“Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha” is a viral hit romantic-comedy Korean drama and an outstanding remake of the 2004 film, “Mr. Hong”, starring Kim Seonho and Shin Mina.

It takes us to the daily life of residents at the seaside village of Gongjin where life is calm and slow-paced but where rich and profound stories abound.

Here are three best insights on love and relationships from the series:

1. We need people. We need love.

“We live in a society. You can’t hate being around people.” – Hong Dusik

“It’s sad when you’re sick alone. Everyone knows that.” – Yoon Hyejin

“So what if we get soaked in rain? Who cares if the wind blows a bit when we’re on the same boat?” – Yoon Hyejin

“People should live among other people. Life may seem like a burden to you at times, but if you choose to be among others, someone will carry you on their back.” – Ms Gamri

“She talks and giggles a lot. You easily get distracted in her presence. Still, it feels empty now that she’s not around.” – Hong Dusik

“I enjoy hanging out with people more than anything else. Eating, laughing, and talking together. That’s all there is to life, isn’t it?” – Director Ji Seonghyeon

“I’d love it if our shoes were always side by side at the door together. So that neither of us would be lonely.” – Yoon Hyejin

“I lived for 34 years without you, but each day seems to last forever since I’ve met you.” – Hong Dusik

“Peeling crabs and shrimps are a true hassle. It takes a lot of love to do this for someone else.” – Yoon Hyejin

“Find someone to lean on for once. You spend your life dealing with people’s baggage. When do you ever get to lessen yours?” – Chunjae / Oh Yoon

“Promise me that you’ll live for many years to come. I’ll be too bored without you. Scold me all you want. Order me around and make fun of me. Just make sure you stay longer.” – Granny Sukja

2. Relationships may be hard but they matter the most.

“I’m so proud that you won the prize. But we would be still doing this even if you hadn’t. What we’re celebrating is the fact that you worked hard. To me, that’s more important than the prize itself.” – Yeo Hwajeong

“No thing’s easy at first, you know. Whether it’s wearing shoes or being in a relationship.” – Director Ji Seonghyeon

“To tell you the truth, even if it wasn’t my birthday or I didn’t win a school award, I wanted to eat together as a family. I’ve always wanted us to live under the same roof.” – Chang Ijun

“The best meal is one that you have with your family.” – Yoon Taehwa

“When parents die, children who regret the most cry the most.” – Wonseok

“You said that the best thing a parent can do for their child is staying healthy. It’s the same with parents. It tears our hearts out when our children are in pain.” – Ms Gamri

“I guess it hasn’t sunk in yet. This is not my first time but I can never get used to it. It feels like she’s still here with me. So I don’t want to let her go yet. Just for a little while longer, I want her by my side.” – Chief Hong

“This kind of relationship isn’t easy to come by, so you must do your best not to lose it.” – Ms Gamri

“Do you know what it means to be a good parent? It’s staying healthy for a long time. They shouldn’t endure pain to save money for their children. They should take care of themselves.” – Yoon Hyejin

“I don’t know what you’re holding, but just lay all your cards on the table. Relationships aren’t a poker game where you bluff and make bets. Just be honest. Show her what kind of person you are. Let her decide how she feels about it.” – Director Ji Seonghyeon

“And so we were able to learn that as long as we have memories of them, our loved ones are always with us.” – Yoon Hyejin

3. Love is patient. Love sees beyond imperfections. Love heals.

“How could she still care for me after everything? Why did she do it for me when she should despise me?” – Chang Yeunggeuk

“I’m done thinking about us. You know patience isn’t my strong suit. I hate it when things are vague. Things that are ambiguous don’t sit well with me. So what I want to say is despite our current situation, if you can promise that someday you’ll open up to me, I could wait.” – Yoon Hyejin

“At times, you guys may bicker because you don’t always see eye to eye, but he always has nothing but love for you.” – Lee Myungshin

“Going through both marriage and divorce has enlightened me. I regret being so impatient. I wish I’d told him what I was really feeling for once.” – Yeon Hwajeong

“We were together since we were young, so I took you for granted. Only after I lost you was I able to realize what you mean to me.” – Chang Yeunggeuk

“Love shouldn’t be about weighing things. It’s all about what’s in your heart.” – Miseon

“I’ve made up my mind. But I’ll give you some extra time to think. But let’s end the break. You can think while we date. Take your time while we’re together.” – Yoon Hyejin

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Since its premiere on August 28, 2021, the show consistently took the highest nationwide viewership ratings in its time slot across all channels, with Episode 16 finale achieving the highest record of 12.7%, according to Nielsen Korea.

It is also currently on the Top 10 TV shows on Netflix in several countries such as the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and a lot more. As of writing, 98% Google users liked this show with a rate of 9/10 through the IMDB.

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Drama Creators: Director Yu Je-won, Writer Shin Ha-eun

Photo cover: TVN Drama / Hanible Photography