Pohang Small-Town Charm Visiting the Set of Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
Seaside Solace: Finding the Heart of 'Gongjin' in Pohang
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- The Scent of Salt and Dried Squid
- The Dissonance of an Industrial Giant
- Beyond the 'Sleepy Village' Stereotype
- The Power of 'Jeong' and the Communal Table
- Finding Your Own Rhythm by the Sea
Pohang’s coastal villages serve as the real-life backdrop for the fictional town of Gongjin in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, showcasing a lifestyle rooted in communal resilience, tradition, and the deep emotional bond known as 'Jeong'.
The Scent of Salt and Dried Squid
I remember stepping off the bus in the Cheongha Market area and feeling an immediate shift in the atmospheric pressure. Gone was the caffeinated, high-speed hum of Seoul, replaced by the rhythmic sound of the tide and the occasional cry of a seagull. As I walked past the small stalls where elderly women sat on low stools peeling garlic, I realized I was standing exactly where Chief Hong and Hye-jin first navigated their clashing worlds in 'Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha'. The red lighthouse in the distance wasn't just a prop; it was a beacon for a lifestyle that feels increasingly rare.
Walking through these narrow alleys, where vibrant murals of squid and waves decorate the cinderblock walls, you find yourself caught in a strange nostalgia. You might be a thousand miles from your own home, yet the sight of a neighbor helping another fix a broken gate feels intimately familiar. Why does this specific version of rural Korea feel like a "hometown" even to those who have never set foot in a fishing village?
The Dissonance of an Industrial Giant
For many international travelers, Pohang presents a fascinating cognitive dissonance. Before the world knew it as the charming "Gongjin," Pohang was primarily known as the "Steel City," home to POSCO, one of the world's largest steelmakers. When you look to the south, you see a skyline of massive chimneys and industrial cranes; when you look to the north, you find the pastoral, rocky beauty of Sabang Memorial Park and the quiet docks of Guryongpo.
This contrast is exactly why the town feels different. It isn't a manicured tourist resort. It is a working city where heavy industry and traditional fishing live side-by-side. The "confusion" visitors often feel is the realization that the idyllic life of Chief Hong exists right on the doorstep of Korea's industrial backbone. It’s a reminder that in Korean daily life, the "pastoral" isn't a separate world—it is the quiet heart that keeps the machine running.
Beyond the 'Sleepy Village' Stereotype
A common misunderstanding is the idea that these small towns are "stuck in the past" or lack the sophistication of the capital. While the pace is slower, the social intelligence of a place like Pohang is incredibly high. Visitors often expect a "sleepy" experience and are surprised by the vibrant, loud, and assertive nature of the local market culture. The Gyeongsang-do dialect (Satoori) is famously blunt and can sound like an argument to the uninitiated, but it is actually a form of deep honesty.
Another misconception is that the "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" experience is purely about the filming spots, like the boat on the hill at Sabang Memorial Park. While these are beautiful, the real experience is found in the communal silence of a mid-afternoon in the village. It’s not a lack of activity; it’s a presence of peace that many mistake for boredom. The town isn't performing for you—it is simply being itself.
The Power of 'Jeong' and the Communal Table
To understand the soul of Pohang, one must understand the concept of Jeong—that uniquely Korean blend of love, empathy, and social glue. In a village like the one depicted in the drama, your business is everyone's business, not because of nosiness, but because of a shared survival instinct. In fishing villages, when the men were at sea, the women relied on each other for everything from childcare to harvesting. This created a culture of "fierce belonging."
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The Sabang Memorial Park Boat
The boat sitting atop the hill in Sabang Memorial Park is more than just a photo op. It symbolizes the transcendence of the sea. It represents the hope that even when life feels like an uphill climb, the sea—the source of life—is always within sight. This resilience is a common thread in the lifestyle of the eastern coast.
The Market as a Social Anchor
The Cheongha Market isn't just a place to buy dried fish; it is the village’s newsroom and town square. In the drama, this is where the community heals. In reality, it is where the "Jeong" is most visible—where a vendor might toss an extra handful of snacks into your bag simply because you looked hungry. This "extra" (known as Deum) is the physical manifestation of a social contract based on generosity rather than transaction.
Finding Your Own Rhythm by the Sea
As I sat on the rocks near the Guryongpo coast, watching the sun set over the East Sea, I realized that we don't visit Pohang to find Chief Hong or Hye-jin. We visit to find the part of ourselves that we’ve lost to the rush of modern life. Pohang tells us that it’s okay to be "unfinished," that there is beauty in a rusted boat and value in a slow conversation over a bowl of cold noodles.
Whether you’re walking the steps of the Pohang Space Walk for a modern thrill or seeking the quiet alleys of the filming set, I hope you leave with a sense of Jeong in your pocket. Small-town Korea isn't just a backdrop for a story; it is a living reminder that at the end of the day, we all just want a place where we are known, seen, and welcomed home. The tide will always come back in, and the market will always open at dawn. There is an immense comfort in that consistency.
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