These retro romances deliver a wave of nostalgia that you will feel even if you weren’t born in that era.
The charm of ’90s (and before)- set K-dramas lies in their ability to transport you to a simpler, softer era, no matter whether you lived through it or not.
These K-Dramas are a reminder that old-school love just hits different. The landline calls, love letters, and soft warmth of the old era hit you with a wave of nostalgia and an attack of butterflies that you cannot help but wish to be in that era!
NewKdrama has compiled a few of the best dramas that recall the 90s days and make romance simple yet special again. Let's dive in!
1. Twenty-Five Twenty-One
Main Cast: Kim Tae-ri, Nam Joo-hyuk, Bo Na, and Choi Hyun-wook
Synopsis: Based on the time when South Korea went through extreme financial crises, Twenty-Five Twenty-One introduces us to Na Hee-do (Kim Tae-ri), an ambitious fencer whose school demolishes the fencing club, so she moves to the same school as her fencing idol, Go Yu-rim (Bo Na). On the other hand, there is Baek Yi-jin (Nam Joo-hyuk), whose family goes bankrupt because of the crisis. As the two meet, they unknowingly begin to heal each other.
Even though there were many K-dramas that followed this genre before, Twenty-Five Twenty-One is the one that made it extremely popular. The blockbuster drama was the talk of the town for everyone while it aired. Twenty-Five Twenty-One caters to emotions like romance, friendship, and the hardships of finding one's way in life in a beautiful manner that touches the audience's hearts.
2. Reply 1988
Synopsis: Reply 1988 follows five close friends—Deok-sun (Hyeri), Jung-hwan (Ryu Jun-yeol), Taek (Park Bo-gum), Sunwoo (Go Kyung-pyo), and Dong-ryong (Lee Dong-hwi). All five live in the same neighborhood, and the show follows their daily lives, focusing on their individual struggles- even minute ones that society usually dismisses, like Doek-sun's journey to voice out her feelings in her family. Despite being set in 1988, the story feels relatable to people even today. This K-Drama will make you laugh, cry, and feel the warmth of the characters.
3. Lovely Runner
Synopsis: Lovely Runner tells the story of Im Sol (Kim Hye-yoon), who is a die-hard fan of Ryu Sun-jae (Byeon Woo-seok). Sun-jae is a famous idol who mysteriously dies one night, and it is declared a suicide. Devastated by the news, I'm Sol wishes to save him somehow.
As if the universe had listened to her, she time-travels back to her high school days and realizes that this famous idol actually lived next door and had a huge crush on her. Lovely Runner is a time-travel/ romance K-Drama that impressed everyone despite its lack of promotion and low expectations. It quickly became a major hit as it delivered a nostalgic romance that makes you feel the warmth of love.
4. Twinkling Watermelon
Synopsis: Twinkling Watermelon is another time-traveling K-Drama that tells the story of Ha Eun-gyeol (Ryeo Un), a CODA born in a family of hearing-impaired. He leads a double life as a model student in the day and a secret guitarist at night. One day, after a clash with his father, he finds himself back in 1995. There, he meets his parents, who are now high school students.
He realizes the struggles his parents went through in their youth and strives to set everything right. Twinkling Watermelon is a beautiful blend of various genres, including family love, the hardships of youth, comedy, and romance. An all-in-one drama that keeps you entertained throughout.
5. Youth Of May
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