Reply 1997
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''Reply 1997'' () is a 2012 South Korean television series and the first installment of the ''Reply'' anthology series. It centers on the lives of six friends in
Busan Busan (), officially Busan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's second list of cities in South Korea by population, most populous city after Seoul, with a population of over 3.3 million as of 2024. Formerly romanized as Pusan, it is the economi ...
as the timeline moves back and forth between their past selves as 18-year-old high schoolers in 1997 and their present selves as 33-year-olds at their high school reunion dinner in 2012 where one couple will announce that they're getting married. It portrays the extreme fan culture that emerged in the 1990s when first generation
idol Idol or Idols may refer to: Religion and philosophy * Cult image, a human-made object that is venerated or worshipped for the deity, spirit or daemon that it embodies or represents * Murti, a devotional image of a deity or saint used during puja ...
groups such as H.O.T. and
Sechs Kies Sechs Kies (pronounced as ; ) is a first generation South Korean boy band. Making their debut on April 15, 1997, they are one of the first K-pop idol groups, credited with pioneering the idol scene and fandom culture. The group consists of the ...
took center stage and
K-pop K-pop (; an abbreviation of "Korean popular music") is a form of popular music originating in South Korea. It emerged in the 1990s as a form of youth subculture, with Korean musicians taking influence from Western Electronic dance music, danc ...
was just beginning to blossom. The series was one of the highest-rated Korean dramas in cable television history, and has garnered praise from audiences and critics for being well-researched and full of humor and heart.


Synopsis

Set in 1997, the series follows female high school student Sung Shi-won (
Jung Eun-ji Jung Eun-ji (; born Jung Hye-rim on August 18, 1993), is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actress. She is best known as the vocalist of the South Korean girl group Apink. Renowned for her powerful vocals, she possesses perfect pitch and has ...
), who idolizes boyband H.O.T, and the lives of her five high school friends. As a teen, Shi-won was obsessed with a boy band. Now 33 years old, Shi-won and her friends are reliving their memories at their high school reunion.


