You’ve probably come across a lot of historical Korean dramas set in the Goryeo, Joseon, and Silla period, but did you know that there are also a couple of modern-day-produced Korean dramas and films that are set in the 1980s?
Here are 10 dramas and films that you might want to watch.
1.) Snowdrop
Eun Young Ro (BLACKPINK’s Kim Jisoo) helps hide a mysterious man, Lim Soo Ho (Jung Hae In) in their dormitory, and then develops romantic feelings for him. But what happens if she learns about his real identity, a secret that will turn her life around?
2.) Reply 1988
The series tells the story of five close friends—Duk Sun (Hyeri), Jung Hwan Ryu Jun Yeol, Sun Woo (Go Kyung Pyo), Dong Ryong (Lee Dong Hwi), and Taek (Park Bo Gum)—and their families. “Reply 1988” shows what happened during the past, while the younger Duk Sun talks about their story during an interview with her husband. Who’s her husband? That’s for the viewers to find out along the way.
3.) Youth Of May
Hwang Hee Tae (Lee Do Hyun) and Kim Myung Hee (Go Min Si) met by coincidence several times before being formally at a blind date. However, unknown to Hee Tae, Myung Hee was only covering for her friend by attending the date on her behalf.
Despite their meet-cute, “Youth Of May” is actually a melancholic drama that brings to light heavy emotions from the past—what happened in 1980.
4.) 1987: When The Day Comes
A student activist dies while being interrogated during the military regime. As police and government try to cover it up, journalists and students step up to uncover the truth. The film is based on the true story of Park Jong Chul (portrayed by Yeo Jin Goo).
5.) Tunnel
“Tunnel” is a survival film about a father on his way to his daughter’s birthday, until the tunnel he is crossing through collapses. Will he survive?
6.) Signal
A police lieutenant in the present-day connects with a detective in the year 1989, the two teamed up to solve an unsolved case.
7.) Healer
Kim Moon Ho (Yoo Ji Tae) tries to find out the truth of what happened in the 1980s, where an illegal radio station was run by a group of friends. He teams up with Chae Young Shin (Park Min Young) and Seo Jung Hoo (Ji Chang Wook).
8.) Life On Mars
Han Tae Joo (Jung Kyung Ho) is a successful crime investigator who suddenly travels back in time, in the year 1988, and is tasked to solve a serial murder case for him to get back to the present.
9.) Sunny
A group of girls, who were once close during their teenage years, is now no longer in contact with each other… until one of them tries to get the group back together one more time. Watch as they re-live their fond (and not-so-fond) memories, and the changes they faced to become who they are in the present day.
10.) Taxi Driver
The award-winning film “Taxi Driver” takes place during the Gwangju Uprising in the 1980s. The film “mirrors” the historical events that took place that year.
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