Edited by Seo Hae Lan
Translated by Kim Hoyeun
Are you into thrillers? How about mystery? Stories that captivate us with their detailed plot and bone-chilling tension then shock us with the twists – we have no other choice to get sucked into them at one go.
On September 22nd, a new mystery thriller drama is coming. The drama that’s right up the alley for those who love K-mystery thrillers like Beyond Evil and The Cursed – it’s Hometown. Let’s check out the world of Hometown.
‘Hometown’: What’s the truth of that day?
Hometown tells the story of those whose lives have been turned upside down by the worst terrorist attack in history. A few years after the incident, a kidnapping case brings them together once again, and slowly, they discover the truth they didn’t know about.
Set in 1999 in the fictional city of Saju, the drama centers around detective Choi Hyung In and restaurant chef Cho Jung Hyun. One is a victim who lost his wife at the terror attack at Saju Station 12 years ago, while one is the younger sister of the terrorist Cho Kyung Ho. And now, he is a detective of the kidnapping of Cho Jae young, and she is Cho Jae Young’s aunt. As they investigate Jae Young’s disappearance, they find out that it’s somehow related to the terrorist attack 12 years ago and uncover the truth about the day that took the lives of many people.
Things to Watch For: Flawless Performances of Never-Failing Actors
Previously, Hometown made headlines for finalizing casting actors who are acclaimed for their acting skills. Choi Hyung In, a detective in charge of the case, is played by Stranger and Itaewon Class actor Yoo Jae Myung. He will portray the complicated feelings of Hyung In, who had buried himself in work since losing his wife in a terrorist attack but has to face the past to find out the truth.
Cho Jung Hyun, the younger sister of terrorist Cho Kyung Ho and the aunt of Jae Young that went missing, will be played by Han Ye Ri, who received worldwide attention with Minari. She will paint out the desperation and despair of a woman who had suffered the stigma of being a terrorist’s sister and people’s hostile gaze but faces an unbearable tragedy again when her nephew goes missing.
Cho Kyung Ho, a terrorist they must go up against to dig the truth out, will be played by The Age of Shadows and Night in Paradise actor Uhm Tae Goo. He is a villain who has killed countless people, and yet it is said that he also holds a secret that will surprise the world. All three actors had captivated viewers with their outstanding performances in various movies and dramas. We expect them to show another impressive acting in Hometown as well.
Things to Watch For: The Process of Uncovering the Secret
The main characters of Hometown need to find answers to two questions. The first is the whereabouts of Cho Jae Young, a 15-year-old girl who suddenly disappeared in 1999 (the present time in the drama). Jae Young is the daughter of Cho Kyung Ho, the perpetrator of the 1987 terrorist attack involving nerve gas. After her father was arrested as a terrorist, she has lived with her grandmother and aunt. However, Jae Young holds a secret that she did not tell anyone, not even her aunt. And this secret is a clue to a series of murders in Saju and the truth of the 1987 incident.
The second question is about the truth about the terrorist attack that killed countless people. Terrorist Cho Kyung Ho never revealed the reason for his crime, but he finally opened his mouth 12 years later when his daughter went missing. Choi Hyung In and Cho Jung Hyun need to know the truth to find Jae Young, and to do so, they play a fierce mind game with Kyung Ho.
Hometown is an investigative drama centering around a detective. Still, the case he investigates is a terrible case that took place 12 years ago, maybe even more, and resulted in numerous victims. How many secrets and histories have piled up during that time? The process of facing the huge truth as Hyung In and Jung Hyun unravel hidden mysteries and stories will be drawn with bone-chilling tension and thrill.
Editor Seo Hae Lan: I’m not picky and like all genres. I am in constant search of a balance between criticism and a fan’s heart.
Translator Kim Hoyeun: If you are a fan of K-drama, K-movie, and K-pop, I am your guy. I will continue to provide you with up-to-date K-entertainment news.