Cast


Main

*
Jung Eun-ji Jung Eun-ji (; born Jung Hye-rim on August 18, 1993), is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actress. She is best known as the vocalist of the South Korean girl group Apink. Renowned for her powerful vocals, she possesses perfect pitch and has ...
as Sung Shi-won :A devoted fangirl of
boyband A boy band is a vocal group consisting of young male singers, usually in their teenage years or in their twenties at the time of formation. Generally, boy bands perform love songs marketed towards girls and young women. Many boy bands dance a ...
H.O.T., who dreams of marrying Tony. Though Shi-won has the worst grades in her class and always has her head in the clouds, she is also forthright and sassy. *
Seo In-guk Seo In-guk (; born October 23, 1987) is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actor. He launched his singing career after winning the talent reality show '' Superstar K'' in 2009, and made his acting breakthrough in '' Reply 1997'' (2012). Since ...
as Yoon Yoon-jae :Quiet and brooding yet devoted to those close to him, Yoon-jae is Shi-won's childhood best friend who frequently spends time at her house following the death of his own parents. He is also known as one of the two most handsome boys in the school, alongside Joon-hee, and girls often fall for the both of them. He is intelligent and at the top of his class. As a teenager, Yoon-jae falls for Shi-won, and tries to keep it a secret. *
Hoya Hoya may refer to: Places *Hoya, Germany, a city in Lower Saxony, Germany *County of Hoya, a former state in present Germany *Hōya, Tokyo, now incorporated within Nishi-tokyo, Tokyo, Japan * Hoya, Hpruso, a place in Hpruso Township, Kayah, Myanma ...
as Kang Joon-hee :Joon-hee is shy and sweet, and is Yoon-jae's best friend and right-hand man. Like Yoon-jae, girls fall for him easily, and he often spends time with Shi-won. He harbors the secret that he is
gay ''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'. While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late ...
and is in love with his best friend Yoon-jae, which only Shi-won is aware of after he confides in her. * Shin So-yul as Mo Yoo-jung :Shi-won's best friend, despite the occasional argument following the revelation that Yoo-jung is a fan of Sechs Kies, a rival boy band. Yoo-jung is known to be very fickle when it comes to love, falling for boys - whether in real life or in the celebrity world - at the drop of a hat. *
Eun Ji-won Eun Ji-won (; born June 8, 1978) is a South Korean rapper, singer, actor and entertainer. He is the leader of the first generation idol group Sechs Kies (). He is recognized as an ancestor of the K-pop world, paving the way for hip-hop in the K ...
as Do Hak-chan :A transfer student from Seoul. Hak-chan loves sports and has a comically large pornography collection. He is outgoing around his friends, yet his major weakness is his inability to interact with girls - however, he eventually falls for Yoo-jung. *
Lee Si-eon Lee Si-eon (born Lee Bo-yeon on July 3, 1982) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his comic supporting role in the popular campus drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance ...
as Bang Sung-jae :The mile-a-minute talker and one-man rumor mill of the group. *
Sung Dong-il Sung Dong-il (; born April 27, 1967) is a South Korean actor. Sung made his acting debut in theater in 1987, then was recruited at the 1991 Seoul Broadcasting System, SBS open talent auditions. He rose to fame as the comic, Jeolla dialect-speak ...
as Sung Dong-il **
Kang Kyun-sung Kang Kyun-sung () (born 1981) is a South Korean singer and television personality. He is a member of the boy band Noel and is a cast member in the variety show '' Off to School''. He also appears in the music videos for Sistar's "Shake It" and ...
as young Dong-il in 1968 (ep. 9) :Shi-won's father and a baseball coach of the Busan Seagulls. *
Lee Il-hwa Lee Il-hwa (; born January 29, 1972) is a South Korean actress. She made her acting debut in 1991, and has since appeared in numerous television drama In film and television show, television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fict ...
as Lee Il-hwa **
Park Cho-rong Park Cho-rong (; born March 3, 1991), better known mononymously as Chorong, is a South Korean singer, songwriter and actress. She is best known as the leader of the South Korean girl group Apink. Early life Park Cho-rong was born in Cheongju, ...
as young Lee Il-hwa in 1968 (ep. 9) :Shi-won's mother and a housewife. *
Song Jong-ho Song Jong-ho (; born October 5, 1976) is a South Korean actor. Song debuted as a runway model in Park Byung-chul's fashion show in 1995. His print and runway modeling career lasted until 1999, when he turned to acting. He is best known for his ...
as Yoon Tae-woong :A teacher at the high school. Tae-woong turns out to be Yoon-jae's older brother, and had previously been engaged to Shi-won's late elder sister prior to her death. However, over the course of the show, Tae-woong also falls for Shi-won.


Supporting

* Noh Ji-yeon as Jang Dan-ji -
Moon Hee-joon Moon Hee-joon (; born March 14, 1978), also spelled Moon Hee-jun, is a South Korean pop rock singer-songwriter and dancer signed under SidusHQ. He initially rose to fame as the leader of former boy band H.O.T. under SM Entertainment. Biograp ...
fangirl * Jung Kyung-mi as Kyung-mi / "Eun Dokki" (Eun Axe) -
Sechs Kies Sechs Kies (pronounced as ; ) is a first generation South Korean boy band. Making their debut on April 15, 1997, they are one of the first K-pop idol groups, credited with pioneering the idol scene and fandom culture. The group consists of the ...
fangirl, a bully at the school who believes Eun Ji-won has chosen her, and who is in love with Yoon-jae and Joon-hee, and clashes with Shi-won on the subject, while vying for both boys' attention. * Kim Sun-ah as Kim Sun-ah / "Eun Gak-ha" -
Sechs Kies Sechs Kies (pronounced as ; ) is a first generation South Korean boy band. Making their debut on April 15, 1997, they are one of the first K-pop idol groups, credited with pioneering the idol scene and fandom culture. The group consists of the ...
fangirl, the accomplice of Kyung-mi, who also is in love with Yoon-jae and Joon-hee.


