The Three Mysteries of Gongjin: Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

1. Divorce reason behind Chang Yeong-Guk and Yeo Hwa-Jeong

The couple had a three year relationship and even had a child named , but their relationship ended in a divorce. In the first few episodes of the drama, the viewers could tell that they do care for each other although their conversations always ends up in arguments. It has been known that Yeong-guk, Hwa-jeong and Cho-hui were best friends in the early days, and Yeong-guk’s first love is Cho-hui. With her leaving Gongjin suddenly due to her mother’s illness, he tells himself to give up his love for her.

But when she comes back after these years to Gongjin to teach once again. Yeong-guk finally musters up his courage to not let go of this opportunity and confess his feelings to her. In Episode 9, he recites a poem to her about his feelings but was only turned down by Cho-hui telling him that she never had any romantic feelings toward him.

To the love of my life, I will never forget you until my very last breath. I know my chance will never come. Please stay beautiful as you are.
Poem by Yi Sang, as recited by Yeong-guk to Cho-hui

In the evening, Hwa-jeong finds Yeong-guk drinking along the shore and tells him to stop because he could not control his liquor. Yeong-guk blames her about Cho-hui turning him down believing that Cho-hui must have considered Hwa-jeong’s getting hurt.

He continues to blunt out that he had done everything she wanted, even getting a divorce just because he took off his socks inside out. He begged and asked her for forgiveness but she kicked him out that day. He accepted the divorce because she said she could not live with him anymore. But Hwa-jeong tells him that he will never know why she wanted a divorce.

My Thoughts

Yeong-guk’s first love is Cho-hui whom he never let go from his thoughts despite the fact that she left Gongjin three years ago and is already married. So I think the reason why Hwa-jeong filed for divorce is because even if Yeong-guk was married to her, his heart will never be. And she eventually just got tired of forcing herself to him.

The Real Reason

As the story unfolded, it has been known that Hwa-jeong was fed up with Yeong-guk’s attitude after Cho-hui left Gongjin. He has been going home drunk and Hwa-jeong has been there for him to fetch him from the bar, clean up his clothes and tends to his hangover needs without him even noticing her at all. Her heart ached so badly that she eventually decided to leave him because she could not stand him anymore, but still takes care of him.

At the end of Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, they reconciliated, worked on their relationship once again and Yeong-guk moved back at Hwa-jeong and their son’s home.

2. Five year disappearance of Hong Du-sik

After Hong Du-sik graduated from Seoul National University and before he returned to Gongjin, there was a five year disappearance which Gongjin villagers did not know what happened to him. They came up with crazy ideas about him working as a spy in North Korea or climbing Mount Everest, but so far, here are some hints what could have actually happened to him.

In ending of Episode 9, Du-sik consults a psychiatric about his greatest fear: that everyone around him dies. We get to see a young Du-sik mourning about his grandfather’s death with visitor’s whispering how unfortunate he is that he lost his parents early and now his grandfather. Then later on we also get to see an all grown-up Du-sik attending a funeral.

In Episode 10, Du-sik also hints that Hye-jin is the second person whom he has told how is grandfather died because of him. The first person he told his story to could be his psychiatric doctor.

My Thoughts

Multiple times did I replay this specific scene to get a clear picture as to “who” it could have been (and honestly, I thought it could potentially a fiancé who he was about to get married to but died. But after a closer look, the picture seems like a man rather than a woman.)

He also had nightmares, waking up drenched in sweat, indicating a darker mystery into it, probably like murder in my assumptions.

He told Hye-jin that he stopped playing soccer because his grandfather died while he was away watching the World Cup. Relating that he has this “trauma”, it could be another possibility that he did work during those five year disappearance and some unfortunate things happened and comes back to Gongjin doing odd jobs. But since there has been no hints as to “who” this person could be, all we can do for now is wait and watch the next episodes.

The Real Story

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha episodes has revealed that Du-sik was working as a stock broker at Seoul after he graduated from Seoul National University. There he met a security guard whom he treated as a Gongjin villager who always urged Du-sik about about him investing in the stock market to earn money for his family. After much persuasion, Du-sik gives the security guard a calling card to whom he can reach out to and inquire about investing and tells him not to do anything foolish.

Unfortunately, an international bankruptcy caused a stock market collapse and the security guard reaches out to Du-sik for help because his equity money turned negative and that he has foolishly invested his retirement money and mortgage his house. When he heard of this, Du-sik tells the security guard that he will get back to him and wait for his call. Du-sik then went on with his work on that day, even ignoring the security guard’s call.

As night approaches, news about the security guard attempted suicide and has been in coma. With his good friend accompanying him, they rode off to meet and help the guard. Unfortunately, a truck crashed into their car and killed his friend. Ever since that day, Du-sik has carried the burden and felt guilty of what had happened and talked to no one about it.

3. Who won the lottery for 1.4 billion won three years ago

As for this third mystery, it has been revealed that Eun-Cheol won the lottery and used it for good. He donated to charities time to time to help people in need. No knew about this except for Mi-Seon, whom he showed his passbook bank account to. He tells her that he wanted to become a policeman, not a rich person so he ended up still pursuing what he wanted. Mi-Seon was so impressed about his character and even fell more deeply in love.

So there you have the Three Mysteries of Gongjin so far!
Which mystery did you found the most interesting, tell us in the comments below!