Love "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha"? Catch Its Cast In These Dramas Too

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is the new K-drama grabbing everyone’s attention because of its refreshing rom-com plot and its cast lineup headed by Shin Min-Ah (Oh My Venus), Kim Sun-Ho (Start Up), and Lee Sang-Yi (When The Camellia Blooms).

The series is about Yoo Hye-Jin (Shin Min-Ah), a realist who doesn’t usually like major changes in her life. However, because of certain events, she finds herself moving to a seaside village in Gongjin. There she meets Hong Du-Sik (Kim Sun-Ho), a member of the village who is currently unemployed. He likes to give a helping hand to anyone who needs it in the village.

The drama is still in its early episodes, but so far, it’s been well received by audiences. This makes waiting for the next episodes somehow agonising, especially since we’re finally getting somewhere in both the romance and the more serious departments of the plot.

While waiting, here are other dramas to binge featuring Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha’s cast members.

Shin Min-Ah in Chief Of Staff

Shin Min-Ah is undeniably one of the original K-drama queens with My Girlfriend Is A Gumiho, Arang And The Magistrate, and Oh My Venus in her filmography. Aside from her stint on those memorable series, her performance in Chief Of Staff is also a must watch. In this drama, she played Kang Seon-Yeon, a first year lawmaker who was formerly a current affairs TV host.

Why you should watch it: If you love Shin Min-Ah’s spunky roles, you’ll definitely fall in love with her as Kang Seon-Yeon too. While there is a love story in the plot, it also zooms in on a lot of socio-political issues and delivers each storyline brilliantly. Good luck spotting a couple of familiar faces too (we won’t spoil who) because this drama has an ensemble cast any K-drama fan would be excited to see onscreen.

Kim Sun-Ho in Start Up

We’re so glad Kim Sun-Ho finally gets his chance to play an on-screen romance in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. That’s because before his leading role in this drama, he broke our hearts as Han Pi-Jeong in Start Up. Playing opposite fellow oppa Nam Joo-Hyuk and K-drama darling Suzy Bae, Kim Sun-Ho portrayed the charismatic second lead in this I.T.-themed romance drama. And as expected, our second-lead syndrome was ignited by his compelling performance.

Why you should watch it: Apart from the satisfying love triangle chemistry between the three leads, the story is also very interesting and relatable. Ultimately, it’s about reaching your dreams and stopping at nothing to get them while still trying to make sure you have your sights on what truly matters. It’s one of the many factors this drama shares with Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.

Lee Sang-Yi in Youth Of May

Here’s another new oppa on the block to pay attention to. Before his part as Gongjin’s main trio, Lee Sang-Yi is fresh off another drama this year titled Youth In May. Set in 1980 during the Gwangju Uprising, this drama zooms in on finding love amid chaos and seeking justice where and when it’s needed. In this drama, Lee Sang-Yi played Lee Soo-Chan, the older brother of the main character played by Lee Do-Hyun (Beyond Evil), who takes over their family’s business after coming home from France.

Why you should watch it: This drama did a great job creating a picture of what actually occurred during the Gwangju Uprising without overly romanticising or exaggerating the story. Instead, it focused more on specific issues that are still relevant today.

Kim Young-Ok in The Light In Your Eyes

Another familiar face for K-drama fans is veteran actress Kim Young-Ok, who joins the Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha cast as Gongjin’s amusing resident Kim Gam-Ri. There’s definitely a lot on her acting portfolio that’s worth recommending, but The Light In Your Eyes tops our list at the moment.

This heartfelt drama is about Kim Hye-Ja (Han Ji-Min), a woman who has the ability to travel back in time. However, she loses her youth after each time jump. As a result, she ended up as an old woman earlier than intended. In this form, she crosses paths with her first love Lee Joon-Ha (Nam Joo-Hyuk) who is still in his younger years. Kim Young-Ok played Lee Joon-Ha’s grandmother, who becomes one of the reasons why Joon-Ha ends up reuniting with Hye-Ja, in this drama.

Why you should watch it: A drama about love, family, and friendship, The Light In Your Eyes is a beautifully written story that’s worth a place on any K-drama fan’s watchlist. While the plot definitely gets melodramatic at times, it has well-placed comedic moments that balance the mood of the drama perfectly. The acting dynamic of the younger members of the cast and the veterans are also well-matched, similar to what can be seen on Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.

(Cover photo from: @tvn_drama)