Special appearances

*
Tony Ahn Tony An (; born June 7, 1978) is a South Korean singer-songwriter, best known as a member of boy band H.O.T. After H.O.T. disbanded in 2001, its ex-members Tony An, Jang Woo-hyuk and Lee Jae-won formed the dance music trio jtL. Eventually, JT ...
as himself (ep. 1, 3, 6) * Kim Gook-jin as himself (ep. 1) * Kim Ye-won as Sung Song-joo (ep. 3, 4, 9), Shi-won's older sister who died in a bus accident prior to the events of the series *
Moon Hee-joon Moon Hee-joon (; born March 14, 1978), also spelled Moon Hee-jun, is a South Korean pop rock singer-songwriter and dancer signed under SidusHQ. He initially rose to fame as the leader of former boy band H.O.T. under SM Entertainment. Biograp ...
as himself (voice) (ep. 3) *
Im Si-wan Im Si-wan (; born Im Woong-jae, December 1, 1988) is a South Korean actor and singer. He is a member of the South Korean boy band ZE:A and its sub-group ZE:A Five. As an actor, he is best known for starring in the film ''The Attorney'' (2013), ...
as
ROTC The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC; or ) is a group of college- and university-based officer-training programs for training commissioned officers of the United States Armed Forces. While ROTC graduate officers serve in all branches o ...
chatmate (ep. 4) * Lee Yoon-seok as Gyu-gaeng,
bungeoppang () is a fish-shaped pastry stuffed with sweetened red bean paste, which originated from the Japanese taiyaki. One of South Korea's most popular winter street foods, the snack is often sold at street stalls, grilled on an appliance similar to ...
vendor (ep. 5) *
Kim Jong-min Kim Jong-min (; born September 24, 1979) is a South Korean singer, dancer and television personality. He has been a member of the K-pop group Koyote since 2000 and a cast member of the variety show '' 2 Days & 1 Night'' since 2007. Kim has wo ...
as driver in car accident (ep. 5) *
Shin Bong-sun Shin Bong-sun (; born October 6, 1980) is a South Korean comedienne and entertainer. She took a five-year hiatus from comedy from 2010 to 2015, which ended when she joined '' Comedy Big League''. She is currently a member of the South Korean girl ...
as Busan H.O.T. fanclub president (ep. 6) * Jung Joo-ri as
noraebang is a type of interactive entertainment system usually offered in nightclubs and bars, where people sing along to pre-recorded accompaniment using a microphone. Its musical content is an instrumental rendition of a well-known popular song. In ...
customer (ep. 8) * Jung Myung-ok as
noraebang is a type of interactive entertainment system usually offered in nightclubs and bars, where people sing along to pre-recorded accompaniment using a microphone. Its musical content is an instrumental rendition of a well-known popular song. In ...
customer (ep. 8) *
Kim Tae-won Kim Tae-won (, April 12, 1965) is a Korean guitarist with over 30 years of experience in Korean music industry, currently leading one of the most successful rock bands in Korean music history, Boohwal. His life was dramatised in a four episode KBS ...
as
noraebang is a type of interactive entertainment system usually offered in nightclubs and bars, where people sing along to pre-recorded accompaniment using a microphone. Its musical content is an instrumental rendition of a well-known popular song. In ...
customer (ep. 8) * Choo Min-ki as Choo Shin-soo (ep. 8) *
