Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is coming to an end and TBH, our weekends will never be the same again. For more than two months, this K-drama became our source of healing and happiness, and moving on won't be easy. Before we cry our eyes out in time for its finale, let's shine the spotlight first on the show's director, Yoo Je Won.
Je Won PD-nim is no stranger to rom-coms and he has led several K-dramas under this genre over the years. What makes his directing style different from other rom-com directors is that aside from the laughter and kilig, you will also be comforted. A fine example would be Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.
The drama may be centered on Yoon Hye Jin (Shin Min Ah) and Hong Doo Shik (Kim Seon Ho)'s love story but it also tells the lives of those who live in Gongjin. We have witnessed the hardships of a pregnant mother, the struggles of a divorced couple, the loyalty of two best friends, the trust between villagers, and so much more. After laughing out loud because of a hilarious scene, a heartwarming moment always follows and we are left heaving a sigh of relief.
In terms of the comedic element, director Yoo Je Won has a flair for light entertainment that's simple yet solid. The witty banter between the characters may seem like something you've heard from a past drama, but it has a refreshing kind of energy that makes it stand out. One of his works, Oh My Ghost, is about an assistant chef (Park Bo Young) who got possessed by a ghost—but it's not the typical creepy spirit you're familiar with (hint: this one's seductive).
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Another thing you'll always find in director Yoo Je Won's works is a quirky female lead. We have Yoon Hye Jin in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, Na Bong Sun (Park Bo Young) and Shin Soon Ae (Kim Seul Gi) in Abyss, and Song Ma Rin (Shin Min Ah) in Tomorrow With You. Yup, you read that right: He has already worked with Shin Min Ah twice and he only has the best things to say about her!
P.S: Remember when Hye Jin got drunk with Doo Shik and she started singing, dancing, and saying words that she doesn't often use? There's another scene similar to that in Tomorrow With You!
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Now that you know his directing style, check out the seven K-dramas by director Yoo Je Won and where you can watch them:
1. High School King Of Savvy (2014)
Who's in it: Seo In Guk, Lee Ha Na, Lee Yeol Eum, Lee Soo Hyuk
Where you can watch it: iQIYI
The plot, according to iQIYI: "A romantic comedy of a series of stories that happened after a high school student unknowingly became the leader of a large company. Seo In Guk portrays the main attacker of the high school hockey team and the most popular high school student in the school. He replaces his elder brother, who is an IT expert, as the head of a company's planning office, resulting in an interesting series of twists and turns."
Fun fact: Director Yoo Je Won complimented Seo In Guk's talent in this role and described him as a "very intelligent" actor in an interview!
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2. Oh My Ghost (2015)
Who's in it: Park Bo Young, Jo Jung Suk, Kim Seul Gi
Where you can watch it: Viu, iQIYI
The plot, according to Viu: "Oh My Ghost is a drama about inhumane people and a humane ghost. Bong Sun has lived her life with an unusual ability to see ghosts. Soon Ae is a virgin ghost trapped in the world due to her grudges. Sun Woo is an arrogant celebrity chef full of positive energy. In order for the ghost to avoid becoming an evil spirit and to rest in peace, Soon Ae has to resolve her grudges by sleeping with a man who’s full of positive energy."
Fun fact: Based on an article by Daily Sports via Soompi, Park Bo Young became the highest-paid actress for a tVN drama because of Oh My Ghost, and was reportedly paid 30 million won (around P1.3 million) in 2015!
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3. Tomorrow, With You (2017)
Who's in it: Shin Min Ah, Lee Je Hoon
Where you can watch it: Netflix, iQIYI
The plot, according to Netflix: "The head of a real estate firm with the ability to travel through time by taking the subway marries a photographer to try and change his future."
Fun fact: Shin Min Ah said that she can relate to her character's backstory—at a young age, she already started acting and also went through the same misfortunes as Ma Rin.
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4. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (2018)
Who's in it: Seo In Guk, Jung So Min
Where you can watch it: Viu, iQIYI
The plot, according to iQIYI: "Adapted from the 2002 Japanese TV series of the same name, it portrays the romantic story between a dangerous man named Moo Young and a wounded woman named Jin Kang, and the entanglement with Jin Kang’s brother Jin Kook."
Fun fact: Did you know that a Pinay was cast in this series? The Smile Has Left Your Eyes marks Joyce Guerra's first acting stint in a K-drama!
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5. Abyss (2019)
Who's in it: Park Bo Young, Ahn Hyo Seop
Where you can watch it: Netflix
The plot, according to Netflix: "After meeting an untimely demise in separate incidents, Cha Min and Go Se Yeon discover they've come back to life in new bodies they don't recognize."
Fun fact: It looks like Seo In Guk is director Yoo Je Won's favorite because he made a special cameo (along with Jung So Min) in this drama!
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6. Hi Bye, Mama! (2020)
Who's in it: Kim Tae Hee, Lee Kyu Hyung, Go Bo Gyeol
Where you can watch it: Netflix
The plot, according to Netflix: "When the ghost of a woman gains a second chance at life for 49 days, she reappears in front of her remarried husband and young daughter."
Fun fact: The child actor who plays Kim Tae Hee's daughter is actually a little boy! The drama's production team chose him because he looks a lot like Tae Hee.
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7. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021)
Who's in it: Shin Min Ah, Kim Seon Ho, Lee Sang Yi
Where you can watch it: Netflix
The plot, according to Netflix: "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha depicts back-and-forth, an up-and-down feel-good romance between the pragmatic dentist Yoon Hye Jin and the unemployed jack-of-all-trades Hong Doo Sik in the seaside town of Gongjin where human warmth and the scent of sea salt linger on."
Fun fact: Are you a Start-Up fan? Then you've probably noticed the references (like Doo Shik talking about self-driving cars) from that drama in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha! Click here for a *detailed* explanation of the easter eggs.
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MORE STORIES ABOUT K-DRAMA DIRECTORS AND WRITERS RIGHT HERE:
5 Must-Watch K-Dramas By 'It's Okay, That's Love' Writer Noh Hee Kyung
5 Must-Watch K-Dramas By 'Vincenzo' Writer Park Jae Bum
5 K-Dramas And Movies By 'Squid Game' Creator Hwang Dong Hyuk
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Source: Cosmo PH
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