Quirky male lead meets Seoulite in this charming k-drama created by Shin Haeun and Yi Je-won. This 2021 16 episode drama takes us to a beautiful seaside village where heroine Yoon Hye-jin struggles to acclimate to the customs and culture of small town life. Deciding to open a dentistry here could be the biggest financial loss of her career or the biggest personal gain and fulfillment of her life.
What do you get when two conflicting lead characters continue to butt heads? Growth. Personal growth.
That is exactly what you see unfurl on screen.
Chief Hong Du-shik, master of all trades, key representative of small town life, and renown nose to the grindstone lead male character is female lead character Doctor Yoon Hye-jin’s complete opposite. Not afraid to get his hands dirty, Hong Du-shik is her foil. He challenges her to find compassion and empathy for the people of the town, while she in turn teaches him a new perspective: the responsibility of selfishness and the generational impact it brings.
With these polar opposites there are many influences that they impart on one another. Here are just 10 of those things:
*** Spoilers ahead
1. “Life isn’t so fair for all of us.”
Chief Hong Du-shik to Yoon Hye-jin after her “second face1” is unintentionally revealed to the residents of the village. A live microphone being the sole perpetrator in a scene full of cringe and second-hand embarrassment. So embarrassing in fact, that I wanted to hide myself. I can almost understand the heroines difficulty in apologizing after the fiasco.
It was these wise words from Hong Du-shik that left an early impact on Yoon Hye-jin.
This prevalent reoccurring theme even affects our heroine, much to her dismay as she struggles to gather clientele.
This is only a minor setback.
Although she struggled reconciling with the townspeople and her prideful nature made it difficult to apologize, with the help of Hong Du-shik, Yoon Hye-jin found the courage to take accountability and do so.
This line also foreshadows some of Hong Du-shik’s inner turmoil as well. However, we learn that our main male lead won’t allow his circumstances to overshadow his outlook on life. Chief Hong Du-shik may have lost his parents at a young age, and made a huge mistake (revealed in episode 15) in his past … but that doesn’t derail him from remaining upbeat and dutiful to his community.
2. “The best thing a parent can do for their kids is to be healthy.”
Yoon Hye-jin says this to Hong Du-shik after he criticizes her for being so harsh to her elderly patient’s refusal to receive dental implants. Yoon Hye-jin, who lost her mother at a young age, firmly believes in the need for a selfish disposition. Her life would have been so much better if only her own mother had heeded such advice, because nothing can replace the love, companionship, and guidance of a parent. For the first time in his life, Hong Du-shik sees the merits of having a selfish heart. Not only does he see it, but he uses this logic to convince the elderly grandma to reconsider the procedure.
3. “I heard squid was your favorite food. My mother’s was soondae … I just want to help you enjoy it again.”
Watching Hong Du-shik continually make sacrifices left an imprint on Doctor Yoon Hye-jin’s heart. In secret, she offers the elderly grandma free labor for the procedure. All the grandma must do is pay for the materials and keep this secret between them.
“I’ve been working like a dog all my life. Don’t you think I deserve to enjoy eating some squid.”
Adjuma Kim Gam-ri
It’s quotes like these that readily build character affection both on-screen and off screen with how the audience engages with such sweet convictions. We’re all rooting for her successful procedure and so happy to see her take charge of her own needs.
4. “If something like that happens again, don’t endure it on your own.”
This was said by Officer Choi Eun Cha to Dentist Secretary Pyo Mi-seon after being sexually assaulted by a client.
Remember, there is no shame in speaking out. It takes great strength to endure and strength to speak. You are more than your circumstances. If you find yourself in a dangerous situation please seek help. Call your local authorities and get HR involved if applicable.
5. “Just put your hands up and enjoy the rain.”
Yoon Hye-jin has been called out as being distant and calculating. However, her backstory tells a different tale. She had once lead a simple and diligent life, until she overhears her boyfriend at the time openly criticize her simple looks and mild demeanor. Through this flashback we realize that Doctor Yoon Hye-jin at one point in time, much to her present chagrin, was a mirror to our charming country bumpkin Hong Du-shik … thus explains her harsh judgement on the hometown chief. To be on the nose: she sees her younger self in him.
During a down-pour, Hong Du-shik leads a grumbling Miss Yoon to the shore.
It’s uncomfortable and wet, she proclaims.
However, Hong Du-shik encourages her to “just put your hands up and enjoy the rain.”
It’s as if he is saying ‘enjoy the moment. Enjoy this life. Enjoy being you, no holds barred1.’