Ryu Dam Ryu Dam (; born December 6, 1979), is a South Korean comedian and actor. He was a cast member in the variety show ''Law of the Jungle "The law of the jungle" (also called jungle law) is an expression that has come to describe a scenario whe ...
as Lee Dae-ho (ep. 8) * Yang Joon-hyuk as Yoon Joon-hyuk, Yoon-jae's father (ep. 9) ** Son Jin-young as young Joon-hyuk in 1968 (ep. 9) * Lee Yeon-kyung as Moon Jung-mi, Yoon-jae's mother (ep. 9) **
Yoon Bo-mi Yoon Bo-mi (; born August 13, 1993), known mononymously as Bomi, is a South Korean singer and actress. She is best known as a member of the South Korean girl group Apink. Yoon made her acting debut with a cameo role in the 2012 television serie ...
as young Moon Jung-mi in 1968 (ep. 9) * Kim Ki-wook as cellphone store salesman (ep. 9) * Park Ji-yoon as Joon-hee's sixth older sister at
noraebang is a type of interactive entertainment system usually offered in nightclubs and bars, where people sing along to pre-recorded accompaniment using a microphone. Its musical content is an instrumental rendition of a well-known popular song. In ...
(ep. 8) / seventh older sister at
pojangmacha ''Pojangmacha'' (), also abbreviated as ''pocha'' (), is a South Korean term for outdoor carts that sell street foods such as '' hotteok'', ''gimbap'', '' tteokbokki'', ''sundae'', '' dak-kkochi'' (Korean skewered chicken), '' fish cake'', '' man ...
(ep. 10) * Yoon Hyung-bin as Eun Gak-ha's husband (ep. 9, 10) *
Yang Se-hyung Yang Se-hyung (born August 18, 1985), is a South Korean comedian and entertainer. He is most known for his work on the tvN sketch comedy show '' Comedy Big League'' and MBC's ''Infinite Challenge''. His younger brother, Yang Se-chan, is al ...
as Eun Dokki's husband (ep. 9, 10) *
Ahn Young-mi Ahn Young-mi (, born November 5, 1983), is a South Korean comedian. She made her debut in KBS' ''Gag Concert'' 19th class in 2004 and is best known for her provocative wit. In 2018, she joined the comedy-girl group Celeb Five. Young-mi is also k ...
as
Sechs Kies Sechs Kies (pronounced as ; ) is a first generation South Korean boy band. Making their debut on April 15, 1997, they are one of the first K-pop idol groups, credited with pioneering the idol scene and fandom culture. The group consists of the ...
fanclub president (ep. 10) * Kang Yu-mi as H.O.T. fanclub president (ep. 10) * Kim Dae-ju as PD with
megaphone A megaphone, speaking trumpet, bullhorn, blowhorn, or loudhailer is usually a portable or hand-held, cone-shaped horn (acoustic), acoustic horn used to amplifier, amplify a person's voice or other sounds and direct it in a given direction. ...
(ep. 10) * Shin Dong-yup as MC of the 1998
Golden Disk Awards The Golden Disc Awards (, formerly spelled the Golden Disk Awards before 2015) is an annual South Korean major music awards ceremony that honors achievements in the local music industry. The awards ceremony was founded with the purpose to prom ...
(voice) (ep. 10) *
Lee Joo-yeon Lee Joo-yeon (born March 19, 1987), formerly known mononymously as Jooyeon, is a South Korean actress and singer. She is best known for being a former member of the girl group After School (group), After School. Since leaving After School, sh ...
as Doctor Lee Joo-won (ep. 14, 16) * Lee Sol-ji as TV show host (ep. 15) * Go In-bum as Dong-il's uncle (ep. 15) * G.NA as blind date (ep. 15) * Bae Da-hae as Yoon-jae's colleague and drinking buddy (ep. 16)


