Does Hometown Cha Cha Cha have a sad ending?

Du-sik’s charm and hard-working nature has found a place in all our hearts — he’s your local superhero! But his unspoken trauma may get us a bit worried about the fate of the show.

His past has been kept quite secretive for a major part of Hometown Cha Cha Cha. While we’re given hints, it’s never enough to piece together what really happened all those years ago.

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

But I can reassure you there’s no need to worry.

Hometown Cha Cha Cha has a happy ending despite the foreboding. Du-Sik is able to deal with his traumatic past and start the healing process along with Hye-Jin. Other characters from Gongjin also see their character arcs come a full circle with a happy ending.

All the details are revealed in episode 15, which I will gush about down below. So if you haven’t watched the episode, watch it, come back and read my thoughts about Hometown Cha Cha Cha’s ending.

Du-sik’s Deals with His Past

Du-sik’s past has two tragic events intertwined: the death of his close friend and coworker Jeong-woo and the attempted suicide of Do-ha’s father, Gi-hoon.

While he was involved in both these accidents, neither one of them were truly his fault. Yet, he has been carrying the burden of this blame for years and confining himself to a “mediocre” life at Gongjin.

In episode 15, he finally starts dealing with this trauma, first by opening up to Hye-jin about it and then having an honest chat with Do-ha and Seon-a (Jeong-woo’s wife). He realizes Do-ha and Seon-a simply needed someone to blame in order to relieve their own grief and in actuality knew that Du-sik was not at fault.

It has taken us 15 episodes to get to know Du-sik’s truth but it has taken him years to come to terms with it. The show has been dubbed a “healing show” and I do love the pace used to depict this process — Du-sik’s life won’t magically turn around, neither will his trauma be healed immediately, but taking that first step is important.

Hometown Cha Cha Cha’s ending isn’t a happy one because “they lived happily ever after,” but because Du-sik has finally accepted that he too deserves to be forgiven and loved.

Gongjin’s Happy Endings

So yes, Du-hik and Hye-hin do finally get together (is that wedding bells we hear?) but it’s not the only happy ending we witness. Gongjin proves to be a town full of catharsis for the other characters as well:

• We have to bid adieu to Gam-ri who takes to her heavenly abode. This is a tough situation for anyone, but it is comforting to see as Du-sik deals with his past trauma, he is also learning to process present grief like Gam-ri’s death in a healthy manner. 
• Hwa-jeong is accepting and respectful of Cho-hui’s feelings towards her, which from a queer perspective was quite a unique subject to explore. This resolution sets the stage for Hwa-jeong and Yeon-guk to examine their marriage and divorce as well.
• Our other favorite couple Eun-cheol and Min-seon get a happy ending too and they plan their own wedding and life ahead together. (Plus, their relationship solves one of Gongjin’s three biggest mysteries!) 
• And lastly, since K-drama fans are used to the second leads getting scorned, it is indeed a joyful surprise that Seong-Hyeon also gets a happy ending when he starts allowing himself to having feelings for his colleague Ji-won without overthinking the repercussions. Take a chance on love!

I’m sure the OST Romantic Sunday is already stuck in your head, but it’s the best song to describe the feelings invoked at the end of Hometown Cha Cha Cha’s journey.

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.