Retro Fever Sweeps Korean TV: Nostalgia-Driven Dramas and Shows Captivate Viewers

Reporter Jung Se-yoon from TenAsia brings intriguing broadcasting issues to life with a unique perspective.

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A wave of nostalgia is sweeping through Korean television, with dramas and variety shows set in the past capturing viewers' hearts. From the 1990s 'Orange Tribe' to 1980s bus conductors, these shows are rekindling fond memories. Analysts suggest this trend is driven by a desire to fill present-day voids through the past.

The tvN drama 'Typhoon Family,' which premiered on the 11th, has already achieved a peak rating of 7.5% (according to Nielsen Korea) after just two episodes. The series follows the growth of Kang Tae-poong (played by Lee Junho), who unexpectedly becomes the president of a trading company during the 1997 IMF financial crisis.

In the first two episodes, viewers see Kang Tae-poong transition from a carefree life as a member of the affluent 'Orange Tribe' in Apgujeong to facing reality after his father's sudden death, leading him to join 'Typhoon Family.' The show naturally incorporates 1990s symbols like pagers and coal briquettes, evoking nostalgia among viewers.

A particularly humorous scene features Kang Tae-poong and his friend Wang Nam-mo (played by Kim Min-seok) participating in a parody of the popular 1990s couple-matching program 'Love Studio(사랑의 스튜디오).' The show's opening, which mimics the font of past TV program subtitles, and the female lead's night school setting for college entrance exams have been praised for perfectly capturing the 1990s.

Currently airing on JTBC, the drama 'A Hundred Memories' also delves into the past, focusing on the lives of 1980s bus conductors. The 10th episode, aired on the 12th, achieved its highest rating of 7.5%, topping the weekend mini-series chart and continuing its upward trend.

'A Hundred Memories' centers on Go Young-rye (played by Kim Da-mi) and Seo Jong-hee (played by Shin Ye-eun), exploring the joys and sorrows of youth in the 1980s through their work as bus conductors. The show revives the era's spirit with detailed elements like bus tickets, tokens, bell-bottoms, denim jackets, and music cafes.

The retro trend extends to variety shows and OTT series as well. MBC's variety show 'Hangout with Yoo?' recreated 1980s stages and music through its '80’s Seoul Music Festival' special, while Netflix's original series 'Aema' portrays the film industry of 1980s Chungmuro, showcasing the era's filmmakers.

Cultural critic Kim Heon-sik attributes the retro craze to a societal desire to compensate for current limitations by revisiting the past. He notes, "The 1990s were a period of rapid growth in Korean society, with popular culture like music and film reaching their peak. This provides a wealth of material to reinterpret in today's content, which is another reason for the ongoing retro trend."

Kim also highlights the appeal of retro elements across generations. "Retro nostalgia offers familiarity and comfort to older generations while providing freshness to younger ones. It's a factor that captures the hearts of viewers from both demographics," he explains.

Reporter Jung Se-yoon, TenAsia yoon@tenasia.co.kr