Production

The series originally aired live on cable channel tvN with 16 episodes (fourteen 30-minute episodes aired back-to-back over a period of 7 weeks, with the last 2 episodes aired separately and lasting 1 hour each due to the amount of material the staff didn't want to edit out). However, due to its popularity, the 15th and 16th episodes were also aired simultaneously on
Mnet M-Net (an abbreviation of Electronic Media Network) is a South African pay television channel established by Naspers in 1986. The channel broadcasts both local and international programming, including general entertainment, children's series, ...
, OCN, O'live, Ongamenet and OnStyle. This drama served as the acting debut of
Jung Eun-ji Jung Eun-ji (; born Jung Hye-rim on August 18, 1993), is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actress. She is best known as the vocalist of the South Korean girl group Apink. Renowned for her powerful vocals, she possesses perfect pitch and has ...
.


Soundtrack

The '90s-set drama didn't have an original soundtrack of its own since a huge aspect of the show's mood is set with era-specific music, one of its defining characteristics. Instead, lead actors
Jung Eun-ji Jung Eun-ji (; born Jung Hye-rim on August 18, 1993), is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actress. She is best known as the vocalist of the South Korean girl group Apink. Renowned for her powerful vocals, she possesses perfect pitch and has ...
and
Seo In-guk Seo In-guk (; born October 23, 1987) is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actor. He launched his singing career after winning the talent reality show '' Superstar K'' in 2009, and made his acting breakthrough in '' Reply 1997'' (2012). Since ...
recorded a 2-part mini OST entitled ''Love Story'' to thank fans and viewers of the show. Seo was the first season winner of the music audition program ''
Superstar K ''Superstar K'' () is a South Korean television talent show series which is held yearly. First held in 2009, Superstar K has increasingly gained more attention, considered the biggest audition program in South Korea. Superstar K's concept involv ...
'', and Eun-ji is the main vocalist of K-pop girl group
A Pink Apink (; ) is a South Korean girl group formed by IST Entertainment, (formerly Play M Entertainment, A Cube Entertainment, and Plan A Entertainment) and managed by Choi Creative Lab as of April 2024. The group debuted on April 19, 2011, with the ...
. Their duet in Part 1 was a remake of 1990s idol group Cool's "All For You." Their duet in Part 2 is a remake of "Just the Way We Love", from the soundtrack of 1999 film '' Love Wind Love Song''. The two singles topped the
Gaon Single Chart The Circle Digital Chart, previously known as the Gaon Digital Chart, is the music industry standard record chart ranking the 200 most popular singles in South Korea. It provides rankings on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis, which is based on ...
and Billboard's K-Pop Hot 100, and "All For You" became one of the best-selling singles of that year with 2,499,273 downloads. Jung and Seo also gave a live performance on
Mnet M-Net (an abbreviation of Electronic Media Network) is a South African pay television channel established by Naspers in 1986. The channel broadcasts both local and international programming, including general entertainment, children's series, ...
's ''
M! Countdown ''M Countdown'' () is a South Korean music program broadcast by Mnet from the CJ E&M Center Studio in Sangam-dong, Mapo District, Seoul. It features appearances by popular music artists who also perform live on stage. First hosted by Leete ...
'' on 6 September 2012, and on 19 September, the song "All For You" ranked first on another music program, ''Music Triangle''. Due to popular demand,
CJ E&M CJ ENM Entertainment Division (), formerly known as CJ E&M, is a South Korean entertainment and mass media division (formerly company) of CJ ENM. In July 2018, the company merged with the parent company's subsidiary CJ O Shopping, with the latte ...
eventually released a "Director's Edition" soundtrack that feature Jung and Seo's 2 covers, as well as '90s songs played throughout the series. It also included a mini photobook and a behind-the-scenes DVD. Before its official release, the album sold out its 12,500 units via pre-order, surpassing the average soundtrack sales figure of 5,000.


