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| Actors Kim Seon-ho, right, and Shin Min-a in a scene from tvN's rom-com series, 'Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha' / Courtesy of Studio Dragon |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
TvN's drama, "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha," starring Shin Min-a and Kim Seon-ho, has been gaining popularity on Netflix streaming charts worldwide, following the global success of the dark survival drama, "Squid Game."
While it might not have captured the throne on the list of the most-watched TV shows on Netflix, the romantic comedy has made history by making the top 10.
According to streaming analytics platform FlixPatrol, "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" was ranked ninth on the daily top 10 list on Friday. It was listed on the Netflix Top 10 shows in about 20 countries, including Australia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Japan and Qatar.
Netflix's Korean original series, "Squid Game," has been topping the list for days, making it two K-dramas that have achieved a similar feat on the Netflix series chart.
Directed by Yoo Je-won, whose previous works include "Oh My Ghost" and "Tomorrow, with You," "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" follows the story of a big-city dentist, Yoon Hye-jin (Shin), who moves from Seoul to the seaside village of Gongjin to open up her own practice.
As she tries to settle into her new neighborhood, she meets the town's handsome, jack-of-all-trades, Hong Du-sik (Kim), whom she finds to be her polar opposite. It is a TV series remake of the romantic comedy film, "Mr. Handy" (2004).
The 10th episode of the series set its highest viewership rating on Sunday, garnering an 11.4-percent viewership nationwide. After beginning with a 6.8-percent viewership on Aug. 28, the series has risen in popularity, thanks to its heartwarming storyline and the actors' realistic portrayals of their characters.
Fans described the series as a drama that will "soothe your eyes and refresh your minds."
One commented, "It's so lightweight and gives just the right amount of butterflies. I know it's early to say this, but this drama has healed me. The acting was amazing. The cinematography is absolutely stunning," while another viewer said that she wants to visit Pohang, the filming location.
In Korea, "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" maintained the top spot on the list of the TV shows with the most buzz, according to data analytics firm Good Data Corporation. Lead actors Kim and Shin continued to defend their spots of first and second place, respectively, for the fifth-consecutive week, on the most influential actors list.
"We are glad that viewers around the world are able to empathize with this healing romance set in a seaside village. They seem to appreciate the sentiment of K-drama that exudes warm, down-to-earth feelings," a Studio Dragon representative said.
The Saturday-Sunday drama has been streaming on Netflix about an hour after its release on TV.
