull one. Every episode carries movement, emotion, and purpose. The way the story unfolds across all 16 episodes is beautifully paced—so much so that, by the end, it genuinely feels like **16 episodes were not enough**.

One of the first things that stands out is the **aesthetic and production quality**. The locations, the visual framing, and the overall atmosphere elevate everything—the story, the characters, and especially the performances. The setting doesn’t just exist in the background; it breathes life into the narrative. The seaside town, the calm yet emotionally charged visuals, and the warmth of the environment make the characters feel more grounded and real. The drama *glows*, and that glow comes as much from its visuals as from its writing and acting.

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## Episode-Wise Journey

### **Beginning: A Gentle Yet Engaging Start**

The initial episodes establish something very important for a slow romance—**constant interaction between the leads**. From the very beginning, whenever she needs help, he is there. This consistent presence builds trust and emotional familiarity naturally.
What makes these moments special is their simplicity—small gestures, quiet support, and even moments where they get mad at themselves. Those scenes are subtle, cute, and deeply romantic in a way that feels authentic rather than forced.

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### **Middle: Emotional Clarity and Growth**

The middle portion is where the drama truly finds its emotional backbone. This is where romance begins to take shape—not suddenly, but with intention.

Her emotional clarity here is especially striking. Even when her friend confesses, she never wavers. She knows exactly who her heart belongs to. That certainty, without melodrama, is refreshing.
Yes, the pace here may feel slightly slower compared to other sections—but only because the drama has already set such a high standard. And importantly, every emotional conflict introduced here is **resolved thoughtfully**, not dragged endlessly.

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### **Ending: Where the Drama Truly Shines**

The final arc is where this drama rises above many others.

Most romances fall into predictable breakup tropes after confession—but this story chooses a braver path. Instead of artificial misunderstandings, it dives into **his dark past**, which has been silently haunting him all along. This shift feels earned and necessary.

The reveal near the end of episode 14 is genuinely shocking, and episode 15 is nothing short of phenomenal. Honestly, it’s one of the **most packed and emotionally dense 15th episodes** I’ve ever seen. So much happens—yet it never feels rushed or chaotic. Every moment lands.

Ending the series on a **lighter, hopeful note** was the perfect choice. After all the emotional weight, it gives viewers a sense of peace and completion.

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## Storytelling Excellence

This is easily **one of the best-constructed slow-burn romances** out there.

* Her decision to leave everything behind and settle in a small seaside town
* His quiet support—helping her settle in, standing by her during misunderstandings
* The stalker incident, the pervert confrontation, the jealousy from both sides

All of it feels organic and purposeful.

What truly stands out is **timing**. The romance begins exactly when it should—not too early, not too late. The writers trust the audience to wait, and that patience pays off. Unlike many rom-coms that rush the confession and then struggle to maintain interest, this drama builds desire slowly and then handles post-confession dynamics with maturity.

After they get together, the story explores:

* Secret dating
* Misunderstandings
* Inferiority complexes
* The need for space and emotional reassurance

All in **just the right amount**—never overwhelming, never shallow.

The way his past is woven into the story is especially impressive. It lingers quietly throughout the series, only coming to the forefront when it truly matters. That shocking turn at the end of episode 14 followed by the explosive 15th episode is masterful storytelling.

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## Supporting Characters and Community

The supporting cast is wonderfully written.

* Her friend stands by her unwaveringly
* The villagers feel real, not caricatured
* Everyone has dreams, struggles, and emotional depth

The sense of community in a small village—how people support each other during hardships and step back when space is needed—is portrayed with warmth and realism.

Even the director’s storyline is handled with maturity and moral clarity, adding depth without overshadowing the main narrative.

Most importantly, the drama **concludes everything in one season**. There’s clarity, confidence, and no unnecessary dangling threads meant to bait a sequel. That completeness makes the experience incredibly satisfying.

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## One Emotional Flaw That Hurt

The only thing that genuinely felt unfair was **how no one truly apologized to him** for the past.

* In the investment case, he warned repeatedly
* He did everything possible to stop the damage
* He even paid off debts—while grieving the loss of a brother-like friend
* He endured cruel words from a mother who blamed him unfairly

Even the accident wasn’t his fault—yet he carried the burden alone.

What hurts most is that public accusations happened in front of everyone, but the truth was revealed quietly, at night, with no witnesses. A single sincere apology—especially from the father or colleagues—would have brought emotional justice. It’s a small gap, but one that feels heavy.

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## Acting: The Soul of the Drama

This kind of story lives and dies by acting—and here, the performances are **flawless**.

* His portrayal of fear, loneliness, guilt, and emotional restraint is heartbreaking
* Watching him slowly learn to let go of his past is deeply moving
* Her transformation—from a city girl to someone who truly belongs in a small seaside town—is beautiful and believable

Her final decision—to leave everything and choose him—is powerful and earned.

And that elderly woman (even if her name slips the mind)—what a character. She guides them, protects him, understands his loneliness, and treats her like a daughter. She is the quiet emotional compass of the show.

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## Music: Subtle but Memorable

Even for someone who doesn’t usually focus on K-drama music, the soundtrack stands out. The main theme is soothing, refreshing, and emotionally grounding—perfectly aligned with the story’s tone.

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## Rewatch Value

This drama has **high rewatch value**, thanks to:

* Small, satisfying moments between the leads
* The stalker and pervert scenes
* Drinking scenes, jealousy moments, confession
* Golf scenes, village gossip, and everyday interactions

The story is never stagnant. It’s emotionally eventful without being overwhelming, which makes revisiting it a joy.

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## Final Thoughts

The greatest strength of this show is simple yet rare:

**It leaves you smiling.**

No matter how heavy things get, there’s warmth, sincerity, and emotional honesty throughout. It refreshes your mood and stays with you long after the final episode.

Yes, this is a long review—but honestly, I could write much more. That’s how deeply this show resonated.

**So truly—thank you for this beautiful, heartfelt drama.**

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