Reception and impact

The TV serial mostly consisted of idol singers with scant acting experience, and apart from the
meta Meta most commonly refers to: * Meta (prefix), a common affix and word in English ( in Greek) * Meta Platforms, an American multinational technology conglomerate (formerly ''Facebook, Inc.'') Meta or META may also refer to: Businesses * Meta (ac ...
casting of
Sechs Kies Sechs Kies (pronounced as ; ) is a first generation South Korean boy band. Making their debut on April 15, 1997, they are one of the first K-pop idol groups, credited with pioneering the idol scene and fandom culture. The group consists of the ...
member
Eun Ji-won Eun Ji-won (; born June 8, 1978) is a South Korean rapper, singer, actor and entertainer. He is the leader of the first generation idol group Sechs Kies (). He is recognized as an ancestor of the K-pop world, paving the way for hip-hop in the K ...
(who previously worked with director Shin Won-ho and the writing staff on the variety show '' 1 Night & 2 Days''), it premiered with little hype. But through strong word of mouth, it soon gained recognition as a high-quality production with a distinct sense of identity, becoming a buzz-worthy "syndrome" show (the Korean slang term for a hit show with an ardent fanbase). With Korean cable shows generally considered successful if they hit 1%, ''Reply 1997'' took cable ratings by storm, and received an immense amount of attention and critical praise. The show has been credited for its laser-sharp attention to detail, re-creating the late '90s with an accuracy that had fans singing its praises. Endless pop culture references are packed into every minute of the show, with little pop culture
easter egg Easter eggs, also called Paschal eggs, are eggs that are decorated for the Christian holiday of Easter, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. As such, Easter eggs are commonly used during the season of Eastertide (Easter season). The ...
s hidden in scenes, callbacks to the trends of the day, and cameos that are
in-joke An in-joke, also known as an inside joke or a private joke, is a joke with humour that is understandable only to members of an ingroup; that is, people who are ''in'' a particular social group, occupation, or other community of shared interest ...
s. It was also a digital success, receiving more than a million hits after it was made available for downloading and streaming on internet and mobile site ''Tving''. This was attributed to the fact that ''Reply 1997'' had aired on a cable network (pay television channel), such that several viewers were unable to watch it live. With the majority of
Korean drama Korean drama (), also known as K-drama or Koreanovela, refers to Korean language, Korean-language television shows made in South Korea. These shows began to be produced around the early 1960s, but were mostly consumed domestically until the rise ...
s shot in the capital city of
Seoul Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...
, another of the show's charms is its
Busan Busan (), officially Busan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's second list of cities in South Korea by population, most populous city after Seoul, with a population of over 3.3 million as of 2024. Formerly romanized as Pusan, it is the economi ...
setting, which is treated in a matter-of-fact way as a locale. The realism is aided by the fact that much of the principal cast actually hails from the region, who speak with the authentic
Gyeongsang dialect The Gyeongsang dialects (), also known as Southeastern Korean (), are dialects of the Korean language from the historical region of Gyeongsang Province. Today, that region is divided into Daegu, Busan, Ulsan, North Gyeongsang Province, and Sou ...
. The dialogue also uses time-specific, location-specific slang. But '90s nostalgia and meticulous attention to detail is only part of the show's appeal. Fans were also intrigued by the clues that the 2012 scenes dropped at regular intervals about who ends up together, as well as the episodes' subtle twists. And its smart, witty way of addressing the growing pains of its adolescent cast makes it just as relevant in the present as it was back in the late-'90s setting of its primary plot. Audiences have lauded the show's intimacy and realism, with a sincerity that connects with people — even those outside that particular generation.
Seo In-guk Seo In-guk (; born October 23, 1987) is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actor. He launched his singing career after winning the talent reality show '' Superstar K'' in 2009, and made his acting breakthrough in '' Reply 1997'' (2012). Since ...
,
Eun Ji-won Eun Ji-won (; born June 8, 1978) is a South Korean rapper, singer, actor and entertainer. He is the leader of the first generation idol group Sechs Kies (). He is recognized as an ancestor of the K-pop world, paving the way for hip-hop in the K ...
,
Lee Si-eon Lee Si-eon (born Lee Bo-yeon on July 3, 1982) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his comic supporting role in the popular campus drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance ...
and Shin So-yul hosted the 15 September 2012 episode of sketch comedy show ''
Saturday Night Live Korea ''Saturday Night Live Korea'' (; abbreviated as ''SNL Korea'' () or simply as ''SNLK'') is a South Korean late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show. It is adapted from the long-running American TV show ''Saturday Night Live'' by ...
