What happened to Du-sik in Hometown Cha Cha Cha?

Gongjin has three big mysteries to keep its townsfolk always gossiping. But one that forms a major arc in Hometown Cha Cha Cha is about Du-sik’s mysterious past.

As Hye-jin slowly discovers, Du-sik is a genius with numbers and has graduated from Seoul National University, a prestigious institution. So despite having all of these qualifications, why does he do all of Gongjin’s odd jobs charging only minimum wage?

Is it something to do with his ideology, his past or both?

While working as a hedge fund manager, Du-sik was part of an accident that kills his close friend and co-worker Jeong-woo. Unable to deal with the guilt, he covers up his past and decides to live a mediocre life in Gongjin.

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

The details about his past are quite muddled up thanks to rumors which Du-sik never bothers to entertain or clarify. But towards the end of the show, we finally get a straight timeline. Allow me to elaborate about Du-sik’s traumatic past:

Du-sik’s Past Revealed

In episode 15, we see Do-ha (who works for the reality show) confronting Du-sik and calling him a murderer. Du-sik accepts the blame and walks away from the party without explaining himself, much to the anguish of Hye-jin and Gongjin’s residents.

Turns out, while he was working as a hedge fund manager he developed a friendship with Do-ha’s father, Gi-hoon, who worked as a security guard for the building.

Upon hearing that Du-sik has been quite successful at work, Gi-hoon approaches him about investing in a high-returns project. Du-sik refuses him several times because high returns meant higher risks but finally gives in, asking Gi-hoon to promise he’d be careful while investing.

Right afterwards, Korea’s stock market crashes due to Benjamin Holding’s bankruptcy. With everything already in a frenzy, Du-sik has to deal with the fact that without consulting him, Gi-hoon invested in stocks affected by the crash and even mortgaged his house for the same. Du-sik once again tells him to not make any hasty decisions, as the market may recover.

Sadly, sometime later an employee informs him that Gi-hoon has tried to commit suicide but was saved just in time.

Du-sik wants to rush to hospital but as he as he is shaken up by Gi-hoon’s news and under work duress, he is in no state to get behind the wheel. So his brother-like co-worker Jeong-woo drives them there instead.

This is where things go from tragic to absolutely nightmarish — While trying to avoid an oncoming car, Jeong-woo swerves but crashes into a truck instead. He dies on the spot.

Episode 15’s Bittersweet Epilogue

Blaming himself for Jeong-woo’s death and uprooting two families’ lives, Du-sik attempts suicide on Han River’s bridge. Right before he can take a step further, he receives a text from Gam-ri riddled with typos, telling him how much she misses him.

It’s a simple, small message but it gets Du-sik immediately off the ledge. It’s this very message that convinces him to go back to Gongjin and live like a “nobody.” As he sits distraught on the bridge, an ambulance arrives to help him get to safety.

We see that Hye-jin (who at that time did not know Du-sik) noticed him on the bridge, called the authorities and watched over him till he was rescued.

Du-sik Deals with His Trauma

Although Du-sik has been seeking medical help, he hadn’t really been processing this trauma and continued to blame himself. He pushed Hye-jin away for prodding into his past, perhaps because he was afraid it might break their relationship, that she might judge him or simply because it was too painful to even recall.

But when he finally tells her the truth, Hye-jin’s response of acceptance slowly allows him to shed off some of the guilt.

After spending days in utter isolation, Du-sik and Do-ha have a chat about all the accusations. Du-sik had given Do-ha’s mom some money as remittance, which Do-ha continues to be bitter about. But he finally admits that it wasn’t Du-sik’s fault, he just wanted someone to blame.

Coincidence or not, Jeong-woo’s wife, Seon-a and their kid visit Gongjin that very day and run into Du-sik and Hye-jin. Du-sik is alarmed at first, But Seon-a tells her child to refer to him as “uncle,” a clear sign of endearment

They have a long conversation on the beach about the past, and Seon-a explains that she won’t apologize for all the harsh things she said to Du-sik but she no longer resents him and has moved on in life. He should do the same. Right then Jeong-woo’s spirit appears, asking Du-sik to finally forgive himself.

Conclusion

If Hometown Cha Cha Cha teaches us anything, it’s that it takes time to heal from a traumatic event, but moving forward in a healthy way is possible.

As much as the show is about love stories and Gongjin’s idiosyncratic tales, I think a major theme is about how surrounding yourself with good people can change you for the better.

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.