Hometown Cha Cha Cha: Do Du-Sik and Hye-Jin end up together?

When you’re watching a K-drama, you’re basically investing in a long drawn out “will they, won’t they” chase. Hometown Cha Cha Cha starts off no different, with our leads Hye-jin and Du-sik being poles apart, yet unable to stay away from each other’s presence.

It is this very riff-raff that gets the two to fall in love with each other as well.

My favorite moments were seeing how Du-sik’s “common man” personality got Hye-jin off her high horse (I’m not sorry for calling her out!) because it showed us the genuine person she was under all of it.

So I was definitely squealing when they confessed their love to each other without a moment’s hesitation (…only to realize there may be other troubles lurking down the road.) For now, I will answer your pressing question. Do Du-sik and Hye-jin get together?

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha | Official Trailer | Netflix [ENG SUB]

Du-sik and Hye-jin finally get married in episode 16 of Hometown Cha Cha Cha. By the show’s end, Du-sik is able tell Hye-jin about his traumatic past and they decide to move forward together in the healing process. Both of them receive a happy ending.

But I’m getting ahead of myself, so here’s a nice recap of how the Sikhye couple got their happy ending:

Hometown Cha Cha Cha’s Love Triangle

This show has two love triangles, but right now let’s clear the air about Seong-hyeon, Hye-jin and Du-sik’s affairs.

Seong-hyeon used to have a crush on Hye-jin when she was his junior at college. But just like in the present, back then too Hye-jin did not have feelings for him. After he confesses to her a second time, she lets him down gently.

Seong-hyeon soon realizes that Du-sik and Hye-jin are in love with each other and proceeds to take himself out of the equation. Oh how it kills me to see second leads suffer so much, but thankfully Seong-hyeon has a happy ending ahead of him as well.

Do Du-sik and Hye-jin get married?

At first, the Sikhye couple decide to keep their relationship a secret to maintain Gongjin’s status quo. This ensues hilarious attempts of avoiding being affectionate with each other in public, before realizing that hey, this is a small town and all the residents already know we’re dating! 

Things get a little intense from here, when Hye-jin discovers a mysterious picture in Du-sik’s books that is related to his past. He asks her to drop the issue since he’s not yet ready to talk about it.

But this plants a seed of doubt in Hye-jin’s mind — Can they truly be a couple if they cannot share different aspects of their life? During their hot and cold period, Hye-jin decides on an ultimatum: Du-sik either needs to tell her about his past or they need to spend some time apart.

I personally felt this was a little rash. You cannot force someone to open up about a traumatic event. But I also do get Hye-jin’s frustration about being unable to get through to Du-sik.

It almost seems like fate makes a decision itself, when Du-sik is publicly accused of being a “murderer.” After locking himself up for endless days, he finally lets Hye-jin in and tells her about his past: A bunch of unfortunate events that led to the death of his close friend and him bearing the brunt of all the guilt.

My heart shattered seeing Hye-jin comforting him and reinforcing the truth that it wasn’t his fault. It is this very vulnerable moment that brings the two back together. Du-sik sees that Hye-jin loves and accepts him not “despite” his past, but because it is a part of him. Hye-jin too realizes that she needs to give Du-sik space to heal. 

Without ruining the experience, I can confirm that the Sikhye couple do get married. It’s every bit of cute, chaotic and funny as you’d expect. Have I watched the ending a couple of times? Yes, and I highly recommend it. 

About Hometown Cha Cha Cha

Hometown Cha Cha Cha is a South Korean drama that is set in the fictional town of Gongjin. While it follows the idiosyncratic stories of its residents, it focuses the town’s newest arrival Yoon Hye-jin, who gives up her hectic life in Seoul to open her own dental clinic in scenic Gongjin. 

She often clashes with Hong Du-sik, Gongjin’s overly skilled handyman with a traumatic past. Their different perspectives on life bring together, ensuing a romance full of healing. 

The main cast is made up of Shin Min-a, Kim Seon-ho and Lee Sang-yi.