'', which included skits that
parody A parody is a creative work designed to imitate, comment on, and/or mock its subject by means of satire, satirical or irony, ironic imitation. Often its subject is an Originality, original work or some aspect of it (theme/content, author, style, e ...
scenes in their series. On 20 September 2012, a special was aired on tvN's ''enews'' featuring behind-the-scenes videos and a few bloopers from the set. A
novelization A novelization (or novelisation) is a derivative novel that adapts the story of a work created for another medium, such as a film, TV series, stage play, comic book, or video game. Film novelizations were particularly popular before the advent ...
was published in January 2013. Director Shin Won-ho re-edited all 16 episodes for a special director's cut DVD, released in February 2013. It also included 358 minutes of exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, a
blooper A blooper, or gag reel, is short clip from a film, television program or video production, usually a deleted scene, containing a mistake made by a member of the cast or crew. It also refers to an error made during a live radio or TV broadcast or ...
reel, as well as
commentary Commentary or commentaries may refer to: Publications * ''Commentary'' (magazine), a U.S. public affairs journal, founded in 1945 and formerly published by the American Jewish Committee * Caesar's Commentaries (disambiguation), a number of works ...
from the director and actors. The show was said to have sparked the "
retro Retro style is imitative or consciously derivative of lifestyles, trends, or art forms from the past, including in music, modes, fashions, or attitudes. It has been argued that there is a nostalgia cycle in popular culture. Definition The term ...
" trend in South Korea and the media and cultural commentators have noted an increased interest in the pop culture of the 1990s after the show aired. Notably, the show garnered more interest in " first generation" K-pop idol groups whose heyday took place during the 1990s prior to the
Korean Wave The Korean Wave, or ''hallyu'' (; ), is a cultural phenomenon in which the global popularity of South Korean popular culture has dramatically risen since the 1990s. Worldwide interest in Korean culture has been led primarily by the spread of K-p ...
, hence not being as well known to international audiences as their much younger counterparts. Not long after the show concluded, Eun and H.O.T members
Moon Hee-joon Moon Hee-joon (; born March 14, 1978), also spelled Moon Hee-jun, is a South Korean pop rock singer-songwriter and dancer signed under SidusHQ. He initially rose to fame as the leader of former boy band H.O.T. under SM Entertainment. Biograp ...
and
Tony An Tony An (; born June 7, 1978) is a South Korean singer-songwriter, best known as a member of boy band H.O.T. After H.O.T. disbanded in 2001, its ex-members Tony An, Jang Woo-hyuk and Lee Jae-won formed the dance music trio jtL. Eventually, JT ...
joined two other members of fellow first-generation groups in filming their own variety show ''
Handsome Boys of the 20th Century ''Handsome Boys of the 20th Century'' is a South Korean variety-reality show which aired on the cable channel QTV ( ko). It began airing on April 16, 2013 and ran for two seasons with a total of 29 episodes. Premise and concept The show features f ...
'', which Moon called the "reality-variety show version of ''Reply 1997''". In 2014, the highly successful comebacks of
Seo Taiji Jeong Hyeon-cheol (; born February 21, 1972), better known as Seo Taiji or Seo Tae-ji (), is a South Korean singer, musician, songwriter and record producer. After dropping out of high school to pursue a music career, he rose to become one of t ...
,
g.o.d g.o.d (; acronym for Groove Over Dose) is a South Korean boy band formed by IHQ (company), SidusHQ. Debuting in 1999, the group became one of the most popular boy bands of the early 2000s in South Korea. The members had gone on to solo careers ...
and
Fly to the Sky Fly to the Sky () is a South Korean R&B duo consisting of Brian Joo and Hwanhee. Initially marketed as Korean idol, K-pop idols, the duo later developed a more mature image and became one of the most popular R&B groups in South Korea. The duo ha ...
further added to the retro wave. The variety show ''
Infinite Challenge ''Infinite Challenge'' (; abbreviated as ) is a South Korean comedic reality television show that aired on MBC TV from 2005 to 2018. The show was produced by Kim Tae-ho, and starred various entertainers, including Yoo Jae-suk, Park Myung-soo ...
'' began airing the "Saturday, Saturday is for Singers" (ToToGa) segment which specifically features artists and groups popular during the 1990s and has directly led to the reunions of first-generation groups
Jinusean Jinusean (stylized in all caps; ) is a South Korean Hip hop music, hip hop duo signed to YG Entertainment. The duo, which is made up of Kim Jin-woo (also known as Jinu) and Noh Seung-hwan (also known as Sean), debuted in 1997 and rose to fame wit ...
, S.E.S,
Sechs Kies Sechs Kies (pronounced as ; ) is a first generation South Korean boy band. Making their debut on April 15, 1997, they are one of the first K-pop idol groups, credited with pioneering the idol scene and fandom culture. The group consists of the ...
and H.O.T after over a decade of inactivity or disbandment.


