▲ This poster of tvN's weekend series “Typhoon Family” is provided by the broadcaster. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Oct. 10 (Yonhap) -- A retro drama boom is sweeping through the Korean content industry. From the 1980s to the 1990s, a range of new series set in the past are stirring viewers’ nostalgia.

 

According to the broadcasting industry on Friday, tvN will premiere its new weekend drama “Typhoon Family” the next day. 

 

Set during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the drama tells the story of a rookie businessman who goes from a flamboyant member of the so-called “orange tribe” to the struggling president of a collapsing trading firm.

 

The production devoted considerable effort to authentically recreating the late 1990s — from people’s speech and fashion to props and buildings.

 

The crew interviewed actual businessmen from the time and scouted filming locations such as Apgujeong Hyundai Apartments and Euljiro to capture the era’s atmosphere. They even visited museums to obtain a “telex,” a teleprinter used in late-1990s trading companies.

 

The show's director Lee Na-jung said, “I believed that faithfully recreating 1997 was the core identity of this drama.”

 

Screenwriter Jang Hyun explained, “There are many ways to portray a period setting, but I wanted to capture the warmth between people — the sense of ‘jeong.’ That warmth existed in neighbors who watched over you until your mother came home when you forgot your key, or in the lady on the bus who quietly carried your heavy bag.”

 

JTBC’s currently airing “A Hundred Memories” also went to great lengths to recreate Korea of about 40 years ago.

 

▲ This still from JTBC series “A Hundred Memories” is provided by the broadcaster. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

The drama depicts the first love story of two bus conductresses who worked on public buses in the 1980s, collecting fares and assisting passengers.

 

For filming, the crew managed to obtain a vintage bus that actually operated in that era, thoroughly cleaning and restoring it for use as a prop.

 

Actress Shin Ye-eun recalled, “On set, there were 1980s-style signboards, buildings, street food stalls, and even cassette tape shops. It was fascinating.”

 

The retro trend is also spreading beyond television to online streaming services.

 

The Netflix series “Aema,” released in August, recreates Chungmuro’s 1980s film scene — an era of both chaos and romance — when Korea’s first erotic film “Madame AAema” was born.

 

▲ A poster for "Aema" is shown in this image provided by Netflix. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

Hand-painted theater signboards, the Cheongmaek coffeehouse that once served as a hangout for filmmakers, and typewritten movie scripts all helped convey the nostalgic atmosphere.

 

Makeup featuring fluorescent eye shadow and bold red lips, along with voluminous hairstyles and puffed-up shoulder lines, vividly bring the decade’s fashion back to life.

 

In particular, lead actress Lee Ha-nee won praise for her flawless use of the 1980s Seoul accent unique to actresses of that time.

 

While many period dramas have been made before, tvN’s “Reply” series is credited with sparking the full-fledged retro boom in Korean content.

 

Starting with “Reply 1997,” which vividly portrayed the rise of first-generation idol fandoms such as H.O.T. and Sechs Kies, and followed by “Reply 1994” and “Reply 1988,” the series’ detailed depiction of each era’s culture created the so-called “Reply syndrome.” The songs featured in the series became hits, helping to revive memories of the past.

 

Unlike modern dramas that must center on specific incidents or professions to draw curiosity, period dramas stand out simply by recreating a distinct era.

 

They offer nostalgia and romance to those who lived through the time and novelty to younger audiences, appealing across generations.

 

▲ This still from tvN series “Reply 1988” is provided by the broadcaster. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

However, as historical accuracy is essential, producing a period drama is more challenging than a modern one. Researching social issues and obtaining appropriate props can be difficult, and outdoor filming faces many restrictions. If too much focus is placed on recreating the past rather than developing the narrative, it can even weaken the drama.

 

An industry insider said, “Period dramas can attract both older generations who lived through those years and younger viewers discovering them for the first time,” but added, “Focusing solely on accuracy risks neglecting the story and emotions that complete the work.”

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