K-Dramas and films set in the 90s, 80s, and 70s have been very loved this year thanks to “Twenty Five Twenty One” and “20th Century Girl”! Shows set during those times give a different feeling of nostalgia, and the retro feels we can’t find from shows set in the present.
K-Dramas have been making shows with similar concepts for the past few years, so I’m going to share these hidden gems that I think also deserve love and recognition, just like the two shows I mentioned above!
“Girls’ Generation 1979“
Seeing the title, I know a lot will remember SNSD, but this drama is far different from it, except that the main character is played by an idol (WJSN Bona!). As the title suggests, “Girls’ Generation 1979,” takes place in Daegu in 1979, and it’s about a high school senior who’s dealing with her first love, friends, and family.
BUT WAIT, it’s not your typical coming-of-age story because of the weighty difficulties they face, such as a patriarchal society, societal discrimination, and more. A highlight for me was seeing the two female characters become great friends. They proved that romantic feelings do not compromise friendship. “Girls’ Generation 1979” is one of those shows where you wish there were more episodes since the cast, especially WJSN Bona, is so good, and the show is just 8 episodes long.
“Youth of May“
For how it made me feel about everything, “Youth of May” is consistently at the top of my list of recommended Korean dramas. This series takes place in 1980 and tells the love tale of a medical student and a nurse who become caught up in the Gwangju Uprising.
What I really love about the series is they didn’t focus on the frontline of the Gwangju Uprising but rather on the love and friendships of young people who would’ve had ordinary lives if this situation didn’t happen. I want to highlight the fact that this show gave us one of the most classic and heartbreaking love storylines I’ve seen in a Korean drama. I don’t want to give away any more spoilers, but if you’re going to learn about Hwang Hee Tae and Kim Myung Hee’s story, you might want to have some tissues handy.
“Reply 1988”
As someone who has watched Korean dramas for a long time, I can say with confidence that no K-Drama has ever struck me quite like Reply 1988. For me, the best element of this slice-of-life drama is the excellent narrative. Set in 1988, this drama follows the lives of five friends from childhood and the ways in which their paths cross and diverge.
This series is my favorite sort of drama because it transports you to Ssamun-dong in 1988 and shows you all the wonderful things the families living there do for one other. A large group of people, from teenagers to their parents, are featured in the drama, and practically everyone has a story to tell. If you haven’t seen this masterpiece yet, you must do it at least once in your lifetime.
“Go Back Couple“
The drama “Go Back Couple” shows us the “what ifs” in our life. The drama centers on a married couple living in the present who are unhappy with their lives and would like to change the past by going back to the day before they met and becoming their younger selves if given the chance. The new plot takes place 18 years before the happy couple finally ties the knot.
We learn through the drama that the couple is made up of soulmates because they always find their way back to each other. It’s a drama about regular people and the challenges they face, including marriage and parenting, which opens our eyes and makes us appreciate the blessings in our existence.
“Best Punch“
“Best Punch” is a timeslip drama about a famous Korean idol from 1993 who accidentally goes to 2017 and attempts, miserably, to adapt to the current way of life.
This is a drama depicting the lives of K-Pop stars behind the scenes. The struggle of idols from the 1990s and later in the K-Pop industry. It’s got just the proper mixture of humor and romance to make each episode enjoyable. ASTRO Cha Eun Woo and WJSN Bona appeared in the drama acting as the popular idol and trainee!
“Miss Korea“
The fact that it’s about the “Miss Korea” pageant makes me think this is the kind of drama that many people haven’t seen before. The story takes place in 1997, during Korea’s experience of the IMF Financial Crisis, and centers on the efforts of the president and staff of a cosmetics company to transform a 25-year-old named Ji Young into Miss Korea.
The drama will highlight Ji Young’s road to success as a competitor for the Miss Korea pageant, as well as the company’s dedication and how they have no choice but to save the company.
“Through The Darkness“
If you’re not looking for a romance-centered drama, then you will like this next one! Kim Nam Gil’s “Through The Darkness” is set in the 1990s in South Korea, before the advent of criminal behavioral analysts. The protagonist is a criminal profiler who faces difficulties in identifying serial killers’ tendencies.
Taking place in the minds of serial killers and based on the life story of South Korea’s first specialist in criminal psychology case analysis, Kwon Il-Yong, this drama is unlike any other in the crime genre.
“1987: When The Day Comes”
An eye-opening political thriller that focuses on a pivotal moment in South Korean history. The events of “1987: When the Day Comes” take place in 1987, during a repressive military administration. A college student’s unjustified interrogation and death ignite the general public to fight for the truth and bring justice!
This is the kind of movie meant to remind us of the value of remembering our past in order to avoid repeating the mistakes of the present. I thought it was great how the movie provided the importance of showing that they are all heroes for their role in finding the truth.
I’m really a big fan of show sets during these time periods, so I hope you enjoy these drama and film recommendations you can watch on KOCOWA!