Ratings


Awards and nominations


Spin-offs

Another series from the same writer and director, ''
Reply 1994 ''Reply 1994'' () is a 2013 South Korean television series and the second installment of the ''Reply'' anthology series. It stars Go Ara, Jung Woo, Yoo Yeon-seok, Kim Sung-kyun, Son Ho-jun, Cha Sun-woo, Min Do-hee, Sung Dong-il, and Lee Il-hwa ...
'' was produced in 2013. Set in a college campus, it follows the pop culture events of that year, including the emergence of seminal
K-pop K-pop (; an abbreviation of "Korean popular music") is a form of popular music originating in South Korea. It emerged in the 1990s as a form of youth subculture, with Korean musicians taking influence from Western Electronic dance music, danc ...
group
Seo Taiji and Boys () was a South Korean music group active from 1992 to 1996. The three members of the boy band, Seo Taiji, Yang Hyun-suk and Lee Juno, experimented with many different genres of popular Western music. Seo Taiji and Boys was highly successful ...
and the basketball craze of the era. It also starred
Sung Dong-il Sung Dong-il (; born April 27, 1967) is a South Korean actor. Sung made his acting debut in theater in 1987, then was recruited at the 1991 Seoul Broadcasting System, SBS open talent auditions. He rose to fame as the comic, Jeolla dialect-speak ...
and
Lee Il-hwa Lee Il-hwa (; born January 29, 1972) is a South Korean actress. She made her acting debut in 1991, and has since appeared in numerous television drama In film and television show, television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fict ...
, but as different characters. Younger cast members
Jung Eun-ji Jung Eun-ji (; born Jung Hye-rim on August 18, 1993), is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actress. She is best known as the vocalist of the South Korean girl group Apink. Renowned for her powerful vocals, she possesses perfect pitch and has ...
,
Seo In-guk Seo In-guk (; born October 23, 1987) is a South Korean singer-songwriter and actor. He launched his singing career after winning the talent reality show '' Superstar K'' in 2009, and made his acting breakthrough in '' Reply 1997'' (2012). Since ...
,
Hoya Hoya may refer to: Places *Hoya, Germany, a city in Lower Saxony, Germany *County of Hoya, a former state in present Germany *Hōya, Tokyo, now incorporated within Nishi-tokyo, Tokyo, Japan * Hoya, Hpruso, a place in Hpruso Township, Kayah, Myanma ...
,
Lee Si-eon Lee Si-eon (born Lee Bo-yeon on July 3, 1982) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his comic supporting role in the popular campus drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance ...
, Shin So-yul,
Eun Ji-won Eun Ji-won (; born June 8, 1978) is a South Korean rapper, singer, actor and entertainer. He is the leader of the first generation idol group Sechs Kies (). He is recognized as an ancestor of the K-pop world, paving the way for hip-hop in the K ...
, and Lee Jooyeon reprised their ''Reply 1997'' roles in
cameo appearance A cameo appearance, also called a cameo role and often shortened to just cameo (), is a brief guest appearance of a well-known person or character in a work of the performing arts. These roles are generally small, many of them non-speaking on ...
s. A second spin-off, ''
Reply 1988 ''Reply 1988'' () is a South Korean television series and the third installment of the ''Reply'' anthology series. It stars an ensemble cast led by Lee Hye-ri, Park Bo-gum, Ryu Jun-yeol, Go Kyung-pyo, and Lee Dong-hwi. It revolves around ...
'', aired in 2015. Sung Dong-il and Lee Il-hwa again joined the cast.


Remake

An American
remake A remake is a film, television series, video game, song or similar form of entertainment that is based upon and retells the story of an earlier production in the same medium—e.g., a "new version of an existing film". A remake tells the same s ...
, ''Answer Me 1999'' was reportedly in development in 2014 at
Fox Foxes are small-to-medium-sized omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull; upright, triangular ears; a pointed, slightly upturned snout; and a long, bushy tail ("brush"). Twelve species ...
, written by Amy Andelson and Emily Meyer (''
Step Up 3D ''Step Up 3D'' (also known simply as ''Step Up 3'') is a 2010 American 3D dance film directed by Jon M. Chu and written by Amy Andelson and Emily Meyer. It serves as a sequel to 2008's '' Step Up 2: The Streets'' and the third installment in t ...
''), with the pilot episode directed by Jon M. Chu.


References


External links

* * * * {{Lee Woo-jung 2012 South Korean television series debuts 2012 South Korean television series endings 2010s teen drama television series Korean-language television shows TvN (South Korean TV channel) television dramas Television series set in 1997 South Korean LGBTQ-related television shows Television shows set in Busan Television series by CJ E&M South Korean comedy-drama television series South Korean teen dramas 2010s LGBTQ-related comedy television series 2010s LGBTQ-related drama television series South Korean television series about teenagers