Korean dramas have been popular for years, but their global success has really taken off in the last ten years. Streaming service Netflix has played a huge role in this, especially since 2021 with the incredibly popular series, Squid Game.
Since then, Netflix has consistently delivered popular K-dramas like Business Proposal, Alchemy of Souls, The Glory, All of Us Are Dead, and Crash Landing On You. However, one drama still stands out as their best – it remains a perfect 10/10, even years later.
5 Years Later, Netflix Has Yet to Top Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
Squid Game Was Not Netflix’s Only Major Hit of 2021
Also debuting in 2021 alongside Squid Game, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha quickly became one of Netflix’s most popular shows that year. The story centers on Yoon Hye-jin, a dentist who moves to the charming coastal town of Gongjin to start her own practice after leaving her job in Seoul.
Hye-jin, accustomed to the fast pace and anonymity of city life, finds herself completely out of her element when she moves to the countryside. She has to adjust to a slower pace and the close-knit, though often intrusive and eccentric, community of her new neighbors, who are ultimately kind and helpful.
I was immediately struck by the contrast between Hye-jin and the town’s jack-of-all-trades, Hong Du-sik. They clearly didn’t hit it off, and it felt like the start of one of those classic stories where enemies eventually fall in love – it reminded me a bit of Pride and Prejudice. Even with some heavier themes, the show is incredibly warm and comforting. But honestly, what really stood out was how cleverly everything was written.
Like the popular show Reply 1988, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha stands out because it develops rich and interesting backstories and storylines for almost all of its supporting characters, even with a large cast.
Even with many romantic comedies released since then, no Korean drama has quite captured the same charm as Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. Netflix’s Welcome to Samdal-ri from 2023 came nearest, sharing a similar coastal setting, but it was noticeably more serious and didn’t offer the same cozy and complete feeling as Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha’s Leads Are Returning in 2026
Fans who loved the connection between Kim Seon-ho and Shin Min-a in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha haven’t seen them together on screen since, which has been disappointing. However, 2026 promises exciting things for both actors and their fans, as they’re both confirmed to lead upcoming live-action adaptations of popular webtoons.
Kim Seon-ho has already starred in popular dramas like Can This Love Be Translated and When Life Gives You Tangerines, and he’ll be back soon in Portraits of Delusion with Suzy, who he previously worked with on Start-Up. In other news, Shin Min-a will play the main character, Empress Navier, in the upcoming series The Remarried Empress, alongside Lee Jong-suk and Ju Ji-hoon.
It’s great news for K-drama fans: both Portraits of Delusion and The Remarried Empress are heading to Disney Plus. With these additions, Disney Plus is building a strong K-drama selection this year and could become a major competitor to Netflix. Although a continuation of Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha isn’t planned, many viewers are hoping Netflix will bring back the beloved leads for a new romantic story.
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2026-03-28 15:41