An April 21 report from FN News outlined casting details for the upcoming tvN series, “Reply 1988.” Kim Sung Kyun, who portrayed Samcheonpo in “Reply 1994,” will return to the latest edition of the series but in a different role. In “Reply 1994,” the 34-year-old actor portrayed a college student who looked significantly older than his age. However, he will portray a father in “Reply 1988.”
This follows a previous announcement which confirmed the return of Sung Dong Il and Lee Il Hwa to the series. “Reply 1998” will focus on the lives of four Korean families in 1988. Whereas “Reply 1997” and “Reply 1994” centered on the trials of students, the latest installment of the popular series will focus on more wholesome topics.
“Reply 1988” will draw inspiration from the popular series, “Three Families Under One Roof.” “Three Families Under One Roof” was a Sunday family comedy which aired on MBC from November 1986 through November 1994. In the FN News report, “Reply 1988” is also described as a different take on the ‘70s American series, “The Partridge Family,” hinting at musical elements within the drama.
According to a representative for tvN, “The main cast is almost finalized.”
The “Reply” series was launched in 2012 with “Reply 1997.” The drama focused on the golden age of K-pop, with groups like H.O.T at the forefront of the dialogue. “Reply 1997” helped to catapult the acting careers of its young cast including A Pink’s Eunji and Seo In Guk. Eunji portrayed the ultimate H.O.T fangirl. INFINITE’s Hoya took on the controversial role of Kang Joon Hee, a young gay man who secretly harbored feelings for his best friend.
“Reply 1997” was followed by 2013 series, “Reply 1994.” The second installment focused on the popularity of Seo Taiji and Boys, the group which has yielded solo artist Seo Taiji, as well as, YG Entertainment’s Yang Hyun Suk. The success of “Reply 1994” bolstered the careers of other young stars including Go Ara, Jung Woo, Dohee, and B1A4’s Baro. Kim Sung Kyun served as Samcheonpo, the love interest and future husband of Dohee’s Jo Yoon Jin.
The latest installment in this popular series will surely yield more talented Korean drama stars. “Reply 1988” will begin airing in the second half of 2015.