6. “We’re probably as different as penguins that eat krill and polar bears that feed on sea lions.”
It’s as if they are blatantly admitting their differences and rather than denying their feelings and opposing their union due to said differences, they do the opposite. They embrace it and plow ahead.
“Don’t say anything.” Miss Yoon confesses. “I’m not asking anything from you.”
Such a sweet declaration and so refreshing to see our selfish lead make such a sentiment.
7. “I think you and I have different measurement standards.”
Surprised…. that’s how I would describe my reaction to Yoon Hye-jin’s aegyo. As someone who had prided herself on her Seoulite demeanor and manners at the beginning of the series, a character with refined tastes in fashion and appearances … to see her act and flirt in such a cute way … it can only be the result of the characters rubbing off on each other. She feels so comfortable with Chief Hong, that she is no longer afraid or concerned about how he perceives her.
“I’d like you to follow the international standard,” Hong Du-shik answers as Miss Yoon inches ever so closer.
She grows increasingly childish in this manner too. Going so far as inflicting bodily harm onto our male lead. She does this all in hopes of avoiding the towns-folk of becoming aware of their relationship.
8. “I’ll show your narrow minded friends there is more to life.”
Lines like this show how much Miss Yoon has grown. Although it is said by Hong Du-shik, Yoon Hye-jin laughes and jokes along with him, therefore showing her agreement. Her friends, Seoulites of their own right, visit her clinic and the small town and act in disdain, disrespecting the “tacky” coffee bar and criticizing Miss Yoon’s countryside dentistry. These scenes show how far Miss Yoon has come for she too at one point acted just like these “friends.” However, these scenes also show how her old self is still steeped in her identity as she works to impress her old friends. It makes me wonder who is the real Miss Yoon? I can only hope that she will eventually deviate from this need and stand up for her beliefs and the life she has built… even if it means “coming up short3” in the eyes of her peers.
9. “I may not be an OB-GYN but I studied anatomy when I was a freshman.”
Taking a page out of Hong Du-shik’s book, Miss Yoon is putting on a new hat. After a terrible thunderstorm prevents them from taking a very pregnant Yun Gyeong to the hospital to give birth, our love-birds stop at a hotel where Miss Yoon works to deliver the baby. It was a heartwarming scene as we see Yoon Hye-jin invest in the town and its people. She steps up to the plate and gives back. Maybe she has indeed come far from her Seoulite reputation after-all.
Hong Du-shik even jokes saying “when an emergency happens now, they will all look to you and not me.”
Cue the awws.
10. “For a long time he hasn’t had anyone to share his pain with.”
This concept captures the last several episodes of the drama as Hong Du-shik struggles to open up to Yoon Hye-jin. This puts a huge wedge between them, making them take time apart to contemplate what they want from each other and what they want in a relationship.
We finally get the long awaited back story of Hong Du-shik … but at this point it is almost too late in my humble opinion. It seems like an excuse to introduce conflict into the later part of the drama making it obvious that his backstory is being used as a plot device rather than the character building it needs to be.
“You can talk all night,” Yoon Hye-jin tells Hong Du-shik when he pulls her aside to chat. “I have something to tell you too,” she continues.
Choices. That is what love is all about. Choosing to love one another over the obstacles that life lays in our path. That is what we can see in the later episodes. Choosing love over the past. Choosing love over secrets. Choosing love over pain. Choosing love over a sparkly new job in the city.
Overall:
This is a soft k-drama that focuses on interpersonal relationships rather than heart-quickening conflict. It is a slow burn kind of watch that is very reminiscent of “Mama Mia” or “What happens in Rome.” The seaside environment probably plays a role in the mood and tone of the series.
Would I recommend? Only if you are in the mood for a slow burn with soft conflict. It’s one of those dramas that helps pass the time. Although engaging for the first half of the series, the later half slows down immensely as the main characters explore their feelings. I’d almost categorize this as a “slice-of-life” k-drama. Take from that what you will.
Cheers to the cast and crew for creating such a heart-felt drama.
You can watch Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha on Netflix.
*1: “second face”- In asian culture, there is a philosophy known as the three faces. It says that everyone has three faces, personas so to say. The first face you show to strangers, acquaintances, your boss. The second face you show to your friends and family. The last face, the third face, you show no one. It’s your inner self.
*2: “no holds barred”- used to convey that no rules or restrictions apply in a conflict or dispute, a phrase that originated in wrestling
*3: “coming up short”- not meeting the standards or expectations of others.
Randi Orr 